Jake Anlezark
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For those of you who cannot get enough of Batman Arkham Origins, Nether Realm Studios have developed a mobile tie in app that lets you take your crime fighting anywhere you go. Whilst essentially an individual game it does contain a few tie-ins for your console experience that are worth noting. Upon fulfilling certain criteria, achievements are unlocked and by connecting to your console of choice can unlock experience points for your multiplayer game or unlock a Bat suit for use in the game.
Aveline controls like all Assassins in the series, making it a comfortable swap between games, but unfortunately her interactivity in her world is beyond painful. The system fails to recognize movements and doesn’t interact within its world at all. Attempting to scale a ladder and dismounting at the base of a slanted roof saw Aveline fail to recognize the difference in heights over and over again, making her fall, igniting my frustration. This wasn’t an isolated event, it happened many times whilst on missions, causing a fail and of course, the impending restart.
The luminaries are the power source to active light sources to create shadows to solve puzzles, which can be projectors and spotlights. Some of these light sources are interact-able in terms of movement; finding the correct position to solve the puzzles is vital to your progression and at times requires some precise timing with the mechanisms that you create a shadow from. Unfortunately, I felt that the controller responses were not accurate enough at times when solving puzzles, this mainly occurred when I had to jump up to enter a shadow. Collectively however, the puzzles are by no means difficult, only offering a solid challenge but overall approachable to anyone willing to give this extremely interesting take on puzzles a go.
Very early you are introduced to Igniculus, a rain drop looking fire fly. Igniculus can be controlled by you at the same time as you control Aurora or separately by a local co-op friend. Igniculus is invaluable to your quest, lighting dark treacherous paths, gathering the fuels for your health and magic but most importantly, his battle aids are vital to your success.
Shadow Fall is the perfect game to introduce the world to the raw power that the PS4 has to offer and the pick of the shooters for the next generation launch for me. It is an absolute blast laying waste to the red eyed Helghan, and although it’s a continuation of the Killzone universe, it is still an excellent starting point for new comers.
Multiplayer features in The Last of Us, coming under the title “Factions” which clearly is says enough about the mission of multiplayer, you and three other team mates will fight against opposing factions, gathering supplies for your own personal faction, one lovely feature included is that each team member is given a personal goal, e.g. kill a number of guards, collect x amount of supplies. All that you’ve learnt in the campaign will prepare you perfectly for what lies ahead in factions using your arsenal of crafting, listening, stealth and gunfire. The pace is just as frantic and single player and once again your battle for survival has you on the edge of your seat. Although no infected has been included, odds are an appearance will be a certainty with the season pass downloadable content releases.
There are still a few bugs in this game, which is a given considering that no one’s play through will ever be the same. What bugs there are though are generally hidden underneath the beautiful aesthetics of the game. Some missions can become repetitive and tiresome, but please don’t let that dishearten you. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is an excellent game and one of the best games of the year without a shadow of a doubt. It is completely refreshing for the series and for the fans as well. Your holiday to the Caribbean will be time well spent.
Other perks added to the game include small pieces of customisation. Finding shining articles around the world allows you to be able to change the look of your clone; i.e. a cliche viking helmet can be worn as well as other various body outfits. Challenges are ranked and scored throughout the world or more appropriately the Miiverse; forcing the perfectionist players to get the treasured “S” Rank. Although to attain such a revered mark, you may be forced to come back to the stage once a new skill or method has been acquired.
Unfortunately, from my experience, I was exposed to a plethora of game ending bugs/crashes consistently within a gaming period. I found the only way to reconcile the issue was to actually power off my vita and boot it up again. Don’t let that deter you though from experiencing a remarkably enjoyable game though.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America responded to the mixed reviews of Knack by stating that “it was intentionally designed to be simple and accessible and to show that the PlayStation 4 isn’t all about shooters”. I think this is an excellent and completely accurate statement. Knack delivers perfectly on this regard, with its easily accessible gameplay, simple control layout and the ease of the drop in/out co-op. It may not be the most technically refined game but its charm and heart easily outweighs those flaws, which is a fact that I think was unfortunately missed by a lot of people. With his cute statue and surrounded by a world full of charm, Knack will certainly keep you coming back time and time again.