Game Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The latest highly anticipated game release in The Elder Scrolls series has been released.. And how does it stand up to the expectations? Well in my opinion, very well! Now I can't say that I am an Elder Scrolls fanboy, but I have always heard very good things about the series. I used to own a copy of Oblivion, but somewhere along the line the discs went missing before I had a chance to get my teeth into the game. So I have made sure with Skyrim that I have made a decent effort and got a few good hours game play in after getting my hands on a copy. First impressions of the game were good, with a cinematic type intro (rendered using the game engine) where you can look around while it introduces you to the storyline. The graphics of the game would be comparable to Fallout: New Vegas, maybe a bit flashier. The character creation system allows for a decent customization of your character, with several races to choose from.

From here you get a bit of an introduction to the game controls in a semi cinematic player controlled segment. After your introduction to the game, you are then free to start your wandering. Skyrim, like Oblivion of course, is an open world game. You can wander all over the map from the get go. No having to follow the main story line before you can access certain parts of the map. Levelling up your character is pretty simplified compared to other RPG type games (i.e. you don't have to allocate a set number of point to strength, endurance, etc). Instead of this system, it works on more of a skills type system. I want to leave some surprises for you and not spoil everything :)
There are plenty of things to pick up along your travels as you are able to create your own weapons, potions, etc. So among weapons and armour and other essentials you can pickup ingredients and materials. There is plenty to do in this game, so be prepared for it to eat away the hours of the days before you know it. The map is decently expansive and there are plenty of side quests to keep you occupied.

So to the business end of the review.. How good is the game? VERY! is the answer. A must have in the RPG world. I expect to get a very good run out of this game, and the DLC packs that are bound to come in the future. And being available on PC, PS3 & Xbox360, there is no excuse not to get it!! A very solid 5 out of 5 here!

Game Review: And Yet It Moves (Indie Game)

Well, First off I guess I'd have to say I'm rather liking the outbreak of Indie games at the moment. Indie games tend to have the elements that are normally missing from more mainstream games, which is what makes them so good. Mainstream games are made to cater for the masses, which means certain elements are dumbed down, or left out all together. Indie games are more made because the people who made them are sick of trying to find a game with the elements they want, so they make their own. The main thing that is lacking in mainstream games these days is the gameplay experience. Mainstream games are made so that they are easy to pick up, and play through. I mean who wants a game that actually challenges you? Well, uh, me for one! And that's where this game is excellent! It has all the good side scroller attributes, quirky graphics, run, jump, die, but this game takes it a step further. Spin, that's right, spin the entire world around. Not only is this a neat little twist to the game, but actually required to complete the levels. This game also takes it back to the basics, no big guns, no slashing enemies to bits with big swords, just running, jumping, and spinning the world around. And because there are no flashy other elements in there, the game is solid. The physics are pretty awesome, and the levels nice and challenging.

Rockin' it Indiana Jones style

Each level has it's own unique challenges, be it running away from boulders that are hurtling towards you...

Flying off a swing

Flying off a swing to get where you need to go...

Bouncy bouncy

Or bouncing on trampolines to reach greater heights... Then they go and combine these elements, which can be challenging enough on their own, with having to spin the world around as well. At first it just all seems to trippy, forever spinning the world the wrong way, or just not quite getting it right, which all lead to the same thing...

SPLAT!

Death!! But do not fear, you have unlimited lives, and will respawn back at the last save point (marked but a ghostly outline of yourself, who also handily points you in the right direction).

So if you are looking for a game that makes you think outside the box, or just something to pass the time, I think you may well enjoy this game. If you're not sure, just go to the website and download the demo (here) and give it a go. If you like it donate to the creator and get the full copy. Help support these Indie game developers so that we can all continue to enjoy the little gems that they produce. I know I have certainly enjoyed it, and will continue to enjoy it. All up it would be just wrong to not give this game 5 out of 5, it's well built, it delivers, and is just down right fun. GET IT! :-D

Tech Review: Quickheal for Android

Recently I got given the chance to try out the Quickheal Security Android application. For those that don't know what Quickheal is, go HERE for NZ, or HERE for International. First impressions of this app were very good, very slick interface, very intuitive design. So I signed up for my trial, which was very easy and hassle free to do via the internet from my phone. To check the system overheads I ran a benchmark before installing, and after installing, and found no difference in the benchmarks, which means no noticeable system overhead. Installed some apps, and no lag. Checked the task manager, and yup, Quickheal is still sitting there, doing its thing. Now as I have it loaded on my phone I use everyday, unfortunately I can't deliberately go to a rogue website, or try install something that I know has a virus (in case things don't go well). Although I trust that Quickheal will keep me safe, I don't trust me to not do something stupid and have to reload all the firmware back onto my phone. From what I've been able to test, this app has done it's job well, and had no noticeable effect on phone performance. All round good app, look forward to its release. 5 out of 5!

Game Review: Borderlands

Oh where to start... I think the first point of difference for this game is the graphics. Yes it is in the typical 1st person shooter layout, but its the textures that set it apart, comic book style textures. The comic book style of the game and the very 'Red-neck' theme make it stand out quite a bit from other similar titles. The narrative is fantastic with great voices, and a twisted storyline.

The choice of a few main characters means that there is replayability in the game, as you can play through with each character to have a different experience as each character has a different skillset. The addition of a 2nd playthrough allows you to play through the game again, with your levelled up character, but with much harder enemies, yet again adding to the replayability.
Another great feature is the fact that every item on the game is completely random.

The game uses a random item generator that means every weapon you pick up will have a different make up to the next, meaning you can ALWAYS be on the hunt for a better gun. Then comes the addons, with extra missions, that are also available on a 1st or 2nd playthrough. The control layout is similar to most other FPS games out there so fairly easy to pick up the controls. You can level your character up with different skills, and powerups for those skills.

Multiplayer is mainly focussed on co-op play, but you can enter arenas and take on other players head to head etc. The storyline is pretty much linear, as with almost all FPS games, but there are still plenty of side missions to do. All in all a fantastic game with plenty of replayability, carnage, unique style, and heaps of fun. One to add to the collection if you haven't already. A solid 5 out of 5.

Reviews, reviews everywhere....

Reviews, reviews everywhere.... And not an expert in sight.

Just thought I'd let people know that my reviews are not intended to be expert opinions, but just purely and simply my thoughts on the topic. I'm not expecting people to use my reviews as a base to make decisions on, but would be pretty stoked if someone thought my opinions meant enough to them that they did. The only real reason I am doing these reviews is that I like to express my opinions, and whether people agree or not, I can do that here. If you have a differing opinion on something I have posted here, I welcome the feedback, but be aware, any nasty comments, flaming etc. will be deleted. This blog will not solely be reviews, you can expect ranting and raving, mind farts, funny posts, and so on. So stay tuned, as I will be adding more as time allows (being a new daddy is very time consuming)!

Keep it real people, and keep on keeping on!

And remember... "Do or do not. There is no try" - Master Yoda

Tech Review: Samsung Galaxy 3 (GT-I5800)

Full specs (here), Pricing (here)

The little phone that could!

This little beasty has nothing on it's more advanced siblings the Samsung Galaxy S & Galaxy S II, but bang for buck it isn't bad at all. On the latest firmware (XXJPQ) the phone is nice and smooth for basic operations. It struggles a bit when you start to do things like play angry birds, but it is still quite playable. It's 3.2" touch-screen display is big enough so that even people with bigger fingers (like myself) can use the soft keyboard. Wi-fi support is good with 802.11b/g/n standards and supports WPA2 security. The 3.2MP camera does a decent job at taking pictures (better quality than most phones I've used). About it's only downsides are the small amount of RAM (256MB), slightly low resolution on the screen (240x400), and use of the rfs file system. So as a stock 'smartphone' is does a pretty good job for its price range (Would give it a 3 out of 5). But the real magic comes when you load a custom firmware (ROM), kernel, change the file system, employ some better drivers for the GPU and sound,  and overclock the CPU... Now some people would probably stop about here and just say no thanks, would rather keep my factory warranty. But that's the beauty of it. Unless hardware fails on you device while you have custom firmware loaded, your factory warranty is never at risk. So feel free to play around with different ROMs, kernels, and configurations. If you follow the instructions supplied, you can always roll it all back to stock factory settings very easily. 

My one of these has the following setup:

ROM: Kyrillos' ROM v5.7 Honeycomb Edition

Kernel: FuguMod 2.4 beta3 800MHz edtition

CPU: Overclocked upto 800MHz using an 'on-demand' governer

GPU: Chainfire3D GPU drivers

Sound: Voodoo sound drivers

File System: ext2 & ext4

I am currently waiting on the latest release of the Kyrillo's ROM (v6.0) which will allow overclocking up to 1366MHz (depending on what each individual phone is capable of going up to).

After tweaking the phone with these simple and relatively easy upgrades, you can turn a cheap, average device into something that is fighting well above it's weight. But what about battery life?! Surely you'd expect higher CPU speeds etc. would cause more drain on the battery. Surprisingly, battery life is barely affected by this, losing maybe 1 hour of battery life under normal use (and using a smart governor). So after tweaking the phone just a little (maybe 2 hours of loading firmware/kernels etc, and waiting for reboots) and you turn a device that I would give 3 out of 5, into one I would give 5 out of 5 (just because of price compared to features after tweaking).

Samsung Galaxy 3 specs

Movie Review: Machete

First off, this review will be biased. I LOVE Robert Rodriguez movies. And this one definitely has his signature on it. It has the typical Rodriguez blood splatters, and deliberate over the top action sequences. As usual he manages to pull together an all star cast, fronted by Danny Trejo as Machete. The movie follows Machete, as he tries to start a new life in the US after his entire family is killed in Mexico. He ends up getting caught up in a scandal involving an old nemesis from back in Mexico. And the story goes on from there. The action scenes are well done, with plenty of gore and big guns, and of course, machetes. A must see for Rodriguez fans, or for anyone that just enjoys a good old fashioned action movie. Of course I am going to give this movie 5 out of 5, but all said, I think it actually deserves all 5! (Click movie image to see IMDB listing)

Game Review: Portal 2

Having not played Portal, I didn't really know what to expect from this game. And I guess that's what made the game pleasantly refreshing. I found it very fun playing a game that didn't involve big guns, but still managed to keep the action up. The game style was very good, having a good combination of challenge, playability, and catchy storyline. The challenge came in the form of having to figure out what to do to pass the level. Playability in the form of easy controls, and a simple tool-set to work with. Now the storyline I found the best, nothing like a completely narcissistic megalomaniac robot, with a penchant for testing, providing a great narrative the whole way through. All in all, not a bad game at all, only problem being that it is not really the type of game you can play over and over, the storyline is completely linear, and fairly short compared to most games. So my recommendation would be to hire it rather than buy it, but a must play game.

All in all, a solid 4 out of 5 for this one.