Titanfall - Worth the purchase of an Xbox One?

The time is now?

So here we are, coming on four months since the launch of the Xbox One, and Titanfall is finally coming out. Is it time to pull the trigger? They've even bundled the software with the hardware! Unfortunately, old qualms aside - it's still not the time to buy an Xbox One.

It's not for the reasons you might think - price, specs or paywalling of services - although they do play a part, but no it is the HARD DRIVE that truly sways the purchase into the "not ready" column. Unlike the PS4, the Xbox One's hard drive is not upgradeable. Yes, Microsoft has said they'll eventually allow external hard drives but for one such as myself, I'm not interested in daisy-chaining hard drives when my Xbox One's hard drive eventually fills up. 500Gb is simply not enough to sustain a generation of digital/installed purchases. Going further, since my PS4 will be my main gaming unit for multi-platform purchases, I've decided that I'm going all digital with the Xbox One since I'll be so much more discerning about each game purchase that will undoubtably be first-party or exclusive to the Xbox One platform. Perhaps, this analysis is too attuned to my personal gaming preferences, but as it stands - until Microsoft includes a 1Tb hard drive, regardless of price drops, it is too early to purchase an Xbox One. My advice if you have to play Titanfall? Wait for the Xbox 360 release or enjoy the incredible PC version.

@techandjunk

FORWARD! Destiny (PS4/XBOXONE/XBOX360/PS3) (Videos)

"Forward!" is the section of this site dedicated to previews of upcoming Tech and Junk. This is the stuff we're looking forward to. (We are so creative.)

Halo-who?

"The creators of Halo, the company that brought you Call of Duty." Sounds like a match made in FPS-heaven! And boy, does it look the part! Destiny's release date is still TBA, however expect this gem to come out in the first-half of 2014. Check out the amazing videos below! Oh, and look FORWARD to this game. (Almost forgot!)

@techandjunk

FORWARD! Titanfall Release Date 03/11/2014 (XBOXONE/XBOX360/PC) (Videos)

"Forward!" is the section of this site dedicated to previews of upcoming Tech and Junk. This is the stuff we're looking forward to. (We are so creative.)

Come to papa. 

Mark your calendars, the Titans are-a-falling March 11th, 2014. This game goes above and beyond the call of duty - here's to being one step closer to being in a mech suit, I mean, playing Titanfall! 

Official Angel City Gameplay Trailer

Official First to Fall World Tour

@techandjunk

FORWARD! Making Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (IGN)

"Forward!" is the section of this site dedicated to previews of upcoming Tech and Junk. This is the stuff we're looking forward to. (We are so creative.)

Sewing?

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is shaping up to be the grand-pooba of the Assassin's Creed franchise. Pirates, naval warfare, open-world, crafting and shark-assassinations - how could it not? Check out IGN's "Making Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag" videos below. It has exclusive gameplay footage and incredible access into how this particular video-game-sausage is being made. You won't be disappointed.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

@techandjunk

[UPDATE] FORWARD! Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition (PS4/PS3/PSV/XBOX360/PC)

"Forward!" is the section of this site dedicated to previews of upcoming Tech and Junk. This is the stuff we're looking forward to. (We are so creative.)

Justified.

[UPDATE] Clarifying the publisher's release plans this evening, a Warner Bros. representative confirmed that the game "will only be released for PS4, PS Vita, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC". There will be no Xbox One version.

The DC Universe. The studio behind Mortal Kombat. Alone these things are incredible, together they melt your brain with their awesomeness. Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game from developer NetherRealm and publisher Warner Bros., originally released earlier this last April. This "Ultimate Edition" will include all DLC from the original title along with being available on the PlayStation 4, PC, and PlayStation Vita for the first time. Curiously, the Xbox One is absent from the list of platforms in the press release from Warner Bros.' announcement. Hopefully we'll have more details on that soon. The release date is scheduled for November 12th for North America and November 29th for Europe and "other global territories". Gotta love PR-speak. Look FORWARD to this fighter! (Dibs on Superman)

@techandjunk

IMPRESSED! - The Walking Dead (PS3/XBOX360/iOS/PSV)

"Impressed!" is the section of this site dedicated to trying out Tech and Junk. A sort-of "non-review, review" as it were. Good and bad, exceptional and mediocre - these are our impressions.

Heavy stuff.

"The Walking Dead is a five-part game series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman's award-winning comic book series. Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell." Official Summary, telltale games

With over ninety Game Of The Year awards, The Walking Dead stands as one of the most successful departures from standard video game form. The developers, telltale games, released The Walking Dead in the form of five dynamic episodes, taking into account in-game player decisions to guide the plot and narrative. What resulted was an explosive mix of heart-wrenching drama and incredible story-telling. Here are our impressions:

GOOD

• Story

The story played out over the game's five episodes is incredible. I won't spoil it for those who have yet to play it, but remember this: your decisions have repercussions. telltale games managed to create a story based in the Walking Dead universe that was enthralling, heart-pounding and altogether original. 

• Characters

The real stars of the game are the wide array of characters portrayed throughout. Each had their own motivations, agendas and feelings towards the world around them. The development team nailed the humanity and vulnerability of each persona - they really made you feel like these were real people! Beyond even that, the way each of the characters interacted with each other was moving and striking in its commentary of humans in a state of survival. 

EXCEPTIONAL

• Impact

As mentioned above, your decisions have direct repercussions on the story and the world around you. The impact and weight of this gameplay mechanic cannot be overstated. The narrative that plays out takes several twists and turns, and you are the driving force behind each of those shifts. The game makes you feel, that no matter how small the decision, it has meaning. This is both a thoughtful and genuinely, refreshing take on how games can connect with an audience beyond the gameplay itself. Bravo.

MEDIOCRE

• Quick-time-events

 The design of the game is meant to be more of an interactive story with elements of exploration rather than direct-controlled action. That said, action portions of the game are almost exclusively quick-time-event based and can take you out of the flow of the incredible story-telling taking place. Thankfully, this is not a deal-breaker in the slightest, just dust among diamonds.


The Walking Dead is a testament to the idiom; If you build it, they will come. telltale games crafted an electric experience that took players on an emotional rollercoaster with incredible peaks and valleys. And they did it, flouting the most reliable gaming business model of the time. They gripped you, held you close and didn't let go. This game will make you feel - and players and gaming in general, are better for it.

@techandjunk

IMPRESSED! - Diablo III (PS3/XBOX360)

"Impressed!" is the section of this site dedicated to trying out Tech and Junk. A sort-of "non-review, review" as it were. Good and bad, exceptional and mediocre - these are our impressions.

Gimme that loot.

For the uninformed, Diablo III is a dark fantasy/horror-themed action role-playing game with elements of dungeon-crawling. Set in the world of Sanctuary, players choose from one of a myriad of character classes to then begin their journey thwarting evil and snagging some awesome loot. Here are our impressions:

GOOD

• Loot

"Legendary, legendary, legendary - LEGENDARY!" - this is what goes through my mind as I'm taking down yet another unique/elite enemy type in Diablo III. The loot system in this game is addicting. You just have to find the better equipment! The feeling of triumph when you do inevitably pickup the oh-so-rare legendary item is palpable. However, that feeling is twice as crushing when you realize it is specialized for a character class other than yours! Thankfully, you are able to store your items in a cross-character-accesible "Stash" that allows nothing to go to waste. And then you move on to your next legendary conquest. LOOT FTW!

• Mythos

The world of Diablo III is a fascinating one. Between the High Heavens, Sanctuary and the Burn Hells, there is a multitude of interesting and compelling characters you are either anxious to talk to or smite in battle. The backstories are particularly interesting as well, leading even the most gameplay centric players to pause and listen to the audio summaries of characters, events and histories. This is definitely pulp-fantasy awesomeness.

• Satisfying Gameplay

Immolating a screen full of demonspawn, zombies and angels feels good - the mechanics of gameplay in Diablo III are extremely fulfilling. Nearly every button on the controller has a dictated ability type however, it never feels cumbersome. In fact, as you unlock new abilities and flesh out your roster of button types to use - you just feel like a badass throwing the kitchen sink at your opponents. Lightning armor, followed by Arcane Torrent, followed by Blizzard, followed by Chain Lightning, followed by Archon, with each having its own specific button - this madness is actually intuitive and habit-forming!

MEDIOCRE

• Console graphics somewhat dated

Diablo III isn't an ugly game but it definitely isn't pretty either. Jaggies and rough textures are abundant. Character models also lack a certain level of detail you'd probably expect from a AAA title such as this. That said, it runs really well and no drop in frame-rate ever takes you out of the experience.

• Fetch quests can get tiresome

It is inevitable with Diablo III's dungeon-crawling game type, but the numerous "Go to X and get Y" quests do become somewhat tiresome, later in the game. It is a minor quibble, but a quibble nonetheless. 

Years earlier, Torchlight on XBLA was proof that a Diablo-esque game was possible on a console. Now we actually have Diablo on a console and overall, Diablo III continues to be a fun endeavor with massive re-playability. You won't want to leave Sanctuary anytime soon.

@techandjunk

Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Zero Punctuation

Listen to Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, critique Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Prepare to focus!

First-Person Shooters - I suck

First-person shooters are by and far, the most popular genre of video-game today. Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield - the list goes on. But here's the thing - I suck. Not like "oh my god, which way is up" but more like "I have no idea who just shot me". I have a good time though, and I really enjoy playing FPS' with my friends. That said, we've been doing the same dog and pony show for a while now. 2007 was the year the original "Modern Warfare" erupted from the Call of Duty franchise and it has since dominated the scene, overtaking even Halo in player mindshare. It's mainstream, it's fun but I'm bored.

I didn't realize how bored I was though, until I saw Titanfall. It was my own groundhog day scenario - playing the same thing, iteration after iteration with no concise thought as to my own malaise and distaste for the genre. And then Titanfall. For the uninformed, Titanfall is a new FPS game developed by Respawn Entertainment. These are the guys that did the original Modern Warfare and it's sequel, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, before a schism with their parent company Activision lead to a studio exodus that would then become the foundation for Respawn Entertainment under new publisher, Electronic Arts (EA).  They bottled lightning once and from the looks of it, they've done it again.

Jeeez...

The video speaks for itself. What it comes down to is that it looks fun. So fun, that even someone who sucks could have a good time. It takes everything that made the post-Modern Warfare, Call of Duty titles amazing and ratchets it up to eleven.

Multiplayer is the focus rather than having a jaundiced single-player addition. You're not just moving fast - you're free running off walls. And then you add mechs into the equation and you've got gold. The "Titans" offer a whole new dimension to the FPS formula. Rather than slow and rigid mech-suits ala Aliens, you're getting something more akin to Avatar mechs.

Inspiration?

What's funny about this whole thing is that, initially, this game is coming out for the Microsoft ecosystem  (Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC),  which recently I have been less enthused with. So, my ETA to play this game is most likely longer than most. But from what I've seen, it'll be worth the wait because I believe Titanfall will be the disrupter that pushes the genre out of Modern Warfare's shadow. Regardless, the last thing I'll feel playing Titanfall is boredom. (All hail the new King!)

Check out www.titanfall.com for more info!

Visual History of Gaming Generations 1985-2013

Thanks GameTrailers!

FORWARD! Hunting Sharks - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (PS3, XBOX 360, PS4, XBOX ONE)

"Forward!" is the section of this site dedicated to previews of upcoming Tech and Junk. This is the stuff we're looking forward to. (We are so creative.)

Shark Assassin

If the premise of being a pirate that moonlights as an assassin doesn't grab your attention (ADD anyone?) then how about these next two words. Hunting. Sharks. And not just any sharks, but some of the most nightmarish of them all; the Hammerhead, the Bull-shark and even the Great White! Check out this Eurogamer Interview below!

Watch Conan play Grand Theft Auto V!

Conan gets handsy.