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