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Nintendo Power.

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:57:45 -0400

With the recent demise of Nintendo Power and the release date of the Wii U ever approaching (now confirmed to be November 18th), I thought it was high time to weigh in on Nintendo’s next gen offering. I hope you enjoy what we have to say and keep coming back to PSTB for more gaming coverage.

By: Justin Vachon

2 years ago we heard rumors that Nintendo would be announcing its successor to the Wii at that year’s E3. As the moment approached analysts and fans alike speculated about what would be shown. Would the Wii finally take the leap into the next generation or would we see a slightly improved Wii?

What irks me the most is Nintendo’s complete lack of forward thinking as it relates to processing power, graphical capabilities, etc. When they originally showed their tech demo of the hardware at E3 that year I watched in disbelief; not because of stellar visuals I was seeing but from the lack of anything that blew me away visually. It’s been reported that the tech inside the Wii U is more powerful than that of existing hardware (360, PS3). Yeah ok thats great and all but where is that visual leap we saw from the last gen to the current gen? Where is the jump from Super Mario 3 to Super Mario 3d? I know as we get further and further into the future that graphics will not have that drastic leap every time but what I do expect are advancements in physics, particle effects, animation, lighting. The fact is that Nintendo is taking the first dive into the next generation and from what has been shown so far it feels like gen.5 instead of a full leap. As a company they need to realize that within a year Sony and Microsoft will be releasing their new foray into next gen. I can almost guarantee this coming E3 will be the introduction of our future consoles.

With the true next generation looming, Nintendo is naive to the fact that their hardware will be obsolete the moment we see a glimpse of the next offering from Microsoft and Sony. They have put themselves in the exact same position they were in with the Wii. Sure this time we have HD graphics and an actual online community (supposedly) but that will only marginally help Nintendo’s quest to regain their hardcore gaming crowd. The technological disparity between these consoles will make the Wii U seem a generation behind. If you are going to be the first to jump into the next generation of gaming a full year before your competitors, why would you choose to make an underpowered console? It could possibly stem from Nintendo’s need to sell this console at a lower price like they did with the Wii. If launched at $250 the barrier to entry would be very small for most of the families and more casual gamers I’m sure will flock to this iteration. But even still, we have progressed from that generation where casual gamers had dominion over the Wii’s audience.

This console needs to be the hardcore gaming machine fans have been clamoring for. At this years E3 we were all witness to games that were advertised for current ten consoles. These included Star Wars 1313 and Watch Dogs. Both games were shown off in non playable form to (1313 behind closed door, Watch Dogs at the Ubi press conference). Now while these were said to be developed on current ten consoles there is no way something like 1313 is not next gen. The fidelity of something like that video is that leap I spoke of earlier. The way the player animates, the particle effects, the lighting, everything about that demo screamed next ten; which I’m sure we’ll see more of at next years E3.

My question after such exposition is will the Wii U even be able to run something like 1313 or Watch Dogs? Is this hardware proficient enough to match up with generation next from its competitors? While Nintendo has finally joined the HD contingent, they still have not shown they are capable of advancing past “slightly improved graphical prowess”. I cannot completely fault, with the increased fidelity the Wii U provides, gamers will be able to have parody on each of their consoles. Ports will no longer look worse on the Wii as they have before, that is until the next generation comes to pass later in 2013. Im sure fans who choose one console and one console only will be happy that the Wii U now offers the same experiences their friends have been playing on their 360’s and PS3’s but for how long? How long will its consumers want to hold their controllers up to the screen for some gimmicky add on to Batman Arkham City?

Speaking of the controller, the heart and soul of the Wii U, Im not entirely sold on the concept. It is a novel idea to have your own screen on the controller but at what point does this just become another gimmick and is attributed to the failed ideas motion control promised. As we have already seen from Microsoft and Sony, the idea of using a tablet or peripheral paired with your console is not new. We see the Vita has similar capabilities along with the newly announced Xbox Smart Glass. Yes the Wii U functionality is different and allows you to play while someone else is using the tv but should that really be the cruz of your technology? Relying on someone in your household to always want use of your tv? Its the Wii U’s most iconic feature but it has already confused the mainstream gaming public.

Head of Nintendo America Reggie Fils Aime was on Jimmy Fallon a couple weeks ago and early on in the show Jimmy mentioned the Wii U was a peripheral for the Wii. Later on in the show Reggie did correct Jimmy but the damage is already done for the millions who watch Late Night. Something like this gives the idea to the public that the Wii U is simply an add on and not a new console. The naming “Wii U” doesn’t help any of this, simply adding a U to such an established brand like the Wii is not the way to differentiate your product. You know the PS3 is different from the PS2 because of a simple number. You know the Xbox 360 is different than the xbox because of the 360. It is poor marketing and hopefully for Nintendo it doesn’t backfire as badly as it has the possibility to. Now some people might be saying, what about Zombie U!? What about Pikmin 3!? Yes Zombie U is one of the consoles few hardcore games along with Pikmin 3 but are the experiences they offer really taking advantage of the controller? Of the selling point behind the Wii U? Games released for this console need to be something new, something that exemplifies a step into the next generation.

Now there are a lot of vitriolic things being said about the Wii U and what it has shown (my own included). But when Nintendo takes the steps it has to produce a product like this then they are somewhat deserved. This all may be for naught seeing as how the Wii U is yet to be released and these claims are my opinions. Until I have the chance to play the actual retail console I can only stake these claims as possibilities and predictions. I grew up playing Nintendo games, if it were not for the NES and SNES I would not be a gamer today. Yet people forget that Nintendo is not the same company they were back then. I would love to see the Wii U revolutionize the industry with its new controller but at this point its difficult to imagine the new peripheral doing anything but holding Nintendo back.

All things considered, they have also announced a hardcore gamers controller, dubbed the “pro controller” so not all is lost. Over the coming months of release, reaction and post mortem I will be very interested to gauge just how gamers will react to this first offering of next gen entertainment. Nintendo has staked its claim on the casual market but to truly recapture the hardcore crowd the Wii U must do more than just add an addendum to the Wii brand. We all know the potential Nintendo has and the things they can achieve. We all want that NES moment again, to experience the joy from a new IP like mario at the time. These are things I know they can do and I can only hope that the Wii U will be different and that my concerns are just that.

Living Without A Contract

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 16:36:00 -0400

Hello again, we are back with Part 2 of Alicia Sherman’s Living Without A Contract. In this PSTB feature Alicia has taken the vast library of Hulu/Netflix and given us some of the best films they have to offer (indies and unknowns in this case. We hope you enjoy the post and continue to read PSTB!

1. THE SIGNAL

Why You Should Watch

The Signal is a movie that most people would most likely skip over based on the description, the movie cover, and a reviews from people with no idea what they were watching. This film is beyond brilliant; a great foyer into the horror genre/zombie genre in general. The film itself was shot over a course of thirteen days on a mere budget of 50,000 dollars. That alone makes the film one you most visually consume based on its developmental variables.

Not to mention the story is an interesting take on the zombie genre: mental zombies. Affected by a transmission of a signal through the TV these zombies not only look like everyone else, and are as fast as everyone else, they are conscious of their violent actions and believe that at every moment they are in the right. To make the the long of it short, everyone who save the Signal thinks everyone else is a violent psychopath and they must go on the offensive in order to defend themselves.

This concept alone would make for an interesting movie but The Signal takes in one step further dividing the story into three connected, but distinctly different storylines. Each part manifests elements of the following genres: splatter film, black comedy, and a post-apocalyptic horror-love story. It is well acted, the effects aren’t overdone or overreaching, and it has made it onto to top five of my favorite horror films list.

2. THE EXAM

Why You Should Watch

A brutally honest exploration into the psycho-thriller genre in a sort of a bottle episode format. You never leave the room in which the exam takes place. Now over looking the rotten tomatoes score of 62% and the critics being middle of the road on this film; lets explore it regardless. It’s fucking awesome. I don’t say that lightly but its brillance isn’t in the way it is acted but its in the way the genre is explored.

Much like The Cube, it relies on the interactions and substance of the individual characters in order for the film to work. Unlike a lot of the similar films of this genre the characters don’t necessarily form bonds on the basis of the need to survive. This film isn’t about getting out alive, it’s about a job. The exam itself is the last stage of a job interview in a world in which has been ravaged by a virus. The job is at the company that has the controlling interest in solving problems created by the virus including the attempt to find the cure. Think of this company as their Google or Apple.

Everyone wants a job there because not only will they be making an exceptional amount of money but they will be well received if not revered for the position they hold. They give each other nicknames instead of forming the bonds that a name gives and are told what would disqualify them from earning to job. They are not to spoil the papers they are given, they are not to talk to the guard, and they are not to leave the room. What ensues from that point is an interesting inquiry into the human mind. It’s not the best of it’s like-minded scripts but regardless it isn’t, by far, the worst. It is what it is, an enthralling good mind-twisting movie.

3. THE WILD HUNT

Why You Should Watch

Consider for a moment larping, if I have lost you already that is your fault not mine. Haters gonna hate. The Wild Hunt revolves around a larping world, the players are familiar info you know anything of the subcultures which larp. Larping is, for those not in the know, live action role-play. Now unlike a lot of other larpers, these people e throw down alot of money, time and travel far and wide to be apart of a larp that culminates in the Wild Hunt. Divided by four distinct factions, humans, vikings, shamans, and elves.

Now that you are up to speed on that let’s discuss why this movie isn’t at all what you think it is. The filming is superb, I’ll be it very art house in its nature. The exploration of its characters is what is important, people that are in happy in their real lives exploring a fictitious world of their own creation. They are stronger there, better there, and important there. Now a girlfriend of the brother of one of the larpers becomes interested in the game. He isn’t for it but she decides to explore the game regardless. When the boyfriend finds out what could actually be going on during the larp he finds himself pursuing her in the game.

His ignorance and lack of rule following results in the game being literally fucked. As the game nears its desired end it is so far gone that the players have become irritated beyond belief. What happens past that point is a veritable mind fuck of epic proportions. This movie is just amazing, it is what a movie should be in every respect, you love and hate some characters. It has a great sense of build, put you on the very edge toward the end. It is well acted, expertly filmed, there is nothing bad I can say about. Watch it, thank me later.

Written By: Alicia Sherman

Mass Effect 3 Review

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:05 -0400

Although Mass Effect 3 was released almost a month ago, its effects are still being felt and conversed today. I thought now would be the best time for PSTB to offer its thoughts on ME3 and all its aspects, ending included. While the game is seemingly being remembered for its ending we want to offer fans and newcomers to the series a look into Bioware’s most recent entry. We hope you enjoy our review of Mass Effect 3 by editor Justin Cangelosi!

Bioware’s Mass Effect series has been one of the most successful series to date, providing players with an engaging story, unique characters, and an entire galaxy full of sci-fi lore. The newest installment that has graced my Xbox 360, is the introduction of Mass Effect 3, the final game of the trilogy. It once again places you into the-more than capable- hands of Commander Shepard, as he tries to bring peace to the galaxy and save every sentient species from the Reapers, a synthetic race whose sole purpose is extinction. With the highest of hopes, I placed disc 1 (really?) into the system and began my out-of-this world journey to galactic peace.

Like the previous title, you are allowed the choice to import a finished file from your hard drive which contains the look, choices, and experience points that your Shepard obtained through Mass Effect 1 and 2. If you don’t import a file, you can create your Shepard and choose key choices that impact some of the major plot points of the previous installments. In most cases for me however, the ability to transfer the image of my Shepard’s face was halted because of unrecognizable code, which is how they keep track of your appearance.

This really disappointed me because I wanted my Shepard from the first Mass Effect, who went through the grueling hours of Mako mineral hunting and the unforgiving Insanity difficulty, all the way through Mass Effect 2, who also endured the turtle-paced planet scanning and careful decision making choices, to feel the impact of his work, his choices, and his effort with his ORIGINAL identity intact! But unfortunately for me, I had to give the man a new face, even though it wasn’t blown off in a Normandy explosion, which, for me, made me feel as if the credit went to some new guy that stepped straight out the N7 program. This may not annoy other players as much as it did me, but I felt a real connection with my Shepard, especially since I spent over a combined 150 hours with the guy, through the course of two games on the highest difficulty (multiple files excluded).

But enough of my rant, let’s get back to what this is about, Mass Effect 3. This time, you begin the game on Earth, where you are going to be tried for the destruction of a Batarian colony and a Mass Relay. These events happened during the Arrival DLC of the previous game, so if you did not purchase this DLC, you may be at a bit loss to what is going on, but the details of your crime don’t really matter, seeing that the galaxy has a bigger problem: the Reapers have arrived.

During your hearing, the Reapers attack and kill your would be judges, leaving you and the others for dead in the destruction. Of course, you survive (you’ve had worse) and head out with Admiral Anderson to escape the onslaught of Reaper attacks to get to the Normandy, so you can once again go on life or death mission to save the galaxy and Earth in the process. Once on board, the game starts to get interesting. Shepard is given the task to unite all the races in the galaxy, so they can create a mass army to take back Earth and defeat the Reapers once and for all. Along your journey, you will meet familiar faces, create new allies, and discover the mystery that is the Reapers.

How the game does this is by incorporating a rating system which they call War Assets, which is the collection of all the troops, ships, and equipment you obtain from the other races and your own, over the course of the game. These assets will come from doing story and side missions, system scanning, and choices you make along your play through. You are given a bare minimum to fill, as not having enough troops or allies always determines a war. If you are unable to get a high enough amount because you missed some assets or you didn’t import a previous save, you can boost your assets through other means such as multiplayer or Mass Effect related media (we’ll go into this later).

Your Readiness Rating, the total of your War Assets, multiplied by your Effective Military Strength (multiplayer, media) determines the outcome of which endings are available to you. This was probably the most annoying gimmick that Bioware decided to put into this game. It requires you to hunt down every inch of the galaxy to search for resources if you did not import a character, and most of the time, is not enough without multiplayer. This only matters if you care about multiple endings, but if not, don’t waste your time trying to get it as high as possible. In my personal opinion, the prize isn’t worth the hunt.

With the disappointing decision out the way, let’s talk about how the game plays. Mass Effect’s combat has always been fun to engage in, providing you with challenge and some well-placed strategy so you can take out your enemies with satisfaction. The cover system is still a bit clunky, as the system is still based off the multiple use single button. You’ll find yourself sprinting into gunfire when you were merely trying put your back against a wall, or diving into a grenade when you were trying to take cover. This causes some issues in fluidity, but is easily overcome if you use patience while playing, making sure you’re in contact with a piece of cover when looking for shelter or keeping distance away from an object while sprinting.

Another problem with having a multiple use button is when it comes to squad command. Your squad mate’s powers are mapped to the same buttons which gives them movement or action orders, which causes them to misuse abilities or move straight into an enemy group and get slaughtered. Again, patience is key, but if you have a problem with that you can always bring up the power menu to pause the combat and get your bearings.

Gunplay is improved, as your weapons have more kick and require you to aim well, to kill well. Some guns even have high enough power to pierce through some thin cover which adds a bit more realism. You can also improve your arsenal with upgrades, which increases ammo capacity, damage, and aim. Another factor to consider is weight, as having more firepower decreases the time it takes for your powers to recharge. So if you’re not a gun toting Soldier, you may want to keep it light, ensuring that you have your powers to fall back on if the heat of battle rises. Powers now have more use than ever before, as they can now combine to create multiple explosions of different qualities. You still have your typical Singularity+Warp biotic combos and what not, but now you can have Tech explosions like Cryo Blast+Incinerate to over burn your opponents in a fiery death. Experimentation gives birth to reward when it comes to power use, so throw different combos together to see explosive results!

While taking down enemy forces, you may notice the enhancement to the graphics, as this game has more sheen and polish than the second one. Faces have more detailed texture, colors have deeper hues, and enemies’ heads explode in a bloody fashion (yeah!). Environments are vaster and covered with debris, people, and quality. The world that surrounds you breathes variety as you’re thrown into futuristic settlements, dark caverns, and devastated landscapes. What ties these worlds together is the stellar soundtrack that blankets each area. The music fits the scenery, as your ears hit with pulse pounding beats while gunfire ensues and tranquil techno as you explore an abandoned area. The music has always been a high point when it comes to these games and I thank the orchestra for their contribution. Music makes an experience more emotional, which is what this game tangles with throughout.

With the merger of Bioware and Electronic Arts (EA), probably the biggest influence that got pushed into this game was the addition of a multiplayer aspect. Multiplayer for this game is a typical format (if not a clone) of Horde or Wave Mode, providing you with a four player team trying to survive an onslaught of enemies of increasing difficulty. During some waves, they throw in a challenge like holding a point for a designated time or activating certain objects on the map to complete your objective for bonuses. When you complete a match, you gain experience and currency so you can upgrade your characters abilities and buy equipment packs to increase your arsenal or customization options. Every time you engage in multiplayer, you gain a percentage increase toward your Galaxy at War map, which affects your Effective Military Strength for the Campaign. This Military Strength is technically a multiplier for your War Assets, which increases their values to enhance your overall total.

This means that if your Military Strength is high, you won’t have to hunt down more resources to get more options for an ending. But be warned, if you engage in even one multiplayer match your Galaxy at War map will begin to drop in value, every day, by a certain percentage, which means you have to constantly play multiplayer if you don’t want to see it hit rock bottom. This can create problems for those of you that just wanted to try it out for fun, as it could affect your story if you’re not observant. Thankfully, Bioware has said that they will provide ways to increase this without multiplayer so that players who dislike online play won’t have to force themselves to play it, but still get more endings. This will be especially useful for those who avoid multiplayer on PS3, seeing that it never had a chance to have the first game on its’ platform for extra assets.

Mass Effect 3 is a great game to play. It provides you with a compelling story, outlandish combat, and an array of unforgettable characters. The music and graphics alone puts this above its competition, given you emotion through sound and symphony and gracing your eyes with vividly displayed surroundings. Unfortunately, the experience is dulled because of unchanged control issues and the introduction of a system that relies heavily on socially adept players with possession of previous data of play, to gain the full experience. On a side note, diehard fans have expressed their disappointment over the endings not having to do with any of the decisions they made over all the installments, which is something the developers should have accounted for before release. Also, another problem is the fact that there is no sense of dire consequence with which actions you take and in what order, which makes the game seem more linear, even though the events of ME3 are far more catastrophic than ME2.

With these issues in hand, it sounds like I’m saying Mass Effect 3 was a disappointment for a finale, and in way, it was. But my overall experience with the game outweighs the multiple endings that fans seem to only complain about. How I see it, playing a game and enjoying its contents is more important than how it ends. If you’ve done your research, you may have noticed that most people didn’t complain until they actually FINISHED the game, which means before the ending they probably liked what they were playing. So if you get anything out of this review, try to see that Mass Effect 3 is a great game to play and is an experience that I will always remember. It left me with a sense of fulfillment and finished off a trilogy that was one of the best I have played. Thank you Bioware, and here’s to a brighter future! I’m Commander Shepard and this is my favorite game in 2012.

The Grey (Movie Review)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:05:06 -0500

Our first movie review of the year! The first of many to come Im sure as we look to do much more than just cover video games on PSTB. For this review we will be looking at the newest Liam Neeson flick, The Grey.

I hope you enjoy the review and keep coming back to PSTB in the future!

Joe Carnahan, director of cult favorite Smokin Aces and the A-Team remake helms The Grey. Aces and A-Team are extremely different types of movies but Carnahan makes the transition to a more subdued film effectively. There are plenty of bombastic scenes, but most are treated with a tinge of restraint. For example, in the plane crash scene we do not get a full screen display of explosions, people getting sucked out of the plane, heavy CGI or anything that would suggest this will be an action movie. Instead, the camera stays on Neeson and only Neeson, the effect provided is harrowing.

Speaking of the cinematography of that scene, most of the movie is very introspective and its reflected in the camera work. We get lots of very close, almost uncomfortably close shots that allow us to see every emotion Neeson and his co stars are portraying. The Grey most definitely is not a shaky cam movie and thank god for that. The only person in the industry who should be using shaky cam has the last name Greengrass.

This method all goes back to not being able to see something makes it that much scarier or interesting. Its something Carnahan uses throughout The Grey to good effect, particularly in scenes at night where all we hear is rustling of branches and shadowy figures. That reminds me, the sound direction and mixing is stellar, as I previously mentioned, from the crash to the howling wind to the wolves themselves. the production side of The Grey is executed very well, my only gripe being that some of the CGI used for the wolves looks pretty bad. Close ups and short scenes hold up well, I cannot say the same for wide shots and long takes, but I digress.

Speaking of sound, I will always be an advocate of good music in films and I must address it somewhat in my reviews. The score in the Grey is not center stage but more of an ambient backing noise for the scenes. There are certainly some standout pieces and I was overall impressed by its composition. Its not a soundtrack you would remember long after its over but when it needs to be the score is very effective.

The story of The Grey is relatively simple. Neeson plays John Ottway, a scottish member of an Alaskan oil drilling team. His role is to prtoect the workers from the surrounding dangers of oil drilling; in this case, wolves. The story begins when the drillers get onto a plane, onto the next job or whatever their final destination holds. Of course no movie would be interesting if we saw a 2 hour plane ride so naturally, the plane crashes and the men are stranded in the middle of the Alaskan tundra. Their location unknown, they eventually realize they have crashed in the midst of a wolf den. For the duration of the movie we see these men struggle to survive against the rabid wolf pack in their pursuit to find a way home.

Nothing crazy, nothing outlandish, nothing all that new. What we get is a simple story that evolves nicely throughout.

The performances in the movie are as a whole very solid, theres not really one that stands above the rest. Neeson is of course the star but his co stars are for the most part on point with Liam’s performance. Frank Grillo as Diaz has real character growth and progression to his story. Dallas Roberts also does a great job as Henrick and provides Neeson with a good foil. Liam himself is good as always, there are some stretches early on in the movie that have no dialogue and the way he can portray a feeling through subtle facial expressions is unmatched. Seeing as how Neeson is the star, we get to see his backstory in particular and it provides some depth I wasnt expecting. There is a recurring scene in particular with his wife that, while short, keeps the emotional core of the movie strong. Its another strong offering by Liam, not on par with his other dramatic work but a good performance nonetheless.

But there was one thing while watching The Grey I could not help but constantly think of. How much it reminded me of Danny Boyle’s Sunshine. Now let me be clear, Sunshine is a Sci Fi space journey to the sun, their stories could not be more different. I am comparing them in terms of their feel. Sunshine feels very Indie in its presentation and the way its story is told, the same goes for The Grey. The realism of the actors involved, the restrained use of storytelling, the situational experiences, etc. The two films, at least to me, had a very similar feel; I would be very curious to see if my feelings are echoed in your own viewing.

If there was one thing I want to get across to you the viewer, its that this is not a movie about dudes punching wolves. Wolves do get punched, but the context and the severity of the situation is anything but comical. Trailers have made this movie out to be a Liam Neeson vs giant wolf movie and it is anything but that. At first glance it may seem to be a movie where everything culminates in a Neeson/Wolf showdown, with Liam performing genocide on every wolf to ever cross him. Do not go into this movie expecting Taken with Wolves, you will be sorely disappointed.

This is not an action movie, there is only one explosion, michael bay had no part in this film. What we get is a deeper look into how a situation like this can psychologically affect ones involved. I would place this movie under psychological/thriller rather than something like action/thriller. There are scenes in this movie that legitimately had me dreading what was beyond the darkness or hiding behind the tree line. Its that sense of dread that stays through the entire movie, making for an experience i was not expecting.

My views on The Grey as a whole had to do with expectations and I was pleasantly surprised coming out of the theater. Liam Neeson gives a worthy performance and the story is fun and has some genuine emotion to it.

It is absolutely amazing how much of a resurgence Liam Neeson’s career is going through. The man has already proven to be an actor with extraordinary range and his breadth of work only furthers such a claim. The sheer fact that a man who once played Oskar Schindler is now a vehicle for carrying action movies. Taken seems to have started this Neeson revival, with Liam playing a father hell bent on killing pretty much everyone in europe to get his daughter back. It has been fantastic to see his career take this turn and I cannot wait to see where it takes him next.

Once more into the fray
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day….
Live and die on this day….

Words echoed throughout Joe Carnahan’s newest venture and words a movie like The Grey lives and dies on, literally.

We will be posting a review of the new Liam Neeson movie, The...

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:21:00 -0500

We will be posting a review of the new Liam Neeson movie, The Grey, tomorrow night! Hope everyone checks it out to see what we thought. This review will be written by Editor In Chief Justin Vachon and posted sometime in the evening.

Dont forget to check out all of our past coverage on Video Games, Movies, Music, etc.

Living Without A Contract

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:49:33 -0500

We here at PSTB aren’t just all about Video Games, we want to cover the entire entertainment spectrum. For this reason we are starting a new feature called Living Without A Contract by Guest Editor Alicia Sherman.

In this feature Alicia will tackle the vast library both Netflix and Hulu possess, letting you know what is worthwhile. I, like many of my compatriots have loaded netflix only to have no clue of what the hell to watch. What is good, what is bad? Where can I find the best content on these streaming services? We hope Alicia can provide you with some insight into digitally distributed entertainment, A blueprint for how you can “Live Without A Contract.”

For PT.1 we will be looking at Sci Fi & Fantasy

Enjoy!

by: Alicia Sherman

For the Sci-Fi and fantasy fans out there it can be hard to live without a contract, the SyFy Channel doesn’t release a lot of episodes next day, and a good amount of science fiction and fantasy shows aren’t easy to come by on Netflix or Hulu, but here is what you should and shouldn’t watch online to get your Sci-Fi fill. Lets start with some Netflix shows

Netflix: You Must

Torchwood

If you haven’t watched the original Torchwood and just experienced the poorly written Starz Miracle Day you are living a sad sad life. Torchwood is a well thought out, cheaply but well produced Doctor Who spin-off (yes the Adventures of Sarah Jane were terrible, don’t even try to pretend they weren’t). This BBC Torchwood is dark, brooding, sexy and adult. You will be shocked how watered down the Starz version of the show was and Jack Harkness will make all the more sense in his original setting.

If you don’t have a ton of time to watch it all you can pass on a few episodes for the best ones because it is a lot like Doctor Who. How? It has an over all long plot but it is split up into “case or problem solving” general stories that don’t really pass from episode to episode. Good episodes are Countrycide, Out of Time, and Meat; though I highly suggested you watch it all. The last season on Netflix is Children of the Earth a Torchwood mini-series that knocks the socks off of Miracle Day.

Farscape

Farscape is amazing. It just is. The story line is interesting, the actors are lovable and it has puppets, yes puppets. We aren’t talking just any puppets either, these are Jim Henson puppets. Produced in late 90’s and running from 1999-2003 in its original run this SciFi show feels like it was produced in the early 90’s, which was when O’Bannon and Henson conceived it. It doesn’t make it any less likable however. It has some familiar SciFi traits in the fact that it replaces “bad words” will its own new versions “frell and dren”.

It has a hot ass painted chick that wears revealing outfits. There are interesting make-ups and the crew is traveling from planet to planet through space. Just because its formulaic doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its break through moments. The episode DNA Mad Scientist being one of them, amazing puppetry and a golden age SciFi like story, if you don’t want to watch the entire series this episode is amazing just to see the production value and Henson puppetry at its best in the series.

Netflix: You Must

Being Human US and UK

Okay so maybe I am biased because I have read, and watched so many Vampire related things but this wasn’t one of those shows that was so good is needed to have a US version. The Office was one of those conversions that worked but Being Human isn’t good on either side of the pond. The characters aren’t lovable and in the US version of the show they are even at times whiny, frustrating and annoying. The UK version is dry and slow moving and doesn’t benefit form that dark brooding you can sometimes only get in a UK televised show. Furthermore its like Threes Company had a baby with Twilight, it just isn’t good.

Caprica

I am one of the hugest Battlestar Galactica fans, and I was super excited for Caprica; which is possibly one of the reasons why this is on my skip it list. It just paled in comparison. The production value felt like it was cut down, it felt too clean and crisp in comparison. Granted I know that this was pre-Battlestar and it wasn’t meant to be as apocalyptic, but even the scenes that were meant to seem dirty and worn felt impossibly clean to me. The kicker is that one of the main characters; Zoey as played by Alessandra Torresani, is terrible, annoying and just blah. She can’t act and her voice, to me at least, is ghastly. If Zoey was played by someone else this series may have been worthwhile.

2012's Most Anticipated Games (pt. 2)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:05 -0500

Another day passed in 2012 and another Top 10 most anticipated from fellow writer Justin Cangelosi, hope you enjoy his picks for 2012 and look for reviews he will be doing throughout the year.

We will have our third list coming sometime soon.

10. Soul Calibur 5 (Namco Bandai) Jan. 31, 2012

As you can probably tell my now, I am a huge fan of Japanese developers and their games. One series that is very successful in that region are the SoulCalibur games. With the reveal of SoulCalibur 5, it ushers in a new tale of heroes and villains to the lore of the world, giving you sons and daughters of the recent games, and some of the old favorites. SC 5 shows us why it’s still one of the top fighters around, showing off stunning graphics and intense looking battle, with unique characters and powers that only the wildest of minds could imagine. SoulCalibur 5 will be a great game to play with your friends, as my fellow editor Justin Vachon, will probably not tell you because of the ass whooping I ensued on him in the previous game (sorry, I just had to)! But seriously, you, your friends, and the ones you play against online will have a blast with this game and will not disappoint you when it comes out soon.

9. Borderlands 2 (Gearbox Software) Jul. 30, 2012

Finally! Borderlands returns to consoles to, once again, make us shoot and loot anything we can! With the teaser trailer they showed us, it looks like it will take place in a new area filled with some intimidating enemies and new ways to combat them. Even if the trailer was less revealing than most, I couldn’t be happier with the result! It showed me that they listened to fan responses and put in some features that they missed in the first. If dual wielding guns weren’t enough to make you come back, hopefully they’ll grab our attention with new classes to perform with! Borderlands 2 will be part of my game collection when it (hopefully) comes out in few months. I’m just hoping Claptrap will play a bigger role in this one, but I’ll be fine if he just cracks joke like always!

8. BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend (Arc System Works) Feb. 14, 2012

As we move ever closer to the release of the Playstation Vita, I already have an idea for my first game purchase for it. BlazBlue: CSE is the newest installment to the franchise and one series that I have truly enjoyed! With great character design and identities, crisp animation, and fast paced combat, BlazBlue:CSE looks and plays in absolute brilliance on Sony’s new handheld. Engaging (and confusing) story with each character having their own play style breeds a game with new flare and puts together a fighting game like no other! With a very competitive multiplayer filled with extremely advanced players, CSE will give you a challenging yet fun experience that anyone, including me, will enjoy when it comes out soon.

7. Armored Core 5 (Namco Bandai) Apr. 1, 2012

Kyodai robotto! Oh, sorry about that. I just remembered that we’ll be seeing plenty of giant robots when Armored Core 5 comes to U.S. soil. The Armored Core series is definitely one of a required taste, as I found out that NONE of my friends have ever played it, but hey I don’t care. Those of us, who do know, should be expecting a game with super- quick- paced bullet and rocket dodging action with just a dash of too much customization. With a never ending combination of parts and weaponry, anyone will be able to find a play style that fits them, making this game one that anyone can enjoy. After seeing giant robots in jaw dropping graphics and intense combat, I will definitely be turning Japanese when this game gets released!

6. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (Ubisoft) Mar. 6, 2012

The arrival of a new Ghost Recon title means that my prayers were answered! After Advanced Warfighter 2, I thought we would never see another Ghost Recon, since they made us wait 4 years before throwing hints at us through conferences and websites. But after seeing the gameplay reveal at E3 last year, I totally forgot about the torturous wait they gave me! With enhanced graphics, precise tactical warfare, and beyond-our-time tech and weapons, Future Soldier shows that even in the not so distance future, the U.S. military still knows how to kick ass. Even though a new Rainbow Six will be coming in 2013, it’s nice to know we’ll be getting a stellar military action game earlier than we expected.

5. Dragon’s Dogma (Capcom) Mar. 27, 2012

For years I have been a loyal fan to Capcom and their games, but at times some of their games have been a hit or miss to me. But the introduction of Dragon’s Dogma gives me a huge boost of confidence, insuring me that their next game release will be a hit! This 3^rd person action RPG is brimming with giant monster combat and entertaining battle scenarios. With the ability to grab onto enemies and climb all over them to attack, its gives you a good sense of scale, showing you that just beating on something’s legs won’t kill it, but getting to their skull and stabbing through it will! With multiple classes to choose from and the option of building your own custom team, you’ll be slaying baddies in no time with swords, magic, and strategy. Dragon’s Dogma looks to be a must buy in my book when it hits shelves this year.

4. Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning (38 Studios) Feb. 7, 2012

At first, I was not really interested in this game, as I usually decide on a game once I see how the actual gameplay will function. When I finally saw some, I was very impressed. KOA looks to be an action packed RPG, filled with intense magical battle and fierce melee combat. The combat in this game is just pure awesome! From swords, to staves, to daggers and even chakrams, every move looked cool and unique which breaths individuality to every weapon style. Plus the fact that you can switch weapons and magic during combat makes the way you handle your enemies even more diverse. This game looks like a great action title, and one that I’m anxiously awaiting!

3. Tales of Graces: f (Namco Bandai) Mar. 13, 2012

Japan has finally heard the call of its western fan base with the localization of Tales of Graces: f. Namco Bandai’s newest installment of the ‘Tales’ series features an improved combat system (known as SS-LiMBS, look it up) which is considered the best in the series. From watching videos, combat does look a whole lot better and complex, but anyone can probably get the hang of it in a few hours, including me. With enhanced graphics, flashy combat, and interesting characters, Tales of Graces looks like it will provide a great experience for Tales fans and those who wish to try it out. Luckily for us, Namco Bandai is giving us the ‘f’ version, which includes more gameplay and features than the original. This is good, since we don’t know if we’ll get the next one in the U.S., so this will keep us busy for a while! Hopefully this release (and success) will make the Japanese branch bring over the other great Tales titles that never got their permission slips signed!

2. DmC: Devil May Cry (Ninja Theory) TBD 2012

When I saw the first trailer for this game and saw some random teenager, my first thought was “Who the hell is this?”, but as more videos came in and explanations were given, I started saying, “Who cares, when is this coming out?” The Devil May Cry series is one of my favorite lines of games to be released, so getting this one is a no brainer. Imaginative enemies, twisted landscapes, and over-the-top action is a great selling point to me, and I totally bought it. This will be like Devil May Cry 3 since it jumps back to the past, but it’s one that I’m glad they’re making because I always wanted to know how Dante became the way he is. If you like to kick a lot of ass in style, you should check this one out.

1. Mass Effect 3 (Bioware) Mar. 6, 2012

The time for war against the Reapers is almost here with the coming of Mass Effect 3! I keep telling myself it’s only a few months away, but after hearing and seeing all the new additions Bioware put in, who knows when I’m going to crack! Voice commands, new weapons, old faces, and even multiplayer? This game is just trying to keep me from going to work! As I wait for a grueling 2 and a half months, I think I will replay the first and second Mass Effects, just so when the 3^rd one comes, I can be at the top of my game to how it’s gotten to this point. Mass Effect 3 may end the series, but the experience I will get from this game will be one I won’t soon forget. Mass Effect 3 will definitely be one of the best games I’ll play this year! DEFINITELY.

2012's Most Anticipated Games

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:55:00 -0500

So here we are in a new year, and what a year it looks to be for gaming. As it stands, we are not in for such a holiday cluster that we had last year. This should bode well for our wallets as well as our social lives. So as we look upon a new set of games for the year I present you with my most anticipated titles. These are the games I have been waiting for since first glimpse, ones Im sure will top GOTY lists at the end of 2012.

I hope you enjoy my personal list of most anticipated games. The other top 10’s coming from PSTB’s writers will be posted in the coming days.

10. Ninja Gaiden 3 (Team Ninja) Mar. 20, 2012

I am a masochist, i will not deny this fact, I am aware of my masochism simply because of my time spent with Team Ninja’s Ninja Gaiden series. With the departure of Tomonobu Itigaki I am a little weary of where the series might end up. yes the series might be getting a bit stale but to us masochists who love the challenge, theres not much change needed. I could care less about what story is told, as long as the remains of Team Ninja can create combat situations as fun and challenging as past titles, I will be beyond pleased. With games like Bayonetta raising the bar for actions games, I hope Ninja Gaiden can still bring enough craziness to the table.

9. SSX (EA Canada) Feb. 14, 2012

I’ll admit that when I first saw footage of previously crowned SSX: Deadly Descents, I was beyond disappointed in its offering. The tone was changed, it was drab, there were no vibrant colors, no Run DMC, everything I loved about SSX was dead. In the coming months we would see a change however. The serious tone was dropped, vibrancy was added, and the return of Run DMC’s “Tricky” made its way back into the game. SSX has always been known for its insane jumps and even crazier tricks. With this iteration the jumps look to be even larger and the plethora of tricks more varied. With this new found invigoration I cannot wait to play SSX when its released this year.

8. Max Payne 3 (Rockstar Vacnouver) Mar. 2012

The original two Max Payne games remain some of my favorite experiences in recent memory, the pseudo noire feel of its story, the comic book style of its cutscenes, the gritty environments, it was a complete package of atmospheric perfection. The development of Max Payne 3 has been in and out of the media for about 3 or 4 years. It was rumored to be happening but no one outside of Rockstar was actually sure. When we finally got a look at the game I was a little taken back by its tropical setting and Max’s bald ass head. My concerns have been weathered as more of the game has been revealed and I can say I have complete faith in Rockstar’s abilities.

7. Hitman Absolution (IO Interactive) TBD 2012

As broken and quirky as the Hitman series has proven to be, I still remain glued to anything coming from Edios. Ever since the absolutely fantastic Blood Money I have been clamoring for a new entry in the series. With Absolution it seems as though Eidos is stepping in a newer, more streamlined version of Hitman. There is not much of a HUD, set pieces are more prevalent and overall presentation seems more sleek. But a move towards the more modern style ala Uncharted or Dead Space 2 isnt a bad move. Im sure we will be getting a deep and multi layered experience with Absolution. Eidos knows what Hitman fans want, varied, open ended levels and maximum player choice. If such aspects are delivered upon with a new presentation then Hitman Absolution will prove to be on of 2012’s best.

6. Assassins Creed 3 (EA Montreal) TBD 2012

Im not exactly sure just how Ubisoft does it every year, they create iteration after iteration of quality Assassins Creed games. Im sure it helps to have about 5 other Ubi offshoots involved but the core of Assassins Creed, the writing, the story, the characters, the setting, comes straight from Montreal. With the ending of Revelations setting us up for the inevitable Desmond focused story, myself along with the millions of other AC fans have waited since AC 1 to experience the modern day version. Its still not completely confirmed we will only be controlling Desmond but the prospect is enticing. The team at Ubisoft Montreal doesnt really know how to make an unpolished or lackluster game and im sure AC3 being a properly numbered game puts its priority for success even higher. I will say one thing though, this should be the definitive end of the AC series, after 5 games I think we are due for some resolution.

5. Mass Effect 3 (Bioware) March 6th, 2012

Delays in our industry are usually met with cries of problems in development or just poor experiences in general. Just think of the 10 year cycle it took to craft the now steaming pile that is Duke Nukem Forever. Long delays or delays of any kind usually spell some type of warning sign within development. But sometimes there are delays which bode well for games, that show promise and elude only to more refinement and polish. As with Gears 3, Mass Effect 3 was delayed into this year after being slated to release in the crowded holiday of 2011. With all the promise we have seen from ME3’s demos and trailers, I can only hope those months were put to good use. We all await to see just how the decisions we’ve made will culminate in this final chapter.

4. Borderlands 2 (Gearbox Software) Jul. 30, 2012

Millions of guns, millions upon millions upon millions, this was the draw of the original Borderlands, proclaimed by Game Director Randy Pitchford. The reason we all bought into what Gearbox was selling just to see if Pitchford’s claims held true. Myself, along with the millions who purchased Borderlands were pleasantly surprised at how fun it ended up being and how much of a time sink it became. Yes, it was ripe with jank, but it was the kind of jank you could love and not fault the game for. I have very fond memories of its odd humor and characters and cannot wait to see what Gearbox has come up with; So if dual wielding midget bezerker’s are our litmus test, I have faith Randy and the guys will not disappoint.

3. Halo 4 (343 Studios) TBD 2012

As a self proclaimed “Halo Fanboy” I will be the first to admit just how damn excited I was when that trailer for Halo 4 debuted at E3 last year. With the way Halo 3 ended I knew there would be a new sequel at some point but I did not expect it until atlas the next generation. The guys at 343 studios seem to have the franchise in good hands, especially after the stellar HD remake of Halo: CE. It will be interesting to see where Halo 4 takes us as it was announced as the beginning of a new trilogy. This caused most to question whether or not we will see Halo 5 on the next Xbox, whatever it may be. Either way I am extremely excited to see where this story bring the Chief and how a Halo game will work sans Covenant. My only real hope is that we see some drastic changes to basic Halo gameplay and inner workings, the last thing I want is Halo 3.5.

2. Bioshock Infinite (Irrational Games) TBD 2012

As with Skyrim last year, its evident just how stellar Bioshock Infinite will be, I have already mentioned in passing how its 2012’s Game of the Year. This faith comes from the work and scope creator Ken Levine works with. I chose this image specifically devoid of gameplay just to display the scope of Levine and Co’s ambition. From the short demo we saw its already evident how fleshed out Elizabeth and Booker are. And goddamnit, Booker Dewitt might just be the best character name Ive heard in years. Just as with Bioshock we are in for a world more fully realized than most AAA games combined. Columbia and its inhabitants look to be filled with backstory beyond our comprehension and Based on what we saw from the original Bioshock, I can only imagine what Levine and the guys at Irrational have in store for us this year.

1. Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North) TBD 2012

It seems the consensus with some is that the tonal shift from GTA: San Andreas to GTA: IV was far too drastic. The change from the craziness of SA to the more serious IV irked some of the gaming public, myself not included. GTA V is my most anticipated game because of the pedigree the name Rockstar North holds. The journey back to San Andreas (Vinewood and its surroundings in particular) is a welcome addition to the franchise. As Rockstar did with IV, revisiting a location and re imagining it can prove to hold amazing results. I was very surprised just how much footage we actually saw in GTA V’s first trailer. The graphics in particular were stunning and the revitalization of Vinewood looks to be even better than Liberty City’s re imagining.

Rockstar creates worlds, ones that feel lived in and like Bethesda, their worlds become a charcter of their own. There is nobody better in the open world genre than the guys at Rockstar and GTA V looks to be their best work yet. Lets just hope lessons learned from Red Dead and IV will be applied to whats going to be a serious GOTY contender in 2012.

GOTY 2011 (Final)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:51:00 -0500

So here we are, New Years Day, new beginnings and new experiences, a year filled yet again with some amazing games to come. But for now we look back for one last time at the year that was and give to you our picks for GOTY 2011. We hope you enjoy reading our extended reasoning behind each pick and keep coming back to PSTB throughout the year for all your entertainment needs and reviews.

We here at PSTB look forward to a great year of gaming, see you soon!

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Deciding on a GOTY this year was harder then even last years struggle between Alan Wake and Mass Effect 2. The battle this year came down to two games once again, Bethesda’s epic Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Valve’s Masterpiece Portal 2. Two of the best experiences I had all year that could not have been more different. One took about 8 hours to complete, the other Im 50+ hours into and feel like i have 200+ more to go. One is concise and linearly driven, the other a sprawling sandbox of tangentiality. But there comes a time where a decision must be made, and this year it goes to Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Now I will say this up front, I have not finished Skyrim, nor do I even believe to be close to such a feat; at my current point I am thrust far into the mythology and world but still feel as if theres much to see. This may taint my decision for GOTY a bit for the mere fact that I, have not finished the game I am choosing. But I feel as if after 50+ hours in the world of Skyrim that I can confidently say there is no experience out there like it. One need only boot up the game and sit at the title screen to catch yet a glimpse at whats to come. Nordic chanting and singing soon fills your ears as Skyrim’s main theme begins to play, composed wonderfully by Jeremy Soule. I would be surprised to find anyone not ready to slay dragons after hearing such magnificent music.

I start here with music because as it stands, music is as important in a game as the graphics or gameplay systems. Just think back to last year’s GOTY contender Red Dead Redemption which held a moment of solitude and new beginning capitalized by a simple acoustic song. That moment when you enter Mexico for the first time would feel stale and empty if it were not for such a striking musical cue. This brings me back to Skyrim, unlike Oblivion’s somewhat generic soundtrack, the music here feels unique to its environment and provides the player with different moods and feelings for each new sequence. I will never forget the first time I fought a dragon in the windswept fields outside Whiterun, as the dragon approached a familiar song began to play, the games main theme, meant for some good ol fashion dragon killing. the feeling you get from any piece of music like this is indescribable, it fills you with excitement for your oncoming conquest. Music in games may not be as important to everyone as it is to me but when there is a standout soundtrack like the one we have here, it needs to be praised for its quality.

At some point we must come to how the game feels and plays, what its like to draw a bow, to conjure a spell, to swing a sword. There are a multitude of memorable moments created through Skyrim’s quests and missions. The feeling you get when first using a Shout is unlike anything this year. The power behind the words you speak can conjure dragons and spit fire, they can win battles which seemingly have no solution. Shouts are the biggest attraction here and they do not disappoint. While some systems feel a little dated theres still nothing quite like sneaking through an environment, quietly killing your foes with a bow you crafted and enchanted yourself. The amount of ways to play a game like Skyrim have no end and it shows in the stories you hear from other gamers. This is yet another draw of the game, everyones story will be different, the way they handled a situation, the choices they made, the people they did or didnt kill. Skyrim has created a zeitgeist within its own world and its aura is far reaching.

Bethesda’s biggest draw, their greatest strength, is in world building. No other developer (sans Rockstar North) has the ability that the guys in Maine do to craft the most lavishly detailed worlds you could imagine. Skyrim’s reveal of the world is not as striking as Oblivion’s exit from the sewer but once you are allowed to freely roam, it becomes apparent how much effort has been made to create this sense of place. From mountain vistas to small details like flowers and fish populating rivers and streams, every aspect was thought of.

This is the most important part of any game really, if you aren’t invested in the space you are playing in then what do you have? I will never forget the first time I was wandering through Skyrim’s plains and happened to look up staring in awe at the sight I saw. Northern lights similar to the Aurora Borealis filled the sky with pinks, greens, blues, in a mix of light and wonder. As I wandered, Jeremy Soule’s enthralling soundtrack hummed underneath with airy voices wistfully serenading the night. The moments like this that are created through mere exploration are a testament to emergent gameplay and to the blend created through music, setting, visuals, etc.

Now at some point in these ramblings I have to at least mention how visually appealing Skyrim is, the way it transports you into the nordic land. A sense of place would be nothing without visual flair and there is no shortage of that here. There are mountain vistas, there are quiet villages, there are sweeping capitol cities, every location you could think of is represented and represented beautifully. Climbing the 7,000 steps to meet with the Grey Beards comes to mind, it is a journey unique to a game like this and could not be accomplished without such a robust graphical presentation. Oblivion was a wonderful game visually but the upgrade Skyrim has provided is impressive, first and foremost in its character models, no longer resembling leathery faced aliens. There is the usual Jank and glitchiness that reminds you this is a Bethesda product but it all comes together in a way few games can.

Of course a world would feel empty without its inhabitants and as with past incantations, Bethesda has filled Skyrim with unique and sometimes hilarious depictions of life within. I recall one particular mission for the Thieves Guild where you are tasked to poison a Meadery to sabotage its business. You deceive the owner into thinking you are poisoning his rat problem beneath his residence. Whilst exploring the caverns below you come across the rat problem but also surprisingly find an inhabitant living below as well. You come upon this man who immediately attacks you and after defeating him, you find his journal strewn about, upon reading, his story is revealed. This alchemist named Hamelyn had spent the last 10 years in the dungeons on Whiterun, imprisoned and proclaimed to be a madman.

His story has him escaping and training at the mages college in Winterhold for Alchemy. After learning his fair share of potions he was expelled by the Archmage and cast out into the wild where he found this cavern. It is revealed that Hamelyn has been living underneath this Meadery and feeding the rats tainted mead that he claims turns them into super rats, capable of world domination. He writes in his journal of the coming uprising which will bury Whiterun and he will watch as Winterhold burns when the fury he’s unleashed is upon them. Moments and characters like this are only a small taste of what they have created. And this is coming from a queues tline that is completely optional.

This is an example to just why Skyrim is so addicting and successful as a game, its because of its aforementioned tangentiality, the ability to do what you want and still have a rich experience. You could try and do the main quest (as intriguing and epic as it is) as much as you want but you know, when that little grayed out icon shows up in your radar indicating a new location, its hard to not break from your path and explore. Thats the beauty of this game, its “just one more quest then i’ll stop” ability to keep you playing long past your preset stopping time. Now coming off of my self proclaimed favorite game of all time, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Skyrim had more than a lot to live up to. The experiences and memories created by that game will live with me until my final days of gaming. Now, with Oblivion I stopped playing around the 250 hour mark, something as a gamer I am proud of but as a member of society i tend not to flaunt so much. Anyways, with such a large time sink like Oblivion I knew coming in to Skyrim that my days would be spent doing anything that didn’t resemble a main quest line.

When Skyrim was first announced I was one of the first to instantly proclaim it as my GOTY, without a single hesitation. Of course I was basing this off previous Elder Scrolls experience, I never really knew for sure what I was in for. Now I know for sure that my original proclamation was the right one and that Skyrim truly is my GOTY for 2011. There wasn’t a game I thought about more this year than Skyrim, from the moment the first teaser trailer was released to finally having it in my hands there was nothing as enthralling as the game Bethesda has created here. I can only hope that Bethesda’s next creation can capture the hearts and minds of gamers like they did with Skyrim.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The New Year is just around the corner when you start hearing commercials for award shows, new model year vehicles and warrantees that say they’ll cover you 5 years later in 2017. This is when you should start thinking about when your next birthday is, new movies you’ve been waiting for to hit theaters, and any resolutions you will commit yourself to follow. But the New Year isn’t only for preparing for the future; it’s also a time to look back at the 365 days of fulfillment, fun, and the choices you’ve made which you may have experienced in the year you’re leaving behind. This year has been filled with plenty of great products, ranging from new iPhones, the release of plenty of tablet devices, and an array of many different chart topping albums. But when I look back at 2011, I’ll always remember it as the year that Skyrim came out and how it finished my year off with a BANG! The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is my 2011 Game of the Year and has rightfully earned its place at the top!

Back in 2006, we were introduced to the 4^th installment to the Elder Scrolls series, Oblivion. In this game, you played the role as a character that must bring the Amulet of Kings to the next heir of the Septim throne, because without an emperor on the throne, the gates of Oblivion will open and release a daedric army to destroy the world. It was then your job to light the Dragonfires (pretty much beacons that close the gates), stop the group called the Mythic Dawn, the ones responsible for this fiasco, and prevent the Daedric Prince of Destruction from destroying the world and keeping the gates of Oblivion open forever.

This story itself (when personally experienced) is great and all, but the best part of this game was the fact that you WERE the character! You decided your race, your sex, your looks, your skills, and every move and decision you had to make! This made the experience even more engaging because you treated your character as yourself, actually caring about what would happen if you chose wrong or trusted the wrong people.

Now 5 years later, this same formula is applied in Skyrim, except for the fact that you’re not some errand boy, helper type, but THE main reason of the game. You play as a person who has been heralded the title of Dovahkiin (Dragonborn), one born with the voice of dragons that is able to absorb their souls to become stronger. You are than sent on an epic quest to prevent a prophecy foretold by the Elder Scroll (hey, look at that), which tells you of the eminent return of the Dragon God of Destruction, Alduin, who will consume (rule) the entire world. Only you are able to kill dragons, so it’s your mission to destroy Alduin and prevent the prophecy from taking fruition. Along the way, you’ll have to fight (and join) many different factions, prevent (or start) wars, and slay dragons to increase your power.

The story is definitely an epic tale, a long and arduous one at that. You’ll spend a typical amount of game time on the main story quests (around 7-10 hours), but this game is all about exploration and side quests, which will extend your game time to 100+ hours. These games are meant to be played for a long time and, by God, I have. One of my files capped out around 232 hours and I haven’t even finished all the side quests yet or found all the locations!

While going through your epic quest, you will definitely be taking a gander at the world that surrounds you. It is truly a sight to behold and one that makes this game stand apart from any other open world game you have previously played. Skyrim is massive and filled with hundreds of locations to explore. Trek through rocky mountain tops, navigate through ancient dungeons, and struggle through blinding snow storms, as you try to uncover every location, because every locale has some mission acquainted with it. You will obtain these quests by talking to the local residence or by simply stumbling upon something happening right in front of you! This means that everywhere you go will serve a purpose in time and that every bit of rendering was utilized.

While taking in the sights, you may have noticed how amazingly embellished the world around you is. Every piece of the wild is extremely detailed with textures, colors, and shadow, which is a feast for the eyes to devour! Even the residents of the world all breathe individuality (minus the voice, re-used) as they walk about, all sporting different looks and personalities. Another marvel is the sound generated from the environment. Footsteps from creatures, gusts of wind, and rain as it hits the ground all create a symphony of life, which never sounded constricted, almost like the world had no boundaries. All the actions that an object made had a voice (noise, if you will) which reacted to whatever caused it to happen. This game exhibited such detail to sight and sounds that it may have made me feel a little too comfortable while playing. In short, it made me feel as if I was there, which is what all developers should aim for!

Skyrim has apparently enhanced its combat system; telling players that melee combat has become more precise by increasing hit detection and aim, but I didn’t really see much of a difference from Oblivion. Magic combat, on the other hand, has slightly improved, allowing you to now dual wield certain spells to increase their power and effective range or duration. The arsenals of spells you can obtain are quite vast, ranging from armor boosting buffs to simple charge-and-fire destruction spells. This allows players to create a variety of different layouts to fit any style of play. Depending on which skills you utilize, you gain experience for that skill, increasing its level and allowing you to acquire perks for each one. These perks range from simple damage enhancements, to special moves that effect enemy’s perception and more. After a while, you’ll find yourself decapitating enemies more efficiently, picking locks with ease, and sneaking past foes in broad daylight. The amount of skills and perks are just too long for me to explain in this review, so I’ll let you find those out by yourself!

A new piece of combat that was added was the use of Thu’ums (or shouts) that you learn from word walls. These words are from the language of the dragons, which only the Dragonborn can use. The way of the Voice is how the Dragonborn is able to absorb the souls of dragons and use their shouts to attack and influence enemies. These shouts stem from simple fire breathing to weather changing effects. These shouts are the main reason why only you are able to defeat a dragon. Only one thing is as strong as a dragon and that thing is…well, another dragon, or in this case, the Dovahkiin!

The Elder Scrolls Skyrim is an expansive and detailed world, filled with action, adventure, and personality. It allows you to experience an imaginative world without leaving the comfort of your home and throws you into situations you will never find yourself in for a lifetime. With intense weapon wielding combat and phantasy like spells, you’ll be fully engaged in taking on your foes, decimating them with variety and flare. With an almost never ending amount of missions to complete, you’ll find yourself playing this game for an extended period of time and you may even want to go through it more than once!

With the end of this year comes something new. Something that will grab your attention and make you forget about what you had in the past. Just remember that the year before, you found something that had influenced you on a personal level, and made you feel that it was meant to happen; that one thing, which truly grabbed you and didn’t let go. For me, 2011 will forever be known as the year when the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released. I will remember the emotions I felt and the amount of fun I had. I will always remember how it took me to a place that I will never, and never want to, forget.

Dead Space 2

EA has many different outlets of gaming and many different styles that are published but this year one game in particular continued to push the genre to the next level. This game drove people mad out of fear and the sheer adrenaline pumping through their veins as they gripped the controller tight and held on for dear life. This year Visceral Games return with a sequel that does not disappoint.

Dead Space 2 is my game of the year because of four different unrelenting reasons. Setting, emotion, sound, and characters all raise this game above any other horror game I have every played. You cannot escape these four defining characteristics through out the whole game. Each aspect of this award winner is constantly pounded into your senses as you slowly walk down each darkened distraught corridor. The setting that this game puts Isaac Clark in is down right horrifying. Every position I found myself in was terrifying and always kept me on my toes. Now as a horror genre lover this is the type of adrenaline rush I’m looking for whenever I decide to pick up a controller, and this game nails that aspect perfectly.

That very first instance in the hospital as you start you’re journey as Isaac Clark is very overwhelming, the scene starts you off in a mad dash to save your life. As Isaac Clark runs for his life, I’m reassured why I was so found of this game in the first place. There is nothing like playing through a scene, finishing it, and then looking around you in your own room to make sure you’re ok, and alone. Each corridor, each room, building, set piece and scrap of garbage you walk across in this game is perfect. Everything serves as a purpose to make you feel uneasy, and even at certain times relaxed. If you have a second to soak up the scenery just look around at what you as a player are getting into. Through out the game I couldn’t even begin to count the times I would look down a long corridor and think “Oh Jesus! I have to walk towards that!” This game has countless amounts of that. If you were to ask me what the best set piece in this game is? I would hands down absolutely tell you when you take your first step back onto the USG Ishimura.

This is by far the eeriest and scariest thing I came across in the game, which brings in the key point of emotion. Now Dead Space 2 is trying to play off the idea that Isaac Clark is going insane, and boy does this game do it well with making even me the player feel like I’m losing my mind. Now don’t get me wrong there are a vast majority of times where emotion plays a big role before the USG Ishimura visit, but I cannot think of a time in that game where setting and emotion played such a huge role together. The chapter sticks you back inside the one ship you left in the first game saying, “I never want to go back there!” As I creep towards the ominous walkway I cant help but feel terrified and insane, No on in their right mind would ever walk back on this ship, especially Isaac Clark. The whole time as I slowly crept across the bridge to the ship I was yelling, “Why am I going back here!” trembling with the controller in my hands I made my first steps back onto the dreaded USG Ishimura. As you go through this ship there are all the familiar rooms and even some familiar Necromorph encounters that bring back old memories.

When I talk about the senses I wish I could tell you this game included some kind of smell generator, because this game Is Incredible. Smell is really the only thing missing that would turn this into the scare fest of the century. Even though it doesn’t have smell I can guarantee on thing in this games and that is the sounds. When playing the horror genre sometimes you only need to rely on what you can see, but what could top it? Sound my friends! What makes Dead Space 2 so relentless at my heartstrings is the fact that I can close my eyes and still feel like I’m about to be ripped apart by some Necromorph. You can hear everything, from monsters climbing through the vents and the slight hiss in the distance. Every time a door would slide open and you could hear the hydraulics push and pull it was like candy to my ears.

The sounds will even work with the environment, when it dark the sound will play quietly and then just at the perfect moment the music strikes the perfect chord to send you six feet out of your chair. What is award winning though is the sounds of space. If you played the first one you know exactly what I’m talking about, the sound of emptiness is possibly one of the scariest things I’ve ever heard. This sounds can send you into a fall sense of ease and then the very next second you have a Necromorph right in your face trying to French kiss you to hell. This game is without a doubt one of the best examples of sound I’ve heard in a long long time. With all of these things working in sync It’s tough to top but one more aspect takes it to an incredible level.

Dead Space 2 brings in a lot of fine characters and ones that I felt were good additions, and enriched the story, and my experience; sadly this is where this game has its downfall. It’s not a big problem but it does affect my experience. Isaac Clark finally gets a voice, now there are times when it’s nice that he talks but I wish there were more times when he didn’t. A Silent protagonist in my book is a winner and in Dead Space 2 there are many things I would much rather hear than Isaac Clarks voice. The problem is when you have a silent character I can let my imagination and own voice do the talking, but when you fill it in with a voice that doesn’t need to be there It takes away from the story experience and in this case it takes me out of the experience and reminds me I’m playing a game.

Even though it has that downfall that cannot compare to how great some of the new characters can be. One in particular named Nolan Stross scared the bee Jesus out of me more than once. All the characters in this game seem to have more depth and even better facial animations. One of my favorite additions to the game was the insanely terrifying hallucination of Isaac Clark’s dead girlfriend Nicole. More than one time this woman was able to creep up and down right strut toward me in complete horror as I stood there like a deer in the headlights.

Dead Space 2 is my game of the year for so many reasons and this was a difficult pick, many people may wonder “Well those are good reasons but none of these one aspects could make it game of the year, how could this win game of the year?” Well I will tell you very few games can take so many elements and put them together so well like Dead Space 2 can. It’s a perfect example of getting better at a medium. It hits me on every level of my emotions and doesn’t disappoint. With a perfect trifecta of environment, sound, and emotion.

This lands in the spot of my game of the year. It’s one of the scariest games I have ever played in my life. Their were points I didn’t even want to pick it up again I was so scared. But I trekked on, and was I glad I did. If you love a good scare and enjoy a rich and meaningful story as you watch characters work their way through what seems to be impossible circumstances. You will absolutely positively love Dead Space 2 and what it has to offer.

GOTY 2011 (Top 5's)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:51:00 -0500

As we continue to wind down the year we have also brought our GOTY nominees down to just 5 games each. It was a tough decision to cut any games from our original lists because of the breadth of quality we had this year. We have provided each pick with short reasons behind our choice to give a little bit more insight.

We here at PSTB hope you enjoy our top 5 lists as you ring in the new year. Be merry, do stuff, and play some games! We are happy to have PSTB back in full effect and will continue our coverage of entertainment throughout next year.

Our picks for GOTY 2011 will be going up Jan 1st, 2012. Enjoy whats left of 2011!

Dead Space 2

From the moment Dead Space 2 ended I knew it would be in my GOTY considerations this year. From beginning to end (while a short game) Dead Space 2 is so densely packed with content and events you will remember long after you put the controller down. This entry in the series takes us to The Sprawl, a space station located directly on top of an asteroid. As the game opens we are given an instant indication of just how far Visceral is willing to push things as we witness a compatriot get killed and transformed right before your eyes in staggering detail. The new setting provides Dead Space 2 with a great many unique scenarios and situations, including a throwback to the original dead space that scared me more than any game I have ever played. Its amazing just how disturbing you can make a video game just through simple player interaction, Dead Space: Extraction did this by forcing you to cut off your own arm; Yet Dead Space 2’s self mutilation tops just about anything they have done before, lets just say it involves needles. In its attempt at a sequel Visceral has crafted one of the most memorable games of 2011, deserving a spot in my top 5 in the process.

Portal 2

Theres a certain standard in the gaming industry, one that not many developers can hold up to. This standard has to do with polish, meaning every aspect of a game is as perfected as the last. Valve holds every game they make to such a standard and Portal 2 is no exception. Coming off Portal 1 we all thought there wasn’t a real need for a sequel, that it could stand alone as a singular experience. So when Portal 2 was announced there was a bit of backlash, of course this would subside when we all had a chance to play the rich experience that is Portal 2. What surprised me most was just how funny the game was, thanks of course to great writers like Eric Wolpaw. Humor in video games is a very hard thing to pull off yet Valve seems to do it with ease. Of course the writing takes on another form in how developed its characters are. In the first game all we had was an A.I. named Glados and a Protagonist named Chell. In Portal 2 we have our base expanded and learn about the history of Aperture and Glados, its amazing what the writers have managed to craft with so little. One comes to Portal for the puzzles but without character and brevity in its story there would not be an experience like Portal 2. Oh and one more thing…The Moon.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Ok lets be honest here, when Skyrim was first announced there was a collective proclamation that skyrim would be game of the year, unequivocally. The game seemed to combine everything we all loved from Oblivion and add in aspects fans of the series had been clamoring for. Well Bethesda delivered and good lord holy jesus what a game Skyrim is. Tangential questing, exploring massive worlds, town massacres, ya know the usual stuff in an Elder Scrolls RPG; With just a little added Bethesda jank we all love. I cannot tell you the amount of times I would just sit and stare at the beautifully crafted environments while Jeremy Soule’s stunning soundtrack provided my ambience. This is a game in which everyones experiences will be different, everyones stories more exciting than the last. Bethesda’s RPG’s come along every few years and when they do it is like a juggernaut facing mere pawns. Skyrim has proven to be not only one of the best games of the year, but of all time.

NBA 2K12

Replicating the intensity and excitement of an NBA game is no easy task. The comeback victories, the game tying baskets, the buzzer beaters, the crowd. Sports games have tried since their inception to truly capture what its like to play and live that sport. NBA 2K12 has achieved dominance in this goal (even more so than last years stellar 2K11) of complete sporting immersion. When i first saw 2K12 at E3 i didnt think much of it, the play look almost identical and there didnt seem to be much on the side of graphical improvement. So its easy to say that excitement going in was not very high. I bought the game on a whim just to see how much was actually improved and was very pleasantly surprised. Everything from player models to improved presentation to animation. The way 2K12 handles its commentary right down to player specific shooting animations or tendencies is what makes it such an achievement in how sports games should be made.

Battlefield 3

Our closest glimpse of the Battlefield franchise has been through DICE’s Bad Company series, which has been fantastic in its run; However, there is still this lingering knowledge of the PC only Battlefield games that us console players have always longed for and with BF3 we finally got a taste of it. So lets just get this out of the way first, BF3 is hands down the best multiplayer experience out there, no one even comes close. Every game you step into feels like you are actually part of an ongoing war or conflict. No matter what your play style or preference you can always contribute in some way and thats what makes BF3 so different. Unlike in Modern Warfare you dont have to be killing mass amounts of people to succeed, you can play support or medic and still be at the top of the game. The single player component is lackluster yes but its multiplayer super-cedes any shortcomings it may have.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is one of those games that does almost everything perfect. After logging more than 90 hours in the first few weeks I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this game. The quests, music and new leveling system really bring the new installment to the next level and into my heart. The world is vast and incredible and all the different highs and lows create vast settings that really make Skyrim a dream come true. The new spell and shout mechanics make this game an easy and fun challenge as you involve yourself in diverse combat.

Battlefield 3

I had high hopes for battlefield 3 and it didn’t disappoint, with improved combat, and the new frostbite engine this game is this years best shooter. All the weapons feel smooth and handle just like their real counterparts. Lets not forget the sounds, DICE always finds a way to top the competition with their incredible noises, from muzzle fire to F-35 flyovers. This game has it all when it comes to adrenaline pumping no holds bar military shooters.

Dead Space 2

With a perfect trifecta of environment, sound, and emotion. Dead Space 2 lands a spot on the top five for one of the scariest games I have ever played. Their were points where I didn’t even want to pick it up again. I trekked on and was glad I did. The new settings and some old bring back fears I loved and hated from the first. With new monsters and some new characters added this game, It wins a spot on my top five for best games of the year.

Shadows Of The Damned

It may not be perfect gameplay wise but this game makes up for it with its comedy and writing. I found myself laughing none stop as I played through each section with interesting twists and sometimes gut wrenching puzzles. This game wasn’t a blockbuster but if you took the time you were rewarded with some hilarious characters and always with a fun sense of humor.

Saints Row The Third

Possibly this years craziest games. Its incredible story Volition takes all the standard rules of making a game and throws them out the window as it takes you on a wild ride through the Saints new adventure. This was hands down one of the best experiences I had this year with an open world game, and finally Volition found a way to get out from under GTA’s shadow. If you enjoy laughing and being surprised around every turn, this is something to look into; also lets not forget the giant purple dildo bat.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Travel back to the days of lore, when ancient dragons roamed the land and the only way to take them out was to speak to them…huh? Well maybe not over dinner, but over their heads as you plunge a sword in it, shouting FUS RO DAH! The newest installment in the Elder Scrolls series is simply one of the best games to be released this year. Stellar graphics, a sprawling environment, and in your face action is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you’ll see from this game. Never before have I been so engrossed in a game that I could play it a day straight (literally)! If there is a story that should be told throughout the ages, then it most definitely has to be about the Dohvakiin, and the epic adventure only found in the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Happy hunting!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

I could really use a new pair of eyes, because mine exploded over playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution so many times! Luckily for me, Sarif Industries offers optical augmentations, so I can get replacements and start playing again! The latest story from the Deus Ex universe is one of intrigue, conspiracy, and of the human condition. It melds together in depth gameplay with moral choices to create a machine unlike any other. Futuristic implants and upgradable weapons allow you to become as stealthy as a ninja, or as deadly as an army. Deus Ex provides an amazing array of choices that will affect the outcome of every situation you find yourself involved with, and will make you want to try all the different combinations to see which is most beneficial. This is one revolution you want to be a part of, trust me on this.

Dark Souls

YOU DIED. I can’t tell you how many times I saw this message engulf my screen as I played this highly addictive and punishing game known as Dark Souls. This game will eat your life away, more than once, and keep you coming back for more. Haunting locations and grueling enemies isn’t the only thing you’ll see in this 3^rd person action RPG. You’ll see plenty of death,death, and much more death than you can swing a sword at! With detailed graphics and an array of weapons and armors, you’ll be slaying demons and monsters like nobody’s business in easy-on-the-eyes gratification. Unfortunately they’ll do the same thing to you in return. Hours and hours of your life will be enslaved by this game, so you’ll have to kill your social life for a bit, but with a game this good you won’t second guess your decision. Just be prepared to die again,and again,and again, and again….

L.A. Noire

Truth, doubt, or lie. When questioning witnesses and interrogating suspects it’s up to you to read the situation and choose an option. Put your detective skills to the test with the oh-so clever L.A. Noire. This game has to have the best motion capture animation that has ever been used. Super realistic facial animations capture every squint of the eye, purse of the lips, and furrowing of a brow. Extreme detail is an understatement when describing just how brilliantly the developers captured the feel for this game. Using actual actors and their voices makes it feel like you’re watching an old school crime drama. With mystery and intrigue fueling your interest, you’ll be solving crimes in no time, picking up clues and evidence that will (hopefully) put the right person in jail. L.A. Noire is one of those unique experiences that you have to check out, and more than likely, play more than once.

Infamous 2

Lightning strikes way more than twice in Infamous 2! With a new location and a new threat, you’ll get to prove your worth as a hero or terrorize the innocent with your villainy. The choices you make will affect the lives of the people in New Marais and the powers you’ll obtain throughout the game. With an overhauled melee combat system and an improved shooting system, you’ll be amp-ing up enemies and shocking the shit out of baddies like a beast. Who knew electricity could have so many more uses than powering your Playstation 3! Infamous 2 visually delivers with crisp and detailed graphics, making you feel like you’re in the Deep South as you do battle with purple monsters and an army of militia icemen. So get charged up and get ready to dish out some wattage, because Infamous 2 is waiting!

GOTY 2011 (Nominees)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:52:00 -0500

What a great year it was for games in 2011, we had one of the most crowded holiday seasons in recent memory with games like Uncharted 3, Skyrim, Assassins Creed Rev, Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, it was madness. So now that Christmas has come and gone we are offering our own look back on the year that was.

We will be posting our coverage over the next couple days with the final GOTY winner coming on New Years Day. Tonight we are offering the nominees for each editor, this list will then be brought down to a top 5 in the next day then as I mentioned, a final GOTY.

We all hope you enjoy PSTB’s coverage of GOTY 2011!

Portal 2 (Valve Software)

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks)

Dead Space 2 (Visceral Games)

Batman Arkham City (Rocksteady)

Assassins Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal)

Gears of War 3 (Epic Games)

Battlefield 3 (DICE)

NBA 2K12 (2K Sports)

Dirt 3 (Codemasters)

Saints Row The Third (Volition Inc.)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks)

Killzone 3 (Guerilla Games)

L.A. Noire (Team Bondi)

Dragon Age 2 (Bioware)

Infamous 2 (Sucker Punch)

Catherine (Atlus)

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (EA Montreal)

Dark Souls (From Software)

Assassins Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal)

Lord of the Rings: War of the North (Snowblind Studios)

Uncharted 3 (Naughty Dog)

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks)

Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom (Capcom)

Saints Row The Third (Volition Inc.)

Battlefield 3 (DICE)

Gears Of War 3 (DICE)

Dark Souls (From Software)

NBA 2K12 (2K Sports)

Shadows Of The Damned (Grasshopper Games)

Dead Space 2 (Visceral Games)

PSTB is back...with REVENGEANCE!

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:29:00 -0500

Yes Revengeance, a word coined for the newly refreshed Metal Gear Rising, has taken the gaming world by storm. Like most gamers Im still undecided whether “revengeance” is the best subtitle for a game or the worst, quite the conundrum I know.

All this talk of Metal Gear is not why I am here, I am here to formally announce the return of Press Start To Begin after an extremely long hiatus. As you can see in our archive, the last post we made was about E3 so I thought it was about time to bring PSTB back from the depths.

Firstly, I hope you all enjoy the new redesign of not only the logo and brand for PSTB but the layout as well. It took much deliberation but I finally settled on something I thought was an ample sucessor to our old look.

And of course we are coming back once again for the 2nd Annual PSTB Game of the Year Awards for 2011. We will be posting our nominees, top 5’s and then final GOTY throughout the next two weeks. I hope everyone enjoys the content we have coming up!

Welcome Back.

PSTB E3 Coverage 2011

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:01:00 -0400

E3 2011 Coverage: Nintendo Presser Reactions

By: Justin Cangelosi

Nintendo has been known to please and disappoint us during their demonstrations at E3, sometimes bringing us games with unimpressive graphics and concepts, and sometimes wowing us with unrivaled experiences with innovative 3D graphics. But this year’s E3 was the latter, giving us something quite remarkable to look forward to in the future. This year’s conference was intended to show us that Nintendo could roll with the big boys and prove that they are capable of making something even more innovative than the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The conference began with something that I found very familiar and appealing. As the screen came to life, we were shown gameplay from each and every generation of Zelda games out there, and to make that even better, the music conducted during the showing was played by a live orchestra. The orchestra performed various familiar Zelda themed musical scores (you know most of them) and some brand new music from the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This was all done to get us to remember that it has been 25 years since the Legend of Zelda franchise began, which introduced us to what the beginning of the conference was all about: The Legend of Zelda 25^th Anniversary.

Since we’re talking about Zelda, who better should tell us all about this anniversary than the brilliant creator himself, Shigeru Miyamoto. When he greeted us on stage (translator on hand) he told us about how there will be a slew of Zelda related releases coming later this year and the next. Game wise, he told us that most of the past Zelda titles will re-released on different platforms and for Nintendo’s Virtual Console.

Games like Links Awakening (VC), Ocarina of Time (3DS) and Four Swords (DSi), including the anticipated Skyward Sword (Wii). He also informed us that the orchestra will also be playing internationally around the world for the anniversary and that we will be able to purchase the soundtrack off their websites (yeah!).

With Miyamoto done with his crowd pleasing, we were than greeted by Nintendo US’ president and COO, Reggie Fils-Aime. He then began telling us about new games that will be coming to the 3DS this holiday season, games by the names of Mario Kart, Star Fox, Super Mario, and Luigi’s Mansion 2. He also mentioned that Nintendo will have new online services and a large increase in their Virtual Console library.

He also said that users of their online services will get a free 3D version of Excitebike and Pokedex 3D, which is pretty much self-explanatory. He then revealed a future line up of 3DS games which are listed here: Resident Evil :Mercenaries and RE: Revelations, Ace Combat, Tetris, Cave Story, Driver: Renegades, Pac-man and Galaga, Tekken, and finally Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater.

This (in my opinion) was not that important to me. So they’re going to get new services and games for the 3DS, in short. They could have said that and I would have been fine with it. But after that long explanation of the 3DS’ future, they introduced a game that looked completely worth the wait: Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS). This game looked absolutely stunning! Vibrant graphics, intense 3^rd person action, and interesting character designs.

The gameplay looked very fluid and engaging, Pit-ting (ha, get it!) you against varying enemies and bosses through different environments with action packed swordplay and shooting. This game is something that any owner of the 3DS should definitely look out for (I know I will) So with Nintendo still showing us that the 3DS was relevant, they soon made us completely forget all about that with what they just introduced, their newest next gen system. No, it is not the Wii 2 and no, it is not Project Café. It was made especially for us gamers, but more specifically, it was made for ‘U’.

That’s right; the newest system from Nintendo is called the Nintendo Wii U. This system is entirely different from the PS3 or the Xbox because it is pretty much a controller with a 6.2 in display (imagine a bigger Sega Game Gear with two analog sticks and triggers) that plays-back what is on your television (tv connects to Wii looking system).

The new controller/system has touch screen capabilities, motion control, camera, internet access, video chat, and enhanced HD (finally!) graphics. It is wireless and provides dual function with the games you play on the television. It’s so hard to explain all the features it has because they showed so many, that it would take me hours to explain them all! If you can, try and look online for videos showing what it can do and be prepared to have your mind blown away. This system is a guaranteed ground breaker for Nintendo, if all the promises are kept and delivered.

With the introduction of a new system comes some new games, and the list they gave us is one you can’t wait for: Darksiders 2, Dirt, Aliens: Colonial Marines (FPS), Ghost Recon Online, Metro: Last Night (FPS), Tekken, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. Seeing some of these titles tells you that the new system definitely has HD capability, and from the videos they showed, it very well proved it. They also teased us on how they are going to put Super Smash Brothers on the 3DS and the Wii U (&%#$ yes!)

To conclude this coverage, Nintendo is no doubt gunning to be the number one system when the Wii U releases sometime next year, and intends to show Sony and Microsoft what it’s made of. Even though Nintendo didn’t show full coverage of certain games like the other companies did, they did show us that they have been hard at work, trying to deliver us variety for each of their systems. With the hopes of great new 3DS and Wii titles, and a new system that will redefine gaming, Nintendo has shown that this year’s press conference was indeed a hit and a complete success.

PSTB E3 Coverage 2011

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:18:00 -0400

E3 2011 Coverage: Ubi Presser Reactions

By: Nick Rybicki

Day one at E3 is done, and what a way to kick of the festivities! Massive reveals of every sort, and with many of the most captivating ones come from one of my favorite studios, Ubisoft. To establish Ubisoft’s press conference, they had one slogan comprising their presentation: Gaming is adventure. Gaming is sharing. Gaming is life.

This proved a very cohesive message for what they demonstrated, and was tied very well to their pitchman Allan Priceman’s (Mr. Caffeine’s) humor, and Ubisoft’s 25 year celebration. Now, to the gaming part of their conference. The new Brother’s in Arms: Furious Four trailer gave a very entertaining twist to World War II a la Inglorious Basterds. It should be refreshing retreading of the familiar fields of Fortress Europe.

I enjoyed Far Cry 3’s focus on insanity in its lush jungle setting, with combat that packs a visceral punch. An open world of mystery and death awaits us as we see what is done with this installment. The new Rocksmith title appears to be more of a guitar trainer than a traditional video game, like past Guitar Heroes and Rock Bands, and it allows players to hook up their real guitars to learn real skills to play it.

I’m eager to get my hands on it and see how it teaches one to play, because my guitar skills definitely could use some work! To further their goal of deeper integration between games and life, Ubisoft presented Track Mania 2: Canyon, a racing game completely made up of user created content that can be shared with the world, allowing gamers to design whatever they can dream of, and having it played on and evaluated by their friends and peers. Attached to this is the promise of a similar style of user driven content for both shooter and roleplaying themed titles.

The complete freedom to design and share anything with anyone anywhere in the world is a brilliant concept, and one which I think will yield amazing results. In keeping with the phrase, “Gaming is Life,” Ubisoft also brought to the table two more casual games, Just Dance 3 and Your Shape Fitness Evolved, both of which utilize Kinect, and can easily be played by those who have never played a video game.

Opening this gateway to joining life and gaming together in fun, fitness, creation, and teaching is, in my opinion, the next step forward in the interactive medium of video games, and will give rise to a new revolution of connectivity with our consoles.

Even with all these new wave ideas, Ubisoft doesn’t forget their blockbuster titles, and this couldn’t be more evident then in their gameplay footage of Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Lighting half an Ottoman fleet on fire within ten minutes, the new adventure of Ezio looks to blaze ahead in complete grandeur, and give devout fans of the series, like me, another amazing chapter in the story of the Assassins.

Ubisoft delivered a slick conference with many promising ideas for the future, and have maintained the triple A titles that have solidified the company as an industry giant over the past 25 years. Here’s to 25 more!

PSTB E3 Coverage 2011

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:08:00 -0400

E3 2011 Coverage: Sony Presser Reactions

By: Justin Cangelosi

Sony has been known to be a dedicated and successful company, promising new products, games, and hardware that deliver amazing graphics, innovations, and services. At the beginning of the conference, we were greeted by a very humbling apology by Sony’s representative Jack Tretton, about the problems that occurred with the Playstation Network these past few weeks. With that apology, it goes to show how much Sony really cares about their supporters, customers, and third party publishers. You don’t see this from most big name companies until they release a press statement, so this gesture was a great decision on Sony’s part. With that being said, Sony has brought us a very good line-up of future products to expect in the near future that I think many people will enjoy purchasing.

To start things off, Sony showed us the incredible looking Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception by Naughty Dog and I have to say, I cannot wait for it to hit shelves. Stellar graphics, realistic gameplay, and movie style action sequences are all I saw from their demo and trailers, and that’s all I need to see and say. Must buy. Get it when it comes out.

Resistance 3 looked as impressive as ever, with its unique weapons and character models, but did not really ‘wow’ me as it did when the first installment was shown. What they showed was typical gameplay and controls that I’ve seen from the 2^nd game and a promise for 3D and Playstation Move capability. The only really impressive thing they showed was the Release Bundle (Game, Move, and the cool gun controller). Still, it’s a game I’ll look forward to getting when it releases.

The first new hardware that Sony introduced is the 24 inch 3D monitor/TV/display (not really sure) that is designed for 3D Playstation gaming and promises a new way to see multiplayer gaming by eliminating splitscreens and showing two completely different images depending on what player you are. Sounds very confusing and impossible, but I have high hopes for this product. If it succeeds, it we’ll usher in a new way to see and play multiplayer games and will set the foundation of how companies will produce their future games.

A fine addition to Sony’s line-up is the re-release of two of their biggest hits- Ico and Shadow of the Colossus – re-mastered in HD and with 3D capability. When I saw that announcement hit the screen, I was instantly brought to tears. Personally, two of the best games I had the privilege to play. They also mentioned the release of two God of War games that were previously on the PSP, being bundled together and re-releasing for the PS3 in stunning HD/3D. If you never played them, might as well check those out when they’re released.

The next showcase was for NBA 2K12, the newest addition to the basketball lover’s dream game. The game has real enough graphics to please your eyes and now supports Playstion Move. From the demonstration from the rep and Kobe Bryant (wat?!), it seems the PS Move will work well for the game, as the controls seemed fluid and responsive. A definite purchase for b-ball fans everywhere!

With the success (?) of Sony’s Playstaion Move, Sony announced that most of the games during the conference will (no surprise) be Move compatible. With that floating around somewhere to be ignored, they introduced us to a game known as Medieval Moves: Deadmun’s Quest, a cute little role-playing game about a skeleton knight that utilizes the Moves realistic movements and precision to give you a ‘in the game’ feel. The demonstration showed real promise, following every command the player made with good accuracy. If you like the Move, you’ll like this.

The next three games they introduced were not really showcased, but were more like teasers. StarHawk, from the same studios that brought you WarHawk (very creative name there), seems to be like its predecessor, showing full on vehicle and foot soldier battling on land, in the air, and beyond. No actual gameplay in this preview. The next was Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. Again, just a teaser, no gameplay, but graphic wise looks to be a great addition to the Sly Cooper series.

The last teaser was of game called Dust 514, a sci-fi first person shooter from the studios that brought us EVE-Online. They showed, maybe, 10 seconds of typical FPS gameplay (as in nothing extremely cool) then ended the trailer with some guy talking about how he’s a mercenary doing other peoples shit for enough money, yada yada. Overall, not really interesting or important. Sony should have taking all three of these out completely and showed them when they actually had something to show.

Next up, something I personally cannot wait for is Bioshock: Infinte. Great looking is what I came to expect and what do you know? Totally delivered. Didn’t show much of anything new but still blew me away. They also mentioned that the game will be bundled with the first Bioshock for the blu-ray disc (aka PS3, step up Xbox) and that we will also see a game from the Bioshock universe on the Playstion VITA (spoiler alert: the real name for the NGP). What I also wonder is if they remembered that there is a Bioshock 2, but maybe that’ll bundle up with the next Bioshock after Infinite.

The next five games that they introduced were just that, introductions. They didn’t show anything (well, except Star Trek for Move) so I’m just going to list them down. Saints Row: The 3^rd, SSX, Star Trek, Need for Speed: The Run, and Battlefield 3. They mentioned that the games will have exclusive content for PS3 only and that’s all she wrote.

Now up to this point, Sony just introduced their newest games, exciting us and preparing us for the real reason they were at E3: the Playstation Vita. I know what some of you may be thinking “What the hell is that?” Well it’s actually the correct name for the Next Generation Portable. The Playstation Vita (latin for life) is a handheld gaming device that is said to produce graphics as impressive as the PS3. It has dual cameras, dual analog sticks (yeah bitch), and touch screen capability. It also has this very interesting touch pad on the back, but they didn’t really demonstrate it a lot, so its usefulness is still a mystery to me. It also has 3G and Wi-fi capabilities, so you can download content from the Playstation Store. They also demoed Uncharted: Golden Abyss, an Uncharted game for the Vita that looks absolutely amazing!

Graphics as good as the 1^st and 2^nd games, and controls that look precise and responsive. They demonstrated that most of the games will have touch screen control and it seems it utilizes them very well. Then they named off some of the future titles: Ruin, ModNation Racers, Wipeout 2048, LittleBigPlanet, and Street Fighter X Tekken. If you would like to know more, look these titles up. They didn’t provide a lot of information so I can’t give any. Sorry. But they did give us prices: $250 base (woah) and $300 for 3G/Wi-fi (holy shit). If you want this, I suggest saving up for it as soon as possible.

Overall, Sony had a very successful press conference with the introduction of new games, products, and an entire new handheld system. Sony again shows why it’s one of the top known gaming companies out there. Unfortunately for me, Konami’s Hideo Kojima could not attend the conference and show us his innovative Transfarring system and his powerful new Fox Engine, but maybe we’ll see him next year with even more surprises. Thankfully though, Sony has provided me with enough games to look forward to and a new system that I will definitely purchase. Hopefully, I have provided those who did not see this conference with some insight on what to expect from Sony.

PSTB E3 Coverage 2011

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:42:00 -0400

E3 Coverage 2011: EA Presser Reactions

By: Ryan Mchenry

When I sat down I had no clue what was in store for the gaming colossal giant that is EA. Right of the bat we were given a great inside look at Mass Effect 3. Now I’m a fan of the Mass Effect series so seeing this game play was a real treat. Instantly we get to see the kind of depth and seriousness that this game has to offer. I found visuals to be polished as usual, and the action sequences in the game to be very promising. Unfortunately like most demos they seem to be plagued by the person playing them, which tends to be someone who was given the controller about five minutes before the conference and shoved out on stage.

Mass Effect 3 is a game that is definitely sure to be a contender for game of the year. Wasting no time EA brought in one of their gaming giants. Need For Speed, after having a successful run with the recent need for speed title containing the feature Auto Log. EA decided to implicate this system into their new Need For Speed Series and what we get is an exciting new adventure, Need For Speed: The Run. This game seems to be a little out of EA ‘s comfort zone when it comes to the racing series. We’re actually seeing out of car chases, although they maybe cinematic action chases they were still intriguing enough to catch my attention once more.

I hope as we see more of this game unfold we get to see more of that experience without the idea of button mashing our way to the next race. Once again EA brings another head turning racing game to the attention of gamers. EA even had a treat for PC players by presenting Star Wars the Old Republic. When this game was unveiled it brought and interesting proposition to the table. When playing this game, it seems that you are able to choose either side of the war being good or evil or if you prefer dark or light. Although we didn’t get to see any actual game play, the battle sequences alone have shown that EA has been doing there work to bring this game to the attention of all PC and MMO players alike. Definitely a promising game if you love the idea of giant online communities and Star Wars.

Bringing the mood from total warfare to their next lost in the dark series they unveiled SSX. It was originally SSX Deadly Descent but they have seemed to change it to just SSX. The game features stunning visuals and what seems to be a lot of action and skill to maneuver these mountaintops. Although not showing any actual game play, we did get a look into what type of game types are involved in SSX these consisted anywhere from tricks to races and even a survival mode. What was interesting was the new Survival mode brought a new look to the game, what was shown was the sequence of players racing down a hill from an avalanche and escaping by either parachuting off the cliff or grabbing onto a helicopter. This game is a long time coming and I was very impressed with the polished look this game presents in the end.

If you pay attention to their Facebook, EA will be unveiling new SSX characters very soon. Soon after giving us a few looks into their action packed games EA slowed it down with Fifa and Madden. Both of these games introducing new technologies when it comes to movement and the way the game is played. Unfortunately all of this was killed for me when EA decided it was a good idea to try and have NFL players act in a way that made their game seem ominous and something revolutionary when everyone knows that Madden franchise had been doing the same old tricks over and over again.

To add insult to injury EA thought it would be a good idea to make everyone laugh at them by introducing The Sims Social. I’m sure most of the audience was doing what I did and what I mean by that is covering my face in shame, I bared through about 3 minutes of an awkward trailer that encouraged people to not only lie to friends about their relationships with other people but also to do it all online. Needless to say The Sims Social will not be getting my vote because lets face it this idea should of been stopped at the start. On the other hand though if you’re an avid Face booker’ and you just absolutely love Facebook games like a fat kid loves cake, you would absolutely love The Sims Social.

After mustering through a couple unbearable minutes, EA finally got serious again and unveiled Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. I had no clue about this game till EA unveiled it but now I am very interested in what this game has in store. The trailer was short but it did show factors of Fable and Dungeons and Dragons and even a hint of World of Warcraft. Once again another very promising game presented by EA but without a little more I cant really cast my opinion on it just yet only to tell you its filled with beautiful visuals and action packed game play.

Around the end of the conference we started to see EA get a little more serious about games and introduce a new IP called Overstrike. Developed by Insomniac games I was instantly interested and the trailer definitely didn’t disappoint. The game consists of four characters that make up a squad of badass fighting machines. The team consists of a mercenary, a thief, a scientist, and a detective. The dynamic this game creates is interesting on the basis that there are two woman and two men, of course all of the characters having their own strengths and weaknesses. What interested me the most were the abilities they showed off for each character. The scientist had this type of foam that would crush anything in its wake while the thief could use invisibility to her advantage.

The other two were a little more vague with the details of course the mercenary and the detectives were great with weapons and the use of a shield that seems to reflect bullets back at enemies and the combination of an electric crossbow. Once again though EA only showed us a trailer so based of the trailer, this game looks to be a hit and as always Insomniac ads their little twist of comedy to everything which didn’t hurt one bit.

Of course EA held its greatest unveiling till the end Battlefield 3. Without a doubt this game promise to shake up the shooting genre with graphics, and game play alone. I was hoping for more of an inside look into multiplayer but EA decided to show more of how the game mechanics and explosions work, and MAN do they work! Explosions are beautiful. The game play even made you appreciate the little things like being able to see you companion load up another round into the tank for you to fire off.

To really get a feel of how great this game looks people should go check it out on YouTube this is a must buy for anyone who enjoys shooters, or if you enjoy shiny things I would recommend this to you as well, believe me there are plenty of shiny things! EA wrapped up with Battlefield and I think it was perfect way to close on a good note because now I’m set with a good idea of what’s to come and what I want. Basically EA, just like with most years will be a contender in the gaming world for at least the next year to come.

PSTB E3 Coverage 2011

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:49:00 -0400

E3 Coverage 2011: Microsoft Presser Reactions

By: Christian Unger

E3 2011 kicked off this morning with Microsoft’s press conference. There were plenty of cool (mostly Kinect-related) announcements and a few surprises.

Everything started out, fittingly, with Modern Warfare 3. The mission demoed this morning showcased little in the way of new features, but all the over-the-top, borderline-ludicrous action set pieces from Call of Duty titles past seemed just a bit inadequate after watching the finale, where your seal team races across New York Harbor between smoldering battleships and missile fire. I’m not ashamed to say I’ll be dropping another $60 on Call of Duty in November.

Things moved pretty quickly from there. We got to see the new Tomb Raider, which looks to be much darker. I caught a lot of Uncharted vibes from the short demo, but not much of any real interest to me.

Kinect support for EA sports titles was announced, not surprisingly. Microsoft has been doing well on its own with its Kinect Sports titles, it only makes sense for EA to jump in.

Kinect voice control was demoed for Mass Effect 3 and it looked amazing, I can’t wait to try it out myself. It feels like this is a huge move for BioWare, who have already promised an incredible, action-packed story. Getting to play that story with this level of interaction is icing on the cake.

It has been a while now since I’ve been excited for a Tom Clancy game, and while I’ll admit I still have my reservations, I can’t wait to check out the Gunsmith feature, which will purportedly allow complete customization of weapons, down to internal components. I’ll also admit that I might be more excited to see this feature make its way into more mainstream multiplayer shooters, but if it works as advertised, I will definitely be spending some time with Future Soldier.

Lots of new Kinect features all seem useful. Further integration of voice commands sounds great, especially with Youtube on the way.

The live TV announcement was a bit of a surprise. Its been rumored for some time now, and it makes sense given Microsoft’s commitment to the XBOX as a media center, but I didn’t think we’d see anything this soon. Very exciting, especially in conjunction with Netflix, Hulu Plus, and current ESPN support.

Lot’s of cool Gears of War 3 footage this morning, almost all of it showing at least something new or different. After playing the beta, I was hoping for some definitive multiplayer announcements, but I suppose Blizinski plays by his own rules.

Following Gears, Microsoft spent a lot of time with kids games, none of which really offer anything to the hardcore market, but still showcase a good bit of cool Kinect integration. It’s good to see Microsoft make a real commitment to its peripherals.

Kinect sports and Dance Central 2 both look great. Ubisoft is looking to take the spot left empty by Guitar Hero as the Music/rhythm game to beat, and multiplayer support and legacy importing are both good places to start. Plus, with all the Kinect driver refinements Microsoft is reportedly about to make with the new firmware update, DC2 just might come out on top.

The other BIG announcements this morning were both Halo related. First, unsurprisingly, Microsoft will be re-releasing Halo: Combat Evolved in remastered HD. Also, and again not much of a surprise, 343 Studios has officially picked up Halo 4, due in 2012. How will the first non-Bungie Halo experience play? It’s really way too early to tell, but I’m approaching this one with just as much caution as excitement.

That about does it for Microsoft’s conference. Things went a little more smoothly than I anticipated this morning, we’ve all got a lot to be excited about in the coming months.

Coverage starts Monday with Microsoft’s press event. We will be...

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:58:00 -0400

Coverage starts Monday with Microsoft’s press event. We will be posting reactions and thoughts on each of the conferences everyday so stay tuned to PSTB!

Reviews (Video Games)

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:03:00 -0400

Killzone 3 looks to be one of the best titles this year, being the follow up to Guerilla’s 2009 release, this sequel seems like a serious contendor for this year’s GOTY Awards. The guys at Guerilla came on to the PS3 scene with KZ2 and really showed what they could do with its power; And now we have KZ3 to round out the trilogy (although Im sure there will be a 4th, 5th, 6th and so on) and provide the PS3 with a quality shooter. Read on to see if it lived up to the hype!

Society has proven, time and time again, that we rely on our leaders to shape the future of our homes, our cities and our policies. Within every nation, there lays a principle (when obtained) that gives the people a sense of security, a sense of well-being and a sense of peace. But this principle can also sway our leaders to conflict and strife. They will do all they can to achieve it, but they will never fully reach it without sacrificing something in return. Whether that is substance, property or, sadly, their own citizens, this principle could usher in a new era of prosperity or cause the downfall of the nation and its systems.

This principle has been shown throughout history, through the wars and conflicts of the foreign and domestic, but may have not been the easiest idea to identify. All animosity always harbors an urge to obtain power. Power is a principle that leads to all conflict, no matter how one tries to justify the means. Power is what causes devastation and creation, doubt and hope, life and death. Killzone 3 expresses this principle by showing us the struggle between the brutal forces of the Helghan Empire and the ever resilient ISA, as they wage interplanetary war on one another. As you play as Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko, you will experience the war first-hand through his eyes, and see how the pursuit of power has altered everything around him.

Killzone 3 begins directly after the conclusion of Killzone 2, where Rico Velaquez and Sev infiltrated the Visari Palace (the White House in terms of the Helghan) and killed Scholar Visari who was the founder and leader of the Helghan Empire. Once they regroup with Captain Jason Narville, they are demoted for going against the order to capture Scholar Visari and begin their journey to the evacuation site. On their way there, Rico disobeys orders and leaves Sev and Narville to rescue another squad who are under heavy resistance. When the remaining forces reach the evac area, the ships have already left in fear of being destroyed and Narville, Sev and the rest of their platoon are marooned on the planet.

Six months after this incident, the game then jumps to the Helghan side, showing the player how the remaining leaders of the Helghan Empire fight amongst themselves about who should rule in Visari’s stead, mainly Admiral Orlock and Chairman Jorhan Stahl. Outraged by their decisions, Stahl takes his own private army to track and hunt down Narville’s forces. Throughout the rest of the Campaign Mode, the story follows Sev as he tries to find out what the Helghan are planning and joins his allies together to stop them. It also jumps to scenes of the Helghan leaders as they continue to argue over the future of their nation. Killzone 3’s story is a typical one for most first person shooters, but it still delivers a narrative that you’ll stay interested with.

A devastated planet has never looked good in the eyes of anyone, but this one is simply stunning! The environment breaths perfection (even while wearing a Helghast helmet), giving off shadows and textures that look almost real, especially if you’re playing it on high-definition. The movements of your fellow soldiers and enemies demonstrate realistic movement, making it seem as if in any way they move- gravity, bulk, weight- they are limited to human boundaries. Bodies aren’t flying through the air at extreme speeds from an explosion and a single punch won’t fell an enemy.

A great visual affect that they added that no other shooter seems to have is the brutal melee kill. You feel every throat being slit and every eye being gouged (that would actually be very painful) and most enemies you defeat don’t fall in the same way, which bleeds variety. The sound effects in this game are also amazing. You can hear echoes from bullets when you fire down hallways, the steps of enemies around the corner, and the sound of bullets penetrating enemy flesh and armor. Killzone 3 tries delivering extreme realism in all aspects, and I believe they have done an outstanding job.

The robust environment in Killzone 3 is a sight to see. The Helghan home world brings forth a buffet of different environmental tastes; from the collapsed city of Pyrrhus, to the dark and dreary jungles of Vekta, to the snow and frost infested Stahl Arms Facility. The home world of Vekta is a diverse planet with many climates that showcases many environments to wage battle on. In each of the environments you experience something unique to that specific area, whether it is blinding snow storms that obscure your vision or tall grass and dark caverns that prevent Helghast from seeing you; each locale will deliver the same experience but give you a different feeling. Some of these environments even have objects that can defeat your opponents for you: poisoness plants, explosive barrels and overloaded electrical transformers. The terrain is yours to exploit and enjoy!

Killzone 3 wouldn’t have its name if it didn’t have anything to ‘kill’ with. That’s where armaments come into the scene, be it Helghast or ISA. From assault rifles that display power and accuracy, to light machine guns that rain down destruction for extended periods of time, to futuristic guns that explode your enemies from the inside, Killzone 3 provides a weapon for all types of players.

Each weapon feels different from the last, causing you to adjust differently from a previous one. Some guns have more recoil, have scopes that you have to adjust to, hold more rounds and some with an alternate fire. You may find yourself siding with a particular weapon, but you may want to adjust depending on the situation. That’s why there are so many to choose from. It allows you to create a ‘killzone’ of your own.

The gameplay in Killzone 3 is pleasantly gratifying. The controller is mapped out so that every button serves a purpose. For those who are more comfortable with aiming down the sights by using a trigger button, there is an alternate control scheme for that than using the default right stick clicking. If you feel the movement of your character is too clunky compared to another FPS you were playing, you can adjust the sensitivity to your liking.

This has been an issue for some players, but the game was intended to be realistic. The control was meant to make it feel that everything had weight, instead of floating like a feather and moving like a machine. I don’t believe human beings have achieved throwing around a 20-40 pound weapon without gravity and inertia affecting it. Physics are applied in real life, why not in videogames?

If you know someone that has purchased Killzone 3, they probably have spent most of their playing time on its incredible multiplayer. Killzone 3 has three game types you’ll be throwing yourself into: Guerilla Warfare, Warzone, and Operations. Guerilla Warfare is your typical Team Deathmatch, where two teams face off, head-to-head, to achieve the acquired kill count to win the match. Warzone is where the most variety of the multiplayer comes in.

During the match, your team will be given many different objectives during a certain time limit; from planting bombs, to holding locations, to killing a VIP player, to a typical team deathmatch body count. The objective constantly changes and the team with the most fulfilled objectives wins. Operations is similar to Warzone in some ways. As the ISA you try to hold positions, plant bombs, and retrieve energy cores to win the match, while the Helghast have to simply defend against the advances of the ISA. You’ll know when an objective is completed when you see a pretty cool cutscene showing the players who completed that objective.

A large aspect of Killzone 3’s multiplayer is the class system. You are giving 5 classes to choose from: Engineer, Marksman, Tactician, Infiltrator, and Field Medic. Each class has different abilities and weapons, unique to that class. You also have access to extra skills, like body armor and extra ammo just to name a few.

-Engineers are a support class mostly, providing repair to ammo boxes, mounted guns, and sentry turrets. They can also set up automated turrets to provide support fire for your teammates or hold a vital point. They are a class that relies strongly on a light machine gun.

-Marksmen are support and frontline fighters. They can use a cloak suit to hide and provide kills from long distances without being seen or can use it to infiltrate enemy ranks to kill from the inside. They also have an ability which jams enemy radars so you and your team can sneak up on enemies. They rely heavily on rifles with scopes.

-Tacticians are mostly support, being able to capture spawn and hold points much faster than other classes and provide extreme cover fire with a sentry drone that rains fire from the sky. They also have an ability which points out enemy positions within range. They use a variety of guns from SMGs, to shotguns, to a trusty assault rifle.

-Infiltrators are mainly frontline, being able to disguise themselves as the enemy and infiltrating (figures) enemy ranks without them knowing. With an ability to prolong stamina indefinitely, they can sprint-rush opponents before they realize you’re the enemy. This class relies heavily on close combat weapons and melee.

-Field Medics are purely support, providing healing to fallen comrades and increased health bonuses to those in the area. They also provide support with a small sentry drone that follows the medic and provides cover fire. This class relies strongly on a medium ranged weapon, from an SMG to a light machine gun.

Each class has their own strengths and weaknesses, but you don’t have to play them to how I and others suggest. You can be a medic rushing a base with your sentry drone or be an engineer that plants turrets around an enemy spawn position. The way you play a class is totally up to you.

Killzone 3 is the best first-person shooter that I have played this year. It provided me with an intense campaign, realistic control and visuals, and ideal combat. This game also supplied me with my much needed multiplayer fix and many sleepless nights. With a scenario so close to home, Killzone 3 has shown me that with power, you can destroy the world around you, or create something as breathtaking as this game.

Killzone 3 clearly illustrates how power is a principle that even foreign races exhibit in their own society, but if we all limit the power that we hold we will find equilibrium. Killzone 3 shows this balance by making itself different from other games like it, but making it similar to those games in certain areas. With so many other shooter titles out there, my resolve was never conflicted when I decided to purchase this game. Killzone 3 has giving me a thrilling experience and introduced me to a principle that I have not seen in quite a long time from a game: perfection.

Look out for the PSTB Review of Killzone 3 later tonight from...

pstbjustin-deactivated20130510 — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:11:00 -0400

Look out for the PSTB Review of Killzone 3 later tonight from Editor Justin Cangelosi!