Weekend Gamer 6/20/2015

Looking for something to play this weekend. I know what I'll be playing!

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (XB360)

I've been playing Skyrim all week actually, leveling up my character, Maxwell Orgshire. He's currently on Level 13. I managed to become Thane of Whiterun and Riften as well as purchased houses from both towns. Killed about five dragons so far. I've got my goal of become Thane of all the major towns, as well as purchases as much houses as possible. I've mostly been ignoring all of the main quests and doing mostly side quests. This will keep me occupied until I save up enough money for a new video card for my PC.

Fallout 3 (XB360)

Since the recent announcement of Fallout 4 (which I'm working on a short preview for as we speak, probably will be posted tomorrow) I've thought I'd play the third game before the fourth comes out. I've never really cared for Fallout, but the fourth one looks simply amazing. My friend keeps telling me to finish Fallout 3 before I play Fallout 4, so that's what I'm going to do.

Game On!

A New Doom

During the Bethesda conference at E3 2015, a new Doom was officially announced. This got me very excited. I love playing the Doom games. It's one of the few games that got me into gaming in the first place. It's also the game that got me in trouble a lot in middle school and high school. From watching some gameplay footage shown during the conference, the game looks amazing. Just like any other Doom game, the weapons are just to die for.

One of the cool things that Bethesda is introducing with the new Doom game is a map editing software where one can create a map and share it. The maps you can edit will be added on to the multiplayer arena where other players can experience your creation. The map editor for Doom is called Snapmap. I feel this is a really nice touch to modernize Doom. I can't wait to get my hands onto the map editor to create an arena to later play with my friends.

During the conference, Bethesda announced that the new Doom will be for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Coming out sometime in 2016. If you are like me, you just want to get this game right now. If you are interested in seeing a trailer for the multiplayer, click here. If you want to see the full Bethesda conference, click here. If you want to see the amazing single player campaign footage, click here. Keep an eye out for more Doom posts. As soon as I learn more about it, I'll be posting it here on the game blog.

The Unfinished Swan

The Unfinished Swan is a first-person painting game developed by Giant Sparrow. You play as a little kid who is chasing an unfinished swan, painting the landscape as you progress through the game. The child's name is Monroe, who has been placed in a world of white. Later to discover an unfinished kingdom where you journey through in search of the unfinished swan. Along the way, you'll encounter little story blocks that will tell you about the King and his legacy he wishes to leave behind.

The Unfinished Swan has a very good story to it. It'll keep you wanting more as you progress within the game. Puzzles will come up and challenge you for a few moments, but is very satisfying to figure out. The art style within the game is superb, and it just keeps getting better as you progress through the game. When you first start the game, everything is plain white. At certain points of the game, things will change, eventually shadow is introduced in some levels.

The soundtrack to the game is rather peaceful. I really enjoyed the music in the Unfinished Swan. I feel it helped with the experience of the game. The audio was very crisp. As you play, you can hear various creature make noise as you walked through an all white world. Frogs, crickets, and birds make a nice addition to the sounds you'll hear in the game. Sometimes Monroe will even say a few words, such as when you fall you'll hear him go "ahhh!" Sometimes he'll even say "Woah!"

I would recommend this game to whomever enjoys a good story as well as puzzles. If you are into art work, you might want to check this game out. It is a PlayStation Exclusive and can only be played on PS3, PS4, and Vita. This game won't be for everybody, and not everybody will have enjoyed it as much as I have. All I ask is that you at least give this game a try. It's only $14.99 on PlayStation Network. I'd rate it a four point five out of five.

Free Games for June 2015

Each month both PlayStation and Xbox offer free games for members of their services. Here are the games that are for free for the month of June 2015.

PlayStation Plus

Futuridium EP Deluxe (VITA/PS4)

Description on PlayStation Site: "A psychedelic retro inspired shoot'em up with a modern twist, that blends together frantic action, puzzle elements, a vibrant low poly aesthetic and a heart pumping electronic soundtrack. As a lone starship pilot lost in a dimensional loop just before a big space battle, with a limited and constantly depleting energy tank, your only hope is to fly as fast as possible over enormous space dreadnoughts, destroying their defenses and the cyan power cubes to get some energy back." Developed by MixedBag.

Cloudberry Kingdom (PS3)

Description on PlayStation Site: "Unhappy ever after. That's how it starts. The Orb resurfaces and the classic characters return. Kobbler with his mania, Princess with her endless boredom. It's only a matter of time before Bob, our hero, shows up to put order back to madness. Three powers struggle for victory and the fate of Cloudberry Kingdom hangs in the balance." Developed by Pwnee Studios.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (PS3)

Description on PlayStation Site: "Live the epic and violent journey of a ruthless bounty hunter onto the trail of the West's most notorious outlaws. Blurring the lines between man and myth, this adventure made of memorable encounters unveils the untold truth behind some of the greatest legends of the Old West." Developed by Techland.

Super Exploding Zoo! (VITA)

Description on PlayStation Site: "Round up herds of exploding animals and rampage around 80 destructible levels - defend your precious egg by slamming your herd into the greedy alien marauders and blowing them up!" Developed by Honeyslug Limited.

Skulls of the Shogun (PS4)

Description on PlayStation Site: "Crush your enemies and eat their skulls! Skulls of the Shogun is a fast-paced turn-based strategy game, supercharged with fighting-game flare and double-stuffed with a serious sense of humor! Enter the Samurai Afterlife and join forces with undead warriors, magical monks, and the mighty mustachioed samurai generals!" Developed by 17-BIT.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (PS4)

Description on PlayStation Site: "Set in 1975, Naked Snake is tasked to infiltrate a site on Cuban soil. On a mission to extract long-lost allies being held hostage and interrogated by a shadow military group among other objectives, Snake must use stealth and operational tactics to understand the truth behind the complex motives of the all-powerful Patriots and their mission to create a global war economy." Developed by Konami Digital Entertainment.

Xbox Live

Just Cause 2 (XB360)

Description on Xbox Site: "As agent Rico Rodriguez, your orders are to find and kill your friend and mentor who has disappeared on the island paradise of Panau. With the unique grapple and parachute combo, BASE jump, hijack and create your own high-speed stunts. With 400 square miles of rugged terrain and hundreds of weapons and vehicles, Just Cause 2 defies gravity and belief." Developed by Avalanche Studios.

Massive Chalice (XBONE)

Description on Xbox Site: "As the Immortal Ruler of the Nation, you'll take command of its heroes, forge marriages to strengthen your Bloodlines, and battle a mysterious enemy known as the Cadence in a war lasting hundreds of years." Developed by Double Fine Productions.

Pool Nation FX (XBONE)

Description on Xbox Site: "Pool Nation FX features photo-realistic graphics, real-world physics, and a wealth of game modes and rule sets. Practice, spectate and play live matches seamlessly online, complete in Leagues, and create epic trickshots." Developed by Cherry Pop Games.

Origin "On The House"

Pagan: Ultima 8 Gold Edition (PC)

Description on Origin Site: "The Guardian has tricked you, Avatar. After you defeated Batlin on Serpent's Isle, he banished you to Pagan, a world under his control. Once, it was a beautiful land, but ever since the ancient battle between the Elemental Titans and the evil "Destroyer", it is engulfed in eternal twilight. Titans - now worshipped as gods - are cruel and uncaring. They bestow power on their most dedicated followers who, in turn, terrorize Pagan's population. To find a way back home, you need to become a Titan yourself before the Guardian succeeds in his plot to conquer Britannia - and then Earth itself." Developed by Origin Systems.

Jurassic World Movie Review

Ever wonder why people seem to never learn that building a dinosaur theme park (with living, breathing life-side dinosaurs) is a bad idea. In Jurassic Park, they made the theme park and even before it became public things all went loose. They had to close the park in the first film, only to reopen it in the second film. Within each installment to the Jurassic Park movies, it seemed that no matter how more secure the park became, things still went south. Now we come to the newly released Jurassic World. A resort on the island now, where millions of people visit to witness living and breathing dinosaurs. What could possibly go wrong now?

Jurassic World was a very good movie, and it seemed to stay true to the Jurassic Park theme. Which the movie takes place roughly twenty years after the third Jurassic Park film. It was rather exciting to hear the original theme song of the Jurassic Park films within the Jurassic World movie. Jurassic World was directed by Colin Trevorrow, with Steven Spielberg (director of the Jurassic Park films) as an executive producer.

You follow around multiple characters such as Owen (played by Chris Pratt), Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), and two kids Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach (Nick Robinson). Claire is the director of the Jurassic World resort. You'll see her in the command center where all things are being monitored. The resort and park have been running well for a few years, however the revenue was going down. The management wanted something to attract more people to the island.

This is where things go south. They create a hybrid dinosaur that eventually gets loose and starts chaos. I won't go into detail on what the dinosaur is, but the park named it Indominus Rex. An unstoppable beast that bring certain doom to the visitors and staff on Isla Nublar. It's up to Claire and Owen to figure out a way to end the destruction caused by Indominus Rex.

There are countless scenes that just make you go: "Did I just witness that?!" Just because of the awe and destruction that takes place within the film. There is even an epic battle between two iconic creatures that will make your nerd senses tingle. I would highly recommend fans of the Jurassic Park films to go to the theater and watch Jurassic World. Everybody else - if you like dinosaurs, fighting, and velociraptors - go to the theater and check this movie out. It's meant to be seen on the big screen.