These excellent offerings have created an environment that when a new western is released it comes with a set of expectations to begin with. It is in this atmosphere that Desperados III enters the scene. An isometric RTS game set in the Wild West that is more than meets the eye. This is the review of Desperados III.

Right of the bat one can feel the passion that creators mimimi games have for the genre. The wild and hostile western setting and intricacies of a well laid out maps are on full display here. A short prologue, and a mission set in a typical wild west setting of a train robbery, show you the ropes on how to make the most of the combined skills of the five playable characters you would get acquainted to further into the game. The action pretty much never gets stale from here on and the game throws one mission after the other that tests your strategic skills at various levels based on the difficulty chosen.

RELATED: iXie Gaming’s in-depth review of Little Nightmares 2

The game’s story, unfortunately, is about as barebones as they come and acts merely to set up each mission. It follows the antics of one John Cooper and a colorful cast of characters who join him in his quest for revenge. Each supporting character has their own traits and set of skills which is given context through some story beats in cutscenes and the banter between characters during gameplay.  

Gameplay wise there is plenty to like here. The game does an excellent job of making veteran real time tactics players feel at home, while easing new players into the genre at the same time. The difference between Desperados III and other real time tactics games however is how far away it moves from genre conventions. With stealth at its core, each level plays out as a slow burn western movie, rather than a fast-paced action strategy game.

ALSO READ: Cyberpunk 2077 – The story with many lessons

The game pushes you to use the skillsets of every character at your disposal to complete the task at hand and provides tools to automate actions to a certain degree when needed. Each mission varies from one another, with playable characters constantly shifting in availability, and the environment and AI placements are always set in a way that you are encouraged to think before the next move and not just progress by using the same skills over and over. This approach to gameplay works very well when it does, but also falls short due to some design choices baked within the game.

Said choice is the game’s over-reliance on quick save. Desperados III preps you beforehand for a trial-and-error experience, which is not inherently a bad thing. The game also explains that quick save and quick load feature will come in handy, which is also great. What does not work in favor of the game, however, is the constant reminder to quick save to the point of it becoming an annoyance, at least in my case.

Worse still, the game lets you save as many times as you want in its default setting, but only the last three are available to reload.  For a modern game where saves can be handled in so many ways, it is baffling to see a developer chose this route. Personally, I would have liked to have had a choice between auto, manual and quick save, or a combination of everything.

Thankfully the mishandled save system was about as bad as the game gets, because the rest of the experience is rather impressive. The visuals and voice acting are up to the mark and sell the Wild West setting with ease. Background score is top notch and shines during cutscenes and loading screens. But it especially elevates the quieter moments of the game, of which there are plenty, when you hide your characters in the environment while scoping out the map and plan the next move. These moments feel like experiencing a western through and through.

With all the above said, I do have to point out that Desperados III is pretty much a reskin of the studio’s previous game, Shadow Tactics. From its stealth focused core gameplay to juggling skillsets of multiple characters, right down to the Showdown mode that lets you plan future actions of characters, all elements have been borrowed from the previous game set in Edo period Japan and executed with a bit more polish in this wild west setting. I do not mean this as a criticism though as Shadow Tactics in itself is a great game and I would not mind more of it, but a few more notable changes and innovations to set one title apart from the other would be great. Something I hope this newly independent studio considers while working on their next game.

Overall, Desperados III is a great game that blends methodical stealth and isometric real time tactics cooking up its own flavor in the genre. Its western setting has been put to good use bringing multiple playable levels to life. The playable characters are unique and present various ways to tackle each mission. This game is definitely for the more patient gamer and all that patience and planning pays off satisfyingly when a set strategy goes according to plan, making you feel like one of the wily members of John Coopers crew. Desperados III certainly ain’t no Red Dead Redemption, but If you are in for slow methodical gameplay and stomach the save system, you will be in for a good time. Go play Desperados III.

Verdict: 7.5/10

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The post Desperados III – Review appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Or at least that is what we think.

Our all-time favourite movie from the 90s, which we watched as a child may now dawn upon us as a cheesy and badly written blunder. And we have all been embarrassed at some point about the choice of music, or our favourite song from a couple of decades ago. Such is the case with videogames as well.

We have fond memories of games that we played for hours together when we were young, and we gleefully recall how good they looked and how exciting the gameplay was.

The truth though is that one visit back to those games and things may not look as bright and shiny. Especially in the videogame domain where every passing year brings new innovations in the way games are made, our favourite work of art don’t really age well.

Be it in terms of visual fidelity or game mechanics and gameplay, old game lose their sheen very soon most often than not. So, a ten-year-old videogame typically looks and feels much older than it actually is.

But, just like some movies and music out there, we do have games that are timeless. Games that have aged like fine wine and hold up to this day. Games that make our jaws drop in their own ways. Today, we’ll look at a few such games. These games may not necessarily be the best looking in some cases, but they sure do have their own way of captivating their audiences. Let’s begin with..

GTA San Andreas

To a lot of people, GTA San Andreas is THE definitive GTA game. And rightfully so. Released back in 2004 following GTA 3 and Vice City, which were revolutionary in their own rights at the time, San Andreas was an instant hit, thanks to its setting, gameplay and massive open world. The game was certainly a product of its time, right down to the story and the structure in how the game was designed. That said it was a giant leap forward for the industry and a shining example of how innovation and passion were deep-rooted in the industry (at least back then). Its gameplay has been mimicked in various other games since and holds up well to this day. It is a given that a person who once finished San Andreas has finished it at least a few more times. And then there is the army of gamers who never really finished the story but have sunk in hundreds of hours just wandering through its world. The game is much fun to play.

San Andreas has a strong following to this day and has been the most talked-about game in the franchise for reasons good and, well, controversial. GTA V may be the best selling in the franchise, but it did enjoy a broader spectrum of audience, a spillover to a new generation of consoles and strongly supported by various updates to its online mode. San Andreas had none of this in its time yet managed to turn heads and made this industry watch how it is done.

Super Mario World

One of the best Mario games ever made at least in the 2D side-scrolling space. Released way back in 1990, Super Mario World is a joy a to play even today. The game introduced a plethora of new mechanics while refining the then-existing Mario tropes. With its bright cartoony visuals and quirky sound design, this game is just as much fun to watch as it is to play. Released for the SNES, the game certainly made use of every ounce of graphical fidelity the 16-bit console could muster. And the result is a glorious, mechanically robust Mario game that still holds up 30 years later, which, in the world of technological advancements in videogames and game design is like 3 centuries ago.

There is something so endearing about this game that gets you every time you boot it up. Nintendo truly outdid themselves with their formula of keeping things simple and charming with super Mario world. Watching Yoshi hatch out of that egg, and to ride him while having him gobble up enemies and spitfire is vintage gaming gold.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater

Considered the best MGS game by many, Snake Eater is Kojima at his best. This is a game that was oozing with style and there was nothing like it in its time. The lengthy cutscene that sets the game’s story up ends with Naked Snake air dropping into the jungle in dramatic fashion and the game doesn’t look back from that point. This setting was so intriguing. Within an hour into the game, you are left in awe with how atmospheric the game looked. The various perils of the jungle are put to great use as game mechanics. And just when you thought you have seen a lot already; the true beginning of the game then hits you with the game’s title complete with a James Bond-style opening song. I had never seen anything like it until then. And this was on the PlayStation 2.

Although the visuals look somewhat dated today, the game still has no issues selling the atmosphere to the player, because it clever relies less on graphical fidelity and more on nuances like sound and jungle-based gameplay elements like dangers and assists from its flora and fauna. The gameplay and RPG-like elements hold well to this day, and as a result, the game is just as much fun to play today as it was back in 2004. The story was not the most straight forward, but you do get the gist of what is happening. Even if you are new to the franchise, the story will get you to care for the characters and have you clawing at every healing item and camouflages you can get to ensure Snake’s survival, and have your best colourful villainous characters before delivering that gut-punch of an ending.

Okami

Okami may be the least popular game in this list but it is on the list for a reason. Released back in 2006 for the PS2, this game was nothing short of magic in display on your TV. While most of the game’s pedigree may be attributed to its visuals (and rightfully so) which comprises of a hand-drawn, watercolour art style and looks as charming as beautiful today as it did fourteen years ago, the game delivers in terms of gameplay and story as well. Okami is not your typical third-person action game with a gun touting macho protagonist moving from one big set-piece to another. It tells the story of a wolf, an incarnate of the sun goddess, who needs to fight a force of evil to save the province from destruction.

It is a classic good vs evil tale told with utmost passion and all of it is visible in the way the game has been put together. The game’s emphasis on ancient Japanese culture and folklore elevates the story, and the musical score serves the premise very faithfully. The visual style is reminiscent of Japanese painting, and the 20+ hours of gameplay is a whole lot of fun even today. And all of this in the PS2 version of the game. Luckily this gem of a game has since been remastered for the subsequent generation of consoles, including the PC in the form of Okami HD, which is great and all, but if you want a slice of the good ‘ol times of the PS2, find a CRT TV, fire up your PS2, play Okami. And get lost in pure bliss. The original Okami can still do that to you.

Resident Evil 4

Like GTA San Andreas, Resident Evil 4 is a game that not only was a fantastic entry in its franchise, but also one that was pivotal to the industry. It’s over the shoulder perspective was a big risk that Capcom braved at the time, considering the last three games in the franchise had a completely different, fixed camera perspective and they thrived in that format, but it turned out to be a risk that paid off big time. Resident Evil 4 propelled the franchise from catering to a niche audience to mainstream audiences in style.

The game excelled in its setting, gameplay, and most importantly, atmosphere, all of which made for a nerve-racking horror experience which could be rivalled only by few other games at the time. Like MGS 3 snake eater, here was another Japanese game that delivered the goods not with graphical fidelity, but with nuances like sound, setting and character design. To hear the chainsaw during an intense gunfight was nothing short preparing yourself to lose all hope and die. Like Okami, this game has had its fair share of remasters, but the original PS2 version still holds up and delivers the chills.

Metal Slug

What more can I say about Metal Slug? One of the most fun 2d side-scrolling shooters ever made, that oozes charm in every frame. Check out our Retro love series on Metal Slug to learn more.
Also, check out Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (a bonus game for you) in the same series if you are into metal slug type of games.
There are of course many other games that would fit in this list, but the above games have been the most impactful culturally and for me personally, growing up. We will discuss more such game and other game-related topics. Check back to Ixie gaming blogs soon, for more like this.

The post Six Games that have aged like fine wine appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Often times our mind tricks us into remembering our favourite games in a much prettier façade than the real thing. And when we actually fire those games up is when we realise how badly those games have aged. While this applies to most 3D games from the late 90s, there are games that have aged like fine wine. These are 2D games from the same era that ooze perfection. And most of than not, they look just as pretty as we remember them.

One such game is the arcade beat ‘em up Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. There is so much about this game that made it as good as it was. Let’s take a trip down memory lane with Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.

Mustapha

I am not sure about the rest of the world, but back in the mid-90s, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs was a huge deal in the various gaming arcades of Delhi. Lovingly referred to as Mustapha, who happens to be the fan favourite out of the four selectable characters, this game was a staple for any arcade owner and the go-to game for arcade dwelling kids.

This was thanks to the value proposition the game offered by prolonged game time for skilled players for each coin credit. No other game offered this much playtime for a single coin at the time.

3 Player Mayhem

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs featured four distinct characters to choose from with up to three players taking on the game at the same time. It was during these sessions with multiple characters on screen that the game came to life. The sheer number of on-screen enemies and the bizarre events unfolding, combined with gorgeous 2d sprite art gave this game endless appeal and instant gratification to anyone even remotely interested in such games.

Tongue in Cheek Action

If the title of the game is any indication, you would know what to expect from a game like this. Tactile feeling melee combat, a plethora of weapons that are strategically placed and spawn from fallen foes, over the top bosses, a flashy Cadillac, and of course Dinosaurs. They are all there. The game had great game functionality and was excellently paced with no stage or sequence outstaying its welcome. It may have just been a couple of hours long, which makes sense for an arcade game, but it is the little nuances within that playtime that made this game such a worthwhile experience.

You may find a shotgun with 6 rounds of two rooms prior to the boss battle. The shotgun would be of great help in defeating the boss. But how would you deal with the other foes without wasting bullets and carry the gun to the boss fight?
There was no holster mechanic in the game and melee was disabled once a weapon was picked up. It was these kinds of meta puzzle elements that added so much more to the game making it more than the sum of its parts. Not to mention how differently the four characters played from one another.

While Mustapha’s flying kick may have made him a fan favourite, the eye candy element of Hannah, Jack’s perfect balance of speed and damage, and the slow yet brute force that was Mess O’ Bradovich, all brought a great deal of variety to the minute to minute gameplay.

90’s Cheese

Perhaps the most endearing aspect of the game is how cheesy it is in its delivery. The monologues and interplay between characters could rival even the cheesiest of 90’s action flicks. Of course, none of this mattered when you were a little kid who just wanted to kick bad guys and dinosaurs. But looking back at the game today with a better understanding of art, it is amazing how self-aware this game was back in the day.

The colourful aesthetics of the game, the over the top story, one-note villains and bosses, the 90’s era soundtrack, all made for a delightfully fun experience which would not be possible in today’s day and age where everything is taken way too seriously. In that respect, this game is a true gem from the past.

There is so much more that can be said about Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. Nostalgia aside, this was a great game at its core. It had great variety in its gameplay mechanics, distinct characters, and above all, was a whole lot of fun to play. Its short runtime was never an issue thanks to how much it crammed within that run time.
Unlike some games that have become a relic from the past, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs still holds up as one of the fun beat ‘em ups out there. The game may have been restricted to the arcade, but thanks to various emulation software this game can be experienced at home too. Just make sure that you own the game the right way, start playing and travel back in time. It is definitely worth your time.

The post Retro Love – A Trip Down Memory Lane With Cadillacs And Dinosaurs appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Battlefront 2 – Star Wars Franchise

Serving as the granddaddy of all videogame controversies, there is no shortage of things that could be said about Star Wars Battlefront 2. The game fell victim to the publisher’s growing interest in making as much money off of loot boxes as possible. After all, it was the implementation of these mechanics in EA’s other games that turned the company’s fortune around in the course of less than a decade and made it one of the largest game companies in the world. But EA truly did go overboard with its greed with Battlefront 2.

The early access program laid the game bare showcasing how the implementation of loot boxes hindered player progress. Needless to say, this resulted in a major uproar that reached millions and the rest is history. Whatever decent videogame was buried underneath all of this was overlooked until after EA had made changes to its in-game transactions. If a company in 2019 were taking a back seat from microtransactions and loot boxes (ironically it was EA this year), Battlefront 2 needs to be credited for it.

God of War: Ascension – God of War Franchise

The God of War franchise needs no introduction to anyone who is into gaming. 2018 proved to be a pivotal year for the series with a fresh new outlook for the series. However, said the outlook was more warranted to keep the brand alive rather than natural evolution. God of War 3 was a great game, but even when it released in the PS3, a sinking feeling of samey gameplay was looming throughout its playtime. One couldn’t help but feel that the developers took an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. The subsequent iteration, God if War: Ascension, did not help matters.

Make no mistake, Ascension is a great game on its own. But, to most of the player base, it was certainly not the first God of War game. At this point we have seen what Kratos was capable of doing and have done the deed several hundred times and, despite the grandeur of its opening moments, things felt quite stale in just a few minutes into the game. The tacked-on multiplayer mode did no good either. The writing was pretty much on the wall for the franchise and any company would have laid the franchise to rest for good. But Sony didn’t. And thank heavens for that.

Fallout 76 – Fallout Franchise

To put in bluntly, Fallout 76 is a sum of everything that’s wrong with the industry. Bethesda, a company responsible for amazing games that put storytelling and player experiences at the forefront, once loved by many despite the many bugs that accompany its games in general, has now found itself looking like a greedy corporation trying every dirty trick in the bag to make as much money as possible thanks to its approach with the game. And rightfully so.

Fallout 76 has been a mess of a game from its rocky launch. And the company, while acknowledging the technical issues, does not seem too bothered about how its customer base feels about the controversy surrounding the game. From implementing aggressive microtransactions to providing goodies made of questionable quality for the special edition of the game to bragging about the addition of NPCs, the addition of a rushed Battle Royale mode, and a $100 subscription model, Bethesda seems to willingly turn a blind eye towards all the negativity surrounding Fallout 76. In an industry where some companies thrive on making their games better based on player feedback, this kind of outlook from a significant name in the industry is just beyond shocking. Fallout 76 certainly does not deserve the “Fallout” brand attached to it and the game is not Bethesda’s finest work. It would be interesting to see how they make up for all of it and gain players’ trust back.

Umbrella Corps – Resident Evil Franchise

Umbrella Corps may not have the Resident Evil branding in its title, but it was Capcom’s attempt on making the most of a beloved franchise. Serving as a tactical multiplayer shooter set in locations based on the Resident Evil games, the title was dead on arrival, to put it mildly. The game was clunky at best and had very serious balancing issues at launch making the very act of playing it a frustrating affair. To be fair Capcom has had several missteps with the franchise, with the likes of Resident Evil 6 and Operation Racoon City, but Umbrella Corps takes the cake simply because of how blatant of an attempt this is to make a quick buck out of fan loyalty.

Needless to say, this game is a detriment to the legacy of the franchise. Watching Capcom get back on the good books of a player with RE7, Devil May Cry 5 and Monster Hunter World was nice. But I have to say Resident Resistance, yet another multiplayer-focused iteration of the game does make me nervous. Here’s hoping that this new game does the franchise justice.

Metal Gear Survive – Metal Gear Franchise

Metal Gear Survive seems like the perfect segue from Umbrella Corps in a list like this. Both are multiplayer games made as cash grabs based on a beloved franchise. Yet, MG Survive feels a lot more sinister. Survive felt like Konami’s response to the infamous fallout between the company and Metal Gear series creator Hideo Kojima. Featuring uninspired repetitive gameplay set in the Metal Gear universe, the game was made using the assets used to create Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, thus, looking very similar to the stellar stealth action game from Kojima. Despite the similarities in visuals though, the games were worlds apart in how they played.

Furthermore, the game took microtransaction to newer heights with having the player pay $10 for an additional save slot. For many, this was a new low in the history of gaming in terms of design principles. While all other titles in the list had some justification for their existence, Metal Gear Survive has none. It seems to have been made for the sole purpose of tainting a creator’s legacy. This was made even more evident through an Easter Egg within the game by the developers who expressed their displeasure on the project with some colourful words to the producer and director of the game along with the message KJP (Kojima Productions – Hideo Kojima’s then newly formed studio) FOREVER. The length the developers within Konami went to execute this despite the potential perils of being axed, goes to show that Metal Gear Survive was a product of grudge, rather than a labour of love. Such a product should not exist in the creative realm regardless of the medium. But MG Survive does exist. And that is a sad thing.

The post Five Games That Failed to Live Up to Their Franchise's Legacy appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Apex Legends

Dropping out of nowhere, Apex legends invaded the Battle Royale scene early this year and have been on quite a roll since. Serving as one of the better BR games out there, rivalling the likes of full-priced games like Call of Duty and Battlefield in quality, this free to play game blends hero-based tactical shooting with squad-based gameplay, encouraging strong co-op strategy. The myriad of ‘quality of life’ features, like the ping system, that Apex had on day one also meant that this game was less about resource management and more about core survival within the length of the match.

With far superior gunplay and mobility than the likes of PUBG and Fortnite, Apex Legends carries the DNA of Titanfall, the universe in which the game takes place. The game has also kept things fresh for the most part by adding new heroes and a complete revamp of the map with its ongoing third season. As expressed by its developers, this game has a long roadmap. So, here’s hoping that Apex will stay just as awesome in the years to come.

Resident Evil VII

Sony’s 2016 E3 press conference will be remembered for a lot of things. And perhaps one of the reveals that made the show so good was that of Resident Evil VII. After the disappointment that was RE6, Capcom had to shake things up with the franchise. And shake things up it did. Gone was the action-centric third-person shooter with huge corporate propaganda for its story. RE VII was a new and important step for the series as it ventured into first-person horror territory. Secluding the events to a creepy mansion and a family of hostiles to defend yourself from, the game delivered the chills in spades.

The near photo-realistic visuals only elevated the cringe factor, and in the best way possible. Like God of War 2018 for its franchise, RE VII turned the tide of a dying series and breathed new life to it. A special mention also goes to the Resident Evil 2 remake, which was a bold and fresh take on a beloved classic, one that also turned out to be one of the best games in the series. However, the spot on this list goes RE VII solely for its role in revitalising the Resident Evil Brand.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey released to a relatively indifferent fanbase during a crowded holiday season. The game’s E3 showing earlier that year was not all that impressive and the whole demo felt like something out of a run of the mill, yearly iteration, albeit sticking to its rebooted structure. But things changed just a couple of hours into the game. By the time you are done with your missions is Kefalonia and head into the open seas with the title of the game appearing on the screen, you know that this is one very special game.

Following siblings Alexios and Kassandra, the story ranges from real-world issues like plagues and famine to the mythical to the downright hilarious. And it is this playful approach that acts as one of the strengths of the game. Throw in some RPG elements for good measure and a rather interesting skill tree full of abilities and perks to unlock and revamped combat, and you have a game that offers dozens of hours of gameplay while hardly ever feeling stale.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Developer Ninja Theory has always intrigued me, mostly because of how good they are at making amazing story-driven action games, but also partly due to the fact that they haven’t been able to succeed in a big way despite all that talent showcased in their games. Heavenly Sword, which was an early title for a struggling PS3, failed to find a large audience due to the PS3’s install base at the time. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was overlooked at a time when multiplayer games were booming and were all the rage. So much so that every game had to have some sort of MP option added to it. DMC, despite being a stellar game, was not received well by the Devil May Cry fan base. All amazing games in their own right, but not very successful.

All of that changed with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Going independent, Ninja Theory made the best of what was available in terms of resources and focused all of their efforts on creating a solid and memorable experience within a shorter runtime. The amount of research done by the team on psychosis, which is a key theme in the game, shows their dedication towards authenticity in their creation. The end product looked nothing short of a big-budget AAA title, and the game as a whole was fantastic. All the accolades and awards the game has since won are all well deserved.

Nier: Automata

Platinum games are no stranger to making ridiculously awesome action games. But they truly outdid themselves with Nier: Automata. A brainchild of director Yoko Taro, the game bends the rules of game design in every way possible. From its unique approach to storytelling to its tendency to turn genre conventions on its head, Nier: Automata kept throwing surprises at every opportunity. An open-world RPG at heart, the game featured combat that is reminiscent of any Platinum Games title, only somehow better.

The thought-provoking story is just one of its many strengths, along with a fantastic score and a beautiful yet unsettling world. Considering Platinum’s track record, this game did garner some hype prior to release. But all expectations were blown away by the sheer weirdness and absurdity at play and I mean that in the best way possible. Nier: Automata was one hell of a thrill ride through and through. One that will still have you hooked right from the get-go. No wonder this game is considered a masterpiece by many.

The post 5 Games That Surprised Us This Generation appeared first on iXie Gaming.

No. 1 Anthem

By the time Anthem was released the writings were already on the wall for many people. Bioware was on the receiving end of having released a game that was gorgeous to look at, and fun to play for a while but not a lot more than that. The developer had to follow up on the PR disaster that was Mass Effect Andromeda which was a decent game but got way too much negativity for relatively apparent bugs which were blown out of proportion by streamers and social media (In all fairness these bugs should have been fixed before its release anyway. But weren’t). And yet Bioware found themselves in almost every major pitfall that could affect the development of the game in a negative way with Anthem. From the studios, top executives leaving the company during development, to multiple delays, to having to make a game in an unexplored genre for the studio, they went through it all.

And the end result was a mess of a game which did not do the players or the developers any justice. Despite having seen this coming, many people (me included) still had hopes for the game since it came from Bioware. The once-revered masters of compelling stories. And perhaps, it was that hope that made Anthem even more disappointing. Anthem just ended being another victim of EA’s questionable practices, falling in line with games like Star Wars Battlefront 2. And that is a very sad thing.

No.2 Rage 2

Rage 2 was not a bad game. But it was not great in any way either. And that was the problem with it. The original Rage which was released back in 2011 had its issues but it still measured up to be a competent shooter with some tight gameplay for its time. Rage 2 feels like an improvement on all fronts, but something that should have been released as an immediate follow up a couple of years later.

Almost all of its gameplay elements and mechanics feel dated and not like something that one would expect in a major release in 2019. For some reason, Rage 2’s world and gunplay felt like the same bland experience like in Avalanche Studios’ other recent games, Just Cause 3 and 4, despite having collaborated with ID. I for one had high hopes for Rage 2 and the trailers were super fun to watch. Unfortunately, all of it did not translate well into the final product.

No. 3 Crackdown 3

Oh, Crackdown 3! Talk about a tumultuous journey. Crackdown 3 was originally announced way back in 2014 and was set out to be an Xbox One exclusive. The game was meant to entice gamers by demonstrating its use of the cloud to process the amount of memory needed for its elaborate world destructions. And it was quite intriguing at the time.

Fast forward to 2019 and what was supposed to be a 2016 release had now been through multiple delays and reworks, and the result was the hot mess that could not deliver to the hype at launch. The much-touted about destruction was missing from the single-player campaign at launch and the multiplayer component which was released a little later which did deliver on the destruction part of the bargain was not much fun to play. Despite Terry Crews’ appeal and Microsoft’s aggressive marketing, the game was a massive disappointment.

No. 4 Days Gone

For some reason, Days Gone could not resonate with the PlayStation fans right from the get-go when it was revealed back in E3 2016. Sony’s E3 2016 in itself was a spectacular event and Days Gone was supposed cap the showoff. This shows how important the game was in Sony’s eyes. But Day’s Gone ended up being one of the more forgettable games largely due to the rest of the show is so great and through no fault of its own. Three years, and a few delays later this Open World Zombie game released to a market which was already saturated with Zombies and Open World games.

Days Gone was in no ways a bad game. The game, in fact, was reviewed quite well by a few outlets. But it did not quite meet the standards of a first-party Sony exclusive, at least at launch. And that was disappointing to many. In a way Days Gone ended up being a momentum killer to Sony’s hot streak of high-quality exclusives.

No. 5 Left Alive

Left Alive did not generate as much buzz as the other games in the list. But this Metal Gear inspired game did turn some heads when it was revealed.

And what was expected to be a love letter to the Metal Gear franchise turned out to a be a complete mess of a game with terrible voice acting, inconsistent AI and outdated graphics regardless of platform. The 3 playable characters in the game were forgettable at best, thanks to poor writing and an unremarkable story.

The game also failed in the gameplay front with messy stealth mechanics and subpar combat. This is never good news for a stealth-based action game. Throw in wonky controls and framerate issues and you are left alive and disappointed with, well, Left Alive.

The post 5 Games that disappointed in the First Half of 2019 appeared first on iXie Gaming.

No.1 – Sarah’s Death – The last of Us

To say that The Last of Us is not a jolly game will be an understatement. Naughty Dog’s finest game to date was a grim look at a future where survival was tough. Granted all of this was showcased and explained in the trailers and gameplay featurettes prior to release. But nothing prepared me for the first twenty minutes of the game. The prologue sees you witness the outbreak through the eyes of Sarah and her father-and-protagonist Joel. What starts as a warm scene of compassion between father and daughter, then quickly shifts gear as the world around them falls apart while they try to escape the infected. The whole sequence is thrilling and kept us at the edge of the seat, until we get to the end of the level where Sarah falls victim to, not the infected, but the bullet of a healthy, hesitant human soldier. The next minute and a half were the toughest to watch, and not many games can do that to us. This was one hell of a way to begin the game and we love it all the more for it.

No.2 – John Marston’s Death – Red Dead Redemption

Few death’s in games are as difficult to deal with as that of John Marston’s in the original Red Dead Redemption. One of Rockstar’s best games has you in the shoes of the ill-fated protagonist spending dozens of hours doing the lawmen’s dirty work. Marston himself is flawed and his desire to right his wrongs and redeem himself is admirable. When he does have his redemption and lives an honest life with his family, the very men he worked for come looking for him. What elevates this whole sequence is the fact that you get to play the standoff. But the desperate attempt to take down as many of them as possible goes in vain, as he is riddled with bullets almost immediately. This was truly a gut-wrenching moment, one that a first-time player would have never seen coming.

No.3 – The Ending of Shadow of The Colossus

There can be so much said about Shadow of the Colossus. From its masterful art design to the amazing score, to the simple yet robust gameplay mechanics, the game was a masterpiece. And, driving all of this was the story of the game, where you play as Wander, who seeks help from an entity named Dormin in order to bring a dead girl back to life, regardless of the cost. Armed with just a bow and arrow, a magic sword and your trusty horse Agro, you set out to do Dormin’s dirty work. Just before getting to the 16h colossi, Agro saves your life, sacrificing himself in the process by falling down a collapsing bridge. This moment is sad enough. But the real gut punch comes after completing the task of slaying all sixteen colossi, where we the player witness perhaps the saddest endings in all of gaming. Dormin is released and chooses Wander as his host, but is put to rest just in time, turning Wander into a baby. And all of this just before the girl comes back to life to find Wander in his baby form. The only comforting thing here is that Agro makes it back alive to the temple. I was not sure if I should be happy for Agro or sad for Wander, but the whole ordeal was less than easy to get through.

No. 4 – Lee and Clementine’s last moments – The Walking Dead

Telltales games’ The Walking Dead set a new standard back in it’s time. And season one still remains the best to date, which is telling something. This was one of those games that kept me thinking for a couple of days after I had finished the last episode of season one. Lee and Clementine’s adventures were filled with powerful moments throughout their journey. But perhaps the toughest moment was at the end of season one. After Lee gets bit and cuts his own hand off to slow down the process of him turning into a walker, Lee and Clem face the fact that Lee will eventually get there. Concerned about Clementine’s safety Lee handcuffs himself and offers the proposition of either killing himself or have Clem do it for him. This was a point in the game where we knew that any option we choose would result in Lee’s death. The last few words spoke between the two before the trigger is pulled only elevates the sadness. This was tough to watch.

No. 5 – Joker’s Death – Arkham City

The Arkham games not only gave us the best Batman games ever, but also one of the best versions of the Joker ever portrayed in any medium. Which is what makes the ending of Arkham City all the more impactful. Tasking Batman to find a cure for his illness, the dying Joker in Arkham City pulls no punches in being a villain, nonetheless. So much that he has clay face play his double while he pulls the strings. When Batman does deliver the cure though, his instincts to harm Batman gets the better of him and he loses his only chance for survival. We see the Joker collapse after a brief exchange of words with the caped crusader. And the image of him walking out while carrying the now dead Joker in his arms was very impactful. Personally, for me, Arkham’s Joker was so good that I had come to love the character and was not ready to part ways with the him yet. This was one moment where I really rooted for the bad guy who had now died. It was painful.

Bonus – The Final Moments of Uncharted 4

Let’s take a break from all the death and sadness and end this list on a good note. We as audience shed tears of sadness in quite a few occasions, but to get us shed a tear of Joy is quite the feet for the creators. And that is exactly what Naughty Dog did with the ending of Uncharted 4. To see Nathan and Sam part ways peacefully and Nate settling to earn his fortune the right way was the closure that I didn’t expect, much less think I would like. But what hit me harder is the epilogue featuring Cassie, Nate and Elena’s daughter. Exploring her once adventure hungry parents’ home and to find a treasure trove of memories that we as an audience have had through the series was truly heart-warming. I would lie if said I didn’t have my eyes watered when the camera focused on the picture of Nate, Elena and Sully at the end. A perfect ending to a story is hard to come by in any medium (look what happened to GOT). But this was as perfect as it could get. Thanks to naughty for giving us the crazy adventure that was the Uncharted series.

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The birth of ‘AAA’ Games.

To understand this better we need to look at what does a AAA game mean and go to its roots. Back in the PS1/PS2 days, videogames were just video games. Regardless of the length of the game, or the scope of it or how cinematic or silly it looked, they were just games sold on discs. This meant that Parappa the rapper would be looked at the same way as say, Shadow of the Colossus (PS2). Granted they are completely different games in terms of genre, scope and almost everything else, but they were still games. Nothing distinguished them based on their status. But put out two games of similar scope and scale today and one will be AAA production, possible only made by a large studio. So how did this begin? The answer lies within the 7th generation of consoles, where the industry shifted from SD to HD, thus embracing new standards in quality and gameplay in games. This also meant a huge increase in the cost of production for these games. Unfortunately, this eventually led to the end of most mid-tier studios and publishers who had had 2 or more games that had failed in this generation. And the ones who survived keep making big budget games today. Also, during this transition was the rise of indie games. The kind of games made by teams of a few people who felt fresh took a lot of creative risks and resonated with the audience. So, this helped draw a line between the two sides of the industry and term AAA gaming started been thrown in more than ever for the ones made by the big studios.

Why are they ‘Dying’?

Naturally, big budget means big risks and it also meant that most companies that put these games out have investors to answer for. This meant that the AAA companies had very little room for error and had to come with creative ways to keep their companies afloat. Too many studios who stuck to the traditional way of making and selling games had to shut their doors during the PS3/360 era. Enter the idea of DLC. Thanks to the capabilities of the 7th gen consoles and the internet infrastructure at the time, studios could now release optional post-launch content for the users to buy. We all know the rest though. This evolved into micro-transactions which evolved into loot boxes, which of course resulted in some very nasty controversies. Even games as recent as Mortal Kombat 11, a game in which you can feel the amount of love and care put into making it, has fallen prey to such practices. Perhaps this, more than anything, is what has led people to believe that these sorts of games are dying. That the risk is too high for companies and the interest for these game within the audience is fading, and this becomes a tough proposition in order to maintain sustainability and keep the companies afloat. And both statements are true to some degree. And if we look at the situation from that perspective, the future does look bleak.

The future of AAA games is bright

The ups and downs that followed big budget games throughout 7th and 8th generation of consoles is mind-boggling and is something for the history books. But if corporations are good at one thing, they are at taking notes. Although not many may change their practices, some of them are looking at ways in which games are not affected by design to accommodate microtransactions and loot boxes. To see a game like Borderlands 3, a game which can be perfect to make a boatload of money using micro-transactions, be announced with the quotes “There will be no micro-transaction or loot boxes” is very encouraging. Then there are companies like Sony, who have excelled in creating amazing big budget games and making that a successful business model, while steering clear from what is considered questionable business practices. There is no doubt that Sony is only going to double down on these games for their next console. This then points towards Microsoft who have had quite the lesson on the importance of good games and have invested heavily in creating multiple teams of talented individuals who will all be working on exclusive games for the next Xbox. Not to forget the new players like Google and Amazon’s inevitable entry into the market. All of these companies, at least Google out of the two, for now, are investing in studios to make games for their platforms. And the focus for all companies is to put out better games than their competitors.

Above all, us gamers do love our big budget games when they are done right and do not try to nickel and dime us. All of this only points to a better future for AAA games. And it will be exciting to see where the industry is headed in the next generation. Here’s hoping that it’s in the right direction.

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Keybinding is a method to optimize your gameplay by customizing the controls of a particular game, according to your own needs. Most gamers don’t focus on keybind much. Normally when someone starts playing a game, they will look at the preset controls and get used to it with time. It is a complicated subject, cause there is no perfect way to keybind. It’s mostly preferential. Considering this, I will try to list some good practices and my personal experiences on keybinding.

Advantages of keybinding:

1. Keeps your base gameplay performance constant across multiple games. You don’t have to learn different keybinds across different games. You set your own keybind and keep that constant across all the games which help to keep your reaction time static. Reaction time is a good measurement of your gameplay performance.

2. If you follow a similar pattern of keybind it completely removes the step to remember the key and then pressing it. Your muscle memory will do that for you. For an example, I always keep my defensive abilities bound to “1”. So when I am playing PUBG its first aids/drinks. In, world of Warcraft it’s my defensive cool downs (pain suppression), In DOTA, it can be bkb, in League of legends, it can be Zhonya’s hourglass. So whenever I am in a bad situation and need to pop my defensive cool downs my muscle memory automatically presses “1”.

Disadvantages of keybinding:

1. You should know what you are doing. You need a certain amount of gameplay experience on different games to understand your needs.

2. One of the major disadvantages of keybinding is that people tend to copy pro-settings. DO NOT DO THAT. Copy the methodology which went behind that professional keybind but not the actual keys.
For example, na’vi sonneiko used to bind camera control on arrow keys for Dota 2. It’s perfect for him. But if I copy that and start playing Dota 2 I won’t be able to do anything to move the camera cause I am not used to it. Technically I can get used to it but that is just forcing yourself to fill in his shoes. Which will hurt your own skill curve. So always keybind as per your own need. Never blanket copy someone’s settings.
Most of my experience on keybinding comes from World of Warcraft (will be referred to as WoW). The complexity of keybinding increases exponentially with the number of buttons you have to press. World of Warcraft is a great example of that. The number of buttons you have to press to maintain a decent level of gameplay in WoW is massive compared to other non-RPG games. But I think the thought process is transferable to other games. Always remember that keybinds are highly preferential. There are some different train of thoughts behind keybinds so let’s talk about those.

“ESDF” Layout:

We all are familiar with WASD. WASD is bread and butter of gamers. But did you know there is a school of thought revolving around ESDF? As per my knowledge, this method first came in WoW. There is a great YouTube video about it. If you look at your keyboard (US QWERTY standard layout) you will see there is not much difference between WASD keys and ESDF keys. They are placed almost in the same manner. The major difference is on the left side. ESDF opens up more keys on your left side. WASD gives you Q and Tab to bind on the top row. ESDF will give you Q W and Tab. Now we all know Tab is mostly used for scoreboard or some basic UI function. It’s not a modifier key. So we won’t count Tab as a potential keybind. ESDF will give you a Q W A to keybind on the left side where WASD will only give you Q. which will make your keybinds evenly spread out on the left and right which is not possible in WASD. WASD binds are mostly right side heavy. You can try out ESDF yourself and see if it fits your criteria or not. Again, Do not force the keybind to yourself. I know I keep repeating this but this is the most common mistake everyone does.

“ZXCV” Layout:

Dota 1 players will be highly familiar with this. ZXCV layout is mainly a moba keybind practice. 4 abilities on ZXCV and all other commands (attack/stay/move/stop) are on ASDF row. This was later converted to the QWER layout. Which kept the same ASDF row for other commands. Both ZXCV and QWER open up Left-shift, Left-control, Left-alt and spacebar to bind according to your need. But QWER will make 1234 easily accessible and ZXCV will make the modifier keys more accessible(LSHIFT LCTRL). In both the cases, Alt and Spacebar should be equally accessible. My personal preference is QWER cause I don’t need more than 1234, Alt modifier and spacebar to bind my inventory.

“QWE” Layout:

I have seen this recently. Mainly in WoW PVP scene. Q to strafe left, W to move forward, E to strafe right. Backpedalling is a bad practice in WoW so some people just remove the keybind for backpedalling. One row 3 buttons to bind all your movements. This opens up ASD row which can be used to bind any other controls.

My Layout:

The above-mentioned layouts are some innovative ways to suit your gameplay needs. All of them inspire my keybind. I will be explaining from WoW standpoint. I use WAD to move around. W front A left D right. I don’t use S for movement, I do not backpedal in WoW. The other binds I use are  12345678 and QSER. Seems very complicated, right?

Let’s break this down. I do not press 1-8 on my keyboard. Keybinding is not only limited to your keyboard keys. Always keep in mind that your mouse keys are important as well. I took this a bit too far and got an MMO mouse So I have 12 keyboards like keys in a 4X3 layout on my mouse. The layout looks something like this with my key binds in place.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 q s e r

So on the keyboard, I only use WAD to move. And modifier keys LSHIFT LCTRL and LALT. Modifiers keys are amazing. Every modifier key can double your existing keybinds. For example, I use 12345678QSER, so a total of 12 keys which translate to 12 gameplay controls. Now if I add shift modifier to all of those binds. I have access to Shift+12345678QSER, so now it’s 24 keys, which translate to 24 gameplay, controls. Now in the same way Alt+12345678QSER and CTRL+12345678QSER increase the total count to 48 combinations. So I can access 48 different gameplay controls with least amount of effort possible.

How?

Let’s take a deep dive, Normally when you use movement and abilities on keyboard your left-hand does most of the work. Similar case for right hand and mouse if your controls are mouse heavy(I am a right-handed gamer). My goal/principle/philosophy behind my keybind was balancing this out. Suppose you use WASD to move and you have to press shift+Q for some ability. When your left hand is pressing Shift Q your pinky will be pressing SHIFT and your ring finger will be up from A and move to Q. So for that instance, you cannot move to the left side(if A is used to move left). I saw this as a limitation to my gameplay. For my case I have Q bind on the leftmost button on the bottom row on my mouse. So when I need to press shift+Q my fingers don’t move from WAD at all. Only my pinky presses SHIFT and my right thumb presses Q on the mouse. Because of this my left hand never moves from WAD. So I can move without any compromising other gameplay elements.
Hopefully, my thoughts on this matter have helped you to understand the basics of keybinding. The possibilities are endless. And it is a continuous process. I have had at least 4/5 different sets of keybinds before I decided upon this layout which I am currently using. I want to improve more as time goes on.
TL;DR Always binds keys according to your own need. Try to keep the basic binds or the philosophy behind the binds constant across different games (as much as possible). DO NOT COPY SETTINGS OF OTHER PEOPLE, this does not mean you have to be completely different just tailor according to your own preference. Try to balance out the involvement of both of your hands (this will help reduce the strain on one hand when playing for a longer duration). Always use modifier keys to multiply the available options. Do not shy away from using modifier keys.

Happy Gaming!   

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While I would usually categorize my reviews in to story, graphics, gameplay and overall score, it is important to consider the impact this game had when it was revealed, and the little controversies the creator Josef Fares landed into. Because while this game is a success, all of these above elements did help in getting it more exposure. So, here goes….

The Creator and his Creation

Like many people this game had my attention from the day it was revealed. But watching the creator talk about his game “being nothing like you’ve ever played or your money back”, kind of made me doubt the game. And then there was the Game Awards incident which put Mr. Fares on the map. Suddenly this game was getting famous for all the wrong reasons.

But that is not fair considering what this game actually is. This is a game that encourages couch co-op like the good ‘ol days. And it largely succeeds in keeping both members invested throughout the game’s roughly 6 to 7 hour run time. In an era of battle royales and micro transaction driven multiplayer focused games, this game comes with a message and delivers it in spades. Let’s take a deeper look.

Story

Perhaps the weakest element in the game, the story and writing leave a lot to be desired by the time the end credits roll. It follows two protagonists, Leo and Vincent. The former, a punch first talk later hot head and the latter being more rational and thoughtful. As the name suggests, the story is about how these misfits team up to escape a prison, but there is a lot more in the game which I won’t spoil. The game does throw some genuinely strong moments, but for every one of those you have an absolute dud to make for it. One time, your character is holding his new born child while trying to make things right with his wife. And in the other you are being chased, and shot at, by cops on a river bank and you escape using a row boat. Yes, a row bot. Not a motor boat. A row boat with paddles. And it was as if the writers were aware that this made no sense, so the gameplay transition to a cut scene once you reach that boat. So, the game has both these elements in abundance and as I mentioned earlier, the story isn’t the strong point here.

Gameplay

How you interpret the gameplay of this game is up to you. Since this is an independent game with AAA ambitions and throws multitude of gameplay typed and scenarios, all in one game. One moment you are doing stealth take downs, and the other you play basketball, and then in the other you play a third person shooter. The tradeoff is that having so much variety pushes this game to being mediocre at best control wise. If you can excuse the wonky controls and the horrendous AI however, you are in for a treat partnering with your couch-friend. The game somehow manages to emphasize on interaction between the two players and have them work together like the two protagonists. And there are some (very) tense gameplay moments throughout the game, both, intentional through the story, and unintentional. I was never going to give up in an arm wrestling match when my opponent was sitting right beside me. It is moments like these that this game really shines, and it was moments like these that this game frankly was made for to begin with. (Pro tip. If you consider yourself to be like one of the characters you play, try finding a friend who has similar character traits to the other character. This game takes a whole new dimension that way.

Graphics

Once again this is an indie game with AAA ambitions, and it shows quite often. There are some very nicely rendered beautiful scenes, but there are also texture pops and wonky animations. The characters are somewhat stiff too. The main point to note is the always on split screen which works like a charm at times, but totally ruins a scene contextually in others. This game is certainly not a looker, but it does the job to move the story forward while keeping you invested in it.

Overall

So this game does not have the best story, the gameplay is not very sharp and the graphics are average. Having said that, this game does something so unique that other games are so scared to do – Innovation! And by that I do not mean the next step in VR, but something as simple as variety in gameplay. This game shows that only indie studios and colorful characters like Josef Fares can make innovative and clever games like these. Something that the Major companies shy away from these days. And props for Mr. Fares and his team for doing just that. I enjoyed Josef Fares’s first game Brothers : A tale of two sons. It was one of the very few games that hit me so hard emotionally. And I like this game just as much, but for different reasons. Whether you like action games or not, you need to really try this game especially if you have a friend/ brother/ partner at home that play game like you do. And you will know that this game is different.

Side Note

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