REVIEW: The Walking Dead: Season 1 and 400 Days DLC for PlayStation Vita

The first time I dove into the world of the Walking Dead was when I bought the PS3 version of The Walking Dead by Telltale Games. Prior to that, I had never watched the show on AMC or have read the comic book. While living in Rexburg, I did have some roommates who were fans of the show.

When the Walking Dead went on sale on PSN, I decided to take advantage of the sale and buy it. I didn't do anything with the game until I started playing BioShock Infinite. Don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of BioShock Infinite, but for some reason I had a hard time staying focused with the game. I ended up beating Tomb Raider while attempting to finish BioShock Infinite. I also began playing the Walking Dead.

Being completely ignorant in regards to the lore of the Walking Dead, I just thought it was about zombies chowing down on the living and that was it. I had heard on numerous occasions that Telltale Games' The Walking Dead had a phenomenal story, but I didn't believe it until I started playing the game. I love games with amazing stories, and the Walking Dead is so story driven and so engaging that I couldn't stop playing it. From start to finish it had me captivated. That's why I chose to buy it when it was released on the PlayStation Vita.

The Walking Dead: The Game begins with a man named Lee Everett. He is being taken to prison by quite a talkative police officer. The world appears to be normal until the sidetracked police officer hits something on the road, which causes them to crash. Lee is the character in which the player controls throughout the entire game. The style of gameplay allows you to develop Lee's character in the game. You can have him be a nice guy or a complete punk. It is entirely up to you. When I played this game on PS3, I attempted to have Lee be a nice guy. While playing it on the Vita, I did everything I could to make Lee kind of a jerk. It was interesting to see how different some characters were in the game.

Lee doesn't take the entire spotlight though. Shortly after the crash, Lee meets a little girl name Clementine, who he takes under his wing after finding out that her parents are out of town. This game is based on choice, and it is interesting to note that the choices you make in the game really affect Clementine. I thought it was smart of Telltale to make Clementine such a young girl. Even though it is just a game, it was really to say anything that would hurt her feelings while playing on my Vita. I made some choices that she didn't like, but whenever Clementine was involved, I would try to make a choice that wouldn't hurt her as much.

The game takes place in Georgia. Lee and Clementine encounter a number of survivors. The choices you make can determine the kind of relationship you have with the people you meet. At times, you will have to face certain decisions that may impact a person's life. Because of the dire circumstances, you aren't giving enough time to think things through, so you have to be quick if you don't want to end up seeing the "You Are Dead" screen. The Walking Dead does an amazing job of making you care about the people you get to know in this game. Let's just say that this game can make you feel bad. It did that to me anyway.

Very few games have caused me to feel suspenseful during the entire game. I have felt that way during certain parts of a game (such as a particular scene in Final Fantasy VII), but it is rare that an entire game has me wondering what is going to happen next. The Walking Dead, the Last of Us, Tomb Raider, and BioShock Infinite are the only games I can think of that have done that for me. This game will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time with its storytelling and unique gameplay.

The Walking Dead first started as a comic book, and it is easy to recognize that this game is somewhat of a tribute to the ten year running comic book series. I really like the graphical design the developers took. The game looks great for the most part, but I did encounter some hiccups while playing the game. The PlayStation Vita is no exception of these hiccups either. It didn't happen too often, but there would be some instances that I would be able to see outside of a building even though I was completely inside a building. It didn't happen too often, but it definitely was noticeable when it would happen. The game would have a tendency to slow down a little after you would make a decision, and that sometimes took away from the buildup that the game was attempting to make. It's forgivable, but it definitely took away from the emotion the game was trying to develop within its players. These issues shouldn't prevent anyone from buying this game though. It isn't a game breaker by any means.

There are two ways you can play this game. You can use the two analog sticks and other buttons on the PlayStation Vita or you can use the touch controls. I accidentally chose to use the touch controls when I first started playing the game and I quickly found out that I didn't like it very much. The normal controls work just fine on the Vita, if not better in my opinion. Regardless of which control style you choose to use, the learning curve isn't very steep at all. You'll figure out how to play this game in no time at all.

There are five chapters total in this game. I found myself spending about two hours per chapter. That's a lot of value for a game that costed me about $20. Not only do you get the entire game, you will also receive the 400 Days DLC that was released in July. The DLC has you play as five other characters. I imagine the DLC is the connecting point to Season 2. It took me a little over an hour to complete. It was a nice filler and I am interested in seeing what role these characters play, if at all, next season.

If you're a fan of the comic book series or television series, then you're bound to enjoy Telltale Games' The Walking Dead. If you've already played it on one of the other platforms its already available on (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and iOS), then you might want to not play this game if you're expecting something different. This game is the same game on the other platforms. It is currently $19.99 on the PlayStation Store and comes packed with the 400 Days DLC.

OVERALL SCORE:

8.3/10

REVIEW: Batman: Arkham Origins for PS3

The first time I played Batman: Arkham Asylum was in 2011, just a couple of months prior to the release of Batman: Arkham City. Because of Arkham Asylum, I decided to buy Batman: Arkham City. I bought it the day that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released. Rocksteady had created two fantastic Batman games, and I was really excited for another Batman game from them. Then there were reports that the next Batman game wouldn't be developed by Rocksteady. Instead of waiting for other people to review Batman: Arkham Origins, I decided to pre-order it from the PlayStation Store instead. It was a rushed decision, to be honest.

Batman: Arkham Origins was developed by Warner Bros. Games Montréal. They have had some experience with Batman, as they ported Batman: Arkham City to the Nintendo Wii U last year.

Arkham Origins takes place five years before the events of Arkham Asylum. Batman has two years of fighting crime under his belt, but he still is rather inexperienced. On Christmas Eve, crime lord Black Mask orders a bounty on Batman's head, catching the attention of eight assassins. As Batman, the player must defeat the eight assassins hired to kill him and bring down Black Mask while he's at it. The game takes place in both Old Gotham and New Gotham (aka Gotham City).

I found the story to be pretty good. It wasn't the best story out of the three, but it is still better than the stories told in other video games that are based on comic books. The thing I liked most about the story was the relationship that Bruce Wayne and Alfred are developing as Bruce begins to obsess with his alter ego, the Batman. I thought those pieces of the game were the best moments.

If you have played the other Arkham games or you're a fan of Batman, then you will be quite familiar with the villains that Batman faces in Arkham Origins. Even though we have seen these villains before, they are still fresh. What I like best about this game is the fact that some of the villains you encounter in Arkham Origins haven't been in either of the Arkham games previously. I won't name them off, but you will quickly find out which enemies Batman will have to face once you start playing the game.

Game play is very similar to the other Arkham games. Like Arkham City, Arkham Origins takes place in an open world environment. It still contains elements of stealth and action. Batman may not have super powers like Superman and Spider-Man, but he still holds his own against any enemy he faces. As in other Arkham games, Batman is fast and agile while in combat, using his hands and feet to knock out criminals. To further aid Batman in his vigilante duties, Batman acquires a lot of gadgets. These gadgets range from the Batarang to the Cryptographic Sequencer. A lot of these gadgets have been in the other games, but they're still a lot of fun to use.

I never found fighting petty criminals boring. As you progress in the game, enemies begin to be tougher. Some enemies wear body armor, making it difficult to take them down with just your fists. I really like how many ways there are to attack enemies. You can use the Batarangs, smoke pellets, Explosive Gel, and a bunch of other gadgets to knock out enemies or distract them.

The best fights take place against the assassins. I found them to be really unique. Best of all, they're very fast paced. Even though the fights with the assassins are fast, they aren't finished in a manner of seconds. Strategy is involved, but it is fun trying to figure out the best way to defeat them. Each boss fight is different from one another, and I really liked that. Some boss fights were better than others, but I won't share which ones were my favorite just yet.

There are a number of ways that Batman can traverse through Old Gotham and New Gotham. Like in Arkham City, Batman can use the Grapnel Accelerator to increase the speed in which he propels himself to buildings. You can also visit the Bat Cave on occasion to talk with Alfred, as well as acquire new equipment. To do so, you will need to go to areas that allow you to remotely call the Batwing. I was kind of hoping that you would be able to control the Batwing, but travel is all done through cinematic cutscenes. If that wasn't enough for you, Batman is also capable of gliding. To glide longer distances, Batman can free-fall and then spread his cape to continue gliding.

I like Batman: Arkham Origins. There's a lot to like about it. It is very similar to Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. And that is where issues begin to ensue. Because it is similar, I began to feel that it didn't add much to the Arkham world. It is important to remember that Batman: Arkham Origins is a prequel, but it makes me wonder what more the developer could have done had it been a sequel to Batman: Arkham City instead.

For the most part, the gadgets are the same. I love the gadgets that Batman uses, but it would have been cool to have seen some new ones as well. Lastly, the city is very dead. Arkham City hasn't even been constructed, but Old Gotham already is starting to look like it. Even Gotham City is dead. Everyone is mandated to stay indoors. It is hard to argue with that when the city is practically ran by criminals, though.

Overall, Batman: Arkham Origins is still a well made game. I have encountered a few glitches here and there, but they never broke the game for me. Even though Batman: Arkham Origins doesn't go far from the other two games in the series, it does a good job of maintaining what was already there. If you're wanting another Batman game to play on PC, PS3, Wii U, or Xbox 360, Arkham Origins will hold you off until another Batman game is made.

OVERALL SCORE:

7.9/10

REVIEW: The Last of Us for PS3

It has been five months since I first completed The Last of Us. I have been meaning to write a review of The Last of Us ever since I finished the game, but I could never find the inspiration and the drive to do so. I just wanted to keep playing The Last of Us. Since Sony is bundling The Last of Us and Batman: Arkham Origins with a 250 GB PlayStation 3, I thought today would be the best time to write a review for the game.

The Last of Us takes a much darker scene than previous Naughty Dog games. Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and Uncharted are among my favorite PlayStation games. Without fail, Naughty Dog somehow manages improve upon the last game. Their latest game, The Last of Us, does just that and then some.

From the very start, I knew that The Last of Us was going to be special. From the stunning graphics to the amazing story, The Last of Us had me hooked from start to finish. It also had me longing for more. The story is by far one of the most captivating stories I have ever experienced in a video game, and there have been a number of games that have had great stories thus far in 2013, but The Last of Us was able to capture more than any of the other games I had played thus far.

With great story telling, comes great voice acting. Naughty Dog has been using motion capture technology since Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and it really has come a long way since then. Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson aren't the only actors in the game that do a great job, but it is easy to see why they were picked to take the lead roles of the game. If you have ever played a game that has Troy Baker voice acting in it, you will recognize that it doesn't sound like him at all. Trust me. Try listening to Snow, Booker, and then Joel and tell me that Snow and Booker sound anything like Joel.

When Naughty Dog first unveiled The Last of Us, we were introduced to Joel and Ellie. Not much was known about their past, how they knew each other, or why they were going across the United States. They did a great job of keeping everything under wraps. I don't intend to spoil anything from the story for those of you who haven't beaten the game or haven't bought it yet.

The Last of Us takes place 20 years after an infection breaks out all over the world. The world is in a state of decay, and it is very noticeable in every city you enter in The Last of Us. Nature seems to be taking back what was built upon it, as vegetation begins to grow and buildings begin to crumble. As terrible as the world may appear in The Last of Us, it is by far the prettiest looking game I have ever played on the PlayStation 3.

As you may have guessed, players take the role of Joel, a man with a past that continues to trouble him. Even with his troubled past, Joel continues to fight for survival in a world that has given up on being human. Joel takes on odd jobs to be able to acquire food and clothing, as well as weapons and other necessities to keep oneself alive. Whereas Nathan Drake seems to live a happy-go-lucky kind of life, players will quickly recognize that Joel's luck had run dry a long time ago.

The Last of Us is played in the third-person perspective, much like Naughty Dog's Uncharted series. Joel can take out enemies with his fists, as well as a number of weapons that he comes across on his trek through the United States. Not only does Joel find himself fighting for his life, he also must keep Ellie alive. Even though it is an escort mission, Ellie is no pushover. She finds ways to be of assistance.

The weapons that Joel and Ellie acquire on their journey range from long range weapons to close range weapons. All the weapons that are found in The Last of Us can be upgraded, making it very important to scavenge each location. There are supplies that can be found as well, which can be crafted to make useful tools to take down enemies, such as Molotov cocktails and smoke bombs. Not only can weapons and items be upgraded, Joel has a couple of abilities that can be upgraded as well, such as how fast he can craft things.

There are different kinds of enemies that Joel and Ellie encounter in The Last of Us. To put it simply, there are Hunters and the Infected. Hunters are people who have broke off from the world completely and seek to do whatever is necessary to keep themselves alive. The Infected are those who have come in contact with a mutated strain of a fungus known as Cordyceps. Hunters have weapons of their own to fight against anyone who isn't a part of their group. Infected are like zombies. I don't think I have to say anything else about them.

Action is no stranger in this game, but there are plenty of times when exploration takes over. I found those moments of the game to be the best. During these parts of the game, Joel and other characters will talk to each other to help you further understand what is going on. There are also notes left by people to help you comprehend what is going on in the world. Exploration is an important part of The Last of Us, as it helps the player know that the world really is falling apart. Other objects can be found, such as Firefly pendants, posters, and maps.

The Last of Us also offers quite a bit of replay value. Whether you decide to take on the world in New Game Plus, or play the game in a harder difficulty setting, The Last of Us never gets old. It took me about 15 hours to beat The Last of Us the first time. Once I finished the game, I found out that there was a lot of things I missed. I played it a second time through New Game Plus, keeping all my upgrades and going through each level trying to find every collectible I could.

If you want to give the single-player a break, multiplayer is also an option. The multiplayer is a lot of fun in The Last of Us. It strays away from the typical multiplayer and makes individual gain more of an importance than party gain. The multiplayer goes by the name Factions and has you play as a Hunter or a Firefly. Players have twelve weeks to keep their clan alive. The multiplayer is a lot of fun and I found myself playing it more and more when I figured out the mechanics of the mulitplayer.

The Last of Us has one of the very best single-player stories I have ever experienced. It far surpasses the stories that were told in the Uncharted series. I've played a lot of great games this year, such as Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite, and The Walking Dead: The Game, but The Last of Us manages to connect exploration, game play, and story together without any issues. With downloadable content already coming out, and with more on the way, it isn't too late to pick up a copy of The Last of Us.

OVERALL SCORE:

10/10

REVIEW: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune for PS3

The Uncharted series holds a special place in my heart. I can still recall playing the demo of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune at the closes Fry’s Electronics store to my home. As I played the demo, I knew it was a game I wanted to have for the PlayStation 3 from the moment I started playing it. Demos hardly ever did that for me, but Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune did. From the gameplay, to the voice acting, to the story, to the graphics (especially how the water looked!), I was hooked from what little I got out of the demo.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was released a little over a year after the PS3’s initial release. We are introduced to the main characters from the start: Nathan Drake, Victor “Sully” Sullivan, and Elena Fisher. We immediately find Drake and Elena out at sea near Panama. Drake has discovered the location of Sir Francis Drake’s coffin. Inside the coffin is Francis Drake’s diary, which contains information on the city of gold, El Dorado.

Gameplay then ensues as a group of pirates rain in on their parade. This is where we are introduced to the gameplay. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune has us, the player, controlling Nathan Drake. The style of play is rather simple and consists of a cover and shoot mechanic. When in hiding, you can either blind fire enemies by simply pressing the RI bumper button or aim and shoot by holding the L1 button first to aim and then the R1 button to fire. You aren’t limited to just ducking and covering, of course, but if you want to live and not die, it is your best option. Drake can have a two weapons equipped at a time, a pistol and a rifle. He can also carry up to four grenades.

Another element of combat in Drake’s Fortune are melee and combo attacks. Melee attacks consist of single punches by pressing the square button. If you want to get your point across to an enemy while in close quarters, then you’ll want to string a combo attack. You just hit square button several times in order to string a combo attack. There’s also a brutal combo attack. The way to do that is by pressing square, triangle, and then square again. Enemies will also drop double the amount of ammunition when a brutal combo attack is performed. The combat gameplay mechanics of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune are rather simple to get a hold of. I think the hardest thing to get used to is aiming where grenades are thrown using the SIXAXIS feature of the PS3 controller.

At the time of its release, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was one of the prettiest games I have ever seen. It definitely has been foreshadowed by its successors, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, but it is still a beautiful game considering how early it was released in the PS3’s life. A lot of what you see on screen was performed via motion capture, so the voice actors also did a lot of the movements for the characters. This allows the characters in the game to have more realistic movements.

The thing that impresses me most about Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was the story. It captured my attention right away. It is a charming, witty, yet direct. Drake’s Fortune is a great example of how video games are capable of telling an amazing story. It is a compelling story and you’ll be asking for more as soon as you’re done playing it. You hear this a lot about Uncharted: I felt like I was playing a movie.

Don’t worry though. If you don’t like Metal Gear Solid for its long cutscenes (I personally don’t mind them), then you’re in luck. That doesn’t happen in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. It is more gameplay than it is cutscenes. The cutscenes are a real treat though, as you get to see how each character develops throughout the game, as well as how the story ties everything together.

I really like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Although it is an old game, it received a patch years ago to include trophies. The trophies aren’t too hard to get, and you’ll be able to get all of them in a maximum of three playthroughs. I have played Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune seven time now, and it hasn’t gotten old for me. If you’re new to the Uncharted series, I recommend starting with Drake’s Fortune first, not because it is the first in the series, but because its successors outshine it with new features, updated graphics, and better playing mechanics. Still, it is a great PS3 classic and a must play, even if you already have a PS4 or Xbox One.

OVERALL SCORE:

8.9/10

REVIEW: PlayStation Vita

I have already written a couple of PS Vita game reviews, so it is about time I write a review for the PlayStation Vita itself. I sold my launch PS Vita, believing that I wasn't going to want to play Vita anymore. I began to regret what I had done, so last December I bought another PlayStation Vita.

I was really interested in the white PlayStation Vita. I was a little concerned about buying the white PS Vita. Before buying my iPhone 5, I had a white iPhone 4S. I had a difficult time liking how the screen looked on my white iPhone, so that was part of the reason why I bought a black iPhone 5 last year. That, and I wanted a faster phone. That's a completely different story, though.

After giving it some thought, I chose to buy the white PlayStation Vita. I've almost had the handheld for a year and I haven't regretted buying the white PS Vita. Ironically, I love how everything looks on the white PS Vita. The Vita I bought was bundled with a 4 GB memory card and Assassin's Creed III: Liberation. It is strictly Wi-Fi, which I am okay with because I can tether my Vita with my iPhone 5.

I really enjoy playing games on the PlayStation Vita. I have played games on a PSP (not my PSP go, but my brother's PSP) before and I really disliked how uncomfortable it was in my hands. I always felt like I was getting hand cramps. I am rather pleased with how the Vita feels in my hands. I also like the size of the buttons. I feel that they're the right size for a handheld device. I don't necessarily like how the PS home button and the Start and Select buttons are somewhat leveled with the rest of the PlayStation Vita. It makes it hard to press those buttons sometimes.

The front screen also acts as a touchscreen. The games at launch were somewhat heavy on the touch controls, but fortunately that has somewhat changed a year later. At launch, you could only control the main screen via touch, but thanks to an update you are now able to use the face buttons. Personally, I like using the touchscreen to navigate through the main screen.

There's also a rear touch pad that is used for some games. I find it interesting how the rear touch pad is implemented in games, but I have also found it intrusive during gameplay. That can be rather annoying.

The PlayStation Vita comes with pre-installed apps as well. Those apps include:

• Welcome Park
• Party
• PS Store
• near
• Friends
• Messaging
• Trophies
• Photos
• Browser
• Music
• Videos
• PS3 Remote Play
• Content Manager
• Maps
• Email
• Settings
• PS4 Link
• Parental Controls

I love the simplicity of the user interface. I also love how everything appears on the screen. I have never found it difficult looking for a certain app. The ability to customize your home screen is also a nice feature. As pictured below, you can change your background to any picture you have on the PlayStation Vita. All you need to do is press and hold on the screen and then you will be able to customize your screen. You can change the organization of the apps, background, and even create folders. What's nice is that you're able to have different backgrounds for each page.

The PlayStation Vita also comes with a front and rear camera. I hardly ever use either camera since they're pretty terrible cameras. You would think that since Sony makes digital cameras that they would include decent front and rear cameras on the PS Vita. Then again, I still don't know how often I would use it to take pictures. I have my phone or digital camera for that. The cameras are there so developers can use them in their games, but only a handful of games really utilize either camera.

The rear touch pad can also be used, when selected, for gameplay on PSP and PSone games. For PSone games, you can assign the four corners of the rear touch pad to act "in the same manner as the L1/L2/R1/R2/L3/R3 buttons on a controller for a PlayStation system." The four corners of the front touchscreen can be used for specific buttons as well, making gameplay very possible on the a handheld device. The right stick of the PS Vita can be assigned to do a certain thing as well. I usually assign the right stick for camera use, but you can assign to whatever you want. The touchscreen can be assigned for specific buttons very similar to what can be done with PSone games.

The battery life on the PlayStation Vita isn't the best. It only lasts about five hours as far as gameplay is concerned. I wish it were better, but for what you're doing on the device, I find it to be rather impressive.

There are a plethora of other neat features, such as PS Plus capabilities. The Vita can now have game saves be sent to the cloud, as well as trophy updates and the ability to download new updates automatically for the PS Vita firmware or updates for specific apps. The Vita has a decent web browser, the map app is quite handy, and being able to email via the PlayStation Vita is pretty cool as well. I really like the PlayStation Vita and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of PlayStation. There are plenty of awesome games for the handheld device.

I have a 32 GB memory card for my PS Vita. Most of the games I have for the PlayStation Vita were downloaded from the PlayStation Store. I am down to about 3 GB left, so I am shifting towards buying game cards instead of downloading games from the PS Store. Downloading games from the PS Store is simple. You can download them straight onto the Vita or you can download them onto your PC/Mac or PS3 and then transfer them to your Vita through Content Manager. All of it is rather simple and you control all of this on the PlayStation Vita.

I love the PlayStation Vita. I think it is a great device. It may not be for everyone, but for those who consider themselves PlayStation fans, I recommend checking out the Vita first hand.

OVERALL SCORE:
8.7/10

REVIEW: Dead or Alive 5 Plus for PlayStation Vita

My first experience with the Dead or Alive series was Dead or Alive 3 on the Xbox. I thought the fast paced fighting of DOA3 was a lot of fun. I also enjoyed the over dramatic rock 'n roll music associated with DOA3. I have yet to experience Dead or Alive 4, but when Dead or Alive 5 was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, I made sure to buy it. I still found it to be a fun fighting game, so when the PlayStation Vita version was revealed, I pre-ordered it.

Much like the Ninja Gaiden series on the PS Vita, the PlayStation Vita version of Dead or Alive 5 is known as Dead or Alive 5 Plus. You would think that because of the Plus there would be more features included into the game. That happens to be the case, but at the expense of sacrificing other features. 

One of the most notable features missing in the game is Tag Team Mode. The tag fights that occur in Story Mode on the PS3 and Xbox 360 version are still there on the PlayStation Vita version of the game, but if you want to play tag team with another character you're out of luck.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus is still a lot of fun. I got my copy of the game as soon as it was released and I still play it to this day. It is definitely my favorite fighting game on the PlayStation Vita. I have played a few fighting games on the Vita, and I have really liked playing DOA5 Plus the most.

The story in Dead or Alive 5 Plus is the same exact story from Dead or Alive 5 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. There weren't any changes made to the story. I'm okay with that. It isn't the best story ever told, but I actually kind of enjoyed it. Dead or Alive 5, for that matter, does something different than a lot of other fighting games do. Fighting games usually have you select one character to fight as and then you are told the story from their perspective. In Dead or Alive 5, the choice isn't up to the player. Instead, the player must access the story through various characters after three or four fights. This allows the player to use many of the characters from the Dead or Alive 5 roster. Unfortunately, the story does end up becoming a mess, so you shouldn't really analyze it too much.

The story heavily focuses on Kasumi and, her clone, Alpha-152. Kasumi takes it upon herself to seek Alpha-152 and defeat her once and for all. I like that the story attempts to string itself together by sharing each characters' perspective. It just doesn't do a very good job. Then again, I don't play a fighting game for its story. I play a fighting game based on whether or not I find the fighting mechanics fun. Power Blow attacks are a lot of fun to perform. When a character has 50% of health (or less), the said character can then perform a Power Blow which knocks an opponent towards a desired area. Some levels even have certain areas where more damage can be inflicted when using a Power Blow.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus has other modes to offer. These modes include Versus, Arcade, Time Attack, Survival. These modes can be found under Fight in the main menu. There are 24 fighters on the roster for Dead or Alive 5 Plus, 19 of which are recurring characters, like Kasumi, Ayane, Ryu, and Hayate. Two of the five additional characters are brand new for the Dead or Alive series. If you've already played DOA5, then you will know which two characters I am referring to. If you haven't, these two new characters are Rig and Mila. Rig's fighting preference is a version of taekwondo. Mila is specializes in mixed martial arts.

That is something I really like about Dead or Alive. Each character has their unique fighting style. Although there are plenty of ninjas in the game, I have never felt that any of them fought alike. Kasumi and Ayane may have a similar fighting style, but you can tell that their fighting style was tailored towards them rather than being a generic fighting style for both.

The additional three characters come from the Virtua Fighter series. These three are Akira Yuki, Sarah Bryant, and Pai Chan. They even make an appearance in Story Mode.

Training Plus has modes of its on, such as Free Training, Command Training, Tutorial, and Combo Challenge. If you're wanting to get the mechanics down for DOA5 Plus, I highly suggest checking out Training Plus. It is pretty robust for a fighting game, and it definitely helps you improve.

Like Dead or Alive 5, the PS Vita version also allows you to play online with other DOA5 and DOA5 Plus users. This opens it up to fighting various opponents on the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita. I have encountered a fair amount of people playing the PS Vita version of DOA5, which is pretty cool. It is much like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the PS3 and PS Vita. You can also play locally with a friend using Ad-hoc.

The Dead or Alive series has been rather notorious for its over-the-top breast physics, and Dead or Alive 5 Plus is no exception. In fact, there are three settings: stilled, "natural," and "DOA." That's... something.

Aside from that new feature, DOA5 Plus also includes a touchscreen-based fighting mode. It is fun to play using the touchscreen a couple of times, but it does get old rather quickly. I found myself just tapping the screen over and over again until I won the match. There is no skill whatsoever to it. It is best to just stick to the traditional fighting mechanics.

Even though you'll only really see yourself pressing the kick button and the punch button most of the time, Dead or Alive 5 Plus has an impressive number of combos to connect for each character. As aforementioned, you can learn how to execute these combos by accessing the modes under Training Plus. It goes from teaching you simple mechanics, such as moving your fighter, to connecting difficult combos.

I was pretty impressed with the graphics of Dead or Alive 5 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Dead or Alive 5 Plus looks great on the PlayStation Vita. It may not look as good as it does on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but it definitely looks fantastic for a Vita game. Not only does it look good, but it performs well on the handheld too. I have never experienced any frame rate issues on Dead or Alive 5 Plus. The characters on DOA5 Plus still have their realistic design like the PS3 and Xbox 360 DOA5. There is one thing that bugs me though. For some reason, Leifang doesn't have teeth. Where did her teeth go?

Leifang's teeth aren't the only thing missing from the game. DOA5 had missions to perform in each fight in Story Mode, but that feature is nowhere to be seen in Dead or Alive 5 Plus. There aren't Lobby Matches on DOA5 Plus either. Lobby Matches allowed you to fight against others and let you watch matches while you wait for your turn. I already mentioned that Tag Fights are only available in Story Mode. Another notable feature that isn't on DOA5 Plus is the ability to upload recorded fights onto YouTube. You can still record fights, but you won't be able to put them onto YouTube. Although these features are pretty awesome, I don't think it is deal breaker since you're getting a pretty solid fighting game for the Vita. These features would have been nice though.

If you're a fan of the series, Dead or Alive 5 Plus is definitely worth picking up for the PlayStation Vita. I have yet to stop playing Dead or Alive 5 Plus and I love that I can take it with me wherever I go. I also like the fact that I can play online with PS3 users. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate recently was released, but unfortunately Dead or Alive 5 Plus can't interact with DOA5U because of the changes that were made for that game. Still, there are people playing DOA5 and DOA5 Plus online. It does take some time to find an opponent every now and then, but I can confirm there are still people looking for someone to fight.

Another plus (pun intended) to owning this game if you already have it on PS3 is that all the DLC you purchased from Dead or Alive 5 carries over onto Dead or Alive 5 Plus. Not only will you be able to access the downloadable content you bought for Dead or Alive 5, you can also transfer your save from DOA5 to DOA5 Plus. Tecmo did a pretty good job of making sure that DOA5 and DOA5 Plus intereacted with one another.

I also recommend this game to those who haven't had the chance to play Dead or Alive, especially on the PlayStation Vita. I've had a lot of fun with this game. If you aren't a fan of fighting games, then chances are you won't like Dead or Alive 5 Plus. If you're looking for a fighting game that is fast paced and has ninjas, then this might be the game for you.

OVERALL SCORE:
8.5/10

REVIEW: Elgato Game Capture HD

I have wanted to be able to record the video games I play onto my computer for the longest time. I love playing video games, and I enjoy writing about the games I have played. I was always under the impression that you needed a certain video capture card placed inside your computer, but since I currently have a laptop, there was only so much modifications I could do to it.

After coming to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to fulfill that desire, I gave up looking for alternatives, assuming that the video capture card was the only method. When The Last of Us arrived on PlayStation 3, I encountered a tweet with a picture attached to the tweet of a person getting ready to record gameplay on their MacBook Pro. I was vastly confused, considering how little customization one has after purchasing a MacBook Pro. I then noticed the hashtag "#Elgato."

I began searching for what an Elgato was. To my amazement/excitement, I finally found what I had been looking for all this time. It was pure coincidence that I even found out about this device.

I ordered my Elgato device on Amazon. It was only $159.95 ($20 less than its original price), and goes by the name "Elgato Game Capture HD PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 360 Recorder for Mac and PC up to 1080P (10025010)" in case you want to search for it on Amazon.

Although the name of the device states "PlayStation 3/Xbox 360," you aren't limited to just recording from a PS3 or an Xbox 360. The Elgato Game Capture HD is also capable of recording from an Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. These are the devices I have, but here's a list of what the Elgato Game Capture HD can record:

• Atari Jaguar,
• Microsoft Xbox
• Nintendo Wii U
• Nintendo Wii
• Nintendo GameCube
• Nintendo 64
• Super Nintendo
• Nintendo Entertainment System
• >Sega Dreamcast
• Sega Saturn
• Sega Genesis
• Sega Master System
• Sony PlayStation 2
• Sony PlayStation 1

(I got the list from Elgato Systems Technical Support forum.)

I mostly use my Elgato Game Capture HD for capturing gameplay from the games I play on my PlayStation 3. I plan to do more with it (such as record gameplay from the Xbox 360 we have back home in Oregon), but I really like what I am able to do with my PS3.

The PS3 does present a bit of a problem as far as recording is concerned. The Xbox 360 presents no problems at all, as all you need to do is connect an HDMI cable from the television to the Elgato device and then another HDMI cable from the Elgato device to the Xbox 360. Using the HDMI port on the PlayStation 3 is impossible due to HDCP (high definition copy protocol), so using an HDMI cable is out of the question. If you want to connect your PS3 to the Elgato Game Capture HD, you will need the PS3 cable that comes included with the PS3. I left mine back home since I never thought I would be in need of it. Fortunately, included in the box was a PlayStation 3 cable, so I was able to connect my PS3 to the Elgato Game Capture HD box without any issues. You can still use an HDMI cable for the television.

Since I've already mentioned what also came in the box, I will go onto mention what else is included. The other items included with the Elgato Game Capture HD and PS3 cable are: Quick Start Guide, USB cable, HDMI cable, and Component adapter. Elgato has you covered in case you're missing any of these cables, which is a huge plus to me.

The USB cable is very important, as you need it to hook up your computer of choice with the Elgato Game Capture HD in order to record video. The videos are then stored onto your computer to do as you please. You can record your voice while you record or you can do so afterwards when you've edited your video. Videos can be edited from the Elgato software or you can use your own video editor of choice to make any changes you deem necessary. The software is free to download from www.elgato.com.

One of the best things about the Elgato Game Capture HD is how simple it is to use it. There really is no learning curve at all. Just connect the device to your computer, television, and the console (or other electronic device) you wish to record from and press the big red circle to begin capturing what is on the screen. Once you're done, you have a couple of choices. You can upload the video onto YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. You can even send the video via email to someone.

Other features include changing the video format to be able to play it on an iPhone or iPad. There's even a feature to be able to play it on an Apple TV. There's a lot you can do with this device, and I love it.

Not only can you upload videos onto YouTube, you can also stream videos live on YouTube or Twitch. If you have a fanbase, you can have them follow you playing a game live, which I think is really cool. When I bought the Elgato Game Capture HD, I couldn't stream videos live on YouTube. A recent update allows you to do so. This goes to show just how supportive Elgato is of their game capture machine, and I am super grateful for that. With PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, videos can be recorded in 1080p as well, which is awesome. Other devices may not record in 1080p depending on how old they are (such as the PS2).

Be aware, though, that you need to know how much storage you have left on your hard drive. Videos can take a lot of room on your computer if you're recording in 1080p, so it is always good to know how many GB is left on the hard drive.

I love how many things you can record using the Elgato Game Capture HD. I was only intending to use it for my PS3, but since I can use it to record on other consoles and machines I plan to do so. This device is so simple to use and everything you need to record comes in the box. This is what I was looking for, and I hope it is of great service to you as well if you're in need of something like the Elgato Game Capture HD.

OVERALL SCORE:

9/10

REVIEW: Nintendo 2DS

If you have read my post about my gaming history, then you will have known that Nintendo has played a big role in my gaming life. It first started with the Nintendo Entertainment System. After that, video games weren't allowed in our house for a couple of years. Shortly thereafter, my brother and I each got our own Game Boy Color. Then came the Nintendo 64; then the Game Boy Advance; then the Nintendo GameCube; and then the Nintendo Wii.

Little by little, my interest in Nintendo began to dwindle. I never was too excited to get a Nintendo DS (the same could have been said about the PSP). When the Nintendo 3DS came out, I started considering buying another Nintendo handheld. It helped that Ocarina of Time was being ported to the 3DS. I ended up buying my friend's Nintendo 3DS. I kind of liked it, but I didn't like how it felt in my hands. I thought the Nintendo 3DS XL would remedy that, since it was much larger than the 3DS. I traded in my 3DS and bought a 3DS XL. About six months later, I sold the Nintendo 3DS XL.

At home, I hardly found myself playing the Wii. It was either PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. When Pokémon X and Pokémon Y were announced, I had begun to regret selling my Nintendo 3DS XL. I didn't want to buy another Nintendo 3DS XL, considering how much money it was going to cost me to buy it and Pokémon X. Of course, an alternative came out of the blue. In early September, Nintendo revealed another member of the 3DS family. That is, the Nintendo 2DS. It is probably a long lost cousin, twice removed or something.

I battled with the idea of buying the Nintendo 2DS. There wasn't too many positive things to find on the Internet. It wasn't the easiest decision, considering I would never hold a 2DS in my hands until I bought one. I did it anyway. I pre-ordered the Nintendo 2DS and waited a month for it to be released. I often wondered if I should cancel my pre-order and buy another 3DS or 3DS XL, but I wanted something new. I already knew I had a hard time with the 3DS or the 3DS XL.

The Nintendo 2DS is the strangest looking device I have seen in a long time. Unlike the other DS systems, the 2DS ditches the clamshell design, replacing that look with a slate-like look. Personally, I really like the slate-design of the Nintendo 2DS, as odd as it may look. It reminds me of the Game Boy Advance, which I really liked during my younger years. To add to the weird design, the 2DS looks somewhat like a wedge. The bottom part of the 2DS is pretty thin, but has a thicker build as you move up. Even though the upper part of the 2DS is thicker, it doesn't feel heavier when you hold it in your hands. Nintendo hasn't stopped making weird looking hardware, and the Nintendo 2DS is a testament of that.

The 2DS's design does have some perks though. I wasn't too impressed with the shoulder buttons of the 3DS and the 3DS XL. They were pretty small. The 2DS's shoulder buttons are big. It feels comfortable placing my index fingers on them. The face buttons are placed perfectly on the 2DS. There were times that I didn't like how the 3DS XL would feel in my hands.

I've also noticed that the D-pad and the A, B, X, Y buttons are a lot softer. Even the Start and Select buttons are soft to the touch. I also like the Home button. It is very similar to the Home button on the Nintendo Wii U game pad.

Because it lacks the clamshell design, the 2DS has a switch that puts the handheld to sleep. Sometimes it is easy to forget where the sleep switch is located, but after some use, it becomes second nature. You'll definitely want to buy the carrying case for the 2DS because it is without the same protection that the 3DS and 3DS XL each have. Another thing that is different on the 2DS is the Wi-Fi switch. Instead, you will have to resort to turning Wi-Fi on and off in the Home Menu. All you need to do is click on the wrench icon. It is a little counter-intuitive, so I just leave Wi-Fi on all the time.

I'm a little surprised that Nintendo didn't improve the battery life though. It doesn't last that long, and that is what disappoints me about the 2DS. I have only had to charge the Nintendo DS lite I recently bought one time, while the 2DS has needed to be charge numerous times because of its poor battery life. You'd think that because it lacks 3D, the battery could have been improved, even by just an hour.

As the name suggests, the Nintendo 2DS lacks 3D capabilities. I never cared much for the 3D on either the 3DS or the 3DS  XL, but I can see myself possibly missing it when I notice moments that would be nice to view in 3D. The thing I know I do miss about the 3DS XL is the screen size. I have gotten accustomed to the 5-inch screen on my PS Vita, so having to play on a screen that 3.5-inches is kind of a letdown. You would think that it wouldn't make that big of a difference, but it really does. I tried playing the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo and it was hard playing on such a tiny screen.

The Nintendo 2DS is geared more towards children. The price tag is the cheapest of the three 3DS devices, but it doesn't feel cheap once you get a hold of it. Not only is it cheap, it also looks cheap as well. Holding it in your hands will make all the difference though.

The Nintendo 2DS should be considered an entry level handheld for those new to video games. I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying this device if you already have a 3DS or a 3DS XL. It just doesn't make much sense. Of course, if you're like me, then I definitely think you should buy the Nintendo 2DS. It is a nice change. I have really liked playing Pokémon X and Resident Evil: Revelations on my 2DS.

OVERALL SCORE:

8/10

REVIEW: Muramasa Rebirth for PlayStation Vita

Ever since its conception, the PlayStation Vita has had a number of ports. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was ported to the PlayStation Vita as a launch title. At Gamescom this year it was revealed that Borderlands 2 would be ported over to the PlayStation Vita. Ports keep on coming, and Muramasa Rebirth is no exception. Originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2009, Muramasa Rebirth retains its beautiful visuals and fast paced action even on the go. Vanillaware knows how to develop great 2D action games.

My first Vanillaware game was Odin Sphere for the PlayStation 2. What caught my attention was the art style of Odin Sphere. You don’t see many games that are hand-drawn nowadays. Vanillaware seems to be fond about doing that, and they do a great job.

Muramasa Rebirth has two playable characters to choose from. These two characters are named Monohime and Kisuke. From the start, you’re able to choose which character to play as. I chose to play as Monohime first, but I don’t think it really matters which character you play as first. Either way, I enjoyed playing as either character.

Monohime is a princess of the Mino Province. She becomes possessed by a blood thirsty spirit who is after the Demon Blade. Kisuke is a ninja on the run. The game starts with him suffering from amnesia. Because of his amnesia, he isn’t sure why he is being hunted. I really enjoyed the story for both of the characters.

Much like Odin Sphere was filled with Norse mythology, Muramasa Rebirth receives its inspiration from Japanese mythology and the Japanese culture. If you’re a fan of Japan, then you’re really going to like this game. It is part of the reason why I ended up buying this game. The game’s setting is during the Genroku era. There are various locales to visit in the world of Muramasa Rebirth.

Everything looks absolutely beautiful. The characters, the world—everything in Muramasa Rebirth, was hand-drawn. The art style is simply breathtaking, and having it all on the Vita’s 5-inch OLED screen makes it even better. The colors definitely have a pop-look to them.

The controls for Muramasa Rebirth are rather simple. You will find yourself pressing the Square button most of the time, but I never found this game to be boring at all. On the contrary, the combat in Muramasa Rebirth is pretty impressive. Even though you’re pressing one button to attack enemies, your attacks can change depending on where you move the left analog stick. You can toss enemies up in the air with a single slash. My only complaint would be that both Monohime and Kisuke play a lot like each other. Once you've figured out how to play as one character, you don't have to worry about learning to play as the other. Despite that being the case, both characters have different animations, so that makes up for it.

Another thing that makes combat unique in Muramasa Rebirth are the various blades you can use. Both Monohime and Kisuke can attack with a katana or a Long Blade. Up to three blades can be equipped at a single time, and alternating between the three blades is easy. All you need to do is press the Triangle button.

Every sword in Muramasa Rebirth has something known as a Secret Art. By pressing the Circle button, a sword’s Secret Art can be activated to deliver a devastating blow. It does have its limits though. Using a Secret Art depletes the Soul Gauge of the sword. Blocking attacks also depletes the Soul Gauge. Once the Soul Gauge is empty, the sword in use breaks. Fortunately, sheathing the broken sword causes it to gradually repair itself until it is ready to use in battle.

Controls may be easy to learn, but that doesn’t stop Muramasa Rebirth from being challenging. You will need to be cautious of your character’s health points and your swords’ Soul Gauge while fighting against foes. It can make the difference between life and death. The best thing to do in this game is to fight everyone and everything that is an enemy. This will help your character level up. Although Muramasa Rebirth is an action-oriented game, there are some RPG elements. It all meshes well together. It doesn’t feel forced and it actually is a nice touch.

Once you’ve completed Muramasa Rebirth, there are still plenty of things to accomplish. There are 108 blades to collect in Muramasa Rebirth. There are also areas that can only be unlocked when you’ve acquired a certain blade. Once these areas are unlocked, you can attempt to complete challenges. Each challenge lets you know which level is best to be at in order to accomplish them. Of course, you aren’t restricted from a challenge if you’re not at that preferred level. It’ll just be hard.

Muramasa Rebirth also has multiple difficulties, adding more replay value. DLC is also expected to be release in early 2014. The DLC will provide four additional characters to play as, along with their own story. Each story will be divided into four episodes.

OVERALL SCORE: 

8.5/10

REVIEW: Blotter for Mac OS X 10.6 or Later

I don't have much going on this week in school. That's what happens when you only have one final.

Since I have been in college, I have been doing my best to be organized. I want to be able to know what it is I am doing throughout the day. I always carry my iPhone 5 on me, so it is easy to take a peek at the Calendar app that comes standard with the phone. I like the Calendar app that comes with all Mac computers, but I have been wanting something more. After watching a video about some neat apps for Mac computers, I thought I would check out Blotter.

Blotter works alongside the Calendar app, so whenever you record something on the Calendar app it will appear on the Blotter app. What I really like about the Blotter app is that you can have it set up to load as soon as your computer is on. I like that it is also transparent, so you will be able to see your background with ease. It also blends with your background, so you'll never find yourself accidentally clicking on it when you meant to click on a different window.

This app also is open to customization. To customize your Blotter calendar, simply click on the Blotter icon on the toolbar and then choose preferences. You can choose the window to be "Narrow," "Normal," or "Full." You can also select "Customize" to manual determine the size of the Blotter window. I chose to go with "Normal" screen window. It doesn't quite cover the entire screen, which I am happy with. It'll cover about two-thirds of the screen. "Narrow" will only have the left column of what "Normal" and "Full" screens show. It'll inform you of the date, what you have in your "To Do" list, and what is happening now and in two hours.

You can also change the layout of the calendar, but I don't find it very useful at all. It only changes the left column. Normal layout is what I have pictured, displaying the "To Do" and "Right Now" list, "To Do" layout only displays the "To Do" list, and "Right Now" layout only shows the "Right Now" list. It is pretty redundant to have the "Right Now" list only, but if you don't have much in your "To Do" list, then I would just leave the layout at "Normal." That's what I have chosen to do.

Just like the actual Calendar app, you can also decide what events will be displayed on the Blotter app. It'll also apply the colors you've chosen in the Calendar app. These colors will appear on the Blotter calendar without any problems. As you will be able to see in the picture, the calendar begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. By clicking on the Blotter icon in the toolbar you will be able to cycle through previous weeks and upcoming weeks. It doesn't stagger at all. I love how fluid this app is.

If you're starting school, I recommend purchasing this app on the Mac App Store. It is $9.99, but completely worth the purchase. I enjoy using this app on my MacBook Pro.

OVERALL SCORE: 8.75/10