Final Blog: Video Blog

For our final game review post, we decided to meet up at Meshal's apartment, one of our team members, to play some games and discuss what we liked and didn't like about them.

In the video you will see Michael arrive at Meshal's home, and is greeted by Matt and Brian who are playing Fifa 16 and Mortal Kombat X respectively. Michael begins discussion by asking questions about the game's and what they like/dislike about them. This is followed by further questions from Meshal. 

Big thanks goes to Meshal for supplying his home and his video equipment which he used very professionally. Meshal is also responsible for all production and editing.

Hope you enjoy!

Michael Sparks: Actor
Brian Ko: Actor
Matthew Theseira: Actor
Meshal Alragom: Actor, Producer, Editor

Dying Light The Following: Game Review

Reviewed by Michael on 18th May 2016

Our rating: 7.5/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows 

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter/Melee, RPG, Zombies, Horror

Dying Light The Following is a brilliant expansion that builds upon the already intriguing game mechanics from the core game. The game introduces Kyle Crane to a new area of Harran, a more open countryside environment with a much larger map than the original, and with this brings the ability to drive a dune-buggy to help you get around.

The addition of the buggy along with the quests that come with it such as racing quests, gives players a new mechanic to work with in the game as players build and upgrade their buggy to be more deadly across the environment.

The storyline, though not as long as the core game, still manages to keep the player compelled throughout. New quests include fighting off giant zombies, that either take wits and a lot of experience from the player to defeat, or you must team up with a number of other players online and take it down as a team. As players complete quests they can build upon their skill trees to unlock to abilities. The Following introduces a whole new skill tree, The Driver skill tree, where players earn upgrades from completing driving quests, by doing driving stunts, or by completing side-quests like mowing down zombies.

The Following also brings with it a number of new weapons, including the cross-bow, as well as many more melee weapons including swords, scythes, axes and throwing grenades. This gives new styles of gameplay, especially with the cross-bow, as the player can use a stealthy approach to not alarm the zombies, while also using the speed, range and accuracy to pick of zombies from a distance.

Pros: 

- Stunning environment

- Large Map

- New quests and weapons

- Dune Buggy

Cons:

- Shorter story

- Less captivating characters

- Hard to find co-op players

To find out more about the game click here

Star Wars Battlefront: Game Review

Reviewed by Michael on 17th May 2016

Our rating: 8.5/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows 

Genre(s): First and Third-Person Shooter, Online Multiplayer

Star Wars Battlefront is a visually appealing masterpiece that brings the incredible vision and action from of the movies to a playable experience across gaming platforms. It is an online multiplayer shooter that can be played in both first person and third person perspectives, giving the player freedom to take on each battle in their preferred perspective. The game features missions which can be played in single player or co-op, either online or local, as well as both large and small multiplayer battles that can be played out in a number of different modes.

In the co-op missions players compete in battles on planets known to the Star Wars universe. Players can choose to side with either the Empire or the Rebellion allowing for repeated play that differs both times, with the ability to use different heroes or villains on each. The excitement of playing your favourite Jedi or Sith Lord creates an atmosphere of chaos and leaves the player with a great sense of achievement once they have overhauled their opposition. 

The multiplayer modes are what captures the true essence of of Star Wars' massive battles as seen in the movies. The "Walker Assault" game mode puts players in a massive 20 vs 20 battle where the Empire tries to push two "Walkers" to one side of the map, while the Rebellion defends points that give them Y-Wings to try and take down the Walkers. The incredible attention to detail in both the audio and visual elements of the game is what brings it to life. From the sound of the Tie-Fighter ships flying over-head, to the constant flurry of laser bullets being shot around the map makes for an incredible experience.

Credits are earned in every battle and open the player up to new blasters, as well as star-card power-ups and different player outfits, as you level-up. This gives each player a unique set of fighting equipment, creating a different fighting experience each match.

Pros: 

- Stunning graphics

- True Star Wars visuals and sound

- Large sandbox maps

- Exciting heroes and villains

Cons

- Lack of story-mode

- Multiplayer can become repetitive

- Serves can be hard to find

To find out more about the game click here

Hit Man 47: Game Review

Reviewed by Meshal on 15th May 2016

Our rating: 9.0/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One

Genre(s): Action-adventure game, Stealth game.

Hit man a single player game talk about agent 47 who is player who you gonna play with this the second hit man game. the game just can be download it from the online stores they didn’t start to sell it on CD’s because they want to keep developing it. The game its fantastic and its make you feel like you are really in the real world.

This game start on 2012 from the hit man movie. The movie is at 2000. Now they start with the second version of it.

(Image from moviepilot, 2016)

The game run throw some killing mission that you have to do it. Until now they just upload 4 missions include the starting mission. The missions keep updating and you can download them from the stores.

I tried to play the game there is many ways to finish the missions so they work hard on it to make it interesting. 

The full game will be realise in late 2016 in CD’s all over the world.

Mad Max: Game Review

Reviewed by Meshal on 14th May 2016

Our rating: 9.0/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox one, Microsoft Windows 

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, cars combat

Intro:
Mad Max the popular Australian film now all the fans can enjoy the film by playing the game of Mad Max which created in 2015. The game run on an open world. players can develop there player and also there car while they are playing.

Cars:
cars are the main part of the game the player will chose there car and develop it with an engines, shield and weapons. They will go throw a death races and a combat with another cars.

The player:
The player have a few weapons like shoot guns and a knife. On the other hand the he will have to develop his player to go throw combat without a weapons by baying some features. Also he can change the player dress or face.

Missions:
there are many missions the player have to do. There is another missions not only the main ones. So the player will have many options in the game.

Water and Food:
The players have to search for water and food to keep there health limit high if they will go throw a combat.

Fuel:
fuel is important to lit the car run in the game so also the player have to search for a fuel or his car.

Map:
The map its on an open world so its big or large so the players will take a long time to finish the missions. By the way their is some fast travel point in the map you have to find them its may help the player to fast run the game.

FIFA 2016: Game Review

Reviewed by Meshal on 14th May 2016

Our rating: 8.0/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows 

Genre(s): Sport

What its FIFA 16?
FIFA 16 it’s one of the famous games in the world. It’s for people who like football and keeping up or like to watch it. It’s a simulating football game for players to enjoy chosen their favorite team or player to play with.

Who create it and history of the game?
The first FIFA game created in 1993 and it’s called FIFA 93. It’s keeping developing all this years till they arrived to FIFA 16. The game was created by EA Canada or EA sports it’s a company that interesting in sports games.

What’s new in FIFA 16?
FIFA 16 has many new features like they add a female team and they add many new teams that the players can choose between them. Playing online now is very interesting for players who like to play like the real life competitions. They made the play more reality than the old one.

Pros:

- Easy to learn how to play

- Many teams to choose from

- You can create your team

Cons:

- Develop your created team take lot of time to be a good team

Injustice: Gods Among Us Mobile: Game Review

Reviewed by Brian on 13th May 2016

Our rating: 7.0/10.0

Platform(s): Mobile (Android/iOS), PS3, PS4, PS vita, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s): Action

Build an epic roster of DC heroes and villains and get ready for battle in the Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game. It’s a collectible card game that you can build up your roster of playable characters, moves and powers and enter the arena in 3 on 3 tag team combat.

Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting video game based upon the fictional universe of DC Comics. The game was developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is developed a version for iOS and Android devices that you can play on your mobile phone. The gameplay is done through touch controls.

There are three play modes on mobile version Play, Survivor and Online Battle. You can enjoy story mode via Play and the storyline is set within an alternate version of the Justice League's universe.

(Play mode: Play, Survivor and Online Battle)

In fight

You can get Credits in every fight and you can buy Booster packs, Characters, Promote and Support cards in the store by using this game currency.

Store

One awesome part of this game is that you can collect DC heroes such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Joker.

(Batman)

(Superman)

(Wonder Woman)

(The Joker)

Another outstanding feature of the game is that Online Battle can be viewed after the fight via View Replay, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, and you can build a battle strategy for the next fight.

(View Replay Mode)

Overall you will love this game, whether you are a big fan of DC's content or not.

Pros:

- Decent graphics and flashy fighting moves

- Great Storyline

- Playing as superheroes

Cons:

- Gameplay is pretty weak and mundane

- Unusual fighting rhythm

- Terrible Character Models

For more information about the game, please visit here

Fallout 4: Game Review

Reviewed by Michael on 13th May 2016

Our rating: 9.2/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows 

Genre(s):Open-world RPG, Shooter, Action

Fallout 4 is the fifth instalment of the widely popular Fallout video-games, developed by Bethesda Game Studios. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic Boston in the year 2287, over 200 years after nuclear warfare devastated the landscape, in which the player emerges from an underground vault, after being frozen for all those years. Gameplay is similar to the games predecessors, for those that have played them, where the player completes various quests to earn experience points to level up there character. The player can play in both first-person or third-person perspectives depending on their play-style allowing non-linear gameplay. 

What makes Fallout 4 such a step above it's previous titles though, is its endless customisation abilities. At the beginning of the game, the player must customise the default characters face to how how they want. Their are endless ways of doing this, with the ability of adjusting eyebrow contours, to cheek width, to jaw alignment, the list goes on. 

Fallout 4 also features countless customisation for weapons and armour, giving the player numerous ways of adjusting weapons and armour for their own enjoyment.

 This feature really reaches it's mark once the player discovers how they want to play the game, through their choice of levelling up their character, as their are a number of perks that allow for different playing styles. The perk tree allows players to level up their character according to how they wish to play the game. This adds a level of choice to the game, and also gives more advanced players who play through the game a number of time, a chance to play it a different way each time as each perk carries its own abilities and power-ups, etc.

Another added feature to Fallout 4 that differs from it's predecessors is the ability to create and customise settlements. Upon clearing or completing a quest at a settlement the player gains this settlement as a safe house, or place to store their items. Each settlement is fully customisable, with the ability to add structures, buildings, furniture, market stalls, and much more. Each settlement can be connected to each other through its settlers to create supply lines, where all your items are shared between each. I found this to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, as it gets your creative side going and gives you reward for all the scrap items you pick up throughout your exploration of the wasteland. 

Pros:  

- Customisable weapons, armour and settlements

- Massive map

- Over 300 places to explore

- Unique enemies and NPC's

Cons: 

- Storyline often falls flat

- Buggy features

To find out more about Fallout 4 click here.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster: Game Review

Reviewed by Matthew on 13th May 2016
Our Rating: 9.0/10.0
Platform(s): PS3, PS4, PS Vita , Microsoft Windows
Genre(s): Role-playing

Final Fantasy is one of my favourites gaming franchises. When I heard they were going to make a HD remaster  of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 PlayStation 2 port,  I couldn’t have been happier as this was my favourite and first one I play. With both games, having extra story content, improved graphics, and re-recorded musical score this gives long-time fans new things to see and  for first timer to experience great JRPG.

Both games have stunning turn-based combat which are the reason I was hook for the 40-50 hours of gameplay contents. From Final Fantasy X fantastic conditional time battle system, where you can swap party members in and out combat, and X-2 wonderful Dress Sphere Grids where character’s change job. They are many things to do thing in this game like finding and the ultimate weapons and secret bosses which will prolong your play through.  

X Conditional Time Battle System

X-2 Dress Sphere Grids

In the remaster version the audio and visual have been enhancements. Therefore, the musical score and sounds effect sound amazing. The upgrade graphics from the jagged edges in the original makes the world of Spira look superb. However, the new main character models look great although, the characters face a bit awkward in my opinion.

 

Also the FMV video in HD are definitely wonderful but thing the that annoys me about these FMV sequences and cutscenes is that you still can’t skip them making it frustrating before a difficult boss fight. Final Fantasy Franchises musical score are reason I like these games. In this installment the music has been revamped and sounds great but I prefer the original score.

Overall Final Fantasy X/X-2 are two wonderful JRPG games when it was released in PlayStation 2.  With the release of HD remaster fan can come back and experience it vibrant story, mesmerising  musical score and great gameplay and if it is your first time playing it, you will understand why this is one of the best JRPG of all-time. Also on May 13 2016 Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster was released on steam.

Pros:

- stunning turned based gameplay

-  enhance HD visuals
- more content
 - beautiful musical score

Cons:

- awkward characters faces
- can't skip cutscenes


click here for more information

Battleborn: Game Review

Reviewed by Michael on 10th May 2016

Our rating: 8.5/10.0

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows 
Genre(s): Online Multiplayer Action, First-Person Shooter, MOBA

Battleborn is an online multiplayer game that is full of fast paced, chaotic action from the get go. The player is introduced to the games core mechanics and in-game upgrade system through a prologue mission that also bares light on Battleborn's plot. The game features two gameplay genres across both online and local play, with 25 playable characters in each. 

Battleborn's campaign follows a story of 5 opposing galactic factions uniting to save the last hospitable planet against a galaxy-conquering force run by a evil villain named Rendain. This story falls short and becomes background noise due to the playful manner in which it is demonstrated through conversation between the games playable and non-playable characters and their often hit or miss jokes on what would seem like a serious concept. However this is overlooked as the player becomes enthralled in a campaign that contains waves of enemies of increasing difficulty, with a major boss battle at the end of each. Teamwork becomes key amongst player's as each character offers unique abilities to help turn the fight in their favour, which I found added so much depth and the ability to play each mission over and over from a different perspective.

Battleborn multiplayer features 3 different PvP (player-vs-player) modes. Capture is similar to other online "domination" modes where players fight for control of 3 different points on the map. It is fast-paced style gaming where chaos takes over strategy. Incursion is a more strategic-style of play where teams begin from either side of an almost mirrored map and aim to take out each other teams mech and sentry bots while fighting of waves of minions and each other. The final mode is Meltdown, which moulds both the first two modes into one, and has each team trying to escort their waves of minions into a goal on enemy territory. Each mode offers different style of play and allows for both short and long games, which appeals to both advanced and beginner players alike.

The most exciting aspect of Battleborn is it's 25 unique characters and the in-game upgrade system of each. The game attempts to merge genre's by including 25 playable characters that vary from high-damage shooter characters like Oscar Mike, to tanky characters like Montana, and also high-powered and intense melee characters like Rath. Each bring a completely unique style of play to each battle and an element of choice not seen before in any online first-person battle arena game I've played. The in-game upgrade system features 10 levels, where at each the player has the choice to upgrade between two different skills, for example a player may choose to add a scope to Oscar Mike's assault rifle for a ranged advantage, or add red-dot sight for a more spray-and-pray approach from close range. The player must upgrade while on the move as well which adds a pressured element to the fight and can sometime make you feel stressed, while feeling achievement once making a kill due to your desired choice.

Overall I found Battleborn really struck a chord with what I was looking for in an online multplayer game. It provides chaotic team-based action from the get go, and appeals to both beginner and advanced players through its in-game on the run upgrade system. Though the story line doesn't quite capture the player, it's campaign missions provide enough difficulty and enjoyment for this small hump to be overlooked. I rate it a solid 8.5/10.

You can find out more about the game here

Mortal Kombat X Mobile: Game Review

Reviewed by Brian on 9th May 2016

Our rating: 7.5/10.0

Platform(s): Mobile (Android/iOS), PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s): Action

Mortal Kombat X combines cinematic presentation with all new gameplay, offering a new fully-connected experience that launches players into a persistent online contest where every fight matters in a global battle for supremacy.

It is the tenth main installment in the Mortal Kombat video game series that is developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is developed a version for iOS and Android devices that you can play on your mobile phone. The gameplay is done through touchscreen taps and slashes. Reasonably, mobile version is simpler than other versions due to the limitations of the touch controls.

There are three play modes on mobile version Challenge, Battle Mode and Faction Wars.

(Play mode: Challenge, Battle Mode and Faction Wars)

In fight

There is no story mode in the mobile version, unlikely other versions. It is possible that mobile player may lose interest after a while as there is no story mode on mobile version.

You can get Koins and Souls in every fight and you can buy Kard packs, Characters, and Supports in the store by using this game currency.

Store

One of most interesting parts of this game is that you can collect unique characters and equipment.

(Unique character: Klassic Scorpion)

(Unique character: Klassic Sub-zero)

(Unique equipment: Wrath Hammer)

Overall there are still some to be improved, but it is worth enough that you can play a famous classic fighting game on your mobile for free.

Pros:

- Outstanding graphics and flashy fighting moves

- Fun character development scheme

Cons:

- Gameplay is quite weak and mundane
- Crashes occasionally

For more information about the game, please visit here