Gaming Archives - Page 27 of 77

AZM on Fitbit – Min-Maxing your health stats IRL!

Aug 16, 2020 Guy 2490 Views AZM, Cardio, FitBit

In May this year, I reviewed the new FitBit Charge 4 and the overall takeaway was that it’s an excellent fitness tracker, that for a ‘Gamer’ helped formalised my training regime and even gamified my day-to-day workouts.

I admit, that at the time I didn’t fully appreciate what this wee device could do. Initially I set myself simple time goals for workouts to complete. Later I used the FitBit app to understand my workouts and in particular making the most of them by using the Active Zone Minutes (AZM) system.

To put it in ‘Gamer’ terms. My FitBit device and the AZM system has given me a tangible way to have stats to Min-Max, to get the best returns on my health and heart. It’s like dungeon crawling in real life!!

Gaming ATARI VCS Game News Hardware Hardware Reviews

ATARI VCS, Bluemouth confirmed as local distributor

Aug 14, 2020 Richard Armitt 5310 Views ATARI, ATARI VCS, Bluemouth, console, indie, PC, Steam

The back end of the year and especially November is starting to look crowded. With Sony and Xbox still unconfirmed on launch dates or pricing for their new consoles, the rebooted ATARI VCS is coming in hot.

The big news for Australasia is that Bluemouth have been secured as the local distribution partner for the new “PC/Console Hybrid”. Effective from 14th August 2020, Bluemouth will bring their 17 years of experience to supply Australia and New Zealand.

With Sony and Microsoft still unconfirmed on dates and pricing, November 20th could go either way for the ATARI VCS. It might not have the system selling AAA games that the fans want, but there’s a big enough user base for people to want to try something different.

If the market positioning is right, you’d have to admit. “A third player has entered the game.”

Gaming Feature Article Movie Reviews PS4 Switch Console Xbox One

Cinema Gaming, going large on the Silver Screen

Aug 13, 2020 Richard Armitt 1812 Views Big Screen, Cinema Gaming, Destroy All Humans, DOOM Eternal, Event Cinemas, Ghost of Tsushima, Maneater, Orion Springfield, Snacks, Sound, TLOU2

As a young man I had two dreams, one was to own a nice little campsite and the other was to own a boutique cinema. The second was born of a love of movies and the plan for some cinema gaming on the big screen after hours. Neither of these dreams took off, until now.

We probably have to thank Covid and 2020 for the opportunity, as traditional business finds other ways to make its assets work.

I recently spied a Facebook ad by my local Event Cinema offering gaming sessions. How could I not take it up?

For prices and details read on.

Gaming Byte Size Review PS4 Xbox One

Destroy All Humans (PlayStation 4)

Aug 10, 2020 Gerard Campbell 1200 Views aliens, Cold War era, furon empire, Little green men, Mars Attacks!, space invaders, space probe

THQ’s Destroy All Humans reminds me a lot of Tim Burton’s rather good movie Mars Attacks!

In both the movie and the game, aliens are out to destroy the human race, both adhere to the little green man (kind of) appearance. With many of the human victims are bumbling simpletons ready to give into the alien invasion.

Overall, Destroy All Humans is a likeable remake of a mid-2000s game, albeit it one with humour that hasn’t entire stood the test of time.

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS4 Switch Console Xbox One

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus, PS4 Review

Aug 6, 2020 Richard Armitt 2104 Views #Mechanicus40K, Games Workshop, Inquisitor, Mechanicus, turn based, turn-based strategy games, Warhammer 40k, XCOM

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus will be familiar to die-hard Games Workshop fans, the average gamer, perhaps not so much. Drawing on the very deep and very wide canon of Warhammer 40k, this game adds to a varied pedigree of stablemates.

Considering the complexity the Warhammer family its a shame that the digital versions of these tabletop adventures often fall flat.

It’s fair to say, that first couple of hours of doubt were soon demolished as I understood the systems on offer and gripped the gameplay.

Gaming Byte Size Review Indie Game Switch Console Xbox One

Carrion, Nintendo Switch reviewed

Aug 5, 2020 Gerard Campbell 1216 Views Carrion, Devolver Digital, monster, monster in the dark, Nintendo Switch gaming, Phobia Game Studio, reverse horror game

Carrion is a horror game with a twist: You are the monster in the dark, hunting the humans – not the other way around.

In a genre that the game’s makers have described as “reverse horror”, you control a red amorphous tentacled blob that escapes confinement in a secret research facility and must escape.

Carrion is Metroidvania in style, with the monster having to unlock doors to progress to the next location and that often involves backtracking to locations you’ve visited before and pulling levers that will unlock chambers in another area.

PC / Mac Game Reviews Gaming PS4

Death Stranding PC review

Jul 29, 2020 Gerard Campbell 5357 Views Hideo Kojima, Kojima Productions, PlayStation 4. PC gaming

Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is a game that polarised gamers when it came out and you had two camps. Those that saw it almost as the second coming as one of the best games they’d ever played. Versus those that found it good looking game hindered by repetitive gameplay.

I never played Death Stranding on PlayStation 4, but did play Metal Gear Solid V on the console and wasn’t a fan. It just didn’t gel with me. I just didn’t get it.

It was with some trepidation that I agreed to look at Death Stranding on PC when asked by the esteemed editor of this fine publication. I was curious to see how it played on a PC with more powerful hardware than a PS4. Also how Guerilla’s Decima game engine – which was used in Horizon Zero Dawn – scaled to a PC. Where there are a wide range of hardware variables at play, unlike consoles which are standardised in their design and hardware.

I’m a few hours into Death Stranding – more than I’ve ever been for a Hideo Kojima game. I’m slowly making my way through Death Stranding’s off-the-chart world, and you know what? I actually think I’m starting to like it.

Gaming Feature Article PS3 PS4

Musings – The Last of Us: Part 2

Jul 19, 2020 Guy 1872 Views Ellie, Joel, Naughty Dog, The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part 2, Tommy

Guest writer Nina, takes a deep dive into some thoughts about The Last of Us: Part 2 and its online turmoil.

“As I will be trying to analyse one of this game’s central themes, I’ll have to dive into the nitty-gritty details of the story. So, dear reader, consider yourself warned. Spoilers Ahead.”

To say that The Last of Us: Part 2 is a divisive game would be an understatement

All you need to do is scroll through the comment section of any The Last of Us: Part 2 related content to realise just how angry some people are over the games’ narrative direction. And while some of the criticisms of this title’s writing and plot have a modicum of merit, after playing the game myself I believe that the reality is something far different.

Part 2’s utilisation of perspective encourages players to question everything they thought they knew about the characters they’ve grown to love. Naughty Dog do this in what is a unique approach for a video game. By putting the player in the position of someone who was hurt or wronged by them.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 Video Content youtube review

Ghost of Tsushima, PS4 Video Review

Jul 15, 2020 Guy 2587 Views Ghost of Tsushima, Ghosts of Tsushima, Katana, Kurosawa, Playstation, Samurai, Sekiro, Suckerpunch

Ghost of Tsushima is an open world, action, Samurai RPG-lite with a 70/30ish mix of ‘toe to toe’ sword fighting and stealth gameplay. All set in 13th Century Japan.

There are a few issues which I cover in the Video Review, but what makes it a game worth experiencing is its beautiful art style, its music and audio design and the story beats in the later parts of the game.

If you like Japanese culture as I do, the recreation of 13th Century Japan is what made Ghost of Tsushima go from a fun game. To what is personally quite a special video game experience.

Guy was supplied a pre-release copy under strict embargo for the purpose of this review. Thanks to PlaystationNZ and Suckerpunch for the opportunity.

Watch, Like and Subscribe to the youtube review from @nzbrowncoat after the link.

Gaming Game Pass Game Reviews PC / Mac Xbox One xbox360

Halo 3, Byte Size Review (PC)

Jul 14, 2020 Barrie Clarke 1701 Views Cortana, Halo, Halo 3, Master Chief

Originally released in 2007 for the Xbox 360, Halo 3 returned to the Xbox One as part of the Master Chief Collection in 2014 and now in 2020 it comes to PC.

So here we go, a review for a 13 year old game that any gamer worth their salt has played at some point. Hell, even my Wife recognises the Master Chief.

To be honest, even just hearing the Halo theme music brings back memories and a huge smile to my face. And going by previous reviews by Richard and Gerard, it seems we are all in agreement when it comes to how iconic the Halo theme track is.

Let us once more don the green Spartan armour and go kick some Covenant butt.

Gaming Byte Size Review PS4 PSNetwork PSVR

Iron Man VR, PSVR Review

Jul 6, 2020 Richard Armitt 1680 Views Avengers, Iron Man, PSVR, Spiderman

Iron Man VR has been a while coming, having had a hands on at PAXAus last year and seeing the recent demo hadn’t moved on much from then. That said, the Rocket Boots have firmly landed hard in our living rooms now.

It has to be acknowledged that Iron Man (the Robert Downey Junior version) led, assembled and exited the Avengers Franchise for a decade. In that time we had a very ropey Iron Man game back in the 360/PS3 era, which didn’t make much use of the man.

You’d think Iron Man would be a perfect shoe-in for a VR game or experience. Remember how good the final swing was in that Spiderman one a couple of years back? Iron Man VR must surely offer that view from the legendary helmet, the sheer nature of donning a headset making sense in more ways than one.