Games & Gear of 2014 – Destiny (9/9/2014)

 

Where do you go after Halo? Well Bungie hopes to answer that with their upcoming creation Destiny. The game takes place on Earth where, shock of all shocks, it’s not doing so hot.  After the failed attempt to colonized space the last bastion of humanity is it one city guarded by a huge ship called ‘the Traveler’.  Despite this, humanity is still threatened by unknown alien forces and with no army for themselves to speak of their only defense is through ‘Guardians’ – humans empowered by the Traveler to defend the race. This game is definitely a FPS but I’m not sure if it’s always online or if you can even choose to play alone.  However those questions and many more will be answered the closer we get to the release, but the thing that was never in question is: will Destiny be successful because we all know the answer to that.

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Watch Dogs ( PS4 + Xbox One – 5/27/2014, Wii U – 12/31/2014)

 

Like South Park: The Stick of Truth this game has been delayed into oblivion, but also like South Park: The Stick of Truth, Watch Dogs has the potential to be the game of the year. A huge lifelike modern setting, mysterious but interesting characters, the premise of technology being our greatest weapon and ultimate weakness, an sandbox environment free to explore and discover, dynamic combat, and limited multiplayer action  – this game does seem to have it all. Except one thing however, a sooner a release date;  oh well we’ve waited this long people, what’s five more months (hopefully)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Bayonetta 2 (12/31/2014)

 

I’ll be honest people, I’ve never played the original Bayonetta, the main character herself was as confusing as how her clothes were made of her own hair (and she’s a witch and her spells are hair powered and the more powerful the spell the more nude she becomes – It sounds a mess, even now). However countless players said that both the character and the game are very good, fun, and exciting. A lot of  game reviewers also confirm this, so either the world has gone crazy or Bayonetta is, as they say, a good game. Well I could play the original Bayonetta to see what the hub-bub is, however I believe the honor of converting me into a fan is Bayonetta 2 job. Seeing how it’s a Wii U exclusive (to which I’ve haven’t played a bad Wii U only game yet) and was developed by the same people who made the first title(who also developed ‘the Wonderful 101’ & ‘Mad World’ – which are both very good as well) odds are in my (and by extension Bayonetta fans’) favor. Let’s just keep that hair suit PG guys.

 

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Dying Light (2014 – Maybe)

 

Who’s sick of zombies being used as cheap plot devices for melodrama! I am I am! Who sick of zombies being used as endless fodder for games? Not me, but Dying Light decided to be little different in the zombie survival genre.  You play as a one of four people surviving in zombie town USA; scavenging, creating weapons and traps, saving other survivors, and knocking undead skulls – which is all pretty easy thanks to the character’s agility. The can leap, bounce, grab, and hurdle like Spiderman all over the town, all they’re missing is the web shooters. Now you would think that would make the game way too EZ, and you’re right, but when day turns to night your advantages will melt away and surviving becomes very difficult. Zombies become more powerful, can climb ledges, and are relentless in finding you. While very similar to Fortnite and a combination of Techland’s other property, Dead Island: Riptide and Mirror Edge (not their property), Dying Light never the less will be the next great survival horror game of 2014 – and sweet looking to boot.

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – The Witch and the Hundred Knights (3/25/2014)

 

JRPG, or Japanese Role Playing Games, are of a special breed. Before games like Kotor, Fallout, Mass Effect, Elder Scrolls, and even World of Warcraft came into prominence they were the standard. Epic stories, quirky characters, colorful-imaginative environments, load of awesome attacks, they had it all. It’s because of this legacy I’m giving The Witch and the Hundred Knights a spot on the list this year. The premise is that two land witches are at war with one another with, though they’re always at a stalemate because of their equal power.  However that changes when one of the witches summons one of the Hundred Knights, who the player controls. Small, but carries a big sword, the knight agrees to help the witch summon the rest of the knights and defeat her rival. That’s starts the story of the title and even if it may not seem like much now I’m sure there will be more to the tale as you play.  The other thing about this game is that it’s only available (for now) on the PS3 so if you still have that console that’s one advantage in your favor. I’m sure for the non-PS3 players out there, if the game does well anyway, there will be a direct to download option in the future- we’ll see at March.

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Infamous: Second Son (3/21/2014)

 

Infamous, both one & two, were shinning jewel of the PS3 line-up; the story – a simple bike courier Cole MacGrath was forced to become a Conduit, a person with extraordinary abilities and powers. Depending on how players decided his fate; Cole could become the self-sacrificing hero of the world or the progenitor of humanity next stage of evolution.  It was a hoot! Sand box cities full of challenges, exploration, enemies to lay the smack on, and of course choices players make to affect the world around them. So when the PS4 was announced and Infamous: Second Son, the third game in the Infamous series, was one of the launch titles (sort of) the excitement was electric for all the fans. Now with a new cast, new city, new enemies, and new powers, Second Son will be the first title to show the world the full potential of Sony’s new system – if you’re going to buy one PS4 game this year, make it this one people.

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Titanfall (3/11/2014)

 

Now people, you ask any gamer on the street what two games will be the landmark titles that will define the new year and most likely your get Destiny and Titanfall as the answer. Sure they’re FPSes but their take on the genre makes a lot of players (like myself) excited. Titanfall, for example, is an online only game; however it features a single player story. How does that work? By adding elements like NPCs and plot based objectives into its matches. Another plus is that this game is a fantastic hybrid of mech and sci-fi shooter; meaning that normal shooting parts and mech piloting stuff, is all well-balanced and not lacking. Mech Assault 2 and Starhawk tried this, but once someone got in a mech it was over for the non-mech players; in Titanfall having a mech is an advantage but is not a killer app (or I hope not). Finally this title is headed up by Respawn Entertainment, the same talented crew who created the good Call of Duty games, and if we all know one thing the good CoD games excel at is frantic, awesome, balls to the wall combat glory. Pedigree + potential = win; pick this game up on March 11^th.

 

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (3/4/2014)

 

It’s odd people; as much as I hate zombies on TV and movies (mainly due to over saturation)I play more than my fair share of zombies  game and this will be one of them. It takes place in the Ninja Gaiden universe where restless ninja Yaiba wanted to prove that he’s was stronger than series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa – he wasn’t. Fortunately for him being killed only cost an eye & arm (both now replaced with elite tech); now with zombies, of all things, on the rise, Yaiba’s (who might be one of them) goals have been complicated but have not changed – to defeat Ryu.  And it doesn’t who he has to go through, living or dead, to meet his goal. See if the Walking Dead had more cybernetic, vengeful, zombie ninjas in it I would actually care about it – but that’s just me.

 

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 – South Park: The Stick of Truth (3/4/2014)

 

I swear people it’s almost here, and it will be righteous. Just two months to go…

 

 

 

Games & Gear of 2014 –Thief (2/25/2014)

 

Ok people confession time: I’ve never played the Thief series. Yes, yes, I know; how can I call myself ‘the one, true, Omnigamer’ if I never played Thief before? Well to be fair I was a console gamer for years & years because I couldn’t afford a gaming PC to play good PC games on. However thanks to the good people at Square Enix and Eidos Montreal, this reboot will be on home consoles as well as PCs so now players like me can see what the hub-bub is all about. From what I understand though Thief stars  Garrett, a master thief, who steals from the super-rich in a steampunk/fantasy type city (called the ‘the city’ no less). Garrett is a lover (of money) not a fighter, so doing things without being seen and with little violence will only help you in general. Other than that the game is a bit of a mystery ( oh sure there’s  mystical crap going on but nothing sold), but I always liked the idea of outsmarting opponents instead of immediately going for their jugular (although that’s fine too). Add to the fact that its name alone gives PC gamers shivers of excitement and I have a feeling we got a winner here.