8-Bit Ape February 2015 Update

Hi! Been a while, been busy, but I'm not gone! Thanks for your continued support of this blog, and because of that I want to give you an update on what's going on. I'm planning on adding a lot of new stuff in 2015. For now let me give you an update on reviews:

Dying Light-Review will come eventually, but it is coming
Evolve-I do not have it, I never planned to have it, and I will not have it anytime soon. So no review for this one.
The Order 1886: Again, I don't have this because I don't think it is worth $60. There will be no review for this.
Battlefield Hardline: I will not be getting it, but I did play the beta, and I will tell my thoughts soon.
Bloodborne-95% sure I will be getting this within a week of its launch. Expect review.
Mortal Kombat X-No desire to review
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt-Will ABSOLUTLEY review, I can guarantee you that.

Just a quick update on what's happening. More stuff coming soon!

And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

8-Bit Ape Presents: The Top 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2015

Welcome to 2015! While 2014 was a bit of a disappointing year for games, 2015 looks to finally be the year that the eighth generation of consoles shine and next-gen will truly become current gen (if it hasn't already). Remember this is MY list, I'd love to see what your most anticipated games of 2015 are. So let me know! Now for some honorable mentions (in alphabetical order); Assassin's Creed Victory. Battlefield Hardline, Halo 5: Guardians, Just Cause 3, The Division, Zelda U, and many more that I probably forgot. Now, here's the top 10 list!

Number 10

Volume: Ah let's come out with a game you probably haven't seen yet on a most anticipated list! Volume is an upcoming stealth game from Mike Bithell, the creator of one of my favorite indie games ever created: Thomas Was Alone. It was announced at this past Gamescom as a stealth action game that was inspired by and looks a lot like Metal Gear Solid (with the top down camera). It features a cool look that is coupled by what looks to be an excellent performance by Danny Wallace. It will also feature the ability to create your own levels, share them, and play levels that others have made. Mike Bithell was somehow able to make me get an emotional attachment to geometrical shapes (and I hate geometry), so it's pretty safe to say I'm excited for this game and so should you.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 9

Bloodborne: This is a game that, the more I see of it, the more I get excited for it. Bloodborne is from developer From Software, the makers of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, and the game is a successor to the previous games in the franchise. I got to be honest with you, I was not a big Souls fan. Sure, I find them great games, but it didn't wow me as much as some others have been fortunate to be. However, when I saw Bloodborne for the first time at this past E3, I got really excited. The gameplay has been reported to be "slightly faster" than the gameplay of the previous games, and that's something I've been waiting for in a Souls game. Nothing arcade-like, but just a little bit quicker. And now that I've seen more of the trailers, this game is marked on my to-play list this year.
Release Date: March 24
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Click here to pre-order Bloodborne from Amazon

Number 8

Persona 5: I'm not a big JRPG fan. I am much more a fan of western RPG's like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. But not so long ago I decided to get Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita. I had been hearing great things about it and it was on sale so I was like "Why the hell not?" Well, to say I got hooked would be an understatement. I was hooked by the excellent gameplay that is pretty much Pokémon but that's not a bad thing, and by its high school drama filled story. I know, it sounds cheesy, but trust me it's not as bad as it sounds. So after adoring Persona 4 Golden, I find myself super excited for Persona 5 and am looking forward to playing it on PS4. Hopefully I will have a lot of free time when this game comes out.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 7

Dying Light: The wait for this one is a pretty short one, but it still feels like a long one. Dying Light looks to be the open world zombie survival game I've been waiting for. Think Dead Island meets Mirror's Edge parkour. Yeah that sounds pretty sweet. I've been amazed by every gameplay video released by this game. And the developers seem to be focused on making this game as good as it possibly can. I applaud their risky decision to cancel the PS3/360 versions of the game in order to make the next gen versions better. While this game has been delayed many times, we've seen before that delays are never a bad thing...except with Duke Nukem Forever but that was different. I just hope it lives up to the hype and starts 2015 off with a bang!
Release Date: January 27
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Dying Light from Amazon.

Number 6

No Man's Sky: It seems like the hype for No Man's Sky has reached, well, sky high expectations. It does worry me that because of all this hype that the game won't deliver, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm looking forward to this indie surprise. Made by Hello Games, an indie team comprised of four people, No Man's Sky can be best described as a game all about exploration across the universe. Everything is procedurally generated, meaning everyone can start on a different planet and find new species never before seen, even by the developers. You can travel to the other planets by space ship, and even engage in some space combat. There is a lot of content in the game thanks to the procedurally generated gameplay, too much in fact. The developers estimate that it would take approximately Three Billion Years to discover everything. The sun is expected to explode in less than a billion. You excited yet?
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 5

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Okay let me get this straight, I have not played a Witcher game. I never owned an Xbox and my PC isn't good enough to run a Witcher game, so I know nothing about the lore or anything about what the previous games were. All I know is that this game looks like Skyrim times 20. It has all the features that I love about The Elder Scrolls series and other Western RPG's; a great story filled with exciting lore, a beautiful world to explore and admire, dozens of side missions to undertake, loot to find, dynamic stories to make, an excellent sound production, and so much more. If all these things turn out to be true, than you will not be able to find me for a while when this game comes out.
Release Date: May 19
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt from Amazon.

Number 4

Star Wars Battlefront: Out of all the games on this list, this is the one I've been looking forward to the longest. And it's not even close. I've been waiting for this game for ten years. I've seen this game cancelled, shift from developer to developer, before finally landing in the hands of Battlefield creator DICE as a reboot of the beloved Star Wars franchise. I think I poured over a thousand hours into Battlefront, it's my favorite multiplayer shooter perhaps of all time. So the pressure is on DICE, especially after the disastrous launch of Battlefield 4 which made the game unplayable for me for two weeks. And yes I know some are upset that it will be a first person shooter (I'm a little disappointed too, as Battlefront was always a primarily third person shooter). However, if anyone can pull this off, it's DICE. And I have the utmost faith that they will deliver.
Release Date: TBA Fall 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 3

Batman Arkham Knight: After four long years the Arkham series has been returned to its rightful creators. Rocksteady changed tie-in games forever with the release of Arkham Asylum and created a combat system that is replicated in many games today. They followed it up with my 2011 Game of the Year: Batman Arkham City. Now (after that other Arkham game that no one cares about), we have the final chapter in Rocksteady's Arkham series. This installment seems to be even bigger and better than before. There is plenty of reason to be excited for this game. The open world Gotham City, the drivable Batmobile, the additions to the combat system, the return of Scarecrow and other fan favorite villains (minus the Joker...maybe), and the intriguing mystery of the game's main antagonist: the Arkham Knight. I'll be on a trip when this game comes out, but you bet I'll be very eager to play it when I get home!
Release Date: June 2
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Batman Arkham Knight from Amazon.

Number 2

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain:  I'm a huge Metal Gear fan. I consider the original Metal Gear Solid to be one of, if not the very best, game ever made. So with each new Metal Gear release I get excited. While the game's prologue Ground Zeroes was incredibly overpriced, it made me get more excited for The Phantom Pain. I loved the open approach to the Ground Zeroes mission that allowed you to choose how you wanted to handle the mission. Now multiply that times 149. Yes, according to a file in the PC game code for Ground Zeroes there will be 149 missions in The Phantom Pain. That doesn't include the beautiful open world that allows you to play with the great stealth gameplay, build your own Mother Base they way you want to, and of course play in the return of Metal Gear Online, which is expanded upon to include attacks on other players' bases. If you've never played a Metal Gear before, play through the other ones to get ready for this one. As for the rest of us, well just hope that Hideo Kojima announces a release date for this soon.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain from Amazon (Note, the PC version is not available for Pre-Order at this time).

Number 1

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End: I have come to the conclusion that Naughty Dog is the best developer in the industry. Look no further than games like Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and of course my Game of the Generation winner The Last of Us. Now here comes Uncharted 4, the game that is rumored to be the final installment in the Uncharted series from Naughty Dog. It features the return of Nathan Drake, the man who has pretty much become the mascot of the PlayStation brand as well as other series favorites like Sully and Elena. But perhaps a more intriguing character is the man who's been referred to as Drake's brother, who is voiced by Troy Baker. Naughty Dog games have always been known for their impressive stories and that is reason enough to get excited for Uncharted 4. However, another surprise was probably the gameplay. Yes, on the surface it looks like the same old gameplay that they've been using in this franchise since 2007. But the gameplay shows a much more open approach to level design and therefore combat. This allows for more cinematic sequences to appear naturally and unscripted. The game also takes a few cues from The Last of Us, such as the improvements to stealth and melee combat. The multiplayer is also returning, and that is something Naughty Dog has been consistently getting better at. There's probably a million reasons to be excited for Uncharted 4, but those are just the big ones. It would not surprise me at all if, at then end of this year, we are giving Uncharted 4 and Naughty Dog yet another Game of the Year award.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Click here to pre-order Uncharted 4: A Thief's End from Amazon.




So that's the list! It's going to be a great year! What games are you looking forward to this year? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

8-Bit Ape's Top 10 Games of 2014

So 2014 is in the books, and many will agree that it was a less than stellar year for games, especially when being compared to 2013. However, we still had a ton of great games come out this year, and many of them deserve your attention. My top 10 list is based off of games I have played and games I enjoyed the most. I did not play games like Bayonetta 2, Sunset Overdrive, and Divinity Original Sin so therefore they are not on this list. I do feel it necessary to give three honorable mentions that didn't make this list but still deserve some praise:


HONORABLE MENTION-Dark Souls II: Dark Souls II kicked my ass, but when I finally was able to overcome obstacles in the game I felt a great sense of satisfaction. I didn't actually get to finish the game, therefore I can't put it into my Top 10 list based on playing just part of the game. I hope to get back to it one day, and I'm still looking forward to developer From Software's Bloodborne.


HONORABLE MENTION-Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft: While it was in beta form for a while Hearthstone's official launch took place earlier this year. Hearthstone was a surprise for many, myself included. I'm not really a big card game guy, but Hearthstone grabbed me and it kept hold of me for a while. I haven't been back in a while but I might go try it out on mobile when it comes out there. If you enjoy card games you must get this one.


HONORABLE MENTION-Mario Kart 8: Mario Kart has always been among my favorite Nintendo franchises. It's a great party game that's highly replayable and doesn't really get boring. This new Mario Kart offers a ton of great new features and has excellent functionality with the Wii U gamepad. I can't have more than ten games on this list, but if I had a number eleven this would be that game.


And now, here is my Top 10 Games of 2014 (this is not necessarily ranked in order of review score):

Number 10

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare- Well this was a surprise. I haven't really enjoyed a Call of Duty game in a long time but this might be the best one since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. No it's not the mediocre campaign that is redeemed only by set pieces and Kevin Spacey that makes me say this. It's the multiplayer. Sledgehammer took a massive risk with the exosuits and the emphasis on mobility. They knew going in they'd probably cut off a portion of Call of Duty's fanbase by making this game a living nightmare for longtime campers. But they did it anyway. And while there's still some balancing issues, I've had a ton of fun playing Advanced Warfare multiplayer and it would be stupid for the next Call of Duty game to not include this.

Number 9

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS- I really don't know how I still like Smash Bros. They've been using the same formula and mechanics for ages but yet I still find myself coming back to it and having a blast. But if it ain't broke don't fix it. And that's what the new Super Smash Bros. does. It provides a more modern take on the classic Smash Bros. formula and what you get is an addictive experience whether if you're on the go on the 3DS or at home playing on your Wii U. Nintendo had a fantastic year this past year, so it's tough to determine which one was the best. But I think I've found that game, and that's Super Smash Bros.

Number 8

Far Cry 4-I got to be honest with you, I found Far Cry 3 to be a bit overrated. Yes I know I'm in the minority and I still think it's a great game, but I don't understand why some people gave that game a perfect score. It doesn't make sense with its sequel, but I can say I enjoyed Far Cry 4 more. Yes I know, it's very similar to Far Cry 3, but I think it's a great improvement to that game and therefore I enjoy Far Cry 4 more. It doesn't hold your hand for the first half of the game, and the villain is actually in the game for more than 20 minutes, contrary to how Vaas was. It still isn't perfect, but Far Cry 4 is a blast and charging into an enemy outpost on top of an elephant is an awesome experience.

Number 7

Watch Dogs-Yes I know. I'm probably one of the few people to actually feature Watch Dogs in their top ten list. But since this is MY list, I can place Watch Dogs here and I'll tell you why. As I stated in my review, Watch Dogs provides many unique gameplay experiences I haven't found in an open world game before. Taking out an entire enemy controlled area without ever entering it is still a satisfying experience every time I play it. The multiplayer is really unique and very tense. And there's a lot of things to do in this recreation of Chicago. It's unfortunate that this game's graphics were downgraded and I feel that left a sour taste in people's mouths. But I enjoyed Watch Dogs a lot, and am very much looking forward to a sequel.

Number 6

Velocity 2X-It's quickly becoming clear that indies are going to be the dominant force in the industry soon, and many people think that's a bad thing, and even I'm still a bit skeptical. But if the indies we get are anything like Velocity 2X, that's going to be a pretty cool future. Velocity 2X relies heavily on fast and fluid arcade gameplay, both in space and on foot. It's a very fast game that can keep you hooked for hours trying to beat your high score. It doesn't hurt that the game looks fantastic, controls great, and is accompanied by an excellent musical score. Futurlab should be proud of what they accomplished with Velocity 2X, and I'm looking forward to what they do in the future.

Number 5

Infamous Second Son-I had tried so hard to like the first two Infamous games. I really wanted to find out what makes these games so special to many people. Unfortunately, I didn't see that, and I've found the Infamous games to be overrated. Well, at least until Second Son. The third installment in the Infamous series does away with everything I disliked about the first two Infamous games by having an exciting plot, varied missions, and more fluid gameplay. The powers in this game are fantastic. They each provide their own tactical advantages and disadvantages in battle, one is not overpowered. It doesn't hurt that the production quality is on the scale of a summer blockbuster. This is the game to own if you get a PS4, and had the karma system been a bit better, this easily could have been much higher on my list.

Number 4

The Walking Dead: Season Two-I'm amazed this isn't on more "Best of" lists. Sure developer Telltale Games doesn't really change anything from the first season, but it still is a fantastic journey and has a captivating story that keeps you hungry for more. But perhaps the most impressive thing that the second season of The Walking Dead does is the development and growth of Clementine throughout the season. It's something you do see a lot in video games, but nowhere near this well done. Is this season weaker than the previous one? Yes, but "weaker" isn't a good term to describe this game. If you didn't really like the first season, this doesn't do anything to change your mind. If you were hoping for innovation, it's not there. But what Telltale continues to achieve in interactive storytelling is far beyond what many could have imagined. And they show that in this game.

Number 3

South Park: The Stick of Truth-Everything I stated about The Stick of Truth can be found in my review and it still stands true. But for here, just know that The Stick of Truth is the best adapted video game since Arkham City, and it succeeds because Trey Parker and Matt Stone were involved. Yeah sure, Obsidian is a very talented studio and they should be commended for what they did here, but without the involvement of the show's creators they would have only been able to put out a slightly above average South Park game. This game will leave your jaw dropped in shock at the humor, but it will also make you laugh a lot. This is the funniest game I have ever played, and it is also one of the best games to come out in 2014.

Number 2

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor-These last two games I went back and forth with choosing their places. But I feel satisfied with their rankings. And you should be satisfied by knowing that Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the most fun I've had with a video game in a while. It features an excellent story written by the writer of my 2010 Game of the Year: Red Dead Redemption. It also features plenty of side missions and great gameplay. But that's in EVERY open world game. What sets this apart? The Nemesis System. These little mini-bosses provide an excellent distraction from everything else you can do in this world to fight off that stupid orc that kept killing you and was getting promoted for it! And it is so satisfying when you finally defeat them. This game is very ripe for dynamic storytelling, and even though it doesn't win my Game of the Year award, it is a very, VERY close runner-up.

Number 1

And now, I am pleased to present what is in my opinion, the best game of 2014. Here is my 2014 Game of the Year:




















































Dragon Age: Inquisition-If you read my previous post, you probably saw this coming. I know, I'm very original, I'm going with what is perhaps the most popular choice for Game of the Year this year. But you know what? It deserves it! Dragon Age: Inquisition provides a deep story with a fantastic cast of characters, much in typical BioWare fashion. But it also provides a vast, breathing world that is ripe for exploration and discovery. There was more than one occasion when my jaw dropped at the beauty of the world and all I could say was "Wow". I also hadn't even played the Dragon Age games before this one, but my love for the Mass Effect series compelled me to go play this and I have no regrets. The story is intriguing, with many twists and turns throughout that keeps you guessing throughout. And it does a great job of getting first time players familiar with the story. I was caught up and intrigued by the Mage-Templar conflict very quickly. The combat, while it isn't spectacular, is very deep and offers a tactical viewpoint as well. The character customization is very deep and well done. There are a plethora of side quests to do, places to explore, requisitions to fulfill; it's a ton of stuff to say the least. There's also this very interesting army building mechanic, where you can build the Inquisition and choose where to focus your efforts on, and this leads to some very interesting decision based events during the game. The music is great, as well as the voice acting and the graphics. I'm probably forgetting about nine million things to talk about that this game gets right. Sure, the multiplayer is forgettable, and the story isn't nearly as memorable as Mass Effect in my opinion, but what BioWare has crafted here is truly remarkable and an achievement. When we look back on 2014, this is the game I'll remember the most. The game that kept me hooked for dozens of hours and provided a memorable experience. When you put all that stuff together, there is no doubt that this is as good as it got this past year. BioWare should be getting a LOT of praise for the hard work that they put into this fantastic game.


Dragon Age: Inquisition is the 8-Bit Ape 2014 Game of the Year.

















What did you think of my list? What is your Top 10 games of 2014? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.


Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS. Buy it on Amazon.


Far Cry 4 is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Watch Dogs is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Velocity 2X is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita (Digital only, buy it on the PlayStation Store).


Infamous Second Son is available for the PlayStation 4. Buy it on Amazon.


The Walking Dead: Season Two is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and on some mobile phones. Buy it on Amazon.


South Park: The Stick of Truth is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy the 2014 Game of the Year Runner Up on Amazon.


Dragon Age Inquisition is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy the 2014 Game of the Year on Amazon.

8-Bit Ape End of 2014 Update

I've had to make some adjustments to my plans because of how busy I've been, and I've had some personal stuff going on (don't worry, nothing bad). So here's how it's going to go down:

• This weekend, I will reveal my final Top 10 Games of 2014 List. So look out for that.
• Next week I will publish the review of my Game of the Year pick (that is, if I haven't reviewed it already). I will also publish any other review that I feel warrants your attention.
• After that, I will publish my Top 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2015.

So that's the plan for right now, but today I'd like to reveal the ten games that will be placed in my top 10. These games have been put in this list because I PLAYED them and I ENJOYED them. So no, games like Bayonetta 2 or Sunset Overdrive are not on this list because I didn't play them. So, without further ado here are the ten games that will be featured in my top 10 (in alphabetical order):

• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Dragon Age Inquisition
• Far Cry 4
• Infamous Second Son
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS
• The Walking Dead: Season Two
• Velocity 2X
• Watch Dogs

There you have it. What are your favorite games of 2014? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

Have Yourself A Time: South Park: The Stick of Truth Review

Yes, I know this came out in March. But I recently was able to check it out thanks to a PSN sale and I feel I need to give you my opinions on this game. Yes, South Park The Stick of Truth is so good I feel it necessary to give you my opinion on this game over half a year later. Yes, it's a giant love letter to South Park fans, but even if you don't really follow the show you should still give this a look. It's a remarkable achievement for video game adaptations and sets the gold standard for future ones.


In The Stick of Truth (which as you may know is a collaboration between South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian), you are the New Kid in South Park. You create your character in a satisfactory character creator, than you are forced out of your house by your dad to go make friends. You meet Butters, are given the name Douchebag, and are thrust into a "war" with Cartman's Humans and Kyle's Elves, eventually making a choice as to who to side with. Of course, just like in the show, things escalate rapidly and hilariously. Pretty soon you'll be fighting the government at the site of a crashed UFO (disguised as the construction site of a new Taco Bell), Nazi Zombies, aborted fetuses, and even a ManBearPig. And the Canada section is cleverly played in 8-Bit form. It's all woven together incredibly well and hilariously, making it one of the best narratives this year. Of course, the characters from the show that you meet in game are entertaining as well. And remember this is South Park, so some of the humor may cross some lines for you. I personally was not offended by any of the humor, but if you are that's okay. The voice acting is phenomenal, with Trey Parker and Matt Stone lending their incredible voices to 90% of the game's cast. The show's composer Jamie Dunlap provides an excellent score for the game. In terms of visuals, the game looks exactly like the show, and I only noticed a few frame rate drops during my time playing it. One of the most remarkable things about The Stick of Truth is that it feels like you're watching a full season of South Park. My only problem with the presentation was that it felt a little bit too short. Yes it's 14 hours, but there's a point in the game near the end where they could have added another 2-3 hours worth of story content, but skipped that in favor of entering the finale. I will not spoil it, but for those who have played the game, it's right after you return from Canada. The game is so good however it does entice a second play through.
  
The Stick of Truth is an Open World RPG that lets you explore a fully mapped out South Park, in addition to The Lost Forest, a Farm, and eventually Canada. You can partake in side missions (although I do wish there was a bit more) and find all the collectibles, most notably the 30 Chipokomon hidden throughout the world. The combat of The Stick of Truth is not at all what I would expect from a South Park game, yet now I can't imagine playing one without it. It's a turn based strategy game that's akin to Paper Mario. You and a buddy from one of six friends fight against a group of enemies. Depending on which class you are (Fighter, Thief, Mage, or....Jew) your attacks may vary. You can use summons or use abilities to help beat your opponent. All the buddies also have unique attacks so that you can decide which one you would help you the most in battle. Want to take more of a defensive plan of attack? Use Jimmy who can replenish your power points and put your enemies to sleep or if you want a more offensive plan of attack use Butters who can transform into Mr. Chaos to rain hell on your enemies. The battles are really intense, fun, and entertaining (I mean come on, one of Al Gore's attacks is a lecture on Global Warming!). Oh and by the way the Trophies/Achievements are really fun to get (FYI they require a lot of farting).


THE VERDICT___________________________________________________________________
There is only one thing holding The Stick of Truth back from being a masterpiece, and that's the awkward abrupt transition to the finale. Besides that though, this game is still amazing. Everything, from the story, to the gameplay, to the Easter eggs feel like a big love letter to fans. This is still an enjoyable game for everyone else too. Any future South Park game must have great involvement with the show's creators just like this one did or they risk getting laughed at. The bottom line is that you are playing an interactive season of South Park and YOU are the star. Obsidian should be proud of the work they put into The Stick of Truth, despite all the delays and a change of publisher from THQ to Ubisoft, and I hope they can collaborate with Trey Parker and Matt Stone again soon.

9.8/10 Amazing

South Park: The Stick of Truth is available now on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. This review was of the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Experience may vary from platform to platform.
Buy South Park: The Stick of Truth on Amazon.

The Crew Beta Impressions

Yesterday, Ubisoft made the originally closed beta of The Crew open. We all can now get the chance to see for ourselves how does this promising driving game deliver? Is this an earth-shattering product as Ubisoft led us to believe? In my 3-4 hours playing The Crew (not counting the additional 5 it took for the game to finish downloading), I have come to the conclusion that I can describe The Crew in one word:


Disappointment.


Now to be fair, I do consider myself a casual driving/racing game. I only buy a racing game if I've played it and like it. So if you're a hardcore racing game fan you might want to hear the opinion of someone that's a little more hardcore in this genre. However, I'm here to give you my honest opinion about this game, and I can honestly say I don't like it. Yes I know, it's a beta not the full release, but I've played enough of The Crew to know this game isn't for me.


Before you can actually go out and explore the world, you must complete the prologue. Yes this game has a story, and boy is it bad. The small taste I got of this story shows me that it is going to be more than likely boring, uninteresting, and forgettable. It's filled with many clichés and uninteresting characters, something that is opposite of many recent Ubisoft games. Why does this game even need a story? I wouldn't be bothered if you just dropped me into a world and just told me to do whatever I would be fine with that. But unfortunately Ubisoft tries too hard, and ends up hurting my opinion of this game. It doesn't help that the game looks like it could have been from 2007 instead of 2014. I guess the only positive thing I can say is the character models in cutscenes look nice. Yay, the character models in your driving game look good! And whoever at Ubisoft is coming up with the radio songs in their games needs to be fired. First Watch Dogs radio has bad songs and now this? The game that actually needs to have a good radio? So in terms of presentation, The Crew stumbles at nearly every turn.


Okay, so The Crew doesn't have a good story, the graphics suck, and the songs are bad. That's not good, but hey the gameplay's going to be good right? WRONG. The driving mechanics are some of the worst I've ever seen in a game. They're so bad they make the driving mechanics in Grand Theft Auto IV look good. Controlling your car feels very awkward and it's very easy to wreck. No the controls don't feel bad, but the handling is terrible. And is there even a drift button in this game? I don't know, the game does a terrible job of telling you how to do anything, especially when you get into car customization. Now speaking of car customization, this is one of the few things I actually liked in The Crew. There's a ton of detail put into these cars and their parts. If you're a car fanatic you're going to love this. There is also a cool demo mode to check out how your car looks and you can even take it out for a test drive. Unfortunately though like I said, the game doesn't give you whole lot of explanation into upgrades and skills for your car.


There is one thing (other than car customization) that The Crew gets right that made me play it a little longer than I would have: the open world. Ubisoft hyped the game to have a big map and it does not disappoint. It covers the entire US (and by that I mean it's a condensed version, but it's still big). It took me just over 40 minutes to drive from New York to Los Angeles. There's a lot of things to see and that's great. Unfortunately though there isn't a lot to do in this big world. I found a few races, a couple speed challenges, and that's just about it. Really. It's a sandbox with no sand. After you explore the world that leaves barely anything to do. Granted this is a beta, but if there's a ton of stuff to do in the final game they really shot themselves in the foot with this one. Oh and remember how they hyped up the online component to be massive, with an entire city filled with multiple crews going around trying to dominate? Yeah, they lied. The most players I've seen in a particular area/region was 4. So that essentially makes this whole crew thing pointless. Another disappointment in this one.


It feels like The Crew is trying to be Ubisoft's answer to Need for Speed, but unfortunately it fails in nearly every category except car customization and exploration. The Crew had potential, but if what we've been shown in the beta is any indication of the final product, it is a disappointment. Many of the promises Ubisoft made don't seem to be fulfilled and therefore I can't really recommend that you purchase the full game at $60. Who knows, maybe the full game has a ton of content. But even then, I can't see this game being worth anything more than $20. So in this crazy holiday season filled with (too) many games, it seems you can cross The Crew off your list.


Have you played the beta of The Crew? What did you think? Will you be purchasing the full game? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.


The Crew beta is up on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One through tomorrow, November 27. I played the beta on PlayStation 4. Experience may vary from platform to platform.
The Crew will officially launch on December 2, 2014 for PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC (no it is not going to be available for PlayStation 3)
You can pre-order The Crew (though I recommend you don't) at Amazon here.

Holiday Review Plan

I'm back!
Sorry for my lack of posts in October (or should I say, non-existent posts), I was very busy! But anyway, back to talking about games. Quick update on reviews

• Destiny review is cancelled, very sorry about that
• I will be reviewing the Driveclub PS Plus edition when it finally releases
• At this time other October games such as Alien Isolation, The Evil Within, Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor, and NBA 2K15 will not be reviewed, but I may come back to them later (especially with Shadow of Mordor

So that was a quick update on current reviews. Looking ahead, there are a LOT of games coming out in November, too much in fact. Rather than rush through all these games, I've decided to take my time to get my best thoughts out of them and my full opinion. So I will be releasing these reviews around Christmas. I hope that they will be all out by the New Year, and then after that I will start doing my Top 10 list(s, possibly) and any other Look back on 2014 articles. So as of right now, here are the games I plan to review. Keep in mind this list is tentative, and I could add or remove games from this list. So in alphabetical order, the games are

• Assassin's Creed Unity
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Far Cry 4
• LittleBigPlanet 3
• Other possible candidates: Assassin's Creed Rogue, Geometry Wars 3 Dimensions, Grand Theft Auto V PS4, Lego Batman 3 Beyond Gotham, and The Crew
• Do not expect reviews for: Escape Dead Island, Super Smash Bros for Wii U, The Master Chief Collection, and WWE 2K15

If there are any games you would like me to review please let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.