I'm almost a month late in acquiring my own PS4, I wasn't even supposed to be getting it until next year, however, it seems luck has been on my side and I got the call today to say it had arrived!
I thought it would only be fair to write this post whilst I am first using the console, to get the 'freshest' emotions and thoughts noted down. It's 8:30pm, first impressions are good, the interface is simple and familiar, and the console sits looking very sleek in my TV cabinet, it feels good to have a next gen console in the household!
Right this second at 8:55pm as I wait to connect to the PSN (PlayStation Network) I would say that I'm experiencing quite a lull in my excitement levels as I begin to question whether or not I will get to use the console tonight. Not only had I forgot my password (seeing as I hadn't used my PS3 in a long time), but have been struggling to get it reset. The PSN must be having some serious issues tonight, which really is serious, because it's almost a month after launch, things should be stable now, or at least more so than on release. I am actually getting some 'deja-vu' back from when SimCity was released, and how unstable it's first months were.
After some persistence, it is 9:21pm when I first manage to log into PSN after a good half hour of trying (yay). 'Knack' is the first title I got with the console, I feel like there is such a small selection of games to choose from... or maybe that's just me, I don't want to play another Call of Duty or Battlefield, First Person Shooters have never been my favourite genre, I want something fresh! On with Knack!
This week in 'CookeRS Reviews' I am looking at EA Games 2013 game, SimCity. The game itself is a very old franchise, with the first title coming out in 1989! It is a game all about building cities from the ground up, the latest installment has some really cool 'next gen' features to bring a fresh new spin to the popular city builder.
The new game is the first fully online SimCity game. The games online features were designed to allow players to share their cities with friends and other players of the game, however this meant an 'always online' style of game play, which spelt 'Natural Disaster' for the game around the release. Long story short, the servers could not deal with the load of players trying to access the game at the same time, and in turn, not many players could play the game for a good two weeks after release. Rest assured however for the servers have been much improved and the game runs a great deal better than when it was first released.
The biggest change of them all is probably the introduction of 'Regions'. Instead of just building one city to stand alone as a great dot on the map, you choose a plot from the variety of regions installed in the game. Each plot on any one region has specialisations from good water supplies to ores and oil supplies, and you can pick your plot with these in mind. Rather than it being about building one massive city, it becomes more about building a network of cities that work off one another's strengths to create a stronger region. Its an innovative change, but the worst part of it is that each plot does feel a bit small and limiting, particularly compared to old SimCity games, and filling up the city is something you can do in less than a day, so space management becomes a really important part of this game.
Stay tuned for an update with SimCity Cities of Tomorrow Expansion Pack, I will be reviewing this expansion for the game soon!
Overall I think the latest SimCity installment in the Franchise is a success, despite some hiccups around launch, the game has held up its reputation and provides hours of city building simulation and entertainment. For more on the game watch my 'CookeRS Reviews' video & check out the YouTube Channel 'Hyper Mode Games'.
CookeRS Reviews - SimCity (2013)
CookeRS Let's Play - Sim City Part 1 - NEW STUFF!
Overall Rating: 4 CookeRS
Detailed Ratings:
Gameplay: 4/5
Difficulty: 3.5/5 - Can be difficult managing budget for beginners.
"What if those dark days could come again...", Blizzard's Chris Metzen providing an excellent opening presentation for Blizzards latest upcoming expansion to the World of Warcraft franchise, 'Warlords of Draenor'. The preview video to follow was one to brace yourself for. As per usual the build up to the introduction of the new features kept me on the edge of my seat, and immensely excited.
One particular feature that caught my attention was this 'Instant level 90' feature which was announced towards the end of the preview. With your purchase of Warlords of Draenor, you can boost a character to level 90 instantly. This goes for a friend who has never had a level 90 character, or a existing player. This will make getting into the game for both a new players, and veteran players an more immediate experience.
Draenor
Draenor is the new continent being introduced into the expansion, although there is some speculation as to how 'new' this continent will actually be, (due to its striking resemblance and relation to 'Outlands' from the first expansion for WoW, Burning Crusade) the Blizzard team has done well in emphasising it's differences from the old shattered Outlands that we know.
Homeworld of the Orcs before it was shattered into Outland.
Also the heart of the Draenei civilisation
A world of 'Primal Giants'
Contains 7 'new' zones.
The new 'Clans' of the Draenor continent are filled with history and create the opportunity for much gameplay.
New Draenor Continent in Warlords of Draenor.
The Draenor Continent and its Content is fresh and detailed, the Dark Portal is being recreated, with a introductory mission for the players to experience the new content, by crashing through the Dark Portal in what the Lead Content Designer 'Cory Stockton' calls a 'Suicide Mission' into this new world. Some exciting announcements include the new capital cities, with 'Bladespire Fortress' being made the 'Horde Capital' and the Alliance capital will be the 'Black Temple', Illidan's fortress of evil in 'The Burning Crusade' expansion, (in this world this city will be known as 'Karabor - The Draenei Holy Temple). It sounds like the content designers have done a really good job in recreating this world as it was before it became shattered in the 'Burning Crusade'.
Graphical Improvements - Character Models
New player models is essentially a graphical update for the World of Warcraft game, something that has not been done many times throughout it's history. Blizzard will be updating their player character models across the races of the game, it is an overdue and welcomed update for the game. World of Warcraft has never really been a game of amazing graphical detail, it's aged graphics are definitely showing in this day and age so graphical updates are more important than their face value. Speaking of faces, below are some images of a few of the improvements announced at Blizzcon, with the Orcs, Gnomes, Undead, Taurens and Dwarfs.
Now there are a lot of pictures here because I simply got a bit overexcited with how awesome it all was, and let me say, if you haven't seen the actual animation tweaks along side all of this, you really have only seen half of it, the level of detail and improvements made on the animation, particularly in facial expressions, is incredible.
Old and New, Dwarf Male models
Old and New, Gnome Male models
Old and New, Orc Male models
Current Undead models
Updated Undead models.
Updated Undead Male heads
Gnome Female,new models along side some facial animations.
New Tauren Male models
The content creation team has done a good job on these updates, it is important to remember that the game needs to be kept at a fairly basic graphical level as to not upset the large number of players that enjoy the game on a lower powered machine. Improvements:
Improved visual fidelity
Facial details improved
Drastically updated animations/emotes
Key Added/New Features
There is a menagerie of new features being added. Some have got me very excited, particularly the addition of the new 'WoW Houseing' (as Game Director Tom Chilton calls it), 'Garrisons'. I have always wanted some form of 'Base Building' or 'Guild Hall' style feature in the World of Warcraft game since experiencing a similar feature back in the ArenaNet MMORPG 'Guild Wars', and that was back in 2005! I am not particularly 'impressed' with Blizzard introducing this 'been there done that' feature, but it is certainly an exciting addition to the game. Features Include:
Customisable Bases
Collect Followers
Run missions (with your followers)
Offline Progression
Sending followers off on missions may take time that progresses whilst you are offline.
Garrison Progression can also get your gear.
Garrison progresses over 3 tiers.
Pick what buildings you put into your base.
Interaction with followers and buildings
Monuments and Trophies
Building Bonuses
Buffs for your character
Improve your followers
Specialise buildings with upgrades
So this was all the updates that caught my eye about the new expansion for World of Warcraft. I am definitely keen to get my hands on this game as soon as it is released and get the most of it.
Below is the Warlords of Draenor preview video that was aired at Blizzcon in the Opening ceremony. Have a quick look and get keen for the latest World of Warcraft expansion!
In a Post-DOTA 2 & Post-League of Legends world, it is a daring move for Blizzard Entertainment to announce another similar RTS style of game to enter the gaming market. With no real love for this particular genre myself, nor previous experience with the gameplay of these aforementioned titles, I cannot say too much. Afterall, the game looks very polished and the concepts behind it, sound momentously epic. All of Blizzards greatest heroes and villains coming together in one game to battle it out for glory, wow!(not World of Warcraft WoW, just 'wow' wow....)
The kind of wow I'm talking about.
The gameplay itself looks properly fun, there is a wide variety of characters to be played with an even wider spectrum of moves and attacks to be utilised on the battlefield. There also sounds like there is a reasonable level of depth to the gameplay, with different battlefields having different goals and perks to be unlocked.
In all honesty however, I was not super excited by many parts of this game (other than the synergy of all the blizzard franchises), however, because it is a Blizzard title, and all of their games have given me hours after hours of entertainment, this is likely to be a game that I will step into the realms of and quite possibly open myself to this genre of games... and never escape...
CookeRS
P.S - Do yourself a favor and check out the Cinematic linked below, you will be likely left jawdropped and desperate for some Blizzard action!
This year at Blizzcon, Blizzard Entertainment is bringing a huge amount to the table. From new games (on new platforms) to a Warcraft movie, there is a tonne of content to take on board.
I have been a fan and player of World of Warcraft since 2006 along side the Diablo II and Diablo III titles, and the Starcraft Franchise. So Blizzcon, naturally is an exciting time of the year. So keep an eye on my blog over the next few days for my recount and opinions on Blizzcon 2013!!
Minecraft, one game that has had my attention for a good part of this year.
There would be hundreds of blogs and reviews out there about Minecraft, and there are so many players of the game as well, over 12million people have bought Minecraft, it is fast-tracking it's way to being the best selling game of all time, only 'The Sims' franchise stands in it's way. If you didn't already know Minecraft is a game for Android/IOS, PC/MAC and XBOX 360 (PS3 title on the way) all about building. So what makes such a basic concept so successful?
If Minecraft had to be compared to something in real life, I would say 'Lego', but with unlimited building blocks. The game also incorporates the classic range of monsters: Zombies, Skeletons, Spiders, all your usual mix, but there is one monster that is perhaps the most evil of them all, the 'Creeper'. These terrors are quite possibly the worst and best part about the game in one little green 'package'... The 'Creeper', will creep up behind an unsuspecting player, and suddenly explode destroying any blocks surrounding it, and possibly the player as well! The only warning a player gets is a short lived hissing sound that the Creeper makes just before it leaves a lovely dent in the side of whatever it is you may be building at the time. Why do I say its the best and worst part of the game in one? Put simply, it is the worst because some things in Minecraft can take a LONG time to build, and when they are taken away from you by these green baddies in a mere blink of an eye, it can leave one rather frustrated, and quite possibly in need of a new set of pants. These Creepers are also the best part of the game though, because if they did not exist, there would be no real fear in the game. Believe me, after spending hours on your statue or building, and turning around only to see a creeper hissing at you, your heart will never jump so much in your life!
Minecraft 'Creepers'
Breaking it down, Minecraft really has so much to offer, for such a wide audience. It's blocky visuals are not there to be glorified, but its simplicity and originality is second to none. There are a variety of ways in which the game can be played as well, it can be played from a purely creative approach ('Creative Mode') where any block is accessible and the player can 'fly' through the world. In this mode, the monsters mentioned earlier post no real threat. Alternatively, it can be played with a 'Survival' approach, where the player has to collect, and mine resources to build whatever structures and tools they want or need, whilst surviving onslaughts of Zombies, Skeletons and of course, Creepers! This survival mode is where I believe the real immersion of the game comes into play. The 'Survival Mode' mode incorporates 'health' and 'hunger' which play off one another. If the players character is hungry, they will lose health, and if the players health runs out, they will die. The player can engage in farming of animals or crops for food, or rely on potions in the 'later stages' of the game to survive. This balance of creativity and survival pair up well together and make quite an enjoyable game where it can be quite easy to lose track of time! The game also has various multiplayer aspects which adds more to the fun, and also lets you show off your creations to your friends, or the public.
Minecraft does have it's limitations however, after some time the game will start to feel a bit stale and repetitive. By this stage you will most likely have gathered virtually unlimited amounts of resources, and built everything you can think of building. It is by no means a game made to be played for extended periods of time. However, when you consider how accessible and basic the game is, you realise that the entertainment it offers is real and lengthy enough. It is also the kind of game that you can come back to on the odd occasion when you suddenly have a great idea of something to build! There are also a great range of unofficial Mods and texture packs for the game that can be downloaded. 'Feed the Beast' is probably one of the most notable of these Mods that adds many extra features and items to the game which can extend playability by many hours! Texture packs on the other hand add detail to the visuals of the game which can be a nice change up from the standard blocky graphics.
Overall there isn't much that can be faulted in Minecraft the game is so excellently made, and just so brilliantly simple, the creator has really tapped in on a great idea here and deserves to reap the rewards! Below I have attached some screenshots of some of my most prized creations including a statue of 'Bender' from the TV show Futurama, and a eerie graveyard that I created, somewhat inspired by the cartoon 'Scooby Doo'. Enjoy and feel free to comment.
'Bender Statue'
Minecraft + Texture Pack 'Sphax'
'The Graveyard'
Minecraft + Texture Pack 'Photo Realism'
Overall Rating: 4.5 CookeRS
Detailed Ratings:
Gameplay: 4/5
Multiplayer: 2/5 (can be complex to setup)
Value: 4/5 - $25 AUD
Graphics: 1/5 - low detail & basic graphics, but it matches the game style and can be improved on with Texture Packs
Sound: 4/5 - actually has some nice accompanying music and classic sound effects.
P.S: In the near future on my YouTube Channel I will be posting some Minecraft 'Let's Play' and World Tour videos!
So, my first blog. What does it mean? I don't really know, where's it going to get me? No one knows. What am I going to be blogging about? Games.
Video Games!
A little of my history first, sounds boring but a part of me wanted to get it down. Games have been in my interest since age 8 when I got my first console. The Nintendo 'Game Boy Colour'. I was the first among friends and family to have the colour screen, unreal, still needed a torch to use it at night, but hey it was colour. The Wario series and Pokemon Yellow, were certainly the stand out titles for me. I'm still waiting for the day Pokemon games are released where you can have your favourite Pokemon following you around as you make your adventure. Prince of Persia, what a game that was, lots of falling and dying, but something compelled you to try over and over again.
Pokemon Yellow (1999) Game Boy Colour
Prince of Persia Gameplay (1989/1999) (Apple II/Game Boy Colour)
Unlike today, I had the same Game Boy for years. But it wasn't too long before I got another console. Next up came a PlayStation 2, free with the Sony television that my parents bought. Ratchet and Clank got a lot of attention from me, and I'm glad the titles ares till in production today. Alongside Gran Turismo 3: A-spec, plenty of hours were sunk into that game, whilst the following title Gran Turismo 4 saw me on a daily basis for the completion of the 50 lap races.
Skip to 2013, I have a Gaming PC, a PlayStation 3, and a Wii U (and a GameCube hidden away for the occasional play). I had a XBOX 360 for some time, however recently traded it in for the Wii U, seeing as I use the PlayStation 3 more often. Now next month we are to expect the PlayStation 4 and XBOX One, and seeing as I've always had a soft spot for the PlayStation, I'm fairly certain that will be my pick when the time comes. (not to mention the supposed 'Faster Processing Power'). There is one thing I have to set straight though, I don't and never will, hold a preference for any particular manufacturer. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are all incredible companies (most of the time). If I am fortunate enough to have all of the Next Gen consoles at my disposal, then I will see which appeals to me the most... And this is where It will be, In my blog 'CookeRS Gaming' I will be sharing my experiences and opinions on the consoles and games that are coming our way, as well as some looks back on the best games that I have played in the past, or still play today.
So feel free to follow my Blog if the same kind of things interest you, and to leave creative comments as well...
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