SKYLANDERS: Spyro's Adventure

 Skylander's is an all age appropriate game from Activision and Toys for Bob. While the price to play the full experience is higher than most games on the market the game and the collectibles are well worth it. Even as a veteran gamer I had a refreshing good and worry free time playing Skylanders. The different worlds, the ever changing characters and exciting quest and puzzle solving adventure is fits perfectly into this new world of Spyro. So whether you're nostalgic about your days playing as a polygon shaped Spyro or if you're young and new to the gaming world looking for something to get you hooked, this is definitely the game to turn to.
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Pros: Fast exciting game play, Amazing and cartoony characters and worlds that add layers of enjoyment to the game play, a fun soundtrack, seemingly endless possibilities that fit any level of gamer and their various play styles, a collectible character for everyone you're sure to find one that fits you perfectly, fun collectibles in-game that keep you looking for secret puzzles in each world, easy to play for any gamer but it never really gets boring.
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Cons: Expensive, Voice acting and NPC character design could use a major overhaul, could use skill trees instead of an upgrade store, some of the collectible hats don't quite fit right on every characters head.
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Skylanders is a fun game there's no doubt about it. Not only does it bring a renewed sense of childhood nostalgia it also gave me hope for the new gaming generation. It's hard to find games suited towards the young pre-teen generation that deliver the amazing and addicting experiences I found when I was a child coming into gaming. However, while it may not be the new ocarina of time or super Mario 64, it is certainly an amazing game that any parent should be proud to let their child play. Not only does it have some of that sneaky "educational-value" parents look for in games, through things like puzzle solving, semi-complicated task and often vague objectives that any younger gamer might have to take time to figure out, it also has two fundamental addictions that any proper gamer child should have: collectibles and really silly humor. Skylanders is in no short supply of both.

 

However parents may raise one serious concern over Skylanders: Price. A well founded fear of their wallets being drained as their new gamer child begs for a new character pack every time they step into Walmart. The picture above shows all the current available Skylanders (save some pretty awesome yet expensive collectors editions) and at $10 for each (or $20 for 3, a way better value) it is easy to see what concern most parents would have. However when all your kid wants is another skylander to play with instead of a new pack of Lego's or a new barbie or any $20-$30 toy that most non-gamer children want it is certainly easier to justify buying a skylander instead. Lets face it, the Skylanders look cool and kids love playing with them on whatever system they have for it. Can't think of a good birthday present or Christmas gift? BOOM! Skylanders, an easy $20 to make your kid feel like the richest kid in the world. Trust me the same applies for any self-respecting teen and veteran gamer.

 

 

Speaking of which, what does a game like Skylanders have to offer to anyone above the age of 14? Surprisingly a lot. If you were like me and love to play Spyro as a kid this game is a no brainer, while not as Spyro focused as the other games were (for obvious reasons) this game is the next step in Spyro's natural evolution. SO if you did play Spyro you'll get an infectious case of Nostalgia that will keep you rolling out $20 bills to keep on playing, leveling up and just trying out new and awesome characters. Even if you never played Spyro as a kid most gamers will still get a kick out of this inventive way to play, collecting toys and watching them come to life certainly makes my day and certainly makes me feel like I'm trying out a whole new gaming world. So if you've been on the fence about Skylander's don't be! Go out and buy it right away and get addicted just like so many gamers have.

 

 

 

 

You'll face many of the same enemies through most of the game, though it seems like every 15 minutes or so a new bad guy pops up. The main quest places you in the shoes of the new portal master, sort of like a controller or keeper of the skylanders, and by using your "portal" you summon the Skylanders from their frozen state to help fight for and save their world from the clutches of KAOS ( presumably Chaos and Khaos have been beaten to death as villain names.) And most people will recognize Kaos' voice right away as the one and only INVADER ZIM! That's right for any veteran gamer this is sure to give you a double shot of memories as you constantly listen to this new bad guy with ZIM's voice bantering on just like the good old days. The game is easy to follow and is nothing if not straight forward and to the point when it comes to your quest's and objectives. Your main goal is to repair an ancient device that keeps the good in the Skylander world protected from the bad. Essential a beaten to death concept, but it still has an awesome kick to it.

 

 

The puzzles are simple, while some take longer than others to figure out they are never to hard as most involve pushing Turtle's or rocks one way or the other. While not the most challenging game it's still a lot of fun and shouldn't be passed over as a "kids game." Spyro is certainly back and this time I think he's here to stay and be passed on to the next generation as the game that got them started.

Look out for the exciting new Skylanders Adventure: Skylander Giants, due out October 21st 2012!


You can buy the Starter Pack here through Gamestop: http://www.gamestop.com/ps3/games/skylanders-spyros-adventure-starter-pack/90629



MINECRAFT (PC version)

Minecraft is an addictive and imagination fueled sandbox where players can create, destroy, fight, adventure or invent in almost an infinite amount of ways. It is nearly impossible to become bored while playing the game and the multitude of freedom and play modes that players can choose from make this one of the best purchases in video gaming.

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Pros: Great concept and near flawless execution, lack of story only significantly adds to the game, various difficulties and game options make Minecraft a fun and playable game for everyone, amazing multiplayer that integrates everything a fun multiplayer should have, brand new idea that leaves you begging for more, amazing and sometimes terrifying soundtrack.

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Cons: No in-game load times often leave entire chunks of land in limbo, leaving the player staring into a bottomless abyss only to have the landscape reappear seconds later, Single player can become lonesome and one must constantly look for new ways to occupy your time(not really a con though, believe me) possibility of giving a player a heart attack when they're deep beneath the surface mining and a large ominous sound blares through the silence making your heart skip a few dozen beats.

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After purchasing and downloading Minecraft I open up and start my new adventure in what promised to be the "biggest sandbox ever imagined." To my surprised I was greeted with none of the familiar video game courtesies like a tutorial or first quest. Instead I faced a jungle full of animals and flora in the appropriate block format that any "crafter" has come to know and love. With no other instruction but to "read the achievement list" for an idea on how to start out my adventure I do just that and see my first two achievements: one to open the inventory and the second called "Getting wood." After a slight immature giggle at the title of the achievement I proceed to open and familiarize myself with the inventory layout, a task not to hard at all, composed of a small 2x2 crafting section a larger what I'll call "bag of holding" inventory and the "in-game" inventory which is where the items the player wants to use while playing can scroll through to use ( mostly I use this section to keep my tools and weaponry, and always a supply of torches and cobblestone)

I set out to complete the second achievement that I've already mentioned and proceed to the nearest tree and using my god-like un-breaking fist I punch that sucker down only to collect each destroyed block and have it placed in my inventory. Now I wasn't at the "crating" part of Minecraft ( or particularly the mining part either) but I was already excited, I had my first inventory item! I equip the wood to slot 1 and use it to chop down other trees, dig up dirt, and create new rivers. Before I knew it two hours had passed and I had a ton of wood in my inventory learning my second valuable lesson: you can only hold 64 pieces of any one item in an inventory slot. But I was ready to start the next step: building a home for my avatar ( who I later learned is commonly referred to as "Steve"). I was already to take my game from easy to normal and face the undead and arachnid hordes. But hearing some horror stories of players and the undead at night I decided to build up....way up. SO I found the tallest tree I could and chopped a little stairway all the way up to the top, and then the construction of the first small room in what has now (after an insane amount of hours) has become my floating sky fortress.

Many weeks, days, and hours later I've finally started accomplishing some of the more advanced crafting techniques, have multiple houses and fortresses and a mine system so immense that I'm starting to think that I may have to abandon the area all together in search of new lands. The game is undoubtedly addicting and it's hard not to sacrifice precious hours of time in real life to the adventures of Steve and the world of minecraft.

Between the ever growing list of items that can be crafted, the new discoveries that lie behind every "secret" or adventure keep you begging for more and going farther, and even deeper than at first seems possible. Between the Two temples, the nether and the end...and even the occasional search for Herobrine (I'll find him one day!) I just can't stop playing. Just when I'm 60 blocks down and digging my way through a massive natural cavern starting to lose all hope of finding some diamonds and dozing off in front of the computer screen the game never fails to give me the loudest, creepiest, most evil noise ever made to make me jump out of my seat and have a mini heart attack. Even the noise of a pickax breaking in the silence is enough to freak out this Crafter. The noise usually signals an interesting discovery or at least a dark empty space nearby, but it never fails to give the game an edge of eeriness that I find more intense than some of the spooks and chills of the horror game genre. Not to mention the constant feel that someone...or something... is watching over you in the darkness of the tunnel. While playing alone can often be monotonous I much prefer it than feeling like there is someone else there when I am supposed to be "all alone."

Spooks and chills aside, Minecraft is one of the most amazing ideas in video games in recent memory and is most definitely one of the most addicting games I've ever played. Other than the occasional terrain loading glitch the game is beautifully designed and simple, anyone can pick it up and quickly learn how to master the realm they are given, and if the undead and other spooks are to much, just tone down the difficulty into easy or peaceful. Or maybe you just want to create and not go through the long process of mining, well there's an option for that too. Playing online with a group of friends couldn't be much funner, looking at each others creations, establishing a city, or coming together to build a massive and amazing colossus is one of the most rewarding videogame experiences available today.

Plain and Simple: Minecraft is amazing and there is no reason, anyone of any belief shouldn't have this game.

Dragon Age II

While not as exciting or gripping as its predecessor, Dragon Age II offers a brand new world, all new heroes and an inviting story that keeps you playing.

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Pros: Exciting and visually pleasing environments, Fun and (sometimes) likable characters, Great gear and loot that keeps you one step ahead of the enemy, more hack and slash than Origins.
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Cons: The use of the same cave and building structures not only gets boring but also aggravating, many companions are just dull and unimaginative, little to no character customization, not able to equip great loot to companions.
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First Impressions:
We open up the game and start our character creation. Being only presented with 3 human classes (Mage, Warrior, and Rogue) I attempted to look for the elf and dwarven classes but it became apparent that I was being forced to play as a human this time around, A major change since DA: Origins. After my internal battle to select a warrior or mage I decided to play as a warrior through my first play through. I was not disappointed, the first level gave me a full cache of powers and left me to lay waste to the first few ways of undead, leaving me feeling like a God of War. Then you are pulled back into reality and are only given some beginner powers, yet this did not leave me feeling under powered.

The Game doesn't even to start becoming difficult within the first few hours ( or anytime after that for that matter). You progress rapidly and constantly find new gear and weapons for Garret Hawke ( the set name for the main character). This is both fun and rewarding as I was never stuck with the same weapon for more than an hour. Switching from great sword to Hammer to the Great Ax then back to a great sword was fun and interesting as you could tell slight differences in speed and strength. If you want to switch the warrior to sword and shield or dual blades make sure not to put all the skill points into two-handed weaponry, if you're unsure try a balance between the three.

The skill trees were much easier to use and control this time around and its always tough to decide what new skill to unlock or what old skill to power up. You do this for every character and its always fun. You can then go into every characters screen and change their tactics around to suit your needs, while you can switch between any character in your party you'll mainly stick to playing as Hawke so changing your Allies tactics and battle strategies is sometimes a necessity to compensate for your play style. I had to change my Mage's tactics to heal when anyone reached a certain health mark because I found to often that my mages weren't healing me when I was knee deep in Thugs, ghouls, or dragon-lings, and that became a problem.

Maps are easy to use and understand for almost any level of RPG gamer. Though the number of quest you'll have at any one time can become daunting it's best just to knuckle down, pick one, and complete it, then move on to the next till you get to the more essential, plot driven missions.

The first few hours are fun and exciting, at some points you may have to push through some long running or boring cut-scenes but for the most part the game is good about keeping you involved, especially with the additions of main character dialogue and frequent combat.

The rest of the game does not disappoint, while the constant change in weapons slows down as the enemy drop levels slowly start capping you still end up with some pretty amazing high level weaponry that you can then enchant to give you an extra boost over the enemy. Te same goes with armor, though you'll still change out the occasional boot here or helmet there generally the stats start staying around the same and the only thing you need to look at are the buffs like extra protection, bonus health, or even the occasional increased enemy drop rate.

As you progress through the story the inner achievement hunter (or even hopeless romantic) may want to form a special attachment to one of the many companions, either male or female, and try to build a relationship with them all the way to marrying them and consummating every step of the way. Whether you find yourself deadset on one companion to build this attachment to (Merrill all the way for this gamer) its always an interesting challenge to constantly say the right thing, kill the right people and take the right side in order to get them to fall in love with you. While this doesn't particularly fit into a normal game type it makes the characters more real, more believable and soon you may find yourself standing back to back with your partner in the heat of battle. You may even have to break the hearts of some confused characters along the way (poor, poor Anders.)

These subtle side stories and character development quest make this game and its predecessor fun and believable and really sets itself aside as one of the most unique and best rpgs out there.

As with its predecessor the power of choice and morality are central to every part of the game and there is never a single moment in the game where you are not forced to take a side or make a choice that can greatly impact the world around your character. While certain events are inevitable (spoilers!) how you get there and the way those events play out and their outcomes is greatly affected by almost every single choice made up to that point. The power of choice and consequences is definitely one of developer Bioware's strong points and they never fail to hit the nail on the head....well except maybe a certain third installment of a space adventure. But Dragon Age 2 does not fail to impress with the level of choice and consequence, and constantly realizing that the choice you made and regretting the outcome of your mistake is one of the most interesting and enticing things about the game and makes the game warrant many more play throughs in attempt to get a different outcome.

All in all an amazing videogame that delivers on huge promise, while not as spectacular as its predecessor it still stands as a powerful and addicting game experience and I am very excited to see the next installment deliver another fun and game changing experience.

Look out for Dragon Age III: Inquisition due out Late 2013!


Purchase Dragon age II at GAMESTOP: http://www.gamestop.com/xbox-360/games/dragon-age-2/89700
Amazon: 
  http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-2-Xbox-360/dp/B0047TG2R0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348609985&sr=8-1&keywords=dragon+age+2