No matter how many games try and defeat Call of Duty every year, the shit never happens. Instead, the #1 video game in America continuously raises the bar — whether your whiny little ass likes it, or not.
For the next-gen, there’s absolutely nothing to hate about Call of Duty: Ghosts. Activision has embraced the new technology with open arms, using displacement mapping and real geometric fidelity towards their advantage. In short, the game looks dope (like, 3D dope). The developers at Infinity Ward have exponentially increased the polygon rate and textures, so players won’t help but notice every little nick and scrape on their soldier’s wrists. Hell, even the rifle-scopes are a noticeably more perfect round; sort of like that strawberry blo…
(Oh.. perhaps, another time then..)
All pretty looking pistols, sleek camo and San Diego streams aside, Ghosts focuses on the story. To Infinity Ward’s credit, Call of Duty‘s storylines have improved year by year. No longer is multiplayer the only reason to buy COD. Hell, I only buy Duty FOR the campaign. Call me crazy.
“Crazy!”
But, on the real though.. after an event that changes the entire world power dynamic, Ghosts forces you to play the underdog. Woof woof you go, because a trusty German Shepherd named Riley is your finest recon option. This new addition positively sounds like a gimmick of “suspended relief” proportions, really; but, scanner-controlled survellience dogs have been used by real Navy SEALS — really. Riley will actually act like a realistic pup, too, showing heat fatigue, fear from collapsing buildings, and unrest from incoming swarms of gunfire. And watch out boys, he’ll chew you up!
If that damn bark isn’t a distraction…
RISE OF THE DEAD, TROIS
…then just about anything in Capcom’s Dead Rising 3 can be used as a distraction. And, trust me; with the numbers of undead swarming these streets, you’re ass is gonna need all of it. The good news for Microsoft loyalists — the few and the far between these days — is that DR3 is an Xbox One exclusive. Sort of like our boys up above: the few and the proud (the Marines). But, hey, if you’ve never been a big fan of Dead Rising before, never a better time than now. Every single geek in our VIP demo was blown away, nearly literally, with all of the great ways to destroy zombies.
Cause, hey, everything in this game is a weapon. Even Penzoil. Of course.. not recommended. It is recommended, however, to rid of these far more aware monsters (that can also now scream to alert others if need be!) with weapon customization and sadistic item comboing. Gathering blueprints (as also seen in both Black Flag and Mad Max, another running theme of E3 perhaps? Jigga would be proud), will allow your car mechanic hero to fix up the most intense zombie-killing contraptions possible — hello, “Sledge Saw — as well as level up any particular aspect of his offensive game.
As our developer mentioned, “you could [also] make yourself the best puncher ever” if you wanted to use up all your XP on that one function.
There’s plenty of time to play dress up, too. It’s all there, from playing S.W.A.T. and rocking “Breaking Bad” hazmat suits, to the far more insanity of sporting a felt shark get-up with a giant Blanca mask. Lest we forget Dorothy’s spring best. You have the option in Dead Rising 3 to go full-on comedy (like photobombing, a signature to the previous installations), or merely keep things droll in Rick Grimes territory.
With improved physics and plenty of places to loot and eat “shelf hot dogs,” the distractions will keep on coming. “Blind” your new zombie friends with construction pylons (and then nicely set them on fire); set off store alarms (and then run!); and call upon airstrikes (or barrell gun waste entire parking lot-fulls).
You’ll be raising hell and finding gun stores on your tablet in Dead Rising 3 this November.
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Excited for Dishonored 2; aren’t you? Thief is another game that uses distraction to key its momentum. The only issue I have with this cult-classic franchise is timing, with it set for release just one year after Dishonored. The two games are frighteningly similar. Of course, longtime fans of the Thief franchise — and it’s been a darn good 15-years ago since the debut on the PC — are going to care less. It’s been nearly a decade since this steampunk stealther appeared on a console, too (Deadly Shadows), so there’s no doubt Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex Machina) has their work cut out for them. Thief does offer a sleek, next-gen engine, a nifty shadow meter (for enemy detection; unlike Dishonored, you’ll want to stay “ghost” most of the time in this one..), and a unique array of arrows at your disposal. Go all “Arkham” on ’em with the Rope Arrow; put out torch fire with the aptly-named Water Arrow. See, that’s my biggest fear of Thief. It takes itself far too seriously. Our protaganist, Garrett, offers no sign of personality — a shame, considering all the strange convos he had with himself throughout our demo. Maybe I’m just glad he didn’t mention anything about using map access on the tablet! With the game hinting at nearly too much familiarity (despite swiftly changing to 3rd person on the climbing/escaping stages), my hopes for this Theif — as a wicked diehahd of Dishonuhd — may have faded…
