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.
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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.
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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
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
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
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
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
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 Battle For Middle-earth: Shadow Of War Story
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!
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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!
A History Of The Elder Scrolls Series
5 Mac Games You Can’t Afford To Miss
If you think you’re missing out from playing the games that everyone is talking about, because you’ve opted for a Mac, instead of PC, you don’t have to feel left out. With a mix of adventures, RPGs, shooters and action games available on Mac, here’s what you can’t miss out on.
With the next Life is Strange, officially confirmed as in the works; it’s a great excuse to pick up a copy of the intense, emotional and complex adventure game. The game’s mechanics are beautifully surreal, as you’re able to rewind time and manipulate the story and gameplay based on your decisions and actions. Everything has a consequence, so choose your words carefully.
You’ll follow the story of Max Caulfield, a photography senior, who has returned to her hometown Arcadia Bay to attend the renowned art college. When Max discovers her mysterious new power, she’ll explore a whirlwind of decisions, as she discovers deceit, old friendships and the rotten core that envelopes all her choices.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Now we’re going to have to wait a little longer for Shadow of War, with the title announcing it’s been pushed back a couple of months. There’s still time to squeeze in the first in the series. This third person RPG explores the tumultuous Tolkein universe, stepping into the role of Talion, a soldier out for revenge against Sauron.
The story takes place in between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings, with Talion merging with the disgraced wraith Celebrimbor. Now Talion must rise up and form an army to exact his revenge on the dark lord and finish the fight for Mordor. The action is impressive, with a complex Nemesis System, which makes each battle count.
The first game in the series reboot, Tomb Raider is a prequel to the original games, exploring how Lara Croft came to be the wild, badass adventurer she is now. Beginning the game as a young Lara, you’re quickly thrust onto an island. Threatened by the inhabitants and fighting for your life, Lara must learn quickly all the skills she needs to be a tomb raider.
The reboot is a fantastic game for Tomb Raider fans and beginners to the series. The game has a raw edge to it, where Lara feels slightly clumsy as she learns to find her footing. The bow and arrow mechanics are incredible, the enemy is enticing and the island is the perfect setting for Lara to investigate, hide, kill and survive.
Borderlands 2 is a first person shooter, set in Pandora, the manic and volatile world, full of quirky characters, a hostile enemy and an endless amount of guns. The story and four beginning playable characters as well as the people you meet throughout, make this game hours worth of explosive side missions, dynamic quests and level grinding in the vast expanses this open world has to offer.
Borderlands 2 is great for those who want to play a shooter their own way, you can choose a defensive play style, or an up in your grill approach, whether you want to play medic, hang back with a sniper of get into the nitty gritty with a shotgun. Borderlands 2 also have online co-op, so playing with mates has never been better.
The first in the series, the first person shooter from 2K Games is a submerged, creepy game, set in the deep, dark, dank world called Rapture. This action-adventure-shooter has an exhilarating pulse that runs through the gameplay as your guided by a voice on the end of a walkie-talkie.
The enemy called Splicers vary in ability and will keep you on your toes as you wander the enclosed corridors and decaying rooms, climbing to your destination. Bioshock is a great game to join immediate action, with a range of average weapons that you can jazz up how you like. Your abilities are in the form of plasmids, which thrust the play your own way style on you from the get go, with a huge range of abilities including electric shocks, a bee swarm and setting your enemies on fire.
Playing a game on the Mac? Care to share? Drop us a comment.
Wonder Woman’s Video Game History
Wonder Woman hit cinemas last week to critical acclaim. If like me you caught the movie over the weekend and feel like you still want to ride the hype train, then here are some games that Wonder Woman has appeared in for you to try out.
Please Note: During the writing of this article, we realised that Wonder Woman needs to be in more games. She should also get her own stand alone title.
The Justice League games
There have been a fair few Justice League games throughout the years where Diana Prince has made an appearance, in the early days of DC she wasn’t really front and centre of the Justice League, but she has made some decent appearances in the early video games. Here is a list of all the Justice League games that include Wonder Woman.
1995 – Justice League Task Force – Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis – The first ever DC fighting game which shared some similarities to Street Fighter. The game featured Wonder Woman as a playable character as well as her arch enemy at the time, Cheetah.
2002 – Justice League: Injustice for All – Game Boy Advance – The first DC side scrolling beat ’em up on the Game Boy Advance, the game featured both Wonder Woman as a playable character and Cheetah as one of the villains and members of the Injustice Gang.
2003 – Justice League: Chronicles – Game Boy Advance – A game that was based on the Cartoon Network show of the same name, Justice League Chronicles was a side scrolling beat ’em up where players controlled different members of the Justice League. You can play as Wonder Woman on the level ‘Savage Time’ using her lasso of truth to attack enemies.
2006 – Justice League Heroes – PlayStation 2 and Xbox – A 3D beat ’em up game for the Xbox and PS2, Justice League Heroes let players control a number of members of the Justice League and save the world from a number of DC villains such as Brainiac, Darkseid and Professor Zoom. Wonder Woman is playable in this game during episode 4 where she teams up with Zatanna.
The LEGO Games
Wonder Woman features heavily in both LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes and LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, where she has access to her shield and her Lasso, she can also fly. She also features in the LEGO Movie Game and LEGO Dimensions complete with invisible jet.
Injustice: Gods Among Us and Injustice 2
The two games where Wonder Woman shines most! Even though Diana is technically evil in the Injustice games as she joins Superman’s world dominating regime, Injustice gets her characterisation spot on. For those not in the know, both Injustice: Gods Among Us and Injustice 2 are fighting games developed my NetherRealms Studios. The games heavily focus on story and Injustice 2 in particular focuses on character customisation.
NetherRealm have taken careful consideration when it comes to creating Diana. They have crafted a lot of her moves around her weapons such as the lasso of truth, her sword and her shield. Don’t just take my word for it though, check out her awesomeness in the trailer below.
In Conclusion: We need a stand alone Wonder Woman Game
After just getting a glimpse of Wonder Woman’s potential in Injustice, and her epic story alone in the Wonder Woman movie, there is so much potential for a great Wonder Woman game out there. Just imagine a game on the scale of God of War, with the characterisation of Injustice and Rocksteady’s Arkham series starring a nearly 7 foot tall amazonian woman with a cast of greek god villains. You really can’t go wrong.
Morrowind: A Look Back at Vvardenfell
Morrowind’s back, we’re heading back to Vvardenfell! The Elder Scrolls Online’s next expansion is to be set on the small island of Vvardenfell, a place we haven’t been since 2002! Or if you’re in-universe, a place we won’t go to again for 800 years.
We’re very excited to get to see Vvardenfell in a previous age, before the Sixth House awoke and before a certain stranger born under a certain sign reached its shores. Check out the latest trailer!
But what’s changed? Lets take a look back at Vvardenfell, and see what the place used to look like, all the way back in 2002-o-vision.
Seyda Neen
The first place you’ll see when you get to Vvardenfell is the Imperial hamlet of Seyda Neen, where all new arrivals are processed and where a guard stands on with bemusement as a prisoner changes their face a few thousand times before settling on something. A tiny and rough little place, it’s your gateway to Vvardenfell and the place where you learn about the clash of cultures across Morrowind. Also the home to Fargoth, the most hateful Wood Elf this side of Valenwood. Preview pictures from The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind show that Seyda Neen existed back then, but will it be filled with hateful Wood Elves?
Balmora
Probably home for a lot of players, Balmora is the first real city you’ll get to, having been sent there as the goal of your first quest. On the surface it’s a beautiful place made of adobe and wattle, spanning across a river. Scratch its surface and you’ll find that Balmora is a hub of villainy, the amoral Hlaalu family make it their seat of power and the local Fighters Guild is secretly run by the criminal Camonna Tong. We know that The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind will have Balmora in it, will it become your home?
Ald’ruhn
My personal favourite, the stodgy but valiant house Redoran call this place home, and it’s mainly made of bone houses situated in the desolate Ashlands. Its central area is contained within the chitinous shell of a huge crab, you don’t get THAT in Cyrodil! Hopefully in The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind we’ll get to go back there, stand in that giant crab, and dust our eyes from the ash storms pouring off the Red Mountain. And speaking of the Red Mountain…
The Red Mountain
Not so much important for what it is but for the shadow it casts, both literally and figuratively, the Red Mountain is the site of the Heart of Lorkhan, a Dwemer object that can confer near-godhood on its user. Dagoth Ur rests there, plotting and planning to take his revenge on the holy Triumvirate and become a living god. Will he still be there during the times of The Elder Scrolls Online? Or will his slumber cause mad dreams across Morrowind?
Sadrith Mora
Home to the wizardly and dastardly house Telvaani, this city is the polar opposite to Ald’ruhn, being instead a fleshy city of plant matter, podhouses and treehomes littering its island refuge. Even more than any other city, this is a playground for the utterly amoral, no rules exist for the Telvaani other than those which further their own interests and feeds their power. More than almost any other city, I’m excited to see it during its heyday, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind also has the technical ability to show off this city in a way that we could only dream of, back in 2002.
Vivec
Both the city and the person! The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind apparently has both in, Vivec the city is still being built but Vivec the poet-god is alive and well and in full control of his powers at this point in time. You spend a lot of time in Vivec (the city) in Morrowind, getting very used to the cantons and waterways, it’ll be great to see it before it’s the behemoth of a city that it’ll become, like looking behind the curtain to peer at the secrets beneath. Exciting!
M’aiq The Liar’s Island
If M’aiq the Liar’s island doesn’t appear in Morrowind then this writer will KICK OFF, and I’ll have an armed mob protesting in front of the White-Gold Tower before the day is out!
So that’s all the places we’re looking forward to seeing again in The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind! What are you excited to see? Let us know in the comments below!
