Category Archives: Gaming

Armored Core is Back to Bring us Mech Mayhem and Glory

June 2, 2023 Jason Nichols Leave a comment

Are we tired of the same old looter shooter or MMORPG-paid DLC expansion? Most of us are, and developer FromSoftware has heard our pleading cries. Armored Core 6 is a third-person shooter mecha game that offers a swarm of options to customize your mech and play-style. Set to release August 25 of, 2023 should you start putting money aside for another $70 purchase, from everything we have seen, this one might be worth the greenbacks.

Armored Core VI Premium Edition, avail in the Bandai Namco store

Suppose you are trying to familiarize yourself with the giant robot shooter market. In that case, Armored Core is a great place to start. Since 1997 the franchise has been known for its customizable mechs, or “Armored Cores,” and its focus on strategic gameplay. Over the years, the franchise has released numerous titles on various platforms, including PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Xbox 360. The games have generally received positive reviews for their deep customization options, challenging gameplay, and engaging storylines.

For this installment, a mysterious new substance called “Coral” was discovered on the remote planet Rubicon 3. As an energy source, it was believed this substance could dramatically advance humanity’s technological and communications capabilities. Instead, it caused a catastrophe that engulfed the planet and the surrounding stars in flames and calamity: Forming a Burning Star System. Almost half a century later, Coral has resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed off by the catastrophe. Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight for control over the substance. The player infiltrates Rubicon as an independent mercenary vying for a piece of the new energy source.

Gameplay screenshot from Armoredcore.net

According to the games site, players can expect a semi-open world 3d shooter emphasizing mobility and movement maneuvers, a “3D combat mecha action game” that will see players “freely run around the three-dimensional stage with slow and steady three-dimensional maneuvers.” As a result, you can expect a slightly slower experience than you may have seen in Titan Fall 2. The big difference between the two is the movement will be happening while you are in the cockpit of your mech. But, again, basing all assumptions on the image on armoredcore.net: Pilots will take their giant robot to the skies and not just be limited to ground engagements. If conformity is a worry, cast it out of your thoughts. Heavy mech and pilot customizations is the mantra Fromsoftware developers are aiming for.

If you’re wondering why it took Fromsoftware so long to release another Armored Core title (10 years), it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of interest or a fan base. Still, a bustling studio churning out several successful games back-to-back slowed progress, explained producer Yasutaka Ogura. However, technologies like Ray tracing, cross-platform integration, and high-definition screens should help the developers to give us one of the most anticipated Mech mayhem titles yet.

Have you already pre-ordered, or should you wait for the reviews? Available for pre-order on all major consoles and Steam, all the fans can do is wait and hope it isn’t another Bandai cash grab. So leave a comment and what you think about Armored Core 6.

Armored Core VI Official Trailer

Gaming

Video Games are for More than Just a High Score

May 13, 2023 Jason Nichols Leave a comment

Gaming was once a niche activity, but it has quickly become a popular pastime for many people of all ages worldwide. Although we’ve all heard the criticism that gaming is a waste of time or mindless activity, It can contribute to a healthy and prosperous lifestyle.

There is already an encyclopedia of knowledge arguing against video games and listing their harmful impacts on your life. Since these topics are more familiar, let’s explore how your controller and keyboard can help your wellness!

Physical Health

One of the most common criticisms of video gaming is that it promotes a sedentary lifestyle, crippling physical health. While it’s true that sitting in front of a screen for hours on end isn’t the healthiest habit, it doesn’t mean that gaming can’t contribute to being active. On the contrary, some video games require physical activity and can be a fun way to exercise.

For example, games like Just Dance, Ring Fit, Pistol Whilp, and virtual reality platforms require players to move their bodies to play. As a result, these games can be a fun alternative to traditional exercise and a great way to motivate yourself to get moving. After all, isn’t blocking blaster fire with a lightsaber a little cooler than jogging the track?

Additionally, video games can provide a break from physical activity for those recovering from an injury or who have a disability that limits their mobility. Streamers with a physical or mental condition can participate in group activities and meet people they may never have been able to. For these individuals, video games can be a way to stay active and engaged while enjoying entertainment.

Mental Health

Video games can also have a positive impact on our mental health. Many games require problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity, which can help to improve cognitive function and sharpen the mind. I can’t tell you how often I picked up an exciting piece of Mythology from God of War or a bit of geography from Assassins Creed. Many games have complex storylines and characters that can teach players about history, culture, and social issues. Games like Assassin’s Creed and Red Dead Redemption receive praise for their attention to historical accuracy and for teaching players about people, places, and events.

On top of training your brain, gaming can provide a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and, albeit occasionally, rage. Grinding out a problematic level or winning a match can boost self-esteem and give a sense of pride. Even if you cannot compete in the real world, gaming gives everyone the option to be an NFL running back. Some studies have found that video games can effectively treat mental health issues. For example, one study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking found that playing video games could help to alleviate symptoms of depression in older adults.

Personal Development

Lastly, playing video games helps us build and preserve our friendships, nurturing social skills for relationships. Multiplayer games require players to work together as a team, communicate effectively, and practice leadership skills. These skills can translate into both personal and professional settings. In addition, games allow individuals to explore their interests and hobbies. Some games cover various topics, from power washing to space exploration, and can spark an interest in a new subject or hobby.

Overall, video games can positively and negatively impact one’s social life. As game developers and online communities work to create new and inclusive spaces, the number of self-described gamers will continue to grow. Therefore, individuals must be mindful of their gaming habits and when going too far.

Gaming, News

The Evil Dead Game: Proof the Industry Can Still Release a Complete Game

May 31, 2022 Jason Nichols Leave a comment

Evil Dead The Game was released on May 13th and has received a generally welcoming reception across the gaming community. In an industry where multi-million dollar franchises become complete flops, a smooth launch is a breath of fresh air for even the staunchest of critics.

Best described as a 4v1 survivor horror game, four players try and survive the onslaught of an ancient Kandarian Demon. Human and demon characters have access to a detailed skill tree, upgrading and improving stats after matches, and a rudimentary temporary leveling system available during gameplay. Survivors have several primary and secondary objectives to complete, but a demon’s only focus is to eliminate all the humans. Players can use dozens of tiered melee and ranged weapons found throughout the map, drive cars, and even visit familiar areas like the Knowby Cabin. The general game design might not be original; it works very well with lore that doesn’t try and take itself too seriously.

All of this was made possible by STARZ and all three studios (Renaissance Pictures, StudioCanal, and MGM) that own the franchise coming together to create a single product. This collaboration is almost guaranteed to ensnare fans from the original cult classic films like “Evil Dead”, “Evil Dead 2”, “Army of Darkness” and audiences introduced to the universe by the Ash vs Evil Dead series. Meticulous detailing gives the player a genuine feeling of being in the Evil Dead universe. Everything feels accurate and holds to what fans have already seen on screen. Bruce Campbell and even the less well-known characters display an almost uncanny design accuracy. Even if the game had been a flop, the horror and comical atmosphere created would almost certainly cement it as a Halloween seasonal favorite for fans that just can’t get enough boomstick.

But Evil Dead: the game is anything but a flop; over 500,000 copies sold, and platforms like Xbox, Sony, and PC are still running store weeks after launch. We can assume sales are steady. An initial rocky early release nearly ruined developers’ hopes for a successful launch. Even after a twelve-hour delay, and some slightly salty Twitter backlash for the said delay, the game has continued to surprise fans.

With more human survivors, weapons, levels, and Kandarian Demons undoubtedly on the way, Evil Dead lobbies seem jam-packed even without the future details. With all the hype building around the game, we are excited to see what Saber Interactive has in store for the coming holiday season. What did you love about the game, what did you hate, or are you still on the fence about buying? Leave your comments below!

Gaming, News

RDR2 Is Planning a Huge in Game Virus Update Right Under Your Nose

September 1, 2020 Jason Nichols Leave a comment

Content starved fans of the hit western adventure game Read Dead Redemption 2 are no strangers to waiting months on end for game updates. As recently as June 2020 online players rallied together adorning clown outfits and make up to mock RockStar developers for the lack of attention to the community. No one can be sure if that was the catalyst for what came after but Rockstar rolled out a massive update for the new Naturalist role to sated the masses. While it has been a breath of fresh “content”, taking into account Rockstars update timeline so far it could be months before the community see’s anything new. That is unless Rockstar is working on something, maybe a pandemic outbreak just in time for Halloween?

Mosey around the fantastic and breathtaking open world that is RDR2 long enough and you simply run out of things to do. So you usually find yourself in some quaint town somewhere hog tying the locals, photographing wildlife or causing trouble for law enforcement.This exact behavior led me to stumble on what could be Read Dead’s biggest update yet.

Fans of the original RDR can recall the nostalgic maps setting close to the Mexican border,the successor map being much larger actually encompasses the entire original area featuring some of the old favorites. Tumbleweed and Armadillo being two of the most prominent markers for the area. In the tiny desolate town of Armadillo players can probably recall the bleak absence of NPC’s or really anything in the area. Striving to complete a distance daily challenge I stopped in the town notating its usual Tim Burton cheer but what caught my eye was most of the towns people appeared gravely ill (sicker than usual for Armadillos residents). Some coughing as they seemed to struggle breathing, just getting up and walking around seemed painful, it’s important to mention that not all of the town exhibited these changes in behavior and appearance. You can see the dark depressions on the characters face and the absence of any color when compared to a regular NPC. The theory is that Armadillo is ground zero for a future update that will resemble the popular Undead Nightmare add for the first RDR. Not convinced, did I mention that as you follow these poor souls around they respond with unique dialogue like, “ I wouldn’t get too close to me if I were you” the foreshadowing if essentially overflowing.

You can argue that the whole area of Armadillo is surrounded in legend and cursed by a prominent character from the first title, the “Strange Man”. What you can’t argue with is residents lying on benches wearing face masks, the detailed in-game weather effects are well known but to this date I’ve never come across an NPC using a banana in rain or snow. Again it could simply be a symptom of an upcoming dust storm but plague seems logical if not more exciting. What is most interesting is the graves around Armadillo seem to now be littered with diseased and deformed bodies. One of the take away pieces of evidence is featured below, deformed corpses that seem actually give an option to pick up and de spawn after being shot in the head.Before taking the screenshot I did get a little trigger happy and decided to shoot most of the corpses in the head this confirmed they are not just deco.

Will this be another un dead outbreak, a pandemic that sweeps through the map crippling players stats, are these the ramblings of a conspiracy gamer who hasn’t seen the light of day in few days, that’s rhetorical don’t answer go ahead and leave your thoughts theories and comments below.

Gaming, News

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: A Welcomed take on Disney Verse Characters

May 4, 2020 Jason Nichols Leave a comment

With the pandemic keeping most of us isolated to a couple of walls and a roof many businesses have seen a surprising boon. One being the gaming industry, from PCs to mobiles people everywhere are discovering stories, competition and camaraderie through gaming. As a lifetime console player I myself have been pushed to the boundaries of familiarity and have been branching out towards mobile titles. Disney Sorcerers Arena was my first expedition into mobile gaming, what a pleasant experience it has been thus far warranting more time and respect than I thought was possible for a game you play on your phone.

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena allows you to take your most beloved Disney icons and square them off in an intense RPG turn based strategy game. Refreshingly difficult especially after advancing into the latter stages, players will have to perfect their combat and play style if they hope to complete the rich storyline. Multiple campaigns allows players the option to play as both a hero and villain, a multitude of rotating event campaigns ensures constant free content. Without a doubt a grind is to be expected when advancing characters through the star tiered system, luckily the debs have chalked the game full of XP and character unlock events to speed up the process while expanding your hero/villain collection. With pvp options the battles take place real time and you can expect an even greater challenge squaring off against real opponents.

Far from being a repetitive button masher the campaign allows you to keep your character in the later stages with level advancement, equipping/upgrading gear that is unlocked via missions. In Terms of re-play ability, ad intrusion and difficulty you have a mobile game with 100’s of hours of free story/event content the standard advert placement for a mobile game and scaling system that makes advancing a continuous challenge. Nothing can be said is put in place preventing you from being a top level player in terms of pay to play. On the other hand if you have the cash to spare the packs available to purchase allow you to unlock more characters, expand slots and gain the items needed for improving equipable gear.

I would say the title is worth the download and a popular one at that with millions of downloads on the Google play store alone. Initially I thought it would be more of a Disney gimmick that wouldn’t last a day in my phone’s storage space, how wrong I was. After a week still downloaded and has somehow wormed its way into a part of my routine, wake up, autoplay a few campaign levels, eat lunch and open my free chests, complete my daily quests. I’ve become a part of the Disney machine that missed me as a child, if it means I keep seeing great content and continued game support like this then I’m fine with it.

A score of ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars means I would definitely recommend to a friend maybe even a vaguely known acquaintance. If you have had a Chance to play Disney Arena please leave your experience in the comments section below albeit good or bad we’d love to hear about it.