Dinner With The Baker Family

Resident Evil 7 launched yesterday and to celebrate we were invited by Capcom UK to a dinner party with the Baker Family (if you were following our Twitter feed last night you may have seen a tweet or two). The meal was hosted by the Bakers and as you can imagine, the experience was both sinister and just darn right creepy.

We were greeted by Marguerite Baker and shown into the living room where we were given Jack Baker’s homemade special brew. It later turned out we had actually been poisoned so we had to find the antidote before being led to the dining room for dinner.

Once we were sat down to dinner we were served the finest cuisine such as haggis, sausage, roast beef and chicken. Well that’s what the Bakers said it was, still a little bit suspicious that we may have been fed human…

Whilst we were having dinner our task was to consume the antidote and then poison the Baker family before they killed us and served us up for their dinner. It was a great experience that combined an escape room with “fine” dining. There should be more experiences like this out there.

All in all it was a pretty awesome night, the actors who were playing the Baker Family were fantastic! Also the food was pretty good too.

We’d like to thank Capcom UK for the invite!

Resident Evil 7 Out Now!

The wait is finally over! Resident Evil 7 is out now, and we are excited to finally get out hands on it.

The game launched on Green Man Gaming at 5am GMT this morning, and to celebrate our head streamer and video guy Alex, played 2 and a half hours of the game on our twitch channel. You can check out his stream here, he will also be creating a permanent video for our other channels over the next couple of days.

Some of our Twitch Partners will be going live with Resident Evil 7 on twitch throughout the day. The schedule for our partners and links to their channels can be found below.

nomanis – 12pm GMT (7am Eastern Time, 4am Pacific Time)
CohhCarnage – 1pm GMT (8am Eastern Time, 5am Pacific Time)
Dansgaming – 3pm GMT (10am Eastern Time, 7am Pacific Time)
Pokket – 6pm GMT (1pm Eastern Time, 10am Pacific Time)
vaughnwhiskey – 9pm GMT (5pm Eastern Time, 2pm Pacific Time)
Vuxxy – 11pm GMT (6pm Eastern Time, 3pm Pacific Time)
MDee14 – 1am GMT (8pm Eastern Time, 5pm Pacific Time)

If you still haven’t managed to grab your copy of Resident Evil 7 yet you can grab yours from Green Man Gaming now. You can also get all the info you need about the game and the franchise from our Resident Evil Games Portal!

Top Purchased Resident Evil Games On Green Man Gaming

Resident Evil 7 is right around the corner. In less that 24 hours we will finally be able to jump into the shoes of Ethan as he is held captive by the infamous Baker Family. We will be live streaming Resident Evil 7 at midnight (GMT) tonight, to celebrate the games release.

Resident Evil 7 has been in the Green Man Gaming communities top 10 of most wanted list, and has remained there for the past few weeks.  To celebrate this we thought it would be a great idea to go through the sales stats on Green Man Gaming and work out the Top Purchased Resident Evil games to date. Check out the list below.

10 Resident Evil Deluxe Origins Bundle

In at number 10 is the Deluxe Origins Bundle, the perfect title for anyone who is new to the Resident Evil franchise (or for anyone who wants to start at the very beginning) as it has both Resident Evil 0 and Resident evil 1. in one neat little package. Both titles are in glorious HD and packed full of extra content and DLC.

9 Resident Evil 7

The title that all Resident Evil fans are eagerly awaiting for, Resident Evil 7 takes 9th place on pre-purchases alone. Will this be the Resident Evil game that all fans have been desperate for?

8 Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster

Number 8 see’s the prequel to the first Resident Evil game. Not as highly rated as most of the other titles in the Franchise, Resident Evil 0 does a nice job of filling in some of the gaps that the first game may have missed.

7 Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City

Number 7 sees the far more action based Operation Raccoon City. This is a 4 player co-op title set around Resident Evil 2 and 3, and you play as members of the Umbrella Security Service. If all out action and co-op game play is more of your thing then this is the title for you.

6 Resident Evil: Revelations

Originally released on the 3DS, Resident Evil Revelations takes out 6th spot. Set on a ship, Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield are tasked with stopping a bioterrorists plat to infect the Earth’s Oceans. It’s a pretty cool title set between Resident Evil 4 and 5.

5 Resident Evil 4

A game that really needs no introduction, Resident Evil 4 comes in at number 5. To say this game is a fan favourite could be classed as an understatement. Resident Evil 4 was the first title to introduce more action to the franchise, and also starred everyones favourite character Leon S Kennedy.


4 Resident Evil HD Remaster

In at Number 4 is the HD remaster of the first Resident Evil. As the original was the first ever Resident Evil title this is highly regarded as one of the greatest survival horror games as it defined the genre.

3 Resident Evil Revelations 2

The Sequel to Resident Evil Revelations takes 3rd place. Continuing Jill’s story from Resident Evil Revelations, this was the first episodic Resident Evil title. Even though the change of pace did leave some of the fans confused this title is still fun to play.

2 Resident Evil 6

The second most purchased Resident Evil title on Green Man Gaming is Resident Evil 6. The heavily action focussed title tells the story of all of the franchises most loved characters.

1 Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 takes our top spot for the most purchased Resi title on Green Man Gaming. It is one of our favourite Resident Evil titles and it does a great job of continuing what Resident Evil 4 started. Also we get more Wesker!

There you have it. The most purchased Resident Evil titles on Green Man Gaming to date. Will the release of Resident Evil 7 change this in the coming weeks/months?

If you haven’t already you can pre-purchase Resident Evil 7 right here.

 

The Greatest Sidekicks In Video Games

We here at Green Man Gaming feel that sidekicks in video games don’t get the recognition they deserve, so we have listed what we think are some of the best sidekicks in video games to date.

Ellie – The Last Of Us

Even though she is only 14 years old. Ellie can hold her own in the post-apocalyptic setting of The Last Of Us. This is a great thing as she could have easily been one of those sidekicks that players would have had to babysit constantly. She is proficient with most firearms and has some top notch survival skills. Heck, she must be good as it looks like she maybe the lead in The Last Of Us II .

Clank – Ratchet and Clank

As sidekicks in platforming games go, we think that Clank has to be one of the best. Not only is he a backpack sized robot who can give inspector gadget a run for his money. He also has relatively high intelligence and a quick wit to boot.

Dogmeat – Fallout 

Ask any Fallout fan who their favourite character is and 9 times out of 10 they will probably say Dogmeat. The faithful canine has always been an optional companion ever since the early Fallout games. There was a collective sigh of relief when it was announced that Dogmeat couldn’t die in Fallout 4.

CL4P-TP aka Claptrap – Borderlands 

You either love Claptrap or you hate him. Here at GMG we love the the dancing robot. In the first Borderlands he is dead handy, aiding you in the beginning quests and giving you some top tips. Also we can’t get enough of those sweet dance moves.

Elizabeth – Bioshock Infinite

Possibly one of the most useful sidekicks in video games to date. Elizabeth has the handy skill of finding you health and ammo just when you need it. She can also open portals to parallel dimensions and find you money. Not much more you really need from a sidekick really!

Honourable Mention – Weighted Companion Cube – Portal

No sidekick list can be complete without mentioning the weighted companion cube from Portal. In Portal the companion cube is your best friend and selflessly sacrifices itself for your cause! Sure you may have aided its sacrifice by throwing it into an incinerator but it does truly love you. I mean look at the heart!

So that’s our list of the greatest sidekicks in video games. If you think there is someone who we’ve missed or you just want to state your adoration for the companion cube, you can do so below.

The Best Resident Evil Game As Voted By You

The week before last we ranked the Resident Evil Games from worst to best. This week we put the question to the GMG community on what they thought was the best Resident Evil game. Check out the tweet below.

We had a fair few responses, we have tallied up the answers and the results are in. Here are the top 5 Resident Evil games as voted by the Green Man Gaming community.

5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

The game with the fewest votes from our community is Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The game that runs side by side with Resident Evil 2, players jump into the shoes of Jill Valentine as she tries to escape Raccoon city. Jill also comes to blows with Nemesis. a genetic abomination created by the Umbrella corporation’s bio-weapon the T-Virus.

4. Resident Evil: Code Veronica

Coming in at number 4 is Resident Evil: Code Veronica. The most puzzle heavy of the Resident Evil games. It’s set between Resident Evil 2/3 and Resident Evil 4. Code Veronica goes into the story of the disappearance of Clair Redfield and the origins of the T-Veronica virus.

3. Resident Evil: REmake

What was ranked as number one in our article has been voted as number three by our community. The Resident Evil REmake follows the story of S.T.A.R.S alpha team agents Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. They are tasked with exploring a mansion which happens to be the top secret laboratory of the infamous Umbrella Corporation.

2. Resident Evil 2

The Resident Evil with the 2nd most amount of votes is Resident Evil 2. The sequel to Resident Evil is the first time we see Leon S Kennedy, who a lot of fans regard as the best Resident Evil protagonist. The game also goes into great detail about how the T-Virus outbreak escalated in the ill fated Raccoon City.

1. Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 received the most votes in our community poll. It’s no surprise really as most Resident Evil fans say that this is the best game of the franchise. Starring Leon S Kennedy, Resident Evil 4 gives the perfect balance of action and survival horror.

So there you have it. The best Resident Evil games as voted by you. We cannot wait for the launch of Resident Evil 7 next week!

Is 2017 The Year Of Open World Games?

With the likes of Skyrim and Witcher 3 really setting the pace for large open worlds, have we as players come to expect more from our games? Are linear games enough for us? Or do some of our favourite franchises belong in an open world for us to explore.

The hype of No Man’s Sky is a great example of what players need from games, the functionality, the seamless transition between worlds and the emotive side quests tucked away in far reaches of each land. It’s not just adventure games that took this leap in 2016, but with extreme sports game Steep taking on the challenge, proving that players need an intense freedom in games. Let us wander!

2016 felt like it fell short of open world games with a few launched including Final Fantasy XV, Watch Dogs 2 and No Man’s Sky. However, the gaming industry is reactive and the players want to make a game their own.

So here are a few of our most anticipated open world games coming to 2017 that are setting a new bar for the platform.

red dead redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

The highly anticipated sequel to 2010’s wild west epic, sees us returning to the iconic cowboy themed open world. The original Red Dead Redemption was prised for it’s gameplay, taking the mechanics that made Grand Theft Auto popular and putting them in a wild west setting. We can’t wait to see what Red Dead Redemption 2 has in store.

Ghost Recon Wildlands

Ghost Recon: Wildlands

The first in the series to take on the open world platform, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is set to have a fantastic co-op story mode, so you can play the campaign online with friends. Set in Bolivia, Ghost Recon might be taking the risk on making this open world, but by the looks of gameplay footage, the setting is incredible and the side missions enticing.

Mass Effect Andromeda

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Although not fully open world, the latest in the Mass Effect franchise has open world elements. BioWare have taken Mass Effect: Andromeda to the next level, with a new storyline and characters. The team have worked to create a seamless transition between the planets you visit in your ship, the Tempest, within the Andromeda Galaxy. You can now stand aboard the ship and look out onto the galaxy in real time and pick and choose where you travel.

horizon zero dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn

Similar to other open world RPGs such as FarCry and Final Fantasy, Horizon Zero Dawn allows players the freedom to explore a vast apocalyptic world, completing main story missions and side quests. Check out our blog post on what we know about Horizon Zero Dawn so far!

sniper ghost warrior 3

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3

Another franchise taking on the open world genre, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is straying from its linear ways and injecting a fresh take on the series, including side missions and the three pillar system. This is a way that players choose to tackle missions, being strategic, stealthy or gung-ho!

With franchises even taking the leap onto the open world platform, there seems to be a change in pace to the freedom of games, even including those that follow a linear path such as Resident Evil and Tomb Raider. Are there any of your favourite games or franchises that you’d like to see take on open world? Drop us a comment and let us know!

5 TV Shows And Films You Should Watch Before Resident Evil 7

With Resident Evil 7 coming out next week (you may have noticed that we are a little bit excited about the game), we thought it would be a great idea to list some TV shows and movies that will get you in the mood. The great thing is that you will have plenty of time from now until release to make a good dent in this list. Check out the list below.

The Resident Evil Movies (Surprisingly)

This is probably the most obvious item on our list. Loosely based on the game series, the Resident Evil movies follow the story of Alice as she battles against the Umbrella Corporation, who have released a bioweapon that is infecting the human worldwide and turning them into hideous zombie like creatures. Alice also bumps into some classic Resident Evil game characters along the including Jill Valentine, Carlos Olivera, Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker, Chris Redfield, Barry Burton, Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong.

Even though the movies aren’t highly rated by Resident Evil Fans it’s still a good watch to get you in the Resident Evil mood.

Playtest (Black Mirror Season 3)

Possibly the perfect episode of Black Mirror to watch to get you in the mood for any horror game. Playtest tells the story of a gamer who is hired to test out a brand new Horror game experience from a highly renowned games developer (think Hideo Kojima). The game that is being tested is set in a haunted house where a variety of ghostly and horror themed events and experiences happen. This episode is rammed full of game references and classic survival horror elements that will tick the boxes for any gamer.

American Horror Story – Roanoak

Whilst we were playing the Resident Evil Beginning Hour Demo, we couldn’t help but be reminded of the latest season of American Horror Story. Roanoak is set in the deep south of America in an abandoned mansion where a variety of murders have taken place. There is an ill fated legend about the house which states that at the rise of the Blood Moon the spirit of the Butcher will be resurrected and will stop at nothing to murder any living thing in or around the mansion. The show also features a hideous cannibalistic ‘hick’ family which has some similarities to The Baker Family who feature in Resident Evil 7.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

You can never go wrong with a horror classic, especially if it was banned in several countries when it was first released! We think that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is worth a watch as it tells the story of a mad murderer who stalks both of the main characters whilst butchering a load of people. It’s definitely along the same lines as The Baker Family in Resident Evil 7 as they do stalk the player like some sort of sick game. So if anything this movie will give you maybe just the smallest idea of what to expect from your outing to the Baker Family household.

Cabin In The Woods

A horror movie spoof, Cabin in the Woods masters all the horror cliches and combines them in the tantalisingly humorous and clever movie that plays on the old age horror of a haunted cabin in the woods. Taking inspiration from such classics as Evil Dead, I know what you did last summer and Friday the 13th, Cabin in the Woods has similarities to popular survival game Until Dawn and is the ideal film to get you in the survival horror mood.

We hope that these films and TV shows will help you prepare for the Horrors that wait for you in Resident Evil 7. If you want some further preparation for the game, here are the games we think you should play before the game comes out next week.

What We Know About The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo held a press conference for the Nintendo Switch a few hours ago, we cannot wait to finally get our hands on the console when it’s released in March. With that in mind here is all the information we currently know about this highly anticipated new console from Nintendo.

Release Date,  Price, Specifications, Controllers And Peripherals

Switch Release Date and Price

The Nintendo Switch will be released on the 3rd of March in Japan, the US, Canada, Hong kong, major European countries and other territories. The recommended retail price for the Switch will be £279.99 ($299.99 or ¥29,980).

Online Services

The Nintendo Switch will feature a few online services. These will allow players to invite friends to play games online, set “play appointments,” chat, and much more. These features will be free to everyone during the console’s post launch trial period, it will then become a paid service sometime during Fall 2017.

Tatsumi Kimishima, Nintendo’s President stated that the company has “revised its approach” to region locking. He stated during the conference that the company has “decided that in general, we will not apply region locking to Nintendo Switch software”. So very good news should you want to import some Nintendo Switch games!

What’s In The Box

Possibly one of the most important questions, what is included with the Nintendo Switch console? In the box you will expect to find L and R Joy-Con controllers, Joy-Con wrist straps, the Joy-Con grip, the doc for your Nintendo Switch, a HDMI cable and an AC adaptor.

There will be two models available for purchase at launch, one with grey Joy-Con controllers and one with neon red and neon blue. Both models are the same price so gamers are spoilt for choice here!  The Pro controller however is sold separately.

Console Specifications

Now here is the techy part. The Switch has a 32GB hard drive, this can be expanded by using microSDXC cards, (which sounds nice and easy). The screen is 6.2 inches with “multi-touch capacitive touch screen” features. It can support a resolution of 1280 X 720. The screen on the tablet itself supports 720p maximum, however it can support 1080p resolution when docked and outputting to your TV.

The battery life of the tablet has been confirmed to last between 2.5 and 6.5 hours depending on what game you are playing.

The Joy-Con controllers

The Joy-Con controllers feature A, B, X and Y buttons. They also include L and R shoulder buttons and a home button. The attachable wrist straps that are included with the controllers also make the L and R buttons more prominent, making for easier gaming on the go.

Each of the controllers has an analogue stick (which also functions as an additional button) and a new capture button. This button can be used to capture screenshots and will be able to capture video at a later date. These screenshots and videos can be shared with friends and family on social media.

Both of the controllers have inbuilt accelerometers, gyrosensors, and an “HD rumble system” this will add a new levels of sensitivity to motion based gameplay. The R Joy-Con controller will have an inbuilt motion-IR camera that will be able to sense motion, shape and distance of any object in front of it.

The prices for individual Nintendo Switch controller sets and peripherals are as follows.  The Joy-Con controller set will cost £74.99 ($79.99). The individual L and R controllers will cost £42.99 ($49.99), the Joy-Con charging grip will cost £27.99 ($29.99) and the Pro controller will cost £64.99 ($69.99)

 

Games Coming To The Switch

Possibly the news that a lot of gamers have been waiting for, here is a list of games coming to the Nintendo Switch.

1st Party Nintendo Switch Game Launches

Super Mario Odyssey
1-2-Switch
Arms
Splatoon 2
Snipperclips
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Pokemon Stars
Fire Emblem Warriors
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Project Octopath Traveler (New Square Enix RPG)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

3rd Party Nintendo Switch Game Launches

Just Dance 2017
Rime
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Project Sonic 2017
I am Setsuna
NBA 2K18
Syberia 3
Has-Been Heroes
Minecraft
Minecraft: Story Mode
Farming Simulator
FIFA
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
STEEP
LEGO City Undercover
Skylanders Imaginators
Rayman Legends
Disgaea 5

So that’s all we know about the Nintendo switch so far. We cannot wait until it is finally released on the 3rd of March 2017.

Green Man Gaming’s Best Of CES 2017

CES was held in Las Vegas last week. One of the world’s biggest tech shows showed off some of the greatest gadgets coming in 2017 and beyond. So here is a list of what we think were the best gadgets at CES 2017.

Lenovo Entertainment Hub

The Lenovo entertainment hub will be included with all brand new Lenovo lap tops and will be your one stop shop for all you Movie, TV shows and Games. That’s not all though as this entertainment hub also lets you watch all your TV shows and movies using your VR head set. Once you have selected your movie or TV show, you can then put your head set on and be transported to a virtual movie theatre which is a pretty awesome feature. The VR upscaling feature will also apply to video games as well even if the game doesn’t have a specific VR function.

The MSI Clutch GM70 Mouse

This gaming mouse is fully customisable and comes with several parts for players to switch. Both sides of the mouse can be swapped with different grips whilst the face of the mouse snaps in and out, the chord can also be switched out should your prefer to use the mouse wirelessly. It also features full RGB Backlighting.

Roccat ISKU+ Force FX keyboard

If you are a fan of Roccat’s membrane ISKU Keyboards then this iteration may be just for you. This model comes with brand new pressure sensitive WASD and QWER keys to heighten your gaming experience. The pressure sensitive keys allow for varied movement speeds which are usually associated more with analogue sticks found on gaming controllers. The keyboard also features fully programmable RGB backlighting as well.

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series

Dell have always come up with some pretty decent gaming laptops in the past, and the Inspiron 15 7000 is no exception. The laptop can house an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or 1050 Ti, an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, a full HD or 4K UHD screen, and up to 32GB of memory. The storage in the new Inspiron can be configured up to 512GB M.2 SSD and/or a 1TB hard drive. True, the laptop isn’t the most powerful on the market at the moment but it is still pretty impressive.

LG Signature W OLED

Organic light-emitting diode technology is the new in thing for TV’s as this can produce outstanding picture quality of the thinest of panels. LG once again are pushing TV tech to its limits with the Signature W. This particular series of TV are 0.1 inch thick which you can hang on the wall with ease. All of the TV’s processing and connections are offloaded to its very own sound bar which is connected to the TV by a single ribbon cable. The sound bar itself provides Dolby Atmos audio compatibility, the TV provides Dolby vision and HDR-10 Video capabilities.

Innex Super Retro Boy

Retro gaming has taken off massively in the last couple of years, especially with the recent release of the NES Mini. Innex has jumped on the band wagon and has announced the Super Retro Boy. The device resembles the classic Nintendo Game Boy hand held console and is able to play Game Boy, Game Boy Colour, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. The colour screen is backlit and with the consoles battery life lasting 10 hours. So if you have been tempted to dust off your old Game Boy cartridges then this little device is perfect for you.

These are just some of the epic gadgets and tech that were featured at CES 2017. Is there anything that particularly caught your eye?

Editor’s Survival Guide: How to Survive Your Typical Nightmare According To Video Games

Here at Green Man Gaming we care a lot about our readers, so we are slowly putting together a survival guide in order to help you, the gamer, just in case you get caught in a particularly life threatening situation.

You may remember our last guide, how to survive a harsh winter according to video games. This month’s survival guide will cover surviving your typical isolated, horror type setting. We believe that this will cover most, if not all, horror situations. So without further a-do lets look at what video games suggest we do in these perilous situations.

Never Trust The Lights – Outlast & SlenderMan

If video games have taught us anything, it’s that the electrics in your typical building can never be trusted. Whether you are just merrily exploring a dilapidated mansion, or an abandoned insane asylum, the general lighting never seems to work. This may be possibly due to the cheap electricians that are hired to wire these places up, or the fact that the generator hasn’t been fired up in decades. So we suggest taking a flash light with you or finding one on your travels. The model of flashlight we suggest is the one that is featured in SlenderMan, as it seems to never run out of battery. If Outlast is anything to go by however, your typical cam corder will also be quite handy. Most models of cam corder that are favoured by amateur journalists these days come with night vision as standard. Just make sure you bring plenty of batteries. Or just go with the flashlight we suggested, because you know, endless power and all that.

Standing And Shooting –  The Evil Within & Resident Evil 

If you find yourself stuck in a situation where a horde of zombies and/or monsters are slowly creeping towards you, then we suggest standing very still and shooting the oncoming beasts. It is the tried and tested method used by games such as Resident Evil and The Evil Within (now thinking about it, maybe any game which features the word Evil in the title). True, natural human instinct is to try and out run these horrific creatures and hide. Or even moving whilst shooting so that your demise is avoided. Standing very very still however is the best plan as you will be able to disperse the hordes in a short amount of time, even if they get close enough to bite your legs off.

Staring Intently at photographs and objects – PT & Resident Evil 7

Most nightmarish situations that you will find yourself in will probably have you stuck inside a building somewhere for a fair old while. Whether it’s a long corridor or your typical haunted house, you will find yourself stuck with no means of escape. After analysing the techniques used in popular horror games such as the PT Demo and Resident Evil 7, we can confirm that the best course of action in these situations is to stare intently at photographs, clocks, lights and any other inanimate objects you can find around the place. Usually if you stare at an object long enough or in the correct way, you will hear a noise, such as a baby crying or giggling and then you will be able to proceed. It has been proven that doors will open using this method.

Bathrooms are not for explorers – SlenderMan, PT, Any Horror Game

In your typical everyday scenario the bathroom is a convenient place for when you are caught short or need to freshen up. According to horror games though, this room is probably the worst place you could go. Take SlenderMan for example, for some reason SlenderMan always likes to hang out in the bathroom. In PT the Bathroom is one of the most horrific rooms in the whole game due to the fact there is a baby constantly crying in the sink, not to mention that the aforementioned baby is also looking a little worse for wear as well.

Vacuum Cleaners can be your best friend – Luigi’s Mansion

As our second tip in this guide covers a typical situation where you are fighting zombies/monsters, there maybe a situation or two where you find yourself coming up against the paranormal. Typically the Ghostbusters would be the ones to call, but sometimes you may find yourself stuck on hold. We then suggest taking a leaf from Luigi’s book and grabbing a vacuum cleaner. This handy dust busting device also doubles up as a portable trap for ghosts. Simply aim and turn the machine on and you will suck up the ghost in no time.

So there you have it, if you do indeed find yourself stuck in a horrific situation then this handy guide should help you survive. Be sure to keep an eye on the Green Man Gaming blog as next month we will bring you another edition of The Editor’s Survival Guide.

The Best Games That Feature Dragons

With the recent announcement of Scalebound being cancelled by Microsoft, we like many gamers are a little saddened that the epic game featuring your very own customisable dragon has been extinguished. So we thought it would be a great idea to compile a list of games that feature dragons. We hope this list will be able to fill the dragon shaped hole in many gamers hearts.

Skyrim

Possibly one of the greatest RPG games to feature dragon, Skyrim comes top of our list. True, the aim of the game is to kill the dragons as apposed to buddy up with them but be sure to stick around for the later half of the story as you maybe pleasantly surprised.

Also you get to shout like a dragon and you are the last Dragonborn. You can’t really get more epic than that.

Dragon’s Dogma

If you didn’t think Skyrim had enough dragons in it then Dragon’s Dogma has them by the barrel full (I know what you are thinking, that has to be a massive barrel). They key focus here is that the appearance of Dragons is the sign of the end of days so like Skyrim the dragons main Dragon’s Dogma are not the friendly sort. Mind you some of the boss battles in this game are pretty epic so it is actually worth playing this game to get some awesome dragon visuals.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Much like Skyrim and Dragon’s Dogma, Dragon Age: Inquisition has you hunting dragons as apposed to buddying up with them. Even though Dragon’s aren’t the main theme here, there are ten dragon hunts that are scattered across the games open world, with each fight more epic than the last. Dragon Age Inquisition is another game that has some pretty awesome visuals, so do take a second to observe the beauty of these dragons before you take them down. Just make sure you don’t get roasted in the process.

Spyro

If all else fail, why not be a dragon! This list would not be complete without giving everyone’s favourite cute purple dragon a mention. He made his first appearance on the PS1 and has been capturing the hearts of gamers ever since. We do recommend jumping back into the original Spyro games to really capture the true experience of being a dragon, also make sure you get all the collectables as doing so will enable you to fly.

Blue Dragon

While this is probably one of the more tenuous games to feature dragon’s in (even though it has Dragon in the name) it’s worth a mention as the main character harnesses his magical power in order to turn his shadow into a Dragon. That in itself is pretty awesome and is technically giving you a dragon companion to fight with. Blue Dragon also comes with a great story and some cool set pieces, to be honest, you wouldn’t expect anything less from one of the original creators of Final Fantasy.

So there’s a list of just some of the games to feature dragons. If you have a particular favourite we have missed then feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Ranking The Resident Evil Games From Worst To Best

Resident Evil 7 is almost here! So to get you in the mood we have ranked all the main Resident Evil games from worst to best, just in case you want to cram in a game or two before the release of Resident Evil 7.

Resident Evil 6

Possibly the fans least favourite game of the entire franchise, Resident Evil 6 likes to constantly jump between main characters making the game feel like it’s trying to cram every fan favourite character in at once. Puzzles have been completely removed from this game and it mainly focusses on running and gunning. If you are a fan of no nonsense shooters then you will probably get a kick out if this, but to us it really doesn’t feel like Resident Evil.

Resident Evil: Revelations 2

The only game in the franchise to be released in a episodic format, Resident Evil Revelations 2 still miss the mark when it comes to capturing the true spirit of Resident Evil. True, it’s not an all out run and gun shooter and it also brings back some of the classic survival horror elements that Resi is known for, but it does struggle with pacing issues and over excessive back tracking.

Resident Evil: Revelations

Af first, Resident Evil Revelations was quite promising, it nailed the feeling of tension and did truly feel like an old school resident evil game. Sadly though, the game becomes quite repetitive much like Resident Evil Revelations 2. Revelations was also originally released on the 3DS which looked great, the game was then later ported to the PS3 and Xbox 360 and the graphics suffered. If you do decide to play Revelations then we suggest the 3DS version for maximum quality.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Developed at the same time as Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis follows the story of Jill Valentine. Jill’s story works in tandem with the events of Resident Evil 2, whilst this is pretty cool it feels more like an expansion to Resi 2 as apposed to a full blown Resident Evil Sequel. Still worth playing though.

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 isn’t necessarily the worst title in the franchise. In fact, it’s a pretty decent game! Admittedly, it does lack the suspense and stifling atmosphere of the previous titles but the action is fun, and the enemies are challenging, they’re just not scary! Also, Sheva is a brilliant companion as she is overly competent compared to some of the previous companions in the series.

Resident Evil 0

The prequel to the first Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0 tries to tie up some loose story ends whilst trying to re capture the atmosphere of the first ever Resident Evil game. Some say that it doesn’t quite hit the mark but never the less, it is a great return to traditional Resident Evil form.

Resident Evil : Code Veronica

Code Veronica does a great job of using its very limited map. It’s very puzzle heavy and has a pretty good story. There is also a cross dressing bad guy who is actually pretty bad ass. What more could you ask for?

Resident Evil 2

The sequel to the first Resident Evil carries on the epic story of the evil Umbrella corporation and its plans to create a bioweapon capable of wiping out the human race. The story is jam packed with great characters and also introduces fan favourite Leon S Kennedy. Which brings us to our next game…

Resident Evil 4

Regarded by many fans as the best Resident Evil game this was the first title in the franchise to ramp up the action. The great thing about Resi 4 is that even though it is action heavy it does have a good dose of intense horror, with enemies such as the Regenerators being genuinely terrifying. We had to remove Resident Evil 4 from the top spot however due to Leon’s companion Ashley who could be next to useless at the best of times.

Resident Evil REmake

The remake of the original Resident Evil takes our top spot as it’s the remaster of the game that kick started this awesome franchise. It also sparked up a whole new genre of horror games which featured fixed camera angles and difficult puzzles. True, may people would get frustrated at the original Resident Evil as you were unable to save without an Ink Ribbon item for the type writer save points but as a whole the game has really stood the test of time.
So there you have it. Let us know what your favourite Resident evil game is in the comments section below. You can also get all the info you need for Resident Evil 7 from our new Resident Evil hub which can be found here.

What We know About Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is a brand new IP from Kill Zone developers Guerrilla Games. It is one of 2017’s most highly anticipated PlayStation exclusives which throws the player into a post apocalyptic world dominated by machines. With that in mind here is all we know about Horizon Zero Dawn.

What is Horizon Zero Dawn?

In a nut shell Horizon Zero Dawn is a post apocalyptic action role playing game where the earth has been taken over by robotic creatures. You play as Aloy, a young human hunter who is given the task of uncovering what happened to the world and why it is now dominated by machines.

Story

Even though not much of the game’s story has been revealed, we can confirm that Horizon Zero Dawn is set 1,000 years in the future where humanity has abandoned the world as planet earth has been overwhelmed by robotic creatures. Aloy is a member of one of one of humanities few indigenous tribes and she must hunt mechanical wildlife in order to survive.

Gameplay

On the surface, Horizon Zero Dawn is an open world action RPG. Much like games such as FarCry and Final Fantasy XV players are free to explore the vast open world completing main story missions and side quests. The game also combines third-person shooting, diverse exploration and stealth elements. The game also borrows gameplay elements from the likes of Uncharted and Tomb Raider.

Crafting will play a big part in this game. Hunting down machines will be key as you will be able to upgrade your weaponry with all sorts of parts harvested from fallen machines. You will also be able to create brand new weaponry and tech from your fallen enemies.

Aloy will also be able to use traps, bows, explosives and many more and the more you explore the more your arsenal will grow and evolve.

As well as taking down Machines, Aloy will be able to hack them to make them into vehicles to help her navigate across the game world. Machines can also be used as travelling buddies which will aid you in combat. Not all machines will be able to be hacked however as there is infection spreading across all mechanical wildlife which turns even the most docile machine hostile.

Environment

The world in Horizon Zero Dawn will feature realistic weather patterns and day-night cycles. The map itself will also feature dilapidated cities, new human settlements and plenty of foliage and fawner. The environments can also be used in conjunction with the games steal mechanics such as using foliage to hide.

Release Date

Horizon Zero Dawn is due for release on the 28th of February 2017 exclusively for PlayStation 4.

Games You Should Play Before Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil 7 is coming out in a couple of weeks, so we thought we would put a list together of the games you should play before the next epic instalment of the Resident Evil franchise releases on the 24th of January.

PT

If you were lucky enough to download PT then you will probably agree that it has a fair few similarities in style and feel to the Resident Evil 7 ‘Beginning Hour’ Demo (If you didn’t, you can read this article that that highlights some of the similarities). If you are into jump scares and a generally horrific setting then this is just for you. It’s also a great way to build up some jump scare immunity.

Outlast

Another first person survival horror game, Outlast pits you in an abandoned asylum where all you can do is hide from the horrors within. There are jump scares a plenty and even some areas where you only have the night vision on your camcorder to help you. Will you be able to survive Outlast?

The Evil Within

From the original creator of Resident Evil. The Evil Within is a 3rd person survival horror game that any Resi fan or survival horror junkie should play. It’s full of over the top horror moments and adrenaline fuelled gameplay which has you fighting for your life. It feels very much like a resident evil game which is not a bad thing by any stretch!

Until Dawn

This survival horror game pays homage more to the the slasher movies of the 90’s like ‘Scream’ and ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ The game revolves around a group of teenagers stuck in a cabin in the woods trying to survive. The story is your classic horror affair which can play out in a few different ways, and as always there are a couple of jump scares thrown in there to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dead Space

Nothing sounds more inviting than an abandoned mining space ship infested with zombie like alien beings. Dead Space puts you in the shoes of Isaac Clarke, a ship engineer you must fight his way through the the Necromorph hordes in order to escape with his life. The feeling of isolation mixed with feelings of absolute panic make this game great.

System Shock 2

System Shock 2 does a fantastic job in striking fear into the player. The atmosphere and general creepy ambiance can unnerve even the most hardened horror fans. Also the jump scares happen when you least expect it. Say you are happily hacking into something and then from what seems like out of nowhere an enemy will spring from the shadows and catch you, so it pays to constantly be on guard. Good practise for Resident Evil 7 too as you are constantly being stalked by The Baker Family.

Any Other Resident Evil Game

This is probably the section of this post that makes the most sense. To really get yourself in the ‘Resident Evil Mood’ why not play any of the previous instalments. Our firm favourites are Resident Evil 1, 2, 4 and Revelations.

So those are just some games to get you fully prepared for Resident Evil 7 when it comes out on the 24th of January 2017.

Our Gaming Resolutions For 2017

In the last few days of 2016, we’re starting to look back on what this year has bought for games, including the exciting announcements of future releases. We realise some of the gaming habits we may have fallen into and as we look into the New Year, we’ve taken some time to reflect on our 2017 resolutions.

Sammi
Social Team

This year I’ve spent a lot of time commuting, so I’ve racked up quite a few games that I need to finish. My main gaming goal for 2017 is to finish The Witcher 3! As I’m only about 70 hours in, and we all know that that’s barely halfway! After that, I’d like to finish Fallout 4. Don’t Judge me, I like open world games but I have a short attention span!

Gina
Social Team

I’ve completed Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider this year and realised I need to branch out into the open world genre, especially as there are so many releases in 2017. I’m already planning on delving into Final Fantasy 15 and although I normally only play campaign shooters, I’m really interested in what Ghost Recon Wildlands as an open world game will bring to the series.

Emi
Dev Team

Heroes of Might and Magic is a turn based strategy game which I used to play but didn‘t get to do it too much lately because of a busy schedule. From the MS-DOS versions to the 3rd and 4th versions I liked it very much. Next year I intend to give it another try especially because the last versions are so good on graphics and the stories are getting more and more complex and realistic. Overall I find it catchy and I think it will certainly meet my expectations.

Karl
Customer Service Team

I take my gaming quite seriously a​​nd when it comes to competitive play, it can get ​really ​competitive​​​​, this saps the fun out of​ the​ games​ I play​. My new years resolution would be to relax and​ enjoy the game I am playing.

Do you have any gaming resolutions for the New Year? Comment and let us know!

Our Top 5 Games Of 2016

Although we’re incredibly excited about what 2017 and beyond holds for the games industry, we’ve taken some time to ask ourselves ‘what was our best game of 2016.’ With so many awesome game launches including an array of new and remastered, franchises and updates, it’s only fair that although we’re eager to sink our teeth into the newest games of 2017, that we give a special mention to these wonderful games.

The team at Green Man Gaming made a vote and these are the games that we decided ranked in our top 5 games of 2016.

  1. Overwatch

In at number one is the incredible Overwatch, loved for it’s diverse characters and insane multiplayer mode, it won the hearts of many since it launched earlier this year. Blizzard have been expanding on the game and have announced more updates in 2017, as they already start to establish their diverse characters.

  1. DOOM

Not far behind is the hectic and brutally fun DOOM. This reboot of this first-person shooter was one of the most exciting game launches of the year, especially with its epic single player campaign which takes you on a journey through hell and back.

  1. Battlefield 1

Complete with Battlfield’s trademark huge battles, paired with an alternative universe in this unique WW1 setting, it’s easy to see why Battlefield is in our top five. Featuring a short and memorable single-player campaign mode and signature multi-player action, Battlefield 1 is not only visually striking, it has a distinct array of weaponry and personality.

  1. Final Fantasy XV

The newest game on our list and a definite favourite franchise in the Green Man Gaming office, the much-anticipated Final Fantasy 15 has finally dropped and has been received with mixed reviews. We however fell in love with the game, as it transported us to a time when we would just hang out with a group of friends, a simple memory and a game that makes us feel nostalgic. The epic scale of this open world along with the legendary summons and kind of confusing storyline, has dug deep into the franchises routes and we’re looking forward to what updates will bring.

  1. Titanfall 2

Lastly on our top 5 list, is Titanfall 2; the wonderfully playful and fast pace shooter. Titanfall 2 built on the initial concept of Titanfall and delivered everything we wanted from the game, including the grand scale, large explosions and stunning settings. Titanfall 2 surrounds a unique and unexpected relationship in a new single player campaign that settles in the right spot between action, twists and turns and an impactful story.

What was your favourite game of 2016? Comment and let us know!

Top 5 Games To Get You In The Christmas Spirit

If you haven’t noticed already, the Green Man Gaming blog is in full Christmas mode! Now that you have bought your geeky Christmas presents and have donned your best Christmas jumper, it’s time to settle down and get some Christmas gaming in before the family descends for festive merriment. So here are 5 of the most festive games to get you in the mood for the holiday period.

Dead Rising 4

Everyone loves slaying countless hordes of zombies, and there is no better time to do it than Christmas. The great thing about Dead Rising 4 is that it is set between Black Friday and Christmas so the holiday theme runs throughout the whole game. You’ll be bashing zombies around the head with Christmas paraphernalia, and before you know it you’ll be humming jingle bells whilst decapitating the living dead.

How the Saints Saved Christmas – Saints Row IV

The second DLC pack for Saints Row 4 entitled, ‘How The Saints Saved Christmas’ lays the Christmas theme on thick. The 3 mission DLC pack tells the story of how Santa is trapped in the Saints Row 4 Matrix like simulation and how that the saints save Santa and Christmas for the whole world. It also comes with some nice festive additions such as a Christmas themed dub step gun and Santa’s sleigh. What more could you need?

Hitman: Holiday Hoarders

If like us you wanted to get your own special type of revenge on the burglars from Home Alone, now is your chance! In this free Hitman story DLC you take the role of Santa as he tries stop Harry and Marv before they steal all the presents. The mission is set in a christmassy version of Paris. Also as an added bonus if you get the presents before the bumbling burglar due do then you can keep whatever is inside. You can even unlock a full Santa suit for Agent 47 to use in the full game.

Christmas Lemmings

Everyone loves the retro game Lemmings, and what better to get you in the Christmas mood than saving a load of lemmings who are decked out in Santa costumes. These stand alone games were released every Christmas between 1991 and 1994 and all of them had a pretty awesome holiday theme. All set in on a variety of snowy maps it was as if you were saving Santa’s elves so they could go ahead and make all the toys before Christmas, well thats how I saw it anyway.

Steep

While not necessarily a Christmas game, the latest winter sports extravaganza has snow by the barrel full. So if you’re not as into Christmas but still feeling like a winter themed game is your bag this time of year, then this is the perfect game for you. You get to explore the wintery peaks of the alps, you can even throw yourself off of a cliff and hope that your landing in the soft snow will represent some sort of a snow angel. This wintery sandbox is yours to do with as you please.

If you have any holiday themed games you like playing that we may have missed then feel free to leave your comments below. We hope that these titles will get you in the festive spirit before the big day.

 

Our Top 10 Christmas Jumpers

Christmas is oh so close and it’s time to start thinking about dusting off the Christmas jumpers from the bottom of our wardrobes and cracking them out at work, round the family Christmas dinner, or down the pub with your mates on Christmas Eve. Maybe your Christmas jumper isn’t quite up to scratch as your coworkers and you really want to win the best Christmas Jumper Award at work, or you’re thinking of a gift to get that loved one. We’ve got all the best Christmas jumpers in a handy list, so you can go forth and win that award and be glorious this Christmas.

For the brother, who you spent many years playing Sonic with… Classic Sonic Christmas Jumper

For the boyfriend, who just won’t stop exploring the Capital Wasteland… Fallout 4 Christmas Jumper

For the mate, who you have many happy memories fighting the covenant with… Halo Christmas Jumper

For the girlfriend, who plays the PlayStation more than you… Pink PlayStation Christmas Jumper

For the retro gamer, who wouldn’t stop talking about the Master Sword… The Legend of Zelda Christmas Jumper

For the old school gamer, stuck in their ways… Space Invaders Christmas Jumper

For the zombie lover, who is too prepared for an apocalypse… Zombie Christmas T-Shirt

For the Nickelodeon fanbase, who want to remember the good times…  Mutant Ninja Turtles Christmas Jumper

For the guy who has always owned and will always own a PlayStation… Official PlayStation Christmas Jumper

We’ve got our Christmas Jumper day this Friday, so be sure to check out our Twitter channel for all the festivities and more ideas on Christmas jumpers. If you’re still stuck for Christmas gift ideas then check out our Top 10 Gifts To Get A Gamer and What We Want For Christmas. Also our Winter Sale is now on, with fantastic deals being updated throughout December and January.