Like most of the readers here, I love video games. I have argued for years that the stories, plots, and overall artistic expression of interactive entertainment are as worthy of praise as any Academy award film or Pulitzer novel. I do not write that as an exaggeration. Video games are obviously much more these days than their ancestors like Pong and Asteroids. Now, we have dynamic open worlds with enough subplots and side quests to populate a monthly literary journal. We get to explore the moral consequences of our actions with games like Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls and, notably, The Witcher.
So, when I learned that Netflix was producing a show based on the latter’s books and video games, I thought it was high time that Hollywood got on board with my opinion (Note: a Mass Effect production would probably make me squeak with excitement). I spent the last few days powering through the first season of The Witcher in an effort to temper your expectations, so let’s slay the beast that is toxic fandom and collect the reward…
The foremost thing one can stress about this show, it is not the video game. If you want it to be a sequel to what you have already played through or a physical remastering of the game itself, the show is going to disappoint you in a big way (and you’ll probably make some inane YouTube video about why it sucks so much, but it is you, sir, who sucks). Without giving away too much, they built the storyline off of a lot within The Witcher 3.
The show is, so far, a magnificent representation of the story definitely aimed at a larger audience than its traditional fan base. There’s a lot in there for the guys: fights, naked women, awesome special effects, etc. And, there’s a lot in it for the ladies: Henry Cavill constantly bathing, powerful female characters and, of course, fights, naked women, and awesome special effects. Cavill presents us with an absolutely awesome portrayal of Geralt of Rivia. He has managed to make me laugh out loud with his grunts of disapproval alone. Meant as no insult to Geralt’s video game voice, Doug Cockle, but Cavill blows him out of the water…
Such a good boy, Roach.
Henry Cavill’s Geralt quickly emerges as the show’s rich, creamy center. To say he is magnificent understates just how well he has both adapted the original character and added his own stamp onto his portrayal. In a sense, he’s the Geralt we all wish we experienced in the game. If I really boil it down, Geralt is my primary attraction to the show. He’s a great character on his own, but we all really lucked out that someone on the casting team bagged Cavill to do the part (or was it Cavill who bagged Hollywood into doing this project first?).
Say yes to Yenni.
I can find few faults within the show because I love what I have watched. I get a sense of the moral conflicts presented to the player when I watch the show. In almost every episode, Geralt demonstrates an arrival at a mental crossroads where he must make an inevitable decision. While I doubt he makes the decision of which we all would approve, he definitely maintains a high ethical code and steers towards justice.
Gerry is very much the dark hero from both the books and the games. The show also follows a very gamer-influenced plot development. Each episode feels like a freestanding quest with its own objective and reward. However, just like a game, each quest takes our hero further down the road to an epic, encompassing climax.
Man of Bath.
I believe only the most cynical gamer will turn their nose up at The Witcher, but that does not make the show immune to criticism. For hardcore fans, who have already read the books and played through the games several times, it will be predictable and lack the novelty it presents to the uninitiated.
However, to that charge, I would compare Witcher to book-movies like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones: yes, we all knew the outcome before the first line, but the visual representations of our imagination carried them through. For the nerds in all of us, they also carried our passions to a wider audience, and brought in a lot more people into our nerd-tribe. That might be the greatest success of The Witcher.
“Yes”.
I could continue at length about everything within the show that I find amazing, but I will save that for another day. At the minimum, there are a lot of terrible shows streaming on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and others. The Witcher is not one of them. Suffice to say, I think you should watch it. 4.5/5 Bibles.
When it comes to GHG‘s “Best Video Games” lists, we’ve gone from a Top 10 Face-Off in 2013 to a “Best of” podcast last year, to now in 2015, a Clergywide Top 5 (with a podcast coming after New Year’s, too!). We’ve got so many new video game journalists and old staffers with new consoles, that it was only right to gather the immediate opinion of everyone possible.
And we couldn’t pick a better year to do it, seeing the enormity of esteemed AAA releases in 2015…
Who wins the battle between the new Big 3? Who cracks the Top 5? Who did we forget? Find out below, and feel free to click on the respectibe bible scores to read our full reviews.
“Saint” Patrick Obloy @OffTheGeekEnd
1. Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt – “While many will choose to follow the main story, the multitude of side quests provide an intense and wonderful added experience.” – 4.75/5 2. Star Wars:Battlefront – “If you DON’T play multiplayer games.. this isn’t the game for you.” – 4.5/5 3. Halo 5: Guardians – 4.5/5 4. Fallout 4 – “You know it’s bad (or would that be good?) when the game starts to invade your dreams and normal life; dreaming of Nuka Cola and finding good loot.” – 4.25/5 5. Just Cause 3 – 4/5
Honorable mention: ARK: Survival Evolved, Destiny: The Taken King, LEGO Dimensions, Mad Max.
“Dangerous Disciple” Danny Witt @Noway
1. Fallout 4 – 5/5 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 4.75/5 3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – 4/5 4. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – 4.25/5 5. Mad Max – “Upgrading Max will take him from fledgling survivor to practical superhuman with fantastic finishers that rival Mortal Kombat.” – 4/5
Honorable mention: Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Mortal Kombat X, Dying Light.
Kenny “Saint Superkick” Sanders @HueySkyywalker
1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – “Even the cardboard box has evolved.” – 5/5 2. Fallout 4 – 4.5/5 3. Bloodborne – “It has all the difficulty and dark tone of Dark Souls meets the hack-and-slash of Devil May Cry.” – 4.5/5 4. NBA 2K16 – 4.5/5 5. Mortal Kombat X – “I highly recommend MKX as one of your first few games for any new system.” – 4/5
Honorable mention: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Madden NFL 16, Star Wars: Battlefront, Batman: Arkham Knight.
“Brother” Myke Ladiona @onemyke
1. Rocket League – 5/5 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – “Regardless of what you already know of Geralt of Rivia, the best story will be the one you create for yourself.” – 4.75/5 3. Metal Gear Solid V:The Phantom Pain – “It’s the most fun I’ve had playing a video game like this…in a long ass time.” – 4.5/5 4. Fallout 4 – 4.25/5 5. Bloodborne – 4/5
1. Bloodborne – 5/5 2. Rocket League – 4.5/5 3. Until Dawn – 4/5 4. Rainbow Six: Siege – 4/5 5. Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – 4/5
Honorable mention: Destiny: The Taken King – “Worth the asking price due to the volume of content that was simply not there in Year One.”
“Sister” Sarah G @DarthHistory
1. Fallout 4 – 4.75/5 2. Until Dawn – “The script, acting, and visuals come together to provide a fully addicting, fascinating game that can be played over and over for different results.” – 4/5 3. Star Wars: Battlefront – 4/5 4. Batman: Arkham Knight – 3.75/5 5. Lego Dimensions – 3.75/5
“Templar” Mark Majndle
1. Fallout 4 – “The game is more addictive than a vault full of Jet and Psycho.” – 4.75/5 2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – “If a video game were a piece of fine art, this game would be the mothafreakin’ Mona Lisa. Everything in this massive, mystical world is highly detailed and textured and the story blends together like an orgasmic fruity cocktail.” – 4.75/5 3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – 4.5/5 4. Dying Light – 4/5 5. Rise of the Tomb Raider – 4/5
Honorable mention: Just Cause 3, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.
“Dynast” Dana Keels IG/Twitter @hatandwand
1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – 5/5 2. Fallout 4 – 4.5/5 3. Batman: Arkham Knight – “It’s everything I want in a Batman game.” – 4.25/5 4. Star Wars: Battlefront – “The modes and playing with your friends is worth the price of admission.” – 3.75/5 5. Super Mario Maker – 3.5/5
Lance Paul “The Apostle” @Lance_Paul
1. Fallout 4 – 4.75/5 2. Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt – 4.5/5 3. Batman: Arkham Knight – “Our view of [DC Comics’] characters has changed because of Arkham.” – 4.25/5 4. Star Wars: Battlefront – 4.25/5 5. Until Dawn – 4/5
Honorable mention: Halo 5: Guardians, Mad Max.
Guy “Padre” Copes @guycopes3
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 4.5/5 2. WWE 2K16 – 4.25/5 3. Batman: Arkham Knight – 4/5 4. Madden NFL 16 – “Holy Gronk at an after party with a bunch of rowdy BU sorority girls, the gameplay this year has taken a huge step up.” – 4/5 5. Until Dawn – 3.75/5
Honorable mention: Rocket League.
“Bishop” Richard Zom @eyebzombie
1. Batman: Arkham Knight – “Since Arkham Knight is the ending of this Batman game, Rocksteady is giving you the full bang.” – 4/5 2. Dying Light – 4/5 3. Mortal Kombat X – “Eat. Sleep. Mortal Kombat. Repeat.” – 3/5 4. Star Wars: Battlefront – 3/5 5. Destiny: The Taken King – 2.5/5
“Cardinal” Gary Brooks
1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – “It’s more than what I expected.” – 5/5 2. Rise of the Tomb Raider – 5/5 3. Dying Light – 4.75/5 4. Batman: Arkham Knight – 4.75/5 5. Fallout 4 – 4.5/5
Honorable mention: Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Until Dawn, Mad Max.
“The Apostate” Adam Mondschein @AdamMondschein
1. Fallout 4 – 5/5
2. Mad Max – 4/5
3. Star Wars: Battlefront – 4/5
“Deacon E” Esko @eskobts
1. Fallout 4 – “With [Fallout 4], you have an even better version of the greatest RPG known to man.” – 5/5
2. Dying Light – “Dying Light is a roller coaster of fast-paced action and slow, steady, terrifying suspense.” – 4.25/5
3. Mortal Kombat X – 4/5
Ryan “Salvation” Scott @radio_adventure
1. Star Wars: Battlefront – 4/5
2. Halo 5: Guardians – 4/5
3. Transformers: Devastation – 4/5
Michelle “Magdalene” Kisner @RobotCookie
1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – “Gameplay is still tight and the sneaking mechanics are still some of the best in the business.” – 5/5
2. Fallout 4 – 4/5
3. Batman: Arkham Knight – 4/5
“Monsignor” Travis Moody @TravMoody
1. Fallout 4 – “I’m thrilled to announce that Fallout 4 has WON the 2015 video game World Series.” – 4.75/5
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – “[Witcher 3‘s] notion of having less loot becomes a great thing, as there’s a bit of sell-and-exchange strategy that other overly-generous RPG’s don’t offer.” – 4.75/5
3. Rise of the Tomb Raider – “ROTTR improves and expands on what Lara was primarily known for far before Brad Pitt’s ol’ lady strapped on those boots and twin pistol holsters: tomb raiding.” – 4.5/5
4. NBA 2K16 – “The amount of detail put together in one sports video game cannot be matched by this edition.” – 4.5/5
5. Forza Motorsport 6 – “Despite a few minor chinks on its ultra shiny polish, Forza 6 is still above and beyond every other racing sim on the market.” – 4.25/5
1. Fallout 4 (SEVEN 1st place votes; THREE 2nd place votes; THREE 3-5’s)
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (TWO 1st place votes; FIVE 2nd place votes; ZERO 3-5’s).
3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (FOUR 1st place votes; ZERO 2nd place votes; THREE 3-5’s)
4. Star Wars: Battlefront (ONE 1st place vote; ONE 2nd place vote; FIVE 3-5)
5. Batman: Arkham Knight (ONE 1st place vote; ZERO 2nd place votes; SIX 3-5’s)
***GHG’s Indy Game of the Year***
–Rocket League
***GHG’s PlayStation 4 Exclusive of the Year***
–Bloodborne
***GHG’s Xbox One Exclusive of the Year***
-Rise of the Tomb Raider
***GHG’s Dark Horse of the Year***
-Until Dawn
***GHG’s Fighting Game of the Year***
-Mortal Kombat X
***GHG’s Sports Game of the Year***
-NBA 2K16
***GHG’s Honorable Mention***
-Mad Max, Dying Light.
Stay tuned for our Best Video Games of 2015 Podcast, for a more in-depth listen on our Top 5’s, as well as Worst and Most Disappointing Games of the Year, in addition to our forecast for 2016!!!
Taking a note from sports publications such as CBS and ESPN, we’ve got this little new feature at GodHatesGeeks called the Power Rankings. What this means is that our nerd-clergy will rank the very best of 4 mediums of this year’s popular geek culture, including movies, TV shows, video games, and comics (both Big 2 & Indy) that are unreleased for 2015, as well. Rankings are based on the following: hype/expectation, reviews/criticism, and sales/buzz.
How this list was compiled: 1.) All of our 2015 video game reviews, 2.) Our most anticipated games left, 3.) We factored in the website’s general opinion, 4.) We asked ourselves: is the hype of “Game A” bigger than the overall reception of “Game B”?, 5.) We also considered games that still have replay value, and have a better chance of being purchased this holiday.
Also, feel free to click on the following for links to any previews and reviews we have on these hot geek items!
Top 25 Video Games of 2015 for the month of OCTOBER
No surprise here. This might be the most anticipated video game of all time. The now-famed “Pipboy Edition” immediately sold out the night the game was announced (at this past June’s first ever Bethesda press conference), and geeks (including yours truly) are going bananas over merchandise–without ever having played the series before. Hey, the game is set in Boston! Seriously, though, how many times have you heard the following: “Not buying shit till Fallout 4“; “(So and so) is only GOTY till FO4 comes out”; and “I never ordered a special collector’s edition before, but…” Yup. There hasn’t been a bad thing said about this game yet. Even when some critics weren’t wowed by the initial footage’s visuals, optimism lays true in every other aspect of the game. It’s your award to lose, Bethesda. (Trending N/A; Last Month N/A) – Travis Moody
MGSV: TPP is the crowning achievement of Hideo Kojima’s career that has sadly come to an end with Konami. The choices and options the player is given allows a variety of gameplay, including the always intriguing Metal Gear mix of silly and serious. Gameplay is still tight and the sneaking mechanics are still some of the best in the business. Yet while the credits before and after missions are annoying — because it breaks the cohesion of the storytelling — each mission feels important to the story or to Mother Base. With Metal Gear Online now available, there is enough content to leave MGSV spinning in your disc tray: A must play for any fan of the series. – Spencer Fawcett and Michelle Kisner
If a video game were a piece of fine art, this game would be the mothafreakin’ Mona Lisa. Everything in this massive, mystical world is highly detailed and textured and the story blends together like an orgasmic fruity cocktail; climate change, day/night cycle and sheer beauty of The Wild Hunt will have you in awe. While many will choose to follow the main story, the multitude of side quests provide an intense and wonderful added experience; not to mention DLC that is as fantastic as the rest of the game. Regardless of what you already know of Geralt of Rivia, the best story will be the one you create for yourself based on how you interact with the world around you. All the familiar game mechanics that have defined multiple-ending RPG’s are noticeably absent; you don’t get certain powers just because you’ve become a monster-hunting Sith Lord. – Mark Majndle, Patrick Obloy and Myke Ladiona
The battle in video games is no longer between the PS4 and Xbox One. Oh, no, no. The current war is between two gigantic sci-fi franchises: Star Wars and Halo. Sure, there’s no doubt that the multi-console Battlefront will outsell Halo 5 (I mean.. it’s Star Wars, bro!). But if you were to ask anybody in terms of quality which game they would rather play a month ago, Battlefront would have rolled off 90% of tongues faster than any lightsaber. However! After BF‘s enjoyable, yet problematic beta, and the good, early buzz on Halo 5: Guardians‘ campaign, General Locke and Master Chief may have the sleight hand (pun intended) over Luke and his Father. Sure, we’ll still have to wait a few days before the buzz on MP and H5G‘s hotly frenatic War Zone mode, but it’s widely apparent that 343 Industries is aiming past all its cynics to possible GOTY contention. We’re only one week away from knowing that. – Travis Moody
Battlefront delivers on its promise of being a ridiculously fun, authentic Star Wars experience. Whether defending the pod or waging war in the epic battleground of Hoth, beta players were able to fly X-Wings and TIE Fighters and confront Vader and Skywalker, all the while blasting each other (Rebel or Imperial) into oblivion. DICE also maximizes the IP’s sound authenticity, from roaring air strikes to booming AT-AT footsteps. Fun aside, there are issues needing correction before the final release. The inability to start your own game with your own party, or switch team sides to join friends was a bit shocking. But since most blasters offered devastating range and power, everyone is forced to play smart and use cover tactically. Front lines are also usually being formed giving players organic, non-cheap flanking opportunities. All of this bodes well for the game’s release. – Dana Keels, Spencer Fawcett and Myke Ladiona
6.) Bloodborne “It has all the difficulty and dark tone of Dark Souls meets the hack-and-slash of Devil May Cry.” – Kenny Sanders
7.) NBA 2K16 “The game’s only fouls are in its biggest innovations and none of them are flagrant.” – Myke Ladiona
9.) Destiny: The Taken King “The Taken King is a success on many fronts, showing players that, yes, Bungie does listen to its audience.” – Danny Witt
10.) Just Cause 3 “JC3 looks like the game adaptation of The Expendables with its cinematically-epic explosions, a warlords worth of weaponry, and the most useful grappling hook and wing suit the world has ever seen.” – Esko Robinson
11.) Rise of the Tomb Raider “My fears are calmed; the team at Crystal Dynamics seems to have the extra budget to create a better, more well-rounded game.” – Stephanie Panisello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB8nQJItnq0
12.) Forza Motorsport 6 “Despite a few minor chinks on its ultra shiny polish, Forza 6 is still above and beyond every other racing sim on the market.” – Travis Moody
13.) Mad Max “Whether you decide to pay full price now or wait until it drops in a year, put Mad Max on your list of games to play.” – Patrick Obloy
14.) WWE 2K16 “We can only pray to the wrestling gods — no, not you JBL — that WWE 2K16 delivers much in similar fashion to the NBA 2K franchise.” – Kenny Sanders
15.) Batman: Arkham Knight “Since Arkham Knight is the ending of this Batman game, Rocksteady is giving you the full bang.” – Richard Zom
16.) Mortal Kombat X “A solid, good game!” – Spencer Fawcett
17.) Dying Light “Dying Light is a roller coaster of fast-paced action and slow, steady, terrifying suspense.” – Esko Robinson
18.) FIFA 16 “There’s far more grit between the turf than any other previous FIFA, with more physical midfield exchanges, gaps covered, and passes deflected and intercepted.” – Travis Moody
19.) Until Dawn “The script, acting, and visuals come together to provide a fully addicting, fascinating game that can be played over and over for different results.” – Sarah Obloy
20.) Rainbow Six Siege “If you can find a team that communicates, Siege may have a chance of NOT feeling like every other online military shooter on the market.” – Myke Ladiona
21.) Madden NFL 16 “Holy Gronk at an after party with a bunch of rowdy BU sorority girls, the gameplay this year has taken a huge step up.” – Guy Copes
22.) Gears of War: Ultimate Edition “For $40, you’re getting an absolutely gorgeous version of one of the best games of all time.” – Travis Moody
23.) Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate “Evie’s chameleon powers and sneaky maneuvers are an interesting change, and could make many jump back into a franchise they sworn off.” – Sarah Obloy
24.) Everybody’s Gone To Rapture “The world is immersive, awe-inspiring and haunting all at the same time and the graphics are some of the best this console generation has seen yet.” – Myke Ladiona
25.) Need For Speed “The new Fast & Furious-inspired “street icon” story package rides the franchise of any generic narratives and characters–with some realdudes.” – Travis Moody
When E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo) is over; we’re not. Gamescom may take place in Cologne, Germany, but GHG is all over the event like AJ Lee on a tatted-up, straight edge guy from Chicago. Though second in overall popularity, Gamescom IS second to only the Asia Game Show in terms of total attendance– so you just know game publishers and devs were doing their best to bring their A-games.
I’d even argue that even more important announcements were made this month than in June. The coming together of Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima, Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro, and The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus — for Silent Hill, bitches! — was indeed one of the many big splashes that took place last week. And, Gamescom is even lengthier than San Diego Comic-Con: 5 Days.
Take note, E3.
“Reverend” Ryan Ford @nayrdrof
FAR CRY 4 (PlayStation 4/3, Xbox One/360, PC) – If this video game was subtitled “Terms of Endangerment”, I would not be surprised. Set in the Himalayas, perils abound as your character makes their way through some tough terrain, eventually landing in Shangri-La where the drug induced voodoo begins. Based on the many flying sequences featured in the trailer, I’m assuming the hang glider will be around again along with what looks like a “Lil’ Nelly” type helicopter or perhaps a jet pack. Then there’s the wildlife. Always a big part of the series, Far Cry 4 shows us tigers, snow leopards, rhinos, honey badgers and even ride-able elephants. Did someone say rampage? Also, look out for yetis.
Available November 18th from Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal.
“Cardinal” Brooks FB @Gary Brooks
UNTIL DAWN (PlayStation 4) – Nothing like announcing a game, then giving us TWENTY-FOUR DAMN MINUTES of it! The first impression for Supermassive’s new survival horror was all that and then some. Until Dawn follows a group of 8 teenagers as they spend the night in a log cabin on the anniversary of the death of one of their friends, unaware that they are being hunted by a crazed serial killer. I’ve always been a fan of all things scary — with the exception of the “Macho Moody” Monsignor — and I love the B-movie slasher film idea for a video game. Why did it take so long for someone to fully realize this? Seems like a gimme with survival horror (i.e. Resident Evil, The Evil Within) being as popular as they are. The game runs on a modified version of the Killzone: Shadow Fall engine and includes a “Butterfly Effect” mechanic: Yup– literally 100s of gameplay endings. Dawn also seems to follow that old tried-and-true slasher film formula. Prepare to scream, fellow parishioners.
No set date just yet from Sony/Supermassive.
“Bishop” Zom @eyebzombie
ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – Assassin’s Creed has come along way over the years, and Ubisoft has not done much to let us down with the franchise. From E3 to Comic-Con to the newest footage from Gamescom, Unity looks to be the finest hour for the development team. The amazing open world of France shall only further immerse players, as we now have several more choices over how we play and strategize. Perhaps most impressive is the new stealth ability, which allows us to finally hone enough QUIET skill to become an Assassin worthy of the Guild. The newly integrated parkour climbing and walking integration makes the game so fluid that you’ll finally visualize off que wall runs or corner grabs when chasing down a thug. The 4-player co-op gameplay makes for awesome times ahead, breaking up the monotony of AC’s traditional multiplayer. In a French Revo-world so divided, are you ready for Unity?
Available October 28th from Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal.
“Papa Justified” Spencer @Whizbang813
BLOODBORNE (PS4) – The latest From Software Game Formerly Known As Project Beast is quickly becoming the best reason to pick up a PlayStation 4 next year. Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki’s next game is as imaginative and as oppressive as his previous games. A transforming weapons system -– wherein a smaller butcher blade can extend into a longer but slower sword — evolves the combat from his previous titles. There is still a clear comparison one could make between Bloodborne and the Souls series, which still makes this a must-own PS4 exclusive.
No set date just yet from Sony/From Software.
“Minister” Gabe @Gooberade
LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM (P4/3, X1/360, PC, Wii U) – Even with my love of all things Batman and DC, the LEGO Batman series never really caught my attention. I like my Batsy how I like my coffee: Dark, bitter, and arguably not for kids (unless you take out the whiskey). So, Gamescom decided to roll out some more Bat-caffeine…even if its just a mere sample of Cyborg, Flash, and We-ran-out-of-costume-ideas-Batman dicking-around in the Batcave for 6-minutes, trying on different outfits like it’s Brucie’s Dreamhouse. And (spoiler-alert!) Cyborg turns into the washing machine, shooting out lasers just like the Maytag Ma’ and Pa’ used to own. From what I’ve seen, the pull for this game is the vast amount of recognizable DC characters, each with their own fully developed character flavor, and showing off just how expansive the Lego DCU has become. It looks like a lot of fun, and if your favorite DC character is less obscure than Stargirl, chances are you’ll finally get to play as them. (One day, Kyle Rayner… one day…)
No set date just yet from WB/Traveller’s Tales.
“Brother” Matt McGrath @bendsteelnhands
CIVILIZATION: BEYOND EARTH (PC) – Games like Civilization are not everyone’s cup of tea. His Holiness, Monsignor Moody’s, reaction to the latest installment in the Civ franchise was: “Like watching grass grow — but OK.” I’m not a gamer, but I loved Civ 4. I could spend hours into the early morning playing “just one more round.” Civ 5, I thought too a game at peak complexity and drilled down too far. Maybe my time playing into the night had passed. I ignored it and moved on. Nostalgia brought me back here, and I was prepared to hate it. I have to say, I don’t think that this would be like watching grass grow. There’s new challenges and there’s new complexity, but it doesn’t seem to drill down and become myopic. This might be the first game I buy in a decade.
Available October 24th from 2K/Firaxis.
“Brother” Myke @onemyke
DESTINY (X1/360, PS4/3) – As a PC gamer who hasn’t been able to play any Bungie since the first two crappy Halo ports, it’s hard not to get excited by any type of coverage on Destiny — even if a PC version is still only rumored. Stil, this Gamescom trailer teases with the type of epic, sci-fi action I just can’t get enough of– whether its the footage of flying around the world on those hoverbikes, or massive encounters like the brief glimpse of that assault on a ship battle with that huge wave of baddies. My left hand is already on the W,A,S,D keys. That being said, this is really just the video game equivalent of those thirty-second TV spots for movies. We’ve already heard from the countless people who play the beta and Activision knows we’re going to buy the game; this trailer is just letting us know when.
Available September 9th from Activision/Bungie.
“Apostle” Lance Paul @Lance_Paul
DEAD ISLAND 2 (X1, PS4, PC) – Who doesn’t love some carefree zombie-bashing? Allow your favorite “Traveling Nerd” to scoop you in: I was a huge fan of the first Dead “Not so Lonely” Island. And, it was not for pure gameplay brilliance or faultless graphics; but rather for the sheer creative island zom-mauling (sorry, Bishop!). DI had that touch of originality in an undead world. Though I stomached through a pseudo sequel that was more of a DLC package, this Marvel Apostle Zombie can tell right off the bat that this fresh development team, Yager (Spec Ops: The Line), is refreshing the “undead island” slaughterfest with the not-so-islandic sunny coast of Cal. After a very meak E3 conference, the charge led by Max and his boy wonder — Rick the furry cat — appears far more promising after this footage. You can now go multiplayer campaign through the hills of Hollywood, the San Fran Pier, and the beachy LA wesside. If nothing else, this Californian nerd is just biting at the bit for one sun-baked Grand Theft MacGyver electric-shotgun blasting adventure!
No set date just yet from Deep Silver/Yager.
“The Christian” Seufert @chrisseufert91
THE ORDER: 1886 (PlayStation 4) – Here’s the thing I like about The Order: 1886: It’s cool. Plain and simple, hearing Nikola Tesla monologue about a “secret order of knights who answer only to history” is just fucking cool. No denying that. I mean, this trailer gave me everything I wanted: Tesla, the beginning of the industrial revolution, monsters (werewolves?), and just enough mystery to keep me wanting — no, begging — for more. The trailer promises a strong mix of COD style gunplay and dark, twisted pseudo-science. In addition to an ominous score and dooming message. With its Underworld feel, I also have a soft spot for games that play around with history in their own twisted way (see: Assassin’s Creed) and I feel like not enough is done in this vain. The Order looks like it’s gonna satisfy this “history” need that permeates my gaming appetite, and the footage from Gamescom did nothing but amplify that anticipation.
Available February 20th from Sony/Ready At Dawn.
“Sister” Jenn @JenniferFlatebo
THE SIMS 4 (PC) – I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Really?” Yes!! I’ve been in love with The Sims franchise since it launched in 2000. Sure, it’s basically an adult dollhouse; but with each launch a world of possibilities opens up. For the fourth, the creators not only made sure to pour on the realm of emotion, but also gave builders the ability to mold your Sim with a quick move of the mouse and a flick of the wrist. This makes me feel like a wizard! I’ve already downloaded the Create-A-Sim demo and tried these sweet features myself. Creating and moving houses is also much easier; no need to completely demolish what you did and start over. I’m now locked, armed and ready to create weirder sims and plop them into a house and watch the show. September cannot get here fast enough.
Available September 2nd from Electronic Arts.
“Pastor” Bill FB @Bill Ammon
NHL 15 (X1/360, PS4/3) – I didn’t think I could get anymore excited for this game than I already was. Thanks, Gamescom. NHL 15’s graphics look unbelievable, with next-gen player detail better than ever. Hell– even if you’re not a hockey fan, I’m willing to bet this trailer will get you interested. The shooting, fighting, trash talk, and fan display all have you pumped up for one of the greatest sports games in EA franchise history. My highlight? Of course, being a Beantown homer, watching Marchand tossle with another player into the penalty box is a highlight. Better yet, the finish of this footage stomps the famed “Zombie Nation”…just in time for coverboy Patrice Bergeron to take a penalty shot. Of course, he buries the wrister to win the game. After watching this trailer, I feel like us EA NHL “die-hahds” have finally won, too.
Available September 9th from EA Sports/EA Canada.
“Monsignor” Moody @travmoody
QUANTUM BREAK (Xbox One) – Fooled ya, didn’t I? Yeah, it was a basic toss-up between this time-shattering Microsoft exclusive and the next Skyrim, Dragon Age: Inquisition, but since I already picked that deliciousness back in our PrE3 piece, why not go with Jack Joyce? This game is sorta what would happen if Max Payne was caught in The Matrix— except a whole lot more physically dangerous, as too many Star Trek and X-Men movie plotholes cause Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Cruise to Live, Die, Loop all in the most fucked-up time-crash ever once fathomed. So, as witnessed in the kick-ass gameplay demo, our not-so-quiet detective does his best Mick Jagger (OH YES IT IS!) to steer those Monarch foes half-past-noon to 1pm to half-past-noon again. Full of explosions, almost-explosion time stutters, and plenty of gameplay, Break‘s technical quandary — with plenty of leeway — is a next-gen advancement that this Monsignor bo-lieves fans will embrace. #bulletimeonacidkid
No set date just yet from Microsoft/Remedy for the game and its live-action accompaniment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4ony2r0QFs
“Templar” Mark TBD
THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT (PS4, X1, PC) – Now this footage looks downright amazing. From the Downwarren — and now downDEATHen villagers — to The Lady of the Woods, the combination of chilling atmosphere (that blends just enough shadow and light to the massively realistic countryside), well-timed battle tunes (willowing violin strings, umtempo drums, and soaring village vocals), and eerie swamp witches and were-monsters Geralt must slay makes this my most anticipated game of 2015. Dark magic was certainly in the air in Cologne.
Available February 24th from WB/CD Projekt RED.
“Deacon E” Esko @EskoBTS
THE EVIL WITHIN (X1/360, PS4/3, PC) – Ever since Fallout 3, I’ve been ready, willing and able to support anything Bethesda releases. The Evil Within has not only impressed me, but the trailer alone has filled my pants with fearful feces. In other words, it’s so scary, I shat my pants. Despite the release of several survival horror games over the years, it has been quite sometime since I’ve seen or played a game that felt legitimately frightening. I cannot wait to play this game in the dark and be frozen with fear until the sun comes up. The graphics, the realism, the enemies. All of them contribute to the horrific environment that sucks you into the creepy, suspenseful, and murderous world. I got so lost in watching the gameplay — that even ran an hour-and-twenty! — that I forgot, at times, that I was watching a video game and not a blockbuster horror film. Expect this to be Deacon E’s favorite game of 2014.
Available October 14th from Konami/Tango.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb5RWjZiW8o
Ryan “Salvation” Scott @radio_adventure
HALO 5: GUARDIANS (Xbox One) – Even the most casual of gamers owes a lot to the Halo franchise, if for no other reason than it probably took you shit-talking skills to the next level. For long time fans, Halo 5: Guardians will be a spartan flavored cocktail of both new and old. Bungie isn’t involved, which may have caused some doubt, but this footage is encouraging. Sure, every Halo campaign has provided a night or two of fun between friends but let’s be honest: It’s always been about the multiplayer. From the footage we can discern that if you’re a fan of the classic Halo multiplayer, you’re in luck. This is plain and simple 4-on-4 carnage in seemingly well-designed maps with the proper customization available. Old school Halo style with updated graphics and a few bells and whistles = exactly what we want.
Beta available November 11th with Microsoft/343’s Halo: Master Chief Collection.
“The Dutchess” Darling @taffetadarlin
CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE (X1/360, P3/4, PC) – Sticking to originality, I’m going with the game I picked earlier for GHG’s PrE3. So, yeah, there’s no secret that your Dutchess adores this franchise; and with every new leak and teaser, this hungry war dog was left salivating. A few things of note: The return of the custom score streak, which allows this soldier to load up– rather than being forced to use something pre-set. Teammmates can now join you for this mode. Another something new to COD is the Exoskeleton, which — from watching this multiplayer demo — allows players to run faster, jump higher and have cloaking ability! Even if it DOES remind a certain someone of some game without HALF the title, I can’t wait to test this out. And although it’s hard to tell at this point, let’s just assume these upgrades will play out along the lines of juggernaut. To finish, it appears the game’s art and concepts have improved and the maps will have far more to explore and explode.
Available November 4th from Activision/Sledgehammer.
“Heirophant” Luke IG @lukepoisoner
SUNSET OVERDRIVE (Xbox One) – From the studio that brought you the Resistance and Ratchet & Clank series comes Sunset Overdrive; a brightly-colored madcap third person shooter that looks like the bastard child of Jetset Radio and Saints Row 3, with mutant enemies straight out of House of the Dead. Overdosed on Red Bull, of course. Armed with a blaster gun, your character blasts, leaps, and rollerblades his way through the end of the world as we know it; carving and rail-sliding around the level like an old Tony Hawk clone while shooting his ray gun at the plethora of swarming enemies. Keeping on the move seems to the name of the game, separating it from the more militaristic shooters. This is all a guess. Sunset Overdrive looks crazy, and I really have no idea what I just watched. Should be fun.
Available October 28th from Microsoft/Insomniac.
“Dynast” Dana Keels IG @hatandwand
MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR (X1/360, PS4/3, PC) – I’ve had my eye on this game for a minute now for a few reasons. Huge Tolkien fan, but mainly the Nemesis system– a supposed game mechanic that molds each individual enemy according to your encounters with them. This means a low level orc you may have fought with early in your adventure can resurface later on, having adapted to your battles in the past. The system sounds incredible, but we’ll see for sure if its as intricate as they’re touting. The footage shown at Gamescom looks gorgeous and the atmosphere is beautiful. It really conveys a sense of depth and scope that this Dynast hope is executed beautifully in the full game. And with Troy Baker lending his voice and motion capture skills to the main character, Tailon, it’d be crazy for me NOT to pick this game up.
Available September 30th from Warnber Bros./Monolith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8AMw5Asct4
Danny “Dangerous Disciple” IG @danielw_w
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (PS4/3, X1/360, PC) – A lighter side of this year’s Gamescom showcased what very different and new things can be done with the formerly one-dimensional cardboard box Snake has used to hide in for decades. If the player feels like confusing the enemy, a cardboard cutout of one of the opposing soldiers can be placed on the box, thus possibly making your enemies shrug it off as an ally (cheeky, classic Metal Gear). If you feel the need to arouse your foes, a pin up model can be placed on the box as well, causing enemies to stop and stare longingly at the buxom beauty. Another new addition is being able to shoot from inside the box aswell as exploding out and laying a serious smackdown on anyone foolish enough to approach you. Looks amazing, and can’t wait to see more from Kojima and MGS 5.
No set date just yet from Konami/Kojima.
“Christ”-ine Manzione – @christinedoes3d
SILENT HILL (X1, PS4, TBD) – Known for the game just above, Kojima has partnered with master storyteller Guillermo del Toro to bring us not “P.T.” — a clever ruse of a name a.k.a. the abbreviation of “playable teaser — but a new Silent Hill game! If you’ve played that friggen’ demo, you know these two aren’t screwing around. The playthrough (which could take hours if you’re too scared to explore) runs the gamut of scare tactics. We’ve got pop-out creatures, progressively darker corridors, fetid bathrooms, unintelligible moans; but the fact that everything feels so effortlessly scary is what sets Silent Hills apart from others in the genre. You’ll become very familiar with the looping hallway, with discoverable intricacies hidden throughout, hoping whatever you find will unlock the door to the next part of the loop. If you ever wanted to see me actually afraid to pick up a controller, now’s the time. I have far too much respect for the power couple that Kojima and del Toro could be and will brave god damn son of a bitch Pyramid Head just for them. Fun fact: beat the shit out of the demo and you’re treated to the cutscene that tells you the title, and… Oh yeah. The protagonist! Whose likeness happens to be that of The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus. Sign me the hell up to get some Silence up in these Hills.
In the first ever edition of The Bible Scale, we explored the very worst and “best of the worst” on the showroom floor at E3. You know, video games that this Monsignor had a problem with. This second piece, on the other hand, dives into games that could head in either direction. Most of these games come from big studios, had great promotion, and even greater lines of exhibitors just waiting to get their hands — or at least private room eyes — on them. Sure, these aren’t “Best in Show”; but they could very well end up sleepers for Game of the Year. This year.
Yup!
3.25 RELIA-‘BLES
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision/Sledgehammer) – Look. There’s no beating this franchise. Titanfall may have revolutionized the First Person Shooter, Battlefield may have brought back classic cops & robbers, and Rainbow Six may have dropped the unannounced bomb at the Convention, but it’s COD that will eventually sell the most. Somehow, the game will still earn its share of positive reviews (by shady means or not), and, this time, they have Kevin Fucking Spacey. Not even Michael Bay can say that! Furthermore, Sledgehammer Games bring their Dead Space sci-fi sensibility to the brand. Expect the horror — via San Fran, Seoul, or more — to come with startling swarms of drones, more exoskeleton cloaking, boost-pack double-jumps and ghost grenades (yeah, whatever that is). There’s two thing to fathom here: I was more impressed with last year’s COD: Ghosts closed-room presentation at E3 than this one (who didn’t love Riley!?), and Activision always has a surprise for multiplayer ala Ghosts‘ Extinction Mode. While Advanced Warfare remains at the bottom of the Top 20 Games GHG witnessed at E3, it’s hard to count these brutes out this early in the match. I’ll have more for you come #Gamescom.
The Evil Within (Bethesda/Tango) – As you might already know, this new survival horror IP comes from the mind of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. While there was apparent influx of action-driven moments in the trailer I witnessed in Bethesda’s demo room, the mansion level I got my hands on played much like R.E. 4. A good thing! The mood of this particular level was also quite chilling, as it packed more murderous oddities than those who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. More interesting, is the wonder of whether your protagonist is slipping on reality or hellbent on hallucination. So long as this Evil leans more towards those quieter moments of drear than just zombie guns-a-blazin’ (which was the other level at the Expo), you can expect this Nightmare Before Christmas to end up on our year-end best.
3.5 BAD-@$$ BIBLES
Madden NFL 15 (EA/Tiburon) – I played the game against the GM of Tiburon. How cool is that? Well, seeing your New Engand Patriots get slaughtered 28-zip through the first half isn’t exactly fun, but I was able to interview him casually while throwing multiple picks with Tom “Not So” Terrific, and like any good GM would, he deflected several quemments I had about the new presentation, custom music, etc. Hey, he’s handling the paperwork and not the engineering. That I get. Cool thing is, he was a cool fucking dude and tipped me off on a few things: Madden 15 features the Niners new stadium: Levi’s (no, Favre hasn’t bought the team…), and the EA team has hired Brian Murray of NFL films to overhaul the previously saddened presentation. While I’m not sure Nance and Simms improved drastically behind the booth (E3 is megaloud, yo), at least the cameras leading up to the battle on the gridiron look fantastic. Replays are actually solid, and there’s even a live video of the team’s star heading into the coin toss. Throw in the fact that there will be a minute-and-a-half halftime highlight reel and I’m happy. But not content. While the game looks better, the focus on defense scares me. The improved tackling modes (a cone signal now gives you the option of wrapping, or lunging for a big hit) make the game almost too much fun to play defense. And isn’t the goal of the game to score points? Guess we’ll all find out this coming August.
Johnny Ballgame…is “in the game”.
Forza Horizon 2 (Microsoft/Playground) vs. The Crew (Ubisoft/Ivory Tower) – So, The Crew was announced at E3 last year — and Microsoft decides to release a next-gen, open-world Forza of their own (September 30)…just a month and a half before them (November 11). Foul! The Good News is that, despite their similar baseline premise, both racers will play completely different. Forza already owns when it comes to the engine; for the Drivatar system coming over from Forza Motorsport 5 shall remain untouched. Also, as far as car cosmetics and the new Southern European locale, Horizon 2 may wind up the most visually stunning racer of all time. And that’s more so due to their newly refined lighting technology, than any sort of 3D rendering. Also, announcing — and showcasing — weather change and nighttime racing to the franchise was, simply put, brilliant. Still, The Crew is just F-U-N. I had a blast competing in the various multiplayer modes, and while not nearly as detailed on the scale of Forza, still looked great. Even with the off-road paths and shortcuts of Horizon 2 (rather than the usual merry-go-round repetition of Motorsport), The Crew offers a more simplified enough class option: Street/Dirty/Raid/Performance/Circuit. And that’s all this casual racing clergyman needs in order to turn the party up full throttle.
3.75 HELLISH BIBLES
Battlefield: Hardline (EA/Visceral) – This is one of those scenarios where being the “winner” of E3’s Media Briefings only leads to more caution. We’ve been fooled in the past. Thankfully, EA was smart enough to get out of the military business and opt for the cop-and-robbers glory of 1988 NARC past (or, better yet, De Niro & Pachino’s Heat). It’s crazy to think there hasn’t been too many games like this in the traditional sense; unlike that of Payday or GTA, you get to play as our favorite donut-munching crimefighters, as well. And I can tell you as an LA resident — and someone who works frequently downtown — that the multiplayer landscape I cruised around in was pretty much 1-to-1. Now, don’t get me wrong; this is very much a Battlefield game. Everything feels like traditional Battlefield, from the FPS controls right up to the daring cinematic environments, and, when it comes to tactics, it’s far more S.W.A.T. than CSI: LA. Still, the game runs well, sounds great, has an exhilarating pace, and the presentation feels more intimate and TV-styled than any other previous game in the series. And, in case you’re wondering, you can tase a mofo and slap the cuffs on ’em.
FIFA 15 (EA/EA Canada) – Whether you’re watching the World Cup in the comfort of your living room sofa or down at your local watering hole, one things for sure: You can certainly feel the emotion. Soon, diehard fans of EA’s much beloved soccer (or fútbol) franchise will be able to experience much of the same on their next-gen consoles. Emotional intelligence is the new draw, where players will react organically to certain calls, and even show differing attitudes towards how great or terrible their teammates and opponents are playing. Emotions will run much heavier throughout a major cup or tournament game than a mere friendly. Your Monsignor also adored FIFA’s all-new ball physics, where the momentum of the pass or shot is all based on your players’ movement and spin of the footie.
4 REMARK-‘BLES
Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal, etc.) – This lays sort of in the Borderlands: Pre-Sequel mode, where the franchise is likely not going to stray too far away from its predecessor. The difference, besides the fact this Himalayan sequel is going next-gen? Flying gyrocopters & riding elephants. And it’s as great as it sounds, watching my leather-skinned pal bust through strongholds, stomping and “trunking” foes, causing havoc everywhere while I gunned down those intelligent enough to run for cover. Toss in FC4‘s new multiplayer mode, Guns for Hire (your friends can hop seamlessly in and out of your campaign!), and Troy Baker’s next iconic insane villain — who actually likes you! — and there’s no doubt Mister Moods is as excited for this one as any other game come this Holiday season.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (WB/CDProjekt) – While I wasn’t as blown away by the game as much as other video game journalists — seeing how it won the most awards at E3 this year, with 100 (not to mention, another 49 last year) — you can bet this one will fall under every RPGer’s radar. Our “Saint Superkick”, Kenny Sanders, will have more on Geralt’s final mission this coming week.
“We might be better off going to the play another night, Arno.”
Assassin’s Creed Unity (Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal) – I’d argue that, other than NBA 2K14 last yer, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was the prettiest — if not the best — last-gen to current-gen (formerly next-gen) port ever. The game looked amazing. Now, just imagine what those Ubi Canadians can do with a game solely built for Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4? Not only is ACU is a prettier package, it has the engine to include 1000s of street pedestrian NPCs on-screen at once. People loot, mob and riot in the streets during this French Revolution era’s “Reign of Terror”, making it even easier for you to go unnoticed. And therein lies the problem. From what I witnessed in the demo room, if even you — or any of your three brothers, since the game now offers seamless co-op missions — make a mistake and accidentally alert a guard, it didn’t look all that tough to put him away But, more importantly, it’s going to be more fun tagging in your hooded pals to finish the deed. In addition to map icons now appearing on-screen (meaning, no need to pause for a map, or look down at your tablet), player animations also look more fluid, and you can even parkour downward rather than rely on an incredulous leap into a haystack. Stealthy.
E3 ’14 [The Bible Scale, Part III] will hit the Holy Gaming Masses sometime early this week.
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?
