Dragon Quest Builders for the Playstation 4

December 16, 2016 by 5 Comments

What is an interesting way to get your whole family into the role playing game genre while still keeping the little ones excited about open world sand box style gaming, in the same vein as Minecraft?  The answer is the new Dragon Quest Builders game where you play a hero who must rebuild a destroyed kingdom, block by block castle by castle, city by city.  This may sound like a daunting task, but for those of us with a creative mind and a builder’s spirit, it is within reach.

The story is that there was a great battle generations ago, and after such, a hero was tricked into joining forces with a great evil.  The evil Dragon lord took away mankind’s ability to build and imagine, scattering the remains of humanity across the planet.  Your job to rekindle this builder’s spirit and imagination with the help of the Goddess at your side, as well as your own imagination.  The game itself is huge and wide open, able to be explored and built or broken down at will.  There are familiar characters from the Dragon Quest series including Slimes and Dragons, and a familiar art style similar to previous iterations of the Dragon Quest series, with an anime feel instead of the block-y computer graphics of Minecraft.

What is most fun about this game in my opinion is its ability to bring video game players of various genres together into one game.  Those who enjoy a more story and plot driven games will enjoy the ability to rebuild the world to its former glory, completing quests for other characters and defeating enemies.  While those who love open world sand box games will enjoy the building of places itself.  From humble beginnings of one bedroom homes, to kitchens and blacksmiths, to full size castles, the world is literally yours to play in.  The interface itself is easy and the controls are simple to master.  You have a set inventory of materials which can be used to build new places and materials.  Dragon Quest Builders is available now and retails for $59.99.

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Pokemon Sun and Moon for the Nintendo 3DS

December 7, 2016 by 2 Comments

If you have been under a rock for the last few months, Pokemon is back and in a big way.  With the recent release of Pokemon Go and the most recent release of Pokemon Sun and Moon, all your gaming needs can be met trying to catch them all.

pic6

In Pokemon Sun/Moon, you follow along a young trainer as he or she moves to a new region the Alola region, which looks like a tropical Pacific Island.  Upon moving here, you quickly start your adventure to become a Pokemon trainer, and one of the best ones there is at that.  You first pick out your starter Pokemon, choosing from Rowlet (Grass-Flying), Litten (Fire), and Popplio (Water). Each of these are cute little critters who pack a mean punch.  Whichever you pick, you are in for a good time, so no need to stress over this first choice.  As you progress through the game, you learn some new moves called “Z Moves”, which are a way for trainer and Pokemon to act in unison and perfect harmony to release devastating attacks on your opponents (which there are many of).  Your opponents range from the evil Team Skull, to wild Pokemon hidden in the tall grass and waters of the area, to other trainers- there are more then enough chances to try out your new moves.

This game is fun for gamers of all ages, although reading is needed in order to progress and make heads or tails of the story, so be aware those very young will not be able to get too far without some help from mom or dad.  Early readers should be ok with the game, however, the reading is not overly advanced.  Game play is also easy to pick up and understand, as the main mechanics are catch Pokemon, battle Pokemon, and continue on with your quest.

There are many side quests available along the main character’s journey, such as finding specific Pokemon in certain areas, to helping find special items or people in one place.  In regard to which game you should pick up (Sun or Moon) the real decision is which legendary do you like more- the sun based Solgaleo or moon based Lunala?  Other then that, the games are identical in story line and players from either version can trade with one another.

Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon retail for $39.99 each and certainly should not be missed.

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Jotun Valhalla Edition and Axiom Verge for Nintendo Wii U

November 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Today we are going to look at two of the plethora of cool Indie titles for the Wii U, Jotun Valhalla Edition and Axiom Verge.  An epic Norse adventure game and a mind bending side scroller which questions your trust in the programmers of the game.

nintendo games

First up is Jotun, Jotun Valhalla Edition follows the story of Thora, a Viking warrior who has suffered an inglorious death.  This means she can not enter Valhalla. As such, Odin offers her another chance to prove herself worthy of Valhalla by battling various gods and defeating them.  You begin the game in Ginnungagap, a Norse limbo which acts as your central point between various levels.  Each has lush hand drawn designs and characters.  Every level acts as a puzzle in itself, as well as an exploration chance to find a God’s weapon.  These weapons then make each boss battle easier to get through, some times, later in the game these are even necessary to defeat some tough baddies.  This game has a “new school”, artistic vibe and an old school, boss rush game play. It is perfect for new gamers as well as older ones.  What I really like about this game is its lush settings, designs, and the Norse driven story which is a relatively fresh area in gaming.

Axoim Verge video game

Next up is Axoim Verge.  Axoim Verge, looks familiar at first glance, a 2d side scrolling Metroid-vania style game where the hero explores a huge area piece by piece.  But that is where the similarities end. With nine massive non linear areas which are unlock-able,  tons of weapons, tools, and equipment (the most memorable of which is a glitch-er tool which, when used, causes game elements to break and either open up new areas, turn enemies into health power ups, or even have enemies turn into assistants).  This not only opens up new elements of game play and gives players a new way to analyze an area, but also opens up new portions of the area and has you question where this game’s setting is. Is it the future, an alien world, or a glitch virtual reality world?  Either way, we had a great time exploring it and can’t wait to unlock more weapons, areas, and tools.

Jotun Valhalla Edition is available now for $14.49 and Axoim Verge for $19.99 through the Nintendo eShop on the Wii U.

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Skylanders Imaginators – The Newest #Skylanders Video Game

October 27, 2016 by 2 Comments

new skylanders game

Skylanders are back with Skylanders Imaginators, and this time they need some of your imagination to save the day.  Kaos is once again causing problems in the Skyland, and Eon needs you to defeat him and the Magic Mind he used to create new Doomlanders.  This Skylanders differs from previous iterations in the series in a pretty cool way- you can now create your own Skylanders. Nothing but your creativity will hold you back with your new Skylander creations. With the help of Senseis in game which specializes in one of ten different techniques, you can also train your Skylander to defeat Kaos and his minions.  As with other games in the series, all previous Skylanders can be used with the Imaginators game including Super Charger vehicles and traps (both of which are functional in race mode).

new skylanders game

In total there are 31 new senseis to collect, as well as Creation Crystals which save the Skylanders you create. This allows you to call upon their help whenever needed.  In addition to new Skylanders, there are also a few surprises. You can now use Kaos in game, and purchase his collectable toy as well.  In addition to Kaos, Crash Bandicoot is making his first Skylanders appearance with his own unique fighting abilities including his whirlwind spin, TNT crates, and yo-yo Sky-Chi attack.

The main concept behind Imaginators is the ability to build your own Skylander Imaginator.  This Imaginator can be customized in appearance, ability, sounds, and even appendages.  Each edit is done on the fly in game through a series of easy to navigate menus.  Scattered throughout each level in the game itself are items which can be used to build and rebuild your character as you please.  Use an air horn for an ear, a snake for an arm, even a chain for a tail and s’mores for a staff. Choose to have color coordinate everything to fit together nicely, or simply mix it up to make your Imaginator your own.  The gameplay is easy to pick up and play, hack and slash gaming where exploration is encouraged and villains are colorful and different.  Each level has a theme, and each level has an end boss who must be defeated to progress.

The starter set includes a portal, the game itself and a minimum of 2 senseis and an Imaginator crystal to make your own Skylander.  The start set retails for $74.99 and is available nationwide now.

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Yo-Kai Watch 2 Fleshy Souls/Bony Spirits for the Nintendo 3DS

October 5, 2016 by 5 Comments

yo kai watch games

Yo-Kai watch is the newest phenomena to hit our shores from Japan.  The newest games in the series are Yo-Kai Watch 2 Fleshy Souls and Bony Spirits.  The main story follows around our protagonist Nate as he solves mysteries involving the spirit world through the usage of his Yo Kai watch.  These newest games dig deeper into the origins of the Yo Kai watch, and brings players into the watch’s humble beginnings.

When two mischievous spirits steal away Nate’s memories and his Yo-Kai watch, the game begins introducing new players to the mechanics and play style of Yo-Kai watch.  Players search around town for spirits and befriend them in order to call upon them later on to battle other spirits in their name.  Battles are predominantly played as more of an armchair rather then an active fighter, where you can power up the Yo-Kai soultimate moves with screen taps or spins. For the most part, your Yo-Kai battle on their own.  This can be either off putting or make game play easier for younger players, giving the player a different way to view a battle.

This is more as a preparation and couching experience then an interactive eb and flow type experience.  There is also an online multi player where players can fight their Yo-Kai against one another in battles which is great fun and breaks up the story nicely.  The story in Yo Kai Watch 2 is interesting and fun- it  ultimately brings to head a war between Yo-Kai of historic proportions while also helping out various townspeople with mini quests along the way, as well as bug catching.  Not only is the story engaging, but the Yo-Kai themselves are also quite odd combinations including a snot nosed character, a character who is literally all leg and a hat, and of course the cute cat-based spriti Jibanyan.

If you are looking for a fun, easy to pick up and play RPG with monster collecting for between those bigger pocket monster collecting titles, Yo-Kai Watch 2 is perfect to cleanse your pallet. If you are a fan of RPG’s in general and are looking for something with an odd flavor this works as well.  Of course, any fan of the TV show will enjoy the game. Yo-Kai Watch 2 is not to be missed by fans of the series, my son  is having a blast trying to catch as many Yo-Kai as possible (and telling me all about the little creatures the entire time).

Yo Kai Watch 2 Fleshy Souls  and Bony Spirits is available now for the Nintendo 3DS and retails for $39.99 each.

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Metroid Prime Federation Force for the Nintendo 3DS

October 5, 2016 by 2 Comments

metroid federation force

Metroid has long been a favorite among Nintendo fans.  Amid quite a bit of controversy when first announced, Federation Force is an interesting spin on a familiar game setting and characters.  The controversy surrounded Nintendo’s decision to work on a release of this game instead of continuing the Samus saga in the Metroid Prime universe.  If you are looking for a continuation of the Samus story line, this is not the title you are looking for.  Instead, this title is a spin off of the federation force, which picks up after the events in Metroid Prime 3 Corruption.  This game follows the federation force in their pursuit to clean up the galaxy by battling Metroids and Space Pirates as well as various other alien creatures, causing problems across 3 familiar planets.  Each planet consists of various missions, totaling about 60 in all.  Each mission takes place in a different setting, some of which include ice and desert areas.  But fear not Samus fans, the familiar armored maiden does make an appearance as a non-playable character in the game.

This game also differs from other Metroid Prime installments in its emphasis on team work and group based shooting instead of exploration, as well as the removal of the touch screen based elements of Metroid Prim Hunters, and the scanning ability of Metroid Prime.  Players can be a few different specialties based on the choosing of their weapon load out before each mission, including a healer weapon and heavy fire missiles.

Federation Force also includes and arena style combat soccer mode called Blast Ball.  Players using their mechs and working as a team of three must shoot the ball into your opponent’s goal, while defending your own goal from offenders.

Both game modes are available now with the purchase of Metroid Prime Federation Force which is available now in both retail stores and the eShop for 39.99.

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New Video Games for the Whole Family

October 4, 2016 by 9 Comments

Looking for some new video games to play with the family as the weather cools down? Maybe something portable for upcoming holiday travel would be useful.  Here are some of our current favorites.

paper mario color splash

Tthe newest entry in the beloved Paper Mario series, Paper Mario Color Splash, takes Mario to the formerly colorful Prism Island where someone is draining the land of all its paint and color.  As the hero we all know and love, Paper Mario comes along to save the day with his paint hammer. When used, the hammer splashes color on formerly uncolored portions of land, flowers, characters, houses, and even water.  This game plays like other Paper Mario games in the series, where combat is turn based, but also includes cards which describe what moves can be used next.

This game is a blast to play for RPG fans or Mario fans in general and should not be missed.  It is a perfect jump on point for the Paper Mario series, giving players an interactive role playing experience which will keep you wanting more and itching to paint smash some dull areas of your own life.

Paper Mario Color Splash is available for the Wii U on October 7th for $59.99 only on the Nintendo Wii U.

metroid federation force

Metroid has long been a favorite among Nintendo fans.  Amid quite a bit of controversy when first announced, Federation Force is an interesting spin on a familiar game setting and characters.  The controversy surrounded Nintendo’s decision to work on a release of this game instead of continuing the Samus saga in the Metroid Prime universe. This title is a spin off of the federation force, which picks up after the events in Metroid Prime 3 Corruption.  This game follows the federation force in their pursuit to clean up the galaxy by battling Metroids and Space Pirates as well as various other alien creatures, causing problems across 3 familiar planets.

This game also differs from other Metroid Prime installments in its emphasis on team work and group based shooting instead of exploration, as well as the removal of the touch screen based elements of Metroid Prim Hunters, and the scanning ability of Metroid Prime.  Players can be a few different specialties based on the choosing of their weapon load out before each mission, including a healer weapon and heavy fire missiles. Federation Force also includes and arena style combat soccer mode called Blast Ball.

Both game modes are available now with the purchase of Metroid Prime Federation Force which is available now in both retail stores and the eShop for 39.99.

Yo Kai watch video games

Yo-Kai watch is the newest phenomena to hit our shores from Japan.  The newest games in the series are Yo-Kai Watch 2 Fleshy Souls and Bony Spirits.  The main story follows around our protagonist Nate as he solves mysteries involving the spirit world through the usage of his Yo Kai watch.  These newest games dig deeper into the origins of the Yo Kai watch, and brings players into the watch’s humble beginnings.

The story in Yo Kai Watch 2 is interesting and fun- it  ultimately brings to head a war between Yo-Kai of historic proportions while also helping out various townspeople with mini quests along the way. It also includes bug catching.  If you are looking for a fun, easy to pick up and play RPG with monster collecting,  Yo-Kai Watch 2 is perfect. If you are a fan of RPG’s in general and are looking for something with an odd flavor, this works as well.  Of course, any fan of the TV show will enjoy the game- Yo-Kai Watch 2 is not to be missed by fans of the series, my son  is having a blast trying to catch as many Yo-Kai as possible (and telling me all about the little creatures the entire time).

Yo Kai Watch 2 Fleshy Souls  and Bony Spirits is available now for the Nintendo 3DS and retails for $39.99 each.

 

limited edition 3ds

And to play some of these fun games ON, don’t forget the hardware.  There are a wide variety of consoles and gaming devices available; one of the newest (and in my opinion, a very pretty option) is the New Nintendo 3DS XL system: New Galaxy Blue. Nintendo has recently released this new 3DS XL in honor of the new planet scientists discovered.  Lovers of science, astronomy, or really just cool artwork will love this design. This new space-themed, shimmery unit is a limited addition, and is only available for the next couple of weeks.  The Nintendo 3DS family is the best-selling video game system in the United States, offering tons of family friendly games in it’s line up. There are games everyone will enjoy. If you don’t have one yet, you might want to consider this one while it’s still out.  The suggested retail price is $199.99- grab it at http://www.nintendo.com/ or in a store near you.

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Paper Mario Color Splash for the Wii U

October 4, 2016 by 2 Comments

paper mario color splash

Today we are looking at the newest entry in the beloved Paper Mario series, Paper Mario Color Splash.  This game takes Mario to the formerly, colorful Prism Island where someone is draining the land of all its paint and color.  As the hero we all know and love, Paper Mario comes along to save the day with his paint hammer. When used, the hammer splashes color on formerly uncolored portions of land, flowers, characters, houses, and even water.  This game plays like other Paper Mario games in the series, where combat is turn based, but also includes cards which describe what moves can be used next. Some cards have to be colored before you can use them, and some are found already colored.

As you progress through the game, more powerful cards are found which can give super fun moves and leave the enemy flapping in the wind (like the paper that they are).  Combat is not simply about picking the right cards and hoping for the best as with the previous Paper Mario games- in this edition, when playing a move and using the proper button combinations, it is possible to power up your moves to sometimes even double the damage or give you multiple hits with one card.

What is nice about this game is the paper craft feel and physics which are used in everything from waves of water to the flat 2 dimensions in a 3 dimension world Mario and friends have. This game is a blast to play for RPG fans or Mario fans in general and should not be missed.  It is a perfect jump on point for the Paper Mario series giving players an interactive role playing experience which will keep you wanting more and itching to paint smash some dull areas of your own life.

Paper Mario Color Splash is available for the Wii U on October 7th for $59.99 only on the Nintendo Wii U.

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