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27 Jun 2017

THE GOLF CLUB 2 - Launch Trailer | PS4


Experience golf at its finest in The Golf Club 2, available now on PS4. Play thousands of pre-built courses or create your own, compete in dynamic tournaments, and progress your career by rising the ranks in lush, vibrant settings around the world!

Join and challenge Societies, playing tournaments and earning money to buy into bigger and better clubhouses. The Golf Club 2 also features an improved Course Creator, advanced swing mechanics, and much more.

The Golf Club 2 is available for both PS4 and Xbox One and you can buy from Amazon using the links below that open in a new window

The Golf Club 2 (PS4)
The Golf Club 2 (Xbox One)

ARMS Master Class w/ Mr. Yabuki


Hi, very excited today because we had the privilege of getting a special ARMS training session with the Mr. Yabuki! Mr. Yabuki is the producer of ARMS but you may remember him from the incredible exhibition match during the ARMS tournament at E3 last week. We got the chance to learn some tips and tricks and then we put them to the test with an ARMS rematch. Have you been playing the game? What’s your favorite character and ARM combination? Let us know in the comment section below. As always, thanks so much for watching and we’ll see you next week!

You can buy ARMS for Nintendo Switch now! Best price is Amazon, click the link below (opens in a new window)

25 Jun 2017

Grading Nintendo's E3 2017 Performance - Nintendo Voice Chat Teaser



The NVC team takes a hard look at how well Nintendo showed at E3 2017. From Mario to Metroid surprises, there's a lot to look at.

24 Jun 2017

Ancient Amuletor - Launch Trailer | PSVR


Suit up for Ancient Amuletor, available on 6/27!

To celebrate the launch, players can take advantage of a special promotion for the next month with a 20% discount for PlayStation®Plus subscribers and a 5% discount** for all players.

Created for VR by developer TiGames using Unreal Engine 4, Ancient Amuletor is a pick-up-and-play action tower defense game that throws players into the ancient world to battle challenging waves of magical creatures, monsters and more. From Egypt to Rome and beyond, Ancient Amuletor’s larger-than-life characters and environments are brought to life with beautiful color and comic-inspired art design.

Fight against the forces of legend alone in single-player, or team up with up to two friends in online cooperative play. There are four powerful heroes to choose from, including the gunner, puppeteer, archer and mage, each offering its own unique play style.

A free single-player demo featuring the rapid-fire archer and spell-wielding mage is available now:
store.playstation.com

REVIEW: Heavy Metal Machines - PC/Steam



Game Summary:
The apocalypse is over and only Heavy Metal Machines remains. Welcome to a world of vehicular madness, mayhem and relentless destruction where you will put survival of the fittest to the test. You must decimate your enemies just to get by.

Grab the bomb, plant it at the enemy base, and try not to get pulverized in the process. This shall be your mission should you choose to accept it. Deliver the bomb and don’t let anyone or anything get in your way.

Don't take on the madness alone! Experience the insantity of Heavy Metal Machines with all of your friends!


Review: By Jon Donnis
As someone who is more of a console gamer, I was happy to see a great looking arcade style game come to the PC. So first thing I did was find out my wired Xbox controller, and plugged it into my laptop. None of this keyboard control nonsense for me!

Also worth noting that both Xbox 360 and Xbox One wired controllers will work with this game. And the experience is much better, even if it will take you a few moments to get used to the controls, for example on pretty much all driving games you have the classic RT = Accelerate and LT = Brake system, here you push in the direction you want to move, and the LT and RT buttons have other jobs. You can probably remap the controls if you go into settings though.

Controls aside, the game is pretty simple, you drive a little vehicle about equipped with rockets and weapons, you try to gain control of a bomb, and you plant it in your enemies area. This is very much an online game, and you play with and against other players around the world. I did not notice any lag, and the game played along perfectly, although you have to put up with those annoying waits in the lobby as other players click the "ready" button, but that is very much the norm these days.

This game is an easy to pick up, arcade game that you will find will waste many an hour, and as the game gets updates etc it can only improve, I have already published news of tournaments and competitions the makers have introduced, so there really are some great incentives to play.

A good fun game, easy to pick up. Decent graphics and sound, and fun easy game play.

I give this game a strong 8/10

Heavy Metal Machines Bomb Upgrade Launches With Videos Highlighting Extensive Gameplay Improvements; First European Tournament Announced With Over €10,000 Up For Grabs


Florianópolis BRAZIL, June, 2017 – Hoplon, the developers behind the upcoming car-combat MOBA Heavy Metal Machines, today unleashed a slew of new upgrades derived from a combination of developer tweaks and community feedback, which vastly improve the frenetic, yet nuanced nature of the gameplay.

Foremost amongst these improvements is how players interact with the Bomb, all of which you can check out in the following video links:

Gameplay video:


Dev Diary video:

Other enhancements being rolled out, which look set to propel Heavy Metal Machines into the realms of competitive esports, are as follows:

European Competition
Hoplon will be offering in excess of €10,000 for the first ever European Heavy Metal Machines Esports competition, which will take place later this summer (full details to come in the near future). Registration opens on 1st July.

New Community Feature - Teams
Now it's possible to run with your crew with the Teams feature
Team: Group created with a defined name, tag and icon picture. You can create and check your team's info by clicking on a flag in the game main screen.
Team Leader: Invite Steam's friends to join it, remove players and pass the leadership.
Joining the Team: You could only join the team if you received the leader's invitation.
Teams can have up to 5 members.

New Game mode - Custom Match
It's now possible to create an all-customised match! Just click on Custom Match in the game main screen and become the room's creator to play with your friends
Creator's skills: move a player to the other team, ban, close lobby, start a match and send Access Codes.
Access Code: the creator can copy and send the Access Code to any player he wants to invite to play along. Players can use the Access Code to play a Custom Match.

To find out more about the exciting world of Hoplon’s Heavy Metal Machines, please follow them on Twitter and Facebook or visit http://www.heavymetalmachines.com/site/

Founded in 2000, Hoplon is one of the leading game developers, with a team of over 70 highly skilled professionals. Located in Florianopolis and a part of the technological centre in Southern Brazil, Hoplon is responsible for pioneering projects in Brazil and strengthening the Brazilian gaming industry through such titles as Heavy Metal Machines, Apocalypse: The Party’s Over or Taikodom. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation.

21 Jun 2017

REVIEW: First Strike Final Hour


Blindflug Studios, a developer known for creating games focusing on real dilemmas taking place in the world, Cloud Chasers (immigration), Airheart (overfishing), is pleased to launch First Strike: Final Hour, a fully optimised PC and Steam game from the already critically acclaimed mobile version focusing on nuclear warfare.


The PC version includes new control systems, a graphical upgrade and Steam support. The game also features an increase in strategy options with double the amount of super weapons and a brand new Diplomacy Mode, allowing players to form non-attack treaties with superpowers and stab them in the back.

REVIEW By Jon Donnis
I never played the mobile version, and come to this game as a newbie, and my first thought was
"This game would be so much better on a Tablet or Smartphone"
And I think that is one of the main problems, to me this just doesn't feel like a PC game.

I put in a lot of time trying to figure out this game, but it just kind of throws you into things, and you can easily spend hours going round in circles. Something I did, and that just put me off straight away.

When a gamer comes to a new genre of game, it really needs the option for you to start slow, with tutorials etc and build yourself up. But despite me starting off with the easy setting, I still found myself incredibly frustrated at the seeming lack of progress anything I was doing had.

This really is not my type of game, but that does not mean it is not a good game. Looking around the internet and the early reviews for this are overwhelmingly positive, which leaves me wondering if I am the problem here.

The graphics are very basic, the sounds are nothing special, the game play is frustrating, but I think once you figure it all out then it could be a very enjoyable experience, my problem is that I just could not get into the game. I just found it all very repetitive. If you have played and enjoyed the mobile version, then you will love this game. But if you are a newbie to this game and this genre, then perhaps you will be left thinking "I don't get it?" As I was.

So it is with a heavy heart I give this game a 6/10.



First Strike: Final Hour is priced at $11.99 / £8.99 / €11.99 and comes with a 30% special launch discount at http://store.steampowered.com/app/587000/First_Strike_Final_Hour/





17 Jun 2017

Assassin's Creed Origins - Ancient Egypt PS4 Trailer | E3 2017


Discover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and explore the birthplace of the Assassin's Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed Origins is available October 27.

Amazon Links
Assassins Creed Origins (Xbox One)
Assassin's Creed Origins - PlayStation 4

ARMS Accolades Trailer - Nintendo Switch



The first fighting game of its kind has certainly made an impact! Find out what reviewers are saying about ARMS. Available Now on Nintendo Switch!

Buy from Amazon using the links below that open in a new window.
ARMS - Nintendo Switch - UK
ARMS - Nintendo Switch - US

16 Jun 2017

CODE VEIN - PS4 Trailer | E3 2017


CODE VEIN is coming to PS4 in 2018! As the world plunges into chaos, the most unlikely of heroes take center stage to eradicate the global threat. On a mission to discover themselves and unlock their lost memories, they only know one thing for certain… their thirst for BLOOD!

14 Jun 2017

12 Jun 2017

Heavy Metal Machines Adds New Competition-Boosting Features with Eye on Creating an eSports Hit


Florianópolis BRAZIL, June 9, 2017  - Hoplon, the developers behind the upcoming car-combat MOBA Heavy Metal Machines, have already taken some early steps towards making their fast-paced, yet nuanced action game a good fit for professional-level eSports competition by introducing an innovative leaderboard system earlier this year. With some new updates coming in June and July, Hoplon aims to prove that Heavy Metal Machines could be the next great competitive video game to light the eSports world ablaze.
                                                     
Still in open beta stage on Steam, Heavy Metal Machines will introduce big updates in June and July. From a brand new custom match, which allows players to create the kind of competitive game setups that foster high-calibre tactical plays, to a newly improved and powerful Bomb, giving players  fresh tricks up their sleeves, this update is sure to enliven the game’s competitive field. There will also be a brand new arena that will speak to the desires of the high-level competitors of Heavy Metal Machines.


New Features Being Rolled Out

The New Bomb – According to games director Aly Lenzi, there were four main objectives Hoplon had in mind when re-imagining the Bomb:
                                                                                                                         

  • Prioritize fun: “On top of removing the damage per second, which already opened a lot of options to the carrier, we also wanted to expand on player instincts. After observing a great amount of games and analysing players’ feedback, we decided to invest development efforts into building a very intuitive and visceral "pass" mechanic.”
  • Focus on the gamer’s intuition: “This was the easiest part to plan, and the hardest to execute. We rebuilt our physics system to allow a real and frightening Bomb. It will influence your movement with its own inertia, forcing carriers to adapt to curves and collisions on the fly. It made carrying a little bit harder than before, but in a very fun and competitive way. You can also use it as a shield against enemies with proper timing, and, at the very last moment, as a weapon!”
  • Improve visual clarity: “The main way to increase the Bomb’s visibility was by increasing its size. Now, it is as big as a standard vehicle. On top of that, new visual effects were added, including some animations, to really make it ‘pop’.”
  • Add precision: “We made a core change to the way a player picks up the bomb: instead of just touching it, which could make you grab it by accident, now you will have to hold the pickup key to activate what we are calling ‘The Bomb Grabber’. To increase tension and competitiveness, we also added a "Struggle" feature where if two opposing-teams players are trying to pick the Bomb up at the same time, no one will be able to link to it unless one of them is moved farther -- or destroyed.”

Custom match – If Heavy Metal Machines is to be considered a viable game by eSports pros, it is going to need flexibility and customisability when it comes to setting up matches and tournaments. Lenzi says: “A key selling point for many eSports pros and organisers is the ability to host tournaments. This mode allows control of who is in the match, which is crucial to even the crudest forms of competition.”

New Arena – Heavy Metal Machines will be getting a brand new arena that could fundamentally change the way fans play the game. Aly Lenzi explains: “We aim on delivering a different experience with this new arena. While the original stage focused on intersections and shortcuts, the new arena is built to be a very straight-forward race to the finish. We also wanted to add some physical gameplay mechanics, like mud. Overall, it should be easier to navigate, but equally challenging to the carriers. We will also debut a new track concept: bifurcations. Carriers will have more than one path option to follow, which delivers a lot of power to them, but with that power, a lot of responsibility.”

To find out more about the exciting world of Hoplon’s Heavy Metal Machines, please follow them on Twitter and Facebook or visit http://www.heavymetalmachines.com/site/


11 Jun 2017

Project CARS 2 - "Soul of Motorsport" Official E3 Trailer


Save the date: Project Cars 2 will release on September 22nd 2017 worldwide! Now you can enjoy the E3 trailer to get a taste of the “sandbox” approach of the game’s overhauled career mode.


Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth (Nintendo 3DS) | 'Brave the Yggdrasil Tree' Announcement Trailer


Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth – The fifth main installment of the long-running Etrian Odyssey series is finally arriving! Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth chronicles the quest of a new adventurer as he or she attempts to reach the top of the towering Yggdrasil Tree. For it is said that whoever braves the dangers of the dreaded Yggdrasil Labyrinth and reaches the summit will have their greatest wish fulfilled… Coming to Nintendo 3DS in fall 2017!

KINGDOM HEARTS 3 - Orchestra 2017 Trailer | PS4


Kingdom Hearts III is an upcoming action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the twelfth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, sequel to Kingdom Hearts II, and the final chapter in the Dark Seeker saga. Set after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, returning protagonist Sora is joined by Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey and Riku in their search for the seven guardians of light and the "Key to Return Hearts" as they attempt to thwart Master Xehanort's plan to bring about a second Keyblade War. Their journey has them cross paths with characters, and visit worlds, based on Disney properties and Final Fantasy.

Concepts for the game began as early as 2006, after the release of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix in Japan, with the game not officially confirmed to be in development until E3 2013, after years of rumors and speculation. Kingdom Hearts III sees many returning gameplay features from the series, while introducing new "Attraction Flow" attacks that incorporate Disney Parks attractions. The game also is the first in the series to utilize Unreal Engine 4.



6 Jun 2017

Battleborn - Free Multiplayer Trial Trailer | PS4


Play the Battleborn Free Trial! Battle in unlimited competitive multiplayer matches with a rotating roster of playable heroes. Now available on PlayStation®4.

The universe teeters on the brink of extinction and only the most powerful Battleborn can stop it. This band of badasses will slice swords through enemies, fire massive machine guns, sling powerful spells and much more! Command 30 unique heroes. Fight alone or alongside friends. Play story missions or mow down foes in competitive multiplayer matches.

Rendain and his evil army must not be allowed to destroy the last star. Do you and your friends have what it takes to save it?

Buy from Amazon UK - Battleborn - PlayStation 4
Buy from Amazon US - Battleborn - PlayStation 4

Nintendo Switch Summer Trailer - ARMS, Splatoon 2, and Pokkén Tournament DX


Answer the call to compete in great new games for Nintendo Switch: ARMS, Splatoon 2, and Pokkén Tournament DX. ARMS available 6/16. Splatoon 2 available 7/21. Pokkén Tournament DX available 9/22.

EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: The Town of Light - Xbox One


"Play through the eyes of Renee, a 16-year-old girl who suffers from the symptoms of mental illness. She is searching for answers to the many questions from her past, whilst exploring the place where she spent most of her youth. Guide Renee through a dark and emotional journey where the lines between entertainment, storytelling and reality blur.

Based on extensive research and inspired by real events, The Town of Light is a first-person psychological story adventure game set in the Volterra Psychiatric Asylum. Based in Tuscany, Italy, the asylum was shut down in the late 1970's by a law from the Italian government instructing all asylums to close and give back patients their civil rights. Explore the asylum as it stands to this day and uncover the good and bad in human nature."

This is a really hard game to review, mainly due to the fact I cant really call it a game, and by that I mean it is more like playing a book, a life simulation whereby you don't really have much control, you just go through the motions.

This is a game you simply do not enjoy playing, you endure it, but it is hard to turn away.
There is no real jump out moments, no scares, but it does leave an uncomfortable imprint on your mind.

I have never quite played a game like this, and before I started I expected it to be a bit like Xbox One game Life Is Strange which was an incredible game, and there are a few similarities in that certain actions you take can affect the story, but these are limited compared to Life is Strange.

The biggest problem with The Town of Light is that if you are playing this without any real knowledge of the game, you will either find yourself walking about for hours having no idea what you are supposed to do, where you are supposed to go or you will just turn it off and thing it is rubbish. But I almost think that you are more likely to get something from this "game" if you play it with a walkthrough in your hand, a few maps of the locations and a general idea of what you are supposed to do. Yes you will end up finishing the game much quicker, but like I said this is not really a game, there is no real replay potential outside of the few storyline choices, and trying to get your gamerpoints (or trophies on PS4), so think of it like a book you will read through, and once you have finished it, it will make you think, and you might even go back and re-read a chapter just to understand it better.

The game itself is a remake/port of a PC game, so there is already plenty of information on the game out there, and other than a few Graphical improvements, the game as far as I can see is pretty much the same.

When you do finish the game, you do feel like you have achieved something, but not necessarily in a good way. I finished it last night, and then found myself thinking about it throughout the night. It didn't give me nightmares, but it did really make me think about the experiences of people who lived in these types of Asylums, the mental illnesses they had, how they were treated etc.

This is an adult experience, but very much in a psychological respect. It is hard to judge the game, because it is not really a game. I can see many people playing it for 10 minutes then never touching it again, but I can also see people playing it through to the end, and then playing some of the chapters again so they can see some of the different paths that are taken.

This is possible the most bizarre experience I have ever had on any console. And it has left me confused, befuddled, and unsure of what I actually experienced.


Lets take a look at some of the good and some of the bad points of the game from a technical viewpoint.
Some of the memory sequences are stunning to watch, some incredible artwork is featured during the game and it really draws you in. But then the general graphics of walking about can be a bit clunky at times, and then there is that viewpoint cursor on screen, it is almost impossible to see, so you have no idea if something you are looking at can be interacted with or not. Sometimes everything seems too bright, and then moments later you are struggling to see anything because it is too dark.

There is no onscreen map, which means you can really struggle at times to get your bearings, and like I mentioned earlier, it is easy to get lost and just walk about for hours having no clue where you are.

One chapter involves you being outside and after a cut scene it is suddenly in the middle of the night, and even with the little torch activated, it is almost impossible to have any clue where you are, and I found myself walking around in circles, and that is despite the fact I had the map printed out in front of me, as I had no idea where I was on the map.

There are minimal actual puzzles in the game, and perhaps if they had more of these it would make it a more enjoyable experience.

So do I recommend this game or not?
I honestly am not sure if this was excellent or awful.
I felt a need to finish the game, to see everything, and when I did I felt thoroughly satisfied that I had achieved something. But damn it was hard work.

If you have an interest in the history of Asylums, the story lines of games, and perhaps feeling more like you are watching an event as opposed to being part of the event then you will probably take a lot out of the game. If you like puzzles, actions, quick results etc, then this is not a game for you.

If you play it without any help, I don't think you will give it more than an hour before giving up.
But if you prepare yourself, then I think you can take plenty from the experience.

Personally I will give this "experience" 7/10
It is not a game, you wont enjoy any of it, you will endure it, and you will want to finish it, it will make you think.

You can purchase this game from Amazon using the following links (Open in a new window)
The Town of Light (Xbox One)
The Town of Light (PS4)

2 Jun 2017

Bombs away! First Strike: Final Hour is OUT NOW


Blindflug Studios, a developer known for creating games focusing on real dilemmas taking place in the world, Cloud Chasers (immigration), Airheart (overfishing), is pleased to launch First Strike: Final Hour, a fully optimised PC and Steam game from the already critically acclaimed mobile version focusing on nuclear warfare.


The PC version includes new control systems, a graphical upgrade and Steam support. The game also features an increase in strategy options with double the amount of super weapons and a brand new Diplomacy Mode, allowing players to form non-attack treaties with superpowers and stab them in the back.

To have a better understanding of the reasons behind the thought-provoking First Strike: Final Hour, Blindflug Studios has spoken about the elements behind the project and what went into creating the PC version, watch the dev diary:


“Sadly, war is very much part of our world every day, and we’re pleased to bring First Strike: Final Hour to PC to reach a different audience to that of those who play the mobile version”, said Moritz Zumbuhl, President & CEO, Blindflug Studios. “As much as the game focuses on a serious topic threatening our daily lives, First Strike is still a lot of fun to play, which through this medium we hope the message gets across to people of a very grave and real hazard.”

First Strike: Final Hour is priced at $11.99 / £8.99 / €11.99 and comes with a 30% special launch discount at http://store.steampowered.com/app/587000/First_Strike_Final_Hour/