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.

Grand Theft Auto V: One Year Later

So I'd like to start this new series called One Year Later. It basically allows me to go back and visit now year old games to revisit my thoughts on them and see if they've changed at all. I now wish I could have done this in June with The Last of Us, but I might go back and revisit that in due time. For now let's go back to September 17, 2013, the day of Grand Theft Auto V's release. At that point, the hype for GTA V's release had reached staggering levels. Having played every console GTA game since III as well as other Rockstar Games like Bully and Red Dead Redemption, I was very hyped. The day before, GTA V scored a 98 on Metacritic, and that only added fuel to the fire. About 75% of the people I saw that day were a bit jumpy, checking their watches or a nearby clock to know just how much time they had left before they would head to Los Santos. Finally, I got home, put the game in, went to grab myself a drink as the 8GB game installed, and began playing.


To say I got addicted to GTA V would be an understatement. I finished the game in about five days, all while putting in over 35 hours into it by the time the story was done. And even then, I still kept playing it. It was what I was playing everyday for weeks, probably only declining when I got my PlayStation 4 in mid November. What did I love about it? Virtually everything. The gameplay was amazing and refined from previous GTA games, the story was filled with funny dialogue and interesting characters, it had some of the best mission variety I had ever seen in a game, the sound design (minus the radio songs) were excellent, the game while not the most graphically impressive still was a remarkable technical achievement, it was filled with stuff to do, and it was pretty much a masterpiece in every sense of the word.


Then with October 1 came the launching of Grand Theft Auto Online. While I wasn't nearly excited about online as much as I was with the main game prior to release, I still was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, GTA Online had some issues to say the least. It was unplayable for at least a week for the vast majority of players, and those that did get in experienced many frustrating glitches, including a major one that caused your character to be deleted seemingly at random. Even after the majority of players got online, some still had issues. A friend of mine continued to have issues well into November in terms of connecting. And the actual Online wasn't really all that impressive. Sure you had all of Los Santos and Blaine County to explore with friends and there was a ton of stuff to do, but it faltered on many things as well. These things include an absolutely stupid character creator, the over-reliance on grinding, and eventually the hackers. The hackers probably killed the online for me. I think I maybe put a total of five hours into online, and I don't really have any intention of going back. Although I do appreciate that Rockstar continues to support the game with numerous updates, the heists are almost a year overdue and it's gotten to the point where I don't think the heists will keep me in online for too long.


I still keep my stance on the main game. Grand Theft Auto V is a masterpiece and that hasn't changed, I did recently rank it #3 on my Top 25 Games of the Generation list. I think it is by far the best installment in the GTA series, and one of the best open world games ever made. Unfortunately what also hasn't changed is my opinion of Online. I still am not compelled to go back to it, even though there are a ton of missions waiting to be completed. I may rent the PS4 version of GTA V to compare it to the PS3 version, but I have no intention at the moment to purchase it. However, it's still amazing to me that after all that hype, possibly the most hype I've ever had for a game, it still managed to surpass my expectations. It's really a remarkable achievement in gaming and serves as the PS3/360 generation's swan song. Even with all the games in my backlog, I still go back and play GTA V every now and then, and I still enjoy it. I'm super excited for GTA V's story expansions, and whatever Rockstar does next.


What did you think of Grand Theft Auto V? What about Grand Theft Auto Online? Will you be picking up the PS4/XB1/PC version of GTA V? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

Velocity 2X Review: Yippie Kai Yay

Even though they aren't as big as their AAA cousins, Indie Games have struggled at times with developing a sequel that outlasts the original. They either don't do anything new at all or fixes things that don't need to be fixed. Velocity 2X does neither, but rather improves upon its predecessor's excellent gameplay while still adding great innovations to the series. Developer Futurlab started the series with Velocity, a PlayStation Mini title. They remade the game into a full game with Velocity Ultra. These games were very well recieved by many (myself included). So there was plenty reasons for me (and many others) to be excited about 2X. Fortunately we weren't dissapointed. Instead we have been given a game that is so good, we might need to start talking about its Game of the Year potential.


Perhaps the most praise for the original Velocity was given to its fast and fluid arcade gameplay, and it's retained in Velocity 2X. It's still great to pilot your spaceship, taking down baddies while trying to race through a level to rack up the most points. The game also now adds boss fights that are fun and at times tricky to figure out. However, developer Futurlab wasn't just settled with the spaceship gameplay. Now, you must land your ship at times and go on foot to help take down security beams. Velocity's heart-racing gameplay is retained here with teleporting, fluid gunplay, and all while retaining the sense of urgency and speed found in the spaceship sections. This on-foot gameplay is reminiscent of Sonic the Hedgehog games of old. These two sections blend so perfectly they could be separate games entirely.


For an indie game, the production value in the game is superb. Velocity 2X now tells a story through drawings and text boxes in between levels. Unfortunately, the story isn't exactly all that memorable. However, this obviously isn't the focus of the game and there are still some funny dialogue exchanges. You can avoid the story entirely if you want since these cutscenes are skippable. The excellent music from the original is still present here, with the perfect blend of old and new tracks. The art direction is fantastic and textures look a lot better. Oh and the sound effects are awesome as well. The production quality is so good, at times I forgot I was even playing an indie game.


Velocity Ultra was right at home on Vita, but 2X plays fantastically on both PS4 and Vita. I was originally going to only play the Vita version, but after trying out the PS4 version I really dug it. I've put equal amount of time into both versions and there are great things about both versions. The Vita version of Velocity 2X is a great on-the-go game with great controls and no broken touch controls (actually there's basically no touch controls at all) while the PS4 version is enhanced with superb visuals and the rumble effect of the DualShock 4 which surprised me how good it was compared to other games where it's just an after thought. Of course, both versions run at a ridiculously smooth 60 FPS, and since both versions are cross buy and cross save, you might as well try it out on both. You can't go wrong with either version though.


In terms of problems, I don't really have many. It does feel a lot easier than the original. You have unlimited lives and at least 20 minutes to beat each level, whereas in the original you only had about 2-3 lives and at most 10 minutes with some levels going as low as 2 minutes. Also, much like its predecessor, Velocity 2X starts to get into a bit of a grind at around level 40. You have to replay old missions to rack up the points necessary to advance, and it can get to feel a bit tedious when you're just trying to finish the game.


THE VERDICT___________________________________________________________________


Velocity 2X is a game you need to play. Developer Futurlab has found new ways to innovate on the game while at the same time retaining the incredible gameplay of the original. The production values are top notch for an indie game. It plays great on both PS4 and Vita, so you should be fine with either. While not perfect, Velocity 2X is an amazing blend of old and new, and is now on the Game of the Year watch. Oh and did I mention it's free for PlayStation Plus subscribers? Yeah, so download it.

9.5/10 Amazing

Velocity 2X is available for download on the PlayStation Store now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. It is currently free to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers in the month of September 2014. This review examined both versions of the game.

Gamescom 2014 Recap

This week in Germany, one of the largest gaming shows in the world took place. Gamescom is quickly rivaling E3 to become the most popular gaming show in the world. So, as expected, there was a LOT of news articles swarming the internet. I decided it would be a good idea just to give you some of my thoughts on a few of the biggest stories to come out of Gamescom.


Rise of the Tomb Raider is a timed Xbox exclusive: This was probably the biggest news out of Gamescom, and certainly the one that got the internet into a frenzy. And rightfully so, at least at first. Microsoft and Square Enix announced that Tomb Raider's sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, will launch holiday 2015 as an Xbox exclusive. I absolutely thought it was a stupid move by Square Enix. Why would you put the sequel to a multiplatform game on only one platform? Other than that being unfair to consumers, it also doesn't make sense on the business side, weren't you already disappointed with the sales of Tomb Raider? So why does it make perfect sense to narrow it down even further on the platform that is getting crushed by the competition in terms of sales? Fortunately, Xbox head Phil Spencer clarified that the game is a timed exclusive, so more than likely we will see Lara Croft's next adventure on PS4 and PC in 2016. However, I still think it's a bad move on Square Enix's part (I'm not giving Microsoft any fault for this, they're trying to make more money just like Sony and Nintendo) by agreeing to this. They're essentially saying two thirds of our franchise's fanbase will have to wait for an unknown amount of time for the game to come to their platform. And even then, what makes you think it's going to sell as well as it would if it came out with the Xbox version?


PlayStation 4 has sold 10 million units worldwide: During their Gamescom press conference, Sony announced that the PlayStation 4 has already reached the ten million units sold mark (sold, not shipped) in only nine months on the market, making it the fastest selling console to reach that mark of all time, even surpassing the Wii. And they said console gaming was dead. It's amazing just how popular this console is right now and how well the gaming industry is doing. Yes we could spend this paragraph talking about how PS4 is five million units ahead of the competition now, but that would be fanboyish and inappropriate for this milestone. Instead, let's be thankful that gaming consoles are still very much alive and well, and your iPhone isn't going to surpass them for quite a long time it seems.


Silent Hills announced in the form of a playable teaser: Sony also showed off a trailer for a mysterious horror game named PT, and it was made available on the PlayStation Store almost immediately. I played PT, and it was without a doubt one of the scariest "games" (although it's more of a 20 minute demo) that I have ever played. Upon completing PT, it is revealed that the game is a teaser for a new Silent Hill game, titled Silent Hills. Hideo Kojima is directing the project, Guillermo del Toro is collaborating with Kojima, and it will star Norman Reedus. Details are scarce at the moment, but one thing's for sure, this is sure to make you wet your pants. The demo wasn't filled with cheap jump scares, but it has impressive tension that is constantly building. And then when the jump scares finally did come, they were more effective than they would in most horror games. The game isn't expected to be released until at least 2016, since Kojima Productions is heavily focused on finishing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. We also don't know if the game is a PS4 exclusive or not, but I'm willing to bet it won't be available on PS3/360. Personally, I don't know if I will get it, since I don't really like horror games, but I promise horror fans this is one you probably aren't going to want to miss.


PS4 Firmware 2.00 Announced, introduces SharePlay: Sony had one more little goodie up their sleeve. Sony announced PS4 firmware update 2.00, which includes stability improvements, YouTube integration, and more, but also revealed SharePlay. The PlayStation Blog states: "The best way to think about Share Play is like a “virtual couch”. PlayStation 4 will create an online local co-op experience by allowing you to invite a friend to join your game—even when they don’t own a copy of it. With this first-of-its-kind feature, you’ll be able to play games with a friend just as if you were together in the same room". So imagine passing the controller to a friend to take turns playing GTA or something, or playing a sports game like Madden. This is an incredible feature that is a bit reminiscent of Xbox One's planned Family Share feature which was removed as a part of the big DRM reversal. Yes you can only do it for sixty minutes before you have to restart the session. But still, this is an incredible feature and I look forward to seeing it in action. PS4 Firmware 2.00 will be available this Fall.


Metal Gear Solid V is coming to PC: At last, the news PC gamers have been waiting for. No it's not Half-Life 3. But it's still pretty awesome. Metal Gear Solid V, which includes Ground Zeroes and the upcoming The Phantom Pain, will be coming to PC soon. My excitement for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain only keeps building by the day, and I'm glad more people can now get in on the official Kojima hype train too. Hideo Kojima just had an awesome week at Gamescom, first with the Metal Gear Online for The Phantom Pain reveal, then with the Silent Hills announcement, and now with this awesome news that Metal Gear Solid V is coming to the PC. Personally I will be playing this on PS4, but I hope PC players enjoy it just as much as I hope to do also. And I'm really looking forward to seeing what this game looks like running on Ultra graphics. We don't know the release date(s) for Metal Gear Solid V on PC, but expect Ground Zeroes to be released first, hopefully at a more reasonable price.


I know I missed a lot of news stories but this is just a few of the biggest. I hope you enjoyed it. And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

Five Games to Keep Your Eye On This Fall

The fall is to video games what summer is to Hollywood Blockbusters. It's when they boom and get the most money. And with us being only a few months away from Christmas, everyone starts to release games like crazy. This year, while maybe not as exciting as last year's next-generation launch, is still nonetheless sure to make your wallet cry out in horror. And here are five games that will prove that. Note: All pre-order links will send you to Amazon.


Assassin's Creed Rogue (November 11 for PS3 and 360): Rogue is the reason you may find me playing a lot more on my PS3 this fall. Rogue is the sequel to the fantastic Assassin's Creed IV, and unlike its next-gen counterpart Unity, Rogue excites me because of its emphasis on the great naval mechanic and for the first time allows you to play as a Templar. It also features a wide open world, and to be honest all this sounds consistent with the exciting changes introduced in Assassin's Creed IV, and seems to offer more replay ability than Unity. It's definitely something to keep your eye on.
Click here to pre-order Assassin's Creed Rogue.


Destiny (September 9 for PS3, PS4, 360, and XBO) If you haven't heard it by now, I'm really excited for Destiny. From the creators of Halo, Destiny is an exciting online FPS game that features an intriguing universe and exciting gameplay. As I've said before, I wasn't really all that excited for Destiny, but when I played it I fell in love. From playing the Alpha and the Beta I've already put 20 hours into the game before its release and I'm begging for more. It's already been giving my current Game of the Year: Infamous Second Son, a run for its money. Bungie has something special in store with Destiny, I just hope it lives up to the ever-building hype surrounding it.
Click here to pre-order Destiny.


Dragon Age: Inquisition (November 18 for PS3, PS4, 360, and XBO) I will admit, I have never played a Dragon Age game before. Sure it's from BioWare, the guys who brought us Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy, but nothing really seemed to interest me about these games. However, they've completely changed that it seems with Inquisition. It offers a much more non-linear experience coupled with deep customization and a much improved storyline. Not to mention it has some absolutely stunning visuals, and pretty sweet dragon fights. I hope this game delivers, because if it does, you won't be seeing me for a while.
Click here to pre-order Dragon Age: Inquisition.


Far Cry 4 (November 18 for PS3, PS4, 360, XBO)  I haven't spent a huge amount of time with the Far Cry franchise, but I've played enough to know that it is one of Ubisoft's best franchises. And they must know that too, because they're making sure we are pumped for Far Cry 4. The latest installment promises to give us everything we like about Far Cry 3; exciting gunplay, great villain, various modes of transportation, and great co-op. I'm really looking forward to this one, I just hope they added enough stuff to make this one a worthy sequel to its award winning predecessor, Far Cry 3.
Click here to pre-order Far Cry 4.


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (September 30 for PS3, PS4, 360, XBO, and October 2 for PC) The game that has been called The Lord of the Rings meets Assassin's Creed gameplay, Shadow of Mordor is very promising. At first I was a bit skeptical, but once I saw some gameplay, I got excited. Finally an open-world Lord of the Rings game that seems to get it right! And even though this seems to be the first big AAA release from Monolith Productions (at least I believe it is, their recent work includes Gotham City Imposters and Guardians of Middle-earth) they seem to know what they're doing from promos. Oh and the lead writer and lead designer on the legendary Red Dead Redemption is writing the story, so yeah, I'm excited.
Click here to pre-order Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.


Honorable Mentions:


Alien Isolation (pre-order)


Assassin's Creed Unity (pre-order)


Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (pre-order)


DriveClub (pre-order)


Grand Theft Auto V (pre-order)


Halo: The Master Chief Collection (pre-order)


LittleBigPlanet 3 (pre-order)


Sunset Overdrive (pre-order)


Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (pre-order)


The Crew (pre-order)


What are you looking forward to this fall? Are you excited? Or are you just waiting for the ridiculous amount of games coming out in 2015? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.


















 

Do we really need all these remasters?

About a week ago, The Last of Us re-released on PS4 in the form of The Last of Us Remastered. Just like the original PS3 release 14 months ago, the PS4 version has received universal acclaim from critics. But there has been a state of concern from many gamers. We have been getting a lot of remasters lately, most notably with Tomb Raider Definitive Edition and now The Last of Us Remastered. And there are more remasters to come, with games like:


Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition (PS4, XB1)
Metro Redux (PS4, XB1, PC)
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (XB1)
Payday 2: Crimewave Edition (PS4, XB1)
Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, XB1, PC)
Ratchet and Clank (PS4)
Resident Evil HD Remaster (PS3, PS4, 360, XB1, PC)
Journey (PS4)
The Unfinished Swan (PS4)
The Walking Dead: Seasons 1 and 2 (PS4, XB1)


And I'm sure there's more I missed, and it's also likely the Uncharted and Gears of War trilogies will get remasters according to recent rumors. So what's up with these remasters? Why is the majority of the next several months filled with re-releases of old games? Should we be concerned?


The discussion on remasters is nothing new. It's been around for ages. Remasters really took off in the last few years of the PS3/360 generation. Some of these include The Sly Collection, God of War Saga, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, just to name a few. The majority of these games (save for God of War III in the God of War Saga) originally released on PS2/Xbox and handheld devices years earlier. Many of these collections earned significant praise and sold very well. The arrival of the next-gen consoles continued the trend, and many are fearful of this trend continuing. So is it something we should embrace, or protest against? Well, as with all discussions, there are pros and cons to this topic. Let's start with the pros.


Well for starters, it gives these companies a chance to work on the new hardware and get more familiar with the architecture. Crystal Dynamics stated that the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition let them get comfortable with the hardware before heading into Rise of the Tomb Raider. I'm sure Naughty Dog, 343, Rockstar, and the rest of these developers will say the same thing. Everyone's going to have a difficulty mastering the hardware, so why not the first game be a re-release of an old game before giving us a brand new game? And another pro, at least for The Walking Dead, is that now you can carry over saves from seasons 1 and 2 into the upcoming season 3 on next-gen. Another pro is that most of these remasters come with substantial content. Diablo III contains the Reaper of Souls expansion with the original game, Metro Redux contains Metro 2033 and Metro First Light, The Master Chief Collection contains Halo 1, 2, 3, and 4 including multiplayer maps and a Halo 5 beta key, Tomb Raider contains the original game and all DLC, and The Last of Us Remastered contains the Left Behind single player expansion and all multiplayer DLC. On top of all that, every game gets enhanced graphics, textures, and frame rate. Halo 2's cutscenes in particular look absolutely stunning. And, in cases of games like The Last of Us Remastered, people might not have played the PS3 version because they owned a 360. This gives them a chance to play it. And you don't need to restart your save from all games either, for example you can continue your Grand Theft Auto Online character on next gen regardless of what console you owned before.


So yeah, there's pros to it, but also there are some cons. Speaking of Grand Theft Auto V, it's virtually the exact same content on the PS3 version minus the technical differences. Since there's no expansion packs available, you will have to pay for the upcoming story expansions just like everyone else. And because of that, expect a GTA 5 Ultimate Edition to be released next year when all DLC is out. There's also been a lack of trade-in deals. The Last of Us and Tomb Raider did not have official discounts if you traded in your last gen copy, it was up to the retailers if they wanted to offer a deal. And these remasters are $50/$60, so you'll be forking over a lot of cash for one game. The success of these remasters also open up the door for more, I swear within the next year we will get Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed remasters. Hopefully developers and publishers don't get too carried away with this.


So in conclusion, yes there are more pros than cons to remasters. No that does not mean every remaster has insane value in them. Many remasters that are coming out just have prettier graphics, and that's what I'd avoid. If you're going to sell a remaster, make sure it has value in it. Don't make it a $60 graphic enhancement. That's all I have to say about this topic. What are your thoughts on remasters? Let me know!
And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

Destiny Beta Impressions

I'm discovering some things the more I play Destiny.




I'm discovering an intriguing universe filled with potential. I'm discovering how great the combat system is. I'm discovering that the co-op gameplay makes sense and it feels empty without it. I'm discovering how much I suck at Control matches. I'm discovering that I will probably pour dozens of hours into this game when it releases. I'm discovering how much Bungie has grown from Halo. I'm discovering how much of a fool I was for thinking this game looked generic in previews.




But most of all, I'm discovering that Destiny could be the greatest online game ever made.




This isn't my first time playing Destiny. I played the Alpha last month. You can read my impressions on that here. As I said in my impressions there, I was not expecting much of Destiny. Yes it was being made by Bungie, the guys who created Halo, and there was a lot of hype surrounding it, but I just didn't get it. To me it just looked like another generic shooter. But when I played it, I was blown away. I became super hyped for it, and when I got access to the beta, I decided to play it again. Here are my thoughts.


Perhaps the biggest thing that the beta has compared to the Alpha is now we have a better understanding of Destiny's story. Basically, you have been resurrected from the dead by a little floating robot companion named Ghost. Most of Earth has been destroyed, and there is only one city left. This city is protected by a mysterious object named the Traveler, which is the big ball you've seen in previews. A Darkness is returning, and you must find and defeat this darkness before it consumes everyone. The game gives you a few missions to play on Earth and then stops your progress before you go on to the second planet, the moon. We don't get too much more info on it, but I'm intrigued to learn more about this universe. On one hand, the setup that I just told you sounds a little cliché, but on the other hand this is Bungie and they've proven they can do a good story and create an intriguing universe. What we do know, is that the voice acting is phenomenal and the soundtrack is amazing. Hopefully a sign of things to come.


Gameplay-wise, there hasn't been much that has been added since the Alpha. It's still got a great combat system, and some of the guns I've found are fantastic. You can go co-op or competitive. Customization has a lot more options, and is very satisfying. You can partake in more main missions, a free roam area, and a strike mission. The more I play with the economy system, the more I like it and find neat little things hidden in them. And yes, you can still dance, and it's still awesome and hilarious as the first time. The competitive multiplayer area, the Crucible, also makes a return, and I'm still terrible at it. Disappointingly, there is still only one mode you can play during the beta, and that's the domination mode called Control. There is a mode called Iron Banner but that's only a slightly different version of Control. While I know this is a beta, I was hoping that we could test out another mode just to give Bungie some feedback on it. However, the maps are very well made, and I believe the map First Light will become an instant fan favorite thanks to its vehicular combat in addition to infantry combat.


Obviously since this is a beta, there will be bugs. Surprisingly, I haven't encountered too many bugs or glitches, as with the Alpha. However, the biggest things I encountered was the occasional disconnection from the server (although my internet connection may have played a part in that). Since this is an online game, the disconnections are frustrating as you can't play the game. I wish there was an offline mode, just so I could continue playing while my network issues resolved. I know some people who have a far worse internet connection than me, and they will almost certainly have a tough time playing Destiny. Also, a little side note, I did notice that the shotguns in the Crucible were a little overpowered and I found myself with some cheap deaths, so I would like them to address that.


My position on Destiny has been reaffirmed. This may just be the biggest game of the fall, and one you should absolutely keep your eye on. I've put 10 hours into the Destiny Beta since starting it yesterday, July 20, and I'm absolutely hooked even though I've maxed out my character. Bungie may have something really special here, and I absolutely cannot wait to see how it turns out. Hurry up September 9.


Have you played the Destiny Beta? What do you think? Has your position on Destiny changed after playing the beta? Will you be buying it? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.


The Destiny Beta started on July 17 for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and will be closed for maintenance today July 21 and tomorrow July 22. It will resume on July 23 at 10 AM Pacific on PlayStation platforms and will launch at that time for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The beta will end on July 27 at a TBA time. Destiny will launch on September 9 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. These impressions were of the PlayStation 4 version of the Beta. Experience may vary from platform to platform.

Throwback Reviews: The Last of Us

I wrote this review in June 2013 a few days after The Last of Us came out. I did not play Left Behind (though I intend to at some point) or any other DLC. This is a review of the base game. I am republishing this since The Last of Us Remastered is releasing for PS4 July 29. It is currently available for PS3. The PS4 version will feature upscaled graphics at 1080p, 60 fps (compared to 720p, 30fps on PS3) as well as both multiplayer packs and the Left Behind DLC. Enjoy:

Post-apocalyptic fiction can be somewhat of a challenge in the entertainment industry. Video games, books, TV shows, and movies have overused this genre to the point where we go into these stories with low expectations. You expect a lot of cheap zombie animations and kills. Last year, however, this trend changed when Telltale games released The Walking Dead, which was my personal choice for Game of the Year. The choice and emotion found in the game was unparalleled in all forms of entertainment. I’d never think another piece of post-apocalyptic fiction could challenge that. That is, until I played The Last of Us.

            Naughty Dog, the creators of classics such as Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Dexter, and Uncharted bring another successful game with The Last of Us. The Last of Us provides a memorable experience for all players and it makes me remember why I bought a PlayStation 3. A lot of my friends play on Xbox 360 and I would love to play with them, but PS3 offered tons of exclusives simply unmatched. People are going to buy a PS4 just because of Naughty Dog. Not only is The Last of Us the best PlayStation exclusive of all time, it’s one of the all-time greats that will be looked upon and treasured for years to come.

            In The Last of Us, a cordyceps fungus infects mankind and brings the downfall of civilization. You control Joel, a man who has lived through both the luxuries and pleasures of life today but now struggles to survive in a world where people will kill you just for shoes. It makes players start to appreciate the life we have today. Without spoiling anything, Joel has been through a lot and you feel sympathetic for him throughout your journey.

            Early in the story, you meet Ellie, who is the real star of The Last of Us. She only knows the post-apocalyptic world being born after the outbreak. She does and sees many things most normal 14 year olds don’t, but that’s what makes her special. You start caring for her and feel protective for her throughout your adventure. She can also handle herself in a fight, and this makes for some pretty cool scenes in the game.

            Starting off in Boston, Ellie and Joel begin a cross-country journey to get Ellie to the Fireflies, a resistance group trying to fight the Military. Why? Well, I’m not going to spoil it for you, but trust me, you will be surprised. The journey is intense, filled with intense encounters and exciting plot points. The game is an emotional rollercoaster that shows just how bleak and hopeless this world is. It is one of the most immersive games I have ever played. Of course, it does help that the graphics are superb and rival that of next-generation games. The voice acting and motion capture is top notch, and Gustavo Santaolalla provides a memorable soundtrack to accompany your journey. The production value in this game is staggering and you can’t help but be in awe in some sections, especially in cut scenes.

            Of course, you are not simply going to reach your destination without encountering hostiles. There are two types of enemies in the game: the human survivors and the infected. Human enemies are smart and very dangerous. They will coordinate with each other and will act smart behind cover, making it more difficult to kill them than in Uncharted. The AI, while not perfect, is one of the smartest I have seen in a game in a while. You don’t have much ammo throughout the game, and are sometimes out completely. Stealth is absolutely necessary to use in The Last of Us, and you will mutter a curse under your breath if you are spotted. Taking out a room of enemies almost entirely with stealth is incredibly satisfying, similar to how satisfying stealth is in Rocksteady’s Batman games. Different tactics and strategies are important in The Last of Us, and not everyone’s journey will be quite the same.

            The other type of enemy is much more terrifying and you will almost always want to use stealth on these enemies: is the infected. The infected are people who have been affected by the cordyceps fungus and are lethal. Obviously they are less intelligent than the sane human survivors, but are more lethal and terrifying. Runners are one type of infected you will encounter, and they are not completely infected by the cordyceps fungus. They are fast though and are more aware of your movements. Another type, clickers, are the ones that will make you hate clicking sounds. That sound is absolutely terrifying and you will almost always want to avoid them, as the only way to silently kill them is with shivs and those are in limited supply. One hit from them and it is game over. The infected along with the survivors will provide a challenging journey.

            The Last of Us also comes with a crafting system and this is incredibly satisfying and is better than many RPG crafting systems such as the one found in Skyrim. From here you can make new weapons and health kits to aid you in battle. Even better, it happens in real time through your backpack, so you better hope there are no enemies about to charge at you. You will find this very useful in your journey.

            On normal, I beat the game in about 13 hours. However many people have completed the game in up to 17 hours. The game, though linear, has tons of replayability. New Game Plus is a great way to return, but the real draw is the insane amount of collectibles, firefly pendants, and comics. These include audio recordings, letters, notes, and pictures. They are very interesting and add a whole new depth to the game. These also may lead to a conversation with Ellie and helps you build your relationship with her. And trust me, after you beat this game, you will want to replay it.

            Multiplayer is also present in The Last of Us. This, like Uncharted, is not the focus of the game and is passable. It is nothing mind-blowing, however it is in no way tacked on or generic. It is a smaller package than Uncharted, with fewer modes, maps, and players. However it is very intense and is not something casual players can simply pick up.

            You choose a faction, Hunters or Fireflies, and begin a twelve week campaign to try to add and keep members of your clan. The Last of Us multiplayer also packs a deep customization system for outfits and gear. The two modes, Survivors and Supply Raid, have incorporated elements from the single player. You can use listen mode, which lets you see enemy movements from a distance (though you can only use it for a short time, unlike singleplayer). The crafting system is also in check and is very useful. Supplies are scattered around the map for you to use. Scaling back for The Last of Us multiplayer provides a unique experience for players and adds even more replayability to the game.

 

The Verdict_______________________________________________

            I have never played a game quite like The Last of Us. The game provides an excellent, emotional story and unique multiplayer. The adventures of Joel and Ellie are some of the most memorable I have ever had with a game. This is one of the best games ever made, and easily a strong contender for both Game of the Year and possibly Game of the Generation.

SCORE: 10/10 MASTERPIECE

Pre-Order the PS4 Version

Buy the PS3 version

Introducing Throwback Reviews

I am trying my hardest to put out more posts for everyone but I simply always don't have the time, especially with reviews. So I came up with a little solution. That solution is Throwback Reviews. Throwback Reviews are reviews that give me a chance to express my opinion on some older titles. I could review a game released a year ago or 15 years ago, it doesn't matter. And I hope you enjoy reading these reviews and that they give you a sense of nostalgia or maybe convince you to buy or not a certain classic.


The review will be very similar to what I do already with reviews. I will talk about the game and then issue a verdict on the same scoring scale. I can do these reviews during some times when there doesn't seem to be anything to talk about, so I hope this gets you to come back to the site during those times. I may also do it in the buildup to a new release. For example, in the week leading up to the Uncharted 4 release, I will put up reviews of the games in the series. In addition to giving you my thoughts on some earlier games, I will address what needs to be fixed in order for the next game to be a masterpiece.


Please also let me know what you may want me to review. I am one person, and I won't be able to get to everything but I will consider every request. Suggest your games either in the comments or tweet @8bitapeblog on Twitter your suggestion. I will start either this week or next week with my review of The Last of Us since the PS4 version is coming out. Stay tuned! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

PlayStation Plus: Is the Value Still There?

When it was first announced at E3 2010, many were skeptical of PlayStation Plus. People wondered whether it was worth it to pay for PlayStation Network's Premium Service. However, as time progressed, people realized it was. PlayStation Plus early on was offering free games like Wipeout HD and Zen Pinball, and the quality of titles started to improve as time progressed. Then in June 2012, Sony dropped a ton of quality games onto the service like LittleBigPlanet 2, inFAMOUS 2, Just Cause 2, and more. The quality kept growing, games like Saints Row The Third, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and Shadow of the Colossus being added to the service. In addition, PlayStation Vita was now benefiting from the Instant Game Collection with games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Gravity Rush. In addition to the free games, PlayStation Plus offered automatic game updates and discounts of up to 75% on the PlayStation Store (compared to 50% for everyone else) for its customers.




In the past year, big changes have happened to the service. At E3 2013, Sony announced that PlayStation Plus would be required for multiplayer gaming on PlayStation 4, except for Free to Play Games like Planetside 2 and Warframe (note you can still play online for free on PS3 and PS Vita). While at first disappointed by the fact that free online gaming is no longer a benefit to PlayStation, the immense value of PlayStation Plus caused me and many others to forgive them. The standard benefits to PS Plus still apply to members, things like automatic game updates, discounts, and more still apply to PS4 users. The Instant Game Collection is also still available for PS Plus members and now supports PlayStation 4. Some things have happened over the last few months with the Instant Game Collection that has drew much criticism from fans. First, ever since launch, PlayStation 4 has not received any AAA titles for free like its PS3 and PS Vita counterparts. We have instead received indie titles such as Resogun, Don't Starve, and Stick it to the Man. Second, all old games from the service have been removed and instead only new games will be offered. Finally, each platform will receive 2 games each on the first Tuesday of the month and will be removed on the first Tuesday of the following month to make way for the new titles. All these things, and Xbox's improvement with their Games with Gold service has made fans wonder if their is still value for PlayStation Plus.


And I'm here to say there is still tons of value with PS Plus

I never really had any desire for PS Plus until the PS4 came out, obviously because it was mandatory for online play. However, after being a subscriber for over seven months now, I feel like a fool for not getting it earlier. For $50 a year I save so much money. Just in the next year, I will probably save around $500 on games, and that's fantastic. Money is tight, and PS Plus is a lifesaver. I never got to play games like Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, or Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, but thanks to PlayStation Plus, I have. So I will explain why there is still value to PS Plus, and you are a fool if you own a PlayStation console and don't have it.


1. No publisher is willing to put their brand new PS4 game on the service: Who in their right mind would put a six month old game on the service? I see people asking for Assassin's Creed IV, Infamous Second Son, even Watch Dogs to be put on the service. Do you people know nothing about business? Those games aren't even ten months old! "But NBA 2K14 got put on the PS3 list last month, why not PS4?" Because the PS4 version (and the Xbox One version) are the primary version that they focus the majority of their energy on. So yeah, maybe Sony won in convincing 2K to put their latest basketball game on the service, but if it was the PS3 version. Yes, Sony has already confirmed AAA games will be coming onto the service by the end of the year. When the game is about a year old. THEN you may see Killzone or Knack as a free game. Driveclub will be the first one in October. So quit your whining, AAA games are coming.


2. The PS4 free games are still fantastic: If you see anyone's top 10 list for best PS4 games so far, games like Resogun, Don't Starve, Outlast, or Stick it to the Man are highly likely to be on there. Those are all indie games, and they all were free on PS Plus. And these aren't bad games either. Look at their Metacritic scores. 8/10 and 9/10 scores seem to pop up a lot on those games. The upcoming July 2014 lineup looks particularly interesting with two amazing games, Towerfall Ascension and Strider. Again, both of those titles are very well received. So if because they're indie and don't have an EA or Ubisoft sticker on them you don't get them, I can't stress enough how much you are missing out.


3. Sony hasn't forgotten about PS3 or Vita: PS3 and Vita each have strong lineups every month. Last month PS3 had NBA 2K14 and Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, and Vita had Terraria and Mutant Mudds Deluxe. All excellent games, and Sly Cooper, Terraria, and Mutant Mudds all were cross buy, so you own both the PS3 and Vita version of that game. Next month is another strong lineup, with Dead Space 3 leading the PS3 lineup along with Vessel, and Vita also is good with Doki Doki Universe and Muramasa Rebirth. And all signs point to games like Saints Row IV appearing on the lineup in the coming months. It's clear Sony still has a strong commitment to the PS3 and Vita, and that shouldn't deter you from being a subscriber.


4. Sony is smart by keeping games for only 30 days on the service: While it may seem like an annoyance, Sony is saving money by restricting games to 30 days on the service, so they can spend more money to get other games for us. And by the way, just because it's on for 30 days doesn't mean you have to download it within 30 days. Just go to the Sony Entertainment Network Online Store, check out the free game, and then you can download it whenever you like, even after it gets taken off. Oh, and everything is available right at the start of the month so you don't have to keep waiting for the game you want.


5. The Instant Game Collection is still ahead of Games with Gold: Yes, Xbox has been improving their Games with Gold service. Yes, it's great how you can keep their games even after your Gold membership expires. But, PlayStation Plus still offers more games (six versus two) and newer games than Gold. Yes Xbox had a great month last month with Dark Souls for Xbox 360 and Halo Spartan Assault for Xbox One, but Dark Souls came out two and a half years ago, whereas PS Plus offers games about a year old. It's good that we have competition and I hope Xbox gets more competitive with Plus, but as of right now, Plus is the best premium in gaming.


And, in conclusion, remember that free games are still free games. Be thankful that you are even getting free games, because you would be complaining if they took that away. I have discovered great games on PS Plus that I could have never gotten to without it, and Games with Gold is molding into that. Stop your complaining, and just enjoy the content you have. Because it's fantastic. And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

Watch Dogs Review: Connection is Power

The soldiers patrolled as usual one clear evening. Then, all of a sudden, one of the guard's explosives malfunctioned, killing him and another guard. Another explosive malfunction killed another guard, and a transformer blows up, killing another. The remaining guards became fearful. One by one they fell, picked off by an malfunction in a generator or a transformer. One poor soul was attracted by a cell phone going off, only to fall victim to another explosion malfunction. As the last guard fell, I pressed the circle button on my DualShock 4 controller, retook control of the main character, and walked into the complex. I did all this without once stepping foot into the area, and simply hacked via security cameras from a distance. This is something Watch Dogs brings that is truly unique.




For those who don't know about Watch Dogs, let me fill you in. Watch Dogs is an open world action game from Ubisoft, specifically Ubisoft Montreal. The development team behind Watch Dogs is made up of many of the brilliant minds behind Assassin's Creed II, which I hold as the best in the Assassin's Creed franchise. So there's already some big expectations with Watch Dogs already, but the expectations didn't stop there. Watch Dogs was first shown at E3 2012 and blew away everyone with it's excellent hacking gameplay and impressive graphics. The hype for this game has been mounting ever since then, so does it live up to the hype? Yes and No. Watch Dogs is not the ultimate next-gen experience we were led to believe, but it is still a fantastic game.


Watch Dogs is set in Chicago, and the entire city is being controlled by a central software called ctOS. Since the implementation of ctOS, the crime rate has dropped and people get to work faster. However, someone who is able to infiltrate this system could become extremely powerful. Fortunately for you in Watch Dogs, you have.  You play as Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker who saw something he was never meant to see. A hit was ordered on him and it ended up killing his six year old niece. So now, 11 months later, Aiden is after those responsible. While Aiden is a more likable protagonist than say Connor from Assassin's Creed III, he still isn't really all that likeable. Especially when he puts his loved ones in danger even though he knows it would put them in danger. Along the way you will meet a much more interesting cast of characters. There's Clara Lille, a tattoo artist who also a close ally to Aiden. You'll also meet T-Bone, another hacker who has quite the booby trapped hide out. And then there's the most interesting character in the game Jordi Chin, who is a fixer and is extremely entertaining. There are also the villains Iraq, a former soldier who now runs the Viceroy gang, and Lucky Quinn, a creepy old guy who runs the Chicago South Club. The plot itself is overall pretty good and the supporting cast helps to drive this home, but unfortunately the emotional moments in the game don't really hit as Ubisoft probably would have liked to. And the ending, while it does give a satisfying conclusion to the main plot, it then comes right back after the credits and immediately sets up Watch Dogs to become a long-lasting franchise. I think they could have done that a little bit better. The dialogue is very well written, save for a few touchy lines here and there. So overall the story isn't as memorable or emotional as Ubisoft would have liked it to be, but it is still enjoyable nonetheless.


In terms of Sound Design, Watch Dogs excels here. The voice acting is well done across the board, even from Aiden, and the game's score is epic. However, the radio songs are absolutely garbage, so there needs to be some major improvement there. Of course the most talked about thing about Watch Dogs over the last few months has been the graphics and their supposed downgrade from what we were shown earlier in Watch Dogs' development. I can confirm that yes there is a downgrade, but honestly the game still looks pretty good especially at night in the rain. The animations are very impressive also. The more important aspect in my opinion is performance. Watch Dogs runs really well and maintains a good 30 FPS consistently except occasionally in multiplayer matches. There was one bug during a mission that forced me to quit the game and restart it, but that's basically it. Sure the graphics may not look as good back in 2012, but as long as the game runs well that's really all that matters, and in that aspect Watch Dogs succeeds.


What everyone has been really excited to know is how good is the gameplay. I can happily report that Watch Dogs succeeds in this aspect for the most part. The hacking gameplay is very fun and entertaining. It adds a new dynamic to the traditional open world gameplay. Hacking traffic lights to cause a massive car crash is entertaining, as well as blowing a steam pipe or causing a city-wide blackout. And even though I do wish we could have done melee combat outside of contextual takedowns, gunplay is very fun. Slow motion shooting with Focus is awesome, and the cover system is also really good. There is also a cool crafting system where you can craft bombs and devices to lure guards, similar to the way The Last of Us did it. This all combines to make incredibly diverse combat sections I mentioned at the start of the review. You can go in guns blazing, hack from a distance, or silently sneak around taking out enemies or avoiding them. It's all up to you, and I wish you could replay missions because I would love to replay some of those. However not all missions are great. The auto-fail stealth missions can become annoying, and it seems like half of the levels were designed by a different team. However, perhaps the worst aspect of the gameplay is the driving. It's not the worst driving I've ever had in an open world game, but it just seems far too boat-like compared to Grand Theft Auto V's more controlled driving. This makes the car chases and stealth driving sections the worst types of missions, and the final mission has a big car chase in it that will frustrate the heck out of you. This is a shame because Ubisoft really hyped up the driving preceding Watch Dogs' release.


Chicago is a massive world and while not exactly diverse (save for the countryside town of Pawnee), is still packed with things to do. Solve several investigations, infiltrate gang hideouts, ambush criminal convoys, perform fixer contracts, stop crimes, play poker, drink, and more. There is so much packed into this game that it will take you a long time to get to 100%. Using the profiler, you can also see into the lives of the NPC's walking the streets and steal bank accounts, songs, cars, or even get hints on potential crimes and items of interest. There is a strong sense of characterization with the people roaming the streets, and it makes you wonder if you should steal a rich bank account from someone whose best friend was recently killed. Eventually, you will run into the law, and you can chase through the city trying to hack blockers, traffic lights, steam pipes, bridges, and more to try to get them off of you. However there is one glaring flaw with this, you can get away VERY easily by hopping on a boat, even a slow speed taxi boat. The only thing that will follow you is a helicopter, but you can unlock a skill that disables it long enough for you to get away! Did they forget to add in police boats? This makes chases have a very similar outcome as you will find yourself almost always getting away by boat. This should be addressed.


There is a much-touted multiplayer mode, and this is the thing that will probably keep you coming back to Watch Dogs long after the credits roll. There is a fun capture-the-flag style Decryption mode, as well as online races, free roam, and a mode competing against mobile players on the ctOS app, but the one mode that stands out is online hacking. This is the one thing that truly exceeds any expectations for the game. You're essentially tailing another player, and they don't know you're there. Then, you install a backdoor virus into their game and the other player needs to find you while you try to blend in with the crowd or maneuvering around them. Whether if you're hunting another player or hiding, it is very tense. And if the hacker is spotted, the ensuing chase is also exciting as both players try to use their hacking skills to best the other. It is a very unique experience, and I have made some very awesome memories playing this mode. I only wish you could hack your friends, because that would make victory even sweeter.

The Verdict______________________________

Watch Dogs is a fantastic start to a new IP. It is not exactly what it was hyped up to be, and it isn't the game that dethrones Rockstar from the Open World Throne. Red Dead Redemption is still the best open world game ever made in my opinion, and Grand Theft Auto V is a better game than this. But Watch Dogs is a legitimate competitor to games like Grand Theft Auto, and I can't wait to see what's next. If you are a fan of open world games I highly recommend you check this one out. Don't believe the dishonest 0/10 user scores on Metacritic and give it a go for yourself. The first game in a new IP always isn't as strong as its sequels, and if this is what we get for the first game, I can't wait to see what we get with the inevitable Watch Dogs 2.

Rating:

9/10

Amazing

Have you played Watch Dogs yet? If so, what do you think? What would you like to see in a sequel? Please let me know. And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.






Watch Dogs is out now for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, and is due out later this year for Wii U. This review was of the PlayStation 4 version of the game. Experience may vary from platform to platform.

Destiny Alpha Impressions

I got to tell you, I wasn't really expecting much of Destiny.


Destiny is an upcoming online first person shooter from developer Bungie, who created the Halo franchise. It was first revealed to us February 2013. And had not really impressed me. It just looked like an online co-op shooter with exploration elements. It didn't look too special. Don't get me wrong I was looking forward to it, but I wasn't super hyped either. So when Sony announced an exclusive PS4 Alpha for the game, I thought I'd give it go. Sure enough Friday morning I got the invite, and I jumped in.


And it's been hard to jump out.


Destiny has stunned me. It has blown away ALL of my expectations. It went from a I'll wait for a price drop to I need this day one. Sure it was just a little sampling of an unfinished game, but what we got was impressive. You start out with creating a character. This isn't as in-depth as customizing the width of your nose like in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but it was a pretty substantial customization for an alpha build. The Alpha doesn't give much explanation to the story, there's the intro mission and another mission you can partake in. In addition to that, you can take part in an exploration area, where you and 2 other people can roam around taking side missions or taking out enemies. The enemies, while there isn't a whole lot of variety yet, are smart and fun to take out thanks to the excellent combat system. There's also the tower, which is above Earth and right next to that giant ball you've seen in promotional art. That is essentially a hub, and you can purchase weapons and armor, get missions, and interact with other players. Then there's the Crucible, where the competitive modes take place. My personal favorite, Control, involves teams running around trying to hold capture points.


So that's all that's available for the Alpha. There obviously will be more content in the final build, and that excites me because what's available in the Alpha is amazing. The co-op areas are wonderful. You can hop in your vehicle and zoom across the map, then jump off and take out the enemies. As I said earlier, the combat system is excellent. The shooting is fluid and responsive and maneuvering around enemies is awesome. The competitive multiplayer on the Crucible is also fun (though I'm terrible at it) but I wish there would be some competitive space battles. I'm sure it will be there eventually, but it just seems perfect for a game like this. After all, Bungie showed they could do space battles in Halo Reach. The Tower is the only place where the game is viewed in third person, much like how you would find it in an MMO. It also is the place where you can start dancing with five other players, laughing the whole way through.


The controls feel good, although I do find it a little strange that the mapped the melee button to the R1/RB button instead of R3/RS. The rest of the controls are standard shooter controls, but you can double tap the jump button to activate your jetpack for a few seconds. This made for some entertaining firefights with other players while playing Control. The graphics are also really good, they actually look a lot better than they did in the trailers. In terms of problems, I don't have many. Obviously the content here is limited since this is an alpha, but I do hope the final release has some substantial varied content to play. Surprisingly I didn't find too many bugs except for maybe the occasional texture pop-in, but it's hard to notice and I'm very happy the game is in this state for an alpha.


After putting several hours into the Alpha, I have a new opinion on Destiny. I headed into E3 last week with my doubts on Destiny. Bungie had to really impress me with it. And now that I've played it, all my doubts now seem foolish. Bungie may have something special here. They might have just topped their work with Halo. I could see myself really getting into this. I don't know if this is going to make the numbers Halo makes, but than again, Destiny has already surpassed expectations before release.


Did you play the Destiny Alpha on PS4? What did you think? Will you be picking up Destiny? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

The IGN Last Guardian Controversy: An Update (Please Read)

I would just like to update you all that IGN has issued an apology about the whole Last Guardian misinformation fiasco. IGN Editor in Chief Steve Butts has apologized, taken responsibility for the error, and shown steps that will be taken to prevent this from happening again. He also explained what happened to make the false claims about The Last Guardian being cancelled.


In a post I wrote today, I criticized IGN for making said claims and am thankful that they owned up to it. Hopefully this shows IGN and other gaming sites that treating reports as facts will not be tolerated by gamers. Since IGN did the respectable thing and owned up to it, I will not be boycotting IGN this week, and you should know IGN is an option for viewing E3 coverage.


E3 starts in just over 12 hours! Keep up to date with the blog's twitter @8bitapeblog for my latest impressions of what's revealed. I will be writing several posts throughout the week to explore it in-depth, so stay tuned. Enjoy E3 everybody. And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

IGN's Misinformation Campaign: A New Low for Gaming Journalism

I have been actively following the industry in depth for over two years now and I have never seen a journalism website go this low for clicks. So now it needs to be addressed. This revolves around The Last Guardian, a PS3 exclusive from Team ICO (makers of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus) that has been stuck in development hell for years now. So a Russian source recently reported to IGN that The Last Guardian has been cancelled. So, it is understandable why IGN would post an article about this report, it's there job after all to report on the news. However, even though the article states it's a report, their tweets have you think otherwise. Here is the tweet IGN posted earlier.


As you can see, IGN does NOT say that this is just a rumor, they say it is OFFICIAL. That means that even without an official confirmation from Sony, IGN has you believe the game is really cancelled, and thus is click bait. The tweet, at the time of this writing, has around 800 retweets. So you can imagine that confusion was created when Scott Rhode, PlayStation Software Product Development Head tweeted that him and Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida, "laughed at this news over dinner" and stated that the game is not cancelled, which Yoshida reaffirmed. You would think IGN would apologize for treating a rumor as fact, but no, they instead just update the article about Scott Rhode's tweet and change the title from "The Last Guardian is cancelled" to "The Last Guardian may have been cancelled" This, ladies and gentlemen, is a new low for gaming journalism.


Last time I checked, IGN is the #1 gaming website in the world (ironic, considering half of their articles are about movies or TV shows), and this is what they give us? Was this some sort of publicity stunt? There is NO way that they missed the fact that they neglected to put "report" in the title. And then some of the editors start tweeting out about the article, showing how "sad they are that the game has been officially canceled". IGN needed some attention heading into E3 and some money, so what better way to do that then to treat a rumor as confirmation and not apologize when the rumor is denied? IGN did not handle this professionally, so we need to take action.

I am asking for a boycott of IGN. Anyone who has their rip off IGN Prime service should cancel their subscription. Avoid IGN's E3 coverage this week and instead head to other gaming websites like Gamespot, Kotaku, and Destructoid, just to name a few. And if you are viewing IGN, make sure Adblock is turned on. I know that may sound a little harsh, but we don't click on IGN or watch their videos to be misinformed, we watch them to be INFORMED. And IGN misinformed us today, and they have not apologized for their actions. Maybe if enough people do this, maybe then IGN will get the dollar signs out of their eyes, realize what a terrible mistake they've made, and apologize to us. We need IGN to know that what they did was wrong, and make sure they and other gaming sites know gamers will not tolerate misinformation.




Please consider what I have discussed here. Comment below or tweet @8bitapeblog to discuss this with me. Stay tuned for my impressions of everything E3 related this week. And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

E3 2014 Preview

"It's like Christmas and Birthday all wrapped into one"
That was one of the first things then Sony Computer Entertainment America President Jack Tretton said at last year's Sony conference. And it perfectly sums up E3. With all the game reveals, hardware news, trailers, and demos, E3 is what every gamer gets excited for every year. So what can you expect? Here is 8-Bit Ape's E3 2014 Preview.

Microsoft- June 9, 9:30 AM Pacific

It's been a rocky road every since the Xbox One was revealed to the world just over a year ago, but recently Xbox has been getting back on track. With a new president who knows what he's doing, and a brighter focus on gaming, Microsoft has truly bounced back from the disastrous Xbox One reveal. And now is their chance to level the playing field (pun intended) with Sony.

What You Will See:

Lots of games. They've already said some games have had to been moved out because of the amount of games already booked. Expect to see a lengthy demo of Sunset Overdrive, as well as some Halo news. Hopefully the super awesome HD collection of all the Halo games is indeed real and heading to Xbox One this fall. And if you're wondering about Quantum Break, it has already been confirmed it will not appear at the show. However, there is a new trailer for you to enjoy until Gamescom. Hopefully some updates on Project Spark will also be announced. Microsoft will also tout the new Kinect-less Xbox One. Expect also some Titanfall DLC news and maybe a new IP reveal. I do also believe that a new trailer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will debut at the conference. I also predict a sizzle reel of the Xbox TV lineup is in order, but it will be very brief. Oh, and Xbox 360 price drop.

What You Will Not See:

Gears of War. The new game is still very early in development and if Microsoft is smart they will choose not to reveal it at E3. I doubt there will be any talk of Gears at all. Also, don't expect the Xbox 360 to get more than a few minutes of talk. Microsoft wants to get every 360 user to upgrade, so they don't want to waste anytime. You also won't see a lot of the Kinect either. I think Microsoft has realized people don't like the Kinect and will keep it as minimal as possible. Also, don't expect Microsoft to reveal a VR competitor to compete with Project Morpheus and Oculus Rift. I think it's best for Microsoft to sit this one out and see how the market reacts to a VR headset.

Game to Watch: Halo 5 Guardians

This is arguably Microsoft's biggest exclusive for the Xbox One, and even though it's well over a year away from release, expect Microsoft to give it a lot of screen time. Microsoft understands how big the Halo brand is, and they want to get rolling on the hype train as soon as possible. You may even see it longer than the reported Halo 2 Anniversary or Master Chief Collection. Whatever they give us, they must impress.

EA- June 9, Noon Pacific

While EA has questionable business practices, it is undeniable they have a plethora of talented studios making games. EA's E3 conference is always filled with games, and this year should be no exception. With that being said, let's preview EA's conference.

What You Will See:

A good mixture of new trailers and reveals. Battlefield Hardline might be the one that closes out the show, in the same fashion of last year with Battlefield 4. It'll be interesting to see in Hardline with DICE only making half of the game. Expect the reveals of the sports games Madden NFL 15, FIFA 15, NBA Live 15, etc. Dragon Age: Inquisition should also play a big part at the show. Also expect some new reveals from major studios. After the Battlefield Hardline demo, I predict they end the conference with a brief teaser for Mass Effect 4.

What You Will Not See:

I hate to say it, but I don't think we'll be seeing Mirror's Edge 2. Will we see some new footage before the year ends? Yes, but to be honest, I'm starting to think Mirror's Edge 2 is a 2016 game. I also don't expect any news on the Star Wars games outside of Battlefront. Visceral is obviously still early in their project since Amy Henning was hired just a few months ago to help write the game. And BioWare probably has their hands full with Dragon Age and Mass Effect to be worried about Star Wars.

Game to Watch: Star Wars Battlefront

I swear I have put over a thousand hours into the first two Battlefront games. It is my favorite multiplayer shooter of all time, and I have waited so long for another one. The new Battlefront has already been confirmed to make an appearance at EA's conference, and I hope it is a lengthy one. This game is supposed to be out in a year, so I hope we will see some gameplay footage and maybe an official title. This is a fan favorite, and perhaps my most anticipated game of E3 2014, so I hope it shines.

Ubisoft- June 9, 3 PM Pacific

Ubisoft is on a roll right now. After the massive critical and commercial success of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and more recently Watch Dogs, Ubisoft is thriving. They head into E3 with all eyes on games like Assassin's Creed Unity, The Division, and Far Cry 4. Let's see if they can keep the hype train rolling.

What You Will See:

A lot more news about Assassin's Creed Unity and Far Cry 4. In addition, they also will more than likely reveal the Last gen Assassin's Creed game for this year, rumored to be called Comet. The Division and The Crew will also more than likely get demos. They will also tout Watch Dogs' success, and I predict they will give a teaser at some DLC for the game. Hopefully they won't spend too much time on their entertainment productions. Aisha Taylor will most likely start another hash tag trend. Oh, and hopefully Ubisoft's big end-of-conference reveal will be jaw-dropping

What You Will Not See:

Much of anything else. I doubt you'll see a reveal of a game like Child of Light (though they may mention it). It just may not have enough time in Ubisoft's show. They have to give lots of news on three games as well as multiple demos and an end-of-show reveal, so that's a lot for an hour long conference.

Game to Watch: The Division

The Division seems to be Ubisoft's big title for 2015. After the game's delay, Ubisoft will be showing a lot to quench any fears about this game. This title has not completely sold me as much as Watch Dogs did when it was revealed, so it has to be a good showing. Hopefully a more in-depth look into the game's co-op mechanics and combat will be enough to get me hyped for this very ambitious project.

Sony- June 9, 6 PM Pacific

The PlayStation 4 has put Sony on top of the console market. At 7 million units sold, the PS4 is giving much needed success to Sony. Now the question is will they be able to keep such a great advantage. Sony soundly beat Microsoft at E3 last year with the DRM and price announcements. Now they don't have such luxury, and in order for Sony or Microsoft to win, they need to bring the games.

What You Will See:

I'm going to make a bold prediction that Sony will drop the price of the PS4 to $349 in an effort to stay cheaper than the competition. Expect Sony to tout PS4's success, but then jump into games. The Order 1886 will get a lengthy demo, as will Driveclub. Expect Sucker Punch to show up with Infamous: Second Son DLC. I am predicting that Sony will also reveal games from some of its biggest studios, most notably Media Molecule. Indies will also once again be present at the conference, along with some Destiny gameplay. I believe Project Beast is a real thing, and it will be at E3. And I hope The Last Guardian is there, but I'm not holding my breath.

What You Will Not See:

A lot of screen time for the PS Vita. It will get some time, maybe a game announcement or two, but Sony will dedicate 95% of the conference to PS4 more likely, so I doubt we'll be hearing too much about the Vita. There will be maybe a minute or two devoted to PS3, but no more. And I don't expect Project Morpheus to make a big appearance at the conference, but I think it may be available for demo on the show floor.

Game to Watch: Uncharted 4

Naughty Dog has seen turmoil over the last few months it has not seen since the beginning of the PS3 era. Several key people in the company have left. However, Uncharted 4 is well into production, and Naughty Dog is a big company filled with talented people still in it. Uncharted has already been confirmed to make an appearance at E3, but we don't know how big it will be. Another teaser? A cinematic trailer? Gameplay? I think we'll see a cinematic trailer, along with a Fall 2015 release date. It will be interesting to see this game come June 9.

Nintendo- June 10. 9 AM Pacific

For the second year in a row, Nintendo will not be holding a traditional press conference. Instead, it will host an hour long Nintendo Direct. Nintendo is experiencing unprecedented success with the 3DS, while the Wii U is struggling. This E3 will help shape the future of the Wii U, and hopefully it breathes new life into the struggling console.

What You Will See:

Zelda. Plain and Simple. Lots of Zelda. This is the year Nintendo fans have been waiting for a while. The reveal of Zelda for the Wii U. But we'll get back to that later. What else is there? Well obviously an extensive look into the new Smash Bros. Expect official release dates for the 3DS and Wii U versions. Also a new look at the Pokémon 3DS titles, maybe even a new Wii U Pokémon. The Monolith Project called X will hopefully make an appearance. I also think a new Metroid will be announced for the Wii U.

What You Will Not See:

I have a strong feeling Nintendo is going to focus a lot less on 3DS for this conference. They know the 3DS will still sell with Smash Bros. and Pokémon on their way, so it's time to get those Wii U consoles off the shelves. I doubt even a Zelda reveal will do much to get consoles off shelves, but at least Nintendo will be trying, and that is important.

Game to Watch: The Legend of Zelda for Wii U

You knew this was coming. This is the E3 Nintendo fans have been waiting for since the Wii U was revealed in 2011. A new Legend of Zelda for Wii U. Many people will probably tune into the conference just for this. Sure there may be an HD remake to please some fans, but everyone is ready for Zelda U. This will not be the game that gets Wii U consoles flying off the shelves, but if it delivers the satisfying experience gamers are hoping for, than that's good enough. Yes Reggie, our bodies are ready.

Other Predictions

I'm excited to see Batman: Arkham Knight and The Witcher 3. I doubt Call of Duty Advanced Warfare will give me hope for the once-proud franchise. I think No Man's Sky will make an appearance, and I hope it blows me away once again. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will have a trailer at least six minutes long. I'm interested to see how Evolve is. I'm predicting the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Collection is real, and I'm tempted to buy it for MW1 and MW2. Rockstar will not appear at E3, but either Sony or Microsoft will announce a PS4/X1 version of Grand Theft Auto V while Rockstar toils away at finishing the next Red Dead.


There is definitely reason to be excited about E3 2014, and I can't wait for it to get started. I will be posting my reactions to game reveals and other news. Let me know what you're excited for in the comments below, and take our poll to show which conference you are most excited for. Follow 8-Bit Ape on Twitter @8bitapeblog for my immediate reactions to all the news.


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