Video Games

I’m an easy to please gamer tired of all the clutter in my living room and home office.  I’m tired of having to buy a headset for my PC, XBox, Nintendo and Playstation systems because they’re only made and optimized for that specific console.  How hard would it be to have something that was all-encompassing, doesn’t break the bank and doesn’t skimp on sound quality?  Not hard at all according to Plantronics, who believe their RIG Headset is all this and more.  Click below for my review of this dynamic headset.

Final Fantasy fans rejoice!  The folks at Square Enix seem to have been up to a lot lately, particularly after the admitted mistakes of Final Fantasy XIV, and its complete rehaul and rerelease. With that in mind we have, over the course of a month, not one but two Final Fantasy Releases. One, the final title in a trilogy (and who doesn’t like those?), the other, the HD remaster and combining of two FF superstars with Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remastered.

There are very few game series’ I’ve enjoyed more in my lifetime of gaming than the Professor Layton one.  It always excites me to no end to get to unwrap and solve another couple hundred puzzles, and I always keep going back for more.  I don`t have to explain how excited I was to hear that the final installment of the prequel to the first trilogy is finally available and also how much I`ve been anticipating having it in my hands.  I did get it, and click below for my thoughts.

Announced back in 2009, Thief was a long held standard in stealth gameplay, single handedly redefining the genre with the original Thief game, Thief: The Dark Project way back in ’98. With its last release in 2004, fans of the series and of the stealth Genre in general have long held their breath; well you can let it go folks, the coast is clear.  Play as Garrett, Master Thief and all around enthusiast of shiny things while he tiptoes over rooftops in a Victorian Dystopia, with Thief!

One of the most popular Popcap series since its debut back in 2009, Plants vs. Zombies takes a little bit of a left turn under EA’s guidance and debuts on XBox One with a third person shooter.  Garden Warfare takes a different, yet just as silly look at the Plants vs. Zombies universe.  Featuring up to 24 player multiplayer, and nearly a dozen game modes for a lot less than a normal retail title.  Come take a look at the chaos being caused this time out!

Though its usually putting the player between innocent villagers and the father of bloodsuckers, this time around Castlevania has flipped the script!  Take on the roll of Dracula himself and avoid the dogged pursuit of the Belmont clan in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.  After years of slumber, the Dark Lord awakes to a proposition, the acquisition of his undead hearts desire, its up to you to return the Dark Lord to full power, and you’ll probably have to do some all out battles with all manner of horrific and or massive beasties along the way. Interested?

One of Nintendo’s oldest bad guy turned good stories is back for its first spin on the Nintendo WiiU!  Donkey Kong, the one time maniacal girlfriend stealing gorilla retired to his Island Paradise in 1994, and with his new found heroism has launches one of Nintendo’s best-selling gaming franchises.  20 years after the first one came out, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has landed, bringing with it some old faces, new tricks and a world where pirate penguins and owls pick on our jungle friends.  Come check out my review of the latest edition of the franchise and see if it’s a worthy pickup for your Nintendo WiiU collection.

With two HD remasters and a Vita exclusive, Sony is representing the month of February with a Trio of console exclusives. The PS Vita wins with a double helping with the giant demon hunting Toukiden: The Age of Demons, and murder mystery Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles rounds it out, packaging two ‘Tales’ games and treating them to the full HD face lift.

Fable was a big deal ten years ago, and like Bungie’s “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” before it, its makers decided to bring the landmark title lovingly back. More than a simple reskinning, Fable: Anniversary is a ‘ground up’ remastering of “Fable: The Lost Chapters”, and a delightful return to Albion. 

What has been one of the most anticipated RPG launches since its debut in Japan in 2012, Bravely Default is a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, and a kickback to longtime RPG gamers, bringing back elements we’ve not seen for a long time (like job designations.)  With numerous gameplay options and difficulties, and one of the best blended Streetpass systems for the 3DS yet, is this one for the ages?  Read on to find out.