Metro: Last Light

     Metro: Last Light is a linear story FPS developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver released on May 14th, 2013. This game is an adaptation of the novel Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky. In this survival/horror game you play the role of Artyom, a post-apocalyptic survivor in Urban Russia. The post-nuclear war fallout led to the appearance of humanoid 'Dark Ones'. Artyom has to fight against rivaling survivor factions and the dark ones to survive in his world.

Metro: Last Light. 4A Games. Deep Silver Publishing. 2013

     Metro: Last Light is the sequel to the hit Metro: 2033. Despite Metro being a single-player only game, it has surprising replayablility and holds up well as newer games come out. Since the story comes directly from a best-selling novel, the game obviously has terrific story elements and characters. The main mechanic on Metro is that the majority of the game must be played in stealth, there's even an Achievement for completing the game without killing a single human enemy. The player must navigate populated areas avoiding light and strategically avoiding other people. The game is full of shortcuts, secret passages, and hidden items.

   The element that really sets Metro apart from other games is that instead of currency like money, you trade ammunition for items you need, so when you are forced to fight, you literally shoot your money away. I've never seen that mechanic in any other game, and I don't think it could be pulled off better than it is in Metro.

     Recently there has been released and remastered combo pack of the original Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light for all major platforms. Unfortunately I only own the original copies of each.

It's been since last year since I played Last Light and I currently have no plans to play it again, but I know I will someday so I'll always keep it around. (Especially because it doesn't require Internet to play).

     Metro: Last Light is available on Xbox 360 and PS3. The remastered version of both games is available on Xbox One/360 and PS4/3

     For more information check out these places:

     http://enterthemetro.com/

     http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/13/metro-last-light-review

A Little Something Different

     League of Legends is a Free-to-Play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game by Riot Games that over the past few years has become one of the most popular computer games in the entire world with over 5 million players in dozens of countries.

League of Legends. Riot Games. Riot Studios. 2009.

     League of Legends centers around 5 on 5 competitive gameplay in which opposing teams fight to each other's bases and destroy their Nexus. League has 123 playable characters or Champions which you can purchase using and in-game currency or with real money. Players pick their champions and play to win. The deceptively simple game in trumped by the skill it takes to play well. The game does a good job at matching players with similar skill and experience.

     League of Legends also has a dedicated professional circuit that is streamed live on the internet. The extravagant season matches build up to a massive World Championship Event that takes place in a large stadium to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.

   To tell the truth to fully understand League, you have to just sign up and play.

    I had barely heard of League before attending college, but now that I gave in to the hype, I love the game and I'm starting to get very good at it. I recommend anyone who wants to have a relaxing time playing computer games to play League.

     League of Legends is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

     For more information check out these places:

     http://na.leagueoflegends.com/

     http://www.ign.com/games/league-of-legends/pc-14287819

Escape to Skyrim

     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a quest based fantasy RPG released on November 11, 2011 by Bethesda Softworks. In this adventure game you take on the role as The Dragonborn, a simple thief that has been tasked with defending the province of Skyrim from dragons and other various enemies that persist in the enormous open world.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Bethesda Game Studios. Bethesda Softworks. 2011.

     Skyrim was easily one of the most anticipated games of 2011 and ended up winning several Game of the Year Awards, which were well deserved. Skyrim offers players over 300 hours of gameplay and extensive side missions such as rising the ranks in the Mages College at Winterhold, or joining the secretive Dark Brotherhood of assassins. In a way each of these side quests could be seen as its own small game. In 2011 Skyrim was regarded as easily one of the best looking games of all time, the graphics were stunning, they still hold up to standards today, but there are some who surpass it. The sheer volume of things to do in Skyrim is enough to keep players going on for weeks, but the fantastic story telling in each little quest is the thing that makes players play the game more than once.

     Another amazing element of Skyrim is how your choices directly impact the rest of the game and how you play it. In the very first sequence of the game you choose the race and style of your character, from normal human races like Imperial or Nord to strange breeds of humanoids like the Dark Elves or the Khajiit (Cat People). Each race gives the player certain bonuses that can help them throughout their game life.

     Unfortunately Skyrim has no co-op or competitive multiplayer so players are on their own when playing the game. This was mended in the sequel to Skyrim: The Elder Scrolls Online, but that didn't quite meet players expectations. Regardless, Skyrim is of the most beloved games of all time.

     It's been since 2012 the last time I picked up Skyrim, but as I start to think about how much fun I had and how much I have yet to complete. I plan to start a new game soon and see what kind of trouble I can get into.

     The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is currently available on Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows.

     For more information check out these places:

     http://www.elderscrolls.com/skyrim

     http://www.ign.com/games/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/xbox-360-14267318

Defending Your Homefront

     Homefront is a fast-paced FPS videogame by Kaos Studios released on March 15th 2011. You play Robert Jacobs in the year 2027, one of the last defenders of the United States, part of a militia after the Global Superpower North Korea and its then newly ascended leader Kim Jung-un invade the west coast and dominate the country.

Homefront. Kaos Studios. THQ Publishing. 2011.

     Homefront was a sort of underground hit in the console gaming world. It's advanced graphics and investing story made the gamers who played Homefront put all other games on hold while they compete its campaign and master is's multiplayer. The Story behind Homefront was especially entertaining to gamers because the threat of invasion or military action by North Korea was a very possible threat as it's former leader aged. The Multiplayer seemed like a mixture between the popular multiplayers of Call of Duty and Battlefield. It took a special set of skills and patients to master the multiplayer, but once it was done, the game became some gamers favorite of all time.

     My friends and I spent weeks playing the game, the 16 on 16 game modes never ceased to generate hours of fun whether the player was good or not. Personally the game only stopped being my go-to for FPS Action when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was released later that year. However, I still have fond memories of the game and revisit it occasionally.

     Since Homefront was released before the death of Kim Jung-il, the game was naturally banned in Korea and later when Il did pass away had a small re-emerging as the possibility of the game's plot seemed slightly more possible. Though the game saw its time in the sun and then faded, I plan to replay the campaign soon and possibly see if there is still a small com unity of people on the multiplayer.

     A sequel Homefront: The Revolution is currently under development and set for release in 2016.

     Home front is available on Xbox 360 and PS3

     For more information check out these places:

     http://homefront.wikia.com/wiki/Homefront

     http://www.ign.com/games/homefront/xbox-360-14335476

Skate is the Name of the Game

     Skate 3 is a third-person RPG type game in which players take on the role of the CEO of a rising skateboard company. The player is tasked with completing diverse and extensive publicity events by exhibiting their skateboarding skills. Skate 3 was released on May 11, 2010 by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts.

Skate 3. EA Black Box. EA publishing. 2010

     Skate 3 is one of the Xbox 360's and PS3's most popular, longest-lasting, titles. The simplicity of riding a skateboard and pulling sweet tricks has made Skate a little spot in many gamers' hearts over the past 5 years. The unique quality in Skate is that it is best played in offline single-player mode. Though it's multi-player is fun and entertaining, the longevity of the game comes from its playability when internet is unavailable. I know Skate is my go-to game when I'm away from home or don't have internet at the ready.

     Skate's open world is opened to players very early in the game, giving them the option to play through or ignore the campaign in favor of just free-playing, which is the best part of the game. Skating around the small college town finding the best places to do death-defying tricks is one of the most satisfying feelings in videogaming.

     No matter how many new consoles come out, whenever I know I'll be somewhere without internet and in a position to get my gaming time in, I don't bring an Xbox One and Call of Duty, I bring my trusty Xbox 360 and Skate 3. Hours of entertainment with the use of an Xbox Controller, but Internet Optional.

     Skate 3 is available on Xbox 360 and PS3

     For more information check out these places:
     http://www.ea.com/skate-3
     http://www.ign.com/games/skate-3/xbox-360-19212

Mining, Crafting, and More Mining

     Minecraft (Next Gen Console Edition) is a first-person RPG sandbox game first introduced by Mojang games on May 17th, 2009 to PC, and November 18th, 2014 to the Xbox One and PS4. Published by 4J Studios.

Minecraft: Xbox One Edition. Mojang and 4J Studios. 2014.

     One of the most iconic video games ever created, Minecraft made it's way into the Console world and quickly became one of the most purchased games ever. The deceptively simple facade of the block forged world gives way to an immense  gaming experience that all ages can enjoy.

     As with any sandbox game, Minecraft players can do anything they set their minds to, including but not limited to building gigantic castles, cave fortresses, floating kingdoms, and even functioning computers within the game. Players can choose to either scavenge the virtual world for resources in order to build these magnificent creations, or they can enter Creative Mode, in which imagination is the only boundary. Players also have the option of completing a small in-game story to kill a powerful dragon in a strange dimension called The End.

     Though the console version of Minecraft lacks some elements of the PC Minecraft world and it's mods, it retains the basic idea of the game and many of its features.

     Minecraft also offers multiplayer in which players can build together or fight against one another in the same world over Xbox Live or PSN.

     Since the first time Minecraft came to consoles, my friends and I always held it near the top of our list of game we love to play, alongside big box games like Call of Duty and Halo. We we're never the ones to build entire cities or computers, but we made our fair share of castles and huge houses.

     Minecraft is currently available on PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4.

     

     For more information check out these places:

     http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Xbox_One_Edition

     http://www.ign.com/games/minecraft/xbox-one-20000544

An Epic Destiny

     Destiny by Bungie, is a shared -world FPS-RPG released on September 9th, 2014. As a Guardian of Light, the player explores abandoned regions of earth, it's Moon, as well as it's two neighboring planets Venus and Mars defending the human race from several diverse factions of enemies. Playing alone or in a group of up to 3, players work together to push back the encroaching darkness of The Hive, The Fallen, and The Vex.

Destiny, Bungie, Activision and Sony Computer Entertainment. 2014.

     Destiny is Bungie's newest franchise since the massively popular Halo series. The feel and look of Destiny obviously draws heavily from the science-fiction vibe of Halo. When I first heard the concept of Destiny, I though it sounded like a fusion of Halo, Call of Duty, and Skyrim. But upon playing it I came to realize that it wouldn't be fair to describe Destiny as a simple mixture of other popular games, it is rather it's own unique game with its own qualities that make it stand out.

     The Story-Mode/Campaign of Destiny is entertaining, however it does seem a bit repetitive in it's goals of destroying an evil relic or defeating a powerful enemy. The story is also quite short, it only takes about 14-18 hours of gameplay to complete, which is off-putting considering the build up before it's release.

                                     

     Aside from the Campaign and Co-op multiplayer, Destiny also comes with a competitive multiplayer that operates under the name The Crucible. Here is where it is more fair to call Destiny a cross between Call of Duty and Halo. The game modes are fun and challenging if you're skilled, but it may quickly overwhelm beginners.

    No discussion about Destiny would be complete without mentioning what I believe to be one of the best parts of the game. During the Story-Mode, each Guardian is accompanied through his journey by a robotic companion voiced by Peter Dinklage, Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones.

     Destiny is available on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4.

     For more information and reviews check out these places:

     http://www.destinythegame.com/

     http://www.ign.com/games/destiny/xbox-one-160850