Metal Slug 3 Review

Neo Geo Box Art

     Hello everyone and happy Wednesday, hope you had a good Valentine's and Presidents Day, today I'm hopping into my favorite arcade game, and in my opinion is part of the best running arcade series there ever was: Metal Slug 3.  Developed and published by SNK, Metal Slug 3 released in March 23, 2000 for arcade systems worldwide.  The third game in the popular run and gun series, MS3 added new features to series such as more weapons and bosses, along with a little editing to the levels.  The objective of the game is to run and shoot at enemies as you progress through the level, throwing grenades and picking up other guns along the way.  This can be accomplished by freeing POW's who will give you weapons or points.  There are many levels with many different enemies ranging from soldiers to zombies to aliens, really cool stuff.  There many weapons to take on your opponents with including the machine gun, rocket launcher, flamethrower, shotgun, a knife used for melee attacks, and your basic pistol. Then there is the most powerful weapon of all; the Metal Slug, a versatile tank like vehicle that kicks ass and is decked out with machine gun turrets and

Marco defeating a boss with a friend in a Metal Slug

powerful cannons that blow enemies away. While Metal Slug is fun going solo, it is double the fun going with two players allowing you to work together and conquer bosses with a better success rate.  While I hope that at one point in your lives you played Metal Slug at a pizza arcade or someplace with arcade games.  This game will always hold a special place in my heart, as I'd like to think it does for anyone who played arcade games as a child.  I hope you all have enjoyed this review and I will be back next week with another post.  Until then, have fun. This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

Since there was no trailer for the game, heres some gameplay 

Jurassic Park: The Game Review

American Box Art

  Hello everyone and happy Wednesday, I am back with another game by Telltale this week that started the trend that evolved into their Walking Dead series, it was Jurassic Park: The Game that created the interactive gameplay that evolved into the Walking Dead's interactive gameplay system. Jurassic Park was developed and published by Telltale on November 15, 2011.  For those of you who have seen Jurassic Park, which I hope is all of you have, this game takes place in the middle of the movie when Dennis Nedry has stolen these dinosaur embryos from the lab housing them, however in order to do this, he had to shut down the security system, which turns off the power to the fences. Basically allowing the dinosaurs inhabiting the park to turn the island into their own little playground, and the people are the toys that you break into little pieces because your a 7 1/2 ton dinosaur that eats little scientists for breakfast.  So through the game you take the role of many characters, such Gerry Harding, the chief vet, his daughter Jessy, Nedry's associates send to collect the embryos, and even soldiers sent to rescue the survivors on the island. The gameplay utilizes quick time events that allow you to make decisions about certain outcomes of the game, you must also move fast to complete tasks or

This isn't going to end well

just to avoid being eaten by enemies. While I find the game fun and enjoyable, it is also great for Jurassic Park fans, going into greater depth of what happened of Isla Nublar.  Though there is alot of cool elements in this game, I would sadly have to say that it is not worth thirty dollars, maybe fifteen, and while I know Telltale put alot of work into this game, I'd wish they bring down the price a bit.  While receiving mixed reviews from multiple critics that called it a "interactive movie", while it is that in simple form, I believe that this game greatest achievement was probably its contribution to the Walking Dead's system of gameplay, which was first used in this game.  While I wouldn't suggest buying it for its full price, their are other methods that can be used to obtain it.  I'll leave this post with that thought floating around, while I apologize for this short review, there is not much to talk about in the game.  Oh, one other thing: the main plot is basically these guys trying to escape the islands, big shocker.  Hope you have enjoyed this post and I will be back Wednesday with another post.  This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

A behind the scenes trailer that explains the game pretty well

Starwhal: Just The Tip Review

Soundtrack Cover, but it also represents my needs for a cover

     Hello everyone and happy Wednesday, hope your all doing well and had a nice weekend.  For all those who watched the game last Sunday, I understand sadness for some and the happiness for other, but the all around feeling that was more of fluke than a game.  Now then, on a brighter note, I am reviewing a small 2-4 player indie game that is loads of fun and loads of laughs, that game is Starwhal: Just the Tip. Mimicking the style of 1980's arcade games, Starwhal is filled with a heart pounding soundtrack and a space background that moves as you play.  Developed and published by Breakfall, a small indie company based out of Ottawa, Canada, this game is still in demo stage of development, but is said to be released February 17, 2014 on Steam and possibly consoles in the future.  The purpose of the game is to pierce the heart of the opposing player's narwhal (if you do not know what that is, leave this page right now and write me a twenty page essay on narwhals) until their hearts are all gone,

Four player hard-core action

depending on how many hearts and rounds there are, the gameplay can vary.  While I personally think the game is really awesome as it is, the developers at Breakfall are gathering donations on Kickstarter to improve the game and work on its transfer to other ports.  The game shows much progress and I believe with support and money this game will become known to every person in this country.  If any of the developers are reading this right now, I wish you luck in your escapade and Andrew Jobin, I hope you launch that narwhal to the stars.  For everyone reading this, you should all check out the game, its free and fun, you can find it at http://www.starwhal.com/.  Thank you all for reading this post, check the game, and until next time, have fun.  This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

Since there isnt a official trailer, I thought I would 

just use a "Let's Play" by Achievement Hunter.  

You only have to watch it for five minutes to get the

idea, but these guys are pretty f*cking funny, so i'd 

stick around.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Review

North America Box Art

     Hi everyone and happy Wednesday, its been a couple weeks since my last post and I believe there's no better way to come back into the mix than with zombies.  So today I will be talking about Red Dead Redemption's fifth downloadable content pack; Undead Nightmare.  Developed by Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar North, and published by Rockstar Games, this awesome DLC was released on October 26, 2010.  Mixing the last days of the Old West with a zombie apocalypse, this kick-ass add on really gives you your money's worth.  As in the main game you play as the main protagonist, former out-law John Marston.  The year is 1911 and John has returned to his after a month spent away from home hunting down the outlaws he once called friends, the government has returned his family to him.  Now, with a bright future ahead of him, John tries to pick up the pieces of his ranch and keep on living.  Our story begins one stormy night when John is riding home from town on his carriage, he parks the carriage and puts the horses away.   It seems a normal evening as John talks to his son and wife about life.  Abigail asks where Uncle is, (the old farm

John rescuing a girl trapped in a house surrounded by the dead

hand), John replies that he is probably hunkered down somewhere dry until the storm passes.  Several hours later when everybody is asleep in their bed, Uncle bursts through John's bedroom, a zombie.  John and Abigail stir from their bed, John yells at Uncle to calm down and then proceeds to whack him over the head with a lamp, apparently knocking him unconscious.  John runs out of the bedroom telling Abigail that he's going to get his gun, he runs back from the barn with his double-barrel shotgun to find Uncle chasing Abigail, Uncle bites Abigail in the neck and then John shoots Uncle in the head.  He asks if she is alright, the response is that she doesn't feel so good.  John's sixteen year old son jack comes out, leaning over his mother to see if she is alright she jumps up and bites Jack.  John, understanding the situation runs back into the barn and grabs his lasso.

My personal favorite, War, he looks cool and sets zombies on fire

He comes out and hog-ties them both, leaves them in the main bedroom with food and sets off to find a cure.  Throughout the game, John will be journeying far and wide looking for a cure, encountering undead animals such as bears, cougars, wolfs and warthogs.  Mythical beasts will begin to appear across the vast landscape, creatures such as the Chupacabra, Sasquatch, and a Unicorn.  John also can break and ride the Four Horses of The Apocalypse; War, Famine, Pestilence and Death, each with their own unique effect on zombies; from blowing the undead's heads up to setting them on fire.  They all New equipment is introduced such as the torch replacing the knife or obtaining the blunderbuss, a weapon that basically vaporizes multiple zombies at once.  Phosphorous coating can be applied to bullets to set zombies on fire, useful if your accuracy is bad because the fire will kill the zombie.  Another thing is that the only way to kill the zombie is to destroy the brain; headshots only.  There is also zombie bait that

Now would be a good time to run like hell

attracts zombies and if you combine it with dynamite you get Boom Bait, explosive zombie-attractive bait = awesome. Activities like capturing wanted criminals has been replaced with finding missing people and clearing out gang hideouts of bandits has been replaced with clearing out graveyards. Money is no longer used, instead you will be paid in ammunition, bullets are scarce, so keep an eye on your supply. The player must also clear out towns in order for them to become safe zones in which they can sleep and fast travel.  The campfire allowed the player to fast travel if they set it up anywhere in the wilderness, but now, you can only travel from towns or outposts that have been cleared out.  Random attacks by bandits have been replaced with random zombie hordes trying to eat you.  World events, such as discovering campfires for storytelling have been replaced with encountering people eating human arms acting LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG, shotgun to the face, you see people eating human body parts, shotgun to the face.  You see total nuts feeding human flesh to there undead wife and sharing the meal with them, shotgun to the face.  The world has become dangerous, more dangerous than it was, the dead rising up and people going crazy.  Really awesome DLC, know you'll love it, ten bucks only.  Hope you have enjoyed this review and I will be back with another post next week.  Until next time. This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

HD available for maximum expierence

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess Review

North American Box Art

     Hello everyone and happy 2014, hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and a Happy New Year because we are back with another year of  blogs coming our way.  To kick this year off, I will be reviewing what has been arguably called one of the best games of all time.  That game is The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess.  Probably my favorite Nintento game and what is called the best game in the series (opinionated statement), Twilight Princess has been praised for its gameplay, story and all around feeling that makes it a Zelda game.  Developed and published by Nintendo, the game was released on November 19, 2006 in North America.  Ever since Ocarina of Time came out in November 1998, fans had been praising the 3D aspect that was brought to once 2D series.  Twilight Princess introduced and reintroduced new things into the series, one that was highly anticipated by fans was a turn for realism, as seeing in prior games that seemed animated, this one seems more lifelike, also bringing back a older more favorable Link that fans preferred over the childish Link seen in past games.  Throughout the Zelda series Link has taken on multiple personas, and in Twilight Princess he takes on yet another awesome hero personality.
     Now to set the stage for whats to come.  This game and the rest of the Zelda series takes place in the mythical land of Hyrule, a land created by the three goddesses. Before they left this world, they sealed a

The Triforce

small portion of their power inside the Triforce, a magical power that could grant any desire.  However, one would have to posses an equal amount of all three things that make up the Triforce, Power, Wisdom, and Courage.  One who touches the Triforce without this balance will be given the piece that best represents their soul, while the other pieces would go to the two chosen by destiny.  You are Link, a farm hand in Ordon Village, living a happy simple life among the occupants of this small town.  Your day to day life consists of herding sheep, impressing and being idolized by the town's children with athletic and slingshot skills, all the while, more than likely having a crush on the mayor's daughter, Ilia.  One day you are herding sheep and hurt your horse, Ilia gets mad and takes Epona, your horse, away to the spring near the village to tend to her.  Before hand you are talking to the mayor about delivering a gift requested by the royal family of Hyrule, and you need your horse to get it to the castle in time.  So Link runs after Ilia when they are attacked by creatures on warthogs who kidnap Ilia and the children and knock Link unconscious.  Link wakes up and follows the path of destruction across a rope wood bridge to come across a wall of twilight inscribed with odd symbols.  Link is grabbed and pulled through by a shadow beast who releases him after the Triforce of Courage appears on his arm, turning him into a wolf instead of a spirit like the rest of beings who are trapped in the twilight, unaware of what is happening.

Midna on top of wolf Link

After transforming, Link passes out and is carried away by the shadow beast, waking up chained on the left leg.  A shadow imp like creature appears and offers to help him escape in exchange for his obedience to her, her name is Midna.  After fighting through, shadow beasts, monsters, and other things outside the prison Link gets into the Royal chamber of the castle to find Princess Zelda.  She explains that a Twili creature named Zant attacked the city and overwhelmed the guards. Zelda choose to surrender to ensure her people were not slaughtered by Zant, and thus Hyrule was blanketed in Twilight.  She tells Link the only way to restore light to the land is to restore the four light spirits of Hyrule.  So now Link must set out to restore the light to the land, defeat Zant, all while going in and out of Twilight and eventually finding the Master Sword, and becoming the Hero of Time he was destined to be.  Whew, there is so much lore surrounding this series that its crazy, that was only a little portion of what is to be said, but it would take me a few days to write down.  There are many tools you will also be using in your journey including the Hero's Bow, the Clawshot; a device that allows you to grapple onto objects.  The Wind Gale Boomerang that allows Link to hurl a little gust of wind that brings things back to him, bombs to blow things up and of course, his trusty sword and shield.  While there are many other toys and gadgets that Link takes on his adventure, they are many to name.  I would call this one of the greatest games of all time, truly bringing a unique experience to the gaming world instead of the same FPS shooter that releases annually these days (author looks over to Call of Duty, then quickly looks away).  I would probably give this game a 10/10, thats how much of a masterpiece this game.  Although, for those who buy, it does start slow for the first two hours, then it explodes with all sorts of awesome.  Point is, awesome game, looking forward to a modern remake (wink, wink, nudge Nintendo) I'm sure it will be awesome when it  happens.  I hope you have all enjoyed this post and I will be back on January 29, finals coming up and all.  Until next time, game on.  This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

Watch in full-screen with 720hp on for maximum effect of awesomeness 

The Walking Dead Season 2 Announcement

   

Title Cover

     While I seldom post announcements, this is a special case.  Episode 1 of the Walking Dead Season 2 was released on Monday, December 16 of 2013.  I have been awaiting this with high anticipation since the conclusion of season 1, and the release of 400 Days.  Telltale has been working a few projects since the concluding of Season 1 including a game that I reviewed at a earlier date called the Wolf Among Us which takes place in the setting of the comics series Fables, but with their own little twist, but you may consult by review of that at a later time.  Lets play catch-up with the events of season 2.  ALERT SPOILERS: For those who have not played Episode 5, DO NOT READ THIS.  Unless you don't intend to play the game.  To read the blacked out text, highlight it and will be readable:

In episode 5 of season 1, after Lee was bitten by a zombie.  The player has two options, either cut off Lee's bitten arm or leave it be.  Regardless of what the player chooses, Lee WILL die.  This made me very sad.  Throughout episode 5, you are charged with rescuing Clementine from the Stranger who has captured her.  In the fast pace of turning events, Kenny (Lee's best buddy who's been through so much shit with Lee, including Kenny losing his son due to being bitten by a zombie, then Lee has to shoot him so Kenny didn't have to) sacrifices himself to save Ben, another guy in the group.  But it turns out that Ben impaled himself on a balcony that broke and fell as he tried to jump from it to a near-by rooftop to join the others.  Being surrounded on both sides of the alley by zombies, Kenny tells Lee to get out of there and save Clementine.  Lee tells Kenny he's not leaving him, but Lee is locked out of the ally and can only hopelessly watch as Kenny is surrounded by walkers.  Kenny stayed behind to shoot Ben to make sure he didn't suffer.  Eventually after fighting through large hordes of zombies to the hotel where Clementine is being held by the strange man.  After Lee finds the room where Clementine is being held, he talks to the stranger, fights the stranger, and then kills the stranger.  Lee opens the doors that exit the room, Lee comes face to face with a walker, who doesn't attack him, but walks by him towards Clementine.  Lee kills the zombie and then makes the relation that the walker didn't attack him because he had walker blood all over him.  Lee smears this on Clementine so the walkers outside do not attack her.  After doing this, they take to the streets, walking among the dead, unnoticed by the zombies.  Clementine sees her parents, now zombies, she freezes, Lee tries to get her to look away, but passes out from his infectious bite, which is killing him.  Clementine somehow drags a full grown man through a bunch of zombies into a jewelry shop where there safe.  Lee tells her that he was bitten and that she has to leave.  After a fight with a walker for his gun and keys, Clementine has to kill Lee.  I cried, tears were running down my face, the sad music playing, and then she shoots him.  The epilogue shows Clementine outside of Savannah by herself, she stops to rest for awhile and sees in the distance two figures walking on a hill.  They stop and look at her.  The season ends there. 

So in season 2, the story of Clementine will continue, for better or worse.  Also the choices you made in season 1 and 400 Days will cross over to this, so I hope you choose wisely.  I hope you all have enjoyed this announcement and I will be back next year with more reviews.  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off with good cheer.

Awesome Trailer

Doom Review

Cover Art for Doom

     Hello everyone and happy Wednesday, today I'm going to be reviewing one of the first FPS games to grace the earth, and its still good today, maybe not by graphics, but by gameplay.  That epic game is Doom.  First released on December 10, 1993 by id Software.  For all the FPS fans out there, you basically have this game to thank for the rise in popularity of the shooting genre.  This game sparked a revolution for its kind, greater titans like Half Life and Halo: Combat Evolved, but the big push came from DOOM.  Now then, lets set the scene for this ground breaking adventure.  While the protagonist is never named, he is simply called "Doomguy" by the community.  Though there is no cinematic opening or cut-scenes to direct the plot, there is instead a interactive system similar to Half Life, where the player lives the game.
     Anyway the game starts in the distant future a company known as the UAC (Union Aerospace Corporation) is the military's biggest contractor, also conducted top secret experiments in its waste disposal plants on Mars. Interdementional technology has given man the technology to stretch across the galaxy. This has yielded incredible results for the UAC, allow portals to connect Mar's two moons, Fobos and Demos.  While objects can pass through the portals without being harmed, the same cannot be said for humans, who become hostile after being sent through the portal, following that they explode.  Now talking about you, you are a marine who assaulted his superior officer for being ordered to fire on civilians.  As punishment, Doomguy has been stationed on Mars with absolutely nothing to do. But then suddenly the station receives a urgent distress call from Fobos saying the something hostile has come out of the portal and that Demos has disappeared from Mar's orbit altogether.  Being the only combat-ready team for millions of miles, it fall to your squad to investigate this distress beacon on Fobos.  After arriving at the station, you are put on lookout duty in the hanger in which you arrived.  Then suddenly you hear your squad mates being slaughtered over the radio by demons, yes, demons from hell.  It seems that the portal technology that UAC was using has opened a gateway to Hell.  Now it falls to you, to fight your way through demons to find out whats going on and to eliminate every enemy that stands in your way.  Also your squad took all the guns and left you with only a pistol, brilliant, eh?
     You will also be riding alone for this adventure. However, you will be armed with a large arsenal of weapons including the pistol, shotgun, mini-gun, rocket launcher, plasma rifle, chainsaw and energy cannon.  While there are even more weapons Doomguy has at his disposal,it would take to long to name them all.  The games combat system revolves around fast movement and a faster trigger finger.  While encounter the often possibility of encountering many enemies at once, you will have to move fast around them while shooting at them, fun!  Throughout the world the player will find pickups including guns, ammo, armor, temporary power-ups, and most importantly, KEYS!  These red, blue, and yellow cards will allow the player to unlock certain colored doors, this is a huge concept displayed throughout the game and finding these cards is your only hope of unlocking these doors, without them you will not be able to progress throughout the level and overall game, so look harder.  Doom was a huge milestone when it came to the FPS genre, and even today we must thank it for making action gaming what it is today.  I hope you have enjoyed this post and I will be back next week.  This has been Jacob Arnold, signing off.

While Doom never had its own trailer, this 

community made one was the only one I 

could find, you only need to watch the first 

two minutes to get the idea.

Also note that this has been slightly modernized

and is not the classic doom