The Last of Us - Game Review

There is no doubt in my mind that Naughty Dog has once again guaranteed itself another game of the year title with their latest release. The Last of Us, which I completed for the first time last night, is unquestionably the best game to hit the PlayStation 3 since Uncharted 3.
A stealth survival game set amidst a zombie apocalypse, The Last of Us, follows Joel, a middle-aged, hardened smuggler and Ellie, his foul mouthed young ward, on a year long journey across the remains of the desolated United States. Visually, the game is stunning. The art designers, and visual artists of Naughty Dog have really outdone themselves on this game. Gameplay takes you through a variety of settings ranging from squalid inner city urban, reclaimed residential, and pristine wilderness. Each stage literally looks better than the last.  Here are a couple of screen shots I was able to find online.

The controls are intuitive and easy to pick up, especially if you have played the Uncharted series. I was also a big fan of the inventory system, and the fact that you have to collect various components before crafting the items that you need to survive. What I wasn't a huge fan of was the fact there was a finite limit on how much of each type of item you can you carry at any one time. Even though you are carrying a backpack, you can only carry 3 of each type of standard component item, and 3 of each crafted item as well. While this certainly adds to the "survival" aspect of the game, sometimes it was really frustrating to see items available to be picked up, but not have the room for it in my inventory.   This applies double to the limited amount of ammo you can carry at any one time.  In a zombie apocalypse you better believe that I would be carrying extra shells in my socks if that's what was necessary. However, for the purpose of a survival game, I do understand that managing limited resources challenges players to find alternate solutions for each encounter.
The story is also very multi-dimensional, and well crafted.  Nothing is ever quite as it seems, and all of the characters have multiple motivations for behaving the way they do. Initially Joel doesn't want to be saddled with the burden of transporting Ellie, but eventually they form a very strong bond, which enhances the story significantly.
I have already published a post that deals with the specifics of the unique zombie outbreak that Naughty Dog has crafted, which you can find here: http://wwwwd.blogspot.ca/2013/06/the-last-of-us.html
My first play through took exactly 17:25:45, on Normal difficulty, and I only managed to track down about 2/3rds of the collectable items, so there is lots of re-playability, especially of you aim to try and platinum this title. I really can't say enough good things about this game, as it is so impressive on every level. Pick up a copy for yourself, and loose yourself in this immersive world. One play through won't be enough, I guarantee it!

The Last Of Us

I am a huge fan of Naughty Dog studios and their work on the Uncharted franchise for the PS3. The visuals are stunning, the plots are top notch, and the play control is intuitive, all ingredients for a first rate game.

I just had the chance to play through the early access demo for Naughty Dog's newest offering, The Last of Us, which drops later this month on June 14.
Having seen the trailer, I knew that they were shifting focus to more of a post zombie apocalypse survival style of play, as opposed to the "Indiana Jones" Fortune Hunter game style that Uncharted did so well.
On first trial, this game looks and feels great. Naughty Dog has nailed the visuals. The collapsing buildings, overgrown vegetation, dynamic weather, all combine to create an environment taken straight out of the pages of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead.
While they don't give of the plot away in the demo, the interactions between the characters are interesting, and they hint at enough of the story to hook you in.
The controls took a little getting used to, specifically the melee attack, but ultimately I enjoyed the gritty sense of the combat. I generally tend to rely on a balance of stealth avoidance, and long ranged scoped attacks for most zombie encounters in other games, so I imagine that I will do the same with this if the opportunity presents itself. In my mind, toe to toe combat with a zombie is only a last resort!
And now for what I thought was the most interesting aspect of this demo, the zombies themselves. Naughty Dog has chosen to take a slightly different approach to the concept, and rather than the outbreak being caused by a viral or bacterial infection, if my guess is correct, the zombies are in fact infected hosts of a mutated form of parasitic Cordyceps fungus. Cordyceps fungus is a real world fungus that infects insects, replacing the hosts tissue with its own, and effectively overtakes the hosts central nervous system to further its own reproductive cycle, before releasing spores into the atmosphere that then hunt out and destroy their next host.
So Naughty Dog has basically taken a real world parasite, and by tweaking its ability to affect humans, created a feasible back story for a zombie apocalypse. Add to this fact, that they have devised different stages of infection to create various "types" of zombies, many of which can effectively hunt, and run at terrifying speeds, and this is a perfect recipe for one seriously deranged zombie survival story that will keep me up at night. It is my sincere belief that Zombies can not run. If zombies can run, or climb, or god forbid, hunt using echo-location like some of these creepy bastards devised by Naughty Dog, then every member of the human race may as well just dig a hole, lay down in it and wait to die, because that is game over for us as a species.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct

Yesterday, I picked up a used copy of newest offering from Activision.  The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct.  I had read alot of reviews and fan feedback that cautioned me that the pacing was slow, and the game suffered from a number of other drawbacks, but to be honest, I think it is pretty friggin awesome.  As a huge fan of The Walking Dead in all of it's formats, I feel like the tone of this game is spot on.  You play as Darryl Dixon, a fan favourite from the hit AMC show, voiced by Norman Reedus himself.  Activision classifies it as a 1st person "survival" game, meaning it is not the goal to execute and obliterate every walker in a given level.  Really, if you don't want to, you could like sneak past almost every walker in the game, never firing a shot.  Ofcourse, I took a slightly more aggressive approach, testing out each and every melee weapon and firearm I could get my hands on.  To be honest, I am only about 3 main levels into the campaign, so I still have a long way to go, but so far I am a huge fan of the lead pipe and the double barrel shot gun.  In true Walking Dead fashion, gunshots draw walker hordes, so the majority of the combat is up close and personal.  I have yet to discover Darryl's signature range weapon - the compound crossbow, but once I get that I will cooking with gas!
Levels are an interesting blend of wide open areas and small dark enclosed places, all filled with decomposing walkers.  While most of the graphics are a little cartoonish for my taste, the zombies look fantastic.  And the kills are wicked.  Headshots, amputations, executions...all awesome.
I can't wait to dig my teeth into the plot of this game and discover yet another facet of The Walking Dead canon.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: Online Multiplayer: Create a Class: First Impressions

I have had a copy Black Ops 2 in my possession ever since the midnight launch just under two weeks ago so it's time to share a few thoughts.  Right off the bat, if you aren't a gamer, or don't play Call Of Duty, go ahead and skip this post!  Its not going to interest you in the slightest!
I have already logged about 20 hours of online game play, and it would be more if I weren't so busy at work right now.  I am currently level 20 on my first Prestige, thanks to the Double XP launch weekend.
First thing, the new Pick 10 create a class system is a really interesting modification to the game.  It used to be that a player got to choose a primary weapon w/ attachment, a secondary weapon, a piece of lethal equipment, a piece of tactical equipment and 3 perks (1 of 6 available from different 3 tiers) to aid in their goals.
With the new pick 10 create a class system, the player can choose to forego any number of their weapons, equipment or perks to select any combination of the above, plus new wildcard attributes.  The wildcards each take up one slot, and allow the player added options, like selecting a second perk from a tier, adding a second piece of lethal equipment, carrying 2 primary weapons, or equipping 3 attachments to a primary weapon.  The wildcards allow for almost limitless customization combinations.
I play Domination almost exclusively, and very early on I found a couple of combinations that work really well for my play style:

ASSAULT CLASS:
Wild Cards:
#1 Primary Gunfighter: Allows an extra attachment on my primary weapon.
#2 Perk 1 Greed: Allows two Perks from tier 1.
Primary Weapon: Type 25 Assault Rifle: A solid assault rifle with full auto capability, a must in my books.
Primary Weapon Attachments x3: Thanks to the Primary Gunfighter Wildcard.
#1: Target Finder Scope: An advanced  holographic scope that actually identifies targets in its viewfinder.  Incredibly accurate, and helpfull for mid-range distance kills with an assault rifle.
#2 Foregrip: Reduces recoil, increasing overall accuracy, very important when running with on full auto.
#3 Full Metal Jacket rounds:  The FMJ's add a big punch to the Type 25's ammunition, meaning it takes fewer slugs to put down an opponent.  Also in a quick-draw firefight, the FMJ's give you the edge over your opponent.

Secondary Weapon: FHJ - 18AA rocket launcher.  A vehicle lock launcher with 2 rounds, perfect for knocking enemy aircraft out of the sky.

Perks:
Perk Tier 1: x2 Because of the Perk 1 Greed Wildcard.
#1: Flack Jacket: A must in Domination matches, lets you survive an explosion or grenade blast without dying.  This is a huge advantage when capturing control points.
Perk #1 slot #2: Light weight: Allows you to move faster, handy when trying to get from point A to Point B.  Also, you take less damage from falling.
Perk Tier #3: Extreme Conditioning: Lets you run for longer durations, and when combined with light weight, you go like the wind, even when carrying a rocket launcher.
In order to run this load out I have given up my lethal equipment, both tactical equipment pieces, and a Perk 2 tier selection.  I don't find that I miss them at all.
Just for fun, I also created a perk heavy class modeled after something that one of the game designers likes to run with.  This class forgoes both primary and secondary weapons, in favour of speed and lethal combat knife kills. Nobody expects it, and while it isn't well suited to domination matches matches, it is perfect for quick and dirty Free-For-All matches.

Mortal Kombat Class:

Wildcards:
Perk #1 Greed
Perk #2 Greed
Perk #3 Greed

Lethal Equipment: Combat Axe:  Literally the only thing I am carrying other than the combat knife.  The deadly combat axe is an instant kill when it hits a target, and it can be picked up again and again.  While it is not the easiest thing to aim, it is pretty badass.

Perks:
Tier 1 #1: Blind Eye:  This keeps me off if enemy radar, making me undetectable to their U.A.V recon drones.
Tier 1 #2: Light weight: Allows you to move faster, which is always handy when you are running just hand to hand melee weapons.
Tier 2 #1: Cold Blooded: This makes me undetectable to heat sensing scopes, and target finders.  If they can't get a lock on you, some players will have a hard time hitting you.
Tier 2 #2: Scavenger.  This allows me to resupply ammo for any weapon I choose to pick up mid round.  Very handy if your stealth attacks are getting nowhere.
Tier 3 #1: Extreme Conditioning.  Sprint for longer periods of time.  Thus combined with Light weight, and no primary or secondary weapons allows for the fastest movement possible.  All most twice the speed of heavily weighted players.
Tier 3 #2: Awareness.  This boosts the level of noise made my enemies around you so you can hear footsteps etc through your source speakers.
Armed with only the combat knife and Combat Axe, this super speedy class is a lot of fun, especially on small maps!
So there you have it, all most limitless options for customization means that you can play this game your way.
BTW, you play, feel free to add me on PSN: DeaDPaN79 and we'll swap stories.
Now get out there and shoot some douche waffles!
Stay Frosty.

inFamous 2

I picked up a free digital copy of infamous 2 a couple of weeks ago as part of my Playstaion Plus Membership.  I have platinumed the first game, and enjoyed it enough to warrant giving the second title a shot, especially when it is free!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Infamous series on the PS3, it basically plays like reading a comic book.  Our (anti) hero, Cole McGrath, triggered an radioactive explosion in the prologue of the first game, giving hm electricity based super powers.  Cole doesn't have the ability to manufacture his own electricity, he constantly needs to drain electricity from various sources in the world around him to charge his powers.  He can then shape this electricity into various tools and weapons to help him make his way through the story.

Like Grand Theft Auto, the action is free range.  You are free to wander the city, hunting for side missions, or bonus perks, leaving the main story for long stretches.  While this means that there is alot to see and do, it can get somewhat tedious hunting high and low for the 305 blast shard pieces scattered across the giant city.

The most interesting part of this game is the idea at its core.  Cole's actions are monitered by a Karma meter, which shifts based on the choices he makes during the game.  Defuse a bomb and save the nearby civilians, your Karma swings towards good.  Take out the cops who are patrooling town, and lack the smack down on the unexpecting passersby, your Karma is headed straight towards evil.  With 3 stages of good or evil to progress through, there are plenty of unique powers, side missions, NPC interactions, and yes, even cosmetic changes to experience.  There are also 2 distinctly different endings to unlock.

Controls are intuitive, and game play is very responsive.  Only once did I find myself stuck in a mission, unable to continue because I had somehow been squashed through the ground by a massive boss character, but not killed.  I also enjoyed that the various missions were significantly different from the game play of the first title.  Kudos to the development team for adding such an array of interesting powers, all easily swappable using the left button on the d-pad.

At a guess, I would say it took me roughly 35 hours to complete the story mode twice in order to see both endings, and unlock the platinum trophy for 100% completion.

As an added perk, there is also a forum for User Generated Content, so there are untold more hours of game play waiting should you be thus inclined.

While this is certainly not my favourite series on the PS3, it was a solid offering, and I'd happily reccomend it to anyone looking for an engaging story, and decent visuals.

And if you happen to have a PSN account, feel free to add me: DeaDPaN79 and we'll swap stories on favourite DLC.

My PS3 pile of shame...games that have gotten the best of me, for now.

In honour on the E3 video game convention, and all the big new releases that are being announced this week, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on my very own pile of shame - those video games that I rushed out to purchase, and in many cases now sit uncompleted and mocking me from their home stacked next to my sexy big screen gaming TV.  Yes, I have a gaming TV, and it is sexy.  It does occasionally get used to watch other things, but typically only Game of Thrones, and the odd Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game, but I digress.  These are titles that I have started, but failed to complete for whatever reason.  Most are great games, there just aren't enough hours in the day to complete them while I also attempt to max out my prestige level in MW3 while pwning douche waffles on Domination with my ACR.  For the record I am currently ranked #9838 for Dominator trophies ( I currently have 396 of these, awarded for most points captured during a match) on the world wide leader boards, down from #5129 before I started my last out of town work project 6 weeks ago.

While there are countless other PSN Network titles, and freebies that I have gotten with my PS Plus account, these are the titles that I actually laid down my hard earned scratch to acquire.  These are the titles that mock me while I have trouble getting to sleep at night.

You may find it interesting to know that on my online PSN profile, my personal info reads: PS3 addict.  It's true what they say, the first step is admitting that you have a problem.

So here it is, my PS3 pile of shame:

#1 Assasins Creed - This one has been on the pile the longest.  It is practically a launch title, and while the graphics are amazing, and the storyline is epic, I found the action really repetive, and even though I only have like 2 missions left to complete, I just can't be bothered to go back to it.  The fact that it predates PSN trophies may have a lot to do with this, since I am a total trophy whore.

#2 God of War 3 - This one makes me hang my head.  It's a great game, graphics are stunning, plot is pretty good, and the anti hero is the biggest badass in video games.  I think I have logged about 5 hours of game play, which means I have a long way to go.  This is the one that I keep telling myself I am going to tackle next, although I still have yet to do it...but Summer is coming, and that means long days spent cooped up in the dark playing video games in an effort to avoid contact with that retina burning ball of gas in the sky.

#3 Assassins Creed 2 - While the fact that I have only logged about 2 hours on this title is a source of shame, the plot and game play just haven't been interesting enough to draw me back.  The fact that this title is set in rennaisance Italy as opposed to Crusade era Islam is a bit of a let down as the weapon selection also kind of sucks.

#4 Killzone 3 - I picked this title up uber cheap at a Rogers Video fire sale, so I don't feel to bad about only logging about 30 minutes of game play.  I liked what I saw, but ultimately, its just another futuristic 3rd person shooter, and while the cover system is good, I firmly believe that the Resistance Franchise has got this genre locked down.  Having never played Killzone #1 or #2, I have zero connection to the back story.  My assumption: see the alien, kill the alien.  Pretty basic stuff. This one can wait...

#5 X Men: Destiny - I also picked this up super cheap at the fire sale, and it is a pretty solid game.  I have actually played through this game, but since it has multiple endings, I feel compelled to play through it to its ultimate completion...which means at least another 25 hours of game play.  I feel like it should be an easy game to Platinum, but I have yet to find the time...

#6 Uncharted 3 - I love this game.  It is easily the best game I own, and having said this, it hangs over my head that I have yet to Planinum it.  The fact that I dedicated 16 hours on launch day to complete it the first time, lends credence to my shame.  I have played through it 1 1/2 times, of the required 3 playthroughs, and found 92 of the 100 hidden treasures.  This is the game that mocks me the loudest when I have spare moments.  It is definitely the next on my list.

#7 Rachet and Clank: Tools of Destruction - This platformer isn't the genre I usually go for, but for a while I got sucked in.  Enough so that I only have a level or two left to complete.  But it has been about 3 years since I last put the disc into my PS3.  One day...

#8 Dark Kingdom - Another launch title.  Not the best game, but it was the first co-op rpg for the system.  Now I can honestly say that I have a reason for not completing this game.  Just the wife and I were playing through the co-op mode before Peanut was born 2 years ago, and she hasn't been available/ interested in picking up where we left off ever since.  I keep hoping that one day she will wake up with the deep seated need to finish this video game with me, but failing that this may be one that I never complete...unless I find a new co-op partner with 30 plus hours to spare.

#9 Final Fantasy 13 ( I think)  - This one makes me laugh.  I bought a used copy on a whim a few years back (like maybe 3...) and the game has never, ever been put in my system.  Haven't even seen the opening cut scenes.  I'm sure its a great game, but the 100+ hours of game play have just been super daunting.  I like the series, and I am a huge fan of rpgs, but this one is still as of yet untouched.

#10 Dragon Age 2 - Another solid RPG, that I just haven't found the time to get into.  Loved the first game, despite the fact that I haven't platinumed it yet either.  I will likely love this one...one day.

#11 Oblivion & Shivering Isles expansion - At one point I had sunk 200+ hours into this game attempting to complete every side quest, while basically ignoring the main story line.  While I haven't played it in over 2 years, I do still dream of one day rising victorious from the ashes of my save file...assuming I can even remember the control scheme...

#12 Call of Duty Black Ops - While I have logged countless hours into this games online modes, I have never completed the story mode.  

#13 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 - Again, I have logged over 216 hours (more than 9 full days) on the online portion of this game, but I have yet to beat the offline story mode.  I'll get to it...hell it took me 3 years to beat story mode on Modern Warfare 2.

That's not so bad right?

It's important to have a hobby...

Uncharted 3: Buy This Game!

Another Grand Slam from Naughty Dog!

If you own a PS3, odds are that you have heard of the Uncharted franchise.  If you own an Xbox 360 or a Wii, I am sorry.  Really and truly sorry.  These games are only available as a PS3 exclusive.  Better luck next time.
Featuring Nathan Drake, a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake, renown English explorer, Nate is a wise-ass, skull cracking treasure hunter, who has a penchant for finding himself in some very  remarable situations. The result is that this series becomes a combination of Indiana Jones and some cracked out 3D version of Pitfall.  The Uncharted Franchise has won Naughty Dog several Game of the Year awards for their past efforts.  Renown for their incredible attention to detail, remarkable motion capture based graphics, and Hollywood worthy soundtracks, the Uncharted games have been hailed as being closer to feature films than standard video games, and with good reason.
  The latest offering from developer Naughty Dog Studios is true to the franchise.
  Drake, along with a motley cast of characters, some returning from previous games, some new to the series, are once again on a hunt for a fabled lost city, The Atlantis of the Sands, and find themselves in a race against time, surrounded on all sides by the minions of a modern day secret society who has its own designs on the secrets contained in the lost city.
To call the single player campaign story mode of this game immersive is like calling the Gobi desert a sand box.  It just doesn't do it justice.

  Yes the graphics (3D for those of you lucky bastards with the right toys) are incredibly detailed. Breathtaking in-fact.
People, water, everything looks real.  The motion capture is especially well done.

Yes the game play is remarkably fluid, with clearly defined, easy to access controls.  Move, swim, take cover, climb drain pipes, hang from ledges, sneak attack like a mo-fo master ninja, snipe like a gilley suit wearing Navy Seal, it is all super simple to do.

Yes it the soundtrack sounds like it is scored by John Williams or Danny Elfman, pure adventure film.

Yes the puzzles are difficult!  Like any good fortune hunter, Nate must work his way through a number of intricate puzzles to proceed on his journey.  Most of them will stump the uninniated, but with a little in-game research all  are eventually solvable.

Yes the story is engaging.  Even if you are new to the franchise, Nate and the relationships he has built with the other characters make them people you can care about.  This is not just another hack and slash - blast everything you see dungeon crawl.  Sure, the story is linear, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat, needing to know what happens next.

Yes it will pull you up out of your seat by your ears, and make you squeal in a combination of unthinking terror and giddy excitement.  There is a sequence later in the game where Nate is sucked from a flaming cargo plane at 20,000 feet without a parachute.  The following sequence is the most jaw dropping, heart stopping, adrenaline pumping thing I have ever experienced in a video game.  When the sequence ended,  a non-gamer friend who was watching it unfold turned to me, breathless, and exclaimed 'Holy shit!  That was intense!"

Without giving away too much else about the story, all I can say is that this game is pretty friggin' incredible.

Oh!  And it has a multitude of amazing multi-player online elements that will keep it fresh for months to come.

Like I said earlier, BUY THIS GAME!  Unless you don't like fun.  In that case, go back to your Xbox.