Guy, Author at koru-cottage.com

Games of the Generation – ‘Guy Edition’

Jan 22, 2021 Guy 1631 Views Blood and Truth, Death Stranding, Destiny 2, Generation, Horizon Zero Dawn, PS4, xbox One

In my musing on the last 7 years of gaming, a few titles stood out for their impact on me. More specifically, there were certain games that were unique experiences worthy of a “Games of the Generation” title. Keep that term in mind. “Unique”. For me, for a game to hit my list it needed to be more that just graphically stunning. It needed to be like a fresh experience, not just a incremental refinement of previous titles in a genre.

I have been reflecting on this generation of consoles, specifically the Xbox One and Playstation 4. I must admit though, the Xbox One failed to capture my attention this gen. There was a couple of awesome months of replaying the Halo games in the Master Chief Collection. However, shortly after it was left unplugged and unloved, as the PS4 amazing exclusives captured much of my attention.

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Everdure Force BBQ – Review

Dec 30, 2020 Guy 2934 Views BBQ, Everdure, Grill Master, Hardware Review, Man Cave, Meat, Steaks

We tend to be a pack of nerds here at the Cottage. So as a slight departure from the normal Video Games and Tech reviews, I have found myself reviewing, of all things, an Everdure Force Barbecue.

Going into this Covid-free Kiwi summer I needed to upgrade my old BBQ and wanted something better than ‘average’. So I looked into various top of the line brands like Webers, Broil Kings and the Everdures.

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Rainbow Six Siege – The State of the Game 2020.

Dec 28, 2020 Guy 2521 Views Online Shooter, Operator, Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft

We love the occasional guest spot from Nina, especially when its about her ass kicking abilities in Rainbow Six Siege…

A few years ago, I wrote an article for Koru-Cottage titled ‘Rainbow Six Siege: Why I Love it so Damn Much’. Since that article, Rainbow Six has seen a lot of dramatic changes.

So with this generation of gaming coming to a close, I thought now would be a good time to revisit my musing on my beloved Siege. To reflect on how the game has changed, discuss the state it is in now, and theorize about the game’s future.

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Destiny 2 Beyond Light, Review

Dec 19, 2020 Guy 1718 Views Activistion, Beyond Light, Bungie, Destiny 2, Guardian, Online Shooter, Traveller

Eyes up, Guardian.

With Destiny 2 Beyond Light, Destiny 2 has received a major expansion and I thought it was time for a reconnaissance report.

Full disclosure, I have been an avid Destiny player for years now. I grant you I faltered early on, as I explained HERE. Since then I have been a dedicated Guardian. Fighting back the darkness going on 6 years now.

In fact, thanks to the PS5s new game-clock, I can sheepishly confirm Destiny 1 and 2 have received in excess of 1000hrs from me.

Gaming Hardware Hardware Reviews Microsoft Xbox Series S

XBOX SERIES S, Impressions

Nov 21, 2020 Guy 2107 Views Impressions, Microsoft, XBOX SERIES S, XBOX SERIES X

Oh the excitement! Oh the Hype! We are entering a new generation of Consoles and I have been lucky enough to have an Xbox Series S for the last couple of weeks to play with.

Richard has put the Big Brother Series X through its paces, so check out his impressions in that post.

But for now, here is my Review of the lil Xbox Series S.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 PS5 Xbox One Xbox Series X

Doom: Eternal – The Ancient Gods Pt1 – Review (PS4)

Nov 21, 2020 Guy 1636 Views DOOM Eternal, First Person, id Software, Shooter

Doom: Eternal – The Ancient Gods

I was not a fan of Doom 2016. However, whilst reviewing Doom: Eternal I succumbed to the dark-arts of ID Softwares game design.

Doom: Eternal became my favorite First Person Shooter of 2020, hands down! So, obviously I jumped at the chance to go back into hell and play the new DLC.

If you haven’t played Doom: Eternal, them shame on you, go play it now! Then play its DLC, The Ancient Gods.

I will happily receive your thanks in written and gift form.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 PS5 Sony

Sackboy and Demon’s Souls Remake – Combo Review (Playstation 5)

Nov 21, 2020 Guy 2423 Views console, Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Dualsense, Playstation, PS5, Sackboy

A new Playstation generation has arrived.

With that, the obligatory ‘Launch Games’ also rear their heads to show off the power of the new machine.

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on both Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Demon’s Souls Remake.

It is fitting in a way to have both a new Sackboy and Demon’s Souls come to christen the new console, as they have been stalwarts of the Playstation brand for over 10yr years.

Gaming Fitness Hardware Hardware Reviews Video Content

Fitbit: Inspire 2 – Review

Oct 18, 2020 Guy 2646 Views FitBit, FitBit Family, Versa

The Fitbit Inspire 2 sits in the mid-level device slot of the 2020 Summer range, but it is by no means limited in features.

Back in May, I reviewed the Fitbit Charge 4 and found it a great tool to help in my training. Over the following months I have come to really rely on it for exercise goal setting and feedback.

The new range of Fitbits are dropping for summer, so it seemed fitting for me to take some of the new devices for a test run…(yep, I meant that pun)

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 PSVR Xbox One

Star Wars: Squadrons (Playstation 4 + PSVR)

Oct 17, 2020 Guy 2021 Views Battlefront, EA, PSVR, Star Wars

Star Wars Squadrons, you say?

The close of 2020 is fast approaching, not to mention the end of the current generation of consoles. I for one did not expect this late in the piece to be blindsided by a wee budget priced title made by EA!? of all publishers, to come out of nowhere and insert itself squarely in my 2020 game of the year considerations.

Finally someone at EA has seen fit to make a game worthy of the juggernaut IP that is Star Wars. And to boot, they have drawn heavily from one of the all-time great video games of the past Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

Back in 1998 it was THE flight/space combat game to play. It has baffled many a gamer pundit why it has been over 20 years since we could strap on an X-Wing at shoot stuff.

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Crysis: Remastered, PS4 Byte Size Review

Sep 28, 2020 Guy 1940 Views Crysis, FPS, Power Suit, Remaster, Sabre Interactive

Crysis (Remastered) is one of those touchstone titles that most gamers have heard about, being released on PC back in 2007 to rave reviews. It was the “Ultimate Test” of a PCs graphical prowess.

Later in 2011 Crysis landed on Console, which is where I experienced it on the Xbox 360. Even in the paired down console version, I loved it, its was beautiful, unique and I even got 1000/1000 achievement points!

13 years have passed since its initial release. Which is a long time in game design terms. Unfortunately, even though Crysis has had the “Remaster treatment” to make it all pretty, the titles old bones are showing their age.

Byte Size Review Gaming PC / Mac PS4 Xbox One

Control: AWE DLC (PS4)

Sep 20, 2020 Guy 1831 Views Alan Wake, Control, Jesse, Strange House

I am a big fan of Control. I said pretty nice things a year ago in my review, such as…”It was mind-bendingly magical”. It was even my Game of the Year for 2019!

So, any offer to dive back into Controls twisted world is met with giddy laughs of excitement and much wringing of hands.

The second and final (AWE) DLC for Control has just arrived. Remedy have fully bridged the world of Alan Wake and Control in this 3-4hr DLC pack. I won’t spoil any story from here on in, but suffice is to say. Mr Wake’s typewriter is hard at work leading Jesse into darkness, hunting an escaped Bright Falls monster who is loose in the Strange House.