Skyrim: new Hearthfire DLC

More DLC for the second best game of all time? Yes please! Skyrim Hearthfire looks a lot like Bethesda has looked at The Sims or Minecraft and gone "Yes. We need some of that in Skyrim. Make it done." This 400 MSP pack comes with the ability to buy a plot of land, get materials and then build your own home which you then maintain and add with furnishings and more and more rooms... Wow.

When I first saw rumours of this a few weeks back, I thought it was going to be a rip off and that I wouldn't need it. Then I saw the trailer... Yeah, it looks awesome with making your own rooms, being able to use fallen foes as trophies... And there's mounted mud-crabs obviously.

I hope the way it's laid out onto the controller makes it easy to make majestic houses and I do yearn for something in Skyrim to be glitch-free... Hopefully, this can deliver and rival The Sims in house making.

And if not? It's only 400 MSP.

SkyrimAddict

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vb9NiZohcw

Cool YouTube Users: OfficialNerdCubed

I initially found this YouTube channel when I was searching for Bully (video game made by RockStar) and I found a "Let's Play" by Nerd³. Needless to say, I was quite hooked just with that first video. Featuring the leader of the Procrastinators (the subscribers are the Procrastinators :S) he basically just does Let's Plays of various games. Of course, the person that plays the game has to be entertaining in his commentary and our leader is, indeed, very funny. Maybe it's because he gives out tonnes of random British culture references (he's British, funnily enough) but his humour is certain to cause anything from a giggle to ROFL or even get to the point of LMAO, though I'm quite sure that doesn't happen in real life... quite sure.

The video games he picks are also part of the entertainment. Games played include AAA titles such as Sleeping Dogs, Spec Ops: The Line and LA Noire, hints at his childhood with Hard Time, Robot Wars and I Wanna Be The Guy: Gaiden and just random fun games such as Sims 3, Red Faction: Guerrilla and Spore. There's also a kind-of obsession with simulators with Bus, Garbage Truck and Farming simulators... Boring games there but our leader is great at making them entertaining by failing miserably, speeding and parking a tractor on top of a car! Hilarity ensures.

I am quite a new Procrastinator and I haven't even watched a quarter of his videos but, when I get the time, I really do hope to; he makes any game have personality and fun. Except Tom Clancy: H.A.W.K 2... That game didn't deserve it apparently xD

Oh and below my user name is my favourite Let's Play by NerdCubed; it's nearly 50 minutes of pure laughter.

SkyrimAddict

Nerd³ Plays... London 2012: The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dJipUiJ9wY&feature=plcp

GTA 5

I haven't played San Andreas. I'm not a third through the story of GTA 4. I haven't got the expansion packs/DLC for GTA 4. In this respect, I shouldn't be that excited by GTA 5 due to my lack of knowledge of the series. But I am VERY excited. Looking through a few released screen shots of the game-in-progress, it is hard not to have great anticipation for a game that's been nearly four years in the making and looks stunning. The cars look amazing with better graphics and better control and I can't wait to have a go.

Grand Theft Auto 5 will be set in the city of Los Santos with it's sandy beaches, tall skyscrapers and poor slums that make the whole place sound like a juxtaposition. Of course, there's more than just the city this time with mountains, farmlands and a sea to explore. It really does look breath-taking and it is said that Los Santos by itself will be bigger than San Andreas and Liberty City combined... Yes, please.

With great graphics comes the speculation that this game will be for a next generation console. If this is the case then I have at least one reason to buy a new games console. xD

SkyrimAddict

Screenshot - http://cdn.medialib.oxm.co.uk/screens/screenshot_30958.jpg
Trailer -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkoHAzjnUs

Grand Theft Auto IV... A very late review

Having strict parents is somewhat a burden when it comes to what I can and can't do. An example is that I wasn't allowed to stay up later than 10 pm on weekdays when I was a bit younger and, until very recently, I've had to follow the PEGI system of age ratings. I'm 17 and all the way through my life I have only played 3s, 12s and 16s with a few BBFC age ratings of 15 too. After seeing that I'm actually quite mature, my parents have finally allowed me to buy and play age 18 rated games. By looking through to the back of my Official Xbox Magazine, I realise that about a quarter of the games are age 18 rated. One of the 10/10s has always been Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) and, due to this recommendation and all my friends having played it, I have always wanted to see what Liberty City is like to play in.

I got the game from Amazon.co.uk for about £15 and I've played about 6 hours so far. GTAs have always been open world games that allow you to do whatever you want with a hint of story of reaching the top of the pile of criminals. The game play feels a bit weird as the buttons aren't as responsive as I would have liked but GTA IV makes up for this with the feeling of awesomeness as you commit grand theft auto/hijacking a car. A simple press of the Y button does this and the following police chase is a lot of fun, even if I am really bad a driving and I almost always crash into the back of a fellow motorist. So far I've used my fists, a knife, a baseball bat and a pistol for weapons with my favourite being the baseball bat... It's just fun to use, I swear!

There's a lot of awesomeness in other aspects of the game too; I, for one, love the radio stations in the car. I always listen to "Liberty Rock" radio station and occasionally Evil Woman by ELO or Mamma by Genesis plays and it feels genuinely great to cruise around, and smashing into things, while one of your favourite songs is being played in-game. I also love Niko Bellic and his attitude to most things; kick the living shit out of your problems and they will go away. Yay.

Criticisms of a 10/10 games seem to be in supply however; the camera angles when driving are always too far or too near... A middle ground would be nice. You can die really easily which sucks at the start when you have to pay to get healed up. It's a bit unrealistic when you date girls and they say it's been an OK date despite the fact that you've totalled her car... Also, when I try to cross a bridge there's always a police barricade there and they always kill me as I go past... Is that normal for the start of the game?

Conclusions to be made include that it's a great game to play (good game play, story and freedom) but whether it's a 10/10 game... It will have to pull out all the stops to get that status. :P

SkyrimAddict

Looking Back...: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Having loved the Star Wars franchise since my discovery of it when I was about 6/7 years old, I have gone on to buy each of the six films with my favourite being Attack of the Clones. Because of my early obsession with the brand, I have always been interested in Star Wars-esque video-games that come out with several for the DS and Game Boy Advance being among a small collection. The Force Unleashed was a re-boot to the franchise... and one that was badly needed. Coming out in 2008, three years after the Revenge of the Sith film, the whole idea of Star Wars needed to be shaken up and changed and that's what Lucas Arts tried to do with this.

It follows the tidings of the secret apprentice of none other than Darth Vader (you play as Vader during the tutorial, if you're interested) and his struggle to find a place by Vader's side. The main idea is that "Starkiller" (as he is affectionately known by others) has to go around after the devastating Order 66 and mop up the last remaining Jedi that are still kicking around and causing a bit of trouble for Vader and the Emperor. Not to give too much away but there are few decisions you to make that ultimately swings which way the story goes and whether you will stay with the Dark Side of the Force but it's not completely your choice.

The game play is practical and an arsenal of Force powers are at your disposal as the game progresses with force pushes, grips on objects, lightning and chokes all making appearances in the game. There's a number of enemies too from the classic Storm troopers (Starkiller is meant to be secret so no-one's allowed to see him, even if they are on his side :S), Wookies and, of course, Jedi. There are also a few rudimentary puzzles that need "cracking" as it were, but they're not strenuous and happily fit the BBFC's 12 age rating due to their simplicity.

All in all, I've always had a blast playing this game even if there are a few things that can be boring such as the loading times, similar enemy types and it can get a bit too easy if you master basic combos. However, these factors shouldn't stop you from playing such a great new direction in the Star Wars franchise. If you haven't played it, pick up a copy... it's dirt cheap these days. If you have, then pick up Force Unleashed 2 which is basically more of the same... Which can only be good, right?

SkyrimAddict

Looking Back...: 007 Quantum of Solace

When I was younger, I didn't get much money to spend on weekends due to a meagre £5 a week in pocket money from my parents. Because of this, I couldn't buy the newest games for my new Xbox 360 due to being quite impatient and saving up two months of money didn't see like a good investment. Because of this, I bought my games from Virgin/Zavvi/Head, or whatever it's called these days, and they consisted of small, unpopular titles that didn't sell well in the market. One of the first games I bought from this little selection of games was James Bond's Quantum of Solace.

Following the non-release of a Casino Royale game, the makers decided to put both of the Daniel Craig films into one game and just name it after the second film. It's result is a great story (obviously :S), Gears of War-esque cover shooting and the awesomeness that comes with being 007. It was ranked as a 12 by the BBFC and you can see why with no gore and takedowns that results in just being punched in the face... Still, at the time I was captivated by the gameplay, gadgets and just shooting people, to be honest, and it certainly laid a path for my love for other shooters such as Halo and BF/BF2/BF3 etc.

All in all, it was one of the first "proper" games I played that wasn't football (soccer if you're American/foreign) and I'm glad I did as it set the tone for the rest of my gaming "career"... But it's not as good as Skyrim :P

SkyrimAddict

Plague Inc.

After seeing a few pictures on random websites about a mobile game called Plague Inc. I really wanted to try it. The concept is basically using the idea of you being a disease and evolving to infect as many people as possible and eventually cause the extinction of the human race. It's essentially a strategy game and, as past posts show, I have a bit of a soft spot for strategy whether it's on PC, console or, as is this case, mobile.

I say mobile but it's just my iPod and I don't use it much. Plague Inc. has changed that however with a lot of game time going into trying to unlock new types of diseases such as fungus and biochemicals. It is fun to play and unlocks the mad scientist in all of us... A little bit anyway.

I must be off; the world needs me to cause its doom.

SkyrimAddict

The Sorcerer's Apprentice for DS

On holiday I had my birthday. On my birthday people gave me presents. I got one video game and it was from my sister. She knew that the only console I could bring was my DS and so she had bought me The Sorcerer's Apprentice for DS. As with most DS games (outside of Mario, Pokémon etc.) it was mainly complied of mini games. The main idea of the game is to go around, using spells and killing inanimate objects brought back to life by an evil sorcerer who's trying to bring back the sorcerer that killed Merlin. Sounds awesome in theory... but as with most DS games, it's ambition is stopped by the DS's power (or lack of it) and there aren't even any cut scenes... just pictures. The use of the touch screen was for choosing different spells and yes, there was some fun to be had by firing off projectiles at "evil" plastic bags but (for me) the DS is just for Mario and Pokémon and this game just implements my position even further. 

Oh, by the way, I'm back! Yeah, I've been on Deus Ex: Human Revolution most of the time since I got back and I'm actually starting to feel like a badass on it, which is good. I'm 26 hours in and I have no idea how much of the story I've completed... Oh well!

SkyrimAddict