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"You are not born for yourself but for the world."

Grand Theft Auto V: The Review

by Ryan Elizabeth on 18/11/2013

GTA V consists of telling adult mature stories in a hyper realistic world. Due to the content of GTA there has been social issues and controversy about the game’s murder and torture sequences therefore some individuals complain that if the game is allowed to show some of these things yet Rockstar still profits massively from GTA V receiving over $1 billion in the first three days of release.

 

GTA V does the bold thing of introducing three different characters, instead of one, which you can choose freely within the game.

 

 

  • Franklin: Described as an “in the hood” gangster. He is also the youngest character between the three.

  • Michael: A retired skilled criminal dealing with his dysfunctional family relives the thrills of crime once again.

  • Trevor: A crazy psychopath with a short temper and lack of social skills that can often be seen being absolutely insane as the player switches to him.

 

Each character has unique cars, money and missions. The game includes 69 main missions, 58 side missions who involve the mentally unstable people of Los Santos and tons of side activities have been added to the game such as assassinations and mini games such as tennis, yoga and even triathlons. There are also multiple scripts, so no single playthrough is exactly the same, as well as three possible endings.

 

Rockstar have outdone themselves with GTA V which improves on nearly every aspect from previous GTA titles. Graphics and driving mechanics have improved dramatically. There are over 190 vehicles in the game including flyable planes, blimps and even submarines are now usable. Detail has been consistent with spot on lip synching and movie quality story telling. AI respond to your actions much more than in previous GTA games such as drivers flicking you off when you drive idiotically or crash into them. The police are still hyper sensitive and are increasingly aggressive than the games predecessors however there is a new “hiding mechanic” in which your character could hide in bushes large enough to obscure the new cone vision the police use.There are a few annoyances with GTA V though. The story is not as memorable as Rockstar’s titles like Red Dead Redemption or L.A Noire. The game has poor mission descriptions and challenges are only revealed when you have completed the mission neglecting to show the player what you should have done and finally the game does suffer from a few glitches at times like invisible cars or my personal favourite: The shark “swimming” on land.

 

My final verdict for this game is … 9.5/10. Although the game does have a few bugs it does not take away from the overall experience and as a gamer I could play this game for hours on end to explore and involve myself in this fantastic game. Did I also mention you can take selfies in this game? Yeah, you can take selfies in this game.

Ride to Hell: Retribution - A Review

by Ryan Elizabeth on 08/01/2014

This review was meant to be a joke because this is exactly what this game is: a poorly conceived, humorously abundant joke.

 

‘Ride to Hell: Retribution’ was promised to be so much more than what was presented to us. The majority of gamers must have immediately regretted their decision to buy this game upon advancing the introduction.

 

I powered through this game desperately searching for something positive but honestly, I hated every moment of it.

Now, this game has been in development for five years so, bearing this in mind, it should not be in the pitiable shape that it is. The graphics of this game consist of low resolution with muddy textures and angular character models. This game looks like it was designed for the original Xbox and, if the visual display was not already bad enough, the sound design is probably worse. Every piece of sound design in this game is awful from the sound effects to the voice acting. The sound effects lack diversity or, sometimes, are not even there. Every type of sound appears the same. This means that every explosion sounds exactly the same, as well as the gunshots and bike sound effects. The voice acting is dreadful as the voice actors lack emotion and credibility, probably making this the worst voice acting and lip syncing I have ever witnessed.

 

‘Ride to Hell’ was supposed to be an open world biker game in which you defeat rival gangs and earn the respect of your own gang members, while traversing through the towns and deserts of California during the 1960’s. However, this is not the case. The game is linear and the only real exploring you will be doing is in your home town, which acts as your hub. There, you can sell the items you’ve acquired from defeated enemies, buy weapons and skills from an army truck and customise your bike in a garage, which was, admittedly, a nice feature of the game, considering the many modifications you can apply.

 

So, since the game is not what we were promised it to be, what is it like now? Well, ‘Ride to Hell’ follows the story of Jake Conway, who returns home from the Vietnam War to attempt to live a peaceful life with his uncle and brother, Mikey. The game gives you an abysmal opportunity to bond with Mikey, as Jake tries to recreate that brotherly bond, while riding their bikes.  After Mikey is killed and Jake is shot in the head, he is somehow revived with no explanation whatsoever and proceeds to take revenge.

 

‘Ride to Hell’ is divided into two types of gameplay systems: fighting/shooting sections and driving/racing sections. Fighting mechanics are a dreadful impersonation of the Batman game’s combat system. However, ‘Ride to Hell’ has no combos, gadgets or fluidity to contribute to the system, making fighting boring. The only reliable way to kill enemies are headshots, since enemies seem to be extremely resistant to bullets, while the controls are extremely stiff, making it difficult to aim below your sights. The AI in ‘Ride to Hell’ is so horribly stupid. They constantly kill themselves by driving off the road or failing to find cover effectively. At times, they may even sprint straight into your line of fire!

 

I played through all of the game’s 37 mind-numbing missions and never have I wanted to stop playing a game so bad in my life. The game is so poorly designed and so expensive for the experience that it offers. I highly recommend that you do not buy this game unless, of course, you want to sit through all of the anticipated failures of this horrible game. My rating for this game is an unsurprising 1/10. Although this game works, it will not provide you with any beneficial or mind-blowing experience whatsoever. Don’t waste your time on this game, guys!

 

Tomb Raider (2012)

by Ryan Elizabeth on 21/02/2014

Tomb Raider is possibly one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time and, now, I can see why. Although I was not a fan of the 3D platforming back then (the occasionally wonky camera and the unrealistic character models could get quite annoying), this reboot has to be one of the best by far. The game is centred on the legendary Lara Croft and her origin story, as it shows Lara’s sweeter side until she is forced to become the strong and crafty female character we know and love, in one of the most intense survival stories I’ve seen to date.

 

I must speak about the graphics for a moment before we get started. The graphics in this game are absolutely stunning. The environments, backdrop, character model etc. each have exquisite detail even when explosions or snow buffet your screen. This game is an absolute marvel to behold for both artists and fellow gamers. The amount of detail that the game has presented shows the care and respect that the developers have for this franchise, which is admirable seeing as games are being pushed through the door despite being unfinished and broken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since it is a Tomb Raider game, there is bound to be 3D platforming sections which, despite my unfavourable attitude, I actually did enjoy. These sections were a joy to play, though unfortunately I discovered that hardcore fans of the Tomb Raider found them a little too easy. It seems that the developers were trying to increase the size of their fan base by appealing to a more casual, puzzle-solving crowd of gamers. Nevertheless, the 3D platforming never gets boring and it brings me such joy to say that I never had a problem with the camera in the game. The puzzles are enjoyable and the collectibles are a neat way to keep things fresh within the game. There are a total of seven tombs where you must complete a rather unorthodox puzzle in which, if you succeed, Lara receives a large experience bonus and reveals the location of the treasure and more collectibles. Also, added to the game is a survival instinct which Lara uses to highlight the interactive objects in her vicinity, making these puzzles a little easier, while never revealing what Lara actually has to do to complete the puzzle. Combat has improved with Lara moving in a crouched stance, obviously concerned about the bullets whizzing towards her as she searches for cover. The dynamic cover system where Lara peaks out, when appropriate, to fire her weapon is greatly appreciated. However, there are way too many combat-based quick time events with the melee enemies and it seems like a wasted opportunity, as they could have added some better melee combat.

 

As I mentioned previously, Lara receives experience in the new Tomb Raider. In doing so, she can upgrade a set amount of skills which can help her survive; although I ended up maxing out all of Lara’s abilities easily so I doubt that anyone playing this game would have a different Lara Croft to mine. I constantly found myself on the edge of my seat, swerving with Lara as if I was with her trying to dodge falling aircraft pieces, taking careful aim with Lara’s new signature weapon (the silent and definitely deadly bow and arrows) and escaping cave-ins at the very last moment. This game can be a little gruesome when it comes to dying, giving you that incentive to keep Lara alive. The subtitle of this game, ‘A SURVIVOR IS BORN’, lives up to its name in the beginning of the game, yet throughout, I felt like it was my calling to realise this young woman’s destiny as the Tomb Raider. This game earns a 9.5/10 from me because of the spectacular story, the enticing gameplay, the stunning graphics and, most of all, the brilliant reboot of a well-respected character, without alienating her as was done in previous Tomb Raider games. This game is a must-buy whether you’re a hardcore fan of the series or a new comer, like me. It was a hell of a ride and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the famous Lara Croft AKA The Tomb Raider.

GAMES REVIEWED

"We are not born for ourselves but for the world."

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