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.
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.
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.
Noel The Mortal Fate, an episodic adventure centered around a corrupt mayor, deals with devils and a young pianist caught in the middle.
Vaka Game Magazine brings us Noel The Mortal Fate, an episodic adventure centered around a corrupt mayors, deals with devils and a young pianist caught in the middle. The game starts with the night where the best pianist is chosen and will play a piece of music to protect the city. Players will take of Noel, Caron and sometimes BOTH. The story starts with the decision of the winner, Noel who everyone though should win lost and her sometimes friend took the win home.
Upset with the loss, Noel is approached by the mayor who suggests she meet him on the roof of an abandoned building to learn the truth of why she lost. Intrigued and believing she was the true winner Noel goes. She is convinced to summon a demon in order to kill the man she was told was behind her loss. As payment the demon takes her arms and legs and she is thrown out to sea. Learning he was tricked, the demon Caron accepts a deal to help her and the story is really underway.
Graphically the game has an art style that reminds me of older manga and simplistic controls. So far after two hours into the game I have found it very easy to play and learn but the dialogue is problematic. It reads like something a kid in junior high wrote but I suspect that has more to do with a poor translation of the original Japanese the game was written in. Despite this issue the game leaves me curious as to what the future will hold for a pianist with no limbs and whether or not the evil mayor will truly be defeated in the end. Is there hope for the demon as well? Only time will tell.
11 Bit Studios returns to publish the Final Cut of This War of Mine and it includes every previous piece of content the game had to offer!
11 Bit Studios reminds players that in war not everyone is a soldier or warrior. This reminder is the basis of This War of Mine. You take as one of several civilians having to carve out a living and more importantly to survive. Each day you can send your survivor(s) on missions for supplies. Likewise other survivors can be sent to your base of operations and steal your hard earned items. When I played it was so frustrating to have things stolen. Of course I had no issues doing it to characters in game, so what goes around comes around.
The game play is not meant to allow you to win using brute force like many titles. Instead you have to carefully plan your outings and don’t let yourself get greedy. That killed more characters of mine than I care to admit. While the crafting and leveling systems can be tedious I found the game enjoyable. This is a take on war that more games should explore and simply don’t. Visually the game isn’t the most detailed but the story and experience are well worth it.
Herocraft bring us the latest pirate themed adventure with Under the Jolly Rodger.
Herocraft bring us the latest pirate themed adventure with Under the Jolly Rodger where you can murder and pillage to your heart’s content. While sailing around the Caribbean you collect quests or can just look for ships to sink and steal from. As the game progresses you can hunt the bigger targets including forts themselves. Cautious players will want to avoid this option for as long as possible because the stronger ships are not that forgiving. You and your crew slowly gain experience and can eventually become a force to be reckoned with. Will you survive long enough to rule the seas or will you be swallowed up by the kraken? That’s right, there’s a kraken and it has sunk me more than the British fleet has.
Growing up on classics like Sid Meir’s Pirates and graduating to Assassin Creed’s Black Flag there are lots of game styles that this game could have pulled from that would have made me happy. Herocraft went the hybrid route and created an amalgamation of Sid Meir’s Pirates and a combat system that felt like the ship combat for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Over all I found it to be a little tedious with the resource management system and the combat was a little less than polished but I enjoyed the overall freedom to explore where I wanted in whatever order I wanted. For a pirate game this wasn’t all that bad, sure there is lots of room for improvement but it is still worth playing through and getting your pillage on.
Century: Age of Ashes, a game of dragon combat, collecting gold and killing other players.
The folks at Playwing brought us the latest in MOBA gaming with Century: Age of Ashes. When we first started playing the game there were three classes to play and at the time we sat to write this a fourth was added. Each class gives a different list of dragons to collect and eventually use. Additionally you can unlock different cosmetics for each and choose between two abilities for their dragons. Game modes cycle daily but two are a constant- Spoils of War and Carnage. These two modes are chosen at random when you choose to play them. Spoils is my personal favorite where teams shoot down each other as well as dragons carrying gold around the map. This gold is then collected and placed in your safe. Carnage is a team based PVP battle where the quickest reflexes and most aggressive teams are the winners.
When I first started playing I played every day as completing daily challenges gave you chances to unlock dragons. Now though, the team at Playwing have decided to require you to get a BattlePass in order to continue unlocking dragons and cosmetics. All of the dragons, at least for the current season appear to require the paid BattlePass to have a chance to earn, or spending actual money to purchase them from the shop. I understand the company needs to make a profit but when the game had six months of daily play working towards earning more dragons to then require spending money in order for players to continue getting what they were getting for free prior makes it feel more like a bait and switch. The gameplay is great but gets quite tedious after a little while.
Controls are smooth and visuals are stunning but the way they handled the changes between season 0 and 1 took a lot of the fun out of the game. For those that don’t mind spending a little money will enjoy the game but Free to Play players like myself will get bored and quit before long, unless you have a ton of patience.
