Given the popularity of games such as Minecraft, it is not a surprise to see some additional titles take a similar approach to survival. Cryponia has released some new screens for their upcoming Cube Life: Island Survival for the Wii U.
Month in Review - March 2015
Hi everyone! We’ve had a busy month and know that not everyone always has a chance to stop by every day, so for those of you that can’t, here’s our month in review highlighting anything you may have missed! I PY will be your host, and here is the month of March.
So for something a little new, I ventured into a different direction and had quite a time creating what is essentially my first Let’s Play. Using Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, a trusty recorder with a USB plug for easy file transferring, and FRAPS, the following three Play Times were the result.
Moving away from fast paced action and into something much more technical, Nick upgraded his PS4’s Hard Drive with monstrous file size capabilities for a 2.5” format (aka laptops). Catch up in how he did it and what he thought of the drive he put in!
And then… there was the announcement that Elite Dangerous is coming to consoles. While I personally can game on just about any device I want, I prefer console gaming and in particular as I don’t need to worry about if my Video Card is up to the challenge or not! In case you missed it, check out Robert's time with it!
As usual there have been no shortages of gaming in either regard from the Previews to the Reviews. We’ve had run ins with zombies, angels, demons, and monsters in general both big and small from Roguelikes to Tower Defense and over to running Empires or just sailing the open seas.
Hope you’ve all enjoyed the month of March because April is looking crazy!
Pierre-Yves
So for something a little new, I ventured into a different direction and had quite a time creating what is essentially my first Let’s Play. Using Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, a trusty recorder with a USB plug for easy file transferring, and FRAPS, the following three Play Times were the result.
Moving away from fast paced action and into something much more technical, Nick upgraded his PS4’s Hard Drive with monstrous file size capabilities for a 2.5” format (aka laptops). Catch up in how he did it and what he thought of the drive he put in!And then… there was the announcement that Elite Dangerous is coming to consoles. While I personally can game on just about any device I want, I prefer console gaming and in particular as I don’t need to worry about if my Video Card is up to the challenge or not! In case you missed it, check out Robert's time with it!
As usual there have been no shortages of gaming in either regard from the Previews to the Reviews. We’ve had run ins with zombies, angels, demons, and monsters in general both big and small from Roguelikes to Tower Defense and over to running Empires or just sailing the open seas.
Microsoft Xbox One
Microsoft Xbox 360
Nintendo 3DS
Sony PlayStation 3
- Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse
- The Awakened Fate Ultimatum
- Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters
- Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late
Sony PlayStation 4
Sony PlayStation Vita / TV
PC
- Deathtrap
- Gas Guzzlers Extreme
- Gas Guzzlers Extreme: Full Metal Zombie
- Grapple
- The Memory of Eldurim
- There Came an Echo
- Windward
Tabletop
- Pathfinder: Beginner Box Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
- Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4
- San Juan
- Shadows of Esteren Book 0: Prologue
- Shadows of Esteren Book 1: Universe
- Shadows of Esteren Book 2: Travels
- Shadows of Esteren: The Monastery of Tuath
- Sentinels of the Multiverse
- Warmachine Two Player Battle Box
Hardware
Hope you’ve all enjoyed the month of March because April is looking crazy!
Pierre-Yves
ASTRO Gaming A40 + MixAmp Pro (Dying Light Edition) PS3/PS4/PC - Hardware Review
ASTRO Gaming has been developing some of the most professional looking peripherals for consoles for years now. With the explosive growth in gaming in the past decade, ASTRO has taken its considerable knowledge and focused it on creating premiere-quality headsets for modern consoles, PC / Mac platforms, and mobile devices. We, as gamers, have been subjected to some incredibly gaudy peripherals, from wacky glowing controllers to bizarrely-shaped headsets that would look right at home in a crummy D-rated 80's sci fi movie.
Omega Quintet images and trailer
We have the latest trailer and images for the upcoming Omega Quintet from Idea Factory - and it is looking good.
Cities: Skylines - PC Review
City building games have become something of a joke since the latest SimCity game was released. While would-be city planners have been clamoring for some quality city-building goodness all that we seem to be getting is a bug-infested steaming pile of garbage (SimCity), or a rerelease of the exact same game, but with a slightly different user interface (Cities XXL). This forces us to play games that are sometimes nearing two decades old since (SimCity 2000) because we are a sorely under-represented group of gamers
AverMedia ExtremeCap U3 CV710 - Hardware Review
In the last few years Let's Play videos and gaming montages have become an increasingly popular genre of video content. With the advent of services like Twitch, Ustream, and the explosive growth of YouTube, gamers have more options than ever when it comes to recording, streaming, or editing their content. Some gamers are even able to make a living doing what they love, playing games.
Win a copy of Soldner-X 2 for the PS Vita
This is a contest to win a code for the recently released shoot-'em-up Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype on the Sony PlayStation Vita. We have several codes we are giving away for this one, and if you are curious - we enjoyed the game a good deal.
Sentinels of the Multiverse - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Recently I had a chance to play the Sentinels of the Multiverse video game on Steam, and if you happened to see my review, you would know that I was a huge fan of the game and its mechanics. Well, that game certainly served a purpose, because it made me absolutely fascinated with what the card game must be like. Having finally had a chance to get my hands on it, I can unequivocally say that while the video game is good, the card game is even better.
White Night - PC Review
White Night absolutely scores on the front of horror adventure. The stylish visuals, the story and the terrifying, palpable atmosphere are the clear takeaways to be had here. The heart of this game beats with a creepy life of its own. Unfortunately the body of work around the center of this game has plenty of jagged edges that distracted from the experience for me, and might just be deal killers for others.
Bloodsports.TV trailer and information
At the first description, this sounded a bit like the old Monday Night Combat game I used to really enjoy, but this is more of a top-down affair. We have some news, screens and a trailer to show off.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse - PS3 Review
Dragon Ball is what got me into anime when I was younger and I’ve honestly been a fan ever since. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Fairy Tail, all fall into a category that Dragon Ball Z made quite popular. For me it was never the search for the Dragon Balls themselves, or ever the story, but more the fights that were found inside of Dragon Ball Z and the movies. I simply have always loved Dragon Ball’s level of combat. While there have been a slew of Dragon Ball games over the years, Xenoverse is the first to take the player and let them experience the combat with their own character in an original story.
Tesoro Excalibur Spectrum Mechanical Keyboard - Hardware Review
Tesoro has been one of the recent accessory companies that has come out of nowhere in the last few years and has provided gamers with some spectacular pieces. From their solid 7.1 surround headset to the previously reviewed Excalibur backlit mechanical keyboard. We really enjoyed the solid feedback that the Excalibur provided as an affordable mechanical keyboard. With excellent actuation, the Excalibur is still one of our favorite mechanical keyboards and a few months after the release of the original Excalibur, Tesoro refreshes the keyboard with a new backlight feature; full spectrum lighting. Read on to hear our impressions.
Warlocks now available on Early Access
Another Kickstarted title has made its way onto Steam's Early Access, and it plans to be released on consoles later this year as well.
Bladestorm: Nightmare - PS4 Review
Not a direct follow-up to the under-appreciated original Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War back in 2007, Bladestorm: Nightmare takes the original formula and dresses it up with some improved visuals and expanded content. The end result is a game that is definitely not going to suit everyone with its mix of strategy and Dynasty Warriors style of play, but still offers some engaging hooks that had me coming back for more.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris - PS4 Review
I had originally thought that with the reboot of the Tomb Raider series it would have been the end of the older version of Lara Croft. This was a character that had been with gamers throughout various console generations and is still very recognizable. I still have not played the Tomb Raider reboot (I do plan on it soon) but It seems like the older Croft is not ready to lay down her pistols as the top down Action Puzzler Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light recently received a new adventure with the follow up title Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris.
Take a look at Sword Coast Legends
Of all the RPGs coming up in the near future, this one may be the most interesting to me personally. It feels like a callback to the old Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter Nights games of the past. This first video is from a recent play session last week - just in case you missed it.
Evolve - PS4 Review
Evolve feels like one of the trickier games I have tried to review to date. The core game is a lot of fun, but more content would have been big. Of course, more content can be had - for a price. The DLC strategy has a lot of gamers upset, which I can relate to as I personally am not a fan of most DLC on the whole. That being said, the content that is provided is well-balanced and a lot of fun, but I cannot help but feel that for a game with so much polish, that it was handled rather clumsily upon release. In the end, it leaves Evolve feeling like a fun enough game that missed too many opportunities for its own good.
Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea - PS3 Review
The Atelier series is one that we hear at Chalgyr's Game Room really enjoy. We have been covering the numerous Atelier games for years now and it is one of the most unique and interesting JRPG franchises that we have seen in a long time. Focusing primarily on grinding and crafting, with solid story lines, lovable characters, and a unique twist on the genre, the Atelier series has always tried to be a bit different. With Atelier Shallie: Alchemist of the Dusk Sea they are trying to not only refine the franchise's existing staples, but to bring some of the more standard features of the JRPG genre to the series for the first time. How does Shallie pan out? Read on for more details.
The Reject Demon: Toko Chapter 0 - Prelude gets approved on Steam Greenlight very quickly
We have looked at some games by Sekai Project in the past, so of course we became curious when we heard about The Reject Demon: Toko Chapter 0 when it came out on Steam's Greenlight program. This puppy got approved in under a week - impressive.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D - 3DS Review
There are some things that should stay where we left them back in the past. Nostalgia is a powerful thing but then again there are those that I am more than happy to re-receive almost a decade and a half later. I loved Majora’s Mask much more than I could ever love the Ocarina of Time. Yes I said it. MORE. I don’t know what it was all those years ago that made me fall in love with this title, but it’s back once again and like an old friend I am more than happy to receive and enjoy its company once again.
The Memory of Eldurim - PC Preview
The Memory of Eldurim impresses as an action RPG title, but it serves as another very good example as well. While there have been plenty of stories about Early Access games going bad or drawing to a close prematurely, The Memory of Eldurim has so far shown the good that can come from the program as well.
Cursed Sight still has over 20 days left on Kickstarter
Grapple - PC Review
I would like to preface this review by stating that I am not good at puzzle games, or platformers. This is nothing against either genre - they are fun but I am not particularly good at them. Grapple presented a challenge for my meager skills and I only got to level 19 of 90 before I got the dubious achievement of “persistence” (respawn 100 times). Needless to say that Grapple was generally a fun, quirky addition for players who are looking more a unique challenge.
Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype - PS Vita Review
At a glance, Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype should not be quite as addicting as it is. There is nothing inherently wrong with the title, but it also does not feel like it is breaking new ground. However, what Soldner-X 2 brings to the table is a fantastic mesh of brisk action, vivid visuals and pulsing music and sound that creates an overall experience stronger than the sum of its parts.
Win a physical copy of htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary for the PS Vita
How would you like to win a copy of htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary for the Vita? Of course you would! Well then, we have a contest for you.
Warmachine Two Player Battle Box - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Warmachine has been around since 2003, living in the shadow of other tabletop wargames such as Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40k, though their unique take on a very steampunk-style sets them well apart from some of the juggernauts. With a lot of traditional tabletop wargames the focus tends to be on setting up a solid defense then turtling your way towards your enemy and in a gamble to be different than its larger brethren, Warmachine's rules are far more rewarding to the aggressive player. The concept of hunkering down and forcing your opponent into your elaborate defense is nothing new, but Privateer Press wanted something a little different. "Audentes Fortuna Adiuvat," or rather "Fortune Favors the Bold" seems to be a driving force behind Privateer Press's ruleset, but the question is, does fortune really favor the bold in Warmachine?
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series - Episodes 1 & 2 - Xbox 360 Review
Back in the early 2000s (2002 or so?), my brother handed me a book he thought I would like. It was A Game of Thrones, the first book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. At first, I was a caught a little off guard by the fact that the perspective shifted between characters every chapter, but once it got going, I was hooked. I immediately went out and got the next two in the series and joined the fans waiting for book 4…and 5…and now 6.
Who wants more BlazBlue?
We Do! And that is good because we have a new title in the series coming out in the near future. It's more of an updated title really, but welcome all the same.
AeternoBlade - PS Vita Review
AeternoBlade is a Metroidvania following the story of a warrior named Freyja on her quest for vengeance for the destruction of her village at the hands of an Demonic Overlord. Originally released on the Nintendo 3DS this time last year it is seeing a re-release on the Sony PlayStation Vita / TV platforms.
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (Parts 5-7) - Play Time
Over the last two days, we have followed PY and Richard through the first our parts of their Play Time session with the PC game Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds. This is not PY's first attempt at getting some video on Chalgyr's Game Room, however. It began when he had a chance to review video capture software, and included the first two of four videos in that review.
More Wolfenstein you say? I'm alright with that
The last Wolfenstein game was one I only recently happened to pick up, not having had a chance to play it when it released. I have been enjoying it a great deal so far, so my timing seems perfect for this latest announcement by Bethesda.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Now this is what I am talking about.
I am a sucker for a good bestiary/monster manual, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 does not disappoint. With over three hundred monsters ranging from classic fantasy, horrors and constructs, this book is perfect for those looking for that perfect creature-based angle for a campaing.
I am a sucker for a good bestiary/monster manual, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 does not disappoint. With over three hundred monsters ranging from classic fantasy, horrors and constructs, this book is perfect for those looking for that perfect creature-based angle for a campaing.
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (Parts 3-4) - Play Time
Yesterday we took a look at Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, which we reviewed to a high score a few weeks ago. In particular, PY wanted to participate in some multiplayer madness, and decided to record the results to share with others.
Worlds of Magic on Unity 5
I enjoyed my time with Worlds of Magic on the PC, so this latest announcement is great to hear.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Pathfinder is not a new property, and the roleplaying game is often compared to older versions of Dungeons & Dragons because of its themes and dice rolling heavy mechanics. That being said, there is plenty of life in this tabletop game and it does enough things distinctively enough to merit time spent with friends trying to overcome the challenges presented.
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (Parts 1-2) - Play Time
We had a chance to review Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds recently, and Pierre-Yves really enjoyed it. So much so, he rounded up a friend a recorded their session. The result? A handful of Play Time videos and some further commentary from PY.
Magic Duels will be a new type of Magic: The Gathering game
I talked about Magic Origins recently in another preview, but now we have even more information on what is sure to be a popular release.
Pathfinder: Beginner Box - Tabletop and Board Games Review
I have been playing a lot of RPGs over the years, but somehow I never managed to get my hands on Pathfinder until very recently. Having the opportunity to look at, read through and use a trio of different Pathfinder resources, I decided it was time to talk about our group's adventures a bit and my impressions of the gaming materials.
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters - PS3 Review
Visual novels are great, and they have been steadily making their way to North America in more forms on more consoles than ever. Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters is not what I would consider a true visual novel, because there are some additional game elements that make it more of a hybrid with a strategy game. That is not a bad thing at all, and these blended genres open up the door to a wider audience and hopefully in time pave the way for even more games like this.
Elite Dangerous is coming to consoles
Robert was an overwhelming fan of the PC release. Now? We're looking at console versions. I hope he doesn't drool on the floor in here.
Upgrading your PS4 hard drive - Gaming Thoughts
Earlier today I talked a bit about the hard drive of choice I went with when trying to upgrade my storage for the Sony PlayStation 4. It was not really faster than the stock 500GB drive that the system came with, but it offered four times the virtual real estate at a price tag that hovers right around a hundred bucks on Amazon. By now lots of people have upgraded their hard drives, so my experiences might not qualify as new information for those users, but I thought it was still worth documenting the experience in case others run into some of the pitfalls I did, especially now that more hard drives are probably getting filled up than a year ago.
Samsung Seagate HN-M201RAD Momentus SpinPoint ST2000LM003 2TB 2.5" SATA II Notebook Hard Drive 9.5MM - Hardware Review
I was worried about my available hard drive space on the PlayStation 4 the moment it was announced that the console would be shipping with only a 500 gigabyte drive. The large game sizes proved that concern to be valid in short order, where my drive was at maximum capacity about four months later. After playing musical chairs with the saved games on my existing drive over the last year, I finally decided to break down and invest in a new one. The Samsung Seagate Momentus Spinpoint to be precise.
Ori and the Blind Forest - Xbox One Review
"I can't say enough good things about Ori and the Blind Forest." - that was one of the repeated thoughts rolling around in my head as I sat down to think about the time I had just spent with this game. Of course, I am going to try and do this game justice - because I want people to understand what a beautiful, engaging and well-designed Ori and the Blind Forest is. I might not be able to say enough good things about this game, but I am going to try.
Shadows of Esteren: The Monastery of Tuath - Tabletop and Board Games Review
I can say this for Shadows of Esteren - they know how to get a Kickstarter funded. I love that the team behind this property has such grand plans, as evidenced from their recently funded Kickstarter that helps to cross mediums. It also shows that the materials have plenty of room to grow. The first example of this is the campaign Shadows of Esteren: The Monastery of Tuath.
A trailer for A Crowd of Monsters
Everything about this looks great. The visual style, the storytelling - I am really curious to see how this one develops.
