Nintendo Switch: Facts, Speculation, and Questions

So, Nintendo has finally shown their hand (most of it anyway).  We have been hearing about the NX for almost a year now, and a few months before the system’s release, Nintendo reveals a trailer officially announcing that it will be called the Switch.  This actually reminds me a lot of the move Nintendo made back in 2006 when they announced that the system that was codenamed the Revolution would be called the Wii just a few months before it was supposed to come out.  This trailer is the first official news we have received about the Switch, everything to this point has been speculation.  How do the rumors stack up to what we know?

The biggest rumor was that the Switch would be some sort of hybrid portable and home console.  Based on what we saw in the trailer, this appears to be shockingly accurate.  What does the system come with?  We’re not entirely sure yet.  As I describe the items that were shown off in the trailer, keep in mind there is no information whether they will come with the console at purchase or much be bought separately.  The console itself will be a tablet like screen that is roughly seven inches (based on analysis from the trailer).  There is also a dock that will more than likely be used to charge the console and connect it to the television.  There is a controller that is being called the Joy-Con.  The Joy-Con can be a whole or split into multiple parts.  When split apart, the controller can be used to allow multiple people play a game or the pieces can be attached to the side of the console to allow the player to take it on the go.  It looks like this can be done without even turning the game off or even pausing.  There will also be a Switch Pro Controller available that resembles a more traditional game controller.  However, if experience is any indicator, this will be sold separately. 

            Another rumor was that the system would use cartridges for its games, much like the 3DS.  Again, this rumor was spot on.  Nintendo has decided to abandon the disk based home console that the industry has become known for.  After seeing how the console operates, I believe this is not only smart but also necessary.  Nintendo is doing a great deal to promote the Switch as a home console that can go on the move.  The thing about disks is they are incredibly fragile and prone to disruption.  Just look at a few previous examples.  In the Xbox 360, if you so much as moved the console while a disk was in use, it would scratch and in many cases become unusable.  The Sony PSP was a portable console that utilized disks in a casing.  Sort of a disk/cartridge hybrid.  Even this modified disk would disrupt gameplay if the system was moved to quickly or shaken around too much.  However, the downside is that cartridges can’t hold as much information as a disk.  It would be interesting to see how Nintendo plans to get around this drawback.  So far, the games shown for the Switch look gorgeous so it is hard to believe that they are coming simply from the cartridge.  My theory is that the game cartridge will have some data on it, but the rest of the game will be downloaded.  This will allow for more freedom without the drawbacks of cartridge-based gaming.  However, this raises another question.

            How much data will the Switch be able to hold?  Memory storage technology has come a long way in previous years but so far there is not word how the Switch will manage this.  Previous Nintendo consoles have used memory cards, and that may be the best option for a system that is designed to go on the move.  Memory cards tend to hold less information but are much more durable.  Hard drives like the ones we see in phones and tablets would be another viable option.  While they can hold more, hard drives can’t take as much punishment as a memory card.  For now, we will just have to wait and see.

            Another thing we saw in the trailer was wireless multiplayer between two Switch systems.  Considering the guys were playing on a park bench, it can be implied that wi-fi will not be necessary for this feature.  If I had to speculate, it will probably work similar to the 3DS which has the possibility to connect with other systems based on proximity.  I’m sure you’ll be able to connect over the internet as well.  It seems that when it comes to multiplayer, the Switch will be the best of both worlds.  It will have the benefits of being a home and portable console, without many of the drawbacks of either. 

            Let’s move onto the things that gamers really care about, the games.  Nintendo showed off a great lineup in this first trailer, starting with Zelda: Breath of the Wild.  This game was announced for the Switch (then known as the NX) months ago, but it was still great to see this eagerly anticipated title.  Nintendo also showed off a few other first-party titles, such as Mario Kart, Splatoon, and a new unnamed 3D Mario Platformer.  While none of these titles were particularly shocking, it was still good to see Nintendo putting a strong foot forward.  Now onto an area that Nintendo has traditionally struggled, third-party games.  There were two third-party games shown in the trailer, Skyrim and an NBA game (presumably 2K17).  Skyrim was one of the prominent games shown off in the trailer.  However, a spokesmen from Bethesda has said that while they gave Nintendo permission to use the game footage in the trailer, Skyrim is not actually confirmed for they system.  You can read more about that here: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-10-20-nintendo-switch-officially-revealed

However, even with that weirdness, Nintendo released a graphic showing some of the developers who are developing games for the system.  There are some very impressive names on the list and I’m sure we’re in for some quality products.

Even though the Switch trailer showed off a lot of the console’s impressive features, there are still a lot of questions left to answer.  One of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind is, what is the price?  Some speculation has put it around $299, but there is little to base this on.  As it may have become clear throughout the article, one of my biggest questions revolves around the durability of the system.  If it is meant to go with you, how much punishment can it take?  With so many interlocking parts, how long until connections start to fade and become unsteady?  Nintendo has built an impressive track record for making products that are sturdy and can stand the test of time.  However, this seems like new territory for them.  Hopefully we will receive more information as we get closer to the slated March 2017 release date.  That being said, I don’t plan to SWITCH how enthusiastic I am for this product.  I’ll see myself out.

-Big O

Pokemon Go A Cultural Phenomenon

When I was a young man, we lived in a simpler time (not really but I was small and stupid so everything was magic).  I remember hearing about a game that was coming out called Pokemon, where you catch monsters and force them to fight for sport.  Obviously, this was the greatest thing I had ever heard in my life (remember, small and stupid).  Then, they released a TV show based on the game and it made me need this game anymore.  Finally, the day came that I was able to grab Pokemon Red Version, because red is my favorite color.  I was hooked right from Professor Oak asking me to name his grandson.  I would stay in my room and play this game for hours every night, probably neglecting a lot of homework in the process.  But who cares, gotta catch em all right.  Collecting was the big draw for me, but occasionally my friends would get in on the action and we would trade or battle.  Among my friends and I, this was an obsession for years.

Unfortunately, there was a dark side.  This was a hobby that came with certain labels and there was a fair amount of ridicule that went with that.  It was not cool to play Pokmeon, but we did it because it was fun.  I've actually met some of my best friends to this day through Pokemon so I'll be forever grateful for that.

Cut to many years later.  I'm now 30 and while I still enjoy the games, I am not nearly as obsessed as I was when I was a child.  Recently, Pokemon Go was released.  This is a free to play app for phones that uses your GPS location to catch Pokemon, battle gyms, and capture pokestops based upon your real world location.

The game is very similar to Ingress (a game we discussed on the podcast), which makes sense considering it was developed by the same team.  Being a Pokemon and Ingress fan, I was very excited to get my hands on this and hunt Pokemon in the real world.  Finally, the day arrived that I got to leave Pallet Town and set off on my journey.

Panda and I decided to head over to a local mall to get some dinner, ice cream, and check out the pokestops.  I was not prepared for what I was about to see.  I want to start out by emphasizing that I knew Pokemon Go was going to be popular.  Based up articles and hype I had been reading online, I knew a lot of people were as excited for this game as I was.  However, I did not expect it to branch out into the non-gaming community.

When we arrived at the mall, there were (no exaggeration) hundreds of people wandering around playing the game.  At first, my brain didn't comprehend what it was looking at.  I assumed that lots of people were reading text messages or checking social media.  After a while it became clear, that almost every single one of these people were playing Pokemon Go.  It was one of the most surreal moments I've ever had in my life.  This game that I was picked on and teased for liking as a child was now being enjoyed everyone.  There wasn't any barrier between age, race, nationality, religion, or gender.  Everyone was running around, shouting out when they had found something, talking with people they didn't know, making friends, and most importantly, having fun.  Children were playing alongside their parents and in some cases even grandparents.  For a glorious evening it didn't matter who you were voting for in the election.  Whether you were for or against abortion, gun rights, or any other political issue.  All that mattered was catching them all and having a good time.

Since that night, I have gone to many parks with friends and had very similar experiences.  Hundreds of people hanging out, talking, and laughing.  Even celebrities have fallen victim to the pokecraze.

Don't get me wrong, things aren't perfect.  Whenever you have millions of people enjoying an activity, there are bound to be those who ruin the experience whether it be through malice or stupidity.  I don't need to list off examples, they are all over the place.  I do not defend their actions, but at the same time I don't condemn a game based upon the actions of a small percentage of its users.  This can be said for almost anything.

Just like with most things that start out immensely popular, some of the interest has started to wane.  However, the number still appear to be very impressive.  Niantic (the company behind Pokemon Go and Ingress) has hinted that additional features will be introduced to the game such as trading and one on one battling.  I have a feeling this will bring many of the people back.

Gaining level 20 in the game comes with a fair amount of perspective.  This is around the point in the game that you are no longer considered a newbie.  As of right now, the game has become an overnight hit that has taken the world by storm.  There will be diehard fans that stick with it for years to come but a huge number of the players will loose interest with time.  One thing that has amazed me about Pokemon Go is the community around it.  I've been a part of many gaming communities in my time, but this is overwhelmingly the most positive.  There seems to be little to no negativity between the players.  Many gaming communities become fractured due to infighting, however that does not appear to be the case here.  As I said, the game isn't perfect, but I have faith in it.  I'll continue to hang out with my friends and play this game just for the hope that I'll have more nights like that first.

-Big O

Stranger Things: Spoiler-Free Review

 Stranger Things follows a very unique recipe for success. A late 80s theme, mixed with a monster movie, throw in thriller elements, then add a great cast of characters on top, and you've got a TV show that exceeds all expectations and becomes an instant classic. Yes, it really is that good.

Stranger Things is the new netflix show created and directed by Matt and Ross Duffer and brings Winona Ryder (a late 80s/early 90s staple) back to us to great effect. But even though Ryder is the biggest star attached, it's the kids that really steal the show. Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will are your typical middle school kids who's friendship is made up of riding bikes, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and getting picked on by the bullies at school for being "nerds". The kids are great actors and it really feels like they've been friends their whole lives. Later on, Eleven, a girl around their age is added to the cast and she is the real stand out character. I'm not going to go into her story much, but her scenes are some of the best the show. Rounding out the cast are Sheriff Jim Hopper, an alcoholic police officer who is determined to get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding his town, Mike's teenage sister Nancy who quickly grew into my favorite character, and Will's big brother Johnathan who starts off as an enigmatic loner but opens up as the show goes on. All of these characters bring the amazing world of Stranger Things to life and you grow to really care about them as the danger ramps up.

E.T. Meets Steven King

The story is helped along by a great soundtrack and striking cinematography. Lighting in particular is used to great effect and it becomes a powerful tool to help tell the story in the later episodes. News of a soundtrack release for the show was met with applause and now I understand why. The short length of the season, only 8 episodes, helps the show keep a brisk pace so no screen time is wasted with any filler. They do leave a few loose ends, no doubt to leave room for a second season but I would have preferred if they had come to a hard stop instead, leaving this season to stand completely on its own but it's a minor gripe. I would recommend Stranger Things to everyone, even people who are scared easily. While it does have scary moments, it has more of a thriller tone than one of horror. Hopefully the next season can go on to even greater heights but regardless of what comes next, these 8 episodes stand high in the pantheon of what TV shows have to offer.

The Face You Make Multiple Times an Episode

Uncharted 4 A Thief's End Review

I want to start off this review by saying I've been a huge fan of this series since it first launched on the Playstation 3.  The Uncharted games encompass fun action gameplay, witty humor, memorable characters, and the occasional touching moment.  I won't say the games are perfect, but they are pretty amazing in my eyes.  That being said, I'm going to try to make this review as unbiased as possible, but if a little favoritism leaks through you'll have to forgive me.  To start off, this game has been touted as the final installment for long time franchise hero Nathan Drake.  Hence the title, A Thief's End.  The story is one of the places where the Uncharted series shines, so let's dive right in.

Uncharted 4 starts with a bit of foreshadowing.  We see our familiar hero with a yet unknown accomplice, driving through a dark ocean and trying to make their way to an island while being assaulted by military types.  Typical fare for the Nathan Drake.  After our heroes get placed in a perilous situation, the story cuts to the present.

We get to see Nathan and long time heroine of the series Elena Fisher have settled down in marital bliss and left the life of adventure behind them.  Nathan works a typical 9 to 5 job at a salvage company while Elena has continued her journalism career.  They seem to have a perfect life.  However, sometimes Elena will catch Nathan with that far off look in his eyes, dreaming of the adventures and life he left behind.

One day, Nathan's estranged and thought to be dead brother Sam shows up asking for Nathan's help with a treasure they were hunting before Sam's "death".  Sam tells Nathan that he was freed from prison by a drug lord who now demands a lot of money or else he will kill him.  Nathan decided to get back into the game for one last adventure in order to help save his brother.  The journey is filled with twists, turns, and the occasional familiar face.

The story is pretty standard for an Uncharted game.  There's a treasure that needs finding and Nathan Drake is the only man for the job.  What makes these tales so exceptional is the wit, humor, and personality of the characters.  Each character feels like their own unique person, which is a hard feat to pull off in a video game.  The only exception to this might be the main villains.  We've already had three games to become familiar with Nathan Drake (four if you count The Golden Abyss) so this game focuses on the relationship between him and his brother.  Sometimes we will jump into the past and see them together as children or adolescents.

The gameplay sticks to the philosophy of, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  There is a lot of puzzle solving involving climbing and using devices that are hundreds of years old and have no business functioning anymore.  The combat is your typical cover based shooting but instead of being locked to the ground, you can take advantage of your vertical movement and try to gain the advantage over your opponents.  The only real addition to this game over previous titles is the addition of a grappling hook, multiple puzzles that involve sliding around obstacles, and using tall grass for hiding from enemies.  Overall, the gameplay is very fun and never really feels overly complicated.

People who have read a number of my reviews might be wondering why I'm using more screenshots than usual.  It's because this game is pretty!

Here, look some more!

Once more for good measure.

This is the first Uncharted game on the Playstation 4 (not counting the Nathan Drake Collection) and Naughty Dog really took advantage of the new hardware.  Besides just stunning gameplay, the enemies seem to employ a little more intelligence when taking you on.  I found myself being flanked or even surrounded by enemies on multiple occasions.  This ensured that I constantly had to stay on the move and think on my feet.

Overall, Uncharted 4 is a satisfying send of for its leading protagonist.  The gameplay is similar to other Uncharted games but considering they refined it in previous titles, this isn't a bad thing.  Fans of the series will quickly find themselves following the same old routines.  The story is intriguing and will constantly leave you on the edge of your seat.

I would consider this one of the first must-play Playstation 4 titles.  Newcomers may feel a little lost so if you've never dabbled in the series, pick up the Nathan Drake Collection which has the first three titles for the PS4.  You will not be disappointed.

-Big O

Rory and Frankie Review Overwatch

For this review we though it would be fun to try something kind of different.  First Rory gives his take on the game as a Blizzard noob, followed by Frankie who is a Blizzard fanboy.  How will their opinions differ?  You have to read to find out.    

Rory

I've been playing video games since I could pick up a controller. I started on the NES and the giant grey and purple Gameboy, moved onto the N64, had a PS2 and an Xbox, then moved to the 360 and now finally the PS4, plus I've owned pretty much every handheld that Nintendo has ever made. Through all this time Blizzard (which has gone through a few name changes during it's existence) has been making critically acclaimed games and I had not played a single one. It's not like I haven't been exposed to their work, seeing as two of my best friends are enormous Blizzard fanatics (I'm looking at you Frankie and CJ), I have seen many sessions of Wow, Diablo, and even a few rounds of Heroes of the Storm take place. Blizzard has historically been a PC based developer, a gaming platform I've always been lacking. But now with Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls and Overwatch out on consoles, I can jump into the fray. And jump in I have.

After playing a little bit of Diablo 3 earlier this year but not being extremely hooked by it, I went into Overwatch with high but tempered expectations. The beta washed all my doubts away and made these past couple weeks unbearable. Luckily, a busy work schedule has kept me occupied, but now the game is out and it's clear that the wait was worth it. 

 
Overwatch takes place in the not so distant future. A future where A.I. called omnics began a war with humanity that pushed the world to the brink of devastation. Overwatch, a special task force of powerful heroes, was commissioned to put an end to the omnic war and keep the peace afterward. The war was ended but eventually infighting and corruption tore Overwatch apart and the group disbanded. While the game doesn't have a single player campaign, the rich backstories of the world and characters keep Overwatch from feeling as hollow as most multiplayer only games like Titanfall and Evolve. To dive deeper into the lore Blizzard has been releasing animated shorts and web comics to fill in some of the blank spaces in the character's pasts. I highly recommend looking into these as it attaches you to characters you wouldn't expect and gives the game an even more personal feel. 

 
Each character handles so different from the next even if they reside in the same class group. For example Hanzo and Widowmaker are the 2 snipers in the game but they are vastly different in play style. Widowmaker is very much the typical sniper, preferring to hang out far away from the fight picking off enemies with her powerful sniper rifle. Hanzo on the other hand is better at medium range, weaving in and out of cover to take people out with his bow and arrow and setting up massive group kills with his deadly dragonstrike ultimate. No matter what character you play as you're bound to have a blast, win or lose.
For a game with this many characters it's impressive that it feels so balanced right from the start. There do not seem to be any characters that are just terrible, or flipside, any that are downright overpowered. Yes, the much maligned Bastion can be a real pain in the butt, especially when the other team is using two of them on the defend matches, but the community clearly has caught on to stopping his insanely powerful turret mode and therefore seems to be much less of a threat because of it. Also Zenyatta could use a tiny health buff but these are minor problems that can be patched later. The game runs incredibly well, even on console. I've never seen the framerate dip even in the heaviest of battles. Everyone has always told me about the polish Blizzard games but now seeing it first-hand, color me impressed.

 
I knew I would like Overwatch but I wasn't prepared for just how much I love it. It reminds me of my love for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. Colorful characters with different and interesting powers duking it out for supremacy in interesting places. The drab environments and characters of Call of Duty/Battlefield have just never really appealed to me, and outside of Gears of War I have never really invested heavily into online shooters. But Overwatch is a breath of fresh air that is bringing me back into the world of competitive multiplayer, a world I thought I mostly left behind on my 360. Just when I thought I was out, Blizzard managed to pull me back in. 
-Rory
.... but seriously go buy/play Overwatch right now. There's a talking gorilla scientist who loves peanut butter. What more do you want?

Frankie

Blizzard is easily my favorite game developer, and with a track record of quality games over the span of 20+ years they have definitely earned the praise. From the fantastic space RTS that is Starcraft, to the horrific dungeon crawling of Diablo, to the mystical quests through the World of Warcraft, Blizzard has proved to be a true juggernaut in the gaming industry. They have sustained a incredible following because of these titles, and even threw in some new additions such as the online TCG Hearthstone, and the MOBA esque Hero Brawler Heroes of the Storm, but these are just new games based on the pre-existing universes Blizzard has already invested so much in, until now. Overwatch is not only Blizzards first new IP in over 17 years, it is also the creation from the ashes of the trashed MMO Project Titan, and boy does it prove they made the right call. Overwatch is a six on six FPS team arena shooter (they call it a hero shooter) that not only embodies all the personality and polish Blizzard is known for. Overwatch achieves something that every developer should always strive for above all else, it is an incredibly fun experience that will have you loving every second you spend with it, win or lose.   

 

Now for a little backstory, Overwatch is set in a fictional futuristic Earth where there was a global catastrophe called the Omnic Crisis. A.I. beings that were created to serve eventually rebelled, creating hostile omnics and triggering a full-scale war. Overwatch was created to restore order and maintain peace in the midst of the worn torn world, but eventually Overwatch would be torn apart from the outside, and inside. The world then blames Overwatch for everything that had happened and is outlawed, causing the family of heroes to go their separate ways, and try to find a new path. The game takes place after the official disbanding of Overwatch, and after the gorilla scientist Winston re-establishes it. Even though there is no traditional campaign the game is still rich with backstory, history, lore, secrets, and much much more. Each level even has easter eggs pertaining to Blizzards other titles, such as a murloc in a flying saucer on Hanamura, or Heroes of the Storm fighting games in that same levels arcade spawn zone. One thing Blizzard does so well is putting everything they have into whatever project they undertake, the finesse and polish on Overwatch is spectacular.  From the breath taking cell shaded visuals, to the wonderful soundtrack, and even the little nuances of each character, you can't help but smile during every second of it. Overwatch even has a website you can go to read up and discover the finely crafted lore behind their shooter, causing it to be much more then just a Team Fortress 2 clone. Each character isn't just a class, but a hero completely different then any other on the roster, in both play style and design. For example the poster child Tracer has the ability to teleport short distances and rewind herself placing her ammunition, position, and health back to where it was just a few moments earlier. Now at first glance this may just seem like an ability, but by diving into her backstory you find out she was a test pilot for a project called the "Slipstream", a time traveling fighter that malfunctioned and caused her to be lost in time. Unable to stay in present time for more then a few moments, Winston created a device that not only allowed her to stay anchored in present time, but control her own time flow, allowing her to jump forward and move backwards through time. This is what makes this game so impressive, just a simple ability becomes so much more interesting just because of the lore Blizzard has created for the character, and everyone gets the same treatment. 

You can truly feel the love Blizzard has put into creating this world, they want you to care about the people in it, they want you to care about the world, they don't want to shove another generic shooter at you, slap a $60 price tag on it, and call it the best thing around, they want to prove to you it is. Even the characters will interact with each other while on the same team, such as Zenyatta saying how happy he is to be fighting alongside his pupil Genji, Tracer challenging Lucio to a race, or even Reaper throwing some mean spirited words towards Mercy. Overwatch even has several comics and animated shorts that allow you to learn more about each character that once again proves Blizzard is committed to making this a living-breathing world.   Even though Blizzard has put so much into the lore of Overwatch, that doesn't mean they slacked on the gameplay.  Quite the opposite, this is easily one of the most balanced and polished shooters I have ever played. Each of the twenty-one characters is placed under one of four roles, offense, defense, tank, and support, and has strengths and weaknesses that can be countered, or used to counter another. For example my personal favorite Reaper has twin shotguns that devastate anyone unfortunate enough to be in close quarters with you, and with Wraith mode making him invincible but unable to perform any actions other then moving and Shadow Step, a long range teleport with a slow start-up and end time, he is a great at flanking and eating up tanks, and his ultimate Death Blossom can wipeout an entire team if you can ambush them. However he struggles against characters like Pharah, who can fly high into the sky and rain rockets of death down on the enemy, or Widowmaker, a sniper who can grapple up to hard to reach places and pick off unsuspecting targets. Even characters in the same role are vastly different, such as Zenyatta and Symmetra. Zenyatta is a omnic monk who can place a healing orb on an ally to passively heal them, or a discord orb on an enemy to boost damage on them by 50%.  Couple that with his high damage projectiles he's basically a healing sniper. However Symmetra doesn't heal at all, she instead places a shield on her allies and uses her Ultimate which is a teleporter, to allow her allies to absorb a bit more damage and get back into the fight quickly, and with sentry turrets that be placed virtually anywhere along with her high damage weapon she completely lock down an area basically by herself. The uniqueness of each and every character means regardless of skill level and playstyle, there is a Hero that will suite you perfectly. That doesn't mean you will main any one of them, this game is about strategy, and part of strategy is adapting, and with the ability to switch character mid match during any respawn, causes a giant rock, paper, scissors match between the two teams. Communication and team composition is key here, as it will determine whether you snatch victory, or fall into the arms of defeat. Each character not only counters others, but compliments them as well.  Mercy is a great match-up with Pharah because she is the only one that can follow her into the sky to heal and boost her damage, causing the devastating Pharah to become and even bigger threat then normal.  Another example is Reinhardt and Bastion, by holding Reinhardts shield right in front of Bastion while he is in turret form allows him to chew through the enemy team with little threat of taking any type of damage at all. 

The other intriguing thing about Overwatch is that not only is every game mode objective based (that's right COD fans, no Team Deathmatch), but each map is catered to a specific mode.  So, Hanamura will always be two point control, and Ilios will always be domination, making each map feel tailored fit perfectly to each mode. Every map is designed thoughtfully to help you find multiple ways to an objective without the fear of getting lost, also meaning you need to take the time to know every nook and cranny of the area. Knowing where every health pack, choke point, and entry/exit point is crucial for offense and defense.  Because knowing where you can ambush, or be ambushed can greatly change the flow of the game. I do wish however that there were more game modes, or at least different versions of each map was made for each other mode, I would love to escort a payload through the beautiful setting of Ilios, or play domination on King's Row, but despite this I still have zero issue playing for hours on end. Maining a character is something that does not exist in Overwatch, and if you think you do this, you aren't playing it right. As I've stated before Overwatch is a constant rock, paper, scissors match with the enemy team, and you have to be familiar with each and every character to fight them. If you are playing Hanzo and are constantly being killed by a Genji player, switching to the cowboy McCree who can flash bang and triggers his secondary fire "Fan the Hammer" to fire all six shots quickly can stop him right in his tracks. On the surface it may seem like just another shooter, but once you start to really analyze and learn each and every hero, it reveals a whole new depth that proves this is a truly deep and complex multiplayer game filled with endless possibilities of strategy and tactics.

Overwatch even has a training mode where you can practice against dummies to hone your skills with a character you aren't very good with but want to learn, and even weekly brawls that reset every week that range from reduced cool downs on all abilities and ultimates, to only being able to choose from a limited pool of heroes or role. Overwatch even has a progression system that you accumulate xp for each match you play.  Every level you acquire unlocks a loot box with random vanity items that range from voice lines, player icons, and sprays, to color swaps for each hero all the way to legendary skins that can make Reaper a Mariachi, or Junkrat look like a Juggalo. You can even earn in game currency from each loot box and duplicates to purchase the vanity items that you want. The option to purchase loot boxes via micro-transactions is also possible, so you can stock up to increase your chances to get even more sweet loots.   

 Blizzard has once again proven that they have the ability to take a formula that has been done time and time again and make it truly special and unique. When you play Overwatch you won't be thinking, "oh this is just like Team Fortress 2" or "this is just like Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare".  You'll be thinking about how much fun you're having playing with all your friends, in each adrenaline-inducing match. Overwatch is not only a finely crafted FPS, but also it is just flat out fun.  I promise if you pick it up, you'll be smiling from ear to ear in no time. So what are you waiting for? It's time to get in the fight, because the world can use more Heroes, and trust me, you fit the bill.

Dark Souls 3 Review

I have pushed through a poisonous swamp for hours, I've died more times than I can count, I reach a new bonfire and see a large gateway guarded by poison inflicting monsters and two Dark Wraiths, I let them skirmish before I jump in to finish the job, but the Dark Wraiths won't go down easy. I separate one and defeat him quickly, but the other is much stronger. We weave in between each other’s attacks like dancers of death, anxiously swinging our weapons, using every tool in our arsenal to deal the final bloody blow, I prove stronger and he falls. However he was just a basic enemy merely testing to see if I was prepared for the true challenge, a fog gate stands before me with a boss enemy waiting behind it, ready to show me how truly weak and feeble I am. I prepare myself, take a breath, and step through, and after an amazing cutscene, find out exactly what I had to fear. This is just one example of what you will encounter in Dark Souls 3. To say this game is a masterpiece feels like an understatement, and even as someone who never played the previous titles I can see this game is the sequel this series deserves, a truly magnificent crescendo to a line of games that pushes whoever partakes its challenge to their absolute limits. This is not a game for the faint of heart. It will make you angry, it will make you cry, it will test your patience, but when you finally triumph, it will reward you ten fold for all that you have endured.

Dark Souls 3 is set in the fantasy Kingdom of Lothric, where there is a curse of the undead that has spread throughout the realm. The fire that had once brought the land peace and prosperity is now fading, and the Lords of Cinder that had linked the flames have abandoned their thrones and retreated to their own Kingdoms. It is your duty to hunt them down and return them to their throne, by any means necessary. This is all explained in the gorgeous opening cinematic that truly makes you appreciate the dark and dilapidated state of the world From Software has created. There is truly no happiness in the land of Lothric, and this is something you discover quickly as you journey through its lands. The game is graphically stunning, crisp scenery and colors despite the dark state of the world catches the eye quickly, as you navigate through the many areas such as swamps, kingdom walls, cities, dungeons, and more, they make every bit of it a sight to behold. The art design is where the visuals really shine. From the grotesque monsters, undead knights in shining armor, spine shivering catacombs, and numerous other beasts and atrocities lurking around every corner and at the end of every corridor, From Software shows an impressive amount of detail to every bit of Dark Souls 3 which is something I would love to see more developers learn from. Nothing makes you appreciate this more than climbing to the top of a tower or mountain and gazing out on the absolutely gorgeous landscape, knowing not only does it look breath taking, but more than likely you will eventually travel there. 

There are tons of shortcuts that not only will lead you back to a earlier bonfire to avoid traversing through the dangers you just faced, but intertwine the entire world, waving areas together and leading to completely different areas you have progressed though. The art and graphics aren't the only things to get this level of attention; all aspects have including the story. With multiple endings, tons of intractable NPCs with side quests and full quest lines, and tons of items each with descriptions helps unravel the tale of Dark Souls 3, and elaborate on what's really happening. One of the key things is that, like everything else in Dark Souls 3, nothing is handed to you. You can go through the entire game knowing nothing more than kill the Lords of Cinder, link the Thrones, and link the Flame. From Software leaves it to you the player to un-earth the truth behind the veil, which is ripe with lore for those willing to take the time to learn its secrets. It's something I appreciated when I played their previous title Bloodborne, finding new items and equipment and sifting through the item descriptions, hidden texts, and speaking to NPCs at the right time to learn more about the world and story. It is something that is really rewarding in a unique way. If you want to just run through the game and kill some bosses, Dark Souls 3 will satisfy you fully, but for those like myself who appreciates and craves a good story, Dark Souls has that in spades. You'll not only discover critical facts and details about the current game, but all the ones before it.  Even visiting familiar feeling areas that will make veteran players jump for joy (I'm looking at you Rowboat (Rory)(I hate saying his name)). One thing is a staple with this series, and that is there in no happiness in the land of Lothric. Death, despair, betrayal, suffering, and utter darkness await all who reside here, which is a path most games don't dare tread. 

In a world cluttered with media of designated heroes, villains, morals, and "the good guy will always come out on top", it's refreshing to see a title that is truly ambiguous. You never know who is good, evil, right, wrong, telling the truth, deceiving you, or even if you yourself are a hero or just another poor soul destined to be driven to the darkness that swallows this land and its people whole. This is something that draws me in to learn more about its story.  I want to turn over every stone.  I want to know every detail and what is the truth behind all truths, but From Software opts out of straightforward answers and instead allows the audience to draw their own conclusions. They truly believe the player to be intelligent, and respects that part about us all, allowing us to rack our brains and unravel the mysteries, as we believe them to be. This leads to a huge community of people creating fan theories and sharing them online, allowing all of us to exchange ideas and learn more about the title, I can safely say I know of no other game that has this type of community and I absolutely love it.

 Arguably the biggest draw to this title is the gameplay itself, and the immense challenge it presents to any who dare cross its threshold. This is not a game for the meek or weak willed. Dark Souls 3 will punch you in the throat, kick you in the face, and beat you mercilessly with absolutely no remorse. Dark Souls 3 is like an abusive relationship that we keep coming back to over and over again and no one really understands why, oh wait yes we do, because it's great. Dark Souls 3 is appallingly hard, but rarely fair, nine times out of ten if you die it was your fault. You didn't time your dodges correctly, you were over aggressive, to passive, allowed yourself to get outnumbered, etc. Now that's not to say there isn't some cheap deaths here and there, after all no game is perfect and Dark Souls 3 is no exception. There were several times a ridiculous attack from an enemy would connect that shouldn't have, or hit even though I dodged correctly, but these are so few and far in between (and I mean REALLY REALLY few and far in between). It never frustrated me too often. When you die however you do lose all your souls you have accumulated, as well as all enemy NPC's excluding a certain few respawning to give you hell a second time. Don’t fret now though, because when you do inevitably die all of your souls you lost are dropped at the location of your untimely death, allowing you to retrieve them if you can reach them. As terrifyingly strong as your foes that litter Lothric are, you are a force to be reckoned with yourself.  After all, you are the Ashen Champion. When you start the game you choose your characters name, ethnicity, looks from a deep customization system, your class, and a starter item. You can be anything from a valiant knight, a furious pyromancer, a deadly dual wielding mercenary, a powerful sorcerer, and many more. This not only allows you to get a solid start to your play style with proper armor and weaponry, but also allocates your starting stats accordingly. You can always shift your spec points via leveling up later on, but it's best to dabble with the starter classes and pick whichever one suits you best, because believe me levels are not something to waste. I personally started with the mercenary, a close quarters fighter with a pair of quick and deadly scimitars. Every weapon not only has a unique move set, but also comes with a weapon skill that adds a bit more depth that is new to Dark Souls 3. The paired scimitars I started with had the ability to perform a quick spinning slash with both blades, and when followed with a heavy attacked would perform a second spin that did even more damage that staggered or knocked back any foes who had the misfortune to be part of my onslaught. 

Dark Souls 3 also fused both the original Dark Souls and it's more recent title Bloodborne. With faster combat and more aggressive enemies, it allows you to play more defensively with a sword and shield, play back with magic, or be the aggressor yourself. This is something I really appreciated seeing as how not every situation required the same approach. I would consistently switch between watching and waiting for my enemy to make the first move so I could deliver a quick counter-attack, or rush down a lesser enemy to catch them in a stagger lock until death whisked them away from the battlefield. No one ever complained from being given more options, and this is something From Software has excelled at. You not only have a variety of play styles and approaches to any situation, but there is a plethora of weapons, armor, magic, and miracles for you to procure. Some can be bought from vendors, Most are found littered throughout Lothric, and some of the strongest are found on world bosses or even worse, the bosses themselves. All bosses drop their soul for you when they finally fall after bashing your head against the brick wall. These gift you with their weapon, armor, spell, or ones themed from them. One I currently use is a greatsword with a dagger that I can use to parry, but when I dual wield them I jump and use the dagger as an anchor as I spin and slash at the heels of all enemies in my vicinity.  Like a wolf prowling my prey always just out of their reach, but always in mine. All the weapons in this game are unique and cool in their own respective way leaving something for every individual to find and enjoy, and more importantly carve through the hordes of adversaries standing in your path. The armor plays a huge roll in the way you play as well, each one greatly enhancing damage resistance, magic resistance, poison, fire, lightning, etc., every piece is good for one thing or another. There are pieces of armor that are just better then others as you get further through the game, which is good as it adds another element that makes you really feel like you have progressed. 

This is also not a title you can sit for a half an hour and play for a bit, kill some stuff, and drop. This game requires long periods of time to push through and progress through each area, and since all enemies respawn when you rest at a bonfire or die, it takes a lot of patience and mental fortitude to get through. At the end, and sometimes even throughout, there will be a boss waiting for you to test all that you have learned thus far, and for the most part, they deliver. You will be faced with a teleporting sorcerer, demons, a gang of swordsman, giants, and many more. Think Shadow of the Colossus on crack and you have the big baddies of Dark Souls 3. These bosses are no joke, and I can clearly see why some say this is the hardest Souls game yet. In particular there was a boss that spawned additional look-a-likes that would attack you and sometimes each other, and once you think you have beaten him, his weapons light on fire.  Because a crazy fast and strong swordsman isn't bad enough, no NO that's too easy, let's give him fire too! From Software sure does love giving things fire, and you will discover this quickly as you face its many challenges. This made the less then stellar boss fights even more disappointing, I'm sure some were easier because of the level I was at when I faced them.  However, some were just downright easy, which is not what I come to expect from a From Software title. One in particular was horrible.  I faced a huge boss who struck fear into you the second you saw him. There was a special weapon you had to use to kill him, which literally downs him in four swings, it wasn't even hard to charge making this the easiest thing to do in the game to that point. This was the one moment I was truly angry with Dark Souls 3. All the anticipation I had waiting to face him, all the fear I felt, all the admiration for his design and mechanics felt wasted. Thankfully this was not repeated any more, and every other boss delivered on the soul crushing challenge I craved. The feeling of absolute satisfaction and true elation after downing a boss you have struggled with for so long is what really sinks its claws into you, and exactly why I got hooked on Bloodborne, and now Dark Souls 3. I have not felt a feeling of pure ecstasy from something other than a From Software title since I beat Sephiroth in Kingdom Hearts back in 2002. A title that truly challenges you, your intelligence, your reflexes, your ingenuity, everything you have being pushed to the absolute limit and draws you to the very precipice of anger and fury is all given recognition when you finally see that "VICTORY ACHIEVED" text across your screen. No other title I have played in years has given me this feeling, and being able to share your water cooler stories with all of your friends who have faced the same challenges as you is an entirely awesome thing in itself. Sharing horror stories, tales of triumph, swapping strategies and character designs, and much more is something I haven't done since I played World of Warcraft. When you defeat a boss you also become embered, which can also be done using an item that increases your maximum health and allows online play. This allows you to recruit other players or your friends to assist you in your quest for glory. Be careful though, as this also allows other players to invade your world and hunt you down. Dark Souls 3 has an interesting PvP element, you can pledge yourself to one of several covenants, that can be changed at any time, and fight other players around the world. Some people even summon several players in certain areas and host "fight clubs" where you fight until you are defeated. You can also leave or read helpful notes that that will assist you in your journey, something that had saved me numerous times from well-hidden ambushes and pit falls. Some are even funny and clever, such as an item on a corpse hanging off a ledge with its backside facing you, with a well-placed note that reads, "finger, but whole.".

Dark Souls 3 offers a unique experience no other developer can offer, at least not at the quality From Software presents it at. This is not a game for everyone, it requires a tremendous amount of time and patience that not everyone can offer, but for those who are able, they are gifted with a journey unlike any other. The juggernaut series known as Dark Souls has received a incredible sequel and the best send off that I could possibly think of, one that make me want to go back and venture through the prequels I missed. If you are looking for a great game, a true challenge, or an amazingly dark story that sinks its claws into you and won't relinquish you until you have done all that it has to offer, then I beseech you, pick up a copy of Dark Souls 3. Now Champion of Ash, you are the only one that can return the Lords of Cinder to their abandoned thrones, so go, because the fire is fading, and the age of darkness is upon us.

-Frankie