Final Fantasy X & X-2 HD Preview

If you have owned a Playstation 2 system or have at least a couple of friends that owned the system you have surely heard of this title and its sequel. Final Fantasy has become a stable for the RPG genre for ages, and with the release of Final Fantasy X and X-2 the Playstation 2 was taken to it's limits on graphic capabilities. That was back in 2001, now we are twelve years on and RPG giant Square-Enix has announced a re-release of this content in high definition for the Playstation 3 system. There are many good and bad perks to this, however given the titles have yet to release the best option here would be to present information about what will be coming soon with these titles.

The first thing you may notice is a slight tune up in the graphics, with graphic quality being a big thing to most gamers today they will find a replay of either Final Fantasy X or X-2 more gratifying with a graphic enhancement. Square-Enix has definitely put time into smoothing out the character models, a recent video comparison of the original and remake of Final Fantasy X makes this incredibly apparent. The video of this comparison is available below if you have yet to see it.

 

Both Final Fantasy X and X-2 have also been announced on Sony's mobile platform the Playstation Vita as well. This mobile play function will work in tandem with the Playstation 3, allowing players to make progress on one system then continue playing on another. The ability to cross save your game saves between devices makes Final Fantasy X/X-2 a much more viable purchase than if it were playable on a single system. This will also make putting 100 or more hours into the game much easier for players who can't be glued to their home system.

As of recent updates from Square-Enix it looks as though the Final Fantasy HD collection will also be the international versions of both games, this will allow players who have yet to play the international versions of these games a chance to play additional sequences that weren't available in their version of the game. Sequences such as battling Dark Aeons or vanquishing the almost indestructible creature Penance will finally be available to players worldwide. Square-Enix has also announced that a 30 minute segment will be added to the credits of one of the games (most likely bridging the gap between FFX and FFX-2) and that this new sequence will include new voice acting. This additional "ending" if you will, will allow players at least 30 more minutes in the world of Spira, even if it is only by listening. At the present time a re-release date on this content has yet to be confirmed, however most players have heard anywhere from September to December of 2013 in the rumor scale. With these months rapidly approaching many gamers including myself may be saying goodbye to any social lives they have outside of their respective work places.

All in all on a re-release scale Final Fantasy X/X-2 is looking very good, and with the additional content and cross platform capability both games will be well worth the purchase. At present this HD collection is available for preorder at local retailers and on www.amazon.com, if you are a fan of either one of these classics reserve your copy as quickly as possible.

PS3 Title: The Last of Us

Here is yet another review of one of the latest releases and one of the final fantastic games of this generation of consoles. The Last of Us is quite possibly the best gaming experience you will ever have and I am proud to be able to review this game. As always this is an unbiased review of the game itself, breaking down the key elements of the game itself. Everything you read is purely my opinion and is not in place to be offensive. With that out the way let us begin the review of the best game you will play on the Playstation 3 system.

The first primary element of the Last of Us is the story. If there is a single thing you will remember after playing through this game it is the journey you experience. The characters are very easy to relate to given the many situations and hardships they experience as the game plays out. You follow Joel, a man jaded by losses he has had as the world has changed around him. You also spend the majority of the game following Ellie, a young girl who has also been changed by the world around her. The primary stage of the story is set around the United States, the main change you will notice from the start is that North America has been quarantined due to a rapid infection. People suffering from this infection turn into zombie like creatures or mutate further based off of the duration of the infection.

Just in case you haven't read anything about this game, it is a zombie game. However the focus is not only on the infected, people who are still alive in this post apocalyptic world have also been turned to an almost savage state, making just about every encounter questionable and dangerous. This is the world you have to find a way to survive in, and it is a fantastic experience you will get immersed in from the start. The strongest point of the Last of Us has to be the bond between both Joel and Ellie, and no it is not a love interest you creepers. These two characters are too sides of the same coin in most aspects, they have both experienced loss and have a careless attitude when it comes to their own lives. With that being said they are not reckless with intent to get themselves killed, they just wouldn't really care if they live or die. The character arc between these characters as they overcome the challenges of the world is a great experience in its own right. With the story elements taken care of let us now move to the gameplay that the Last of Us has to offer.

The Last of Us introduces a fresh game experience with action elements, stealth elements, and story elements. You will find yourself often times simply walking and scouring buildings for resources as you proceed through the game. These "slow" points of the game would be incredibly boring if not for the scenery and dialogue taking place. These game elements get you much more involved and invested in the characters you are leading through the world around you. The action elements are nothing we haven't seen when it comes to gunplay. Naughty Dog's previous Playstation title: Uncharted has an almost identical combat system when you are in a firefight or engaging in melee combat. Some "firearms" such as a bow and arrow or flamethrower, require slightly more strategy behind them to make them effective. 

Clickers are not the kind of thing you want giving you a hug

The stealth element of the Last of Us allows you to take a break from blasting everything in sight and places you in many very troublesome situations where sneaking may be a whole lot better than trying to fend off all of the infected or humans in your path. Given that Joel's character is designed to be more realistic than most others, he has to account for recoil with any firearms. This makes gunplay take a back seat to a stealth approach, especially if you want to save ammunition for when you might really need it. The stealth system factors similar elements from Skyrim or Oblivion to make the game more challenging, these elements include moving slowly when in stealth mode to decrease chances of detection, and the ability to use blocks or bottles to make noise in areas. Making noise will draw any nearby enemies to a specific area so throwing a bottle down a hallway you do not plan to explore will free up the road you do intend to travel. As much as most players would like to be constantly shooting down every enemy in sight this is not the game to do so. The enemies (especially infected) are strong and will not go down without a fight. To make things more interesting some of the creature, such as the clicker in the photo above, can instantly kill the player upon grabbing them. Given that players don't like to die this encourages planning before making any movements so that you can get through an area without complications. All in all by combining these elements the player has many choices available to them and most players will not play 100% the same way.

The Last of Us is definitely a must buy for any players looking to get invested in the characters as well as have a fantastic gameplay experience making their own decisions as to which methods to perform to progress in the game. Definitely give this game a try if you have the means, after all if there is any game worth grabbing on the Playstation 3 system, it is this one. 10/10

Resident Evil Revelations

This is my legitimate review of Resident Evil Revelations. Before proceeding with this review let’s first go over the brief overview that is this game. Originally released on the Nintendo 3DS, Resident Evil Revelations allows players to once again take control of heroine Jill Valentine in this tale that takes Resident Evil back to its’ roots in the survival horror genre. Joined by familiar faces from the series as well as a few new allies, you must discover the secrets behind the Queen Zenobia: a large ship adrift in the Mediterranean Sea. With this synopsis out of the way let us go ahead and move on to the review portion of this article.  

Resident Evil Revelations is the first of the series to intertwine both the horror element of Resident Evil and the action element of Resident Evil. For those who are familiar with the franchise over the past few years, you should be already familiar with the fast pace of Resident Evil 4,5, and the most recent Resident Evil 6. If you thrive on constant explosions, witty one liners, and the fire and forget play style of these games you probably will not enjoy Revelations as much. Resident Evil Revelations tones things down, allowing players to once again assess the situation and enemies involved before blazing through an area. Being that the enemies in the game can sometimes take many rounds to put down and that ammunition is scarce you won’t often be burning through every baddie you find. This is an element present in the original Resident Evil games, a certain fight or flight aspect that will be beneficial to utilize as you play.

In terms of controls you will find this title to be no different from any other third person shooter available. You are still using the same two buttons to both aim and fire on any infected in your path. The only addition, which Resident Evil fans will appreciate, is the ability to walk and shoot. This feature is about as beneficial to you in Revelations as it was in Resident Evil 6; it gives you the chance to dodge enemy attacks while remaining on the offensive. With these two elements the game is definitely easy to pick up and play through, however if you were looking for an innovation in the control style unfortunately you will be disappointed. 

The final control/gameplay addition to Revelations is a “scanner” system. This is the first control changing element that will take a primary seat in your game. Capcom has conveniently placed the scanner system in place as a method to retrieve health items. This way the scanner will actually be used in the game. This is both a unique benefit as well as a major detriment to the gameplay of Resident Evil Revelations. The benefit is that you have a new way to obtain health items, making the game slightly more challenging as you can’t just sit on hundreds of healing items while you play. They are earned instead of given. The drawback would be this same effect, you will find yourself trying to scan monsters and taking unnecessary damage only to be forced to use your healing item right after receiving it. With the game play elements taken care of let us move to the storyline of the game itself.

If you have played any Resident Evil game prior to Resident Evil 4 you will be very familiar with the conspiracy method of storytelling. If you haven’t played any of the older Resident Evil games you will notice a  fashion where you are constantly receiving small bits of the big picture, leading to the ultimate unveiling of the entire conspiracy being the ending point. This is an entertaining way to receive the storyline of a game since you are not given all of the information right away and small twists will help you reach the ultimate conclusion. To avoid any unnecessary spoiling of the game I will simply state that Jill Valentine and Parker Luciani are investigating a ship in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea in search of allies Chris Redfield and Jessica annoying mouth. The primary focus of the game is in Jill’s storyline however you will play as other characters, including Chris Redfield to get the full story told throughout the game.

All in all I would give Resident Evil Revelations a very high 10 out of 10 since like many games it has drawbacks but it gives you a very interesting storyline with gameplay elements that are familiar and make the game worth playing. It is also the first step in a panic/survival horror direction Resident Evil has taken since Code Veronica. Definitely worth at least one play through to the target market type of player. Give Resident Evil Revelations a try if you plan to play any Resident Evil games this year.

Gears of War: Judgment

Welcome to my Gears of War Judgment review, before proceeding with the pros and cons of Epic and People Can Fly’s latest shooter let us begin with a brief overview of the title. Set before the events of Gears of War this title follows familiar faces Damon Baird and Augustus Cole as they work to stop the Emergence Day invasion of the locust horde. Though they may break a few coalition ordered rules as they seek salvation they believe this is more than worth what they plan to do.

As always we will start with the gameplay elements of Gears Judgment to work our way into the title itself. If you have played a Gears of War title, or any recent third person shooter for that matter, you will find the controls to be easy to get familiar with. 

Following the traditional left trigger aim right trigger shoot will make the game easy to work with even for first time Gears players out there.  Judgment does introduce a few ‘hotkey’ elements that previous Gears of war titles do not have available. The ability to quickly throw grenades or simply press one key to instantly swap between the two available weapons in your inventory will allow you to easily take control of some of the most difficult situations.

With the control scheme out of the way there is one additional change to the game previous titles have not seen before. These missions labeled “declassified missions” allow you to undertake challenges as you progress through the main storyline. This also adds an element of realism and depth to the main storyline. By performing these missions you will find yourself tested by proceeding through sections of the game as you would not normally proceed. For example one section has players mowing through hordes of enemies with only pistols as opposed to the traditional method of blazing with higher powered weapons. As stated prior these missions are designed for players to proceed as Baird’s team actually experienced the events, making the story a little more in depth.

With the gameplay portion complete we now move to the general storyline of Gears of War Judgment. In an attempt to prevent spoilers from this portion of the review we will be keeping it short and sweet.  At the beginning of the game you find your squad on trial in the middle of a war, basically by this setting you can bet that Baird and company did something pretty bad since their hearing is equally as important as the war raging around them. The campaign revolves around the events leading up to the hearing, allowing players to recount all of the squad’s conflicts including what they are on trial for. Being that this story is set long before the original Gears of War title it allows players to appreciate the two comic relief characters in a more serious setting as well as prepare them for the Gears of War trilogy.

The final portion of this review will be covering the multiplayer playlists and elements Gears of War Judgment has to offer. Apart from the usual deathmatch playlists the new Gears title introduces “Overrun” mode, which has human players defending an emergence hole cover trying to prevent the locust invasion. On the other side of the field the locust team have many available characters in which to send to kill the human team. Overrun is a very balanced and class based playlist, with players having the option of medic, soldier, engineer, and scouting classes on the human side. With a team comprised of these four classes you have a very strong offense and defense available to you. The locust forces obviously follow a more offensive path, starting as weak wretches or tickers to soften up barriers but then working up to maulers or cerapedes to put the heat on the opposing team.

All in all Gears of War Judgment earns a well warranted seven out of ten from me. This grade is given since the game is very enjoyable and will have play value through the multiplayer options and the declassified missions. However it is also a Gears game that can be missed as the game experience does not offer anything exceptional that previous Gears titles have not offered prior to this point.

Time Machine Review: Legend of Legaia

For those who may be unfamiliar with my reviewing prior to this point allow me to fill in some gaps. I am a player of the past, older video games with “crappy” graphic quality do not hinder me. When I play a game I play for the story as well as the gameplay elements. With that all cleared up allow us to begin the first of many possible “Old Timer” reviews, where I take a previous generation game that I have recently beaten or am currently playing, and give it a proper review for the new age. I cannot think of a better spot to begin with than the most recent run I am performing in SCEA and Contrail’s masterpiece Legend of Legaia. If you have never played Legend of Legaia I can simply sum it up as being one of the most unique JRPGs of all time with a very good story attached to it. With that said if you haven’t played it and just read that summary it is time to go buy it.

As always with my reviews we will begin with the gameplay elements. Legend of Legaia is the first JRPG to have a fighting style that makes it distinctly different from others. This in depth combat system makes any Final Fantasy game look incredibly mediocre in comparison.

Miracle Arts win fights

In a typical ‘Legaia’ battle you will find yourself manually entering all of the attacks you want your character to perform, down to left and right handed punches or low or high kicking. This element’s only drawback is that due to the elaborate setup battles can take longer than in most games. The introduction of Martial Arts moves makes battles more interesting, ‘Arts’ can be performed by entering the right attack commands in a specific order, dealing extra damage and doing a cool move in the process. As stated before this combat system will make fights longer than the normal RPG battle which is probably the only downside since there are many available arts to keep battles fresh.

With the primary gameplay elements out of the way let’s go over the storyline of Legend of Legaia. 

Being that this is an older game and I am not the only individual who has or will play it we will be keeping spoilers out of this section. A brief summary of the storyline would be that you follow three heroes in their quest to vanquish the mist that has engulfed their world and turned once civil creatures into foul beasts. Using divine creatures of their own you control the very fate of this world. As in any game before it the storyline is well put together and has well developed characters. The only flaw here that could take the audience away is a slight childish take on some of the primary characters.

The storyline is definitely the primary reason, apart from martial arts, that anybody would see this Legend to the end.

All in all I would give Legend of Legaia a fair 9/10 since it implemented an original combat system, had a well put together storyline, and had a great cast of characters. The only downside with this title would come only if the player is not as patient as most since combat draws out from time to time. Definitely give Legend of Legaia a try if you have yet to do so.