Friday The 13th The Game – FREE STUFF

The Friday 13th developers want to say sorry to players for the server issues the best way they know how – FREE STUFF. I was really excited about the game as someone who loves the classic film and has always wanted to delve into a horror. An online horror? Perfect, because then I’m not scared alone and through the pulsating, trippy beats of Jason’s impending arrival, there’s also other people to make the whole experience a little less terrifying. Maybe it’s seeing the slightly rigid movements of other players looming in the distance, or the awkward clunk of a door being closed, but that just adds to the feel of the game, the unpolished, almost gimmicky look, really works wonders.  

But through this I have been obviously frustrated at being kicked from games and not being able to get into one at all. Due to the unexpected popularity of Friday The 13th, the developers announced they were having server issues. However, fans did not give up on the game and whilst the small studio tackled the problem, working around the clock to get the issues solved, the game finally seems stable to the delight of players.

So here’s what the developers, Illfonic have given players for free for all their patience during the server issues they experienced. The update is FREE and available now, so why are you reading this? Get playing!

Improvements

  • Steam matchmaking searches longer for lower pinged games.
  • Various minor matchmaking optimizations made.
  • Lobby countdown timer closes menus at the 3 second mark instead of when it starts.
  • Warning beeps can now be heard from sub-menus.
  • Added lots more environmental kill locations to all of the maps.
  • Leaving a match while a party leader now prompts you to disband or take the party with you.
  • Security updates to prevent account spoofing.
  • Dynamic camera and character animation improvements.
  • Added an option for controlling the PTT sound.
  • Increased XP penalty of team killing fellow counselors to -1,000XP from -200XP.

Fixes

  • Fixed several exploit locations on all maps.
  • Fixed Steam party members not following the party leader.
  • Fixed Steam party main menu voice stuttering.
  • Fixed Jason getting stuck in the grab pose if a grabbed counselor disconnects while being pulled out of a car.
  • Fixed an issue with block detection on boat seats.
  • Fixed some counselor vehicle interactions not being blocked while in a context kill.
  • Fixed some floating items on item swap and with traps.
  • Fixed the Shotgun sometimes floating after use.
  • Fixed an issue with tracking total Jason kills.
  • Fixed multiple achievement related bugs.
  • Fixed windows sometimes displaying the wrong open/close position on listen servers.
  • Fixed an issue where sprint was canceling fear animations & some stances.
  • Fixed some dynamic camera issues when interpolating from a kill back to the player.
  • Fixed Jason being able to morph into the boat and get shoved out of the map.
  • Fixed a case where spectators would not hear alive players.
  • Fixed session presence not always updating immediately to point at your game session (for invites) after you leave a party session.
  • Fixed some game server specific crashes.
  • Fixed the game sitting for the duration of the outro when no outro is played.
  • Fixed the scoreboard staying on the screen when the end match menu opens.
  • Locking the end match scoreboard on-screen.
  • Fixed defaults not always functioning in Video Settings.
  • Made the Gamma slider easier to use with a gamepad.
  • Fixed a case where a player’s mute state may not be sent to the server after loading the map.
  • Fixed character placement issue when getting out of a tent.
  • Fixed character placement issue when ejected from a car and your door is blocked.
  • Fixed being able to use other items while using the sweater.
  • Fixed some exploits with trap placement.
  • Fixed multiple crouch exploits.
  • Fixed multiple fireplace kill interaction distances.
  • Fixed multiple cases of Jason being struck and flying off the map.
  • Fixed multiple interaction lock bugs.
  • Optimized Steam P2P lobby tag updates, dedicated server tag space usage.

Playing Friday the 13th? If not, why not?

The Best Guest Characters In Video Games

Video games have had their fair share of guest characters. Whether it’s a character from a film, comic book or another video game we have had some great cross overs. Now that Injustice 2 is inviting Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat to join its roster, we thought we would list our best guest characters in video games.

Spawn – Soul Caliber 2

Soul Caliber II had 3 guest characters in total, These characters were specific to what console you were playing on. The GameCube had Link from the Legend of Zelda, the PS2 had Heihachi Mishima and Xbox had Spawn from Image Comics. Now you could say that either Link or Heihachi are better, but for me Spawn was the best, not just because he is one of my favourite comic book characters. His moves and story made sense and he didn’t feel like he was just shoe horned into the game just to keep a niche group of fans happy. The easy thing to do would have been to put Master Chief into his slot instead, so I am glad they didn’t.

Also if the rumours are true about Spawn coming to Injustice 2 as a guest character that would be nothing short of amazing. Ed Boon if you are reading this please add him in, thanks.

Jason Voorhees – Mortal Kombat X/XL

Both Mortal Kombat 9 and X have had their fair share of guest appearances including Freddy Kruger, Leather Face, Predator and an Alien from the Alien series of films. Jason in my option has the edge over these guest characters with his move set and fatalities. He’s also pretty damn scary compared to most of the other guest characters, except the Alien maybe.

XCOM Squads – Civilisation V

Hands up, how many of you knew that you could call in XCOM squads in Civilization V? Probably a few of you but this is a pretty cool guest appearance as the strategy genre isn’t really teeming with guest appearances, especially from other strategy games. You could consider them a bit OP in Civ 5 though, as they don’t require resources and have a epically huge Giant Death Robot. Still fun to use though.

Link – Mario Kart 8

Before MarioKart 8, guest appearances were not heard of (except for R.O.B in Mario Kart 7). So when Link turned up as DLC for Mario Kart 8 a lot of Nintendo fans went crazy at the thought (both good crazy and bad crazy). He pioneered the way for other guest characters to join the game, such as characters from Splatoon and a whole host of F-Zero content (why they didn’t add Captain Falcon I have no idea). Link also came equipped with his own motor bike which looks like an armoured version of Epona, what more could you ask for?

Raiden (Mortal Kombat) – Unreal Championship 2

If like me you played the hell out of the Unreal Championship games on the Xbox then you would have more than likely crossed paths with Raiden from the Mortal Kombat series. His use of lightening worked really well in the Unreal Championship setting. True, his torpedo attack would have worked wonders in the game but you can’t have everything.

Dante and Trish – Viewtiful Joe 

Both Dante and Trish from DMC (not to be confused with DmC) make a guest appearance in the PS2 version of the side scrolling beat em up game Viewtiful Joe. Not only did they do some pretty awesome Devil May Cry fan service in the game, they also had their own set of moves and attacks. These characters were unlocked after completing the game in any difficulty, they also came in pretty handy for beating the game on the harder levels.

Spartan Nicole – Dead Or Alive 4

As guest appearances go this one is a bit different. Dead Or Alive 4 added a character from the Halo series into its roster called Nicole, a female super soldier decked out in the classic Halo series Spartan Armour. Whilst technically classed as a brand new character (as Nicole has never appeared in the Halo universe) she is considered as a guest character because she is basically a female master chief (this was back in the days before Halo Reach, where female spartans were a thing).

Kratos – Shovel Knight

Kratos is a guest boss fight for shovel knight and is exclusive to the Sony version of Shovel Knight. He is great fun to play against and drops some pretty awesome loot once he is defeated. He also has some of his iconic moves from the God of War series as well as the ability to absorb orbs for health.

Spider-Man – Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2

Back in the PlayStation 1 days having Spider Man suddenly turn up in your extreme sports game was THE BEST THING! He came complete with his own tricks (which included his webs) and was possibly the best thing ever to happen to the Tony Hawks games.

Akuma – Tekken 7

To tide fans over until Tekken X Street Fighter comes out (still no word on what stage of development the game is in yet) Bandai Namco have added Akuma to Tekken 7 turning him into a hitman who has been sent on a mission to kill both Heihachi Mishima and his son Kazuya. It works really well and Akuma does not feel out of place in the game, he also stays loyal to his street fighter move set. If you get the chance to play as him, do it.

So that’s out best guest characters in Video games. Who are yours?

 

 

How Star Wars Battlefront 2 Is learning From Its Predecessor

Ever since Star Wars Battlefront 2 was officially announced in May, we have had a decent amount of information released about the game. One of the things that both EA and DICE keep referring to is how much they are listening to the fans and how they are learning from their mistakes. Here are a few things that Star Wars Battlefront 2 is bringing to the table that the first game didn’t.

A Single Player Story Campaign

Possibly one of the most noticeable features that Star Wars Battlefront 2 is giving players is a single player campaign mode. You probably know the spiel now but for those of you who have been out of the loop, the story mode is set between the The Return Of The Jedi and The Force Awakens. Players will be playing as Iden Versio, a member of the imperial Inferno Squad. If you are looking for the full synopsis of the story mode you can check out our previous article highlighting the story.

This is probably the feature both EA and DICE can add to Battlefront 2 as this makes the game instantly more accessible to gamers. True a lot of us out there do love a good multiplayer game but there are a number of us who do like to just shut off from the world and sink into a decent single player experience.

Classes

Battlefront 2 will be adding a brand new class system to multiplayer. This means players will get a lot more variety when it comes to choosing their characters for online play. Classes will be separated into four different roles including officer, heavy, assault and specialist. Each of these classes come with their own weapon modifications and unique abilities for players to use in the heat of battle. Weapon upgrades can be unlocked in game so you won’t have to pay any extra for new abilities and modifications.

Multiple Heroes During Battle

It has been confirmed that during multiplayer battles there is potential to have multiple heroes appearing during battle. This means you can have the likes of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader on the battlefield at the same time. Hero characters won’t be as overpowered as they were in the last game either, giving all players the chance to defeat them and keep the game going. Classes will also play heavily in to taking the heroes out. As a mixture of classes working together will be able to take heroes down provided they have some tactics. You could say that this isn’t very loyal to the Star Wars franchise as Stormtroopers are usually just cannon fodder for the main characters, but if done correctly, this mechanic can make battles even more epic.

Free DLC

One of the biggest gripes that players had against Star Wars Battlefront was the fact they had to fork out even more cash to buy all of the DLC maps and expansions for the game. Battlefront 2 turns the table as both EA and DICE have confirmed that it will feature a season of DLC which will be completely free. This will feature star cards, new locations, new modes, new vehicles, new characters, new weapons and much much more.

Based off of these new features alone we can really tell that EA and DICE are listening to their fans. We can’t wait to jump into Star Wars Battlefront 2 when it releases on the 17th November 2017.

 

 

Metro Exodus

The Microsoft conference had probably some of the best announcements to come out of E3 2017, with first looks at the one and only Xbox One X One 111 X One and other fantastic games to emerge, including the long awaited Metro Exodus, can I get a hell yeah! But which are the best games to take the top spots, to earn the conference crown. I’ll tell you…

1. Metro Exodus

We have a winner. Metro Exodus is the third game in the Metro series and it looks badass. It’s got the grit, the gore, the survival, the horror, the desolate, hopeless setting that means you’ll probably spend the whole game panicking.

2. Metro Exodus

DID I MENTION AT ALL, IT HAS MUTANT ANIMALS. Not just your regular bear, a raging, ravenous, disfigured bear and wolves, which are pretty cute actually, I’ll feel bad about killing those. But our favourite mutant mole things (Nosalis) are back!

3. Metro Exodus

There’s this game called Metro Exodus and it looks like it will be mainly set outside, yay! I like the outside, more places to run and escape. Not that you should play that way, obviously, face your nightmares, take no prisoners!

4. Metro Exodus

The guns are gunna be guuuuud. There’s no time to stop still, which I guess is the point. True to Metro games, it’s mad dashing, hiding, surviving, and killing, mad dashing, hiding, surviving and killing…

5. Metro Exodus

Winter is the best month because you can play games without feeling bad about not going outside and having people say, hey, not got a tan yet. NO! Set in Moscow, the icy setting and perpetual winter just adds an extra chill to the creepy and barren setting. Although this Metro game features snow at the beginning, it looks like it could be Autumn in Moscow, that’s okay though, I’ll take some grass, it’s easier to spot enemies anyway.

6. Metro Exodus

7. Metro Exodus

THIS QUOTE from the game dev —–> “We’re doing this mix of classic gameplay and this new non-linear style and we wanted to maintain what our fans expect, what they’ve known, and what they’re used to and love, while also introducing something new that is blending of what we’ve done over the past two games and plus something that the core team at 4A Games has done in the past with the Stalker games.”

8. Metro Exodus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEuEOugOXcc

9. Anthem also looks good

Because of the exo-suits.

10. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

This is a whole different story for another day.

IN SUMMARY, Metro Exodus.

Micro Machines World Series Is The Sequel You’ve Always Wanted

If you have played Micro Machines in the past then you are probably one of the many gamers who thinks that we are seriously overdue a Micro Machines game. Whether you played Micro Machines on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Micro Machines Turbo 64 or Micro Machines V3, you’re probably craving a new game as much as the next person.

Well you’re in luck as Micro Machines World Tour is out next week, and here is what you can expect from the next game in the series.

Tiny Cars

The thing that Micro Machines is most famous for is the tiny cars that the players get to drive. These cars are able to go around a whole manner of different tracks, they are also able to wield a plethora of different weapons in order to foil their opponents.

In World Series, the Micro Machines you have come to love are back in full force. There hasn’t been an official list of cars released as yet but we can expect futuristic cars, police cars, ambulances, diggers, monster trucks the list goes on.

Weapons Weapons Weapons

As previously stated these tiny cars are able to wield some devastating weapons, such as missiles, flame throwers, bombs, lasers, comedy hammers and even black holes. These weapons can easily wreak havoc and turn the tides of tiny car battles.

Inventive Tracks And Arenas

As these vehicles are miniature, the environments they are able to navigate round are plentiful. There will be tracks and arenas set in kitchens, workshops, gardens, on pool tables and even on a hungry hungry hippos game board. Each level will come with its own hazards and obstacles for players to avoid which are uniquely themed to the level.

Game Modes

There will be a few different game modes for players to choose from. Even though we haven’t got official confirmation on how many game modes there will be, the trailers have given us a glimpse into what modes we can expect. There will be a battle mode where players will use weapons in order to be the last Micro Machine standing. There is also a capture the flag mode and a standard race mode which all look like great fun.

Multiplayer

You can’t have a Micro Machines without multiplayer. World Series has 4 player local multiplayer and up to 12 players online. This is the perfect game to challenge your friends at and prove that you are the best tiny car driver out there.

Nostalgia

This is probably the most loyal Micro Machines game the series has had since the good old days. The cars bounce around like they used to when someone wins and the camera is in the classic top down view. The only thing it really is missing is the ability to share one controller between 2 people much like you were able to in Micro Machines Turbo 64.

Brian Blessed

Codemasters have recruited Brian Blessed as the games announcer. Need I say more? Lets just hope we get a Flash Gordon quote or two in there for good measure.

Micro Machines World Series is available for pre-purchase from the Green Man Gaming store right now. The game is due out on the 30th June 2017.

Things To Try Out In DOOM VFR (Violent Content)

Doom VFR was unveiled at E3 by Bethesda and it promises to bring the nonstop adrenaline fuelled action from DOOM 2016 straight out your VR headset. With this in mind we have come up with a list of things you should try out in DOOM VFR based off of the DOOM 2016 game, seeing as DOOM VFR looks like a brand new story, this is just speculation.

WARNING: This article contains violent content that could be considered NSFW

Waking Up And Killing A Demon

The first thing DOOM Guy (yes that’s his official name) does when he wakes up in DOOM 2016, is take out a demon before he has even ripped off the shackles that bind him. This in VR would be pretty awesome to experience, just witnessing the sheer power of taking the demon’s head and watching it explode is pretty epic.

Putting On The Iconic Suit Of Armour

When gamers think of the protagonist of any DOOM game their mind immediately goes to the iconic suit of armour. DOOM Guy was rocking green space armour before Master Chief was even a glint in Bungie’s eye. So donning this iconic piece of kit in the opening scenes of DOOM VFR would be a pretty awesome experience. I wonder if they will even go to the extent of having players physically put the armour on with motion controls, probably not but it would be funny for a spectator to watch.

Locking and loading the super shotgun for the first time

Next to the BFG the Super Shotgun is one of DOOM’s most iconic weapons. In DOOM 2016 you prize the gun from a dead corpse. Even though this only lasts a few seconds, this is a scene that fans adore and would work well in VR.

Chainsaw Executions

Chainsaw executions in DOOM 2016 were some of the goriest kills you could pull off. So in VR these could be quite the sight to behold. For the true Chainsaw Execution experience we suggest you get a friend to throw some red paint at you whilst you execute this kill move.

High Speed FPS Action

DOOM is famous for high speed first person shooting. It’s so fast that it feels like DOOM Guy is ice skating his way around hell. (knowing DOOM’s track record, he’s probably just sliding around in pools of blood) So expect the same feeling to be transferred over to DOOM VFR. If you haven’t gathered already, this game is not a pleasant walk in the park on a summers day.

So that is just some of the things you should try out when DOOM VFR comes to a Virtual Reality headset near you. You can pre-purchase the game on Green Man Gaming right now.

You can check out the full DOOM VFR E3 Trailer below.

Previously On Uncharted…

For those unfamiliar with the Uncharted series, the latest game Uncharted: The Lost Legacy by Naughty Dog still may have caught your eye. The game features two strong female leads and plenty of action, it’s a third person adventure story that has an abundance of shoot outs to make it interesting, character personality to make it gripping and a story at its core to make it extremely enticing. So, if you missed out on all four Uncharted games, this standalone game, larger than an expansion but not as big as the full experience, is worth all the fuss the Uncharted games received. Here’s a rundown of what you missed and what you can expect.

Characters

The characters have always made the games. Nathan Drake, along with his good friend Sully start the Uncharted games on a strong path. Only strengthened by the arrival of Elena, cue romance. The characters have solid identities, Nathan being lackadaisical, outgoing, optimistic, paired with his friends composed, yet cheeky humour. They compliment each other and the dialogue is natural, humorous and seamless, which is what Naughty Dog always get so right.

So how do Nadine and Chloe fit into all of this? In Uncharted: A Lost Legacy, you’ll play as Chloe Frazer, who first appeared in Uncharted 2, Drake’s Fortune. An ex-love interest for Nathan, Chloe is also in the treasure hunting business. She’s feisty, not as loyal as Nathan and has been described as the best driver in the business.

Nadine Ross came onto the scene in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. She was an aid to the main antagonist and a large part in actively ending Nathan Drake. Chloe and Nadine should make a good pair, as long as they keep their eye on the prize.

Story

The Uncharted game has always delivered a remarkable story with tonnes of detail. In all four games, you play as Nathan Drake, a treasure seeker, not glory hunter. He knows his stuff, he appreciates the history, he enjoys the chase and the competitive thrill that positions him against enemies. The story always begins with the idea of a treasure, evolving as you explore beautiful tombs, vast beaches and islands crammed with secrets.

In Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, you’ll play in India, on the hunt for a lost artifact called ‘Tusk of Ganesh’.

Action

Chloe will have a very different skillset to Nathan Drake, described as not being as ‘brawly’ as the original Uncharted protagonist. As in the most Uncharted games, the action was plentiful, but varied. It wasn’t just shoot outs between hordes of enemies, there was always a different element, something to fear. The first Uncharted featured mutated humans, whilst the second these giant grizzly, bigfoot characters. There’s also a great middle ground between fighting, solving puzzles and exploring.

Chloe has been described as having a stealthier approach and she’ll have silencer weapons available, something missing from the previous Uncharted games.

Setting

The setting will not disappoint as with all Uncharted games, especially A Thief’s End, that have been mesmerisingly beautiful. Uncharted games have transported us to array of exotic and varied locations including Madagascar, Scotland, Italy and Columbia, to name a few. The locations are all incredibly detailed and reflect the in the gameplay, with Nathan treading carefully through Scotland’s misty rains, or fighting for survival in the desolate Arabian Desert.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will be set in India and it’s sure to be glorious.

Treasure

Uncharted endings are always loud. They usually consist of an intense build up to the finale, fighting through swarms of enemies, whilst manically avoiding death. More than likely the treasure will be tainted, it will be cursed, something will be going down, but it’s worth the fight, because the twist and turns and grand reveals always end on a satisfying boss fight and the need to play another Uncharted game.

What’s In The GTAV Gunnrunning Update

Grand Theft Auto V has just released its brand new Gun Running update and it is looking nothing short of awesome. If you are still unsure what the update includes then we have you covered. Check out the info below.

Gunrunning Business

At it’s core the Gunrunning update is about the illegal arms trade. Players will be tasked with smuggling high-value weapons into San Andreas, they will also get the opportunity to gain quite the collection of player customised, weaponised vehicles.

If you have already put the time in to become a CEO, Biker Club President, or VIP then you will be able to purchase an underground bunker in the Grand Senora Desert. These bunkers will act as your base of operations and enable you to create your many small arms manufacturing outfits. Once players have your finger in the illegal arms trade pie they will be able to see the cash piling. You will also get the opportunity to earn weapons modifications for your current arsenal as well as your vehicles.

Mobile Operations

Players will get the opportunity to acquire a mobile centre of operations for their new business. These hulking great lorries come with their own set of missions for players to complete, in order to get more cash and modifications.

Weaponised Vehicles

This is where the true fun begins, Gunrunning will give players access to a load of different weaponised vehicles such as:

  • HVY APC – This is a heavily armoured vehicle comes complete with a turret mounted cannon, and port holes for for small fire arms.
  • BF DUNE FAV – a light-weight two person vehicle which can be upgraded with grenade launchers.
  • BRAVADO HALF-TRACK – An all terrain armoured vehicle which comes with a double barrelled .50 caliber turret for your buddies to use.
  • PEGASSI OPPRESSOR – A jet propelled winged motorbike with front mounted machine guns.
  • DECLASSE WEAPONIZED TAMPA – A heavily armoured classic car with a front mounted mini-gun.
  • VOM FEUER ANTI-AIRCRAFT TRAILER – A trailer that can be mounted to most vehicles, comes armed with it’s own ant-aircraft missiles for your friends to fire.

New Weapon upgrades

It wouldn’t be an illegal arms update without some new weapon upgrades. Here’s what players will be able to get their hands on.

The following weapons will be able to be upgraded to MK II status:

  • Pistol
  • SMG
  • Assault Rifle
  • Carbine Rifle
  • Combat MG
  • Heavy Sniper

Players can also research the following modifications:

  • Tracer Rounds
  • Incendiary Rounds
  • Hollow Point Rounds
  • Armour Piercing Rounds
  • Full Metal Jacket Rounds
  • Explosive Rounds

That covers what you get in the brand new Grand Theft Auto V Gunrunning update. Green Man Gaming also have a huge GTA V sale on where you can get up to 60% off of GTA V and Shark Cards.

We shall leave you with the Gunrunning Trailer.

What’s Inside The WipEout: Omega Collection

The first PlayStation won the hearts of millions of gamers when it was first released back in 1994 (or 1995 if you’re in North America/Europe). One of the best racing games to come out for the PlayStation was WipEout which rose to critical acclaim. The futuristic racer captured the imagination of many a gamer and is still one of my favourite racing franchises to date.

So it will come to no surprise that I am more than excited about the WipEout: Omega Collection, but what do you exactly get in it? Read below and find out.

Note: WipEout: Omega Collection essentially amalgamates all of the below games into one big game. The collection has nine game modes which are Zone, Tournament, Speed Lap, Time Trial and Single Race from WipEout HD, and Zone Battle, Eliminator and Detonator from WipEout HD Fury. It will also include the full career mode from WipEout 2048.

Wipeout HD

WipEout HD

First released on the PlayStation 3, WipEout HD is set in the year 2206 during the FX350 anti-gravity racing league. If you are a sucker for timelines, that is one year prior to WipEout Pulse which you can get more info on below. Gameplay wise, WipEout HD followed the same suit as previous WipEout titles using weapons and break next speeds in order to win. There are 5 race types to choose from Single Race, Tournament, Speed Lap, Time Trial, and Zone. which gives players some great variety. It also comes with a considerable graphics upgrade compared to any other WipEout game.

Wipeout HD Fury

WipEout HD Fury

An expansion pack for WipEout HD, WipEout HD Fury added 8 new tracks and 13 new ship models to the game. It also threw in 3 new game modes, 6 new music tracks and 13 trophies. So with both WipEout HD and WipEout HD Fury in the mix you get more anti-gravity racing for your buck, but the Omega Collection doesn’t stop here.

Wipeout Pure

WipEout Pure

The sixth instalment in the WipEout franchise and the first PlayStation portable title, WipEout Pulse was also bundled with WipEout HD but we thought we would give it its own entry as it is still a worthy game. The game itself takes place in the year 2197 and went back to the same gameplay mechanics/handling as the second WipEout game, WipEout 2097. Once of the biggest changes Pure brought to the franchise was the ability to absorb weapons to replenish shields as apposed to using the pit lane.

Wipeout Pulse

WipEout Pulse

The sequel to WipEout Pure, WipEout Pulse was also bundled in with WipEout HD. This game skips time a bit and is set in the year 2207 during the FX400 anti-gravity racing league (are you keeping up with the timelines here? Don’t worry I struggle with it too). Pulse wasn’t too different from its predecessor the game did introduce the option to play each track backwards or forwards.

Wipeout 2048

WipEout 2048

Possibly one of the main reasons I got a PlayStation Vita, Wipeout 2048 was released as a PS Vita launch title and utilised a lot of the Vita’s key features it also had a full blown career mode and some the best graphics I have ever seen from a WipEout game. However the Vita features won’t transfer over to the PS4 (such as using the rear touch pad to accelerate) it’s full career mode will feature in the Omega Collection.

So there you have it! Will you be grabbing the WipEout: Omega Collection? Our US customers can grab it now on the Green Man Gaming Store.

 

The History Of DiRT Games

DiRT 4 is released this week, and despite it having ‘4’ in the title, it is not the fourth title in the series, nor is it anywhere close. This series of rallying games goes way back to the humble PS1, and has been popular ever since. Prepare to be taken back in time to those days, when controllers were kind of the same but that weird grey colour and wired. Wierd.

1998-2004 – Colin McRae Rally 1-5

The game series began life as ‘Colin McRae Rally’, named after the famous rally driver Colin McRae, as he was consulted on the game and its design, and his Subaru Impreza with blue and gold livery was on the box cover. The first game launched in 1998, and had 4 more sequels running up to 2004, steadily improving the rally experience, and pitting players against McRae himself in various game modes and world locations from the World Rally Championship. Towards the end of the series, it was squeezing as much power out of the PS2 as it could, delivering advanced damage effects for its time.

2007 – Colin McRae: DiRT

With the new PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms, the series was relaunched and rebranded as Colin McRae’s DiRT. This came with a flurry of new game modes that expanded the off-roading racing world, such as: Hill Climb, Crossover, RallyCross, Rally, Rally Raid and CORR mode with buggies and trucks racing together. It also introduced the pyramid style career mode, allowing you to progress further up the more disciplines you master.

2009 – Colin McRae: DiRT 2

DiRT 2 was the first game in the series following Colin McRae’s unfortunate death in 2007. The game instead featured drivers such as Ken Block, Dave Mirra, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust, all lending their voices to their characters in-game, and available to race against, be taunted by and also team up with. DiRT 2 introduced new stadium events, and new game modes such as Elimination, Gate Crash and Last Man Standing, giving the game a much more arcadey feel compared to its rallying pedigree. It also adapted the ‘flashback’ mechanic from its sister title Grid, allowing players to rewind time a certain amount of times in a race to avoid crashing.

2011 – DiRT 3

DiRT 3 was the first game to drop Colin McRae’s name from the game title, and is known as the biggest departure from the simulation rally experience. It had a significant focus on the ‘gymkhana’ aspect of racing, a mode where players must get high scores by performing tricks and stunts in an arena. This allowed the game to have party game modes with multiple players all racing around arenas trying to outdo each other. Despite that fact, the standard rallying experiences were still present, and it even contained a ‘hardcore’ mode, that restricted the player to a cockpit view and no visual aids of assists for driving.

2015 – DiRT Rally

The first DiRT game on PS4 and Xbox One, it also saw a return to the roots of the series: rallying. The game was found to be very difficult, but also incredibly accurate as a rallying simulator game. The excellent new graphics also featured tracks from around the world and different weather systems, and 17 different cars from various eras of rally, from 1970s to modern. The game was praised by some as a return to form, the best rallying game on the market, and one of the best racing games on the current generation of consoles.

2017 – DiRT 4

The latest DiRT title is set to combine the fun and accessibility of DiRT 2 and 3, and blend in the hardcore simulation aspects of DiRT Rally, by having two modes: Simulation and Gamer. It also looks better than ever, the cars have even more realistic handling mechanics on various surfaces and it can procedurally-generate rally stages, giving the player millions of different tracks to enjoy.

DiRT 4 is out now on our store. What was your favourite racing series ever?

 

10 Resident Evil 7 Emotions From Beginning To End

When you see resident evil 7 is 40% off at Green Man Gaming

When you start playing Resident Evil 7

5 minutes later when you go into the kitchen

When you can’t solve a puzzle

When you’re having the awkward Baker family dinner

When Jack comes bursting through the wall

When you try and make jokes to make it less scary

When you talk yourself into going in a room

When going in there was a bad idea

When you get to the end

Why You Should Get Resident Evil 7 Now

Resident Evil 7 has been regarded as one of the best survival horror games of the year (so far) to some it has even been heralded as the best Resident Evil game to date. It has been a few months since it’s first release back in February 2017 and there have been a few updates and DLC packs added to the game. Here is what has been added to Resident Evil 7 since release.

Banned Footage Vol 1

The first banned footage DLC contains 2 VHS tapes for you to play through. These VHS tapes are separate from the story and offer new challenges and puzzles. Here is what you get

  • Bedroom VHS Tape – Players take on the role of Clancy Jarvis, a camera man for the paranormal web series, Sewer Gators. Clancy has been featured in VHS tapes before which follow his story as he investigates the Baker household. In Bedroom, Clancy has to escape the Master bedroom of the Baker house, he has been tied to the bed and the objective is to escape without being noticed. Sounds easy but Marguerite Baker is no push over.
  • Nightmare VHS Tape – A change of pace from Bedroom, Nightmare puts you back into the shoes of Clancy as he has to fight his way through several of Jack Baker’s ‘friends’. The friends we speak of are the Molded, who are grotesque zombie like creatures. All yo have to do is survive until 5AM.
  • Ethan Must Die  – Playing as Ethan, your objective is to get through the main house and face Marguerite Baker. Item and weapon drops are completely random, there are no check points and most, if not all the enemies are one hit kills. Good luck!

Banned Footage Vol 2

The second banned footage DLC is much like the first in that it offers the player a couple of VHS tapes to play through as well as a brand new game mode. Here is what’s featured.

  • 21 VHS Tape – Picking up from where the ‘Nightmare’ tape left off, Clancy is caught by Lucas Baker and then thrown into a room to play a deadly game of black jack with Hoffman, another victim of the Baker family. Will you survive this deadly game of Blackjack?
  • Daughters VHS Tape – A prequel story where players control Zoe Baker before the events of Resident Evil 7. This story sets up Resident Evil 7 nicely and gives players an insight into how Mia ended up at the Baker Household and how the family fell under the influence of Eveline
  • Jack’s 55 Birthday – Playing as Mia your objective is to feed Jack Baker food and drink scattered around the stage until he is full. Kill enemies to stop time running out.

That is all of the DLC packs released for Resident Evil 7 so far. There is more to come however, as Capcom have also promised us a Free DLC pack.

Not a Hero

This story DLC will expand the already in depth plot that Resident Evil 7 offers. No real information has been released about Not A Hero, but it has been confirmed that Chris Redfield will star in this DLC. How this will tie into the Baker family and the over Resident Evil 7 story still remains a mystery.

You can grab Resident Evil 7 at an amazing 40% off right now on the Green Man Gaming store.

The Lowdown – DiRT 4

DiRT 4 is the latest entry into the rallying game series DiRT, created by Codemasters. The last game in the numbered titles was the popular DiRT 3, a game that heavily focused on the stadium and stunt side of the rallying world. The game after that was DiRT Rally, which showed fans that Codemasters could still make one of the most satisfying and hardcore rallying experiences out there. So DiRT 4 has a lot to live up to, but I’m happy to report that it takes what it’s learnt from its past two titles and combines them in a majestic fashion.

Your Stage

The brand new feature being brought to the DiRT series in this iteration is ‘Your Stage’. It doesn’t contain any official WRC (World Rally Championship) cars or race tracks, but in lieu of that the game can procedurally generate a race track based off of variables that you input such as length, weather, and location. This produces potentially millions of different stages, and whilst you may be lamenting not racing around your favourite tracks from the WRC, you can challenge your friends to top your time on a stage you particularly enjoyed, that no-one else would’ve played.

Gamer and Simulation

As per usual, DiRT 4 has various difficulty affecting choices and handicaps for players who may or may not want the full rallying experience. On the more arcade-y end of the spectrum is Gamer mode. This turns on all handicaps, and turns off certain effects the cars will experience that mirror real-life. On the other side you have Simulation mode, which was perfected in DiRT Rally. This turns on incredibly realistic car physics, and switches off all aids, including visual cues from the co-driver. If you want to know what it’s like to be a proper rally driver, select Simulation.

Locations

DiRT 4 features 5 different locations for the rallying stages, which happen to be the ones you can pick from in Your Ride mode. They are Fitzroy in Australia, Tarragona in Spain, Michigan in the United States, Värmland in Sweden and Powys in Wales. These locations provide all the staples of a decent rallying stage: dusty and dry tracks, muddy woodland roads in the rain, and snowy forests with hazardous crests.

RallyCross and LandRush

Whereas DiRT 4 does not officially feature cars and tracks from the WRC, it does carry a World Rallycross Championship. This means it has perfectly recreated 5 real-life rallycross circuits: Lydden Hill Race Circuit in Great Britain, Höljesbanan in Sweden, Lånkebanen in Norway, the Circuit de Lohéac in France and the Pista Automóvel de Montalegre in Portugal. It will include official supercar and RX lite rallycross vehicles, for that authentic feel. Landrush is also in the game, allowing players to race around in stadium trucks and buggies.

Joyride

Remember when I said DiRT 4 was an amalgamation of DiRT 3 and DiRT Rally? Well the DiRT 3 genes come in the form of Joyride mode. Making its return this mode sets players in an area filled with obstacles, ramps and tunnels and are tasked with pulling off stunts to get the most points. Different game modes are included too, like Zombie, where one car is infected and most infect the others through physical contact. Think MarioKart’s battle mode but with real-life cars and stunts.

There’s our lowdown on DiRT 4. What are your thoughts on racing games, do you go for the arcade-y ones or the proper simulations?

The Best Game Intros Ever

Videogames come front loaded, that’s a fact. They tend to put their best ideas up front so that you get sucked into the game and often see the best that it has to offer straight away.

But some games go one better, they offer up iconic, amazing moments at the start that define the game or are talked about for years to come.

So here’s the best starts to games…EVER*

*As chosen by me, so don’t get angry with the whole of Green Man Gaming if you disagree. Fight me on Twitter instead!

Half-Life

Half Life

If you weren’t around for the late 90s then you might not get just how amazing the start to Half Life was, and how much of a game-changer it was. I know this is the refrain of all elders, you had to be there, you weren’t there man, you didn’t see it. But in this case, it’s true.

Until Half Life most FPS games started you off with maybe a wall of text before you were into the game, blasting fools with whatever weapons you had. The nearest to a narrative opening was Duke Nukem 3D, and that was still ‘my ride got shot down let’s shoot some dudes’.

Half Life had you getting fully immersed in the world, getting to know Black Mesa and what it was like before anything went down. You did a bit of your job, knocked on toilet doors, ruined someone’s lunch, pressed alarm buttons in the reception, all before any aliens even turned up. It meant when stuff did go wrong in the resonance cascade and the world turned to poop, you cared more about it because you’d inhabited that space for a bit first.

Lengthy tram ride aside, that opening to Half Life was a stunner, and it’s still something that few games rarely nail on the same level.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us

The opening to The Last of Us is an entire zombie film in a few minutes. For a lot of games, the setup and intro of The Last of Us would be the whole game, and it’s certainly enough to sustain a 10 hour narrative. For Naughty Dog, they went one further and smashed that entire narrative into just a few minutes at the start of the game.

The first few minutes are filled with the kind of dread we’ve all felt upon waking during the night as a child. It takes that dread, twists it, and amplifies it as a father goes through the worst night of his life in front of your eyes. And you make it happen, you’re responsible, you pressed forward and you continued with the game. You could’ve stopped the game at any point, but you didn’t did you.

Monster.

Also if you’re not crying by the end of that intro then I really don’t know how to relate to you.

Journey

Journey

Less is more. Sometimes.

Wide open vistas of sand and little else. A star streaks overhead, stones arranged like graves underneath. Your eyes open and there you are, sat in the hot desert, and the game opens.

The beauty of this opening is that it’s all you need. Do you need to know why you’re there? Do you need to know who you are? Do you need to know where you’re going? Do you need to know what the desert is? Do you need to know what those stones mean?

You’ll find out some of the answers to those questions on your way through the game if you pay attention, but remember the name of the game. It’s the Journey that matters here. The start sets you up with everything you need to know to play and love Journey.

You’re in a desert. You can see something on top of a nearby dune.

Off you go.

Bioshock

Bioshock

Often copied and never equalled, the Bioshock opening is still stunning to this day. Seeing Rapture unveiled underneath you as you travel via bathysphere deep underwater is a phenomenal moment.

But let’s rewind for a second. The start asks a question that’s instantly a mystery you’ll work to answer for the rest of the game, just who the hell are you? Following that up with a plane crash into the cold Pacific waters lets the game show off its amazing water, and you’re pulled deeper up into the lighthouse and then down with very little prompting, just because it feels so natural to go and explore.

Then you take the bathysphere down, you see the outline of Andrew Ryan’s philosophy, and you begin to learn that all is not well in the wondrous city of Rapture.

But nothing can beat that view of the city, looking out over it with the music playing and the lights shining away like a treasure hidden away at the bottom of the world. It’s a moment that is writ large in gaming history, and it deserves to be.

Fahrenheit / Indigo Prophecy

Fahrenheit

The most tense start to a game. You wake up in a public toilet and you appear to have committed a murder. The game showcases the cinematic style that Quantic Dream and David Cage were, and still are, aiming at perfectly during this opening sequence. You simultaneously clean up after your crime, while keeping an eye on a policeman who’s about to take a whizz.

Clean up as quickly as you can, otherwise it’s jail for you sonny!

This approach means it doesn’t have to rely on clunky ‘gamey’ mechanics like a timer or a countdown or anything like that, you’re just watching someone about their business, knowing that their business means curtains for you.

It’s David Cage at his cinematic best, and it’s a shame the rest of the game doesn’t quite live up to those opening moments. Looking at *you*, giant bug-Matrix fight scene.

Bloodborne

Bloodborne

A man looms over you and burbles about blood, a creature emerges from the ichor seeping over the floor, a cluster of miniature homunculi edge their way up and over your body.

Then you’re into the game itself. You have no weapon, mysterious messages give you the basics of the control system, but all you can do is wander forward.

You meet a beast. It’s eating a meal, what you can only assume is a previous occupant of Iosefka’s Clinic. It turns, it growls, it attacks.

Inevitably you die, but instead of eternal rest you wake up in the Hunter’s Dream. The game begins properly now.

This is a brilliant intro to the game because it teaches you one valuable lesson. You will die. You will die a lot. You will die when you don’t expect it. You will die when you did your best. But death is not the end, you can pick yourself up and carry on and beat seven shades of hell out of whatever it was that sent you deathwards.

So you return, finally armed, and you give that beast hell. Yharnam awaits you, the hunt has begun.

Those are my choices for the Best Game Openings. What are yours? Let us know on social media, or in the comments below!