Top 5 Games That Most Interested Me At E3.

Devil May Cry V.

Unlike many devil may cry purists, I don’t have a pathological hatred for the reboot. I think it was obnoxious, puritanical and rudely dismissive of its roots, but at least it struck a chord, even if conceptually it was a brown note. The combat was its strongest asset, beguiling you with its turbulent hack and slash, duel wielding pistols Ebony and Ivory as well as utilising Dante’s Nephilim abilities. Switching between blade ravaging slashes, rapid scythe sweeps and flattening demons with a powerful axe really allowed for more dynamic variation that was responsive, ambulant and deeply satisfying with almost choreographed fluidity. DmC may of had a redundant abbreviation, a belittling attitude towards the series fans and tried just a little too hard to refrain from everything that had come before in a misguided attempt to stand out, but at least it wasn’t as sterile and forgettable as Devil May Cry 2. Well until now that is, with Capcom banishing any hope of a direct successor and instead doing what they should have done originally and make Devil May Cry V.

Continuity be damned! We’ve got the substitute hero from Devil May Cry 4 and shoddy Dante impersonator “Nero” returning with a new look, new accomplice and new appendage? A detachable extremity no less, one that can be used as missile to surf on?! The lack of Dante is disturbing and the general Final Fantasy 15 vibe is a little too pervasive to me, but this seems like a progressive step in the right direction.

---

The Last Of Us 2.

I’ll admit that I’m still a little sceptical about this sequel. I realise it’s NaughtyDog, yes I know I loved the first, but something about this just feels…. unnecessary. Ellie and Joel’s ambiguous dialogue at the end of the last game felt conclusive if not ultimately defined. I liked that, these two brave, complicated individuals sauntering off to pastures unknown. But here we are anyway, Ellie scouring dense woodlands where the general populace continue to be infected by malaise of fungal blemishes. Hostile scavengers foraging for basic amenities, perishables and forging implements of neck piercing persuasion. With Joel curiously absent?

The trailer does make for good watching though, with the intelligent AI that seems adaptive to whatever move or tangent you go off on being particularly impressive. Seeing Ellie flourish from awkward teenager into a women of assured badassary is another engaging incentive. I’m still not 100% sold on a sequel yet, but I’m getting there.

---

Resident Evil 2

A remake of my favourite game in the Biohazard series? One ticket to Raccoons City please! There had been murmurings uttered surreptitiously for some time that alluded to it. Claims that stated it was in development. But to finally have visual confirmation of its existence gives much-needed veracity to the speculation. I’ve always been curious about what this particular entry in the series would be like on current gen consoles. How modernised controls would affect the traditionally stiff mobility of Leon and Claire, whether increased movement would neutralise some of the anxiety of surviving a Police Station teething with infected?

The great thing about it is that it doesn’t just look like a straight, copy and paste remake, but rather establishing its own versatile identity from utilities and concepts from its past. The Gameplay trailer certainly suggests that the game will adhere to the classic pervading ambiance that induced this constant imbued anxiety, that was only compounded by reduced spatial visibility and limited ammo.

If Resident Evil 2 can provoke the same nostalgic terror that crippled me to periodical 10 minute intervals of play and create something that also feels original, then this could be my new favourite Resi!

---

Spider-Man.

Insomniacs Spider-Man doesn’t get me excited merely because it plays and feels like everything I’ve ever wanted in a Spider-Man game, no. It gets me excited because it’s like they plucked the conceit directly from my 10-year-old mind. The way the helicopter starts whooshing towards the ground. The pilots like “Ah, save me Spider-Man!”, and he’s like, swoosh, got ya. Then he’s like “oh no, all the prisoners are escaping”. So he’s like bosh, bash, doosh, and Electro’s like “Ha ha ha, I’m going to electrocute you”. And Spider-Mans like “I don’t think so Sparky!” before chasing him down, swinging and swooping, finally catching up with him. But then Spider-Man gets cornered by LOADS of recognisable villains and Spider-Man’s like “Oh spider poop!”. I can only imagine what my 10-year-old self would have said?!

---

Death Stranding.

I’m fresh out of takes. Seriously, I got nothing?

---

What game are you most excited to play? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers

My Top 5 Most Anticipated Games Of 2018.

2017 has left the building. It’s gone, dismissed, ceased to exist, striding off into the sunset like a fart in a hurricane, or something like that! To some this may come as a relief. To others a new year provides the opportunity to reflect on challenges presented over the past 12 months, some resolved others a permanent fixture in your life. A new year can feel like a passive reset that encourages newly discerned ambitions and a sense of productivity. We become conscientious of our bloated bodies, swelling from excesses of sustenance abuse during the festive period, seeking immediate nutritional alterations and workout routines that will swiftly erode within a few weeks when we rediscover our love for chocolate and dough. With a new year comes new perspectives and an expectant vigour for year infused with so much potential. So, rather tenuously it seems appropriate to start 2018 with a compact appraisal of my most anticipated games of the year.

---

1. Red Dead Redemption 2.

This is the only game on my list that I have already pre-ordered. John Marston’s attempts to kill his former gang members at the behest of a corrupt government official, who had taken his family hostage is some of the most compelling, as well as justifiable incentives that necessitates the killing of everyone you encounter. It’s bound be the most rooting tooting game in the West. For a fistful of dollars (£) I’ll be sure to trot home to the prairie to down a few sarsaparilla’s, toiling across the deserted plains in my painted wagon, assisting the helpless, starting fights in my local saloon, going toe to toe with some vagrant gunslinger and perhaps update my perception of what being in the old West is really about. Yee Haaaaw! There’s a snake in my boot!

---

2. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant King.

Ni No Kuni was a resplendent collaboration between Level 5 and the animated God’s of Studio Ghibli. And I loved it! It’s as cute as a button, as vibrant as a pool of skittles and possessing more charm than Roger Moore’s eyebrows. Don’t be fooled however by its yielding naivety or colourful imagery, as it also delivered an imposing turn based combat system as well as a surprisingly sullen tone, about a grieving boy trying to save his mother from dying. Ni No Kuni 2 is a sequel I didn’t even know I wanted, nor one I ever felt would exist, potentially arriving just a mere 7 years after the original! But I’m pleased it does exist.

---

---

3. Spider-Man.

“Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can”. Which judging by Peter Parkers eponymous alter egos current form is making bad Spider-Man games. Since Batman’s illustrious turn in the Arkham series I’ve besieged to the arachnid God’s for Spidey to emulate the same dynamic qualities that have made that series so successful. Spider-man for the PS4 expands on the theatrical iteration helmed amiably by newcomer Tom Holland, boasting a potent combat and unrestrained verticality missing since “Spider-Man 2 The Game”. Being developed by Insomniac, the auteurs of the Ratchet & Clank series only intensifies the tingling of my spidey sense.

---

4. The Last Of Us 2.

For me the fervent expectations I have for the other games listed here is somewhat more restrained in regards to The Last Of Us 2, purely because I never felt that the original would truly benefit from a sequel. The end, though not strictly conclusive felt absolute, espousing the controversial uncertainty between Joel and Ellie that has no doubt lead to many speculative dissertations into whether Ellie really did suspect Joel was lying. But then I remembered that this was NaughtyDog, a developer of the utmost distinction that has never disappointed me. So if they feel there is more story to be explored, that doesn’t merely unite beloved characters to re-tread familiar ground, you better believe I won’t be left out.

5. Pokémon for the Switch.

Now this one is a little more farcical, ambitious and frankly “Farfetched” but I’m hopeful all the same. Early indications suggest that this purported Pokémon Rpg is at the very least “a thing”, being developed by Gamefreak as a mainline Rpg that up until now had been exclusively synonymous with its portable brand. To experience a Pokémon game on the big screen is something I’ve petitioned for since Pokémon Red And Blue. So to finally get one on Nintendo’s coveted hybrid console is a 20 year dream realised. Yes I’m old enough that I shouldn’t care about Pokémon, but also immature enough to retort with raspberry blowing. So poo to you!

---

Honourable mention: Uncharted 5.

Hey, a fellow can dream can’t he?

---

What games are you most looking forward to this year? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.

Taking Gaming Liberties.

Long before a games playability became compromised by scheduled/unscheduled maintenance or hindered by systemic fragility and when you were physically required to move to purchase, or most likely rent games from retail shops called vid-e-o stores? These facilities dealt in the leasing of commodities such as “vidIo” tapes (Am I saying that right?”). These were special “tapes” that had recorded data on them displayed on shelving units in the stores (if unsure consult your nearest elderly person). These “vidjo” stores presented various inventories for customers to appraise, which included video-games. The process entailed that you’d enter through double doors, sometimes motorised (Of course operated by magic) that had sensors that detected your approach, and opened allowing access to a select few games. You’d then produce legal tender which could be redeemed for goods and services often referred to as “money”, either in metallic or paper form. A transaction would then take place between two participants whereby the erstwhile currency would be exchanged for produce, relative to the item you buying of course and trade money for the goods you wanted. Such arcane practices are difficult to comprehend I know, but these were very abstract times. Negotiating past T Rex’s and the feet of Brontosaurus and alike was a time when games capacity for legal leniency, or perhaps ignorance were highly contentious.

“The Revenge Of Shinobi” is a game that confers only moderate recollections for me. I remember struggling to negotiate my way through the preliminary stages, observing my father dismissing the game with aggressive looking gestures and profaning suggestive words of encouragement to his controller. Well that’s how I interpreted it anyway. I recall many of my shurikens propelled at such meek velocity that they may as well graze the opposition toe! What I never realised was just how many liberties the game took and more importantly how it was never indited for clear copyright infringement. This was a game Featuring…..

“Not the Terminator.”

“Certainly not sexism. (Yes, you shoot this ladies bra off!)”

“Defiantly not Spider-Man.”

“Probably not Batman.”

“And most assuredly not Godzilla.”

Or perhaps DC, Marvel, James Cameron and Tomoyuki Tanaka have a lot to answer for? Hmm?

Spider-man; The Greatest Game That’s Never Been

When I was a kid, I had always envisioned what my life as an adult would intel and knew obstinately where I was heading, with me becoming your friendly, if slightly delusional, neighbourhood Spider-man, I was totally adamant that someday I would be bitten by the same infamous spider and gain Peter Parker’s extraordinary attributes. Alas, this particular arachnid has still alluded me (so far at least), despite constant encouragement on my behalf to any and all spiders unfortunate enough to scuttle into my vicinity, so to avert my attention away from my still unrealised non-affliction, I seek solace in other various forms, prominently gaming.

Despite many and seemingly inexhaustible iterations of the Spider-man brand, there really hasn’t been a game worthy of his prosperous title. Sure Spider-man on the original Playstation was fun and humourous. It included many of the wall crawlers most famous adversaries, but it lacked the free roaming experience we all craved, coupled with the disappointing fact that you were limited to the regularity of consistent swings from your webbing. Spider-man 2: The Movie bestowed the user with an illimitable and free roaming city that you could swing and wall crawl to your heart’s content, but it really failed to capture the sense of excitement you should feel with every spin of your web. On the PS2, The Ultimate Spider-man merged the best aspects of the previous games mentioned, but somehow failed to integrate and capitalise on both aspects ideals. So what should be done, should we just cast aside this troublesome arachnid and pick he’s legs off so he’s nothing more than a useless, vibrating torso? Not a chance, if Batman can make a successful game, then so can Spidey, so I have devised a short list of ideas and notions that I believe could improve and enhance the player’s experience, and allow each of us to become Spider-man! (in a virtual capacity anyway).

1: Free Roaming, Open World

Spider-man’s previous installment, Shattered Dimension’s, entirely missed the point of what makes Spidey an engaging and humourous character. Forget for one moment both the Noir and Ultimate interpretations (I know I have), that turned Spidey from a quick-witted one liner, to a frankly dull bore, and become equally disillusioned that Spidey has succumbed to some kind of invisible prison that has seen him trapped in a frustratingly linear world. To be successful, Spider-man essentially must be allowed to swing, climb and acrobatically traverse an open world without fear of invisible walls.

2: Play As Peter Parker

The comic books have always been as much about Peter Parker’s troubled life as they have been about Spidey’s epic encounters, so why not introduce some of Parkers everyday exploits? For one, Spider-man would once again become a relatable character, I mean who can honestly say that you relate to Spider-man? Experiencing the world through Parkers eyes, even briefly, we allow each of us to endure the tribulations that accompany living a double life as a struggling, undervalued photographer and an often despised vigilante. Tiny increments of play is key of course, as continually portraying Peter could become tiresome and repetitive. Just enough to alleviate the pressures of being Spidey should be sufficient.

3: Spiderman 2099

The one intriguing aspect of Shattered Dimension’s that was never fully realised or fleshed out, was Spider-man 2099. Imagine swinging through a futuristic New York City, scaling neon inspired skyscrapers and battling future interpretations of Spidey’s greatest villains. Sure, Spider-man: Edge Of Time will focus attention on the 2099 and present day Spidey, but with limited room for exploration and a predestined path already laid out for you, it’s going to feel too restrictive to really make NYC 2099 come alive.

4: Photography

Let’s face it, where would Peter Parker and he’s alter ego be without his ever-present camera, constantly prepared for any eventuality, its his bread and butter. So why not incorporate Parkers famous photographic skills into a game. Battling enemies for instance could become more than just simply pummeling thugs and super villains into unconsciousness, and could see you focus on capturing some fantastical pics to sale to the Daily Bugle. The money that you acquire from your action shots could be utilised to buy upgrades and extra costumes.

My suggestions and notions may not be to everyone’s liking, and are perhaps a little ambitious, but I think we can all agree that up to this point, no developer has captured the spirit and sure joy that it would be to become Spider-man. So leave comments and other suggestions that could embellish everyone’s amusement of playing as arguably, the greatest super hero of all.