With the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda right around the corner we here at Green Man Gaming are in the mood for a little space race.
It has been confirmed by the Andromeda initiative that it takes 600 years for the Ark Fleet to reach Andromeda from the Milky Way, this sounded like a pretty awesome feat so we decided to put it to the test. We got in contact with Captain Picard, Samus Aran, Malcolm Reynolds, Captain Jacob Keyes and Han Solo to see if they wanted to give the Ark Fleet a run for its money. We tried getting in contact with Adama the head of the Galatica but he was on lunch/his phone kept going to voicemail.
Thanks to the beauty of technology we were able to film the race for your viewing pleasure! Who will win? Watch below to find out.
What a race! This is possibly the best thing we have seen this side of Andromeda!
If you still want to analyse the science behind this epic race you can also check out this handy static infographic below. We spent hours interviewing each captain extensively to bring you this inside look to each ship and how it works.
With the release of Nier Automata today on PC we thought we would add to the hype around the game and list some of the best PlatinumGames developed titles. If this list doesn’t give you the faith that Nier Automata is amazing then nothing will.
Bayonetta
Both Bayonetta 1 and 2 have been dubbed by some as the best hack and slash action games ever made. Who doesn’t love the perfect amalgamation of witchcraft, demons and angels. The game also borrows ideas from Dante’s Devine comedy and has also been compared a lot to the original Devil May Cry franchise of games. (Which makes sense as the founder of PlatinumGames helped create Devil May Cry). Both Bayonetta 1 and 2 will give you a great insight into Nier: Automata’s fast paced adrenaline fuelled combat.
Vanquish
PlatinumGames first outing into the 3rd person shooters action game genre puts the player in the shoes/Augmented Reaction Suit of Sam Gideon. Released in a time where Gears Of War was the flavour of the month, Vanquish took the 3rd person cover shooter mechanic and added power sliding and slow motion which worked really well. Also the graphics were pretty shiny, PlatinumGames really know how to make good looking graphics.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
A hack and slash game that stars Raiden from the Metal Gear franchise *Drops mic*
Also if the following video doesn’t sell it to you nothing will (FYI this is the first level):
…I know right?
MadWorld
PlatinumGames first game, Mad World was a Wii exclusive, and was a brutal and bloody game that was stuck in a world of family friendly and casual Wii games. The hack and slash game takes place way in the future where players controlled Jack Cayman, star of Deathwatch, a game show which is a bit like the hunger games but way more brutal. What really made MadWorld unique was it’s art style which I can only assume was heavily influenced by the original Sin City comics by Frank Miller.
Nier: Automata
The latest title to come from PlatinumGames, Nier: Automata is a non stop thrill ride that combines the classic PlatinumGames style hack and slash action with some pretty in depth RPG mechanics. This is the second game in the Nier Franchise and revolves around a war humanity and machines in an epic post apocalyptic setting. If you are a fan of fast paced combat and leveling up that fast paced combat to be even more awesome than it already was then this game is going to tick a lot of boxes.
Honourable Mention – Scalebound
I know I am pining for what could have been here, but Scalebound does deserve at least an honourable mention. The now cancelled PlatinumGames title was going to be a 3rd person action RPG where players would be able to have a pet dragon which was fully customisable. It would have also included an epic RPG system to level up both your character and Dragon and the classic 3rd persona action gameplay that Platinum is famous for. Did I also mention you could have a pet dragon?
We are hugely excited for the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda next week, so we thought it would be an awesome idea to list our top 5 favourite characters from the Mass Effect franchise. This list has the potential to change once we jump into Mass Effect: Andromeda, you’ll also notice that this list doesn’t include humans because quite frankly, they’re boring.
Liara T’soni
Liara is an archeologist with brains. Throughout the Mass Effect trilogy her character development is perfect; starting off pretty shy and unsure of herself but as the story progresses she evolves into a stalwart ally! She also becomes a Shadow Broker and aids you throughout Mass Effect 2, which is pretty awesome. A master of biotic powers, she brings the pain to the battlefield and if you play your cards right, she can even be an ally in love!
Mordin Solus
Besides having a fantastic singing voice and a love for human musicals, Mordin has a great story arc as the scientist who helped re-engineer the genophage disease against the Krogan and then during the events of Mass Effect 3, having a change of heart and sabotaging his work for the greater good. Also the ending to his story line sheds a tear every time. If you don’t cry, you’re broken. Sorry, that’s just how it is.
Garrus Vakarian
It’s safe to say Garrus is a fan favourite. At the start he is a ill mannered C-sec officer who loves to break the rules but by the end he is basically your lizard brother from another mother. His weapon calibration skills are second to none and his reveal as Archangel in Mass effect 2 is beyond epic (spoiler alert… sorry). If you don’t let him win during the Mass Effect 3 shooting competition, you’re basically a monster.
Urdnot Wrex
Urdnot is basically Mass Effect’s answer to a Klingon. If in the first game you do not take the opportunity to kill Urdnot he then becomes the all mighty leader of the Krogans. Did we also mention he is basically a Klingon? We like Klingons! He’s a cool Klingon bro who punches, bashes, and growls his way to our hearts. And who else can say Sheparrrrrrd like him?
Legion
To say that Legion is the best robot and AI in Mass Effect, and possibly scifi, maybe an under statement for us here at Green Man Gaming. For starters it is an utter Shepard fanrobot who as you would expect is obsessed with Shepard, even patching itself up with a bit of castoff N7 armour. Also rumour has it that Legion ‘might’ be a gestalt collective of 1,183 AIs, then again it might not. The end to its storyline also breaks hearts, and it has the most expressive Geth eyebrows this side of Andromeda.
Do you agree with our list? Maybe you have some suggestions of your own? Let us know in the comment below. Also if you want to read up on Mass Effect before Andromeda hits next week then check out our Mass Effect Hub.
To celebrate the launch of Dead Rising 4 on Steam today, we’ve put together a timeline of our favourite zombies throughout gaming history, from Entombed to Dead Rising 4, the evolution of the gaming zombie has come a really long way! Do you agree?
Hello Games have just announced a brand new update for No Man’s Sky. This is the biggest update we have seen for the game and it includes a massive amount of content.
Titled the Path Finder update this new addition to No Man’s Sky builds upon the game’s foundations and gives the title a much needed upgrade.
One of the most exciting elements of the update for me has to be the new addition of land vehicles. There are 3 types of land vehicle included in the update and will make planetary transversal so much easier. There will be dozens of new tech upgrades, ship and weapon classes and even a brand new permadeath mode.
You can check out a full list of what the Path Finder update includes below. If you haven’t got No Man’s Sky yet you can also grab a massive 40% off the game at Green Man Gaming as of tomorrow (9th of March 2017). Here is what the Path Finder Update includes:
Planetary Vehicles – build up to 3 ‘exocraft’ at bases. These can be summoned at anytime to quickly explore planets
Base Sharing – Players can share their constructions online, and visit other explorers’ bases
Improved Visuals – high-res textures, improved visuals and 4K rendering on supported hardware
Ship/Weapon Classes – fighting, exploring and trading specific classes are available for purchase
Permadeath Mode – Once you are dead there is no going back! The ultimate challenge for players who want to add more of a challenge to their exploration.
Exocraft Races – Construct and share race tracks.
New Upgrades – collect Nanite Clusters and purchase dozens of new upgrades for weapons and tech
Survival Mode Rewards – New trophies and milestones have been added for an even greater challenge
Vehicle Upgrades – Upgrades can be applied to your Exocraft! boost acceleration, traction, scanners and weapons
Base Improvements – change building materials (like concrete and timber), and dozens of new parts, including viewing pods, stairs and hydro-domes
Photo Mode – free move camera, photo filters, edit time of day and weather
Shop for building parts – traders visit your base and sell advanced constructs
Discovery Page – view information on previously discovered planets, find your home planet at any time
Low Flight Enhancements – pilot ships at lower altitude, improved ship landing
Difficulty – all modes have re-balanced difficulty, in survival mode destroyed ships crash land on nearby planets
Gameplay Improvements – skippable journey milestones, rename your belongings (ship/exosuit/etc.), quit to mode select (and more!)
Click on the thumbnails below to check out some screen shots from the Path Finder update.
You can also check out this video which goes into a little bit more detail about what the update includes and how it improves the No Man’s Sky universe.
Here at Green Man Gaming we want to get our community and fans included as much as possible. In light of this we though it would be an awesome idea to introduce a brand new game face off where the community can vote for their favourite titles. What’s more, anyone who votes in any of our Clash Of The Titles will get a voucher for 5% off at Green Man Gaming! All you will need to do is give us your email address once you have voted in order for us to send you your voucher, we will also keep you up to date on how the competition is progressing!
Introducing, Clash Of The Titles!
We have noticed that there have been a fair few famous faces cropping up in our games recently, so this month we thought we’d have these celebrities fight it out! Sadly though, we couldn’t get hold of their agents (we called, left messages, even sent a carrier pigeon..nothing) so had to settle for a Clash of The titles bout instead.
There have been many celebrity appearances, voice credits and cameos in some of our favourite video games over the years. From Liam Neeson’s Fallout father figure to Luke Skywalker’s Mark Hamil’s Arkham Joker. We’ve collected some of the most notable – but which celebrity appearance was your favourite?
Here is how Clash Of The Titles works!
Round 1
Cast your vote for “Best Celebrity Appearance in a Video Game” below
Enter your email address so we can send you a 5% off voucher as a thank you, as well as keeping you up to date as Clash of the Titles progresses
Share the tournament with your friends so they can get a voucher too
Look out for your voucher and tournament updates in your inbox
Round 2
The lowest-scoring games from Round 1 are eliminated
Come back and vote again for the title you want to win – you can still get another voucher!
Final Round
Vote again in the final round to determine the champion! (Yes, you’ll get another 5% off voucher)
The Clash of the Titles champion will be crowned and entered into the Green Man Gaming Hall of Fame
With the release of Ghost Recon: Wildlands just around the corner, we thought it would be a great idea to list the top Tom Clancy games purchased on Green Man Gaming. Do you think Ghost Recon Wildlands will take the top spot when it’s released? Here are it’s contenders!
Taking the top spot as the most purchased game is Rainbow Six Siege. Siege focuses on intense close quarter confrontations and high destruction. If you like team based shooters with a massive amount of destructible scenery then this is the game for you.
In second place is The Division! If open-world role playing shooters are more of your thing then this is the game for you. The premise for the game is pretty out there, as a disease spreads through the US on Black Friday (due to a small pox contamination on bank notes) causing the country and government to collapse. As society has collapsed you are thrown into a world where everyone has just gone a bit crazy. An open-world game where money kills people, what more could you want?
Taking the 3rd spot is an outing for everyones favourite Tom Clancy stealth man, Sam Fisher. In Splinter Cell Blacklist the US has dominated the world which as you can imagine has annoyed some people who in turn want to go forth and launch some attacks. It is up to Mr Fisher to stop these attacks and save America!
In at number 4 is our first Ghost Recon title in this list, Ghost Recon Future Soldier! A stolen military bomb takes out the infamous Ghost Squad, a new Ghost unit is deployed and it’s up to you and your team mates to track down the source of the weapon. This is a tale that leads players around the world as they jump into the shoes of Kozak, Ghost Lead, Pepper and 30K (and before you ask, we have no idea if that’s how many followers 30k has on twitter)
Next up is Splinter Cell: Conviction. A story of betrayal is unfolded as Sam Fisher digs deeper into his Daughter’s death. Player’s are able to play the less clean shaven version of Sam Fisher in this game in all of his rugged manliness!
Yet another Splinter Cell game, this time players jump into the role of Sam Fisher as he takes on the role of a double agent! Play as a covert operative and a ruthless terrorist. Sadly Mr Fisher’s beard isn’t as impressive as it is in Splinter Cell: Conviction
If the term Squad Goals was a game then it would be Rainbow Six Vegas 2. There really isn’t a better way to defeat a band of terrorists who’s main mission is to destroy the city of sin. Unlike Splinter Cell this is more of all guns blazing affair.
Much like it’s sequel above, Rainbow Six Vegas transports players to Las Vegas to wage war against the terrorists. Players will be able to soak up the famous sights of Vegas through clouds of gun fire and smoke. I’ve heard the MGM Grand is a lovely hotel this time of year.
The game that started off Sam Fisher’s epic story of hiding behind things and wearing night vision goggles. If you are interested in how this stealth saga came about we do suggest picking up this game.
Horizon Zero Dawn is available now on the Green Man Gaming American Store. So we thought it would be a great idea just to see what sort of beasts you will come up against when you jump into the shoes of Aloy, and take on the post apocalyptic, machine ruled world.
Snapmaw
The Acquisition Class Snapmaw may look like your average friendly crocodile but it’s bite is worse than its mechanised raw. Even though it’s challenge level comes in at 20 it has a fearsome arsenal of moves that can even take the most seasoned hunters by surprise. It has a freeze burst projectile move plus a devastating array of melee attacks which include the lunging jaw bite, the jumping jaw bite the snap bite and the tail strike.
Behemoth
This beast comes in at a whopping level 25 challenge level and is a Transport Class machine. It’s big, beefy and packs a hell of a punch in combat. In combat the Behemoth uses projectile moves such as the Gravity Boulder Throw and the Grinding Shrapnel blast which have the potential to deal massive damage, it also packs a hell of a punch with it’s melee moves which include a charge attack, a quake smash and a charging quake smash. Be warned though as it’s special attack, the Gravity Purge has the ability to control the gravity around it.
Stormbird
A combat class robot, the Stormbird is a formidable opponent as the combat challenge level of this mechanical Phoenix comes in at 27. It’s projectile moves include a shock blast, shock burst, thunder bomb run and a hurricane blast. With melee such as beak smash, thunder rush, jumping claw slash and tail lash coming nose to nose (or beak to beak) with this bird is not on your priority list. Many have succumbed to it’s special move, the Thunder Clash and have not survived to tell the tale.
Thunderjaw
The combat class Thunderjaw is a the robot equivalent of a T-Rex and is one of the most feared beasts within Horizon Zero Dawn. With a challenge level of 27, hunters are advised to approach this beast with extreme caution. The Thunderjaw comes equipped with Machine guns, Disc launchers and mouth lasers. It also has some devastating melee attacks which include a bite attack, a rushing bite attack, a charge attack, a foot stomp, a tail slam and a tail swipe. The Thunderjaw also has a radar scan ability that can pick up hidden threats at a distance, so be advised if you cross paths with this beast, chances of survival are unlikely.
That is just some of the robotic beasts you will be facing in Horizon Zero Dawn. Be warned though as this is not a full comprehensive list of all of the robots you will be facing. Good luck beast hunter!
The Ghost Recon Wildlands open beta has just drawn to a close, with over a week until the launch of the latest Tom Clancy game.
A few of the team from GMG jumped on at the weekend, to give the game a whirl and explore the vast Bolivian landscape in all its open world glory. Although we were a little sceptical approaching a Ghost Recon on a new open world platform, the enticing pre-released screenshots and gameplay looked mesmerising and it didn’t disappoint.
Easing you into the game
The first part of the game is character customisation, which gives you the chance to create an identity for you Ghost, whether you choose to be a male or female, have a deadly scar tracing your face, or want to go for the iconic bushy beard.
A tutorial introduced us to the games mechanics, which had us riding around in hijacked cars in no time. This also showed us how missions operate and how we can use the mini map to navigate the area we’re in, how we spot our target and the dialogue between the Ghosts helps to determine the best takedown route and strategy.
Approaching missions
The main noticeable takeaway from Ghost Recon is that it’s super fun to play online with friends. Being tactical is incredibly satisfying, amplified by the endless ways to approach missions.
The AI are smart, which adds to the authenticity of the game, making a Rambo style approach generally out of the question as the AI are quick to respond and notice you. This becomes apparent from the first mission, so thinking tactically about ways to take down enemies is a joint effort. In our gameplay, we had one person who acted as a distraction, whilst two others sat at the back of the area, silently taking down enemies with a sniper rifle. Disabling drones, alarms and enemy radio towers is also another efficient way of attack, making Ghost Recon a sly game that requires patience and analysis, which creates a rich and fulfilling gameplay experience.
Enemies and mission types
It’s easy to die. Which you either love or hate, personally we loved it, as it made it feel like original Ghost Recon, where enemy headshots were equally as important as making sure you well hidden from incoming fire.
Although it’s easy to die, the many deaths you will experience don’t feel punishing and it’s easy to revive or respawn near your clan. The skill tree you have access to is fairly basic and although you can add weight to your ‘class’ your never tied down to single style of play.
Overall, the main storyline had a menacing, well thought out plot and vicious enemies that enriched the immersive experience and bought the open world together. However, it was the side missions we admired the most, when at one point we found ourselves in a helicopter, being tailed by five enemy vehicles and one enemy helicopter letting loose rounds of minigun fire on us, we failed yes… but it didn’t stop us going back for more!
The Ghost Recon Wildlands beta is live and runs until Sunday. If you are unsure as to what the Beta contains then you have come to the right place. Here is what you can expect from the Ghost Recon Wildlands beta.
If you didn’t play the Wildlands closed beta then you are looking at a 24GB download for PC, if however you did play the closed beta you will only be expected to download a 19GB update. The Beta will be a 24GB download for all gamers playing on console and the Beta is available to pre-load right now.
The Beta will feature 2 regions out of the full 21 which will be available when the game is released. Itacua, which featured in the game’s closed beta and a new region called Montuyoc. Both of these regions will be accessible through the games open beta.
What is really cool is if you play the open beta and buy and play Ghost Recon Wildlands before March 31, you will unlock a free extra mission for the full game. The mission is called the Unidad Conspiracy, this mission will task you with starting a war between the Unidad militia group and the Santa Blanca cartel.
What’s more if you buy Ghost Recon Wildlands and are a Twitch prime member you will be able to get your hands on a free skin pack. The ‘War Within The Cartel’ skin pack contains 2 Exclusive Gear patches, a Santa Blanca cap, a Santa Blanca t-shirt and a Santa Blanca scorpion sub machine gun. All you would need to do is just sync your account before the games release on March 7th.
Just in case you’re still unsure about the Wildlands Beta, Check out the video below just to see what goes into crafting the game’s breath taking landscapes. We will also be live streaming the beta on Twitch at 8PM GMT today!
Introducing the Tom Clancy Bot, the brand new droid that uses only the best Tom Clancy Technology!
Each feature has been specially selected from the best Tom Clancy games and films in order to create the ultimate Recon Machine! If you don’t believe us, then here are what a few well known gaming icons had to say about the Tom Clancy Bot!
Solid Snake:“I was up against the Tom Clancy Bot, and within seconds the world turned to black and I heard the words ‘Snake? Snake SSNNNAAAAAAAAAAAKKKEEE!?!’ over my intercom.”
Agent 47:“The Tom Clancy Bot is unstoppable, it saw through all of my disguises, including bald chef, bald bus driver and even bald bell boy!”
Ezio Auditore da Firenze:“I couldn’t get away from The Tom Clancy Bot fast enough! He even caught me after I jumped off of a 80 foot high tower into a bale of hay!”
Mario:“When I finally got to the castle I was told my princess was already saved by the Tom Clancy Bot.”
You’ve heard it from the pros, now here are some of Tom Clancy Bot’s key features!
Beanie Hat – We all know that the beanie hat is the best item in The Division so it would be silly not to include it.
Head– Sam Fisher’s head from Splinter Cell, perfect for night vision and stealth.
Beard – Most characters in the Ghost Recon games support the manliest of beards. It’s probably good for camouflage too.
Voice – The smouldering voice of Sean Connery from the Tom Clancy film, The Hunt For Red October “A great day comrades, we sail into history!”
Tie – The tie Harrison Ford’s Character wore in the Tom Clancy film ‘Clear and Present Danger’, every commando needs a hint of business casual.
Wings– Wings from HAWX so he can take flight with ease.
Torso – This torso from The Division is perfect as it doesn’t let other people clip through you. Handy!
Arms – Sledge from Rainbox 6 Seige has arms made of steel that can smash through walls. Who needs a door when you have these beasts for arms?
Hands – Tom Clancy’s hands are the very hands that have written the novels these games were based on. In order for his legacy to carry on someone will have to keep writing.
Watch – This time piece from The Division is stylish and sports quite a fetching orange motif. It’s perfect for any mission and gives fitness trackers like the fit-bit a run for their money.
Sniper Rifle – The Sniper rifle is the weapon of choice for most if not all of Tom Clancy’s characters. Perfect from a distance and a much needed tool for infiltration missions.
Legs – These legs from Ghost Recon are built for speed and speed alone. How else do you plan to tackle tough terrain?
Knee Pads – Soldiers in Tom Clancy games find themselves in need of knee protection, from Rainbox Six to Ghost Recon it seems that knee pads are imperative to survival.
The Tom Clancy Bot is available now for $999,999,999.99 from all reputable Tom Clancy Outlets*
*After rigorous testing it was discovered that the Tom Clancy Bot had developed it’s own consciousness and subsequently had to be put down. Fear not however as the Ghost Recon Wildlands beta is live today with the full game coming out the 7th of March. True, it’s not Tom Clancy Bot, but it will give you a taste of the potential this droid had.
With the release of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands nearing we thought it would be a great idea for some of the Green Man Gaming team to talk about their favourite Ubisoft open world. Either love them or hate them, these are the ones we truly love.
A lot of open world games these days either focus on present day or the future. True, there is a lot to play with when it comes guns and technology. What I really love though is when a game goes back to basics and that’s where FarCry: Primal comes in.
FarCry Primal has the classic Ubisoft open world traits such as outposts, towers and side quests which is great. The theme however is the biggest selling point as the whole world is enriched with the stone age setting, the lush greens and outside environments make Farcry: Primal very pretty to look at.
There are no guns, just spears, bows, arrows and ferocious beasts that will do your bidding! Ubisoft have also replaced vehicles with lion, tigers and bears (oh my!). I don’t know what it is but I find launching a spear at an enemy far more satisfying that pummelling full of bullets, even though i always prefer bringing a gun to a sword fight.
As someone who grew up watching 80s and 90s sci-fi action movies – both the big-name ones and the straight-to-video B movies – Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon feels like a game made especially for me. It’s a parody, but a very affectionate one; the story, dialogue, weapons, visual style, sound effects, music… it’s all clearly made with an absolute love for the movies that inspired it. In terms of open world features, I love how in Blood Dragon using vehicles is a convenience but not essential. As Rex “Power” Colt you are a cyborg superhuman with unlimited sprint and no fall damage, so if you get your car blown up then you can still easily reach your destination with a pleasant jog rather than a long slog. Along the way you are bound to have some fun when you run into an Omega Squad patrol or a Cyber Panther, and it’s great when one of the titular Blood Dragons gets involved and starts blasting everything with energy beams.
By the time Black Flag came out, the shine had begun to rub off the Assassin’s Creed games. Revelations had introduced a strange tower defence minigame which didn’t add anything interesting to the formula, and Assassin’s Creed III had leapt into a haycart of mixed reviews. Expectations were low when it was announced that the next Assassin’s Creed game would be a pirate adventure.
Low, but wrong as it turned out.
Black Flag is an amazing game, it contains not only full cities and the same Assassin’s Creed formula perfected in Brotherhood, but a full fledged pirate simulation game which has yet to be bettered. Edward Kenway is no Connor, he’s a rogue in the true sense of the word, caring nothing at all for the Templars and their war against the Assassins but rather wanting fame, riches, loot, and a big ship. There is simply no feeling better in video games than sailing Kenway’s ship, the Jackdaw, through the wide open seas of the Caribbean with the moon gazing down upon you, waves crashing against your ship, and the throaty sound of sea shanties echoing into the night. The world is beautiful, it’s truly open, and it captures that sense of pirate-ness better than any other game. If you haven’t checked it out because it’s an Assassin’s Creed game, then check it out just for being the best damn pirate game there is.
Also you get to pet cows and dogs in it so that’s a plus too.
So there you have it, feel free to tell us what your favourite (or even least favourite) Ubisoft open worlds are.
Here at Green Man Gaming we are still trying to get over the awesomeness that was our hands on time with Prey. As we still have a while before the game comes out, we thought it would be a great idea to list some of the games that you should play before Prey comes out on 5th of May.
Possibly the series where Prey may have got most of its inspiration. System Shock is the grand daddy when it comes to in depth narrative led first person shooters (well maybe next to Half Life). If you haven’t explored the creepy space stations and come face to face with the infamous SHODAN then we suggest either picking System Shock 1 and 2 now. You could also wait for the System Shock 1 remake coming out next year (we hope) but that may defeat the point of this article.
Introducing the spiritual successor to System Shock! Bioshock is created by the main mind behind the System Shock games and takes players on a trip under the sea (you also take to the skies in Bioshock Infinite). Much like System Shock, Bioshock’s story is told whilst you play, it also has a great story and addictively good game play. Who doesn’t love plasmids?
If mind bending puzzles are more of your thing then we suggest giving Portal 1 and 2 a shot before navigating your way around the Talos 1 space station. The creepy lore and story behind Portal is gripping, that and the gameplay is possibly the most fun we have had in a first person game to date. Just remember, The cake is a lie!
It’s probably a good idea to suggest playing Arkane Studios other hit franchise. In Dishonored you jump into the shoes of Corvo (or Emily in Dishonored 2) as you battle through the leaders that have wronged you. You also have some pretty awesome magical powers and assassin type skills, which have been bestowed onto you by The Watcher. How Generous!
It can be argued that in order to play any Sci Fi FPS game you should play the Half-Life franchise first. In this game of epic proportions, players assume the role of Gordan Freeman as an alien race invades earth and destroys everything you and everyone else loves. That’s the very basic storyline as the more you play the more the web unravels. It’s both gripping and brilliant. Now if we could get Half-Life 3 sometime soon that would be great!
If sneaking around fearing for your life is something you aspire to in your video gaming then Alien Isolation is for you! This is a great game should you really want to experience tension as you try to survive. The great thing too is that it’s only you versus one Alien (Xenomorph if you want the technical term) and that in itself is pretty scary.
And Finally, Prey (the old one)
For those of you who don’t know, there was a Prey game released back in 2006 which was pretty popular. The game was lead by Domasi “Tommy” Tawodi, a Cherokee Indian who gets caught up in an alien abduction. The use of Sci Fi weaponry, portals and great level design in this game was pretty awesome, it is worth checking out even if it is a bit cheesy.
So there you have it, if this list has inspired you then you have until Prey’s release on May 5th. Get gaming!
With both Sniper Elite 4 and For Honor releasing tomorrow, we thought it would be a cool idea to list some movies and TV shows you should watch before both games release tomorrow.
Please note: that this list is for entertainment purposes and will not increase your skill in for Honor and Sniper Elite 4 in any way.
For Honor
Vikings
If the name isn’t explanation enough already, then we are wondering why you are purchasing For Honor in the first place. Vikings a TV show about the Viking uprising which started around the 8th Century BC. It is loosely based on fact and has a fantastic cast of characters. Ever wondered how the Vikings invaded England and other countries? Well this show has the answer!
300
A brutal, bloody fight till the death, 300 doesn’t hold back on the gore factor, complete with head removals, shoves off ledges and spears to the chest – you can find all of these in For Honor! The epic film tells the story of 300 Spartans who marched against the Persian king, Xerxes.
Seven Samurai
The 1954 film takes place during the Sengoku Period of Japanese history. It’s about a farming village who hires 7 Ronin to combat bandits who plan to steal their crops. The story is pretty simple but the film as a whole has been considered a masterpiece by critics. Also there are Samurais in it, what more can you ever want?
A Knight’s Tale
Possibly one of the more light hearted films in our list. A Knight’s Tale hasn’t got as much one on one combat as one might like to get you in the mood for For Honor. But the whole Knight theme and generally great humour makes this film a pretty good watch in any case.
The Last Samurai
If you want some pretty awesome Samurai action then The Last Samurai is for you! Set in 1876, Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise) is a retired officer of the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment. His emotional conflict brings him into contact with Samurai warriors in the wake of the Satuma Rebellion and the westernisation of Japan.
Sniper Elite 4
American Sniper
An intense war drama, following the story of a US military marksman, based on the true story and memoir published American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. Taking place in the Iraq War, over four tours, the marksman Kyle, took 255 kills. The story explores military success and the toll war takes on soldiers and their families.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
If anything, this film has the exactly the same setting as Sniper Elite 4. Nicholas Cage plays an Italian Army Captain during the time in 1943 where the Italian troops are massacred by the Germans. True, you probably won’t get inspired to lock and load your Sniper Rifle but the setting is pretty damn perfect.
Inglourious Basterds
Before you ask we are talking about the Quentin Tarantino remake of this epic war story. If you want a Nazi inspired war film with a lot more grit and violence then this is probably more for you. Set in an alternate history where two plans have been set to assassinate Nazi Germany’s political leadership. We believe the film’s story is just a typical assignment for Karl Fairburne.
Enemy At The Gates
Another great sniper movie, Enemy At The Gates is loosely based on war stories told by Soviet sniper Vasili Zaitsev. The story follows Zaitsev as he finds himself on the front lines of the battle of Stalingrad. It is a great movie with some pretty awesome sniper action, perfect really to whet your Sniper Elite whistle.
The Man In The High Castle
Just in case you were wondering what the wold would be like if the Nazi Regime won World War 2, then the Man In The High Castle has your answer. This is a great show that really gets you angry at the Nazis (just in case you weren’t angry enough already). By the end of it you’ll be wanting to enlist Karl’s help to take down the regime.
So there you have it. If you know of any other TV shows and or movies that you think would be perfect to watch before the release of For Honor and Sniper Elite 4 then let us know in the comments below.
With the release of Sniper Elite 4 just around the corner we thought we would list some of the best stealth characters in gaming. Here is a list of our top characters, and as always if we have missed your favourite out let us know in the comment section below.
Karl Fairburne works for the American Office of Strategic services. His main missions involve him infiltrating enemy territory to gain valuable information. This means he has impeccable stealth skill, his main weapon of choice is a sniper rifle and his sniper kill has rarely been matched which means he is one of the most valuable assets to the US army.
Blazkowicz is an American OSA (Office of Secret Actions) agent and is one of the main agents behind the European exploits. Blazkowicz has a high level of stealth skill as a lot of his missions involve him overthrowing the Nazi war effort from within.
A former navy SEAL operator and CIA agent. Sam Fisher is the very first operative in the ‘Splinter Cell’ programme and is regarded as one of the best stealth agents in the field. Fisher has great athletic skill which means he is able to access areas that most normal human can’t. His split jump maneuver being his signature move.
Big Boss is a highly renowned special forces operative and mercenary commander and is the founder of FOXHOUND a U.S. Army Special Forces Unit. His stealth skill and proficiency in close quarters combat are a force to be reckoned with, so much so that Big Boss was cloned.
If you are looking for an assassin to do a quick and clean job then Agent 47 is your man. His skill when it comes to stealth and assassination is un paralleled. So much so that when he defected from the agency his higher ups took no time to try and eradicate him. As you can imagine, Agent 47 wasted no time in taking his hit men out with ease.
Cate Archer – No One Lives Forever
A secret agent working for UNITY, Catherine Anne Archer is a highly skilled agent. She has access to many gadgets and also has the ability to take out enemies just by using a hair clip. Her stealth skill is rarely matched hence why she was offered a job at UNITY in the first place.
In order to survive a world that has been overtaken by a zombie virus you need a lot of stealth techniques in order to survive. Joel’s stealth abilities are insanely good as most of the undead in The Last Of Us base are completely blind and rely on sound alone to stalk their prey.
Joanna Dark – Perfect Dark
Much like Cate Archer, Joanna Dark is the top secret agent in her field. The Carrington Institute is where she works specialising in combat, espionage, and undercover operations. As Jo is a skilled marksman and lethal in hand to hand combat she is seen as one of Carrington’s best agents.
Garrett – Thief
He’s a master thief who can almost turn invisible in the dark and has tools for any situation, he was trained by the Keepers who observe and maintain stability in The City but he left to continue being a thief. The Woodsie Lord, The Trickster, plucked out one of his eyes, he eventually had the Hammerites make him a mechanical prosthetic.
Honerable MGS Mentions – The End, Sniper Wolf and Quiet.
In our opinion, it would be rude to not mention some of MGS’ elite snipers. The End, Quiet and Sniper Wolf are some of the most proficient sniper rifle wielders in games to date. So much so they would give Karl Fairburne a run for his money. Mind you don’t make the End wait too long though, he may die of old age.
So there you have it, who we like to think are the best stealth character in video games. As mentioned before feel free to tell us if you agree or disagree in the comments below.
Sports games have increased in popularity over the years due to their hyper realistic physics and their ability to simulate our favourite sports to perfection. There are some sports games out there that just don’t quite hit the hyper realistic mark which in turn makes them fun in their own right. So here is a list of the most “realistic”sports games we could think of.
Disclaimer: Some if not all of these games are not that realistic…
Any WWE game
Possibly the most controversial game on our list as it can be argued the WWE/Wresting isn’t real. However the WWE games have had their fair share of glitches and truly ridiculous moments that make this game have some truly shining moments. Check out the video below,
STEEP
STEEP is possibly one of the most satisfying games when it comes to hurling your character off a cliff/into an icy crevasse. Much like other epic winter sports games such as SSX and CoolBoarders, players are able to defy gravity and perform some quite spectacular tricks. The most impressive thing though is that players can fall down a mountain and when they reach the bottom brush themselves off as if nothing happened. Even their skies magically reappear on their feet.
Any Tony Hawks Game
If you thought Steep had some pretty inhuman tricks the Tony Hawks takes the biscuit. On the surface some of the board slides and 180 tail flips look realistic, but when players are able to perform tricks such as the Christ Air, you may start to think that this character is a superhero or plugged into the Matrix. Check out the video below, the infamous christ air comes up around 55 seconds in.
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
Usually if you were to pit a hedgehog against a plumber in a series of olympic challenges the plumber will more than likely win due to the hedgehogs lack of opposable thumbs and being a nocturnal creature. However in the world of Sonic and Mario this is but a small insignificant fact, this hyper realistic game not only pits humans again animals in gruelling challenges of strength, speed and agility. It also has the decency of levelling the playing field so that animals and humans can participate in harmony.
Behold The Kick Men
Possibly the greatest football game of all time, Behold The Kick men is still in development and is an accurate representation of ‘the beautiful game’. The pitch is circular, you can score multiple goals in one shot and you can have up to fifteen players in your team. Also you can play during a thunder storm.
So there you have it, the most “realistic” sports games out there. If you come across any more hyper realistic sports game, then let us know in the comments below!
Conan Exiles went into early access this week and has been increasing in popularity since its release. We got the chance to sit down with Joel Bylos, the game’s creative director, to talk about the game and the Conan franchise as a whole.
What inspired you to create Conan Exiles? Was it mainly the love of the Conan Franchise or was there any games you have taken inspiration from?
We’re all big fans of Minecraft and we love the new genre of survival games that has sprung up from the concepts that Minecraft introduced to the mainstream – creative building and crafting, exploring an interesting world and, of course, fighting dangerous creatures.
Because we love Conan and his world, we thought that it was a great setting for this type of game and we wanted to bring forth elements that other games were simply not focusing on – adult themes, thrilling combat and a world packed with lore.
Has anything you have learnt from the development of ‘The Secret World’ and ‘Age of Conan’ helped the development of Conan Exiles?
Absolutely. In a way, the MMO genre has started to break down into sub-genres over the past few years. MOBAs have replaced what used to be PvP Minigames in MMOs, and Survival Games have overtaken the crafting and open world PvP of the old MMO genre.
Because we have a couple of MMOs up our sleeves, we thought that this was a great opportunity for us to focus on certain aspects and try to turn them into a fun, enjoyable game.
Conan Exiles has been getting a lot of coverage from the press and community, what made you choose early access over a full release?
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, we’ve been through online multiplayer releases in the past, and even with months of beta testing we’ve seen problems that are just impossible to spot before you go to scale. Early Access allows us a chance to get customers who understand that these things are difficult to predict (see Diablo 3 launch, even one of the best companies in the world can have difficulties in the beginning) and gives us time to react and improve.
Secondly, because of our experience with online multiplayer games we also understand that the players will evolve the game and find new and different ways to do things in the world that we never considered. Early Access allows us to tap into the infinite creativity of our players – giving us a chance to work with them to improve the game.
We’ve already gotten a lot of ideas just from watching people play.
Were you expecting the reaction you received from ‘The Endowment Slider’?
I was expecting a reaction, yes, but not exactly the reaction we received. The press has responded with some amusement but there is far less outrage than I expected. Which is amazing! It makes me very happy that the game industry and the world at large are at a place where nudity is acceptable for those who are interested in those type of things. Adult gaming is for adults, after all.
For people who have yet to play the game, what goes into building your empire from scratch?
It’s worth pointing out that the game allows you to adjust the pace of your progression in single player and on private servers, so you can speed up XP gain, harvesting amounts etc.
In the beginning, you are naked and abandoned in a desert. You’ll start out finding branches and stones to cobble together some basic tools and from there, start harvesting materials to craft rudimentary buildings and weapons to defend yourself.
Who did you prefer as Conan The Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jason Momoa?
I think Momoa was visually closer to how Robert E Howard described Conan, but he wasn’t working with the world’s greatest script. Arnold on the other hand, made the role his own and in the minds of many, he *is* Conan the Barbarian.
So I like both, but for different reasons. I’d love to see a tv series that followed the original story adventures of Conan. That would be amazing.
And finally, What is Best in Life?
I am still working on that, but I can tell you what is best in Early Access!
“To crush your bugs, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of the critics”
We got a little taster of the upcoming medieval online fighting game, For Honor, from the closed beta that happened last weekend. We’ve been in deep discussion about which For Honor characters were the best to play as and why we’re looking forward to jumping back in!
Milo will be playing as the relentless Berserker!
As somebody who is always drawn to the tank classes and heavy hitters in games, it was a surprise that the warrior that captivated me to play is the Viking Berserker. Wild, free and utterly without fear. They wield twin axes and, unlike other Assassin class fighters, and in spite of their agility, their attacks are brutal and relentless. The armour and heavy weapons of other classes can often prove no match for the Berserker’s whirlwind fighting style and harassment. The Berserker is for the player who wants to defeat their opponent up close and personal without cowering behind a shield.
Gina is set on the Knight’s Peacekeeper!
If there is a character choice in multiplayer games, I normally either hang back as the medic or wade is as the beefiest character I can find, which in this case would be the Samurai’s Shugoki or Knight’s Conqueror. There is no happy medium. So I’m going to try and master some of the smaller For Honor characters such as the Orochi and the Peacekeeper. The Peacekeepers are fast and rely on close range attacks and quick deflects. It’s under medium to control, which seems like a good level to start at!
Alex M wants to play as the Knights!
I love playing warriors or fighters in video games, but in For Honor they’re all warriors so who do I choose? It has to be the knight, armoured in steel and wielding vicious weapons, they stand astride the battlefield destroying all who come near. They’re the epitome of martial prowess in my eyes and it doesn’t hurt that knights can have thick armour and use a shield or a long halberd, which helps keep enemies well away and stops them from turning my insides into outsides.
Rob will be jumping in as the Viking’s Valkyrie!
In games, films and TV I have always favoured Vikings over anything else. So I will more than likely be playing as one of the Viking classes when I jump into the game. I am also one of these gamers who does prefer to go in all guns blazing so Vikings are right up my street. The Viking Valkyrie will probably be one of my main characters as they have a spear and can deal quite large damage.
Alex C is keen to try out the Samurais!
For me it’ll be the Samurai. Vikings vs Knights doesn’t seem that unusual a historical match-up to me, but the chance to fight Vikings or medieval Knights as a Samurai is an unusual opportunity! I’ll probably go with the Kensei class, combining powerful attacks with the ability to quickly dodge.
The For Honor open beta starts 9th February through to the 12 February and will be available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The game releases on 14th February!
As part of the Intel Final Fantasy XIV hub, we’ve created a post all about our favourite recurring Final Fantasy character, none other than…
MOOGLES! Love them or…well you should love them, there’s nothing as cute as a moogle. So we decided to let them fight it and here’s the results! The Best moogles in Final Fantasy according to Green Man Gaming . KUPO!
5. Mog – Final Fantasy VII
In the gritty world of Final Fantasy VII, moogles don’t make much of an appearance. In the game-within-a-game, Mog House, Mog the moogle resides waiting for Cloud and friends to come along and help him find love. Stuff him full of magic Kupo Nuts to give him the energy to fly, then feed him some more so he can show off and impress the lovely Mag. Don’t feed him too many though, or he’ll fall and crash back down to the ground outside his toadstool house. Fly on sweet Mog, fly on!
4. Delivery Moogles – Final Fantasy XIV
Moogles in Final Fantasy XIV are an ancient race who mainly live in forests, hiding from outsiders. That all changed when the moon dropped from the sky, causing all sorts of communication issues in Eorzea. Thankfully the moogles were there to step up and help by carrying mail and delivering things for the denizens of Eorzea. The most important thing to know about delivery moogles though, is that they look absolutely ADORABLE in their tiny official hats and mail bags that are too big for them.
3. Mog – Final Fantasy VI
Mog’s a talented moogle. Not only can he dance, he’s a geomancer, a tutorial giver, and a linguist! He’s an optional companion for Final Fantasy VI, but if you take him you won’t be sorry! He’s the only moogle in Final Fantasy VI who speaks human, the rest are only able to yip ‘Kupo!’ at you. He spears enemies and dances his way to victory, crushing your enemies beneath waves of funky moves that change depending on the area. Shake your stuff, Mog!
2. Moogling Moogles – Final Fantasy XII
In the world of Ivalice where Final Fantasy XII occurs, there’s a lot of walking to get places. To combat the long walk times, some enterprising moogles have set up the Moogling, an instant teleportation network which can whisk you on jaunts from place to place in the blink of an eye, and for a reasonable price! Moogles in Ivalice look quite different to moogles in the other games but one thing is the same; they are utterly adorable, possessing little pom-poms that sprout from the top of their heads!
1. Moguo – Final Fantasy IX
Moguo is the most useful moogle in Final Fantasy history, arriving with haste when you summon him to save your game. Over and over he’ll run to you, summoned by the Moogle Flute. Some players might be tempted to turn away from him though, leaving him summoned for no reason. But you toy with him at your own risk, summon him without saving too many times and he’ll offer a stark warning. “I’m sharpening my knife, kupo” he’ll threaten, finally losing his temper and shouting “STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT! KU-PHEH!”. Cross a moogle with care!
So that’s what we think are the best moogles in Final Fantasy, disagree or have your own moogle rankings? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
The For Honor beta came to an end today, and we were fortunate enough to try out the new tactical multiplayer battle game from Ubisoft this weekend and put our best knight’s flail forward! Here’s everything we learned from the beta and why we’re excited for the full launch on 14 February.
Gameplay
Possibly one of the best third person melee combat systems we’ve seen. Yes, it is daunting at first, but once you get the hang off the complex battle system, it is accessible and extremely rewarding once mastered. The gameplay doesn’t necessarily mean learning combos and moves, it’s all about mastering strategy and learning when to attack, when to block and when to just quit and run. Although we played mainly as the Vikings, including the Raider and Berserker, each hero has very unique playstyles and you’re forced to adapt to their abilities and your opponents skills. The maps are incredibly detailed and the environments have been well thought through to complement gameplay, although we wish there were less ledges to prevent the overwhelming amount of insta-kills.
Classes
Always a part of the game that would be heavily scrutinised, as there are so many characters and there has to be a good level of fair PvP fighting. The good news is that all the characters seem pretty well balanced, which makes for great fights, with no clear winner. Although some classes do have stronger abilities, another character could excel in defence. It’s all about knowing your strengths and admitting your weaknesses. The weapons are a great unique addition and really differentiate each character and give their playstyle more depth.
Duel: A great practice to really hone your skills, you’ll also be up against like minded individuals to really test yourself! The ease and accessibility of this mode is fantastic and a popular one to jump in and out of.
Brawl: A 2v2 duel, ideal for playing online with friends, a lot of satisfaction in this mode, especially when you win multiple games!
Dominion: Probably one of the modes that needs some work before launch, as with larger multiplayer modes in general, certain gameplay is always frowned upon (COD camping I’m looking at you) but always seems to get the wins. This does happen slightly in Dominion, with a complicated scoring system that doesn’t seem to benefit the lone ranger going for the 1v1 kills. The mechanics are fun and with some special abilities that seem a little bit too special including buffs, bear traps and stun bombs, it does get crazy!
Overall, the visuals are incredible and the complex battle system adds to the realistic feel of the game, it’s not the hack and slash we thought it would be, for all the right reasons. For Honor does require tactics and patience, but once you feel comfortable with the controls, it’s a lot of fun.
