MineCraft Xbox 360

Introduction

So here it is the long awaited PC version of Minecraft now finally released on the Xbox 360. So the basic idea of this game is to build, mine and survive the night-time… pretty easy right? Well no, it’s not always. What you have to do is build a house quickly to survive the night making sure it’s well lit up. So its up to you to build whatever you want. If you want to go to extremes and you’re skilful enough how about building a dinosaur, even a car, or a spaceship it’s really up to you.

P.S Just to make you aware that when you are not playing on peaceful mode, but playing on difficult mode, beware of the creepers they will blow up your buildings.

Features

The features within the Xbox edition of  Minecraft aren’t that much. With upgrades and patches to improve the game with each update that they release.The features that are included within the game are a single player mode and multiplayer mode.

Single player mode:

Within single player mode the world is yours, and you are able to build whatever you wish without anyone getting in the way, which is a thumbs up.

Multiplayer mode:

However can be useful and not useful, if you get together useful people who know how to build, you can build a very good Minecraft world by working as a team and digging out the materials that you want to build with, but remember what I said beware of the creepers.

Modes:

Difficulty

Peaceful (no enemies)

Easy  – enemies are easy to kill

Normal – harder to kill your enemies than easy mode

Hard – very hard to kill your enemies

To add on to the features side, there isn’t a lot that the Xbox has at the moment compared to the PC version.

They have done some recent updates to the Xbox 360 version from an enchantment table which allows you to give special abilities to armour, weapons and tools.

They have added potions which gives you an special boost for an limited amount of time and also have added new blocks and sharper texture packs to the blocks.

Gameplay

Well the gameplay is very simple for Minecraft Xbox360 with the same gameplay as the PC version but fewer things to build, like crafting items are reduced and the texture of the blocks aren’t as sharp as the PC version. Also you have to remember the building blocks are squares only, so you have to work around it if you want to build different shape structures. Nevertheless you can still enjoy the Xbox 360 just as much as the PC version, which makes the game very enjoyable making hours seem like a few minutes when you have a project that you want to build. The controls in MineCraft are very simple to use with an added fun factor within the game.

Summary

The overall impression of the game is wonderful. A very simple game, that’s been made into one of the best selling market place games. Minecraft has hours of fun and use of your imagination to build whatever you feel like doing, with only one intention in mind, and that is to build your own world and not letting anything stop you.

Rating 9.5/10

Ghost Recon Future Soldier

Introduction

We have been waiting for this game for a while it’s been pushed back many times due Ubisoft saying that it wasn’t ready and finally it’s here. Another series to the Ghost Recon edition.

Features

The main feature of Ghost Recon Future Soldier is being able to customise your gun in so much detail changing the needs of the gun that suit your game play. From range, control, power and manoeuvrability these are the adjustable customise that you can make to your gun to suit your needs.

Being able to play Guerrilla mode which is a survival mode with up to 4 people. The Campaign also allows you to play 4 player co-op mode with your friends, unlocking different weapons the more you progress through each mission.

While playing online you have to ability to track the players on your team by pressing the RB or R1 this will bring up a dial with the people that you want to track on your squad.

Pros/Cons

PROS

Well detailed graphics, very realistic and natural looking, the scenes and maps are very well laid out. Perfectly crafted control and weapon system, creating your own weapon is a blast.

The game is fast, controls are very well responsive and not sluggish at all. It is a smooth running game, no glitching or lagging. + Music, voice-acting and sounds effects are very well produced.

Weapons are fully customizable and gadgets are very helpful. Camouflage is very cool. + Multiplayer is incredibly fun when you have the right teammates.

CONS

Some of the cut scenes and the character models seem dated and less detailed than the actual game play.

There is no slit-screen (couch) co-op in the game. All co-op is online.

Like in past Ghost Recon games the area is limited and you are warned when you are leaving the area. It gives the appearance of a larger area, yet it still is quite linear.

In combat your progression options are sometimes limited and you must stick with your team. There are a few small clipping issues like floating objects or your characters arms not linking around an enemies neck when doing a stealth kill, very minor though.

Online

Online has mode has 4 different game types to select from which will all acquire good team work if you want to win the game, I cannot stress the importance of having a good working team no matter how bad or good they are if you work as a team you will win.

Online Modes-

Conflict- Objects that are randomly located across the map you get points by holding the objective for the time that is given, game rounds are 15mins long.

Decoy- The team that is attack has 3 objectives to attack by online 1 is the key which ultimately win you the game.

Saboteur- The bomb is located within the middle of the map which you have to secure and plant within the enemies base.

Siege- Siege is a bit like Search and Destroy on Call of Duty you have no respawns, the objective of the game is defend your objective, if your attacking to kill all defending or disarm the objective.

Summary

Overall a good 3^rd person shooting game with many game types to keep you busy, the Campaign has 13 mission for you to play through, with wonderful graphics. The voice acting and story is spot on making you interested in to what is happening within the story mode. I feel this game has more to offer than Call of Duty with the game being more tactical warfare rather than just running all over the place.

Rating8/10

Tropico 4

Introduction

Welcome to Tropico 4 where the world is changing and Tropico is moving with the times. Geographical powers rise and fall and the world market is dominated by the super powers and you as El Presidente face many new challenges. Your decisions will shape the future of your nation, more importantly the size of your offshore bank account.

Features

Tropico 4 has added many more and better new features compared to its previous Tropico. The new features well consist of improved add ons that will make the game more enjoyable.

The story mode of Tropico 4 consists of a well knitted and in depth story mode, that gives you 20 missions to play through as EL Presidente. Contain twists and turns throughout the story that will prove difficult the more you progress through the game.

There are interactive disasters which can cripple your economy, as you try and build and sustain your people’s happiness. There are many types of disasters that can strike such as Hurricanes, Volcano’s, Droughts and even Tsunamis.

You also have a Council of Ministers which you can appoint selected citizens to help minister your government and make citizens vote for you and push through controversial decisions that you make.

Through the story mode you will receive side quest factions they will help boost your respect of local parties which will help you stay in power.

Gameplay

Tropico 4 gameplay offers you beautiful islands with each mission you complete to different islands with different resources which you will have to adjust to if you want to run a successful mission.

The controls are basic and not very complex, the game also provides you with an tutorial in how to work the controls and tells you the basic fundamentals of the game such as the types of buildings and how to use and set them up.

The controls make it easy to connect to the story mode and make the game enjoyable, being able to speed up the game so time goes faster, the story will offer you twists and turns.

The more you embark on your journey as EL Presidente to more you will see how he is motivated to clear his name and improve the reputation of Tropico.

Summary

This beautiful game will give you hours of fun as you embark on your journey as EL Presidente. Through wonderful changing island each filled with their own difficulty that you will face as you progress further a long with the game difficulty increasing as you go through the game. If you would like to try it for free there is an Xbox 360 demo of Tropico 4 on the market place.

Rating 8.5/10

Sleeping Dogs

Introduction

Wei Shen is an undercover cop that is tasked with infiltrating and taking down one of world’s most wanted gang from the inside the Triad. You have to keep your cover intact and navigate between right and wrong.

Features

Sleeping Dogs main features within the game are the hand to hand combat controls. These are very simple to use and pick up on, by collecting something called jade statues within the game you can unlock more moves. Driving within Sleeping Dogs is very fun and easy to get use to feels like you are playing a racing game when you do race events. The only problem with hand to hand combat at times can be the camera control can go slightly wonky but that will not put you off.

They have also included favours for people as a side quest’s within the game that will help you get your face ranking up which will allow you, being able to purchase more expensive items and cars within the game.

They also have four martial arts clubs that are spread throughout Hong Kong they are six rounds long with each round increasing with difficulty as you go along.

You are able to purchase cars from dealers around Hong Kong once brought they will appear within your garage. PS stolen cars cannot be put into your garage.

Purchasing animals and decorations for your apartment that you live in these can be found around Hong Kong. Plus buying items from shops such as food will give you health regain quicker and certain drinks they will increase attack power.

Using weapons within the game is very easy, every mission you will not be given a gun or find a gun like GTA you can’t always carry weapons around with you.

The point system within the game, every time you complete a mission you will be given a score which will increase your ranking with the Triad and the police, which will allow you to unlock different perks to use in game.

Gameplay

The gameplay within Sleeping Dogs is simple to get used with you being able to connect to the gameplay very easily.

The controls for Sleeping Dogs are easily useable which makes the gameplay very enjoyable and it’s easy to interact with the game from learning the combo moves to using them in fighting situations.

Connecting with the story is straight forward to pick up, balancing Triad and police missions throughout the game making an effortless story mode to follow.

The degree of Satisfaction that you get from the game is enjoyable when learning and pulling off all the martial’s arts moves wishing you could fight like and move around like he can.

The emotional twists of the storyline is Wei Shen trying to keep his self undercover by doing things that will break his code of  ethics doing what he has to do to remain within the Triad, betraying some of the trust of the people around him.

He is also spurred on by the hate he has for the Triad to which will play a large part of him and making him bring down the Triad from the inside.

Summary

Sleeping Dogs is an very enjoyable gaming making you want to play it all day to see what you uncover from each mission that you complete to learn more and what awaits Wei Shen father down the story mode.

Graphics8/10

Sound 9/10

Longevity 8/10

Rating 8.5/10

 

Borderlands 2

Introduction

I finally got round to playing and completing Borderlands 2, this Borderlands game is a follow on from the first one, with the characters digging up old history from Borderlands 1. Borderlands 2 is still set in Pandora but another side of Pandora all together with mostly some of the borderlands 1 characters still involved  in the game.

Features

2K games have added many more features to Borderlands 2 with different characters that are available to you. The four choices of different characters each have their own special ability for you to use throughout the game which different skill trees that you can go down depending on what you want your character to do.

The four characters are.

Commando (Axton)

Axton’s turret can be armed with additional gun barrels, can detonate upon deployment, or stick to walls and ceilings. One particular skill tree allows two of the turrets to be deployed at once. This all depends on the skill tree that you go down with one skill tree allowing you to have a nuclear explosion on release killing most enemies around it.

Gunzerker (Salvador) 

Salvador can dual-wield any combination of guns. His skills can be upgraded so that he can throw multiple grenades at once, regenerate massive amounts of health and ammunition.

Siren (Maya)

She has the ability called Phaselock which suspends and immobilizes enemies in midair and resembles Lilith from the first game in abilities. Her abilities revolve around the game’s elements (fire, electricity, corrosion, explosions, and slag.) Her Phaselock can be upgraded to explode upon expiration or even convert enemies into temporary allies. In my opinion this one of the best classes in the game because once you complete the skill tree she becomes very powerful.

Assassin (Zero)

He is skilled with sniper rifles and pistols and at close range combat, and is similar to Mordecai, one of the playable characters from the original Borderlands. His skills can be upgraded with emphasis on sniping or using his Deception ability as a primary method of damage-dealing. He is also capable of creating a decoy of himself and becoming invisible for a short time.

They have also included a whole new range of weapons and loads of different types of weapons that will get you confused. They also have element guns which all do their own unique type of damage depending on what enemies are in front of you.

There is also a weapon colouring depending on the rarest of the guns, from white, green, blue, purple and orange.

Gameplay

Borderlands 2 offers you a unique and different experience from most role playing games. The excellent cartoony graphics are great with loads of colours and hours of fun within the gameplay.

The controls are easy to follow with the game giving you a tutorial as you go along to help you with learning how to enjoy the game to it full potential.

The campaign of the game will keep you busy with plenty of side quests that will allow you to level up as well which will make the game easier as you go along.

The game difficulty will increase as the game goes on as you level up the game will get harder with places within the game world increasing with your level.

Once you complete the game it will give you a chance to game on a game mode called the vault hunter mode, which allows you to play through the campaign again at a higher level with enemies levelling up with you to help you reach level 50 quicker. The level cap on Borderlands 2 is level 50 at the moment but I have feeling that there will be a level cap raise with each downloadable content that they bring out.

The only downside is that I hated the most about the game was all the senseless running around. RPGs, inherently, come packed with a lot of traveling. However, in titles like Fallout 3 or Skyrim, where the distances are far greater, walking for 10 minutes to reach some destination didn’t feel like such a chore. Maybe it was the fast travel system guaranteeing that you only had to walk there once before you could revisit with just a click. Maybe it had something to do with the atmosphere or landscapes of the game world you’re spending so much time running in. Whatever the case, there are many instances in Borderlands 2 that you have to run all the way to the end of a map, complete a quest and then run all the way back to the entrance of the zone.

Summary

Overall the game is a very good purchase much better than the first. From the fun and funny storyline which is with you throughout Borderlands, with the game getting more challenging as you go along. The story mode will keep you wanting to play more and the incentive of finding better loot will keep you wanting more.

Graphics7/10

Sound 9/10
Longevity 9/10

Rating 8.5/10

 

 

Assassins Creed 3

Introduction

Sorry people I know it’s been a while since I wrote a review. So I got round to playing and completing Assassins Creed 3, the setting of the game is during the American revolution. Where Native Americans have to defend their home during the changes that the war brings and the ancient land they call home.

Features

The features they have incorporated in to this Assassin Creeds is similar to the one in Assassins Creed 2 , Where you are given your own town to run. The more time and effort you put in to your home will grant you with more bonuses to your homestead   within Assassin Creeds. The way you improve your Homestead is by looking out for the mission that are shown on your map and around different location across Assassins Creed.

They have also added the Aquila when translated stands for Eagle. The Aquila is a boat which you are allowed to take charge of during the game and completing side quests. You are also able to upgrade the Aquila making missions easier to complete. Which will give you different trades routes for your homestead.

They have also included few new weapons to the game as such as Tomahawk which is an Native American weapon and they have also included Bow and trip wires. Another feature of the game is the hunting aspect to which allows you to hunt any animal and sell it for profit, the cleaner the kill the more it’s worth to the buyer.

Also the new locations they have been added to the game such as Boston, New York and the Frontier, which will offer you many different of setting and building to climb.

Gameplay

The game of an Assassin Creeds doesn’t differ that much to its previous titles, you still you have the element of freeroam. Which allows yourself to take a break and wonder around locations that are set within game.

The one thing that they have improved on the game is the fighting with the guards instead of being overpowered and being able to counter and kill so easily, this has been toned down a bit with Assassins Creed 3 making it little more difficulty to engage the enemy.

Interacting with Assassins Creed 3 is the same as the previous with a few buttons changed around within the game. Which will be noted to you as you go along, they have also made free running a little better, were as before some free running, was difficult and sometimes it locked you on to an different object that you wanted or he would just jump on a beam or the side of the building.

They have also carried on using the fast travel system and the underground one, which allows you to move around a bit faster from place to place.

Summary

Overall this will make a good present. A good game not as good and some of its previous titles, never the less it’s still worth it. You will also meet new characters in this game and leave behind Ezio and learn how the Assassins are coping in the future and follow on the story of Desmond and see how current Assassins are fighting the Templar’s.

Graphics9/10

Sound 9/10
Longevity 8/10

Skyrim Dragonborn

Skyrim: Dragonborn 

Introduction

So here is another addition to the Skyrim DLC, much different from the Dawnguard add on where you are bought into a vampire and human struggle. This add on offers you much more and something different, you visit an island called Solstheim. You are brought to this island because you are hunted down by a cult leaded by the original Dragonborn called Miraak. In this review I will be explaining more about the add on and what new features and gameplay they have added, without trying to give too much of the story away.

Features 

The features that they have included in this add on of Skyrim are much more useful including weapons, enemies and much more.

One of the main new features of the game is being able to smith new items such as Nordic armour, Bonemold armour and Stalhrim armour these are a new smithing trees within the game.

I have picked Stalhrim out as useful new feature because this is something completely new to Skyrim and to obtain this ore you will require an ancient nord pick axe. This is can be made in to your everyday usage such as swords, axes, shield and a bow.

They have also included four new shouts within Solstheim these are mainly found within dungeons and few of the shouts will be quest related if you want to unlock the whole set. They have also added a few spells to the game to I haven’t came across all of them yet and they have also added some new and new alchemy potions and ingredients. Plus they have also included few more dragon Priests within the game to.

New Enemies:

Ash spawn: 

Which is a type of human made from volcanic ash, apparently they started to appear around the Solstheim during an eruption on the island during the fourth era, they only occupy the south side of the island.Riekling:

Are similar to small goblin like creatures these mainly work as large packs and they stick together.
When they attack other tribes around Solstheim they usual attack in overwhelming numbers, you will mostly find them in ruins and caves throughout the gameLurker/Seekers 

These are protectors of the Daedric god Hermaeus Mora and these creatures mainly live within the realm of Apocrypha protecting forbidden knowledge. Seekers also live within the realm of Apocrypha they are not the best looking things they are tentacled Daedra.Miaark:

Is the main enemy within the game you will find out more about him as you go along, he is an old Dragonborn trapped in the realm of Apocrypha. He is currently severing Hermaeus Mora within his realm, Miaark is made more powerful by the influence of Hermaeus.

Gameplay

Dragonborn add on gameplay doesn’t change from Skyrim its self, you can still able to interact with the game exactly as you can in Skyrim. This is important because you will still get the enjoyment out of the game without it being changed.The way that Dragonborn add on starts is by a group of loyalist from Miaark telling you, that you are not the true Dragonborn and you’re a fake (how rude), this straight away grabbed my attention because your supposed to be the only Dragonborn within Skyrim. (If anyone is having trouble starting the add on, I would suggest going to Windhelm).

The game offers you 20+ of gameplay including the side quests, with the story mode keeping you interested and challenging the more you progress .The black book which is need to complete the main story mode will provide you will a challenge confusing dark alleyways and puzzle’s that you will have to solve to progress further within the books. You can’t help but feel connected to the story and wanting to do the greater good for the people, earning your right to be called only true Dragonborn within Skyrim.

You will meet some interesting characters within Solstheim, make sure you try to talk to as many people you can within the main city Raven Rock. Remember talking to more people will sometimes give you more side quests to adventure on.Plus Solstheim will offer you different landscapes from a small town made of out a giant mushroom, to part covered snow from an open ash wasteland. You will be kept busy with exploring as there is more than 30+ different locations within Solstheim, the island may look big at first but you will find it easy and fun to explore.

Summary 

Overall this in my opinion is the best add on for Skyrim so far, I mean you have an whole island to explore, from more weapons, enemies, dungeons and to unlocking some new companions. What grabs my attention in the story is that there is a new force stronger than Dragonborn himself, you will have to bare the path of evil to defeat evil as that is the only way to succeed.

Read more: http://www.aregamingreviews.com/news/skyrim-dragonborn/