Every video game that you are currently playing undergoes a series of rigorous testing before the release of the final version. The primary objective behind this is to eliminate as many glitches and errors in the game for smoother gameplay. As a game tester, reading through CyberGhost’s blog piece about the funniest game glitches should give you an idea of what to look out for. But, even then, you might miss out on a few in-game obstacles that could ruin the whole aesthetic of the game. This article will explore … [Read more...]
The GI Problem in Video Games
Gone is the era when dynamic lighting was impossible, if not just difficult, when games used to be rotoscoped, just like in the original Mortal Kombat. The modern-day dynamic lighting problem is the problem of rendering indirect reflected light, technically known as Global Illumination or GI. The official docks of Unity game engine states: Global Illumination (GI) is a system that models how light is bounced off of surfaces onto other surfaces (indirect light) rather than being limited to just the light that hits … [Read more...]
Iron & Steel Pinball Review
It's decidedly refreshing to write this Iron & Steel Pinball review, but not for reasons you might think. On the surface it's tempting to think the positive glow is because the tables in the Iron & Steel Pinball DLC are Zen Studios' first two original tables in years. And to be fair, that's part of it. Licenses, even big ones, tend to get tired after a while. But the Iron & Steel Pinball FX2 tables are also two of Zen Studios' best pinball tables in years, which is the real reason for the warm fuzzies. As original … [Read more...]
FIFA 15 Review
Yearly sports games are often criticized for either over-compensating changes or not changing enough (besides rosters). FIFA 15 is guilty of neither. Major problems that have plagued the franchise for years finally see their end as the game makes a major move toward realism. Animations Animations have been a growing part of the FIFA series. They are the source of great looks and awful frustrations. FIFA 14 had the most animations of all the games when it came out. When you would press a command button, it resulted … [Read more...]
Skylanders Trap Team Review
My kids and I have adored the Skylanders franchise since it first launched, as have millions of other families. Swap Force was a wild hit in our house, so Skylanders Trap Team was atop the kids' must-play list. I purposefully held this Skylanders Trap Team review to give the kids ample time to play the game and provide their impressions too. After all, Skylanders Trap Team, like all of the games in the series, is fun for parents but will really take off or flop based on the kids' experience. As a parent, I look for a … [Read more...]
Destiny Review (Xbox One)
It's unfair to judge a game's ability to live up to the hype, so I'll go to great lengths in this Destiny review to not fall into that trap. Destiny is Bungie's first non-Halo game since the launch of the first Xbox. It's a new franchise Activision committed to supporting well into the next decade. And it's Bungie's first multiplatform title since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Expectations were predictably sky high. But let's put those aside for a moment and judge the game based on its merits alone. Destiny is fun but … [Read more...]
The Walking Dead Pinball Review
It would seem unfair to say a The Walking Dead Pinball review could only come from fans of the TV show. Yet considering everyone seems to be a fan to begin with, that doesn't exactly put limitations on things. The Walking Dead has taken American zombie lovers by storm, but seeing a pinball table based on the show is still a bit surprising. Luckily, the team at Zen Studios knows what it's doing and has crafted one of its finest tables to date. The Walking Dead Pinball table has the unique distinction of having … [Read more...]
Contrast Game Review
It's tempting for a Contrast game review to focus on shadows as a gameplay mechanic, but the references throughout the puzzle platformer go far deeper than that. From its plot and characters to its level design, Contrast uses the difference between light and shadow -- and between upstanding and shadowy people -- to immerse players in a story unlike any platformer to date. That its gameplay is so original would be mere gravy if it weren't such an asset to the finished product. Contrast was one of the first indie games … [Read more...]
Zombie Driver Ultimate Edition Review
Zombie slaying comes in many forms, though largely tied to guns and melee combat. One of the most uniquely gratifying methods didn't really come into its own until Dead Rising 3: death by automobile. Careening through the streets smashing into the undead was one of the most visceral, enjoyable and novel gifts Dead Rising 3 gave to Xbox One owners. And it was one of the reasons I was most excited to test Zombie Driver Ultimate Edition. Cruising around town careening into zombies is one of the most enjoyable parts of … [Read more...]
Kinect Sports Rivals Review
One of the biggest selling points of the Xbox One, at least to hear Microsoft tell the story, is the console's inclusion of the Kinect 2.0 hardware. Unlike the PS4, which has an optional (e.g. "added cost" camera), the Kinect 2.0 sensor comes bundled with every Xbox One. Voice commands seemed the peripheral's primary function at launch, as only Ubisoft's Fighter Within really leveraged the Kinect's gesture-recognition at launch (and failed -- read our review). Going into this Kinect Sports Rivals review, I knew the … [Read more...]
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