Dragon Tides Kickstarter

So I visit Kickstarter a lot and I am always on the look out for great looking games. 

One I came across was Dragon Tides, a role playing game with miniatures that was fully licensed with Bruce and Brandon Lee featuring, a long with many more exciting characters and miniatures.

The project just successfully funded and still has 16 days to go. However I thought the main image could do with an update to show off the painted minis and display a more eye-catching 'funded' sign, as well as add some description in the picture. This is what I came up with.

You can check out the Kickstarter page and compare the original image here - http://kck.st/1CVDjPV

Games: Rhino Reveal Trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man

Games: Rhino Reveal Trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man

Spider-Man costume looks rather odd doesnt it? Its like the movie version, but also looks more like the traditional costume, which is weird for a game based on a film license. Could it be hinting at a costume change for spidey? Why does he have a physical belt? Hmmmmmm....

More The Amazing Spider%2DMan Videos

Naruto: The Broken Bond - Game Review

Figured I would give my 2 cents about this game after recently completing it. Yes, I know this game is old...released way back in 2008, but I just take ages getting around to playing games. And to be fair, the anime series was still going on, and I didn't want to spoil it by playing the game early.

If you have played the original Naruto: Rise of a Ninja, then this guy is very much more of the same, but I think improves it in every way that the game needed improving.

The graphics are the same, which is no bad thing really. I enjoyed the cel-shaded graphics of the original and thought the art style of the game and scenery captured the anime well. One improvement is in-game cut scenes, where it's good to see the naruto story retold in cg animation. The original game simply used 2D videos from the anime itself which detached you from the game. The character facial animation and lip sync is an area in need of improvement, but overall this aspect of the game was a definite step up from the original.

The game starts off with the leaf village destroyed and on the verge of repair, and as the game progresses the village starts to look better. It is also a clever way locking off certain areas of the game as being 'in construction' so that you are not wandering around the large world. The tree-racing sections to get from area to area are fairly tedious, but it only lasts a minute to complete each time. Random encounters with bandits and enemy ninjas can also get tedious due to the lack of variety in their designs, much like the NPCs scattered in the game, but it isn't really that big of an issue.

The controls work better with ninjutsu controls appearing on screen when you press the left trigger, so there is no need to memorize them, only to mess up with the wrong jutsu at the wrong time. Also another big bonus is the ability to jump up walls and across water with the need of performing a jutsu, which was very annoying in the original.

The fight mechanics are the same, except now you can have team battles and tag in other team members to create combos. One thing to say though are the fights are all rather easy, especially once you equip the stat enhancing scrolls. I played through half the game not realizing and had difficulty on the hard ninja card battles, but once I equipped the scrolls they were all fairly easy. Also, because of Naruto's Rasengan attack, which is stupidly powerful, it is a breeze to take out enemies and bosses.

There are lots of mini-games and collectibles and achievements for completing them. Around 36 achievements of the 46 are fairly easy to get, be they through simple fights, or story mode. There are extras for completing all the mini-game challenges, which are not hard at all. The fishing game may get tedious, but only because it is so easy. The real challenge is the whack a snake game, which judging by some forums, have hindered many people from completing all achievements. That, or, if they are late into the game like myself, the other 10 achievements are online, which is pretty much a ghost town. The coin challenge, annoying in the first game, is much easier here. You pick up a lot in your initial play through, but once you complete the game, you are able to explore the land and complete all other challenges you missed. The coins for example appear on your map after you complete the game, making this so much easier. The lovelorn villagers challenge is back but harder this time around as the villagers don't have hearts or face icons above their heads. Instead they are just discreteness reading a book with a sort of nervous look about them. I didn't even realize they existed until I checked online. So I would advise getting a map online to find these guys, as some are tricky, and the game doesnt help you out revealing their locations.

The game also nicely breaks things up from just playing Naruto, as you also control Sasuke, Rock Lee, Neiji, Shikimaru, Choji and Kiba, with some of those characters having their own challenges to complete too. It adds much diversity compared to the original game and pads out the content for those who want to get the achievements for completing them.

Overall, Naruto: The Broken Bond is a great follow up to Rise of a Ninja. If you love Naruto and liked the first game, it is more of the same but better, and I really enjoyed it. If you haven't seen the cartoon or read the manga and don't want spoilers, it is best avoiding the game for now. If you don't like Naruto, this game may not win you over with it being so simple.

I think the game is an easy 4/5 for fans, and possibly 3/5 for those who don't know anything about Naruto.

X-Men Origins Wolverine: Game Review

It's that time again. Yep, I have completed another game that was out years ago!

I decided to play X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and I have to say, it is a very good game. I enjoyed it anyway. The graphics are really good, seeing Wolverine taking damage down to his skeleton and then regenerating is pretty cool, and there is gore galore! The first level, easing you in with a tutorial like structure sets the pace with Wolverine dismembering and slicing up opponents and decapitating a helicopter pilot with the chopper's own blades. Yep, as soon as I played the first level, I knew I was going to like it.

The narrative starts off in the future hinting at the 'Days of Future Past' storyline, which I couldnt wait to play. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we play through Wolverine's past and present. If you have seen the movie, these scenarios are the Amazon jungle type setting fighting mercenaries and mutant statues...weird. And then Wolverine's present is in government compounds in search of alkali lake and finding the root of the Weapon X experiment, fining Stryker to right the wrongs done to you. Like I said, if you have seen the movie, you kind of get the idea.

That's not to say the game is like the movie as it builds upon these scenes much more so it doesn't even feel like it's a game of the movie except for the occasional cutscene that reminds you of certain set pieces from the movie, like the Wolverine Vs Sabretooth fight, and the Wolverine getting his bones adamantium...ized for example. It's all good fun with boss battles like most adventure hack n slash games.

It certainly had enough to keep me interested, including a level up system, collectibles and different costumes. The game is relatively easy, however, the dog tag collectibles, 95 in total in the game...I managed 94 and have no idea where the last one is, with no hints or tracking system to know how many are in certain levels etc. Annoying. But the different costumes are great if you ever get bored of looking at Hugh Jackman. Just feels right playing as the classic yellow spandex Wolverine.

The achievements are all quite relatively easy to capture and playing through once I managed around 45 out of 50. You do unlock hard mode with a achievement to follow if you complete it, but beware, collect everything in normal first, as otherwise starting again on hard will wipe all your statistics.

Oh, and the part of the 'Days of Future Past'? It's a lie. Just when you think you are about to play that level, the game ends. I was pretty disappointed by that since no sequel has been announced, probably until the next movie which is a shame, as I think this game is so much more fun than the film and rightfully stands alone as one of Marvel's best computer games.

4/5

231 - Sonic

Sonic is in dire need of a redesign to freshen him up. I present, triangle Sonic!

208 - HADOUKEN!

Street Fighter. Nuff said.

Street Fighter X Tekken

Not content with blowing your minds with Marvel Vs Capcom 3, they step it up with Street Fighter Vs Tekken. Dreams do come true folks. Another reason to go to a comic con, all this awesome movie and game news. I WANNA GO!

DC Universe Online

Now, I ain't a huge DC comic fan. I still enjoy the movies and games, and some of the characters. Sounds like DC put on a poor show at the San Diego Comic Con compared to Marvel, but there's no denying that this is an awesome trailer for their upcoming game.

Why bother with a live action Justice League if you can make it look this good?

Also...come on people, post the Thor and Captain America trailers online!