nerdsinministry-blog

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Be aware: Several Sony PlayStation users have been hacked, and fraudulent charges have been made to their accounts, ranging from $450-$2,000. What's Sony's response?

"We can only refund up to $150. If you choose to file a fraud claim with your bank, we will ban your account for life."

You can read the full story on Reddit: bit.ly/1EBEbwN

This is unacceptable. We trust you to keep our information secure. Your security breach - your problem! Make it right, Sony. Tweet @AskPlaystation, @Sony, and @Playstation - ‪#‎PlayersBeforePolicy‬

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Crushing the Backlog

It's official, boys and girls - my backlog is completely out of control. It's not slipping or spiraling. It's already there. So, I have frozen my GameFly account, and committed myself to not purchase another game until I finish some of my unfinished business. There are 5 games I'm currently playing, so I decided that my game-buying fast will continue until I have beaten:

SLEEPING DOGS (360) - DONE! It was far from perfect, but nevertheless a very enjoyable open world game. I'm glad I finally got around to beating it.

ASSASSIN'S CREED 4 (360) - This game is SO GOOD, but I got too distracted with all the side missions to actually beat the story.

FREEDOM WARS (Vita) - I played this entirely offline all the way to the final boss (not including the epilogue missions) but he's REALLY hard. I just need to jump online and get some help from friends.

RATCHET & CLANK (Vita) - This is my first time playing a R&C game, and I'm loving it! I want to keep barreling through while I'm still in the mood.

CHILD OF LIGHT (Vita) - This is the only game of the 5 that I haven't started yet. However, I know it's short, and I've been really looking forward to playing it! This will be the last game that I play from this list, but I want to knock it out before I buy anything else.

If you'd like help crushing your personal backlog, head over to Backloggery.com! It's an excellent resource for cataloging your library and tracking your completion percentage. You can even read and post reviews for other Backloggers.

UPDATE: As of 3/2/15 I've beaten Sleeping Dogs, I have only 2 more levels in Ratchet & Clank, and I'm on the last sequence of AC4 before the Epilogue.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Freedom Wars (Vita) - Review

THE GIST:

Freedom Wars will dominate your Vita with its addictive gameplay, wildly fun co-operative play, and deep character customization. It's really good!

(Bringing down these bad boys makes you feel like Legolas killing a mumakil.)

WHAT IS IT?

Freedom Wars is an action-RPG, or hunting-RPG, in which players fill the shoes of "an unproductive drain on society." In the dystopian future of Freedom Wars, the world is divided into cities called Panopticons, and resources are scarce. Your character, with the help of up to 3 friends and 4 NPCs, will fight to protect your Pantopticon's resources, destroy giant robots, and work off your 1,000,000 year prison sentence one mission at a time. You have no rights as a prisoner, and must unlock every privilege through hard work.

WHAT I LIKED:

For the most part, playing Freedom Wars feels great. Running, dodging, hacking, slashing, and shooting all feel really good. The controls are a tad complex because of your many combat options, but they are intuitively mapped. Luckily, if you disagree, there are various alternate control schemes you can employ, and at least one of them is destined fit your playstyle. It also feels incredible to destroy the giant robots, called Abductors, piece by piece. The most rewarding part of Abductor fights is using your thorn, Freedom Wars' version of a grappling hook, to leap onto the limbs of Abductors and cut them off with your dagger. It's extremely empowering! Balancing lock-on and free-aim camera controls can be tricky, but you will learn to cope with this the longer you play.

There is a surprisingly large arsenal at your disposal. In addition to the three types of thorns you can use, there are 6 different types of weapons - light artillery, heavy artillery, autocannons, light melee, heavy melee, and polearms - and all of them have different strengths and weaknesses. Heavy melee weapons deal more damage than light melee, but they are slower and cannot sever Abductor limbs. Assault weapons have decently large ammo clips and don't restrict your movement, while some rocket launchers allow you to lock onto moving targets. There is also a ton of diversity within these weapon archetypes, and they can each be upgraded and customized with modifiers. So even when the missions start getting repetitive, you can instantly freshen it up by changing your loadout.

Character customization is surprisingly deep, and crafting is addictive. For the first few hours, I felt like Freedom Wars was nothing more than an action game with some light RPG elements. However, as I played longer I was given more and more control over my character's development. Each of the three equippable thorns act as "classes" allowing you to heal yourself and others, create a bullet-absorbing shield for your team, or deploy traps to slow abductors. Weapons can be taken down multiple upgrade paths which each serve a different purpose. Players can craft interchangeable character augmentations that suit specific playstyles. Best of all, since all character advancement is done through equipment, you can easily change classes just by changing your gear. This means you can cherry-pick your loadout based on the type of mission you're doing, or easily fill a vacant role in your online team. Finally, as a prisoner, you will purchase "rights" to do almost everything - running, resting, talking to members of the opposite sex, using stronger weapons, building better crafting facilities, and more. This seems restricting at first, but it's actually a fun added layer of depth in the character customization process.

(There are TONS of rights you can unlock. Yes, you read that correctly - you must purchase the right to lie down.)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

Your teammates can be completely idiotic. Most of the time, your accessory sticks right by when you give them the "Follow" command. They are usually quick to heal you when you ask for help. However, NPCs inexplicably don't seem to realize that you can revive allies by shooting them with your thorn. It's faster than running up to them and picking them up, and more importantly, you can do it from range. Instead of doing this, however, allies run right up to your unconscious body when you need to be rescued. Approximately 70% of the time your ally will succeed in resurrecting you. Roughly 15% of the time, your allies will be killed by the same enemy who killed you, and you will be forced to respawn. Alternately, about 15% of the time you will bleed out as your allies run toward you from the other side of the map, never bothering to shoot their thorn when they are in range. I cannot explain how rage-inducing it can be to fail a mission after 30 minutes or so of hard fighting, simply because your NPC friends are too stupid to use their thorns. Playing online with an intelligent human companion can fix this, but if you're playing solo, expect to rage quit more than once.

Crafting and looting mechanics need more explanation. Freedom Wars demands that you learn to craft weapons and items, and judiciously manage your loot. However, it spends very little time explaining how these mechanics actually work. None of these systems are complicated once you learn them, but they aren't intuitive either. Furthermore, crafting will require you to "grind" specific missions to find the necessary crafting components. Although the missions show you what loot they offer, there isn't a search function, meaning you'll have to read through every mission description before you find the one you need. Expect to spend a fair amount of time browsing FAQs and message boards before you truly understand what you're doing.

This isn't a pick-up-and-play handheld game. For me, this really isn't a negative, but I point it out knowing that some Vita gamers use their system on the go. I use my Vita mostly at home; when I'm out in public I'm usually playing games on my iPhone. As such, it doesn't bother me that Freedom Wars' matches are long. But if you use your Vita to play in small bursts while you're on the bus or waiting in line at the pharmacy, Freedom Wars may demand a bit too much of your time. There are a few missions that can be completed in 5 minutes or under, but others will take 30-45 minutes to finish. Although offline missions can be paused and resumed at any point, it can really kill your "flow." Again, this isn't a negative for me, but you might feel differently.

(The mission launch screen. Select your teammates, customize your loadout to fit the mission, and read the pre-op intel.)

SHOULD I BUY IT?

Yes! Buy Freedom Wars if: You enjoy deep character customization and class-based multiplayer; you love hack-and-slash action or third-person shooters; You want a game that can be played for hundreds of hours

Avoid Freedom Wars if: You only game in short bursts; You prefer games that are streamlined and intuitive

(Visual customization is surprisingly flexible. What do you think of my Joker and Harley Quinn?)

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

Maybe...

Although Freedom Wars' gameplay is full of guns and swords, none of the violence is graphic. Most of the enemies you fight are robots. You can cut off their limbs, but it feels more like dismantling a mechanical toy than decapitating a living thing. When you do fight humans, there is no blood to be seen, and their bodies simply slump when they die - no gore or dismemberment. There is some harsh language, but nothing too offensive. Perhaps the most uncomfortable part of the game is that the giant robots, known as "Abductors," do exactly what their name suggests. They exist to kidnap citizens from one panopticon and take them to another. Although it's not show in a very frightening way, it may alarm young children.

In the end, each parent must judge for themselves. However, I would comfortably recommend Freedom Wars to kids and adults age 13+.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

OlliOlli 2 Looks SICK!

If you read my very recent review of OlliOlli you know that it's one of my new favorite games. Well, mere days after my obsession began, here I am watching this OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood trailer, and I'm in love! Check out the trailer via GameInformer:

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/olliolli2_welcome_to_olliwood/b/playstation4/archive/2015/01/29/olliolli-2-grinds-out-its-first-trailer.aspx

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Now You Can Look Up GameStop Trade-In Values Online

Look what I found!

For the longest time I have been calling GameStop to find out how much my game trade-ins are worth. (Most of the time I simply sell my games on eBay because I don't like being ripped off, but it's still nice to compare prices.)

Well they finally added a trade-in value page to their website! Simply search for your game, console, electronic device, or accessory, and you can instantly know how much your trade-in is worth! Here's the link:

http://www.gamestop.com/trade

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Good news today, Playstation fans! We're getting an awesome lineup in February:

TRANSISTOR (PS4) - The next game from the acclaimed developers of Bastion. I haven't played Transistor yet, but I've heard very good things! And, Bastion was one of my favorite games of 2011.

APOTHEON (PS4) - This 2D side scrolling action game looks like an ancient Greek ceramic painting come to life.

YAKUZA 4 (PS3) - I've never played a Yakuza game, but I've always wanted to. If you don't know, Yakuza 4 is an open world brawler that received generally favorable reviews.

THIEF (PS3) - Thief received a fair amount of criticism for some of its half-baked mechanics, but stealth fans can't balk too much about a free game!

ROGUE LEGACY (PS4/PS3/Vita) - Here's the big dance! I have played Rogue Legacy before with friends, but I don't yet own it. Now I can play it without throwing down any extra cash! This game is an absolute blast, and I'm sure I'll lose dozens of hours devouring its dungeons.

KICK & FENNICK (Vita) - Yet again we're getting a game for free on the day it releases! This is the first time I've heard of this game, which is surprising - it actually looks really fun! It's a quirky side scrolling platformer about a boy and his robot.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

OlliOlli (Vita) - Review

THE GIST:

Have you ever read a "What If?" comic book? These are special issues where the authors say things like, "What would happen if The Punisher time travelled back to 1939 and killed Hitler and Mussolini?"

OlliOlli answers the question, "What if Tony Hawk's Pro Skater left behind its HD-era baggage and had a love child with Hotline Miami?"

(The 2D pixel art is beautiful and makes it simple to spot hazards and grind rails at high speed)

WHAT IS IT?

At its simplest, OlliOlli is a 2-D downhill skateboarding game. Players control a pixel-art skateboarder as he flips, grinds, and faceplants his way through numerous side-scrolling skate parks. Each of the bite-sized levels comes with 5 unique challenges, similar to those from the aforementioned TH:PS series (Score 120K; Gap the picnic tables; Collect all paint cans; etc.) Similar to Hotline Miami, each level can be completed in 30-90 seconds, and the instant restart button begs you to play "Just one more time!" over and over again in search of a high score.

(Tricks for days!)

WHAT I LIKED:

The controls are easy to pick up but difficult to master. I know it's a tired cliché by now, but few games embody that phrase as well as OlliOlli. Outside of the touch screen menus, the entire game uses only the left thumbstick, the two shoulder buttons, and the (X) button. That's it! But within those simple confines, developer Roll7 has crammed nearly every recognizable skateboarding trick I can think of. Within seconds, anyone can perform a Kickflip or a Nosegrind. However, it's going to take a LOT of practice to nail a Nollie-Kickflip-into-a-Salad-Grind-into-a-360-Impossible with a perfect landing, or to complete an entire level in a single combo move. But, man oh man... you will feel AWESOME when you finally nail it!

There are lots of things to do! The first goal of each level is simply to reach the end. Every area is littered with stairs, traffic cones, trash, and other obstacles just begging you to wipeout. Once you have seen what the course has to offer, you will then begin tackling its five unique goals. These challenges include earning a high score for the level, collecting hidden loot items, reaching a "hidden area" or crossing the finish line without pushing your skateboard. (Again, think Tony Hawk.) OlliOlli provides you a library of nearly 40 skate tricks to accomplish these goals, and though they are easy enough to pull off, perfecting them all takes a fair amount of time. After you have accomplished all 5 goals on a level, you could keep replaying for a high score, or simply move on to the next area. Or you could visit the newly unlocked "Pro" version of the course, which is harder and features five all new, more difficult goals. Or you can play the level as a "Spot," which tasks you with earning a high score in only one combo. Or you could play the "Daily Grind" - a special level which is created anew daily. You may practice the Daily Grind level as many times as you like, but you only get one "for real" chance to post a high score on the scoreboard! So, even though OlliOlli is technically a small game, there are plenty of things to keep you coming back for more.

It's wonderfully hard, and completely fair. Perhaps OlliOlli's biggest strength is its simplest feature - the little yellow restart button. You will wreck yourself over and over again in OlliOlli, but it's never overly frustrating. Yes, you will scream when you botch the landing on a 100K+ combo, but you'll get right back up and skate it again. The levels are all super short, meaning that a devastating failure can be corrected in mere seconds. There are no load times once the game launches, so restarting a level is instantaneous. Best of all, you don't actually have to complete a course for the game to save your score or your accomplishments! Did you run into a traffic cone after "Grinding the tour bus?" No worries! It still counts! Did you land a 120K point combo and then immediately wipeout on a set of stairs? It's all good! As long as your wheels touched pavement, you will retain that high score. OlliOlli is unflinchingly difficult, but it does everything it can to minimize your frustration.

(Yeah... there are plenty of things to do.)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

Occasionally OlliOlli crashes, throwing you out to the Vita home screen. That's really the only complaint I can level at this miniature masterpiece. Yes, crashes are annoying, but that's hardly a deal breaker for such a pitch-perfect action game.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

Yes! Buy OlliOlli if: You like a challenge; You enjoy games that can be played in short bursts; You are a high-score chaser; You own a Vita

Avoid OlliOlli if: If.... if you.... You shouldn't buy OlliOlli if...... Alright, I've got nothing. Just buy it.

(Nailed it.)

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

It sure is!

Obviously parents should explain to their children that skateboarding can be dangerous, especially if you don't wear the proper safety gear. However, OlliOlli shows no blood or gore. There is no foul language, and no sexuality. There are no drugs or alcohol, no gambling, no crude humor... It's squeaky clean.

Bear in mind, though, that OlliOlli can be quite difficult. It demands precise timing and quick reflexes. In other words, it may be too difficult or frustrating for young gamers.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

My First Month With iPhone 6 Plus

I've had my shiny new iPhone 6 Plus for almost a month now. Here are my impressions:

The first thing you'll notice about the iPhone 6 Plus when you pick it up is that it's huge. Gargantuan. Goliath. Monsterous. A lot of other words that mean "big." Here is is compared to the iPhone 5s and the standard iPhone 6:

Although it's only 7.1 mm thick (down 0.5 mm from the iPhone 5s), the display has been expanded to 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080. If those numbers don't mean anything to you, here's a comparison:

My HP laptop also has a resolution of 1920x1080. My laptop screen is 104 square inches, whereas the iPhone 6 Plus display is around 13 square inches. So there are roughly eight times more pixels per inch on the iPhone 6 Plus than there are on my computer. Crazy, huh? I was amazed to find that the screen is actually bigger than the Playstation Vita's, and has roughly twice as many pixels per inch.

Colors look great, image resolution is top notch, and the backlight can be cranked to an absurd level of brightness if that's your thing. The new A8 processor is also very impressive, although it's not a massive step up from the A7 processor used in last year's iPhone 5s. Demanding apps open in mere seconds, and highly-detailed games like VainGlory and Real Racing 3 run as smooth as butter. The iPhone 6 Plus' speed and performance will no doubt satisfy even the most demanding tech geek, no matter which devices they've been using in the past.

The MOBA game VainGlory showcases some awesome dynamic lighting and particle effects. Here's the link to the screenshot in full resolution: http://imgur.com/3RJExOz

The feature that really sold me on the 6 Plus, though, is battery life. Last Saturday I unplugged my phone from the charger at 7:30 am. I gamed extensively, downloaded roughly 5 Gb worth of apps, listened to podcasts on my commute, listened to music at the gym, and watched some YouTube videos over 4G. When I went to bed at 11:oo pm, I still had roughly 30% battery remaining. Yesterday (a Sunday) I was extremely busy, so I didn't get to "fiddle" with my phone as much as I have been recently. When I got home from small group at 9:00 pm I still had over 80% battery remaining. That's REALLY impressive. Once the "newness" of my phone wears off and I stop playing with it all the time, I expect I could endure as much as 3 days of light usage on a single charge.

My only minor complaint with the new iPhone is that its size can sometimes be a drawback rather than a benefit. The iPhone 6 Plus actually won't fit all the way into my front jeans pocket. It sticks out about a quarter inch in every pair of jeans I own. I find it difficult to remove my phone from my pocket while I'm sitting down, and I must remove my phone beforehand when I tie my shoe or I won't be able to raise my leg high enough to reach the laces. I imagine that girls would have even more trouble with this, as women's pants pockets tend to be more shallow than men's. So ladies (and men who wear skinny jeans) - if you aren't in the habit of carrying a purse, the standard model iPhone 6 may be a more practical choice for you. It's also worth noting that it's difficult to use the 6 Plus with one hand, and typing in landscape mode may be tricky for people with particularly small hands.

Yup, it's like that. - http://mashable.com/2014/09/30/iphone-6-plus-pockets/

All-in-all, I'm extremely impressed with Apple's first "phablet." It's a fast, beautiful phone with incredible battery life, backed up by Apple's ever-growing library of apps and games. And for the record, my phone shows no signs of bending.

I think this is going to be the best smartphone I've ever owned.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Mass Effect Infiltrator (iOS) - Mini Review

Mass Effect Infiltrator is the mobile tie-in game to 2012's Mass Effect 3. As you would expect, it's a bite-sized distillation of some of the main game's mechanics. You will take cover, shoot aliens, and spend points to upgrade your character's weapons, armor, and abilities. You will not, however, do any real role playing.

Like other iOS shooters, you walk by swiping the left side of the screen and rotate the camera with the right side. However, unlike other iOS shooters, you will target enemies by tapping on them, rather than using a virtual thumbstick. Once you tap a target, you can swipe your thumb to fine tune your aim, or tap another target to create a chain kill combo. This control scheme takes a while to get used to, but it's actually extremely intuitive and more accurate than virtual controls. By the time I beat the game, this had become my favorite shooter control scheme on iPhone. There are 3 key problems that brought down my experience, though.

First of all, the controls work great for aiming, but they have some critical flaws. You cannot move while aiming, and I frequently got "stuck" in aiming mode, making it difficult to retreat during intense fights. Acquiring a target in melee range can be difficult as well. Occasionally the game didn't recognize my taps, or it would inexplicably bring up my gun instead of just punching the enemy.

Secondly, many of the "customization" features feel unnecessary. There are several different biotic abilities to invest money in, but they all essentially do the same thing. The sniper rifle does very little damage, and the poor close-range controls make the shotgun impractical in most circumstances. There is only one type of armor and helmet per play style (for example, only one armor set boosts health) so once you purchase the one you want, you don't ever need to revisit those tabs of the store. It's understandable that many features needed to be cut in order to put this franchise on mobile devices, but it feels a bit too streamlined.

Finally, this game is way too short for its price tag. I beat the whole game in a little over 2 hours, and even though I enjoyed the campaign, I have no desire to replay it. There simply isn't enough content to justify the $5 price tag. (or $7 on Google Play)

Despite these complaints, I really enjoyed this game. The gunplay feels great (from long range) and the enemies and locations were varied enough to keep me engaged. Also, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Don't buy Mass Effect: Infiltrator at full price - but don't hesitate to grab it if it goes on sale for $1-2.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc - Review

THE GIST:

               DanganRonpa is an excellent Vita exclusive, but it will only appeal to a specific audience.

WHAT IS IT?

               DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is essentially an interactive graphic novel, though it involves far more reading than actual... well... "playing." Players assume the role of a new student in an elite boarding school called Hope's Peak Academy. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when a maniacal animatronic bear named Monokuma forces the students to murder each other. Over the course of the  20 hour campaign, players seek to uncover the secrets of Hope's Peak, and bring their murderous peers to justice. After each murder you will investigate and collect clues, and then hold a class murder trial to decide who is guilty.

WHAT I LIKED:

DanganRonpa is the most unique game I've ever played. In a world overpopulated with Call of Duty clones, it's refreshing to take a breather with the slower-paced gameplay of DanganRonpa.

The plot takes a while to heat up, but once it gets going you won't be able to put it down! The world is bright and colorful, full of cute cartoon characters, and ruled by a funny little teddy bear. So when I discovered the first dead body sprawled awkwardly in a ransacked room, doused in their own blood, I was dumbstruck. The murder investigations are riveting, the school's mysteries are intriguing, and you never know what's going to happen next. Once I started playing, it was all I could think about. And rest assured, the story remains engaging throughout and the payout is well worth your time.

The characters are well written, and their motivations are sound. A game like this would easily have fallen apart if the characters didn't have believable motivations to commit murder. However, while the writing has its moments of stereotypical Japanese ridiculousness, all the characters' actions are believable. That's what makes it so fun to get to know them. It's also what makes the murders so enthralling - at any point, any one of your friends could be killed.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

Some of the action-y gameplay elements feel forced. It's obvious that DanganRonpa's primary goal is to tell a good suspense story, rather than to entertain with its gameplay. The moments that are more "video-game-y," so to speak, all feel a bit stiff, and they are occasionally a little confusing. You might be frustrated by the sluggish aiming, or ask yourself "How does a rhythm mini-game help me prove someone guilty?" But that's not the reason you play DanganRonpa. Suffice it to say: you'll remember it for its plot and characters, not for its riveting action moments.

DanganRonpa really likes to hold your hand. The murders are graphic (despite the blood being inexplicably pink), the language is harsh, and the plot is clearly designed for adults - so it makes me wonder why they made the cases so easy to crack. Class trials don't begin until you've found every clue, meaning that intelligence is less important than persistence. Many of the clues are too obvious, which makes it annoying when your character says things like "I still have no idea what's going on." Once you enter a room you cannot leave until you have found every clue in that area. Characters repeat important clues incessantly. While these features prevent players from becoming totally stuck or confused, they also make the trials feel like they are dragging on. There is an unexpected twist to nearly every case that keeps it interesting, but you don't really have to do much deduction, because your classmates basically spell it out for you during the trial. So although the murders and overall story were engaging, DanganRonpa didn't really make me feel like Sherlock Holmes. It made me feel more like Watson's kid brother observing from the sidelines.

The trials can be confusing due to non-descript images and vague dialogue. During trials, the evidence you've collected is given to you as "truth bullets." You use these bullets to "shoot down" contradictions in the defense's alibis. The problem is that you must shoot a very specific part of each phrase, in a specific order no less, for it to register. Even after you've spotted a contradiction, it's often unclear if you should "shoot phrase A with B, or shoot B with A." Furthermore, there are "closing statements" at the end of each trial. At this point you must create a story board of the crime using a series of images you are given. The problem is that a lot of these images look VERY similar. One case involved 3-4 very similar images of a sword, and I had no idea what order I needed to use them in. These aren't game-breaking problems, but I did refer to a guide more than once, even though I had already solved the case in my head. It didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the game, but I did find it frustrating.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

               Yes! Buy DanganRonpa if: You want something different; you value plot and character over action-packed gameplay; you don't mind pandering dialogue

               Avoid DanganRonpa if: You want an engaging action game; you don't enjoy reading for pleasure; you want a game that adapts to your choices and doesn't hold your hand

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

               Nope!

Although the blood is pink and the characters are cartoony, DanganRonpa doesn't shy away from graphic violence. There is a fair amount of harsh language as well. There are multiple crude jokes sprinkled through each chapter which feel very forced. It's like the writers went out of their way to throw in some sexual humor.

So although this game will be fun for young adults, children should look elsewhere.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

The Nerds are Multiplying!

My wife and I received some awesome news in December, via this awesome picture:

That's right! We're bringing another nerd into the world! We're only about 10 weeks along at this point, but the doctor told us we're healthy and safe to tell our friends, family, and blog readers! Naturally I've already started looking for Star Wars onesies and Zelda nursery decor.

My padawan is due August 10, but in a few short weeks we will get to know our baby's gender, and hopefully its midi-chlorian count. I will update you when we get more info!

This is going to be the most epic quest I've ever undertaken. I better catch up on my sleep...

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Forza Horizon (Xbox 360) - Review

It's good to note that I haven't had opportunity to play this game online, which is a big portion of the experience. So I will only be reviewing the single play portion of the game.

Also of note - I'm playing and reviewing Forza Horizon 1, not 2, because Horizon 2 for Xbox 360 is apparently not that great. It's not the same as the Xbox One version, which critics universally agree is a superior game. So if you own both systems and want to play the sequel, please buy it on Xbox One. I don't own an Xbox One and will not be reviewing it, but I trust IGN and the other reviewers who love it. But that's beside the point - back to the game at hand!

THE GIST:

               I'm a casual racing fan, but Forza Horizon's arcade racer set-up made me fall in love with its technical racing mechanics. I've found my new favorite racing game!

WHAT IS IT?

               On the surface, Forza Horizon looks like a major departure from Forza Motorsport's tradition of technical racing games, and in some ways it is. Players take part in the Horizon racing festival, exploring an "open world" with traffic and speed traps, and taking on "rivals" in pink slip races. However, Forza's tradition of excellent, technical racing made the transition in tact! This is a racing game that's fun enough for casual racing fans to enjoy, but still tight enough to please the sim racing fans, too. Success in Forza Horizon requires skill, not just raw speed.

WHAT I LIKED:

It's really, really beautiful. Look up videos of this game in action, or check out some screenshots from the in-game photo mode.  Cars are very impressively detailed, as is the environment. This is easily one of the most beautiful games I own.

The racing balances a sense of speed, power, weight and grip perfectly, making you feel like you're driving a real car. I grew up on Need for Speed and other over-the-top arcade racing franchises. These games were fun but not challenging, with the exception of some annoying rubber-banding issues. That's because all you had to do was jam the gas and point in the right direction. No brakes, strategy, or skill needed for the most part. For me, Forza Horizon is the Dark Souls of racing games - not because it's hard (it really isn't) but because winning a race is much more rewarding than winning in Need for Speed. That's because winning in Forza Horizon requires you to think a few turns ahead and adjust your speed accordingly. Strategies like drafting and "slingshot"-ing are important, and deciding between brake-and-accelerate turns and reckless drifting can mean the difference between a win an a loss. In arcade games, speed is the only important factor. In Forza Horizon, I feel like I have earned my wins by out-smarting, and most importantly, out-driving my opponents. Winning a race against an opponent with a much faster car means that I simply drove better than my rival, and that's a very rewarding feeling.

It drives like a sim racer, but looks and feels like an arcade game. This is the important part for me. I don't like technical racers where I spend my time driving laps around enclosed tracks. I like games where I can drive and explore freely, dodge traffic, and take down those ridiculous, cliche racing rival characters. That's where Forza Horizon won me over - even though the driving is tight and more demanding than I'm used to, I feel right at home in the open world. I LOVE dodging oncoming traffic! When I get a new car, I love the freedom to just take off in a random direction for a test drive. I like that I have to drive around and hunt for "barn find cars" rather than just purchasing them from a menu storefront. And yes, I even like the stupid, over-the-top rival racers. Those elements held my short attention span while I sunk into the sim-style racing mechanics. By the time I realized that I was playing a technical racing game, the type of game I usually hate, it was too late to hate. I had already fallen in love. I honestly think I'll have a hard time going back to arcade racers.

Each car feels completely different from the last, and the acquisition rate is breathtaking. In most of the racing games I have played, every car falls into one of a few stereotypes. Typically there are the American muscle cars that burn up the straight drags, the tuners that aren't too fast but handle like a dream, and the Italian super cars that blend both together. Each car in that category usually drives the same. Practically speaking, in most arcade games the only real difference between a Plymouth Hemi Cuda and a Ford Mustang is the way it looks. That's one of the reasons Forza Horizon is a breath of fresh air for me. Every single car feels unique, even for a know-nothing like me. Cars that I expected to be mere palette swaps actually handle completely differently. The minute differences in horsepower are noticeable. Put on a different set of tires and it will be immediately apparent. I was amazed to notice a stark difference between a 2010 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible and a 2009 Corvette ZR1 - I thought "The ZR1 will feel identical, only faster," but that wasn't the case. This is why I didn't care as much about unlocking new cars in Need for Speed, but I live for it in Forza Horizon! Luckily, the stream of great cars comes hard and fast! It's not uncommon to only use your "new favorite" car once before you've unlocked a "new new favorite." I don't think I'll be able to rest until I have "caught 'em all!"

The vinyl editor is AMAZING! I mean - WOW! Forza Horizon allows you to make anything you can imagine, combining shapes and designs into 1,000-layer masterpieces with easy to use tools. As an artist, I'm not easily pleased with in-game creation tools. Typically they are either overly-complicated, making my vision more of a headache than a passion project, or they are too simple and don't give me enough freedom to make my vision a reality. Forza Horizon deftly handles this responsibility. The only game that's made me feel this artistically free was Tearaway for Vita, and Horizon does this without a touch screen! So far I've made many weird cars, spoofing popular licenses, including an Iron Man Ferrari, a "Praise the Sun!" Solaire Mini Cooper (Dark Souls), and a Binding of Isaac Lamborghini. Here are a few examples of things I've made:

 WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

The soundtrack is great, but poorly shuffled. I actually really like thesongs in the soundtrack, but here's the problem: There are only 3 radio stations in the game, and it seems like each of them only plays 3 songs. ...Well... Okay, the 3-song thing is a slight hyperbole. But seriously - when I spend time in the vinyl editing shop, it's not uncommon to hear a single song 3-4 times while working on one design. It's ridiculous. And the weird thing is - the song list is actually impressively long. It's not very well shuffled though, as there are songs in this game I've honestly never heard yet. For instance, in several hours I've never once heard "Pelican" by The Maccabees, but I'll be happy if I never hear Sam and the Womp's "Bom Bom" ever again, and those songs are both featured on the same station. This is less noticeable on the racetrack than in the vinyl editor, and in fairness, I've spent a lot of my time there. Maybe it won't annoy you like it did me, but I can't wait to get these songs out of my head.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

               OH YEAH! Any Xbox 360 owner who has ever enjoyed a racing game owes it to themselves to buy Forza Horizon. It's technical enough to please the hardcore racing sim fans. It's vibrant and action-packed enough to please casual racing fans. And if you just love customizing your car with ridiculous graphics and showing it off to your friends, you won't find a better way to do it than in Forza Horizon.

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

               Definitely! Scantily-clad women seem to be a staple of racing games, but the women of Horizon wear slightly more than the average race girl. There hasn't been any foul language that I've noticed, with the possible exception of some mildly offensive song lyrics. (I have tried to mentally block out the repetitive music as much as possible!) This is a very clean game, and safe to play with the family in the room.

               However, as I've said with many other reviews, this game isn't necessarily the best racing game for kids. Most kids connect more with fast and loose arcade racers, as opposed to technical sims, and Horizon may demand too much precision for younger gamers. So is it inappropriate for kids - certainly not! Will they like it more than, say, Need for Speed or even Mario Kart? I can't know for certain. But in my estimation, the younger your kids are, the less they will enjoy Forza Horizon.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - Review

THE GIST:

               The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is nauseating, hilarious, perverse, challenging, and one of the most instantly addictive games I've ever played.

WHAT IS IT?

               TBI:R is a bizarre mash-up of the roguelike, twin-stick shooter, and bullet hell game genres. The game takes place in randomly generated dungeons, death is permanent, and your primary means of dispatching enemies is through dodging attacks with the left analog stick and firing back with the right. As you progress, you'll fight bosses and unlock new items that make you progressively more powerful. But there's something else you need to know about TBI:R - it's really freaking weird, and entrenched in a bizarre perversion of the Bible. Isaac is a young boy who lives with his mother. When Mom hears the voice of God, He tells her that Isaac needs to be slain to prove her devotion. Luckily, there is a cellar entrance in Isaac's room and he makes a timely escape. But the horrors he finds in the depths of his home are perhaps worse than fate he narrowly avoided at his mothers' hands. (Oh, and you fight enemies by shooting them with your tears. That's kinda weird, too.)

WHAT I LIKED:

There are TONS of game-changing items! Metric tons. Bucket loads. I played for well over an hour before I found the same item twice. And these aren't just throwaway items, either. In most RPGs, loot consists of simple "HP+1" or "Dmg UP" stat buffs. In TBI:R, however, items are varied and creative. You might gain "Charm" tears that cause enemies to fight for you, or find a small meteor which causes tears to orbit around Isaac instead of travelling in a straight line, or find a cat that gives you 9 lives. And, of course, you'll also find those more straightforward "HP+1" items. But even the generic items are creative. That's because every item in the game changes Isaac's appearance in a unique way, giving him ram's horns or a face full of boils, for example. More importantly, every item can be combined with others in interesting, unexpected ways. By the end of a run, Isaac will look drastically different, and you may well be using an entirely different play style based on your current items. This is the real reason you'll keep playing.

Random worlds and enemies add to the replayability. Most rooms are rectangles that fill one screen. But some are massive, full of enemies you can't see on entering. Others have only one tiny area for you to stand, surrounded by cliffs, while flying enemies assault you from all sides. Better still, rare rooms like stores, arcades, and boss challenge rooms pop up unexpectedly. To top it all off, the large number of bosses, mini-bosses, and small enemies are thrown at you randomly, too. Honestly - even if you have unlimited free time and incredibly calloused thumbs, you'll probably never play enough TBI:R to get bored.

Certain features allow you to make progress in spite of permanent death. Beating bosses a certain number of times will unlock new bosses and arenas. Plus, giving coins to the donation box levels up the in-game store and unlocks new items. It's not like the game fundamentally changes as you play, but dying doesn't feel entirely pointless either.

It's awesome on Vita! I have an original "fat" Vita with an OLED screen, and the game looks beautiful! (Well, as beautiful as pixelated poop and blood can look) It runs at a solid 60 FPS at all times. Since you can only shoot in 4 cardinal directions, the Vita's small analog sticks don't affect your ability to aim accurately. Or, if analog sticks aren't your thing, you can even move and shoot with the D-Pad and face buttons, though I'm not sure why you'd want to. Plus, the short game sessions are perfect for gaming on the go!

 WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

It's disgusting and sacrilegious. Hear me out - I don't think I'm going to get struck by lightning. I don't think God is offended that I'm playing this game. However, the irreverence paid to the Bible will no doubt offend certain people. You'll fight demons, play as Bible characters, and wield religious artifacts. Plus, as I've mentioned before, the plot of the game revolves around God telling your mother to kill you. But there's more - you also spend a large portion of the game being assaulted by blood, poop, and vomit. Yes, you read that correctly. Isaac can get an abilities that let him injure enemies with fart clouds or bloody tears (via a crown of thorns, no less). Flies will become angry and attack you if you destroy the poop pile they are circling. Dealing a certain amount of damage to specific enemies will blow off their heads, and their torsos, complete with protruding spines, will continue to assault you. The game's pixelated, cartoonish art style means that none of these things will actually be stomach-turning for most gamers. It's obvious the game's designers intended it all to come across as silly. However, if you're easily offended, this game is not for you. These factors didn't turn me off from playing it, or enjoying it for that matter. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite Vita games! However, I feel like this game could have been just as fun and funny in another motif. (Robot Unicorn Attack's sarcastic metal-head Candy Land theme comes to mind, for example)

SHOULD I BUY IT?

YES, if you aren't easily offended. This game is insanely fun and addictive, and it will last you hundreds of hours! I have friends who logged over 100 hours in the original Binding of Isaac who are still having fun with TBI:R. The random levels, awesome bosses, hilarious item combinations, and new secrets to uncover will keep you busy for ages.

NO, if you're sensitive about Biblical satire or anything gross. Really, it's extremely nasty and irreverent. I can't overstate that.

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

               No, no, no, no.

               First of all, as I've said before with similar titles, the gameplay alone in TBI:R is too much for kids. This is a hard game, and dying makes you lose almost all of your progress, which is bound to frustrate children. So even if you aren't put off by the adult-oriented content, TBI:R isn't for family consumption.

               More to the point though, the ever-present gore and grotesque nature of the characters will certainly offend most parents, even if the Biblical irreverence doesn't.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Minecraft: Playstation Vita Edition - Review

               Minecraft is a pop-culture phenomenon, so you probably already know what it is. As such, this is not a review of the game "Minecraft." This review has two goals: to compare the Playstation Vita Edition of Minecraft to the others versions and tell you how it stacks up, and to discuss Minecraft's family-friendliness. I won't review the game's mechanics unless they specifically apply to the Vita Edition.

               If by some weird chance you don't know what Minecraft is (perhaps you live on a speck on a flea on the tail on a frog on a bump on a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea), or you want a full review of the game itself, look elsewhere. For everyone else, here's the scoop on Minecraft Vita:

THE GIST:

               Minecraft: Vita Edition is the full console Minecraft experience on the go, held back only by some occasional technical difficulties. Goodbye real life.

WHAT I LIKED:

It has everything from the PS3/360 versions! Unlike Pocket Edition (M:PE), no corners were cut to bring the full console experience to Vita. At least in terms of features. (More on that later) Redstone, pistons, the Nether, The End - it's all there! Plus, developer 4J Studios ensures us that the Vita edition will be receiving all future updates that come to PS3/360. So fear not, Vita owners! This is a perfectly feature-rich version of Minecraft.

Crafting on the go is a game-changer! For console or PC gamers, M:PE feels like an ugly sweater that's 2-sizes too small. Even the recent infinite worlds update still left behind some important features. This is the first portable version of Minecraft that doesn't feel limiting. This may sound crass, but there's something incredibly liberating about crafting intricate redstone contraptions and unlocking trophies while on the toilet. (Seriously, bathroom breaks will never be the same again!)

Touch controls are present but easily avoidable. Too many Vita games force users to touch the screen or rear touch-pad simply for its novelty. Minecraft Vita allows gamers to touch if they want to, but it doesn't force you to use touch inputs at all. In fact, I would hazard to say that you can play Minecraft Vita until you're sick of it without ever touching the screen once. Hallelujah!

The interface can be scaled. I know this is a minor thing, but I was really glad to find that I can customize the size of the interface. On a handheld system you must strike a delicate balance between "What does that tiny writing say?" and "Get this crap out of my way, I can't see what I'm doing!" Minecraft Vita offers 3 different interface sizes to choose from, and you'll probably be happy with at least one of them.

 WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

It stutters sometimes. Don't get ahead of me here - it's not that bad! Certainly not Borderlands 2 Vita bad. But I would be remiss not to point it out. It's most noticeable when opening or closing the inventory, or when travelling to an unexplored area. However, once you have poked around for a while, the game will have sufficiently loaded its assets, and gameplay becomes quite smooth! In fact, I was expecting it to run far worse than it does. A few people I have talked to say that the framerate irritates them, but it doesn't seem to bother the majority of gamers, myself included. (I'm making this generalization after participating in several discussion boards on Reddit.com/r/vita. It's not a scientific study, but I trust my observations!)

There are some scary known glitches, including saved worlds occasionally disappearing. I have not encountered this bug, or any others, but it's worth mentioning. You can rest easy, however, knowing that 4J is working on patches as you're reading this, and a few patches have already been released. This, in my opinion, is something to be aware of but is not a cause for serious alarm.

SHOULD I BUY IT?

               A hundred times YES! Seriously, you should buy this game right now. If you don't own it or haven't played it, you are out of touch with culture (no offense!) and need to experience the game everyone's talking about. If you own it already on a home console, you will still love Vita Edition for its portability. If you own it exclusively on mobile, you'll love the added features. If you're a PC elitist - well, you're probably not reading this blog anyway.

IS IT FAMILY-FRIENDLY?

               Absolutely, though it may not be ideal for very young children. Minecraft is a unique game, in that it appeals to all ages, and its content is largely appropriate for everyone. There are a few things parents should be aware of, however:

               First, there are weapons and armor, and you will have to fight monsters if you play in Survival mode. It's nothing graphic, and there's no blood to speak of, but if parents are sensitive to violence, they may want to test Minecraft before they let their kids play. In my personal opinion, the cartoonish characters and clunky nature of the combat make this a relative non-issue. Plus, playing in Creative mode means that enemies won't attack you!

               Secondly, to get the best equipment and materials, you must explore into deep, dark caves full of zombies and skeletons. These creatures are actually very cute and aren't the least bit alarming in daylight. However, the darkness is another matter. I'm a grown man, I'm married, and I even have a nice beard, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I have shouted in surprise more than once while playing this game. Those unassuming monsters have a habit of silently sneaking up on you and scaring your pants off when you're lost in the moment. Minecraft is by no means a horror game, but it's very absorbing. When you're staring at a far-off diamond deposit figuring out how to reach it, the last thing you're expecting is to be shot in the back by a skeleton. So if your kid is easily frightened, you could expect an occasional scream when they play on Survival mode.

               Finally, Minecraft is best played with others. This leads to a few interesting potential problems for kids. Players can talk to one another through the Vita's built-in microphone, opening the door to inappropriate language or conversation with strangers. However, this can EASILY be avoided by creating "Invite Only" games, where your child can only play with their approved "Friends." Parents should also be aware that other players in a multiplayer game can fight and kill you, access your items, and potentially destroy structures you've worked hard to build. This may lead to arguments or hurt feelings, depending on your child's sensitivity level. Such arguments can happen anywhere in life, though - at school or play dates, for example - and Minecraft in no way encourages this behavior. In fact, Minecraft can be an excellent tool to teach teamwork, if handled properly. It's simply something parents may want to be aware of. If your child does not get along well with another child, or has a friend who isn't good at sharing or teamwork, they may not be the best Minecraft buddy.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Happy early Halloween, everyone! Thought you might enjoy the Groot pumpkin I painted this weekend.

[nerdsinministry-blog]

This is beyond exciting! Thanks, Marvel, for showing off our glorious cinematic future!

[nerdsinministry-blog]

Borderlands 2 is one of my favorite games of all time. However, when The Pre-Sequel was announced, I had a serious case of deja vu.

I flashed back to one of my other all time favorite games, Assassin's Creed 2, and its overly-familiar sequel, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. A few amazing things were added to that game, like the ability to train and call assassins to assist you in combat. However, it didn't do enough to rise about its predecessor, and it felt more like a huge expansion pack than a standalone third installment. This led to the Freudian slip of calling it "Assassin's Creed 2: Brotherhood." I never completed Brotherhood, and I don't really feel compelled to do so now.

I think my Spidey Senses were right, because it seems like Gearbox's third installment in the shooter/RPG series could accurately be called "Borderlands 2: The Pre-Sequel." It seems like a funny, high-quality game with many enjoyable hours of shooting and looting, but I spent over 40 hours with Borderlands 2, and my thirst has been quenched. Is the Pre-Sequel different enough to hold my attention for another 40 hours? Only time will tell.

I will probably get around to playing The Pre-Sequel eventually, but I just don't feel compelled to do so right now. If you were chomping at the bit, though, follow the link in the title to see IGN's full review.