Co-Op Critics | Opinion

May 28, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: JUNE 2017

June isn’t as packed with big releases as some of the last few months have been, but it definitely still packs a punch (get it?), as we’re getting two hotly anticipated fighting games this month. June also sees a major expansion for an MMO and a remaster of a beloved PlayStation classic.

Tekken 7 (PS4, PC, Xbox One)–June 6
Our favorite fighting game series is back on console this month, as Heihachi and crew bring the pain. If you want to know why we’re so excited about this one, check out the Tekken 7 tournament finals from this past weekend’s Combo Breaker 17.

Our only complaint is that Armor King won’t be in this one, as he’s always been Brian’s favorite chracter. Guess he’ll have to start practicing with Kuma.

The Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind (Mac, PS4, PC, Xbox One)–June 6
Morrowind comes to ESO this month in a huge expansion for the MMO. Thirty hours of gameplay and a new character class are just some of what Morrorwind has to offer. If you loved Elder Scrolls 3, now’s the time to jump into ESO.

ARMS (Nintendo Switch)–June 16
ARMS feels like the next Splatoon–a game many dismissed when it was first announced but went on to become a huge fan favorite. ARMS is a fighter where characters use extendable arms with unique abilities to battle up close or across entire arenas. Characters can swap out different combinations of arms, so there is a ton of options for customization. Nintendo seems determined to push for this one to have a competitive scene as well, so it should be an interesting summer for ARMS.

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)–June 30
There was a time when Crash was mentioned in the same breath as Mario and Sonic. Granted, that time was brief, but it existed nonetheless, and the early Crash games were a blast. The trilogy features the first three Crash games, and will feature updated sounds and individuals, controls and a new save system.

Those are the games we’re excited about for June 2017. What’s on your list of games to pick up for this month?

May 28, 2017 In Opinion

The Combo Breaker 17 TEKKEN 7 Finals Were Amazing

With the exception of a short love affair with Super Street Fighter 2 on the SNES, the only fighting game series I have really gotten into over the years has been Tekken. Tekken 2 on the original PlayStation is without a doubt my favorite fighting game of all time, and the one I’ve spent the most time with. I’ve dabbled with the other games in the series, but have never gotten lost in one like I did with Tekken 2.

But man, after watching the Tekken 7 tournament at Combo Breaker 17 Saturday night, not only did I pre-order Tekken 7 for PS4, I ended up buying a fight stick as well. That tournament provided an amazing market showcase for the game, and the level of competition was great. The top eight overall were just outstanding matches, and the finals between Saint and JDCR were amazing.

Needless to say, I’ll be doing some Tekken 7 videos for our YouTube page, as I try and get these old tired reflexes back into fighting shape. You can watch the finals from yesterday’s Tekken 7 tournament in the player above.

May 12, 2017 In Opinion

Please Don’t Go, Mass Effect

Sigh.

As you’ve probably seen across various gaming news sites by now, it seems that the Mass Effect franchise is going to be hiatus for a bit (you can read the USGamer story here and the Kotaku story here).

In some ways, this is not terribly surprising. Andromeda’s Metacritic scores current sit at 70 (PS4), 73 (PC) and 77 (Xbox One). Surely that’s not what EA was anticipating when they forced the game to be shipped before it was ready (EA’s fiscal year ended March 31). And it’s really inarguable that the game wasn’t ready. It’s received multiple post-release patches to address a variety of issues, from facial animations to bugs to stability issues and more.

But I can’t help feeling like the decision to put the franchise on hold was driven by the absolute savaging the game has received on social media. Spending any time in the Twitterverse in the first few weeks after release, you would have thought that Mass effect Andromeda was not only the worst game of all time, but that it had destroyed the ability of the people who played it to ever enjoy a video game again.

The reaction was ridiculous, and it became more so, as the piling-on continued until there was essentially nothing Bioware could do to escape the narrative that Andromeda was an awful game that was a total failure.

It’s really sad, because the Mass Effect universe is one I have invested hundreds of hours in, through the games, comics, novels and more. I spent a good deal of time covering and discussing the original trilogy on Co-Op Critics, my own blog and for Comic Book Resources as well. And I was so excited for a whole new series of games set in the ME universe. My first dozen-plus hours with ME: Andromeda have been great overall. Sure, I see the lack of polish, but as the first game in a new series, I feel like the criticism of it has been completely overblown. I can only imagine if the Twitterverse had been at full force when the original Mass Effect came out. The issues with AI, the glitches, the Mako–I mean can you imagine? But at the time, reason prevailed, and despite its flaws, Mass Effect was given credit where credit was due. I don’t feel like that’s been the case with Andromeda at all.

Instead, the vitriol directed at the developers and the tidal wave of negativity on social media has helped put the series on ice. I’m just hoping that once the fervor dies down, EA and Bioware will regroup and come up with a plan for moving the series forward. Because there is so much potential for storytelling in the Mass Effect universe, and it would be a shame if this is the end of it.

In case you want to take a trip in the wayback machine, here’s some of my previous stuff on the Mass Effect series:

2008 Interview with Mass Effect Lead Writer Drew Karpyshyn

Interview with Mass Effect 2 Lead Writer Mac Walters and artist Omar Francia about Mass Effect: Redemption comic*

Interview with comic writer John Jackson Miller and artist Omar Francia about Mass Effect Redemption comic*

Blog: My Mass Effect Experience–Part 1

Blog: My Mass Effect Experience–Part 2

Co-Op Critics Podcast: Mass Effect 1-2

Co-Op Critics Podcast: Mass Effect 3

*Due to the way CBR now archives old posts, a lot of the images are no longer embedded, but the content of the interviews is still there.

May 1, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: May 2017

Like April before it, this month has a good mix of both new games and re-releases of beloved favorites. Sim games, builders, fighters and first-person action games make up this month’s list, ensuring a little something for everyone.

Prey (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – May 5
Eleven years after Prey landed on the PC and Xbox 360, we are finally getting the sequel-turned re-imagining of the franchise. We’re actually fine with the wait, because Prey looks like it may finally be the spiritual successor to the Dead Space franchise we’ve been waiting for. The game takes place on a space station that served as a prison for aliens that had attached the Earth.

Birthdays: The Beginning (PS4, PC) – May 9

From Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of harvest Moon, comes this sandbox game about building a world filled with life. The game allows players to switch between managing the topographical and atmospheric conditions to more of a zoomed-in style of managing the moment to moment evolution of their world.

Minecraft: Switch Edition (Switch) – May 11

Do we really need another version of Minecraft on yet another device? Um, absolutely. Because we’re talking about the Switch, and not only does the Switch edition get the Nintendo skin pack the WiiU version had, but it’s going to be 13 times bigger than the WiiU version. It will also run at 60fps, and you can transfer worlds from your WiiU to the Switch version.

Injustice 2 (PS4, Xbox One) – May 16

2013’s Injustice was an impressive entry into the fighting genre. The game pitted darker versions of DC’s most beloved characters against one another against the backdrop of a world where Superman went bad. Not only was the game successful, but it spawned multiple comic series set in that world. The second game picks up where the first left off and will not only feature a campaign and the usual game modes, but will introduce a “multiverse” mode where battle take place across alternate worlds.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (Switch) – May 26

This updated version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo will feature both classic and updated graphics, as well as a remixed soundtrack. All original seventeen fighters are on the Switch version, as well as two additional characters–Violent Ken and Evil Ryu. The Final Challengers will support all Switch control styles, and will feature both local and online multiplayer. There’s also a first-person wave-based mode called “Way of the Hado.”

Those are the games we’re excited about for May 2017. What’s on your list of games to pick up for this month?

March 21, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: April 2017

March was a huge month for games and games hardware, with the launch of the Switch and the arrival of tentpole releases like Zelda, Horizon and Mass Effect. And while April can’t possibly live up to last month, there are some great games in the queue, including some updated ports and one of the year’s biggest RPGs.

Persona 5 (PS4)–April 4
While I (Brian) did not play Persona 4, I have very fond memories of the over 100 hours I spent with Persona 3. Persona’s blend of story, combat and relationship management make it stand out from the rest of the pack. And Persona 5 looks super slick. The story for this latest installment takes place in Tokyo and involves students using their persona powers to travel to an alternate dimension here they must remove corruption from the hearts of adults.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)– April 7
When Bulletstorm came out in 2011, we had an absolute blast with its over the top action and low-brow humor. But it was the combat mechanics that made it great–a Scorpion-like energy leash that could pull enemies in for brutal kills, and a reward system that gave you points for creatively destroying enemies. It was like Gears of War on two pots of coffee. This remastered edition includes better visuals, new maps, DLC and gives players the ability to play as Duke Nukem. Bring it.

You can also hear Dan and Brian wax poetic about their love for Bulletstorm in an old episode of the Co-Op Critics podcast right here.

Stardew Valley: Collector’s Edition (PS4, Xbox One)–April 11
We’ve been playing Stardew Valley for a year now on PC, so we know what a treat console gamers are in for this month. This Harvest Moon-inspired gem has you managing a farm you inherited from your grandfather. Farming, fishing, crafting, cooking, fighting monsters and managing relationships are all part of what makes Stardew Valley so great. The soundtrack is amazing, too.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – April 28
Mario Kart 8 was already amazing on the WiiU, and now it’s coming to Nintendo’s new console with a bevy of extra stuff. All the DLC from the WiiU version, new tracks, new tracks, new vehicles and more. Zelda may have carried the launch of the Switch, but Mario Kart 8 will keep people playing through the summer.

Those are the games we’re excited about for April. What’s on your “to buy” list? Let us know in the comments!

February 15, 2017 In Opinion

I Pre-Ordered The Nintendo Switch–Did You?

Hey gang, Brian here. We are just over two weeks away from the launch of the Nintendo Switch. And the closer we get to launch the more I keep hearing people argue about whether or not it’s worth pre-ordering, or if people should wait until there are more games out for the system, or the price drops, or some bundles arrive.

I pre-ordered mine the day the went up. Why? Because there was never a doubt for me that I would be getting the new Nintendo console. I bought the WiiU, the Wii, the New 3DS Xl, the 3DS, the DS (a few times), and a slew of GameBoy models over the years. I got the NES for Christmas the year it came out, and the original GameBoy as well. In fact,the only time I wasn’t an avid Nintendo player was during the N64 and early GameCube eras (when I was mainly gaming on the Genesis, Dreamcast and Playstation).

I am a fan of Nintendo, and one of the things I love about them the most is how they don’t follow what Sony and Microsoft do. The Switch is nothing like the PS4 or Xbox One, and I love that. To me, it’s more an evolution of what they were trying to do with the Wii, and as a PS Vita owner, it seems like a better and more versatile version of the PS Vita.

So, it was a no-brainer for em to order the Switch. I’ll play Zelda at launch, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to pick up some classic games (or even more recent Wii or WiiU games I missed) through the eShop. The Switch isn’t my only console, so it doesn’t need to have everything for me.

Now don’t get me wrong–Nintendo has done plenty to screw up this launch, as they usually do. The launch lineup is weak, the accessories are way too expensive, the streaming features aren’t available at launch, and we still have little idea what the online service is actually going to look like. Nintendo has a way of shooting themselves in the foot and making things more complicated than they need to be. The launch of the Switch appears to be no different.

But that won’t stop me from enjoying the heck out of the Switch when I get it on March 3rd.

I hope the Switch is a huge success for Nintendo. A healthy Nintendo is good for the games industry. What I’d love to see more than anything is for them to phase out the 3DS and truly move forward with one platform. There are tons of 3DS games that never really used the second screen anyway and could become eShop games for the Switch. And of course, the DS and GameBoy libraries should be available for the Switch as well. The Switch could bring it all together.

It probably won’t, because this is Nintendo. But I will still love them, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the Switch.

So–did you pre-order the Switch?

February 2, 2017 In Opinion

Resident Evil 7 Is Stuffed With Easter Eggs, And Not Just for Series Fans

I played through the the first hour of Resident Evil 7 smiling from ear to ear. Not because the game wasn’t scary–it’s constant sense of impending doom is nerve-fraying at times.

What had me downright giddy was the both the amount and quality of Easter eggs for horror fans from the very opening moment of Resident Evil 7. I’m not even talking about RE Easter eggs, I’m talking horror movies and games in general. Here are just a few of the ones I noticed:

-As the game opens we see MC Ethan Winters driving to Louisiana in a scene that evokes both Evil Dead and The Shining. The car is most definitely a nod to the Delta 88 from the Evil Dead movies, and the shot of him driving immediately reminded me of The Shining.

-While walking through the woods, Ethan gets his first glimpse of Jack Baker, in a scene that brings to mind the “monster at the end” scene from Episode 3 of True Detective. In fact, the whole opening area of the game feels very much inspired by True Detective, and I suspect that influence will be felt throughout the game.

-The entire guest house you start the game in looks like the sloth set from Se7en.

-Ethan watches a VHS tape of a couple paranormal investigators checking out the house, and there is a basement scene that features a note-perfect Blair Witch reference.

-The entire basement segment of the guest house features direct nods to Evil Dead, and the floating corpse Ethan encounters is designed exactly like a deadite (I think it looks just like Scotty).

-There are several hallway shots that are homages to P.T., and once scene with a ringing phone that is an almost direct shot for shot scene from P.T.

-In addition to the True Detective vibe, there is a distinct Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe in the design as well. Mia’s design feels very influenced by the 2003 remake. And the family of RE7 is a nod to the TCM franchise as well, in my opinion.

-And that’s just in the first hour. The game itself is super creepy and builds tension right from the outset, and the Easter eggs are just making me love it even more. I can’t wait to get further into it.

January 30, 2017 In Opinion

GAMES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT: FEBRUARY 2017

2017 has started off with a bang, as January already brought us one of the biggest releases of the year in Resident Evil 7. February is up to the challenge though, as it also has one of the most anticipated games of the year, which is one of a couple big PS4 exclusives.

Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World (3DS)–February 3
As if Woolly Yoshi wasn’t adorable enough on his own, Poochy came along to add even more cute to this updated port of the WiiU game. In addition to sporting a better framerate than Yoshi’s Woolly World on WiiU, the 3DS version has an additional runner mode called Poochy Gold Rush.

Nioh (PS4)–February 9

Dark Souls meets Onimusha. If that doesn’t get you excited to play this game, we don’t know what to tell you. After playing some of the beta over the past few months, this game feels like it has just enough Souls DNA to satisfy fans of that series, and the setting of a monster-infested 1600s Japan makes it feel different enough from the Souls series to stand on its own.

For Honor (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Knights versus Vikings versus Samurai–a medieval royal rumble. For Honor has been described as a shooter with swords, and features competitive multiplayer modes where the focus is on brutal melee combat as opposed to ranged battle.

Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)–February 28
From the developers of Killzone comes the PS4’s most anticipated game of the year. Horizon: ZD is an action roleplaying game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world run by machines. Players take on the role of Aloy, a hunter who can use melee, ranged and stealth attacks to defeat the robotic enemies of the land and scavenge them for materials that can be used for craft, or even turn some of the machines into allies by hacking them.

So, February looks like a pretty good month to be a PS4 owner, although there is a little something for everyone in there. March is shaping up to be a monster month as well, as the Nintendo Switch will be launching alongside another huge game–The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. So far, 2017 is a great year for gaming.

December 23, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: January 2017

Ah, January–the dead month. As much as year-long game releases have spread the love out over most of the year now, January is still a pretty quiet month for releases. But there’s usually one big release stuck somewhere in the month, and this year it’s a brand new Resident Evil game. But it’s not the only one we’re excited about this month. Here’s our short but sweet list:

Road Redemption (PS4, Xbox One)–January 15

Remember Road Rash, the motorcycle racing/brawler hybrid from the SEGA Genesis? Well, developers Pixel Dash Studios and EQ Games do, and they’ve created a spiritual successor that builds on the gameplay of the original. While Road Rash featured melee combat, Road Redemption is adding in firearms as well. I feel like it’s time for another vehicle combat game, and I have super fond memories of the original Road Rash.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard–January 24 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Is this the one? The game that finally returns the Resident Evil franchise to its former horror-filled glory? Over the past several years, the only RE game I’ve played that came close to capturing the old magic was the first Revelations game for the DS. But everything we’ve seen so far from RE7 looks absolutely terrifying. I don’t think I’m ready for the VR version yet, but I cannot wait to play it on the big screen, with my headphones on and the lights turned off. Bring it.

Hitman: The Complete First Season (PS4, Xbox One, PC)–January 31
I’ll admit it—I’ve never been a real big fan of the Hitman series. But the latest iteration and the episodic way in which it rolled out has received such critical acclaim, that I need to see what the fuss is all about. This collections features all the locations and episodes from the first season, and Ubisoft is boasting that it contains over 100 hours of gameplay.

There may not be much coming out this month, there’s enough. And we still have a ton of games to catch up on from last year and before (not to mention everything we grabbed during the Steam Winter Sale). What are you excited about in January? let us know in the comments below!

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November 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: December 2016

December is usually a month that is either barren, or a month in which games are sent out to die. This year, it’s neither of those things. in fact, December is shaping up to be a pretty great month for game releases, including some platform exclusives and one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Here are the games we’re excited about for December:

Super Mario Maker 3DS (3DS) – December 2
A handheld version of the WiiU masterpiece that won several game of the year awards last year? Yes, please. Super Mario Maker lets you create your own Mario levels using assets from several of the franchise’s most popular games. The only drawback of the 3DS version of Super Mario Maker is that you won’t be able to upload created levels and share them online. You will however be able to share them through StreetPass, which certainly fits within the 3DS approach to playing locally together.

Dead Rising 4 (PC, XBox One) – December 6
Frank West returns as the main character for the latest entry into the zombie-killing franchise. Dead Rising 4 is ditching the time restrictions of previous games in order to allow players to explore the world more. More time for picture taking, we guess? Selfies are a big part of the game, and we all know how long it can take to get one just right.

The Last Guardian (PS4) – December 6
Yes, it’s really happening. One week after getting a new final Fantasy, we are getting the game that has been in development for almost ten years. But troubled development aside, we can’t wait to dive into a fantastical world and experience the latest story by the geniuses who brought us Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

Super Mario Run (iOS) – December 15
Mario. On a phone.
Announced during an Apple press conference, this runner will have Mario blazing through at least six worlds and three game modes, including one in which you compete against friends.
Brian is a little bummed this isn’t coming to Android devices just yet, but he’ll get over it when he’s playing on his iPad.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (All Platforms)–December 20
The third season of Telltale’s series will once again start Clementine, but it’s a few years later and she’s a teenager now, although it will be told through the eyes of Javier, a new character. The season will consist of five episodes, but release dates for the reamining four have yet to be revealed.

So, there’s a little something for everyone this month, and some great stocking stuffers to go with new consoles this holiday. We’re still about five months behind on our backlog, so we’ll be playing 2016 releases well into the New Year.