Entry Level Gamer

12/09/2020

Prepping for my next production but need a distraction for down time. Bit burned out on Soulsborne so thinking returning to some Final Fantasy. I'll put it a vote: X, XII, or XV.

Aaaaannnnndddd GO!

30/03/2020

29/03/2020

Reviews inbound! Batman: Arkham Trilogy, Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition, & Tales of Zestiria. Stay tuned!

29/09/2019

Been a minute gang, apologies. Going review the Batman: Arkham Trilogy real soon!

13/05/2019

Darksiders: Warmastered Edition
ELG Rating: Buy, it’s usually fairly cheap as a digital download.
This remake holds true to the original incarnation while adding a nice polish to the overall look of this game. This is a great Entry Level game for anyone who wants to learn some of the simpler tropes of playing video games coupled with a devilishly fun atmosphere and intriguing characters. This is a mature based game however and would advise that there are some graphic scenes to be aware of.

Darksiders is an action/adventure game overall. What this means is you’ll traverse a map; venturing forth from the middle starting point, play through a “dungeon-esque” landscape, obtain a critical item, and defeat a boss. This process repeats itself several times, usually using that critical item to allow a new path to open up. During this; you’ll fight waves and waves of enemies though a very visceral and satisfying combat system that uses a combination of primary sword maneuvers and a variety of secondary arsenal, such as Death’s scythe. In the “dungeon” areas; you’ll also find some puzzles that require solving so you dive deeper in. Whether it’s using a bomb to blow up some rocks or having to redirect light beams from one end of the room to another; these puzzles aren’t all that difficult but give you a great sense of satisfaction when completed.

The look of this game has a great sheen to it. The visual upgrade is very noticeable, especially in the light/shadows. The style has a nice mix of realism and almost a cell-shading to create a great macabre dystopian Earth. Set in the future after a Book of Genesis apocalypse, giving the landscape a decrepit and demonic setting. The controls are also very tight with simple button commands for combat that are easily strung together for combos. I’m a particular fan of the “lock-on” camera for this game for when you’re going toe-to-toe with a stronger enemy as you trade blows, dodge, block, and counter your way to a one-button finishing move that is extremely satisfying.

The story revolves around you playing as one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse; War. Having been summoned to Earth at the beginning of Armageddon only to realize it has come too early and War is being blamed for it. After a 100-year imprisonment; War sets out to clear his name and find the perpetrators. War comes off as very serious and driven individual with little regard for others. But he also comes with a sense of honor and duty towards his role in this world and only wants justice against the ones who wronged him. As mentioned; the world is rife with the Heaven vs Hell conflict that has raged for a Century and although much looks familiar; like say a sky-scrapper or a subway station, it all feels like it is now possessed by something much more evil. It’s fantastic.

The story however begins to fall apart about halfway to ¾ of the way through. Not that it becomes bad; but just hard to follow at times. Don’t be surprised if you hear yourself say “huh? Wait…who was that guy?” But if you play through a few times; it begins to make sense and honestly, the game play is really why you’re here.

In the end; if you’ve ever played a Legend of Zelda game and enjoyed it, this is right up your alley. This is a definite recommendation for a mature Entry Level Gamer who wants to learn the ropes of game play combat, adventuring, and puzzle-solving. There are two sequels for it too that I hope to evaluate and post a review later. Till then, thanks for reading.
-End of Line

11/05/2019

Okay all. Sekiro is getting the best of me...for now. So next up will be an oldie but a goodie: Darksiders Warmastered Edition!

22/03/2019

Next up...if I can finish it...😉

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

20/02/2019

GEARS OF WAR: ULTIMATE EDITION

ELG Rating: MUST BUY for Xbox owners

If you’re anything like me, stuck at a desk job with very little options for stress relief, Gears of War creates an exhilarating outlet. An over-the-shoulder shooter with very satisfying gunplay, a swath of intriguing characters, and….a gun with a chainsaw.

For all the ELG’s in the crowd; Gears of War debuted on Xbox 360 back in 2006 and did for the 360 what Halo: Combat Evolved did for the OG Xbox. That is to say; put it on the map in a manner of speaking. Gears moved the camera to a third-person view and had the player rely heavy on the environment for cover. Using the two control triggers simultaneously during gunplay. The Left trigger aimed and the Right trigger…pulled the trigger. What resulted became very tight gameplay and the trope of using Left to aim and Right to shoot is still used today in modern games such as Call of Duty.

Gears of War is set on a distant earth-like planet of Sera. After an 80 year Civil War amongst the humans that populate Sera; a subterranean race of creatures erupted to the surface. Banding together; the humans have been fighting the Locust Horde for 14 years when the game picks up. The player follows Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad consisting of Marcus’ best friend and family man; Dom, a smartass mechanic named Baird, and the unstoppable former athlete; Cole. If I had one issue with Gears; it lies in it’s story, and that is not to say the story is bad, quite the contrary. Playing through Gears of War; you can sense a real history and back story to this world and all who inhabit it, but the game does little to really deep dive into this. Moving beyond that; Gears has a real human element to it and actually hits home with a lot of war-time issues such as not seeing family for an extended period of time.

The original Gears of War set a standard in the 360’s lifecycle. With gorgeous visuals and lighting combined with tight controls; it truly was the next generation of shooters during the mid-2000’s. The rereleased Ultimate Edition for the Xbox One does very little to the controls; which is great, and ups the visuals in a big bad way creating a jaw dropping experience as you carve through the various landscapes both above and below the planet’s surface.

Story issues aside; this is a great game with a great aesthetic, deep character game-spanning arcs, and very satisfying controls. I mean; who wouldn’t want to saw an enemy in half with a chainsaw bayonet? For any Entry-Level Gamer; this is a great game to enjoy and help introduce you to certain gameplay styles such as the aforementioned twin-trigger aim-and-fire system. I should also mention that the Ultimate Edition adds several new chapters to the story and fun little extras to the game. If you’ve played through Gears in the past; I would still recommend replaying just to experience the updated visuals and added content. The game is followed by three direct sequels and a prequel. There are more games being developed for this franchise too that I look forward to seeing in 2019.

-End of Line

06/11/2018

MARVEL'S SPIDERMAN - PS4
ELG Rating: Must Buy

“Spider-Man…Spider-Man…does whatever a spider can…” and this game truly encapsulates that. Forgive me but if you’re not familiar with one of Marvel Comic’s biggest characters; then I do not envy your life. However; this is Entry Level Gamer and it’s my job to give you the run down starting from the basics. For any more detail surrounding Spider-Man; please refer to the seven movies from last 17 years but in a nutshell *deeply inhales*

Peter Parker was your average New York City nerdy high schooler when on a school field trip; he was bit by a radioactive spider giving him super-human abilities. This along with some tech that Peter built; he becomes the “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” He swings among the skyscrapers of New York stopping city crimes. There, you’re all caught up.

Marvel’s Spider-Man for the Playstation4 picks up around eight years after the spider bite. Peter is a fully realized superhero and thankfully; we don’t see another origin tale. However; the voice acting, and direction of this game is so on par with the characters themselves; I don’t think I would have minded as would just have given me more time with Spidey and his pals.

Gameplay boils down to two segments; traversal and combat with the former being where this game really shines. Combat though is very fluid with a multitude of button combinations allow Spidey to take down NYC’s thugs with style. I enjoyed a good fight if only to make Spider-Man look like a true hero leaping around the battlefield with gusto. Some of it can be tricky if you’re truly an Entry Level Gamer. But once you figure it out; very satisfying.

On the other segment; Spider-Man does a fantastic job creating this world. From the Statue of Liberty to the streets of Harlem, it’s all there and seamless aka no loading. The moment Spider-Man leaps into the air and “thwips” some web onto a skyscraper you immediately feel weightless and free. And although you can pull of some fun web-swinging tricks with button combos; all an ELG would have to do is hold the R2 trigger and enjoy the show.

The story weaves Spider-Man’s past with a brand-new tale. Incorporating all the standard faces such as Aunt May, ex-girlfriend Mary Jane (MJ), and villains like Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin. The story explores not only Spider-Man’s conflicts with enemies, but also the human side of Peter as he struggles to just be young adult. Between all these beats comes side-stories and missions that help level Spidey up and allow you learn more fun ways to play the game such as suits and powers.

Few items that I could nitpick but they’re not necessarily bad, but not my bag. I didn’t particularly enjoy some of the stealth segments. They disrupted the flow of the story and are very hand holding. Combat became tricky at times as you try to block, counter, the different enemies and the camera wouldn’t lock on to the enemy I wanted.

Overall this is a great game. And should be enjoyed by anyone who’s enjoyed the character across any medium (movie or comic books) or one looking for an open-world adventure.
*Open-world meaning you have a large map to play in and you, the player, choose where to go, what to do next, and move at your own pace.* The game looks great, plays great, and has an endearing quality to it especially if you’re a comic book fan. Please go check this game out.

-End of Line

13/09/2018

METROID: SAMUS RETURNS -- ELG Rating - Buy...if you've played previous titles.

Samus Aran returns to the handheld world in a familiar yet refreshing fashion. This game holds the roots of the “metroidvania” genre (more on that word in a moment) all while adding some new power-ups and techniques to keep it new. For clarification: although the title says “returns” and is technically a sequel, there is nothing gained or lost by not playing Metroid: Zero Mission.

For the uninitiated: the Metroid series began in the 1980’s on NES. This game, along with Castlevania, coined the genre known as Metroidvania. In the broad strokes definition; the player is given most of the map from the outset with a variety of paths. Eventually you will come to an obstacle you cannot complete without certain equipment. This results in you trying another path until you collect said item, backtrack to that puzzle, and continue. The seek-to-advance gameplay can be frustrating at times but very rewarding when you finally obtain that next chunk of the map to explore and find all the secrets.

This latest installment sees our protagonist dropped on a planet and tasked with eliminating Metroid’s; life-force sucking critters introduced in the first game. Little is known about them. As you explore the pathways; you’ll encounter these beasties triggering a mini-boss like battle to defeat them. Once you’ve eliminated a set number; the paths open up further. Along the way; Samus gears up with her standard fare of weaponry; various beams for gun, morph ball (roll around tight spots and lay bombs), and missiles.

Where Samus Returns starts its variation from the rest of the series comes in the form of a “counter attack” upper cut. Enemies will provide a telltale sign they are about to attack and its up to the player to time this uppercut right to counter and then shoot the enemy to defeat. Not necessarily required; but will be much more difficult if you don’t master. Personally I enjoyed this trick the first few times; but when every enemy requires this tactic, grows stale fairly quickly. Especially when even the lower leveled enemies still pack a punch if you miss the counter or when you are trying to sprint from one end of the map to the other. I died often.

Beyond that; the gameplay is solid with tight controls, a fun variety of gear for Samus to utilize, and it looks gorgeous. Gameplay consists of Samus running left, right, jumping up, and dropping down from a side-profile, almost side-scrolling, perspective. Graphics are presented in 2.5D format with a clearly defined foreground and background. The 3D effect is especially fun and looks phenomenal. I had a bit of an issue since my 3DS is of the older generation; meaning if I tilt it ever so much to the side; goes blurry but that’s on me. Controls, as mentioned, are tight and now allow multi-angle shooting. The game also provides a laser sight, which definitely helps with some of the more tricky bits. Only complaint would be during some of the high-pressure scenes; having to press a multitude of buttons in correct order can prove difficult if you have large hands like me but a small 3DS.

As for story; Metroid is one of the few running titles that I can forgive for not having a strong narrative. Although there is a running story between games and sometimes some snippets within the game itself, most Metroid games are not known to have lengthy cut-scenes or dialogue. This is fine in this, and other Metroid cases

The World Map is reportedly one of the largest in a Metroid game to date, save for the Prime trilogy. Although they look great and seem to have their own eco system, there isn’t much to distinguish one from the other. This can be forgiven in past titles such as Super Metroid, but in a world where we’ve seen lush green over worlds and fire-based subterranean worlds in the Prime series; I’m sure more could have been done in this game. That being said; they are immersive and tricky all the same. And the player is given teleporters, health and ammo, along with save spots along the way.

This game does many aspects right and is great in the hands of someone who is familiar with the Metroid games. If you’ve not played any of the previous titles; I would suggest picking up either Super Metroid for Super Nintendo, Metroid: Zero Mission for Gameboy Advance, or Metroid Prime for GameCube. Most of these are available on virtual consoles also. If you know your way around a seek-to-advance title and have a dust covered 3DS, then I definitely suggest checking this one out.

-End of Line

12/08/2018

Few new Likes! Muchas gracias! What game would everyone like to hear about next; Final Fantasy XV or Metroid: Samus Returns?

30/07/2018

MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD - ELG Rating: Rent

Monster Hunter: World finds its niche in a simple yet addicting style of game play. The game play loop for this game gives you just enough reward to keep you enticed and wanting more. All while keeping the game fun, fresh, and not overtly repetitive. With all that being said; it is a great game and very fun to play.

In a nut shell; this game is exactly what the title says…you’re hunting monsters. There’s no BS here by Capcom. There’s no crazy twist in the story, no curve balls, so don’t expect a “turns out Man is the greatest monster of all,” cause its not here. MH:W can be as simple as:
1. Find the monster in the map
2. Kill it
3. Use parts to make stronger armor so you can take out bigger monsters.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3.
The gameplay loop is, as previously mentioned, simple. But it’s the intricacies in doing so that create the depth of MH:W. You learn quickly that out of the games various zones there exists a living and breathing ecosystem. Traversing around you’ll find footprints, dung, and other means of tracking your prey. Once you’ve found the Monster in question; next step is to take it down.

To do all this, the player is given the option of 14 unique weapons. Each of these generates a different style of gameplay and is probably the largest “game changer.” You’ve your standard “sword & shield,” your spear/lances (albeit this has a twist), bow –and-arrows, and dual daggers. Some unique weaponry featured are bow guns, charge blades, and insect glaives. The game doesn’t change depending on your weaponry and can be swapped at any time. So play around!
**Later in the game you’ll factor armor stats, item creation, meals, etc. But for simplicity sake...we’ll set aside for now.

Once you’ve geared up and found your beastie; it’s time to take him/her down! Each Monster has unique attacks and patterns to be learned by you so you can dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge your way to victory. You’ll find various weak spots on the critter that you’ll have to exploit to really take it down before takes you down. I found the combat challenging but engaging. Gone were the Zelda-days where I could just repeatedly press a button to take out an enemy. I now have to think about when and where to strike. Be strategic.

This is where my largest gripe comes into effect. Although the combat is relatively tight and the game looks great running on my PS4; the camera is severely lacking. For the first couple of Hunt’s, the Monsters were small and easy to see. But soon you start taking on large T-Rex’s and flying creatures that the camera has a difficult time following. It’s not easy to read an incoming attack when you can’t see the Monster on the screen. Monster Hunter: World’s other significant weakness, but doesn’t affect game play; the voice acting is atrocious. The character’s mouths not syncing with their words hearkens back to the old Japanese Kaiju movies such as Godzilla. But it’s easy to move past.

I got into this game for the multiplayer though. It’s great fun to coordinate with a buddy to tag-team a giant wyvern! And there are options for anonymous multiplayer too if you’re comfortable with that. But I kind of preferred being able to talk to my buddy and be strategic with him, might just be me though. A good side-effect of this game was it’s combat mechanics being, what I consider, a good introduction into the strategic combat of other popular games such as Dark Souls or Bloodborne. So if you are an Entry Level Gamer looking to bolster your abilities in a fun, colorful, and simple yet rewarding game; Monster Hunter: World is for you.

-End of Line

06/06/2018

Thanks all who checked out my inaugural review of the new God of War. If you haven’t read it, please do so and let me know your thoughts, boy!

New reviews in the works for:
Monster Hunter: World
Horizon: Zero Dawn and the Frozen Wilds
Final Fantasy XV
And more! Any suggestions or games you’d like to see?

GOD OF WAR (4) - ELG Rating: Must Buy

Coming back strong after a five year hiatus; Kratos is a brutal and god-like as ever, but toss in a son, some new gods, and a severed head, you have the makings of a fantastic adventure. I would definitely recommend this game to any Playstation 4 (PS4) owners.

For those not aware; God of War was a series of games from the Playstation 2 (PS2) and Playstation 3 (PS3) era. The “hero” of these games came in the form of a Demi-God known as Kratos; a man once scorned by the Pantheon of Greek Gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, etc…you know the ones I’m talking about) and exacting revenge. Its a great group of games that feature fun and flashy combat with some interesting puzzles.
This new iteration sees Kratos move from Greek to Norse mythology and although you will get a lot more out of the story; it is not necessary to play them. Now a father and newly widowed, Kratos must temper his anger to teach his boy, Atreus, of the world as they traverse together. The story is a compelling as ever and the dynamic of Kratos and son makes this tale hit home. I’m tempted to go and play the other games but I feel like now they will be missing something as we won’t hear the back-and-forth.

Graphics are fantastic. I played this on a standard PS4 and 1080p TV and was blown away on how good this game looks. And one neat thing the developers accomplished is how the camera will never cut. From the moment “new game” is selected, the camera stays with our heroes throughout the entire adventure. It’s a subtle technique that once you notice it, you appreciate the style and its almost odd going to watch a movie where an average shot is 1.8 seconds or something like that. I did have a few hiccups with frame rate and having to load bits here and there but overall, super smooth and just a feast for the eyes.

Gameplay is an third person melee based combat. What that means is the camera basically remains over Kratos’ shoulder and combat involves hacking with his Leviathan axe. I felt a bit put off by how all the combat is done with shoulder buttons but it soon grows on you with each satisfying crunch as Kratos buries it into the heads of demons. You can also throw the axe to hit distant enemies to whittle down health and have it come back to ala Thor style in the Marvel movies. Atreus is equipped with a bow and requires little to no help from dear old dad, but you can command him to shoot a particular foe with the press of a button. Taking a cue from recent game titles, the combat requires much more patience, determination, and attention. Don’t get discouraged if you die a few times in the process, its all part of learning and the game.

I will sum up and say the unique camera, the great emotional depth of the story, and interaction between the characters all provide this game a wonderful return of the franchise. There is plenty to do to keep one occupied for 30+ hours. No DLC has been announced so we’ll see what, if anything, Santa Monica Studios decides on that front but for now, go check this game out and let me know your thoughts below. If you’d like to discuss further, feel free to DM too. Thanks all!

-End of Line

02/06/2018

GOD OF WAR (4) - ELG Rating: Must Buy

Coming back strong after a five year hiatus; Kratos is a brutal and god-like as ever, but toss in a son, some new gods, and a severed head, you have the makings of a fantastic adventure. I would definitely recommend this game to any Playstation 4 (PS4) owners.

For those not aware; God of War was a series of games from the Playstation 2 (PS2) and Playstation 3 (PS3) era. The “hero” of these games came in the form of a Demi-God known as Kratos; a man once scorned by the Pantheon of Greek Gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, etc…you know the ones I’m talking about) and exacting revenge. Its a great group of games that feature fun and flashy combat with some interesting puzzles.
This new iteration sees Kratos move from Greek to Norse mythology and although you will get a lot more out of the story; it is not necessary to play them. Now a father and newly widowed, Kratos must temper his anger to teach his boy, Atreus, of the world as they traverse together. The story is a compelling as ever and the dynamic of Kratos and son makes this tale hit home. I’m tempted to go and play the other games but I feel like now they will be missing something as we won’t hear the back-and-forth.

Graphics are fantastic. I played this on a standard PS4 and 1080p TV and was blown away on how good this game looks. And one neat thing the developers accomplished is how the camera will never cut. From the moment “new game” is selected, the camera stays with our heroes throughout the entire adventure. It’s a subtle technique that once you notice it, you appreciate the style and its almost odd going to watch a movie where an average shot is 1.8 seconds or something like that. I did have a few hiccups with frame rate and having to load bits here and there but overall, super smooth and just a feast for the eyes.

Gameplay is an third person melee based combat. What that means is the camera basically remains over Kratos’ shoulder and combat involves hacking with his Leviathan axe. I felt a bit put off by how all the combat is done with shoulder buttons but it soon grows on you with each satisfying crunch as Kratos buries it into the heads of demons. You can also throw the axe to hit distant enemies to whittle down health and have it come back to ala Thor style in the Marvel movies. Atreus is equipped with a bow and requires little to no help from dear old dad, but you can command him to shoot a particular foe with the press of a button. Taking a cue from recent game titles, the combat requires much more patience, determination, and attention. Don’t get discouraged if you die a few times in the process, its all part of learning and the game.

I will sum up and say the unique camera, the great emotional depth of the story, and interaction between the characters all provide this game a wonderful return of the franchise. There is plenty to do to keep one occupied for 30+ hours. No DLC has been announced so we’ll see what, if anything, Santa Monica Studios decides on that front but for now, go check this game out and let me know your thoughts below. If you’d like to discuss further, feel free to DM too. Thanks all!

-End of Line

28/05/2018

Taking a cue from my good friend, Jeremy Mr. Sunshine Loucks who reviews movies (definitely check them out!) on a regular basis, I would like to start dipping my hand into the opinionated world of Video Game Reviewing. I consider myself a modest gamer and enjoy dabbling into the entertainment world of games from time to time. I play a wide array of genres, consoles, and a strong mix of new versus old school games.

Entry Level Gamer is intended to be an “every-mans” review. It will be my goal to break down a game using words and phrases that anyone can understand and gain some semblance of whether or not a game is worth playing. Good for a casual gamer, or maybe for someone who is researching on behalf another.

Each review will have a succinct written piece with brief explanations on the game, what makes it good or bad, looking at: graphics, controls/gameplay, story, and . Basically coming down to if you should steer clear, rent, or buy.

*Caveat: these are my opinions and should be treated as such. But I'm open to healthy discussions.