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