Steel Division: Normandy 44 – The First Games
Steel Division: Normandy 44 has come out to critical acclaim. But did you know it’s not the first Steel Division game?
Here’s the entire Steel Division series up to the current date, see how many you’ve played!
- Steel Division: Normandy
- Steel Division: 2 Normandy 2 Division
- Steel Division: Normandy Drift
- Steel Division: The Normandies and the Divisions
- Steel 5
- Steel Division: Origins
- Steel Division: Mission to Moscow
- Steel Division: The One With The Tanks
- Steel Division: Black Flag
- Steel Division: Red Steel
- Steel Division 3D
- Steel Division: Stolen Division
- Steel Division: Black Ops
- Steel Division: Back in Training
- Steel Division: Grand Steel Auto
- Steel Division vs. Company of Heroes
- Steel Division: Lawsuit Edition
- Steel Division: Steel Divisioner
- Steel Division With a Vengeance
- Steel Division: The Steels Strike Back
- Steel Division: Endless War
- Steel Division: Return of the Division
- Steel Division: Attack of the Division
- Steel Division Does Pop
- Steel Division: Space 1999
- Steel Division: Human Revolution
- Steel Division: Dark Crusade
- Steel Division: Black Mesa
- Steel Division: Opposing Force
- Steel Division: Mecha-Churchill
- Steel Division: Godzilla vs Mecha-Churchill
- Steel Division: Mecha-Churchill Goes On Holiday
- Steel Division: Vietnam
- Steel Division: Montgomery Fights Germans
- Steel Division: Montgomery Fights Italians
- Steel Division: Montgomery On The Moon
- Steel Division: Back in Black
- Steel Division: Iron Chef
- Steel Division: The Serious One
- Steel Division: Kitchen Nightmares
- Steel Division: Punch a Nazi
- Steel Division: Groundhog Day
- Steel Division: Normandy 43, Liverpool 2
- Steel Division: Normandy 44
So there you go, you’re up to date with the Steel Division series! Now go buy Steel Division: Normandy 44 now.
Why You Should Play…Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy is the meaty platformer that started everything. Pretty much all indie-PC-platformers released now can see some DNA come from meat boy and his bloody adventures.
Starting out life as a small flash game back in the dark depths of time, Super Meat Boy expanded into a full title which kickstarted the wave of bastard hard platformers that we see today. Sticking to everything with an audible slurp, the eponymous meaty child bounds and slides around levels, all the while trying to rescue Bandage Girl from the evil Dr. Fetus.
Its controls are super tight meaning it feels brilliant to play. The other great thing about it is the post-level replay, showing you all your failed (and your one successful) attempts at a level. This means a tide of meat boys flows over the level, getting caught in traps and falling to their deaths, until one sole survivor bounds to the exit.
It’s got brilliant boss battles, which are designed for frustration but not in a way that stops you from playing. You’re going to want to take a few attempts at them, but their music and the sheer style of them keeps you coming back for more, and more, and more. This is a game, that like Dark Souls, is punishing but not unfair, so when you die you can try a different thing or you can learn from the experience to avoid it in future. Every second you spend playing Super Meat Boy is a second you spend getting better at it.
The game has a huge amount of collectables as well, so if you’re a junkie for completing a game you’ve got a tall order ahead of you, you can even play as different characters which change how you play. You can even dive into levels as the headcrab from Half-Life, which plays accordingly/
Combine all that with a brilliant soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky and a huge number of levels (featuring dark versions and retro levels), there’s a reason Super Meat Boy has had so many challengers to its throne, but remains king of the platformers.
Elder Scrolls Online: Warden Class Guide
Love Friday The 13th? Here’s Why You Should Play The Game
Based on the 1980s horror film which sprouted television shows, spin offs, comic books and now a video game, Friday The 13th: The Game is the twisted slasher survival game from Gun Media.
Taking you back to the infamous Camp Crystal, survive, never meant more in a survival horror game, with consequences etching around the decisions you make, the weapons you select and the way you chose to run. Friday the 13th: The Game is a third person horror, survival game where players can play as either a teen counsellor at Camp Crystal or as Jason Voorhees, for the first ever time in a video game.
The story feels a little clunky with a shimmer of comedic value relieving the tense gameplay. The premise is that playing as the counsellor, you and six other players at the camp must escape and survive.
Friday The 13th: The Game revolves around multiplayer, where you will team up with other players in order to survive and escape Jason. The ways in which you can escape are completely dependent on play, whether you team up with a fellow player or go at it alone. There are a number of options to outsmart the mass murderer, which could be crouching in the woods, or trying to escape via boat. Teaming up and banding together to defeat Jason seems like the best move, but it’s not always guaranteed that you’ll make it out alive.
Game progression is lengthy, but the rewards rightly so, come with sticking out full matches and unlocking customisation and upgrades. The sound effects are eerie and mimic the same threatening feel that the classic films get so right.
Playing as Jason is an incredibly fun feature, even if it’s a little disturbing, you’ll have access to a number of stalking abilities that will help you hunt down and pick off the group. The haunting voice of Jason’s mother trickles in the background as you lurch after unsuspecting victims.
Friday The 13th: The game is tonnes of fun and brilliantly entertaining, capturing the ambience of the classic films that will delight horror fans!
Playing Friday The 13th: The Game? Enjoying it so far? Give us a shout in the comments below…
Steel Division: Normandy 44 – Tips Before You Start
Steel Division has many levels of strategy and tactics that you can use to overcome your enemy. Because of this, you need to be aware of all the tools at your disposal, and make sure that you can read and use the battlefield for your own benefit, until you resemble the great General Eisenhower himself. We’ve got some tips to keep in mind before you start, so you can jump in and reach Berlin by teatime.
Take Cover
Cover is what is going to keep your units alive the longest, especially your infantry. The fields of Normandy are criss-crossed with hedgerows that stand taller than most tanks, and turn the battlefield into an ambush nightmare. These do provide heavy cover however (mouse over the land, if the mouse is green, it is heavy colour, yellow is light cover), and stop line of sight. If you need cover immediately, dive for a hedgerow. And remember, infantry can go through them, whereas vehicles can not – useful for escaping or sneaking up on vehicles, as infantry will plant anti-tank devices on vehicles when close enough.
Use Buildings
Buildings provide some of the best cover in the game, as well as a huge bonus in area of sight, particularly tall buildings like churches. Buildings are typically situated in clusters, such as farms and small villages along roads, meaning that holding them gives you a big advantage in controlling an area. You can get units behind enemy lines and secure buildings to cut off enemy reinforcements, which is a huge bonus. There is a downside to garrisoning in buildings, however. Once a unit is in a building, it’s very easily targeted by artillery, as they can fire indirectly and through fog-of-war. Another good way to clear occupied buildings is to pin the enemy with fire, then charge some infantry up to the building to force a surrender.
Be Smart When Moving
This is Normandy 44, not Normandy 17, so there’s no trenches to man day and night. This war is all about mobility. Getting into position to ensure victory is the tricky part. As mentioned before, hedgerows give good cover as well as breaks in line of sight, so use them to get out of machine gun fire, or note which units carry smoke grenades. Different units also have special move orders. Some infantry have Hunt (Q), meaning they will engage any enemy they come across. Vehicles have Go Fast (F), which makes them prioritise speed by taking roads when possible (just don’t confuse it with hotkey G, which is reverse).
Play The Single-Player
Yes, I know you want to jump straight into skirmishes, if not full-blown multiplayer. But wait, there is a very lean tutorial that is very much worth doing. The Boot Camp has several missions that cover the mechanics of the game, and help you understand the way everything works. And it doesn’t take long at all. Next you can move on to the Campaign, which features 3 separate campaigns featuring the US Airborne, the Panzer Division and Scottish Infantry. These feature missions that have unique objectives, getting you to learn the importance of certain parts of the game. For example in the first campaign mission you must simultaneously take and hold a village, and find and destroy enemy anti-tank guns. Doing this fast and efficiently leads to victory. The campaigns are not easy, and are an exciting challenge on their own.
Understand The Frontline
The Frontline is Steel Division’s unique mechanic that shows the clash of areas of influence between opposing forces. If an area is behind your Frontline, it means you have vision of it, and your enemy does not. Outflanking, encircling, cutting off lines of support and supply is all key to defeating your enemy; if an enemy force is cut off, then they will be much more likely to surrender. There are some special ways certain units react with the Frontline however. Airbourne units (which you can tell by the wings on its name) have no morale penalties for being surrounded. Whereas Recon units generate no area of influence, so they cannot push the Frontline, which can be a plus or a negative. Keep an eye on the way the Frontline is moving, ideally you want to be outflanking and encircling the enemy to take them out quickly.
Those are our tips for Steel Division: Normandy 44. How are you finding the game?
The Battleships Of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada
Fallout 4 – Best Companions
Fallout 4 is a game where you don’t have to face the apocalypse alone, if you want. There’s loads of people you can take with you, to make those eerie Bostonian nights a little less creepy, and to give you a little bit of backup against the hordes of rampaging…everyone…that infests The Commonwealth.
But which one is best? Here’s the final list, the last word, the 100% unarguable objective list of Fallout 4 companions, from worst to best.
Preston Garvey
“Another settlement needs your help.”
“Another settlement needs your help.”
“Another settlement needs your help.”
“Another settlement needs your help.”
No.
MacCready
‘Lets take one of the worst characters from Fallout 3 and show him all grown up in Fallout 4’. Yeah let’s not. He’s just as annoying as in the 3rd game, and now he’ll follow you home and take up valuable Sanctuary space if you let him. Send him back to Little Lamplight I say, no time for him.
Cait
She’s got attitude at least, but she makes up for that with being a bit too up in your grill. She’s not a fan of other people, or non-violence, or not taking loads of chems, so feel free to take her along with you. But be warned, she’s not a nice human being.
X6-88
The only real problem with X6-88 is that you spend the whole time with him wishing he were HK-47. It’s fine to have an evil robot, but whenever you see an evil robot there’s a worm inside you that just whispers ‘I miss HK-47’. That doesn’t mean there’s anything particularly wrong with X6-88, he’s just fine y’know? He’s ok.
Danse
Another fine companion, Paladin Danse is fine. He’s ok. Absolutely fine. Is he bad? No, he’s fine. Just absolutely ok.
Deacon
Still just only ‘ok’, but he gets a bit more of a pass due to his ever evolving outfit collection. Also he’s on the right side of history, the Railroad are just the good guys, don’t @ me.
Curie
Curie gets bonus points because she’s a cool robot that just wants to help with the power of SCIENCE. Also you can smooch her up, so maybe that’s something to consider for all you robolovers out there. When I encountered her I did hide for a bit though, cos I thought she was hostile and was about to blast a hole in me. Nope though, she’s a friend. A big white sphere friend.
Dogmeat
Look he’s a dog so that makes him the winner right? Nope, his awesome points for being a dog get outweighed by him not having any character progression or character quest, making every second you spend with him feel like a bit of a waste. You could be unlocking Nick’s quest or dressing Hancock up instead. If only there was a reward for taking Dogmeat out with you, other than doggo joy.
Strong
Strong’s awesome for his strength. All the games since Fallout 2 have featured a Super Mutant companion, from the Worf-voiced Marcus of Fallout 2 tot he Worf-voiced Marcus of New Vegas. Strong is strong, and he’ll bash your enemies leaving you free to loot and dance and do whatever it is you want to do in Fallout 4. The only bad thing about Strong is that I found loads of armour for him before getting him, which kinda ruined the surprise that he’d be joining me. But that’s a tiny niggle.
Codsworth
Codsworth wouldn’t be the highest rated Mr Handy droid in this list if it weren’t for him saying your name. It actually gave me chills when he greeted me with a hearty ‘Mr. Alex’. It’s a simple trick, but it’s done well and makes him feel like he knows me and that he and my character share a history. His glee and breakdown when meeting you after the opening of the game gives a bit more depth to the character too, making him overall a Good Robot. Be kind to Codsworth, he’s fragile.
Piper
The best worst journalist in The Commonwealth, Piper is a journo from the old school. She’s all about investigative journalism, she’ll get to the truth no matter what, all the time caring about her little sister. She’s a top companion, and she’d be further up this list if her prose wasn’t just atrocious. Seriously, someone hire her an editor, post-apocalyptic newspapers deserve better.
Nick Valentine
The best robot in the list, he’s a saint is our Nicky. A robot with heart, a robot with soul. Admittedly someone else’s soul, but it’s a soul nonetheless. Working the beat as a PI, you join him and help out with a bit of the old Private Investigations. He’s probably the only ‘pure’ person on the planet by the time Fallout 4 starts, and who wouldn’t want to help that charming robot gent as he flatfoots around The Commonwealth? He’d be number 1 in our list, except for one person…
Hancock
That’s Mayor Hancock to you. The most stylish gent in The Commonwealth, with a fine hat and a musical all about him (but don’t tell him about that last bit, he’ll just get a big head). He introduces himself to you in the best way possible, stabbing someone giving you hassle. He’s a loyal friend, a peaceful buddy, and also a violent chap. He’s a dichotomy is Hancock, but that just adds to the allure. Just look at those black eyes, who can resist?
Also the best hat.
That’s it, your definitive list of best companions in Fallout 4, and we can see from this scientific analysis that Hancock, is best.
You can get Fallout 4 here, for an apocalyptic price.
Still here? OK here’s the actual best companion.
Secret Best Companion: Dogmeat in a Bandana
WHAT A GOOD DOG
Morrowind Release Date, Trailer And Editions
Steel Division: Normandy 44 Out Now
If strategy games are more your bag, then Steel Division Normandy 44 is for you.
The latest game from strategy game publishers, Paradox Interactive, puts players in the middle of World War II. Set during the invasion of Normandy by Allied forces in 1944, you must command up to six different armies to win battles across the bocage-strewn lands of Western and Northern France.
If that doesn’t whet your apatite then we have an extensive article covering what we know about Steel Division: Normandy 44. You can check out the article right here.
If you want to get into the nitty gritty of Steel Division’s tanks. Then we have a break down of tank units you can use in the game here.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy of Steel Division: Normandy 44 from the Green Man Gaming store right now. You can even try and win a copy right here on our blog.
Mirage: Arcane Warfare Is Out Now
The creators of Chivalry: Medieval Warfare have released their brand new title, Mirage: Arcane Warfare. The game promises “an intense mash up of blood, magic and blades set in a strange fantasy world”
If you are not at all familiar with Mirage: Arcane Warfare, then why not check out our handy article on all we know about Mirage: Arcane Warfare. If that doesn’t give you all the information you need then you can also check out our interview with Alex Hayter from Torn Banner.
If for some reason you need a helping hand out there on the Mirage battleground, then why not check out our tips video below.
Now you are up to speed, you can but Mirage: Arcane Warfare from the Green Man Gaming store right now!
PC Strategy Games You Need To Own
The PC is home to strategy games, a genre which works so well with a keyboard and mouse (and a desk for your favourite hot beverage). Whether we’re establishing trade routes with an alien civilisation, setting up control groups and harassing your opponent’s resources, or moving your massive army of undead across the map, we love strategy games. Here are the ones we think you should have in your games library.
One of the most popular strategy series in existence, Civilisation is at the forefront of turn-based strategy games, in the specific genre of ‘4X’ (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate). Its up to you to lead your chosen civilization – such as Greece, Aztec, USA, China – through the ages and to come out on top on your map. You can achieve victory through war, diplomacy, scientific achievement or bureaucracy. Every iteration of the game introduces new changes and mechanics that tweak the original 4X formula to make it better and better. There’s no game that’s more ‘one more turn’ than Civilization.
The most APM (actions-per-minute) intensive game on the list, Starcraft is the RTS that stands tall above all others. It simultaneously hosts the most balanced and exciting esport scene in RTS, and has plenty to offer for newer players and those not interested in living at a consistent 150 APM. The three separate campaigns are some of the best designed yet, their co-op mode allows you to take on vs AI missions with friends and level up your favourite commander, and then there’s all the normal skirmish, ranked and team games too.
Recently released, Steel Division gives you command of armies during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Set up like a fully animated war game, players pick their units from a selection of cards, deploy them on the battlefield and push the front lines to envelop, crush and defeat their opponent. The game features many types of historical units, and different divisions contain different units based on their doctrines. Its tough, looks great, sounds great, and the battlegroup mechanic allows for some interesting experimentation and meta to form.
Invisible, Inc
Arguably more of a tactics game than strategy, Invisible, Inc combines cyberpunk with noir, and gives you a team of agents that must infiltrate corporations and achieve objectives, using stealth and turn-based strategy. Each level is procedurally-generated, so every mission needs exploration. Taking out guards and avoiding cameras is tough, and hacking terminals gives rewards but means you take more time. The clock is always ticking, and sometimes you just have to run and get out fast. A great little game for that strategy fix, and it looks amazing.
Total War: Warhammer
The Total War series, much like Civilization, is a cornerstone of PC strategy. It mixes the grand strategy and city building of Civ, but adds in real-time battles with thousands of units. Total War: Warhammer is the first of the series that doesn’t take place in a historical setting, adding magic, flying units, monsters and excitingly asymmetrical races that play very differently. Each race has its own objective, whether it’s simply to fight like the Greenskins, or to cross off all the grudges in the grudgebook like the Dwarves. There’s a play style to fit everyone, and it’s another one of those ‘one more turn’ addictive campaign games that you just can’t leave.
Our second 4X game on this list, this one is set in SPAAACE. If you’re not interested in reliving history and researching the written word and trade unions, why not play Stellaris and research fusion reactors and destroyers? Stellaris has a big focus on the ‘eXplore’ part of the genre, as your space-faring race starts off in one star system amongst hundreds. You’ll develop your technology in various ways, discover resources and other civilizations dead and alive, and take part in big space battles with your ships you’ve designed yourself. You can also create your own race to play, choosing how they look and act. There’s absolutely no reason to play as the xenophile humans.
Second Opinions
XCOM 2 – Milo
One of the best best turn-based strategy games ever, XCOM-2 is a turn based, squad based game where you control a team of combat specialists on guerilla missions with the aim of taking back control of alien-occupied Earth. In between missions you’ll be upgrading your base, building facilities and training new soldiers – which can be customised to no end. As soldiers grow in XP, they develop specialisms and unlock powerful abilities for their class, which includes rangers, snipers, heavy weapons specialists, robotic combat units and even psychic-ability users.
Combat comes with all the ups and downs of turn-based squad combats, with clutch shots to save the day to devastating critical hits on your beloved squadmates. In X-COM, when your soldiers die, they proper die. There is nothing in the world quite like the attachment you will form to your soldiers and when you lose that squaddie, you might just be heartbroken. And without a world-class alien-killer.
It’s got a solid campaign and great variety of missions, really improving on the few areas from the previous instalment that needed some love. If you like a challenge, then this is definitely one to pick up.
Frozen Synapse – Alex M
Frozen Synapse is a simultaneous turn based real time squad based strategy game. OK that’s probably confusing, but here’s how it works: you’re in control of a squad with a top down view of where your squad is and where your enemies are. You plan out each member of your squad’s moves, from running to looking in a direction, to crouching to laying down covering fire. You can also plan out what you think the enemy will do, and then simulate that to test if your plans will work.
Then you hit execute, and watch as it plays out in real time. Every order you give takes a chunk of time, which then plays out in the execution phase. This allows you a level of control and a tactical depth that means you’re in utter control of your squad, and any failures and successes are yours alone.
For squad based strategy, Frozen Synapse can’t be beaten, it has a well written campaign and also comes with a multiplayer mode that lets you play multiple matches at once, if you’re so inclined.
It also has a banging soundtrack.
Thats our list of strategy games you should own. Did we miss out any?
Best Rockstar Games (That Aren’t GTA)
Rockstar made one or two videogames that you might have heard of. Something about Grand Theft Auto? Ringing any bells?
OK so Rockstar make a series called Grand Theft Auto, it sells quite well. But what are the best Rockstar games that aren’t GTA related?
Basically ‘Man on Fire’ the game, this differs considerably from the noir setting of the first two games and takes you on a roaring rampage of revenge through Brazil instead. Max Payne is washed up by this point, an alcoholic pill addict, he’s got nothing to live for other than bullet-time and shooting hordes of baddies that is. It takes itself both less and more seriously than the original ones, and despite being sneered at by some die hard fans of the series, it’s more than worth checking out.
Oh and Health’s soundtrack for it is absolutely immense. When you get to the airport…I shall say no more. But you’ll know the moment when you get there.
Oni
Remember when Bungie and Rockstar released a third person action shoot ’em up with hand to hand combat? No? Well they did, it was called Oni, and it was absolutely amazing. Heavily inspired by Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell film, it takes place in a dystopian future under an Orwellian government, as protagonist Konoko goes on a quest to simply do her job. Well, it starts off like that, by the end some larger themes have crept into the narrative, like I dunno, the fate of the cities on Earth?
Yeah. It’s a good one.
I almost feel like I don’t have to write anything for this one. You know it, I know it. It’s the one with horses and John Marsden, and that bit when you go to Mexico.
If you haven’t played it by now, what on earth are you waiting for? You can get a console for cheap and a copy of the game, get on it already. I’ll wait.
(I won’t wait.)
A.K.A. ‘So that’s what the Mad Men cast have been up to in between seasons’, L.A. Noire takes you, as Detective Phelps, on a tour of his life through a few years of being a cop in LA in the late 40s and 50s. Featuring facial fidelity and a feel for the time period that’s unmatched, this game makes you feel like you’re living Phelps’ life as he solves crimes and investigates the seedy underbelly of 50s LA.
Also it features a black and white mode, which is absolutely stunning.
Bully, or Hogwarts for Horrible Humans, features the most awful school known to humanity, the dreaded Bullworth Academy. Play as Jimmy as you avoid bullies, go to classes, avoid detention, and get up to scrapes as you explore your school and frankly just try to survive Bullworth. Eventually you’ll take over it and rise to be the top dog around Bullworth, but for today go and beat up some horrible kids and go skateboarding around town. Why not? You won’t be a kid forever.
OK let’s talk about Manhunt. You’re probably looking at this entry with trepidation, given the bad press it’s had. But Manhunt is a brilliant experience, it’s not ‘good’ or ‘fun’, but it’s brilliant in the same way that watching the TV series Hannibal is, or reading Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. You put a toe into a world that’s somewhat sicker than our own, and you do it all the time lulled by the velvet-over-rocks tones of Brian Cox (no, not the physicist).
If you want to play it, I implore you to try to fish up the original version which separates out Brian Cox’s director into your headset, as that really makes the experience complete.
It’s not perfect and it can be a bit grim, but if you can handle it, Manhunt is worth dipping into.
So there you go, the best games from Rockstar that aren’t in the GTA series. Did we miss your favourite off? Let us know in the comments below, or on social media.
Final Fantasy XIV Leveling Guide
Shadow of War Hands On
To say that Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a considerable upgrade compared to its predecessor, Shadow of Mordor, would be an understatement. Shadow of War has built upon the game mechanics from Shadow of Mordor to bring an even more thrilling gameplay experience. These upgrades don’t just cover the Nemesis system, they cover every aspect of the game from the open world, to Talion and Celebrimbor’s combat.
During my hands on time with the game, I was tasked with the straightforward mission of taking over a Nemesis fortress. Nemesis Fortresses are just one of the many upgrades to the Nemesis system. In Shadow of Mordor you were tasked with overthrowing procedurally generated Warchiefs in order to take back Middle-earth from Sauron’s clutches. Shadow of War takes this a step further as you have to take back Middle-earth by usurping Nemesis Fortresses.
Fortresses are strongholds full of Warchiefs, Uruks, beasts and heavy artillery. Attacking a fortress is done by taking over key areas within it and then coming face to face with the Overlord in an attempt to usurp them from their throne. Thanks to the Nemesis system the Overlord and their respective Warchiefs are procedurally generated with their own stats and attributes. Each Warchief also brings their own fortress defence, just to make things a little bit more challenging. For example one of my Warchiefs, Norsko The Pickler, had installed fire spouts for defence. Where as other Warchiefs had brought with them things like poison siege beasts and a whole army of berzerkers. The Overlord, Garl Caragor Slayer, had also built up the defences with stonewalls, making the fortress fireproof. This wasn’t going to be easy.
The Nemesis system doesn’t just affect your enemies in Shadow of War, it also affects your army. In Shadow of War you are able to recruit Uruks to fight your cause by using Celebrimbor’s wraith powers to bend their will in battle. For my run I had a couple of my own Warchiefs to back me up. I had Ur-Hakon Man-Stalker, Krosh Corpse Eater and my personal bodyguard Thrack Archer Trainer. What made Thrack especially useful was the fact that he was a commander, this means he was able to summon troops as back up if needed.
Much like the enemy had built up their own fortress defences, I was also able to add attributes to my army to build up my offence. I chose cursed siege beasts, War Graugs which could knock down stone walls, mounted cavalry and savages, who are effectively Uruk bezerkers. Once my army was how I liked it, it was time to infiltrate and take over the fortress.
How you breach the main gate of the fortress is entirely up you. My tactic was to take out one of the opposing poison throwing siege beasts guarding the wall, then use Celebrimbor’s abilities to posses the beast and have it turn on its own army. This plan went off without a hitch, however things started to turn against me when a couple of wild Drake’s turned up and started to burn everyone and anyone in sight.
You can easily get overwhelmed in Shadow of War, so tactics are vital to overthrowing these fortresses. Careful planning and knowing your enemy will soon become second nature to players who have been playing the game for a while, for me however I found myself trying to mainly stay alive. Luckily I was able to tame one of the Drakes and set fire to a fair few things giving my army the upper hand. During the battle I also got used to a few more of Celebrimbor’s abilities which have had a huge upgrade. As Talion and Celebrimbor are more of a partnership this time around, there have been several wraith abilities which have been added to Talion’s move set, all of which can be levelled up. There is a ground pound attack which can be combined with the element of your choice, in my case fire, as well as Celebrimbor’s hammer which can be used as a sort of wraith boomerang. Celebrimbor has also been given a new weapon in the form of a spear/halberd which is able to take out a load of Uruks in a timely manner. These are just some of the new moves I was able to use in the demo, with a lot more which can be unlocked as the game progresses.
Finally, after taking down half an army, three siege beats, two drakes and a handful of Warchiefs I was able to take on the Overlord. Garl Caragor Slayer was a beast of an Uruck who rode a Caragor. His stats stated that he was enraged by Caragors and cowards, he was arrow proof and was extra strong against Caragors and other beasts. To say this boss fight was a challenge would have been the understatement of the year.
Garl had decked out the main hall of the fortress in with his own tribal flare, much like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, his decoration featured a lot of antlers. Each Overlord will uniquely theme their own throne room, and also equip it with various traps and hazards. As Garl was primarily a beast rider, there wasn’t much in the way of traps this time around.
As you can imagine Garl was not easy to defeat. Put simply, I died. I was overwhelmed by his cronies and was tossed around like a rag doll several times. As taking him one on one wasn’t going to work I decided to recruit the help of my buddy Urad, Thrack Archer Trainer. I summoned Thrack, who was also able to summon in some back up due to his Commander status. After a heated battle, Thrack managed to save the day and landed the final blow on Garl, killing him once and for all.
After Talion gave a victory speech and presented Garl’s head as a trophy, the time had come to select a new Overlord for my recently acquired fortress. It will come to no one’s surprise that Thrack got promoted to Overlord which gave him a nice level boost and he was able to make the fortress his own. Taking over fortresses unlocks a region of Mordor which is free for Talion to explore.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a huge upgrade from its predecessor. Even though we only got a chance to experience one of the many things you can do in Middle-earth, we can safely say that Middle-earth: Shadow of War will be a hard title to beat this year.
The Tanks of Steel Division: Normandy 44
One of the most important types of units you’ll have in Steel Division are tanks. These mechanical beasts are capable of providing awesome firepower, armour and pushing power onto the battlefield. With divisions such as the German Panzer division, tanks will be more or less essential to every battlefield. Here’s a list of just some of the more famous tanks that you’ll get to control, and their history in real life.
Stug III
The Stug III was one of the most produced German tanks in WW2. Using the chassis of the also successful Panzer III, the Stug was fitted with an artillery 7.5cm turret, and was tasked with taking out enemy fortifications with explosive rounds. This turned out to be quite effective against enemy armour as well, as the enemy tanks at the time were fast but lightly armoured. Thanks to its low profile and strong gun, it started the German’s reputation for solid tank destroyers.
M4A3
More commonly known as the Sherman by the British Forces, the M4A3 was the most produced Allied tank in WW2. It came in multiple iterations, equipping different guns (right up to the British 17 pounder, creating the Sherman Firefly), as well as being used for tank recovery, mine clearance, and even amphibious landings. It was fast, agile and could pack a punch at short-range. The US sold these to multiple Allied nations, they even created a heavy version, the M4A3E2, the ‘Jumbo’.
Cromwell
The Cromwell debuted during the invasion of Normandy in 1944, continuing the British tank doctrine of having fast cruiser tanks for lightning strikes, and slow, armoured tanks for infantry support. The Cromwell was one of the fastest tanks in the war, lacking much in the way of armour, but having immense horsepower, and a quick-firing gun that could fire on the move. Thanks to their speed and reliability, they excelled as reconnaissance vehicles, command vehicles and flanking tanks, at last turning the famous ‘blitzkrieg’ tactics back on their creators.
Churchill
The Churchill was named after the British Prime Minister as he was a champion of the tank during WW1. It was the heaviest Allied tank, with a low, long body that excelled at traversing difficult terrain and was mostly designed for landscapes criss-crossed with trenches. The Churchill VII was the second major iteration, boasting heavy armour than the Tiger 1. Its chassis was used to mount other tank variations, including the Crocodile that was equipped with a flamethrower, and the ARK, that could build bridges.
Panzer IV
The Panzer IV was the most widely produced German tank in the war, seeing action in every theatre, and being produced continuously throughout. It served as the base for many iterations, much like other popular tanks, but it was also the backbone of the german panzer divisions on its own. It dominated early Allied tanks in North Africa, and continued to rival newer threats, including the Russian T-34. Indeed the Russian tank crews were issued Panzer IV instruction manuals translated into Russian, so that, given the chance, they could use the Panzer IVs instead of their T-34s.
Koenigstiger
The Koenigstiger, or Tiger II, was the first tank on this list that saw its debut in Normandy in 1944. It matched the sloped armour of the Panther with the thick armour of the Tiger 1, and had the absolutely deadly 8.8cm gun, capable of taking out Allied tanks at extreme ranges, with high accuracy. Allied tanks such as the M4A3 and Cromwell could hardly penetrate its armour, and only Sherman Fireflys with their 17 pounder guns had a chance, at their side or rear, and at much closer ranges. The only way the Allies could defeat the Tiger II presence was through relentless air strikes, hitting them in transit on roads.
Challenger
The Cruiser Challenger (not to be confused with the modern Challenger main battle tanks) was extremely ambitious bit of tank design. Strapping the 17 pounder gun onto the chassis of a Cromwell, you had a tank that could reach 60KPH but had the stopping power of a Sherman Firefly and the British army’s strongest anti-tank guns. Unfortunately the Sherman Firefly was easier to produce, and more armoured and survivable all round, but 200 Challengers were deployed, and were faster, lower and had better gun depression.
Panther
The Panther has the bitter tale of being a great tank objectively, but came in at the wrong time of the war, where the resources were not there to make the best out of it, and get it optimised completely. It had the same frontal armour, firepower, engine as the fearsome Tiger I, but it came with better speed, maneuverability and off-road ability. What it lacked was reliability, and this in the fields of Normandy, was bad. The allies may have had more worse tanks with their Shermans and Cromwells, but at least they reached the frontline, and in high numbers.
Let us know your favourite tank, and are you finding them any use in Steel Division: Normandy 44?
PC Exclusives You May Not Know About
There are so many PC exclusive games out there these day it is that the list is positively endless. So we have listed some of the PC exclusives that you may not know about. Here they are.
Spiderweb Software Games – Alex M
Jeff Vogel has been making games for a long time. A veteran of the games industry, he started Spiderweb Software in 1994 and their first game, Exile, came out soon after. Many of Spiderweb’s games were shareware, so as such appeared on many cover discs of magazines throughout the 90s, and as such lots of young budding RPG gamers got some of their first RPG experiences from their games. Currently the Avadon and Avernum series are their focus, and while they have differences in their storyline and approach both series are absolutely massive RPGs, with each entry spanning hours and with hundreds of quests to see and do and get lost in.
The Avernum series is a particular favourite of mine, as it’s a reworking and HD update to the original Exile series, which takes me back to those days in the mid 90s when I was first taking my steps into RPGery.
If you love RPGs like Planescape: Torment, Baldur’s Gate, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Pillars of Eternity and you haven’t checked out what Spiderweb Software are doing, then you are in for a treat when you break open an Avernum or an Avadon game for the first time.
War For The Overworld – Olly
If you ask people for their top 10 PC games of all time, no doubt that Dungeon Keeper will fit into it somewhere, if not in their top 5 or 3. Along with other Bullfrog games, fans have always wanted to see a return. After seeing one of two games that borrowed some of the mechanics like Overlord and Impire, and after seeing EA release a mobile game with the Dungeon Keeper name, fans were ready to give up. Then War for the Overworld came out.
War for the Overworld takes all of the original mechanics of Dungeon Keeper, and makes them into a modern version of the classic title. You are the baddie. You run a dungeon underground, and must mine out rooms and gold veins, create lairs and training rooms for your minions, and defeat the overworld dwellers. Not only does it portray you and your advisor as incredibly clever and devious, but the ‘good guys’ are all arrogant, fat knights who you will trick and overwhelm in various campaign missions.
War for the Overworld also adds more side objectives, rewarding players for exploring different places of the map, and has new missions designed to be different to one another, and teaches you the effectiveness of various traps, monsters and spells. Did I mention you could possess your own creatures and play it like an FPS? What about that you can use your floating hand to slap minions to make them work harder?
This is the first spiritual successor that has both the dark humour of the original, and the blessing of the creator Peter Molyneux. And if its good enough for him, its definitely good enough for everyone else.
Quake Champions – Id software (Kenny)
If you were to name a franchise that has been the most dedicated to the PC scene over the last twenty years, Quake would probably be at the top of most people’s lists. The games have essentially been the catalyst of the e-sports scene we currently have today and, after a long break since Quake Live, Id software is almost ready to bring out their new addition to the franchise – Quake Champions.
Champions is not quite the old school shooter that some of our readers’ more tech-savvy parents may be familiar with and instead merges its fast-paced, rocket-jumping gameplay with the more recent trend of class-based shooters. The Quake Live purists may be scoffing at this fact, however, time (and statistics) have shown that that vocal minority is, indeed, just that – a very small and nostalgic minority of gamers.
The developers have been very clear that they intend Champions to be a PC title first-and-foremost, as they are solely focused on delivering unlocked frame rate and 120hz gameplay (Note: that is server tick rate, not to be confused with monitor refresh rate. For comparison, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the most popular competitive shooter in the PC scene at the time of writing, only supports 64hz servers during ranked play).
Creative Director of Id Software, Tim Willits, told Gamespot, that “It’s going to come out after a really, really long closed beta”, as such, the game has yet to receive a release date, although the beta is already in full swing.
The Stanley Parable – Matt P
At first glance The Stanley Parable does not look like the most engaging game with it having no combat, no real puzzle element and even lacking the Dialogue and moral choice decisions, that come with other interactive narrative games, this coupled with the plot being nothing more than the protagonist meandering around a typical office with no other signs of human life, you would be mistaken into thinking this would be one very dull game and yet nothing could be further from the truth.
You start the day as Stanley stood at cubicle 432 and end the day… well honestly without wanting to give spoilers there are certainly some unique and fun places you can end up, the only constant is the game’s narrator directing you through the ever changing landscape in the most laugh out loud and 4th wall breaking experiences since the Monkey Island and Discworld games.
The game is pure genius as it picks apart both gaming tropes and the mundane world of office life. The game offers a full gambit of emotions from the game’s narration ranging from comforting and life affirming to antagonising the player when they refuse to cooperate. This game really is perfect for anyone who loves narrative games or just pines for the days of Point and click humour.
Witcher: The TV Series – What We Want To See
The Witcher TV series has been announced for Netflix, and although no information about the plot has been released, it’s probably safe to assume it’ll be about Geralt and his adventures slaying monsters and being made to dress up in silly outfits for court. There are definitely some things we’d want to see in the upcoming show, to make sure that it retains the feel of The Witcher, but to also kick the arse of Game of Thrones. Here we go.
Monster Hunting
The Witcher is about a character who’s job it is is to find and slay monsters for money. The secret is though is his order has ways in which to remove monsters from areas, and to make them stop killing or hurting humans, and not necessarily through slaying them, but rather through understanding them. It would be great to see a lot of monster hunting, but also to show the decision Geralt has to make between slaying a creature just following its instincts, or getting paid. The villagers aren’t going to care why the graveyard is haunted by a wight, they just want rid of the vengeful spirit. The best Witcher quests are when a simple job turns complicated, and sometimes it’s the humans who are the real monsters.
Spectacular Combat
In the Witcher 3, the animations for Geralt’s attacks numbered near 600. He has a very fluid combat style, utilizing his 2 blades, his magic signs, his potions, traps and gadgets. We want to see Geralt using everything at his disposal. The introductory cinematics for the games do this well, as we will see him drinking a potion to see in the dark, setting traps before a fight and equipping his silver weaponry. On top of that, we need some properly fast and lethal combat. Geralt can out-duel any man thanks to his augmented reflexes and abilities, but even so overcoming a group of soldiers with armour and shields is a very different fight to hunting a Griffin.
Real-life Issues
Fantasy TV shows don’t do a great job of portraying issues that modern people can relate to, but in The Witcher, there are characters and interactions that will surprise, and will certainly do a better job than Game of Thrones. Geralt himself is regularly shunned for being a freak, a constant outcast. The sorceresses are the most powerful beings in the land, but are relegated to being advisors to kings who grow fat and mad and wage wars. As anyone who remembers The Bloody Baron quest line in The Witcher 3 (and who doesn’t), even life in a fantasy land filled with ghouls and gretchins can be populated by people who are struggling with issues that people are today.
Witcher Schools Lore
One of the coolest parts of The Witcher is of course the witchers themselves. They’re split into different schools across the land, and from doing the Witcher Gear quests, you can find out a bit about your brothers from other schools. The games take place in a time when the Witcher population is at an all-time low, your own school (School of the Wolf), has not seen a new initiate in many years, the castle is falling apart, and there aren’t enough of you to keep all the lore up to date. You find out that there are schools of the Bear, Cat, Manticore, Griffin and Viper, each with their own lore, lands and awesome outfits. Hopefully the TV show will spill some more light on these different types of witchers, and maybe even have a series set in the heyday of the witchers, when you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a grumbly, yellow-eyed monster slayer.
A More Grey Geralt
Geralt is great, but in the game you can choose how he is. You can be cruel, or innocent. You can be sullen, or jokey. The TV show will probably nail the most generic Geralt, the one we all imagine, but we’d like to see him with more grey morality. He’s an anti-hero, for sure, but in the same way Han Solo is. We know he’s a good guy, really. We want to see Geralt struggle with his eternal, internal tug-of-war between his altruistic desire stop wars and conflicts and protect the weak, and his determination to just be a simple Witcher, travelling on the road and doing a day’s work for a day’s pay. We’d also like to see him have some sort of weakness of character. He can’t be realistically charming all the time given his profession and lifestyle! Let’s not have a Geralt that everyone in the show loves, let’s give him some real grey areas where we actually dislike him and his actions.
What do you want to see in The Witcher series? Do you know a game series that would make a better series?
Little Nightmares: Thoughts From Beginning To End
WARNING SPOILERS
I played Little Nightmares and it was so endearing, creepy and wonderfully addictive that I have voiced my inner monologue whilst playing through the game. For all those gamers out there that do the same, this is for you!
This is a commentary from beginning to the end of the game, so to avoid any spoilers and being completely confused, this blog isn’t for you. This blog about five reasons why you should just play the game, might be though.
Oh okay, no tutorials, pfft who needs them
Yes, I do need to keep hold of the grip otherwise I will fall to my death
Oh hey sluggy, you’re cute
AGHHHHHHH
This game is so creepy and beautiful
What the hell am I doing?
Yesssssssss a lamp
Run from the naughty burny eye
Just keep climbing climbing climbing
What is that?
WHAT IS THAT?
Har har, you can’t reach me peasant
1 HOUR LATER…
I’m great at puzzles
What am I supposed to do?
*Pushing a slab of meat* – is this human?
Six is the only thing I care about, ever
Hey, what time is it, I feel tired, I do have work tomorrow…
But, I do need to make sure Six is safe and escape The Maw
3 HOURS LATER…
Has he seen me? Is he following me?
Where is the fucking key for fuck sake
I will hide here till the end of eternity
Who knew this would turn into the bath scene in Spirited Away?
Everyone is hungry.
I am hungry, what time is it?
Run little girl
INAUDIBLE WORDS OF CRYING SCREAMS
That was the best scene in any video game ever
I need a moment after that, ooooo a collectible
I’m doing great video gaming
Hmmm, there’s a severe lack of mirrors
Yup, cool, mannequins everywhere, fucking everywhere, I see what they’re doing
Where did she go!! She was there before
I hate being stalked in video games, this is why I couldn’t play Resident Evil 7
I’m basically amazing at horror games now
4 HOURS LATER…
I don’t think I’ve blinked in over 30 minutes
These puzzles are quite straightforward, but would I be moaning if they weren’t?
Boss fight, bring it.
So, am I controlling this?
That was so good, I must tell everyone how good it was
I think Im ready for Resi 7 now, *goes to Green Man Gaming to check prices* – woah, that’s cheap!
Oh shit, is that the time, better get ready for work.
Your Favourite ‘shock Games
System Shock burst onto the scene all the way back in 1994, a date so far back in time that most of you reading this probably only know of it through legend. Developed by legendary developers Looking Glass and published by legendary publishers Origin, it wrote the manual for the immersive sim, with a legacy of games that use its feel and systems led approach to telling stories in a digital space that stretches out until the present day.
What Looking Glass started spiraled out to create some of the biggest games of the last couple of decades, and the ‘shock suffix has become something every gamer recognises.
We wanted to know though, what’s your favourite shock-like? Twitter only has space for 4 options so we had to prune down which games we’d put in the poll, so let’s cover the contenders:
Taking the name into the deep ocean, Bioshock introduced us to the twin pillars of the Bioshock series: a beautiful city in an improbable location, and politics. An Objectivist nightmare deep under the sea, Bioshock let us explore the rapidly declining city of Rapture and make hard decisions under the waves. Combine the beautiful world with a first person shooter that lets you customise the way you approach situations, and the ‘-shock legacy became firmly cemented in the gaming world. Playing it now, it feels very much in between the older ‘-shock games and the newer ones, the combat isn’t always amazing but it makes up for it with world building and just the feel of the place. And the twist is rightly considered a brilliant moment in gaming.
Take to the skies! Bioshock Infinite takes you up to the floating city of Columbia. Confront the dark side of American Exceptionalism in the golden religious city amongst the clouds. Bioshock Infinite takes the Bioshock series in a new direction and refines everything that made the games great. With a greater focus on combat with simultaneously more time for exploration, Bioshock Infinite whilst not always a fan favourite, expands and defines the Bioshock and ‘-shock formula for the 2010s.
The newest game in the list but also the one that feels more ‘-shock like than almost any other, Prey takes you back to space and to a space station which is infested by…something. Featuring many of the ‘-shock series standards like pulling the rug out from under the character, being able to define how you play, and a whole semi-open world for you to explore. With this last one in particular, it feels much closer to the original System Shock and System Shock 2, because both of those gave you much more free reign to how you could explore than the later Bioshocks did as even though they might have some exploration you were still largely following a set path through a series of levels.
Firstly, sorry we didn’t include the first game. Just System Shock 2 is so damn good! Set on board the Von Braun and the Rickenbacker as they hurtle through space, you awake from cryo sleep and…well let’s just say that something isn’t right. It has surprises, different paths for you to follow in terms of your character customisation, and a reveal that if you don’t know what it is, I just won’t spoil for you because GOOD GRIEF it’s some reveal. It’s much more of a horror game than the others in this list apart from possibly Prey, and it features some of the most tense sound design in video game history.
That’s the contestants we put to the vote, what did you say?
Now Prey's been out for a few days…what's the best 'shock-like game?
— Green Man Gaming (@GreenManGaming) May 17, 2017
A shocking surge ahead for Bioshock. The original Bioshock wins, leaving everything else in its wake.
I’ll be honest, I was surprised at this because I thought System Shock 2 was so beloved that it’d wipe the floor with the competition, but Rapture wins. You must all love being underwater just that much. That said, all these games are fantastic, so go check them out right now.
Join us on Twitter for more polls and votes in the future, thanks for voting everybody.