2K Archives - GeeksHaveGame

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

WWE 2K19 [Review]: Shock the System.

WWE 2K19 has no business being this good. This was supposed to be the year we all spoke with our wallets, passing on a franchise that has led us diehard wrasslin’ gamers to bitter disappoinment year in and year out. Especially with Fire Pro Wrestling World finally arriving on PlayStation, there was absolutely no reason in the world to consider WWE 2K this year. Right? Well, stranger things have happened.. like the WWE not yet ruining Ricochet. While I can’t believe I’m typing this — as I’ll probably eat my own words in a few months, typical protocol with most of my WWE 2K reviews — this year’s edition is ama.. no, phenomenal…

BUZZ WORTHY

If you’ve been following the early word on MyPlayer Mode (arguably the worst piece of $%&* thing about WWE 2K18 last year), then you’ve probably heard the good word: the drab “visual novel” jargon from last year’s mode has been restructured with voice acting and it’s actually quite commendable. At the very least, the voicework isn’t an earsore; while performances won’t compete with Naughty Dog games or the Flair/Dusty Rhodes stuff of NWA legend, hearing Hunter grill me backstage, DB comfort my arrival to SmackDown Live! and Jinder attempt to “shanti” his way into my U.S. title picture was all appreciative. Of course, there are pitfalls, like giving the Hollywood-busy John Cena a dub who sounds nothing like him, and celebrating Rusev Day with only text (strange, seeing how Rusev and Lana hosted WWE 2K19‘s Roster Reveal show…). Still, adding the voices to the story makes a world of difference–and the script is shockingly awesome.

Shit.. it’s as if this WWE 2K were created by fans of pro wrestling for the very first time, and not just that of the casual. There are a lot of small details flickered throughout the title’s modes that represent the acute mind of a hardcore wrestling junkie. The story of Buzz’s rise from the bingo halls of BCW is a fun mock of ECW/Joey Janella’s GCW, while an in-game mini-podcast pays homage to Good Ol’ JR’s “The Ross Report”. Crazier, a mash-up of Booker T’s “Heated Conversations” and Dave Meltzer’s “Wrestling Obverser Radio” a.k.a “Up to No Good” is the wrasslin’ podcast we never knew we wanted. Much like NBA 2K, your MyPlayer can be customized without having to back out into the menu and, between matches, you can check humorous texts and voicemails from your former indie rival-turned-pal, Cole Quinn, and sadsack promoter Barron F’N Blade, among others.

There are so many good angles and swerves in MyCareer mode this year that I’d suggest Mr. McMahon take a look at Visual Concepts’ booking for some much needed guidance. Heck, 2K19‘s “creative” even takes a 630 leap to satisfaction in Universe Mode, too, which I’ll talk about at length in just a bit. While invading NXT this year is actually kinda tedious (do we really have to K.O. everyone?), MyCareer deftly overhauls backstage pacing; there’s a greater cutscene variety in this mode than last, many of which come “outta nowhere”. And, isn’t it ironic that former WWE writer Sean Conaway pens the excellent story, seeing how the fed has had a share of creative issues itself? Upon completing the 12-hour campaign, you sadly can’t retire and come back 20x like the Nature Boy, but you can take YourCharacter to the online Road to Glory and 2K Tower challenges. As a huge fan of Mortal Kombat X‘s Towers mode myself, I look forward to exploring the new mode once Buzz’s Superkick Party comes to a close.

For the first time ever, MyMoody even resembles me; face-scanning was less painful as ever, and I adored the ability to shift around the default facial structure (eye, nose, mouth placement). By no means is MyPlayer Mr. Perfect, though definitely an upgrade from last year’s “guess you’re stuck as Jimmy Jacobs”; you can easily hide Buzz’s conjoined face “scarring” with facial hair, face paint, etc. Simply put, creating your own wrestler has never felt this effortless. Upgrading moves and cosmetics via virtual currency lootboxes is a lot more harmless than it sounds, and gaining new abilities via XP skill trees is simple. Having just hit “Superstar” level, I’m not how thorough this progression system affects matches, but whoever constructed the art layout in WWE 2K19 deserves a push; the skill tree design and game menus are among the best in video games everrrr.

Rusev Day is now 2K Day.. or Rusev 2KKKKKK! (Err, Moody; don’t quit your day job).

UNIVERSAL CHAMPION

Longtime followers of the GHG Ringside Apostles should know that we’ve always been big on Universe Mode, be it with early open mindedness or guarded cynicism. WWE 2K‘s longest running feature usually takes several hours and even several days to set-up, and I’m happy to report that my U only took a whole morning. First, you can alter the amount of pop wrestlers will get from the fans. For instance, Randy Orton seems to get cheered no matter what vile shit he does each week on TV, so you can keep him bad but give him a good blend of cheers and boos. Roman Reigns can stay “the guy” but can be booed ’till kingdom come. So sick.

The shittiest part of arranging my fictional universe — besides the fact you can’t use your MyPlayer in the mode, but Quinn, Blade and even El Mago appear as options, *sigh* — were Tag Teams, which, despite now being able to connect every other change made in Universe to Exhibition Mode (character allies/rivals/goals, etc.), I tediously had to set-up the Lucha Bros, Ringkampf, and the Golden Lovers and their entrances, finishers, and victory motions over again. It’s a non-issue if you don’t plan on having pals over to play the game, but sucks if you do.

For those who’ve never played Universe Mode before, “set-up” refers to arranging each brand you want to use, each Superstar you want to use for each brand, the rivalries you want to see on each brand, and all the creations (superstars, brand logos, rings) you either made yourself or downloaded via the Creation Suite. While it’s too early to judge how the creations will look this year (WWE 2K19 officially released just 2 days ago), I went full Firing Squad and made the switch to PlayStation for the console’s longtime esteemed Create-A-Wrestler (CAW) community. While Xbox One’s Dre41 will be missed using PSN, having the bigger community to work with will undoubtedly lead to better international and indie CAWs. That said, 2K19 on a vanilla PS4 doesn’t look at all like a graphical downgrade from last year’s game on the Xbox On X; the majority of character facework is stunning.

But the main reason to dig into Universe Mode? Story driven cutscenes–an element that has been nearly nonexistent for several years now. Since the franchise’s very first installment, seeing consistent cutscenes and run-ins before/during/after the matches has turned into somewhat of a Matt Riddle; some players have claimed to find new scenes each year and gave oddball reasoning why others (ahem) only see a few cutscenes, most of which were the same lame scenes from previous years anyway. Heck, one year there were more stories being told in Exhibition mode. And if you’ve only witnessed cutscenes during Rivalry matches the past 2-years, gimme a hell yeah.

Well, someone over at Yukes/Visual Concepts is clearly a fan of Universe Mode. Not only am I seeing a Otis Dozovic-sized amount of cutscenes in my set Rivalries — many of which are new to me, including a backstage handshake between L.A. Park and Mil Muertes before a Lucha Underground tag — I’m also seeing them in non-Rivalry matches. Yes, that’s right. Universe Mode has Potential Rivalries this year, which means that every match matters. For instance, a usual nothing match on your Raw brand between The B-Team and Rhyno & Heath Slater that you’d usually sim may now have events taking place that you may not want to miss. Some matches will even earn the Potential Rivalry stamp based on a result of a previous match on the card.

(The best trick to speed through Universe Mode without missing anything is this: 1. Simulate non-Rivalry matches if you want, but if the results say “potential rivalry”, immediately close your game application on PS4/Xbox before backing out of Universe Mode. Jump back on 2K and either play or watch the match. There won’t be any cutscenes in non-Rivalry matches that don’t wind up Potential Rivalries, but not every Potential Rivalry match has a cutscene. 2. Everytime you finish/simulate a match that you’re OK with, back out of U Mode to save and pop back in. This way when you close the game app — in the case of a Potential Rivalry sim you want to play — you won’t lose your progression. Of course, the types and number of cutscenes you get are all determined by the way the match is worked, match duration, results, etc. There’s no controlling that.)

New to Universe Mode is the option to choose the winner of a simmed match, huge for title rankings and such. Players now also have the ability to switch to any wrestler during a match, and have control over 6 championships (including MITB briefcase, if you wish) per brand. Want the UK Men’s and Women’s titles on NXT? Done. Your jointed ROH/NJPW show can have both promotions’ world titles, and all those damn IWGP straps with room to spare. Best of all, you can now arrange which types of matches you want to see on your brand via Excel type spreadsheet. Going ECW or CZW? Give hardcore/table/no holds barred matches an insanely high percentage. Want to book New Japan like Gedo? Set 6 and 8-man tags to the extreme. No longer does your 7-match Smackdown consist of just normal 1-on-1 and tags. You can set the percentage’s up so triple threats, multi-person matches and the occasional battle royal or cage get booked on your brand, too.

ENTER THE (AMERICAN) DRAGON

Oh, gameplay. It’s still WWE 2K and plays nearly identical to every iteration, so you tell me if that’s a good or bad thing. Thankfully, in-game animations have greatly improved (they’re often, shockingly, fantastic), weight detection finally feels like a thing, and matches come off like a more soothing mesh of sim and arcade. 2K19 is sort of a backwards FPWW— realistic visuals yet swifter around the mat with a looser leash on the strikes. While you can button mash at times, there’s a higher emphasis on actual “WRSTLNG!!!”: grappling, working holds, limb targetting, chain-mat reversals, catch-as-catch can, etc. In the past, players never had to care about that and just spam strike/reversal away. Not so much this year. With the old engine in tow, the combat certainly isn’t perfect; collision detection can be a frightening mess, and A.I. opponents often still do the whole stand around or repeatedly walk into the opposite corner stupidity, but so far there’s been nothing a little patchey patch here can’t fix. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’ve yet to witness a game crash. WWE 2K17 and 18 F’N crashed on me multiple times a gameplay session, particularly between loads or downloading creations. Load times in this game are suprisingly faster, too.

Paybacks are new strategic gameplay elements that players should adore, while Overcharges will no doubt receive a more polarized response. Against the A.I., gaining in-match advantages like extra finishers, lowblows, Muta mist or additional recovery/kick-outs are fine, but using silly techniques like one punch iron fists and golden/electrifying mutant powers in a wrestling match (especially against other players online) probably isn’t the greatest. Since the A.I. is ramped up extra this year, likely due to the Million Dollar Challenge that makes even the “Hardcore” difficulty feel Dark Soulsish, paybacks will come in handy. A match I had last night between Becky and Charlotte at Backlash wound up with a slew of scintillating false finishes, much in thanks to late contest paybacks. And, hey, it’s not like there isn’t a huge underdog/comeback element in pro wrestling or anything…

Speaking of which, the most legendary underdog in the history of professional wrestling is the centerpiece in this year’s return to Showcase Mode. And it’s excellent due to Daniel Bryan’s poignant and candid intermittent commentary. While having to replay matches in their entirety for a couple of missing cheap objectives sucks, this 2K doc certainly ranks up there as far as all-time great WWE games’ showcases, and it makes you wonder why its gameplay can’t be like this for every other mode. Since WWE is so focused on the ‘E (entertainment) part of the product, why not include those elongated story scenes into the matches? That would take some engine fine-tuning, but at least the commentary could be cleaned up.

Which brings me to the biggest thing on my bucket list that hasn’t improved: match commentary. OK, it sorta has. The pre-match banter between Corey Graves and Michael Cole is often great, and from time to time, Graves take a well-placed rib at Byron Saxton that will leave you in stitches. 90% of the time, though sadly, the commentary is more of the same studio punch-in garbage we’ve had in every other installment. I’ll never understand why 2K’s sister NBA series has the greatest commentary ever, and we get.. this. When 2K claimed that Cole and company recorded thousands of more words of in-game dialogue for ’19, it’s obvious they did–in Showcase and the beginning of MyCareer. Also, the majority of the wordy calls that come from Graves or Saxton have absolute zilch to do with the action in the ring; while new insights on recent WWE lore are fine, it would’ve been better to implement seemless dialogue that addresses the matter at hand. And, we seriously don’t have Mauro on NXT yet?

CROWN JEWEL

Repetitive commentary, expected in-match glitches, poor hair physics, questionable superboosts, and pointless Big Head/minecraft stuff aside (“Really?”), this is the best WWE 2K video game since its inception. Everything else about the game feels like a huge improvement and continues to wow me with every additional gameplay session. MyCareer is everything anyone could ask for, Showcase is a warm return to form, and Universe Mode is fucking baller. Much like NBA 2K19, this game has a plethora of modes and match types (Hell In A Cell, TLC, etc.) that require further exploration; it’s gonna take a Ringside Apostles Review Show to dive deeper into Universe Mode to give this 7 stars. But for now, WWE 2K19 earns its Undisputed presence into the Wrestling Video Game Hall of Fame, Bay Bay! 4.25/5 Bibles.

-Travis Moody

November 12, 2017October 11, 2018

WWE 2K18 [Xbox One X Review]: That Day One Ish.

Felipe “The 3rd Deacon” Crespo
@F7ovrdrv

Since this is the first time in years that WWE 2K18 actually feels like it’s made a Drew McIntyre move forward (backstage areas are back, graphic improvements, satisfying gameplay upgrades, 8 wrestlers in the ring, etc.), Moody Omega and I decided to give this edition “The Bar” treatment and brogue kick some sense into this one. Sorry for the delay–we had Meningitis.

Oh what a difference a month makes, Fel. Yours truly has done nothing but shred the latest layer of WWE 2K canvas from coast to coast, pillar to post. But, then entered the release of a most GLORIOUS Xbox One X. We are happy to Ross Report that there is zero lag in 8-wo/man tag matches (aka Survivor Series matches, to which I’ve been dying for in what feels like an eternity!), zero lag in 8-wo/man Ladder matches, and xero lag in 8-wo/man Battle Royal matches. Zero. WWE 2K18 on the Xbox One X runs like an American Dream.

FELIPE “3rd Deacon” CRESPO: I’d “YES!” chant to that, Moody, but I’m a heel. So this being 2K let’s put the heat on ’em right away: Guess what game still has slow-ass, moronic referees?!? WWE 2K18!! GOD. F*+&ING. DAMMIT. They’ll still jog around the ring like an idiot for a bit sometimes before dropping to make a count. OH! And when they drop to make a count? They still take a full second before going for 1. Watch a match. The refs are already on the way to the floor when a wrestler is about to pin their opponent. And though I do love the move towards sim style gameplay, Yukes/Visual Concepts still have to work on the speed and feel of strikes, as most still feel odd and just look nothing like what you see on TV.

TRAVIS “Monsignor” MOODY: I guess the tackle-drop down-hip toss transition didn’t debut without a few sprinkles of American Nightmare. I hit the menu button and back and the ref finally begins his count. SMH. Also, players who forgot or declined to re-download their prepaid DLC/Deluxe Edition bonuses before upgrading their previous run from the X1 to the X1X (ahem, Deacon) were left with a clean swipe of data. And zero kayfabe: My review would definitely have panned out far different had that happened to me (for the third consecutive year!), like an Enzo championship win over an AJ title victory. Thankfully, I one.. two.. sweeeeeeeeeeted my 2.5 days of Universe set-up (Create-A-Wrestlers, brand edits, etc.) and initial MyCareer NXT title run by finding the workaround, and thus have discovered a wrestling video game that.. MADE THE LIST — the good list.

FELIPE: Forget a list; I’m just surprised I’m still playing and loving this year’s version. With improved A.I., matches feel competitive again (and since we are reviewing this a month “late”, patches help clean up the Montreal Screwjobs too). I used to be able to breeze through Legendary difficulty like it was nothing but an unrelenting counter-fest. Like, did anyone else notice in WWE 2K17 how the AI would counter without having counter icons?

MOODY: Can’t honestly say I do, but the text-based promos are — sadly, again — terrible. While slightly improved, I wish that both, a.) WWE 2K would take the time to grab some vocal chops from the WWE/NXT roster, seeing how its sister NBA series has an endless stream of soundbites from an almost entire league’s worth of coaches and players. b.) That guys like Braun Strowman and Kane, who now (yay) have the option of ragdolling their puny opponents around the ring before burying them into the mat, wouldn’t have 4 lines of dialogue each time it’s their turn to chat. I mean, really.. REALLY?? And don’t get me into MyPlayer’s backstage horse-bobbleheaded facial animations that make Mass Effect Andromeda’s close-ups look like a Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece.

FELIPE: I don’t know why people assumed “Yes! Corey Graves added to commentary = overhauled and awesome!” Lol. No. Still garbage. The audio, in general, feels like it took a step backwards. Fans don’t chant or react the way they should during matches and big spots, and some slams sound great, while others sound like you’re slapping a mosquito off your forearm.

MOODY: Dude! I wish we could “cease and desist” the color commentary. Not that Byron Saxton and Graves aren’t immediate upgrades from Lawler & JBL (because they are), but what slaps me in the Million Dollar Dream is the fact that WWE 2K18 is still stuck in the stone aged Sega Genesis Madden style of ringside punch-ins. While the crowd ambience in NXT finally reflects the sounds of all those small-house smarks down in Full Sail (thus, ROH and indie created brands will finally feel more authentic than that of the ‘E!), none of the game’s commentary sounds like it was recorded together, and matches go on far too long without a peep. In NBA 2K18, Kevin Harlan and company have actual, relevant TV presentation conversations. In this Undisputed Era of 4K tech, how hard can that be, WWE?

FELIPE: Here’s one, OK, technically two: Finisher-to-finisher counters and finisher “speed”. There’s an indie game or two that have those figured it out. C’mon, 2K. I can’t hit an RKO Out of Nowhere; there’s always a lag. And so much for great Shibata or Sabre Jr. CAWS if players can’t punt someone going for a pin (still my favorite WM main event finish to date), and spear/”turn around” finishers just aren’t fun! One should be running as the opponent is turning around, not wait until they turn around, stare at them, then run. At least the visuals FIN-ALLY look current gen, and, clearly with the X1X, look tremendous. “Graphics don’t matter” my ass. In 2017 they do, epecially when your older brother is NBA 2K and your parents clearly neglect you. The lighting is by far the title’s biggest visual step-up; just watch all the entrances. While some wrestlers look better than others, I’m sure I’ll be OK with the weird looking Zack Ryder that I never plan to use anyway.

MOODY: You know it! While indeed an upgrade in 4K, sir, cinematics aside, the graphics aren’t exactly at the level of most other “Enhanced” D-Generat-One X titles like Forza 7, Halo 5 and Assassins Creed Origins and that’s fine. The power of Microsoft’s latest beast incarnate finally gives the series the level of fps fidelity and stability it needs. Sure, bugs, glitches, piss-poor load times and Gobbledy Gookeresque face scans (my Moody looks more like a cross between Colin Farrell and Jimmy Jacobs) still prevail but nowhere to the level of previous entries on previous gen consoles. P.S. I haven’t been able to test the Impact of the new multiplayer MyCareer mode, Road to Glory.

FELIPE: Same. But better still, Moods, wrestlers and their appropriate styles actually feel different (moreso than just “oh, smaller guys are faster, bigger guys are stronger”); 2K18 feels more nuanced. One of the best parts? Fatigue really shows. This sounds like a minor deal to anyone that isn’t a wrestling fan, but after a long, brutal match against the Usos, my Shea was about to hit Jimmy with the Brogue kick.. I hit it.. and in that moment, he hits the floor, and so do I.. and we both laid there motionless. It took me a while to start moving and crawl over to lay my arm on top of him for the pin.

MOODY: Pure SAnity. Sadly, Universe Mode still lacks that level of drama. While the new “evolving” rivalry system definitely improves the reason most marks buy this game this side of the sweet Creation Suite, there’s simply not enough cutscenes and story; you’ll still play a tedious stream of matches in your brand without much payoff. But! My “Week 2” RAW brand had 3 cutscenes in 6 of the scheduled matches, with one in particular turning out incredibly awesome (an unscheduled Shield pairing jumped Kane & Goldust at the entranceway to face Anderson & Gallows). Though few and far between — especially in created brands — this year’s cinematics look superslick on the X.

FELIPE: No question. Even hardcore matches are fun again. Bridge ladders and powerbomb people on them, slam them onto steel steps, throw them off the stage, off of trucks.. The last time I had this much fun maiming wrestlers I hated was on Smackdown vs Raw 2011. There’s still hope that next year 2K adds a breaking point where if you keep mauling someone, the ref will throw up the injury X. Sadly, MyCareer is boring as I severely wished 2K would bring back Showcases (with one for Caws), scrap it, or bring in a couple dozen actual fans and players of the games to speak to you guys (just make sure to weed out the “No Mercy for ever! Last one I played!” STUPID IDIOTS!). No forums, no talking amongst yourselves.. fans. Bottom line: WWE 2K18 has a lot to offer. A reinvigorating installment — especially in scrumptious 4K on the Xbox One X — 2K sleeps on so much that it still manages to disappoint in some key areas. 3.25/5 Bobby Heenan Bibles.

MOODY: 7-stars! Oh, No Way Felipe. It’s hard to “observe” a game that essentially requires a $500 system to fully enjoy it. That said, if you have the X1X do some Black Fri/New Day shopping and pick up a discounted copy. I’m happy to report that on Xbox Live, there’s an outstanding return of the created wrestlers you love not currently earning paychecks in Stamford, CT. Check my man Dre41 for all the great ECW and Bullet Club CAWs, belts and rings, especially since he (and a good few other dope Creation Suite geniuses) went back and remastered their inventions following a horrendous, near game-breaking disappearing logo issue. This lazy fuck just wishes we could DL tag team entrances, too. Minus the Vince Russo quality of promo scripts, frustrating irish whips, the usual match bugs and lack of custom music and intriguing cutscenes, WWE 2K18 is one of the more solid entries from the pub’s 5-year squared-circle run — if you own the Xbox One X, of course. 3.25/5 One Sweets (3/5 on other consoles)

January 6, 2016

GHG’s TOP & MOST ANTICIPATED VIDEO GAMES of 2015/2016 [Podcast]: Welcome Home.

You read the Best Video Games of 2015 lists, now find out WHY we put them there.

It’s your favorite gamer parishioners, good geeks of the church, with your host “Monsignor” Travis Moody (who’s a total homer); “Dynast” Dana Keels (who still plays Nintendo?); “Sister” Sarah (whose list is quite “horror-fic”) and her nerd-hubby “Saint” Patrick Obloy (who.. just knows it all); and our “Brother” Myke Ladiona (who serves as sound engineer supreme, too!).

Hear us crack on games that sucked, were heavily disappointing, or — quite frankly — just will never fucking come out. Listen to us diss a fellow gaming journalist who hated everything…while we explain why we loved almost every big title in 2015 and forecast a year that is sure to take even more money.

Got an issue with our choices? Did we miss a game for 2016? Then let us know on the Twit-twit @GodHatesGeeks, fooooooooooosss!!!

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014

E3 ’14 [The Bible Scale, Pt. III]: Oh what a ‘Knight’!

E3 2014 was indeed a conference that was all about games– and I’ve had a blast presenting as many of them as possible to you. But before we wrap up The Bible Scale (a.k.a. The Moody 25), just a couple things of note: GHG’s E3 Wrap-Up Podcast is finally here for download, I was NOT able to witness Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (damn Konami!), and we’ve got a few more #E3 features courtesy of our more Sony-and-Nintendo loving clergyfolk, Kenny Sanders & Christine Manzione. They’ll be tackling games on both of those fronts. As for yours truly, I get to take a break and actually play!

Please, feel free to give me hella shit in the comment section down below — or my Twitter @TravMoody — if some of my predictions happen to come up a.. false positive.

4.25 HIGHLY CAPA-‘BLES

Dragon Age: Inquisition (EA/BioWare) – If you remember, this Fantasy RPG was my top choice on GHG’s E3 Preview. And not much changes, considering two things: 1.) Only half of the games in this article will see daylight in 2014, and 2.) This side of some wooded 3D landscapes and attack animations, I wasn’t exactly blown away by Inquisition‘s visuals. But there’s no need to be. The game’s Frostbite 3 engine is bound to dragon-slay the weak frame-rate and character hiccups witnessed during my Tuesday afternoon demo, and, more importantly, DAI offers the use of expansive tactical combat. This time, players can brief opposing foes during any battle command; thus, players will then have the choice to sit and strategize, or man any teammates at your disposal with more intense Focus. Throw in some immense exploration and dynamic character interaction (ala Mass Effect)– and this could very well be the next-gen Skyrim we’ve all been waiting for.

NHL 15 (EA/EA Canada) – As the only sports game to crack my Top 10, it also marks the first time EA is taking the ice to the new consoles. And, damn, son: What a difference. While my 45-minutes hands-on with it did spell some sluggish controls, it was the all-new NBC presentation that absolutely blew me away. Puckheads can FINALLY expect new, more dynamic commentary (Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Ray Ferraro), 1-to-1 rinks (scary how close they look, right up with their own deranged nutjob and snobbish selfie-taking fans), finer player models (built from the ground up, NHL now uses the same scan-modeling technology as EA’s UFC), and puck physics (much like the changes witnessed in the aforementioned FIFA 15, no longer will the disc bounce like a tennis ball, or drop at the edge of a players’ jersey). The wait for September 9th is starting to feel like a zamboni on a highway.

Not exactly sure what they're celebrating here. — Not exactly sure what they’re celebrating here.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal) – One could argue that Ubi’s final delivery during their press conference was this year’s big splash. Sure, the Rainbow Six franchise doesn’t quite have the impact of, say, a Mass Effect, Half-Life, or Fallout; but you just knew Ubisoft wouldn’t go away quietly. As a huge fan of Rainbow Six: Vegas, I’m wicked excited that the franchise is back in the fold. Sure, it isn’t quite the more epic, politically-driven action/drama that would have been Rainbow Six: Patriots— but, in this one, you can blast through walls. Yeah, I know. Beat that. Siege is also steering in a more Titanfallish direction with a multiplayer-centered campaign and a new sandbox consisting of more confined, tactical-based maps. Consisting of 6 time-based rounds, squads of counter-terrorists and hostage-taking assholes must use communication and strategy — be it either to breach or barricade a suburban house — or you’re all toast. It’s one-shot kill, motha fuckuh!

4.5 LUNCHA-‘BLES

Evolve (2K/Turtle Rock) – Good to see there was a reason why this hunters vs. monster FPS landed on our Top 5 Games to see at E3. And if you follow my instagram, you may already know that I took down the Kraken. With Bucket. No, not the toxic grenade-tossing Assault character (Hyde), the immobilizing Trapper (Maggie), or soldier-resurrecting Medic (Lazarus), but Bucket, the clumsy, laser-toting robot. I was thus unable to play as the Kraken, but I’m hearing the 20-foot-tall winged-lizard was a blast, sporting four different special abilities than the previously announced monster, Goliath. With that said, there’s a much higher learning curve to master these hunters than it was for Left 4 Dead. Teamwork!

Destiny (Activision/Bungie) – There’s no reason for me to explain the Alpha further when you have a chance to play it right now– if you own a PS4, that is. Earlier today, Bungie extended this First Look Alpha, so anybody can play what I got to. Please do, watch the trailer above however. GHG’s “Templar”, Mark Majndle, will go more into depth with Destiny once the Beta hits next month.

Mortal Kombat X (WB/NetherRealm) – Definitely one of the show-stoppers at E3, so it’s only fitting that our E3 Wrap-Up Show 2014 centered around this gruesome classic fighter…

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Expect more on the 3-variation characters, immersive environments, and other such features in future articles to come. But, in case you’re wondering, my new favorite character is D’Vorah, poisonous insect-lady extraordinaire. (And, as always, you can also download or stream our podcast via Mediafire.)

4.75 SUPERIO-‘BLES

Sunset Overdrive (Microsoft/Insomniac) – Of all the games I got to get my hands on, this one take the cake– and what a colorful cake this Xbox One exclusive is. Set during the “Awesomepacalypse“, Sunset Overdrive sets you back into the arcadey-retrograde era of ToeJam and Earl, Jet Set Radio, Ratchet and Clank, and, hell, even Tony Hawk. With that said, you can leap, glide, and parkour all over the place, battling hordes of delirious mutant energy-drinkers. Yup–it’s that cartoony. Since the vibe is very over-the-top — especially with all those zany weapons you pick up at your disposal — your hero’s style is as important as the number of kills; your progression meter is thus based on the combination of both. Better yet, all the rewards and progress you pick up during multiplayer can be carried over into single-player campaign and vice-versa. It’s gonna be a blast, kid.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Microsoft/343/Bungie) – There’s really nothing else much to say but that this is the definitive, remastered collection for anyone who calls themselves a Halo fan. If you haven’t already clicked on the SoundCloud above, our Wrap-Up Show delves further into the anthology’s features and purchase bonuses. More on Halo 5: Guardians and its prequel web series Nightfall come Comic-Con.

Jump for joy! Your significant other will leave 45-hours upon release.

Batman: Arkham Knight (WB/Rocksteady) – It’s nice enough to see a hyped-up game actually live up to the hype, at least this early in the Gothgame. While our outgoing congregation trade barbs on just WHO they believe the Arkham Knight to be, here’s a batarang’s whirl of features set for Rocksteady’s long-awaited conclusion: I.) Batman can vault and then glide from the Batmobile, which, in addition to being fully capable of remote action, offers two modes of its own: pursuit, and battle — a set of seamlessly transitional and worthy replacements for Robin, II.) AK is five times the size of Arkham City, III.) Bruce can also take down 3 enemies in succession with Fear tactics and grapple around Gotham with new chain commands. 10 of our 20 contributing clergyfolk picked this next-gen Arkham for their Top 3 Games for E3. Now, I’m wondering why not all of us did.

5 GOD-LEVEL BIBLES

Tom Clancy’s The Division (Ubisoft/Massive) – All of the fuss coming out of Ubisoft this year was for Rainbow Six, but there’s no doubt this game proved the most ambitious. As paramilitary agents attempting to take back their city — in this case, The Big Apple during all of the Holiday “cheer” — you must battle other armed groups around the city, some of which are AI, many of which are other players. On your journey, your strategic warriors will level up on XP and pick up an array of gadgets as you would with any traditional RPG. It’s the level of tact in your gear’s technology that makes this particular shooter so damn interesting. You’ve got 3D image-scanning maps (via the ECHO system, similar to Watch_Dogs‘ hack examination), pulsating turret-fire, stun-mines and homing grenades, and even autonomous drones that can be controlled by a friend on a tablet device. Players don’t just run for cover; they slide and crash into walls. There’s a lot of detail in this desolate wasteland… But, you know what? You’re better off soaking in all the success of Moody’s ***Best Game at E3 2014*** with this send-off video. Hit it!

We’ll have more in-depth coverage from E3 — particularly from that of Sony and Nintendo — in the coming days. Shoutout to Respawn and Titanfall for also having a surprisingly major presence at the show, as their new modes “Wingman” and “Marked For Death” will be reviewed soon. Thanks for keeping it locked with GHG.

June 14, 2014June 14, 2014

E3 ’14 [The Bible Scale, Pt. I]: ‘Zero’ing in on The Future of video games.

Rather than belt the congregation with 300,000 articles of game news from the demos we played at E3 this year, we decided to take a different approach: The Bible Scale. This feature allows your trusty Monsignor to break down and rank every AAA video game on the convention floor — with more on Sony and Nintendo coming soon, courtesy of our Saint Superkick — which should help extract the hype from the bite.

So let’s enjoy the show, shall we?

0 N/A BIBLES

What a tease. These were games announced at the press conference not readily available for closed-room demo or the showroom floor; rather, they were mentioned solely for the hype train of Holiday 2015 to 2016– and beyond. While I happen to have some extra insight on a few (see more this coming Wednesday on the Shooting Star Press), you can expect a little more info to be dished out at both San Diego Comic-Con in July and Germany’s Gamescom in August.

–Bloodborne (Sony/FromSoftware)
–Crackdown (Microsoft)
–Halo 5: Guardians (EA/343)
–Mass Effect 4 (EA/Bioware)
–Mirror’s Edge 2 (EA/Criterion)
–NBA 2K15 (2K/Visual Concepts)
–No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
–Rise of the Tomb Raider (Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics)
–Scalebound (Microsoft/Platinum)
–Star Wars: Battlefront (EA/DICE)
–Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Sony/Naughty Dog)
–WWE 2K15 (2K/Visual Concepts)

1 DECREPIT BIBLE

–Murdered: Soul Suspect (Square Enix/Airtight) – Nothing like celebrating a “ghost dud” at The Convention. I’m always embarrassed for the studios that decide to bring games that are already released to E3, especially if they are considered critical flops. From a business standpoint — which is basically all this Expo is anyway — it’s not a bad move. You might catch a few people who are sick and tired of waiting in line to play a wildly popular AAA game (such as Evolve), only to get creamed in 3-minutes on multiplayer and discover the schwag t-shirt is 3x too large. I’m sure a couple dweebs walked away from Murdered: Soul Suspect with an intent to buy…used. Please, let’s go and check their pulse.

2 TOASTED BIBLES

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (WB/Monolith) – Because one of the WB games has to flop. As impressive as Ubisoft is every year, WB appeared to be the more “fan-friendly” publisher for 2014. With huge IPs (Arkham, Mortal Kombat), and free t-shirts for every viewable or even playable demo (Gauntlet!), I wouldn’t argue with anyone who claims those folks over in Burbank as winners of the conference. Thing is, remember Mad Max? Despite the fact our own Cardinal wildly chose Max in this year’s PrE3view piece, WB briskly took that IP off this year’s slate. And out of their eight games, this one appears the likeliest bust. Why? Because it’s Lord of the Rings — to which none of their games have ever been good — without all of the characters we hold so dearly in our hearts. Because the engine resembles too much Assassin’s Creed and Darksiders II. Because I don’t care about the Nemesis system ala the identities of the “Orc Community”. Because the strategy behind it looks borrrrrrrrring. Don’t wait till 2015; do yourself a favor and buy a used copy of The LEGO Hobbit.

2.5 OXIDIZED BIBLES

Alien: Isolation (SEGA/Creative Assembly) – This score might appear unjustified for one particular reason: I didn’t have the balls to try it on the new VR Oculus Rift. Or, more apropos, your Monsignor tried to cover as many cool games as I could in the time allotted (E3 needs to be longer!). Regardless, hands were had on the new “Challenge” mode (which wasn’t worth the wait of the broken demo) and a creepy 25-minute video of gameplay was viewed. I nearly fell asleep as I watched Ripley’s daughter creep around a lab with nothing but a motion tracker — that “isn’t very accurate,” according to the host in the room — just to trigger a pair of generators. Then again, I suppose the subtlety of it all is exactly what makes it so frightening. And it can’t be any worse than Colonial Marines, can it?

Killer Instinct: Season 2 (Microsoft/Iron Galaxy) – Hard to call a game that “came” with a console a bust, but I’m willing to bet more people were sticking to their DLC packs of Injustice: Gods Among Us than the atrocity this fabulous looking — and playing — fighter calls a season. Firstly, the rebooted KI offered no form of story mode. No matter how much actual fun the game is to play, the replay-ability is easily lost if there’s no sense of adventure behind it. Then, Double Helix, which was then acquired by Amazon, was replaced by Iron Galaxy (Cannibal Ox, anyone?). So, the demo on the floor allowed players to uppercut their way as cybernetically-enhanced boxer a.k.a. Terminator Balrog, TJ Combo. Fun, but why call it a season? It’s just more DLC that’s going to cost you money– for a game you’ll likely put down after a week. We’ll see.

3 STURDY BIBLES

Dying Light (WB/Techland) – Although I missed on playing D.L.‘s demo last year, I went into this E3 season excited for this frantic first person zombie action/adventure. Then it got delayed. Then other things piqued my interest. Thankfully enough, your Moody pal was able to appreciate (game developer) Techland’s progression system despite its eerie resemblance their last franchise, Dead Island. And, there’s Dead Island 2 floating around the floor somewhere — I’m guessing the Sony booth — but that over-the-top demo from Yager isn’t exactly earning the best reviews. Dying Light is still very much on many players’ radars, despite the delay; and the more you run, jump and climb, the stronger your character gets. More experience, more XP, more moves to your arsenal (head sliding). Throw in 100 different weapons (flaming knifes, tornado axes, etc.), and your character just may end up like Batman. Hopefully the balance of strength upgrades and tool customizing with the mutated nighttime difficulty is what will separate this flesh-eater from the other 50 on the market.

"It's still Borderlands to me dammit!" — “It’s still Borderlands to me dammit!”

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2K/Gearbox) – Simply stated on our future E3 Wrap-Up Podcast 2014: “Why is this game being released on last-gen?” It’s a simple answer from the crew over at Gearbox: They wanted to maximize the engine they have rather than make a cheap port. And while statistics say there are far greater number of Xbox 360’s and PS3’s in homes than Xbox One’s and PS4’s, does that necessarily mean the hardcore game is still playing them? To give 2K Australia credit, I haven’t ditched my dusty 360 because of this one particular game. And yet although the devilish end-boss from Borderlands 2, Handsome Jack, is actually on your side (in a supporting role) and the entire game takes place on the Moon (lower oxygen = higher challenge, but lower-gravity = higher jumps = more loot!!), “The Pre-Sequel” smells of DLC or “filler” before next-gen. Still, I love the fracking franchise enough to play anything in relation. Unfortunately, as I did step over to the playable demo — to which there was absolutely no line at the Microsoft section, mind you — the booth dude was too busy texting away to guide me through any significant changes made between the one of the best games of 2012 and this. Hopefully, it’ll be captivating enough to “butt stomp” a few meaningless mobile notifications a couple hours a day.

E3 ’14 [The Bible Scale, Part Deux] will hit the Holy Gaming Masses tomorrow morning.

June 1, 2014June 2, 2014

E3 ’14 [Full Parish Preview]: We Bringin’ Down Tha House!

While last year promised — and for the most part succeeded — to be “The Biggest E3 Ever”, this year proves even more important.

Just how will next-gen video games look at E3 2014, now that developers have been able watch last fall’s soft launch come and go? How much have they learned about the new hardware since last year’s event?

Last June, the many lucky of us were able to try and demo the new systems. Above all else, the new gamepads for both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 proved great. And yet while many balked at the, perhaps, cheap list of launch titles — to which the many were nothing more than ports of current-gen games — the other half knew that the real excitement was only a year away. Nonetheless, E3 2013 saw Respawn’s Titanfall steal the show, while the Sony faithful clung onto inFAMOUS: Second Son and PS3’s just released, instant GOTY nominee The Last of Us.

To celebrate this once-a-year, completely bad-ass gathering of All Things Gaming Electronic Entertainment Expo, we’ve gathered our near entire congregation — 19, plus a special guest! — to give their own top choices for Best in Show.

“BROTHER” MYKE LADIONA @onemyke

1.) Star Wars: Battlefront III – As unholy as EA is as a publisher, it’s hard not to be excited about DICE handling a Battlefront game. All the fingers are crossed for the return of a Galactic Conquest mode and a gameplay video that isn’t the Battle of Hoth from the beginning of Empire.

2.) Evolve – Turtle Rock Studio’s next game since Left 4 Dead? Sign me up! L4D and its sequel are the most played games in my Steam library, and had been my drunken gaming go-to’s up until the release of Titanfall. It seems like Evolve is just going to follow that same formula, but with playable monsters that can be powered up in-game: and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

3.) Batman: Arkham Knight – The first Arkham Asylum is the only game I’ve 100%’d in my life (those Riddler trophies were a bitch) and I’ve since been unwilling to do the same with Arkham City, only because I don’t want that game to end. Now that Rocksteady is back, I can’t wait to jump into the world again.

“PASTOR” BILL AMMON @bammonb

1.) NHL 15 – The commercial looks great and hitting engine can only get better. Lot to build off of the solid improvements of NHL 14, plus my beloved Boston Bruin — and Monsignor Moody’s favorite player — Patrice Bergeron for the cover?

2.) Destiny – Anything made by Bungie turns to gold– even if that is because the only thing they have made is Halo. Doesn’t matter. All Halo’s are incredible. Yup. Even 4. So, just imagine what this team can do for a Halo-gameplay-meets-Borderlands-artillery-meets-Old Republic-story-mode?

3.) Grand Theft Auto V (Next-Gen) – Deny it all you want, congregants, but this Pastor guarantees Rockstar is developing last year’s best game for Xbox One and PS4. There’s no doubt the online features will run better, look crisper and — most importantly — make them another boatload of money.

“DUTCHESS” TAFFETA DARLING @taffetadarlin

1.) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – As a huge fan of the franchise, I’m clearly excited for new maps and new weapons. But a CGI Kevin Spacey annnnnnnnnnnnnnd HOVERBIKES??!!?? Deadlock #1 choice!

2.) Batman: Arkham Knight – I can only imagine you’re going to see this over and over and over and… But hey, Batmobile! Familiar game play (if it ain’t broke…), Scarecrow taking front and center as the primary villain (but we’ll see how long…), and the return of Rocksteady! That do it enough for you?

3.) The Evil Within – Dark. Graphic. Horror!

(Flip the page for more E3 parish picks!)

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