Way of the Hunter is the latest first person shooter game centered around hunting the creatures of the forest.
Way of the Hunter is a hunting game where there is a mysterious deer meat virus and its your job to kill all the creatures needed to fund your endeavors. THQ Nordic and Nine Rock Games brings us this FPS game where the ultimate goal seems to be furnishing a hunting lodge. You play as River as he takes over his Grandfather’s ranch and use hunting to fund all of your endeavors.
Your first task after gaining access to the lodge is to visit your friend Echo. Echo is no real friend but a point where your voice echoes easily. After that you take your first steps towards hunting. The first hunting task is at the shooting range. There you practice adjusting your scope, breathing properly and aiming. It is all quite easy to pick up but leads you to a task your grandfather meant to do himself. The hills are filled with badgers and they MUST die. Hunting them was quite tricky at first. The trick is to anticipate where they are about to be and shooting there just before they cross that path. With each kill task you are given unlocks other kill tasks focused on other animals and harder kills.
Overall the game has what I would call mixed graphics, where some aspects are highly details and others not so much. Specifically the scenery is where all the detail is and it is beautiful. I thought it was a cool touch to see real weapons and real gear featured in the game to assist you with your hunts. The story is slow and the hunts even slower but are much more realistic than I anticipated. Walking through tall grass quickly, not worrying about my noise, is bound to scare off the animals I’m hunting and I thought firing the gun or being seen would be the only way to do that. I applaud the designers for their attention to realistic detail there. For a hunting game I liked the realism but was hoping for something more forgiving like hunting in Red Dead Redemption.
Player First Games and Warner Bros Games team up to bring us the new fighting sensation Multiversus.
From Alpha to Beta to official release we got the chance to play Multiversus each iteration from Player First Games and Warner Bros Games. Through the alpha and most of the beta we had only fourteen characters. I say only like it’s a small amount, it’s not but three more have already been added with a fourth on the way soon (we expect during the last week of September). We will break down our thoughts on all that are out currently here shortly.
Before talking about those characters we are going to discuss gameplay, controls and graphics. Graphically the game is crisp and fluid. Controls are smooth as hell and easy to learn allowing you to learn combination moves organically to become a force to reckon with. The only real failing of the game is that there isn’t a story mode of any sort. Hell, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Smash Brothers all had a basic story with them when they first released. Each “season” the game features a battle pass system of rewards where you can earn character skins, emotes and more by earning XP. This system currently gives players MORE than enough time to earn the necessary amount before the season ends. This is for those players like myself that only complete the daily XP challenges and then saves the game for another day. Dedicated players will unlock these rewards long before that happens.
Overall this is a fighting game in the same way Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat are but more family friendly gameplay like Smash Bros or Brawlhalla. There is a secret adult audio mode that is disabled by default that you can turn on if you wish. Other than only a single character so far (Morty) there are really no “bad” words being used by the characters, it’s more of a change to their attitudes. Personally I prefer this because it unleashes sarcasm in my gameplay and some of it is hilarious.
Every game I have ever played before this game that had any sort of battle pass I thought was a waste of my time because the level of grinding required to get all the prizes were insane. That was before I played Multiversus. I love the cosmetic options you can earn like for Shaggy you can play as Uncle Shagworthy (if you were part of the Beta and purchased the premium pass).
You also can’t argue with the price, the game is FREE to purchase and play but most of the characters require in game currency (you can earn or purchase outright) to unlock characters. Never fear though, they even rotate characters so you can try four at a time beyond any you unlocked. If you like fighting games and characters from Warner Brothers then this game is a must for you. I am obsessed and have played daily since the Beta started.
Take a look at a trio of battles between my son and myself, we had a blast!
Now, about them characters, starting with the core fourteen.
The Iron Giant– This is the powerhouse of the game, the definition of the tank. He is literally the only character I’ve seen hit 300+ damage without being knocked off the map. His downside is he is slow and his hitbox is larger than any other character. Online players that typically use him spam his ground slam ability and his uppercut. Both are easy to predict and counter but if they hit it’s gonna hurt.
Taz– Taz was this game’s equivalent of Blanka in that he only had a couple moves that almost everyone spammed the hell out of to the same character. After his recent nerf though he feels clunky and oddly slow for a living tornado but seeing him turn opponents into giant cooked chicken makes it all worth it.
Velma– She has one of the game’s lowest and most powerful “uppercut” type abilities as the movie appears as her throwing a lightbulb above her head as she gets an idea and that lightbulb itself is deadly. She’s fast with some weak hits but between her uppercut and her police car special she should not be ignored.
Arya Stark– For me she is the most difficult to learn and yet the hardest to pin down and hit. By far one of the fastest characters in the game and her moves require accuracy more than button mashing. She has some of the most brutal combos I’ve witnessed and they are devastating. I’ve seen more videos where she has a flawless victory than any other character.
Batman– He can take a hit and is great for closing distances. His batarang is best used to weaken enemies than actually damage them. If you can chain your attacks you can land some devastating combos but those initial hits aren’t going to do much. Button mashing has worked more times with him than not.
Bugs Bunny– Bugs plays very similar to Tom and Jerry where both can be very troublesome to hit. His abilities can land some easy combos that do decent damage but expect to put more hits into your foes as he is one of the weaker characters.
Finn The Human– I am not a fan of Adventure Time and was hesitant to give Finn a try and immediately loved playing him. He is fast, hits hard and can take a beating. His air special up attack is truly devastating.
Garnet– Garnet is a character I have only seen pictures of, never watched Steven Universe before. She is more of a utility character that feels perfect in support, even though she is a bruiser. She hits hard but her attacks are mostly short ranged and require closing the distance but using her to connect to allies she can keep them from falling to their doom or being removed from the map very similar to Reindog and Morty do. This same ability protects her in the same way.
Harley Quinn– Harley is tons of fun to play. Her attacks are comical and she has tons of personality. She’s fast, excels at dodging and her hammer and feet pack a wallop.
Jake the Dog– As mentioned above I didn’t want to play this character due to not liking the show but due to his versatility and so many different move options he’s a lot of fun to play, just not a lot power behind his hits but his speed more than makes up for it.
Reindog– This is the only character that is original to this game and he is freaking adorable. This massive shaggy dog with horns may be support but he backs a major punch. Like Morty and Garnet, he can use his long distance ability to grab allies and pull them back to safety. This ability works to save himself as well.
Shaggy– The Shagster is by far one of my favorite characters to play. His rage ability makes me laugh every time I use it because it essentially turns him into the god mode shaggy from the memes. Even his costumes are great. Less skilled players focus on mostly spamming his side air special which is a flying kick. His hits can be brutal but if you combine his rage with throwing his sandwich you’ll get the most deadly projectile so far in the game.
Steven Universe– Probably my least favorite character to play, but that is mostly due to his short reach. He’s great as a support character but my play style is meant more for a melee or tank fighter. Boosting and healing teammates is not something I do often because I focus mostly on hitting my opponents. That kind of play style Steven does not work for.
Superman– There are some challenges made with certain characters in mind. The challenge that requires knocking out an opponent without being on or above the map itself was clearly made for Superman players. His side special ability when in the air grabs players and throws them to the side of the map. He can easily do this and have jumps left to get back to the map in time before falling himself. He hits hard and some of his combos are easy to learn. Even spamming the same attack and being hit with decay those attacks are still punishing.
Tom and Jerry– I’m sure I’m wrong on this but I swear this duo have more abilities/attacks than anyone else. What is great about using them is they are essentially fighting each other the entire match and your enemies are just collateral damage. They are a lot of fun to play despite the chaos they cause. They are fast, hit hard and can take a hit.
Wonder Woman– You unlock her by completing the tutorials and she is one of the most balanced characters in the game. She is also the only character to have her own daily challenges pop up from time to time where you must block a projectile with her shield (the one for side special attack is the easiest to control for this).
Now the latest three four.
Lebron– Playing against him I felt he was a very week character that was easy to disrupt. Having tried him out for myself I realize this is not entirely the case. The way I play works well against him for most characters but is truly a speedy powerhouse, if you can get a combo off.
Morty– Morty is more of a hybrid. He’s a bruiser but also plays very much like a magic character. His abilities vary greatly between high damage close up hits to ranged attacks that still pack a punch but less than the melee hits. He is fast and excels at dodging. He is a ton of fun.
Gizmo– This adorable guy is the cutest in the entire lineup. His movies are pulled directly from the two movies like his singing, driving an RC car and using a makeshift bow and arrow. He isn’t the strongest hitter but he is difficult to nail down and hit.
Rick-When this game first came out my son asked me who I would hope to see added at a later date, my immediate answer was Rick and Morty. The next day they announced Morty and as of yesterday (9/28/2022) Rick was added to the game. We spent some time with him last night and this morning. He is so much fun to play. The chaos he causes feels like you are living an episode of the show and it is amazing. The only thing missing is all of his crazy and amusing dialogue from the show. The voice actor even sounds just like him!
In Hell Pie players swing a cherup connected to a chain to bash your way through the living world towards making Satan’s pie.
Working as a demon in hell is not as glamourous as one might think but a misdial of the phone by Satan leads to an adventure in search of ingredients for a pie. Not just any pie but a Hell Pie. Sluggerfly brings us this crazy title where you use a chained cherub to smash your way to victory. You play as Nate, the demon of bad taste and that’s not just a title. Look at some of his cosmetic options, Nate is in serious need of a fashion designer, of course this is hell so it’s safe to assume bad taste is more the status quo.
Once receiving a call from the lord of hell himself you are instructed to get the chef to make his pie immediately. Soon after you find the chef and reminding him of his duties he sends you out for ingredients.
Graphically the game looks closer to previous generation’s quality, i.e. Xbox 360/PS3. Controls are smooth and abilities can be unlocked to further propel yourself and the cherub through the maps. Overall the game is chaotic but was a ton of fun, I’m looking forward to my next adventure through the world to complete this pie.
In Endling Extinction is Forever you play a lone fox that must do everything she can to not only survive but also keep her kits alive along with her.
Produced by HandyGames and Herobeat Studios, Endling Extinction is Forever is a game that centers the story around keeping a mother fox and her kits alive in the diminishing wilderness. The first day of survival is escaping from a burning forest to then give birth in your den. On day two you must hunt to keep your strength up, either killing rodents or fish and taking them back to the den.
As the baby foxes get older and start to venture outside the den one is taken by a trapper and it is up to you and the fluffballs to retrieve it. Time is of the essence because the trail grows cold quickly. Additionally the surroundings change as time goes on, streams that were once traversable become polluted and no longer have fish to feed the family. It’s up to you to keep the four of you alive.
Graphically the game is on par with other indie titles and could have been much improved with a bit more details on the foxes themselves. Without knowing they are kits the baby foxes don’t really have any distinguishing features that make it obvious they are foxes. The controls are simplistic but fluid. Overall gameplay was good but added stress as you continued to play by forcing you to pay attention to the babies and keep their health up as a priority. The subtle changes to the environment really show the effects of humans on the environment is a sobering realization as I played will make you think about your foot print on the world. I suspect this was their intention. Overall it is a solid game with an important message that more people need to hear.
Squats have returned to Warhammer 40k for the first time since 1998 and have been rebranded as the Leagues of the Votann!
Those that have been into Warhammer 40k for a couple decades are familiar with the term Squats but how many are familiar with the Leagues of the Votann? Comparatively I would venture that more people are aware of the Votann now that knew about Squats previously. That has more to do with the size the community has grown. Sure, we’ve lost some along the way to boyfriends, girlfriends and careers but we’ve gained so many more than were lost. According to some of the various themed wiki sites, Games Workshop felt the lore behind the Squats needed to be reworked and ended production on them as a whole.
So what exactly IS a Squat? To the lay they are essentially Space Dwarves. Per the lore they are an impolite nickname for a race that splintered off humanity during the Age of Technology and began cloning themselves to effectively become immortal and like any good dwarf focuses on turning a profit. Their home worlds have such an extreme gravity that their height is effectively stunted and through genetic manipulation have been made to thrive in worlds that would destroy most humans or human like creatures.
A couple years ago a couple Squats found their way into Necromunda and were only available through Forgeworld. These hired guns left the community wanting more and a few months ago the first introductions to the League arrived in Necromunda as their own gang. Soon to follow more and more teases were shared on the Warhammer Community page and they looked fantastic. Warhammer+ at the time of writing now has two episodes of Loremasters and two battle reports dedicated to this new force with more to come! Even if Games Workshop didn’t share an Army Box with us we would be all aboard this hype train. Between the lore and models we are more than excited.
Some person that was majorly talented with Photoshop took some of the recent release announcements and re-imagined what the Leagues would look like if they were done to resemble TMNT and I think I’ve found my next project!
Want to see what we thought of the Army Box in our live unboxing video?
Put your singing voice to the test in a game that is NOT a rhythm game, like Rock Band, with One Hand Clapping.
Have you ever played a platformer where you used your voice to play and not just your hands? One Hand Clapping is the game that tests your voice to the limits. HandyGames brings us this adorable platformer where your voice brings the light and allows you to soar to new heights. As you move your character around the levels you must sing into an attached microphone to activate lights, levers and even helps you fly higher (when carried by an owl).
The game description hints that you will not be penalized for making mistakes. It says this and yet has these imposing shadow people that give you the feeling that you are going to die if they touch you. This team has done a fantastic job on the ambiance because I was so tense around these creatures and I did not want to put the claim to the test. The game could easily be win for players of all ages but I feel the requirement to make noise almost nonstop detracts from the game as a whole. The intention is for players to explore their own creativity and musical talent while playing. If you are like me and most of your game time is after the kids are asleep this is a bit more difficult to do without waking them up. However I do see an opportunity here that I just might explore. My youngest loves to sing and dance. I can give her the mic and do the platforming myself. Sounds like a great chance for some game related bonding.
IT IS RARE FOR ME TO SEE A MOVIE WHEN IT’S STILL IN THEATERS BUT THANKS TO Marvel Entertainment I WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP ON A FEW THAT I MISSED!
Recently the fine folks at Marvel Entertainment (their home page is here) had sent me a code to one of the movies I missed so that I could share my thoughts on it with you. This will be a regular series and Part 1 we talked about Black Widow. Part 2 discussed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Part 3 shared our thoughts on Eternals and straight to DVD release Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Part 4 focused on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and we’re back for Part 5 to discuss Thor: Love and Thunder!
Thor: Love and Thunder
The fourth film in the Thor series follows Thor as he attempts to track and defeat Gorr the God Butcher. He enlists the help of Korg, Valkyrie and Jane in the quest. The start of the film is a bit over the top, some will say a bit too over the top but considering where Thor is in his life it feels like a midlife crisis and I feel that is intentional. Visually the film is stunning and even that is used to help tell the story (you’ll see what I mean when you watch the film). The characters dive deeper into who they are and it makes for a much more beautiful story. I have to admit I thought this was the best Thor film yet and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Have you had a chance to see this film from Marvel Entertainment? If not it can currently be seen in Disney+ as well as purchased from your favorite distributer (releasing September 27th).
Chunkybox and Daedalic Games bring us Wildcat Gun Machine, an isometric bullet hell full of extra lives and mutated flesh monsters.
Who here likes body horror themed monsters trying to kill you? If real life the answer would hopefully be no one, but in a game I know a few people at least. What about cats? Who here likes cats? My family loves them, the internet loves them which likely means most people at least like them. What would you say if you could play a game that featured both? If you asked me these same questions I’d have thought it was a weird basis for a game. Wildcat Gun Machine somehow does it and does it WELL!
Players take control of a gun wielding, badass that respawns on death thanks to her ghostly kitties. Collecting bones from your foes can be redeemed for even MORE kitties! Spectral kittens are not the only prize you can purchase using this grisly currency, you can buy guns too! As you explore you find other guns and even keycards that unlock further paths. Each level has a single monster boss comprising of some sort of bastardization of technology, biology and a crap load of projectiles.
Regular readers will know about my one hour minimum rule being played before I write about my experience. Last I checked I have easily spent six or seven hours in the game. With its fluid controls, high speed action, gorgeous yet revolting visuals and addicting gameplay, you won’t realize how much time you’ve spent in game telling yourself “just one more room to clear and I’ll go to sleep”. This game is hard as hell but when you defeat that boss it makes it all the more satisfying. I plan on playing this one to the end and am looking forward to it. I suggest you jump on for the ride.
Kill Team returns with Into the Dark and this time the battle is aboard a Space Hulk floating in space.
Every once in a while a box comes out that feels like a fundamental shift from what we know about the game and how it plays. Kill Team: Into the Dark is one such box. Where each previous box from the current edition has utilized vertical aspects of the playing field this doesn’t. That’s okay too, it doesn’t need to, that’s one of the many reasons I enjoy Kill Team. In this box the field of battle takes place on a Space Hulk and if I am right it may just be a precursor to a new Space Hulk game. I’m sure if this box does well a new Space Hulk will be on the horizon.
Some of you may be asking, what’s a Space Hulk?
Great question and honestly can be a little difficult to explain in detail as they are all different and so are their threats. A Space Hulk is what happens when dead ships collide with each other, fusing into a labyrinth typically full of horrors. For whatever reason Genestealers seem to love these. My guess it is because there is no shortage of people climbing aboard in search of forgotten technology or treasures. More people means more food. This particular Space Hulk is known as Gallowdark.
What will fighting in Gallowdark mean for list building?
Anyone that has read stories or seen movies that feature boarding actions know that you go in armed for close quarters combat. That means shotguns, knives and claws. Basically things that don’t require precision and pack a hell of a punch. As someone that prefers these kinds of lists my time has come! I am honestly surprised we don’t have an accompanying novel to go with the release. I would love to know more about what happens on the Gallowdark outside of these battles.
Let’s talk about the Kroot for a moment. Previously we have only seen a handful of releases of these mercenaries. Into the Dark features and entire warband and they look fantastic! Blackstone Fortress featured a single Kroot and even Tau releases only saw a couple previously. Normally I would be all about the monster looking forces but this time the Imperial Navy has me intrigued.
That being said, let’s discuss the Navy. Prior to this release I have never seen models representing the Imperial Navy. That’s not including conversions people have done to make their own of course. We’ve seen them plenty of times in artwork, comics and described in novels. Even in Warhammer+ we’ve seen them featured in Angels of Death (great show by the way). Somehow we had never really seen models of them. At least I hadn’t. I did some further research and found a small selection of Voidsmen that were part of the Kill Team: Rogue Trader box but nothing else.
Why has there been a lack of love of the Navy, or the Kroot for that matter?
I admit I don’t know the official reason but I have my suspicions it has more to do with overall interest than anything else. With Kill Team Games Workshop can bring us new armies that otherwise would not have sold well as a full army in 40k. This is similar to the warbands in Warhammer Underworlds. When the Kroot were first introduced I suspect the players did not purchase them is large enough numbers to make them a true focus. It could be more simple than that, it COULD be that there simply aren’t large enough numbers left in the galaxy to be an actual army on their own. Of course it could be a combination of both or any other things. For the Navy I suspect the lack of models has more to do with the lack of battles on ships themselves. Most of the fights are done on the surface of the planet and the Navy wouldn’t be involved in those directly.
What makes this box stand apart for the others in this edition of Kill Team?
The missing vertical terrain is the biggest difference. The setting as mentioned is on the Space Hulk Gallowdark and everything is close quarters. There is no need to raise your guns above or below you. That may change again if they introduce pipes and things that can crawl in them. At the start I suggested that if this box does well we might see another edition of Space Hulk. I stand by that. This reminds me of when Shadow War Armageddon came out. At the time there were no public plans to revitalize Necromunda. The fans demanded it and used the box to revisit the game without having it be an official ‘Munda release. GW heard their voices and gave us a new edition, as I’m sure many of you have seen. For that chance alone this box would be worth grabbing in my opinion. Additionally to the lack of vertical component they’ve added doors. Hear me out. Doors aren’t new themselves but doors that open AND close as an action IS new. We also have added the ability to tear through bulkheads to create new paths!
Final verdict:
Both teams look great and are great for battles like this, they just may not make the cut if you try to add them to a full army in 40k. Kroot immediately have the most versatility there since Tau are able to use them without issue. The Navy will likely need to see some rules for 40k added before they can be added. The similarities to Space Hulk make this box a must for fans of the IP and the fact that it could lead to another edition leaves me hopeful. I would love to see this even splinter off into it’s own game like Underworlds where we see unique Kill Teams designed for this kind of fighting that don’t necessarily fit an army. Overall this box has so much potential and even if I’m wrong it is a fantastic box, well worth your time and money.
