Tag Archives: game reviews

Gamer's Life, General Commentary

A Possible Destiny

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Image captured by Hatmonster.

The release of Destiny is important. It is. Whether you love the game or hate the game, our general reaction to its release has made it important. Many of us, while definitely enjoying the game, have found ourselves disappointed with everything surrounding the core gameplay: the story, the characters, the by-the-numbers feeling that creeps up on you as you shoot your way though another gang of enemies, and so on. The reviews available so far have been fair and have definitely reflected this, yet it kind of feels like we’re all holding back somehow. It’s as if we feel like it’s too early to be casting our final judgments on the game since it just came out, but that’s just it: the very fact that many of us are approaching it this way is telling. We want the game to be better. We want to give it time to become better, and the real crazy catch of it is that, for perhaps the first time, it’s a desire that could actually be fulfilled! Continue reading A Possible Destiny →

Console, Review

Ryse: Son of Rome Review – Glory To Rome

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Screenshot from Crytek press site
Screenshot from Crytek press site

It’s fair to say that Ryse: Son of Rome has had a difficult time gaining traction up to its release after officially debuting at Microsoft’s E3 press conference last year. While the game impressed visually, critics and the public seemed concerned about the extensive use of quick time events and also what the combat would play like. From there on Crytek worked to fix and alter many of the criticisms first levied at the game before its eventual launch day release with the Xbox One. Ryse: Son of Rome is set during the reign of Nero in ancient Rome and takes players on a quest for revenge after a barbarian raid on the city. Is Ryse: Son of Rome a worthy contender in the arena or should it be fed to the lions?

Interestingly enough, Ryse decides to tell its story out of order. You start at the end, only to revisit essentially how you got to where you are now. You play Marius Titus, a hero to his fellow soldiers, a proud Roman soldier, and someone who’s willing to risk life and limb to get the job done. While on the outside he simple appears as a dedicated soldier, Marius has a darker goal of extracting revenge on those that killed his family during a barbarian raid on the city. This gives him his drive and ultimately will take us from the crowded streets of Rome to the dense forests of Britannia. For what it’s worth, I was never lost or confused along the way even through out the many twists and turns the story takes. Continue reading Ryse: Son of Rome Review – Glory To Rome →

Food For Thought, General Commentary

To be human these days is a dangerous thing

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Image by Flickr user jaymiek
Image by Flickr user jaymiek

I’m guessing that many of you have, by now, seen the news about the “Internet outrage” over Carolyn Petit’s  review of Grand Theft Auto V for Gamespot. Some readers went ballistic over her calling the game “misogynistic” and scoring it a 9 out of 10. Mean words and evil thoughts ripped through many of the comments on the article. Surprising? Sadly no.

I don’t envy game journalists and reviewers, those that get paid for their services, that is. I can’t imagine the stress of coming under fire for simply expressing one’s opinions about a game. For any number of reasons, so many people hop onto the Internet in attack mode, ready to fling nasty feelings and epithets and anything and anyone. And yes, we know, there are lots of angry gamers out there.

Continue reading To be human these days is a dangerous thing →