Late Hero Killing Monsters

Behold!

When I was a drinker I always said that there is nothing like a loud thud! ay yjr ass end of a gig (the rebel wind exclamation mark included). I was a Witcher virgin, my innocence untapped by the moon wraiths and cursed ones of this (other) world, but ever since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt arrived at the tavern, I kept a sly eye on it from the fast cooling embrace of Elder Scrolls like a sh@g happy Romeo.
The reviews were many, as was the praise on internet forums where Geralt's fans only had good words to spend on the game. Sure there were minor grumbles and trolls looking for a wind up but but the overall vibe was you need Witcher 3 in your life so I dutifully piled in to the world of Geralt of Rivia to crack some supernatural ass.

Skyrim Remaster

It was only a matter of time but the eagle has landed (or to be more accurate, the dragon). I know, I know, a lot of gamers complain about the current gen's remasters, myself included, but admit it, SKYRIM REDUX IS WANT! And the best thing? It hits the shelves 28 October. Ace, hopefully it comes without the glitches that stained the previous gen consoles (though this is Bethesda so i'll whisper it).
It looks pretty damned tasty in the video (above( and this time us lowly console owners are getting mods that featured in Fallout 4. Its looking pretty win win but pricing is going to be the main issue for most. Anything over £30 will be a tough sell considering its now 5 years old and I cant have been the only one who bought it twice when the Legendary edition was released. £20 would be a day one insra buy for me.

Batman v Superman

Okay first off, this isn't a "OMG I was wrong! Batman v Superman movie is aces! Boom" type of post. Im not going to pretend I enjoyed it to appear cool because most everyone else don't like it. Those games are nit for me, there is no point. Batman v Superman is most definitely not a POW! Best ever Batman!! THWAK! Take that you Marvel boys!
Every movie made dealing with our beloved superheroes (are these modern gods in an age bored with sandal footed prophets?) will have a mish mash of good and bad, a helping of self indulgence, camp villains and the obligatory wise butler somewhere in the wings (under the cape?)

**** Switches off BatHype ****

I went into this movie with the BatBlinkers fully on (and yeah, I'll drop the Bat thing now) promise). If you read my older posts, you can read for yourself my first thoughts on Affleck stepping into the Bat boots (sorry ahem) and I stand by it. A bit. Michael Keaton is still my favourite Bats but Ben Affleck is now my Bruce Wayne. True story.
Its no secret that Snyder came into the movie with Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns graphic novel in mind and it shoes in Affleck's hero. This isn't a fresh faced Caped Crusader eager to flex his muscles and right the worlds wrongs. Its an older Batman who has seen Gotham feed on its weak and turn good men bad. Affleck has the air of haunted, his eyes tired not as hungry.
Its not popular with some comic fans but im excited about future instalments (should Ben Affleck choose to be part of the next one of course).

In short then, from the wreck we comic fans feared, both superheroes complimented each other rather well (though others will hold onto their disaster film). Im fortunate enough that although I love the DC/Marvel worlds, im not as hardcore as some and able to watch the films as films, and not obsess over tiny (or even bigger) details. More power to those who do.

One of the cool things I like about these superhero films are the subtle hints at future characters and storylines. The suit covered with graffiti gave me high hopes that the Red Hood will be coming into the mix at some point (Jason Todd was the second Robin).



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Lords of the Fallen

I am a wimp when it comes to Demon's Soul. There I said it. Its a great game, and I can see why it has the fans it has but even after playing videogames since the days of the ZX Spectrum and Commodore, my skills were no match for it (though I will get back to it one day because like I say, it really is a good game).
In the meantime im going to try and get some schooling on what is considered to be Demon's Soul lite, the gorgeous looking Lords of the Fallen. I know it won't be a cinch, and im prepared for the undoubtedly series of frustrations that will follow but this has been on my To Buy list for a while now and time is ripe for challenge.

*insert coin* Kung Fury!

Regular readers will know that I love retro videogames and 1980s action movies. Good thing they both seem to be regular haunts of the retro necromancers, bent on breathing another life into their pulpy neon dashed bodies. Ace.

If you've played the Far Cry 3 DLC Blood Dragon, this is familiar ground. Kung Fury is a balls out, OTT homage to 1980s games like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon. It was crowd funded through Kickstarter and stars a maverick cop who travels back in time to kill big boss, Hitler.
The mini movie (see above) features vikings and dinosaurs and hefty dollops of cheesy one-liners a la Commando.

Fallout 4: Love Shack, Baby

As anyone who isn't living in a real nuclear wasteland knows, the mighty Fallout 4 was unleashed yesterday, sent to run riot in the wild like a ghoul strung on Jet. To non gamers this news was a mere passing trend on social media, but in the gaming world it landed on shelves like...well like a mini nuclear blast of its own and if you happen to be a fan of Bethesda's games you are no doubt still feeling the aftershock.
Its been a while since I splurged on a special edition but that Pip Boy edition was always going to be mine and I had it on preorder for months. Aye, its nothing more than plastic tat that will gather dust on a shelf but who cares right? Right? Only live once and all that jazz.
Now anyone who has played an Elder Scroll or Fallout game (especially on consoles) are well aware that as far as bugs and glitches go, Bethesda titles have been plagued by them In fact I replayed Fallout 3 to fuel the hype and the game still freezes so when I slid the disc into the PS4 last night, I didn't have the usual excitement big releases usually bring (which is kinda sad because being gamers the hype is part of the ritual.)
So imagine my surprise when two hours into Fallout 4, digging through the ruins of Boston, I had no issues. None. Nada. In fact it felt the complete opposite and played smooth as mammoth cheese (oops, wrong game that's Skyrim.)

FF 3 days

I don't want to be 'that guy' or anything, but still no bugs and I play a good few hours of an evening. Sure ive read about floating shacks and companions getting stuck or lost but Fallout 4 has been buttery smooth whenever I boot up (PS4).

Teh Nerdgasm

Face it, Fallout 4 is harder than FO3 and New Vegas and if you are going to stay alive then you'll be needing skills/perks. Here's what ive been topping up as priority skills.

Become Shadow

Like I said, this game is harder than previous games and early on your rookie ass would be better off avoiding Fallout's happy campers like raiders, Super Mutants, Ghouls, Mirelurks and and... look just everything okay. Invest in some sneak skills, your pretty ass will thank you for it believe me.

Gun Nut

There are times when stealth just doesn't cut it and your club footed guy/gal WILL kick off a floor trap or worse a landmine. So either be ready with a stockpile of stimpacks and chems, or learn to shoot. Fast.

Physician Heal Thyself

Some gamers think firearm skills more important than medicine but the wise man knows better. Nobody is getting help if you have more holes than Swiss cheese, so lap up those medic skills.


So, Any Downers ?

Sure! Fallout 4 is not the perfect game we all hoped it would be. Granted everyones opinions differ but for me? The inventory system can be very fiddly, especially when facing a crew of psycho raider scum. If you aren't ready then prepare thy doom (its worth noting Fallout 4 is harder than previous games too). Then there is the map. It feels smaller than Fallout 3 despite wandering the wilds and discovering loads of new settlements. I just don't get the same wow! This game is huge feeling. Of course this might be down to 'sandbox fatigue', play enough open world games and they all shrink due to not being fazed any more.
Settlers camps>. When I first saw Preston Garvey (current leader of the Minutemen) I thought he'd be a badass like Isran from Dawnguard, the Skyrim DLC. He's not. Indeed from the moment you set him and his chums up at Sanctuary, he begins to irritate. All settlers do. Bunch of whiny, demanding yoghurt knitters looking to me to help them survive. If they helped, I wouldn't care but the basttards leave everything to me. If the game allowed it, I would have killed them all long ago.

Anyway, im heading back to the wilds of Boston and kill more sh!t. Lock and load.


Fallout Onesie? I'll Take Two

Fallout 4: You're Special!

With Fallout 4 due to drop in early November (and yes, my preorder ace looking Pip-Boy edition is reserved), the hardcore Wastelanders among us have already started to think about our first character build. The skills and perks are many and each one will help you create the type of character YOU wish to make. Love shooting stuff? Grab some gun skills. Want to be more efficient in patching yourself up after one Deathclaw meeting too many? The medicine/science skills await. Sticky fingers? Ah, you'll be needing the sneak and lock pick perks. And so on.
Newbies to this might be starting to have doubts because on paper, creating your very own Fallout hero/villain sounds a bit naff. Right? Wrong! Once it falls into place, starting out anew is strangely addictive, so much so in fact that Fallout fans regularly start new characters. Its even got a name on gaming forums: restartitus.

SPECIALO is the acronym standing for skills: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck. You get limited points to load them with so use wisely.
I find 6 Strength, 6 Perception, 5 Endurance, 7 Charisma, 7 Intelligence, 6 Agility and 5 Luck suits the type of build I use.