Key

Nioh

I'm taking a step away from the Steam list games for the moment to talk about a game I just picked up yesterday and have already realized how much I love the game. Yeah, I'm talking about Nioh. It should be no surprise that I love this game as much as I do considering the type of game that it is, but it's also nice to see that this game does seem to be getting praised for what it is and what it accomplishes.

So, I'll be honest, I've never been very good at the Dark Souls games. I played the first one for a little bit and realized that I'm too big of a pussy to attempt it, so it just became one of those series I just never got into. I know they're great games and I know I would love them, but god damn I'm a coward when it comes to difficulty of that nature. Now, Nioh comes around and takes me on a journey that I've been wanting to be a part of for a long time. Yes, think of the difficulty of Dark Souls and put that into the Ninja style setting that this game offers, and you've got yourself a pretty good Dark Souls compromise. I'm loving how difficult this game is because it's teaching me everything I should know in terms of how to take on a Dark Souls style game. I say that mostly because the game is very similar to that of Dark Souls, so don't take that as if I'm belittling Nioh. In fact, I would consider it a huge compliment to the game. What's interesting though is that Nioh was developed and published by a group that goes by the name of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. If that name rings a bell, it's because they are the same developers that published games like Dynasty Warriors, Hyrule Warriors, Ninja Gaiden, etc etc. The list goes on. But that's why the game has such a heavy influence on the ninja style because the developers are basically known for that. Gotta say, it's a very interesting style to choose when wanting to mix it with Dark Souls difficulty. But it works. Really well.

While the game will make you pissed off the more you die, you'll also feel really good when you are able to take on enemies in a methodical way. I've realized quickly that rushing in is not the way to go. You have to use the block and dashing away tactic a lot. It's all about waiting for that sweet spot. Feels a lot like For Honor gameplay but just a tad more difficult. Of course, the combat feels really good on its own, which is why you are basically allowed to figure out different combos to take the enemies down. While there aren't that many varieties of enemies throughout so far, I'm not considering that a fault since you're going to see the same enemies anyway from fighting them over and over because you keep dying.

Graphics for the game are also really good. They're dark and mysterious, much like you'd want from a ninja style influenced game. I've heard people complaining about frame drops and issues with graphics, but I have mine turned all the way up and have had no issues. So I don't think that's a problem with the game. I guess just check to make sure you meet the specs required to play it. I imagine it doesn't take much.

So, Nioh. What do I think so far? Well, with nearly 6 hours into the game already, I'd say it's well worth your time. I'm having fun trying to take on certain enemies in different ways. And the boss fights are also really fun to take on as well. Not impossibly difficult, but you have to be creative with your rolls and attacks. Certainly brings a lot to the table in terms of Dark Souls style games.

Key

Crash N Sane Trilogy
(First Impressions)

Please keep in mind that these are just my first impressions and first thoughts of the Crash N Sane Trilogy and not meant to be read as a full review. I will be doing a full review of this game as soon as I finish it.

I didn't think I'd even have the opportunity to talk about this game in my journal because I was always under the impression that the Crash Bandicoot franchise was owned by Sony, which indeed it was. However, Crash N Sane Trilogy was not provided by Sony, and man what an opportunity they completely missed out on.

So what exactly is Crash N Sane Trilogy you ask? Well, I'll make it simple for you. Take everything from Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped and wrap it all up into its own entity, and you have Crash N Sane Trilogy. The game itself was published by Activision and developed by Vicarious Visions, who are also known for Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced, and some others as well. So really, it's no surprise to see that they've taken the torch on Crash Bandicoot as a whole, hopefully. The great thing about this game that isn't getting as much praise is the fact that it wasn't only released for the Playstation 4. You can get this game on the Nintendo Switch, Steam, Xbox One, AND Playstation 4. Seriously, what a great idea to put this game of all games onto many platforms. I know people have been having a good time with it because people I talk to and people online also praise this game. And honestly, it's not without reason.

I know what you're probably thinking too: Did we really need a remaster of these games? Well, yes and no. I wasn't entirely too surprised when they announced that they were remastering these 3 Crash games, but I will admit that I was a bit skeptical because most remasters (not all) tend to go the route of slapping a new graphics skin on everything and calling it good *cough* Dark Souls *cough*. Instead of that though, Crash N Sane Trilogy not only comes with a complete graphics overhaul, but you get a remixed version of the original soundtrack, controller support, and all kinds of new gameplay. However the biggest surprise to find that was included on this game is the notoriously difficult level Stormy Ascent. This level was actually not put into the original games because it was deemed far too difficult. However, Vicarious Visions decided it was good enough to put into the game. Here's a snippet of what the level is like:



So yes, I do think it was worth remastering these games solely for the fact that the remaster actually ended up being really really good. It's funny though, because I've really only fully played through the first Crash Bandicoot game. I've played the others as well but I was never actually able to beat them myself. So I'm also taking the opportunity to finally go through all these games in a fresh new HD way. It's exciting.

Key

Yes, my Steam Library reviews will still be taking place alongside this little project I'll be working on. So, you probably already know, but I've been running an ongoing polling session for MB Video Game Classics, you can find the thread here:

https://www.musicbanter.com/media/91...-classics.html

With surprising continuous interest, I'm going to do some further reading on the games we've talked about already in their respective threads. Things like the average poll score to things more about the game. They won't be very in depth, but it'll be a place for people to read more about the games we've discussed in the polling threads.

The reason I'm doing this in my journal and not the Classics thread is because I want organization and this thread is perfect for it. I figure if we're already talking about the games in their polls, having a place to compile together what we've already talked about could be a cool idea.

So, stay tuned for the first post.

Key

MB Video Game Classics: Banjo Kazooie


Voting Thread: https://www.musicbanter.com/media/91...o-kazooie.html
Voting Results: 5 (A True Classic)

General Consensus Based On Member Comments:


Personal Comments: Banjo Kazooie for me is definitely up there with being one of the best 3D platformers ever made. It of course came out on the Nintendo 64 which on its own merits had a lot of great games in its catalog. Hell, I'd say most of my favorite childhood games came on the N64.

MB Video Game Classics: Fable


Voting Thread: https://www.musicbanter.com/media/91...ics-fable.html
Voting Results: Somewhere between 4/5 and 5/5. Maybe 4.5?

General Consensus Based On Member Comments:

Personal Comments: I've talked about this game many many times so it'd be weird to talk about yet again. But man, Fable is fantastic. Truly one remarkably made RPG that still stands the test of time today. If you try to play the remaster on the hardest difficulty, you'll be sorry.

Key

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

Smell that? That is the smell of a great game. And not only a great game, but a game that taught me almost everything I know about gaming today. Yes, I am of course talking about the true classic Turok 2: Seeds of Evil. Now, for those that don't know, lemme put it simply: this game is pretty much known as one of the best first person shooters to ever exist on a home console. And man, back then? This game was the absolute ****. From the first level all the way to the last you are just in constant combat with dinosaurs at every corner. It's fun to control, the gunplay is fantastic, and all the guns you get are all unique and cool. And plus, the infamous cheat code that everyone should know is also present in this game. Yes, the mighty cheat codes that unlocks everything from level select to having all the weapons to not ever getting hurt. It's truly magnificent that even when this game is broken, it's still a **** ton of fun.

I remember back when I was a kid, I first started playing this and instantly I was sucked in. From the first level Port of Adia, you are just given the feeling of being thrown right into the chaos. Your first sight is a bunch of water, an enormous building, and explosions. Then you just come face to face with a dinosaur with nothing on you but a talon:



The funny thing about this game though is the fact that I actually didn't own another copy until very recently. Back when I had it as a kid, I never owned one copy of this game since then. And God bless Steam, because they do have a copy of it on there and it's very cheap. Not only that, but they've completely revamped it to the point that controlling the game is so ****ing smooth. It's actually made the game infinitely better than the original simply by changing a tiny few things and releasing it again. What a cool thing for the devs to do for their fans. I truly am at awe of it.

I started my first playthrough of this game literally a few months ago, and it was so cool to get sucked right back into it. The feeling of nostalgia and excitement filled me up so much that it was impossible to stop playing. I decided to go ahead and do the tutorial, first level, and the second level, and god damn the second level is so long. But it's worth it because every second counts. There's a feeling of tension as the soundtrack continuously goes with the level.

Speaking of which:



I'm gonna go on record as saying that I find this song to be the absolute best way to start a game that I have ever seen. It never gets old. It plays throughout the entire level and it keeps the tension high. You constantly feel like you're in danger and you truly are. But as you progress, you just feel more and more powerful and with the amazing voice actor who did Turok in this game, bravo to you. By far one of the coolest things that can happen is when you get a life in this game. You hear one of the coolest ways to say what this guy says. Here:



It's simply full of pure power, and when you get to that point, you feel it rushing through you. It's almost euphoric.

Basically what I'm getting at here is that if you haven't actually played this game, or you've never even heard of it, you need to change that right now. Do you want to play by far one of the coolest and most badass games to ever come out for the N64? Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is the game that fits the bill pretty hard. I'm serious guys. This game is legit my childhood and everything about it is what taught me to play games at my age now. It showed me patience, and unpredictability along with just being a really good first person shooter no less. So it basically taught me the lessons that I would have learned on my own anyway with gaming in general. And it's allowed me to continue loving games the way I do now. I'm fortunate to have a copy of this on Steam now and I can guarantee it will forever be in my collection until the day I die.

Key

MB Video Game Classics: Fallout: New Vegas


Voting Thread: https://www.musicbanter.com/media/91...new-vegas.html
Voting Results: 5 (A True Classic)

General Consensus Based On Member Comments:

Personal Comments: I basically agree with pretty much what everybody said in the above section. There's something truly magnificent about Fallout: New Vegas. And it will always stand the test of time in terms of overall fun and gameplay.


MB Video Game Classics: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas


Voting Thread: https://www.musicbanter.com/media/91...n-andreas.html
Voting Results: A mixture of 4's and 5's so...4.5. Thought it was tied with 1/5 so maybe 3.5/5? Either way.

General Consensus Based On Member Comments:

Personal Comments: I certainly understand why the game could be seen as clunky nowadays, but back in the day it was amazing. I appreciate what the game went for and it really left a mark in that series for games to come in the future.

Key

Super Meat Boy

I genuinely enjoy talking about this every chance I get because even based on rumors alone, people tend to find out how difficult this game truly is. Going from first hand experience, I can safely that the rumors are true, this game is ****ing difficult. Though, it'd be surprising if those were still rumors seeing as the game has been out for several years. Still, some people just simply may not know about Super Meat Boy, but for those that do, they get it.

I actually have never finished a full playthrough of this game because again, the game is really ****ing hard. Not only is it hard though, it's hard in the fairest way you can imagine. Every time you die, you feel like it was your own fault because everything from the enemies to the platforms are so perfectly placed that one mistep can be the different of avoiding the enemy to hitting them head on. I don't think I've ever seen one time in any playthrough of this game that the persons death was the games fault. It's never the games fault. That's the true genius.

Here's a GIF that can give you some insight as to how precise both the controls and the enemies are:



Then of course while the gameplay is all very tight and fun to play, the soundtrack is also a shining element. Every stage follows a certain theme of music, but it never gets old. Especially considering that your meant to play the levels as quick as possible. Each one has its own unique twist and allows for much more immersion in the levels. Which btw, level design wise, flawless. Each one is different in their own way making the game shine in terms of mechanics, but we've already gone over that. Here's a jam:



I always post this track because out of all the other tracks, this one feels the most intense, and for ****s sake this comes on in literally the 2nd world of the game. It just gets you pumped and wants you to succeed even though it's making it its own goal to take you down at every opportunity. Still fun though.

Now, boss fights. Yes, there are boss fights. And they are infinitely harder than any level you'll come across in this game. The boss fights in this game are basically using everything you've learned so far and taking them out. But that's not the end of it. You have to learn new things while also using what you've already learned just to take out the boss. It's exciting, it's excruciatingly difficult, and it's worth it every time you beat one.

This particular world is extremely difficult and I've never played it myself. But just look at the precision in the moves. That's what the whole game feels like all the time:



Anyway, that's Super Meat Boy. Play it if you feel like having a game kick your ass over and over again.

Key

H1Z1

Man, this one is kind of depressing given the current state of the game. We'll talk about that a bit later though. So yeah, I'm going to talk a little bit about H1Z1 as I've heard pretty much everyone has heard about it right now. So...what exactly is it? Well, back in the day when battle royale wasn't as prominent, H1Z1 was doing it in a way that really captured the true essence of battle royale. I remember putting a lot of hours into it very quickly when a friend and I started doing duos and just owning the crap out of everyone. The great thing about H1Z1 back then is that nobody knew what the **** they were doing. It was just a bunch of random people running into the middle of the map and hoping you don't die. But for some reason it was just way more fun in this game than it has ever been in any other battle royale game.

It's pretty safe to say that H1Z1 at this point will go down as perhaps one of the best examples of a battle royale game. At least that would have been the case, until recently when they started ****ing wtih it and now the game feels completely different and absent of what made it great before. Plus, you have all the whiny PUBG players coming in and just destroying everybody because they claim H1Z1 is the easy peasy version. I beg to differ. I've played both and I can safely say that while PUBG is far more optimized, I had more fun in H1Z1 than I ever did in PUBG. But that's just my opinion. While it's unfortunate that the game really doesn't hold up anymore due to stupid patches, I will always remember the days of just getting into the game and figuring out what battle royale really was. And this is what led me to my next little tid bit.

So, a friend and I were playing duos and we were dying a lot really early in games. We decided to do one more, and off we went. We actually landed in a pretty good spot with a lot of loot so we were already set as far as getting basic loot was concerned. The game was starting to go on longer and longer and we were managing to not only get kills, but managing to stay alive in the open areas. It was pretty incredible. We were in sync with where we were trying to go. Made the game feel more intense. Then it got down to the final 4, since it was duos, it's 2v2. My friend and I hid in the only safe spot on the map at this point because the circle is so small. We had the door shut but our guns aimed at the door. At one moment, we hear somebody come into the building that we were in, and they open the door and killed us. So unfortunately we didn't end up getting first, but we got second. And the game was really fun and intense. I can honestly say I've not had any moment like that in the small amount of time I've played PUBG.

Like I said, the game kind of sucks now, but do I still recommend it? Yeah. I'd say try it at least. Just remember that it's nowhere near what it used to be. At least in my opinion.

The Batlord

Why would you use the amount of fun you had as an argument that H1Z1 wasn't easier than PUBG? That's a nonsensical argument. You might as well say H1Z1 wasn't easier than PUBG because you found the lighting gradient more pleasant.

__________________

Key

I dunno. It's just a silly remark. Not meant to take swriouly. I just like sitting on PUBG.