My Top 10 Games of 2014!

G'day there guys and gals!

We near the end of another year full of gaming; there were some definite ups and downs this year (admittedly mostly downs!) but this leads to the question; which games fizzled and which soared into the sky with praise by all.
Note worthy also; this is my list! All the games on said list are my personal choice and lists will vary person to person. Let me know your picks down below.

To start it off, some honourary mentions; While definitely worth a look at, these are the titles I found just too lacking, among the many remakes of this year or simply incomplete
Murdered Soul Suspect, Thief, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition, Assassin's Creed Rogue, GTA 5, Halo Master Chief Collection, Telltales Game of Thrones Episode 1 and lastly, Watch Dogs.

NUMBER 10:
Fable Anniversary
Buggy, glitchy and often broken, Fable Anniversary wasn't a great start to the year of 2014 and would pretty much be the first mark the Next Gen Leapers would make on our wallets overall. Although it had many technical issues, there's no doubt that Lionhead had definitely put in a lot of time into the development of the game, completely redoing the textures, gameplay and feel of the title overall, while still keeping that ritzy, dry humour fans have come to expect. Although the App feature was a total bust at first (many gamers complaining of its non-functionality), the game was still enjoyable nonetheless; the timeless story, brilliant gameplay and beautiful musical score.
While definitely the lowest scoring on my list, if you're a fan it's definitely worth the struggle. If not, now would be a decent time to check it out as the price-tag would be plummeting.

NUMBER 9:
Wolfenstein The New Order
Admittedly I have never played a Wolfenstein game before this one, the classic barely into my own time and with very few memories of my siblings and their friends playing the title. But this is the beauty of Wolfenstein TNO; Engaging gameplay with a fresh storyline.
Despite originally being a sequel to the 2009 release, the rehash of the game received much more attention and love by fans than its predecessor due to the overwhelmingly great gameplay, jaw-dropping graphics, its exceedingly long campaign and abundance of fan service, Easter Eggs and more. Although slightly glitchy and the choices made in game pretty much pointless except for the first, the game itself has plenty of replay value and much to be enjoy by old fans and new. 
Stealth or loud, young or old, the choices are there and they should be made for any gamer looking for an old school styled First Person Shooter.

NUMBER 8:
Titanfall
This title did see a lot of backlash from the community over its god awful campaign; only there to fill in a checkpoint and to unlock different Titans for you to play around with, not even to mention the only difference between multiplayer and it are 60 seconds of dialogue and perhaps a small cutscene. 
BUT does that make it a bad game? Definitely not! Titanfall is surprisingly refreshing to the FPS scene and with developers from Call of Duty behind it, that's not surprising. Extensive parkour meets giant robots? That was enough to sucker in many gamers but the gameplay, musical score and multiplayer was enough to keep fans coming back months after its release, a huge fanbase still around to this day. While some have moved on, the massive maps and continued upgrades to both player and Titan alike has kept Titanfall around for much longer than many expected. As a gamer, even talking about it now makes me want to play, this is the calling card of a good game. 
Irrefutably worth your time. 

NUMBER 7:
South Park The Stick of Truth
In full honestly, I want to kick my own arse for not having this game closer to #1 on the list, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. Controversy out of brilliance; this has always been the calling card of the creators of South Park and The Stick Of Truth brings that ten fold. With MASSIVE censorship in Europe and my home land Australia, The Stick Of Truth is agreed by many fans alike to be almost a extended season of the show itself. Many titles of games that made the jump from television or movies tend to be god awful and a stain on their brand's name. But that is not the case here.
Gameplay based from classic RPGs, beautiful scenery of the entire town of South Park coming to life and extensive customisation and storyline, if you make any purchase of an RPG in the final days of 2014, make it this one. For fans who will squeal in delight over Fast Travel TIMMY!! or newbies fresh to the experience, there is something for everyone in this game.

NUMBER 6:
Assassin's Creed Unity
Over the last month, AC Unity has copped a lot of hatred from the community over its bugs and issues. But does that make it a bad game? Not by a long shot. Even as a fan of the AC series, I can admit that many of its issues, like its often flat dialogue and cheesy love interest can be intolerable. But the gameplay, free-roam and missions are by far enough to keep even a casual gamer entertained for well over 30 hours. Never before Unity did I feel compelled to play the story line, but with side missions such as Murder Mystery, the Assassin Guild tasks and more, each mission had multiple ways of execution, especially main Assassination missions in the storyline. Don't pay too much attention or the beginning of the game will ruin AC Rogue for you but if you want a game where you can do most anything from fighting in medieval France freeing trapped Assassins to finding clues to solve the murder of a teacher (not to mention the unbelievably huge customisation like never before), Assassin's Creed Unity would be a great start into the series as a whole.

NUMBER 5:
Middle Earth - Shadow Of Mordor
Buying on a whim seems to have the best results in gaming these days as I went into SoM with very little hopes, only to meet a massive sandbox world filled with an abundance of creatures and Orcs to shoot, stab and behead at my whim. Storyline wise is well fleshed out, even if a tad cliche, but can keep you rooted to the spot for hours. Add onto that the incredible gameplay and you have a game to waste multiple hours hunting down the Orc that has killed you twice now to your heart's content. Riding the many beasts of Mordor, controlling the creatures to your whims and murdering your way to the top to avenge your family members, all of that and more await you in Shadow of Mordor. There isn't much customisation as the earlier titles mentioned but the mass amount of lore and gameplay here is enough for a second or third walkthrough.

NUMBER 4:
Transistor
Unbelievably, this amazing second title from the angels of SuperGiant games (Responsible for the astounding hit Bastion) has been overlooked by many gamers and that right there is a huge shame. My one and only PC only choice on this list, Transistor brings all the charm of a SuperGiant game into a fresh new scenario with a brand new character. HUGE lore, extensive storyline and utterly sublime voice acting and musical score, for such a low asking price it would be an absolute shame if any gamer missed this brilliant piece of artwork that is this game. I cannot sing the praise of this game more than I can right now. Casual or hardcore, give this revolutionary game a chance to move you and you will not regret it.

NUMBER 3: 
Telltale's The Walking Dead Season Two
Despite a single part of this game was released in 2013, I am counting this game in this list due to the majority of this game being released in 2014 and the full retail release as well. 
Fans were utterly delighted to return to Clementine in Telltale's now main runner game, The Walking Dead and many fans were not disappointed with the result. 
Upgraded gameplay and graphics and a continuing storyline of Clementine's struggle to survive as the Walkers engulf the world transfixed fans and newbies alike. If you're wondering why this made so close to #1, there is only only natural reply; storyline. The incredibly dynamic storyline, the simplistic yet excellent use of Point and Click gameplay, the voice acting, the sound track, every small little part to this game makes up the incredible game that Telltale has built up over the years, and with its completion leaving many fans waiting impatiently for Season Three.
If you're after a series to laugh, cry and grow with the character, this is by far for you.

NUMBER 2:
Sunset Overdrive
As a reviewer, I have said on the occasion "random does not always equal funny", but with Sunset Overdrive, this is barely the case. Well written jokes and references, random sequences and a brilliant dialogue definitely make up for most of the lackluster performance many other random titles *coughsaintsrow4coughcough* and outshine them all.
A non-realistic zombie outbreak and an overpowered hero was all the combination needed to make Sunset Overdrive a definite standout in the Zombie genre. Insane parkour and gameplay, an abundance of customisation of weaponry and character alike, witty dialogue and a decently made storyline not to mention the huge amount of jokes and puns made often, Sunset Overdrive has something to appeal to every gamer and even those who hate the standard zombie scene. While still relatively pricey, this game makes it to number 2 on the point alone of utter brilliance of the game's mechanic overall. While there were some small issues with multiplayer aspect at first, all have since disappeared. This is a must own for any self respecting gamer.

and finally!
NUMBER 1:
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
It has been so saddening to see such little response from the gaming community over this absolute ge of a game since its launch. A puzzler, the game plays out with multiple characters and different storylines all interlinked by the set of one of the largest events of the 20th century: The War To End All Wars aka WW1. What makes this game #1 is for it's incredible lore and realism with a ton of collectables with facts about the war and its events, the simplistic gameplay made difficult with puzzles and codes to be solve and the unbelievably incredible storyline and soundtrack. I would die a happy man if the last thing I heard on this earth was the main tune to Valiant Hearts.
For $15, I promise this game will set you back days in its gameplay, with a huge replay value to tip the iceberg so to speak.
Everything about this game is damn near perfection and it is a shame to see it fade away into the dust. If you play any game in the next 10 years, give this one a chance!

And as always, have fun and game on! See you all in 2015!

Review: Telltale's Game Of Thrones Episode 1

G'day there guys and gals!

(Please note: As Telltale's GoT series is released in episode form, they will be reviewed in DLC form: A through F.)
(Warning! This review features slight spoilers of late Season 3 and beyond. Tread carefully!)

With the huge success of The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead, Telltale Games has cemented their legacy to create touching, heartstring-pulling games with game mechanics easy enough for casual gamers and storylines to make even the most veteran gamers shed a tear or seven.
Game of Thrones has seen huge success since it's television debut, with many people (such as myself) flocking to the books for more at the end of a season. Iron From Ice not only has set itself apart from the novels and show, but has grown and adapted with them into something so much more.

This series follows the events of several protagonists, all situated around the House Forrester, a family loyal to the Starks. The game begins with Gared Tuttle, Squire to Lord Forrester, midst the celebrations of the houses attending the Red Wedding. 
Mira Forrester, the eldest daughter, is also a playable character in King's Landing, the handmaiden to Margaery Tyrell, along with her little brother Ethan Forrester to complete the protagonists for this episode. Without divulging too much into spoiler territory, with the chaos of the Red Wedding, Gared finds himself assigned a special tasks and a message for his uncle back at Ironrath. Mira, as a Handmaiden and a Northerner, is wracked with grief over her family's quarrels all the while avoiding the suspicion from those around her in her standing. Ethan, now given a huge responsibility well before his time, faces the difficulty of making choices that were never meant for him.

First off to mention would be the graphics; while still retaining the classic Telltale look, the backgrounds and characters themselves almost have an oil painting look to them, with the features prominently focused front and center as the background turns to a slush of shapely colours. Although this is slightly off-putting at times, especially so when skins or textures look jagged and unpolished, it truly separates it from the rest of Telltale's work. As for gameplay, it's many of what you can expect, Season 2 fans of The Walking Dead will find it quite familiar. Much of the action orientation is situated around holding RT and using the joystick to move something or go somewhere but there is still plenty to debate and choose. THIS is what makes the game solidified in GoT's universe; whereas TT has prided itself where the players choices determine how the game plays and how they create the universe to our liking, each little choice is bound to set off a chain reaction, even smaller options such as who to talk to can determine your fate later on in the game. 
Sound effects are slightly dull, many of the menu options complete copies of Walking Dead's, whereas swordplay sound effects and even grunting are looped too often to have much of an impact overall. Musical score on the other hand is perfectly done, bringing much of the feel of the show into the world as possible, despite the odd blockish homage intro to the show. Voice acting is done incredibly well, each character having their own role in the narrative perfectly executed to a T, leading even the smallest of characters leaving a large impact on the story, with many familiar faces also making an appearance as you continue to play.

With all of this in mind, what else can I say about the game without revealing the plot of it all? Be careful of the choices you make, for they may not just affect your own output as well. With a storyline that had me shaking by the end, excellent narrative/choices to be made and a wonderful beginning to the series, Telltale's Game Of Thrones is a great addition to the infamous series. While there are some bugs here and there, this series is a welcome breath of fresh air to the franchise and one that must be played over and over again. The North remembers. 

Telltale's Game Of Thrones Episode 1: B+

Update - 6/12/14

G'day there guys and gals!

Quick little note to say I am still alive and the reviews are still on the way!
I've been massively swamped with University and I haven't had a lot of time to review games, but they are still on the way, next up being Halo Master Chief Collection. I'll only be brushing over the online features as so many of you are probably aware at how dastardly they have been, so I'll be focusing more on Campaign and Customisation of the game. Don't worry, there have been plenty of problems there and many of which are pointing at the Halo Channel.

I still haven't finished AC Rogue so I will be doing that last and there is the possibility of COD Advanced Warfare since I've been fooling around in that game too.
I haven't filmed a lot either, only doing unboxing videos for Halo MCC and AC Unity but otherwise if you check my Twitter, you can find at least one tweet a day.

Anyhoo, that's about it! Over November I officially hit my 4th year as a indie reviewer and it fills me with so much happiness when people tell me they read my work. You folks have stuck around for so long and I cannot thank you enough for the support.
I'll try to do a few more reviews before the end of the year but otherwise I'll see you in 2015!

And as always, have fun and game on!

Review: GTA V Xbox One

G'day there guys and gals!

Please note: this review will be scored in DLC style (A through F) as appropriate with HD/Next Gen remakes. However since I never reviewed the original game, I shall add a quick summary score.

Arguably more infamous than many other titles in gaming history, Grand Theft Auto V launched late last year to record setting numbers, selling more copies and making more dough than the entire music industry last year. With that kind of publicity comes controversy; even now the game is being pull off shelves in Australia by the idiotically informed, Lindsay Lohan continuing her ridiculous claims to copyright infringement and so on. But for all the hatred, the game is an utter masterpiece of gameplay.

With the next gen release, the game has seen one massive improvement to gameplay, that being First Person Mode, a very first for the GTA series. This mode, while simplistic, brings a whole new life to the game; car interiors, further weapon detail and so much more realism than before. My first thoughts on playing in first person were of the Oculus Rift: if the Rift could be used during gameplay, it would most definitely be the best real life simulator to date. Also added was a brand new soundtrack, which made gameplay all the more enjoyable: personally making it through the entire storyline before hearing a song repeat. Speaking of repeats, all currently released DLCs were also added for free, with a bonus amount of cash for those who preordered the game, giving $500'000 both in Campaign and Online.
This brings me to Online; as returning gamers will remember, the Online launch was an absolute trainwreck from server overload, many of the issues taking weeks to be resolved. What about this time? Not a single problem to report. I've put in a fair few hours already exploring the world and other than some movement lag, nothing game breaking or connectivity issues to mention. This is incredibly positive to report as Rockstar has also reported that the long awaited Heists will be coming in the next Update. 

Although I should be covering this review more extensively, this is but a small summary of what there is in the next gen compilation. Online character transfer is simple and surprisingly quick, allowing players to change their appearance to accommodate the new style options, with a huge variety in the facial features.

To stop rambling and keep this short, even if the release price is exactly the same as when it released last year, the added content, further updated graphics and gameplay and new features to the wildlife and exploration make the extra price so worth it. Playing with friends, randoms online or just the story, Grand Theft Auto V has once more cemented its place in the hearts of gamers worldwide, giving endless hours of enjoyment to come. A must own in 2013 and again in 2014.

Original Grand Theft Auto V: 9/10

Nex Gen Grand Theft Auto V: B+