The Evil Within - Early Thoughts

I will start off by saying I haven't had time to get too far in to The Evil Within as I had my first child the beginning of October, but I wanted to share what I've felt about the game so far. 

I'm only a few chapters in, but I can safely say I love the game so far! I haven't done much gaming in 2014 as few of the new releases for the PS4 really appealed to me and I was pleased as punch to finally have the first legit survival horror come out for the new console. 

The Evil Within has so far performed perfectly as a survival horror game. I can't say I've been too terribly scared when playing it, but I've definitely been stressed as hell when dealing with the limited ammo, masses of monsters and freaky atmosphere. 

The atmosphere and scenery are what truly makes TEW great. Each area is meticulously detailed to be dark, gross and creepy as hell. Some rooms are literally bathed in blood and gore while others are twisted and torn up but it all fits to give the player a real sense of dread for whats waiting around the next corner. 

Some of the monsters are truly scary, like the spider/Grudge ghost-like Reborn Laura, seen above. The non-boss monsters are less imposing. The most common are the zombie-esque people taken over by madness who are all in different states of decay who attack with melee weapons or guns. Early on in the game you're best bet is to use stealth tactics to take them down but the further along you get the harder that is as they attack in hordes and become almost impossible to avoid. 

This is where the game gets tricky. It's incredibly difficult, even on standard-mode. In true survival horror style, you're given minimal ammo (sometimes picking up single bullets at a time) and never have enough for the number of baddies creeping around. There are also puzzles and traps everywhere with instant-kill consequences, and health packs are few and far in between. This is both good and bad in that it stays true to the genre but can make the game incredibly frustrating. In the few chapters I've played I've died an embarrassing number of times. 

Overall I highly recommend TEW based on what I've seen so far and can't wait to dig a little deeper once I have time to play more.

So far I'd give it an 8/10.

You're Next - Review

I've been incredibly exited to see the film You're Next since I saw the trailer months ago. I read about it and was pleased to hear it had gained rave reviews from the film festivals it's played at so far. This is all very unusual for a horror movie, so when one actually does WELL, I get a little giddy.

 

The wait to see it was cut short when I got the amazing news that my best friend was able to snag free tickets to an early showing Thursday the 8th. The theatre we went to had stations set up for viewers to get their pictures taken wearing the iconic masks from the movie next to a bloody mirror. (very cool!)

 

 

I honestly didn't know what to expect coming in to the film other than having very high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. The movie begins with a couple doing the dirty then ditching each other for a shower and booze, respectively. It's goes without saying that things don't turn out well for them, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the violence that soon followed was brutal without relying on extreme gore. I don't mind blood and guts at all in films but I give a lot more respect and appreciation to directors who can make you squirm without relying only on gross-out factor (though don't get me wrong, there are some seriously nasty scenes later on!)

 

After the opening scares, the movie jumps to the main storyline following a new couple driving to the man's family home for a long overdue family reunion. They meet with the man's mother and father, and soon his 2 brothers and sister with their significant others join the party. The story quickly switches from a dysfunctional family reunion to a bloody fight for survival against masked intruders once one of the group is suddenly picked off à la an arrow through the forehead.

 

The action starts and really doesn't stop until the end credits start to roll. It's a large group and the kill count mounts quickly, in extremely gruesome yet satisfying ways. The thing I found really made You're Next stand apart from being just another slasher flick was definitely the quality of the writing and spectacular pacing throughout. It's got extreme wit even during the most terrifying scenes, reminiscent of Cabin in the Woods yet the scares are SCARY.

 

 

Overall the entire film is a smart, fresh addition to the summer movie lineup and it's definitely the best film I've seen in a long time. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't have too weak of a stomach and likes to laugh. Like I said above, just because the film doesn't rely completely on extreme gore to scare you, that's not to say it's not over the top here or there. Lets just say I'll never look at a blender quite the same way ever again... (the scene was amazing.......)

 

I can't wait to see this movie again and hope to once it's out world wide. GO SEE IT. NOW. :)

 

Until next time!

 

xoxoxo

 

2013 So Far - What I've Been Playing

Since we're just a few days away from the start of June, I wanted to write about my year so far in video games, then realized I've only really played 2 new games of 2013... Sooo, instead I decided to write about what I've been playing so far in 2013. I tend to play games after they've been out for a while. Especially now. I became engaged in March so I've been busy planning a wedding, thus making me poor and unable to buy every game under the sun.

 

I've been making an effort to only pay full price for games I've really been looking forward to, so I'll talk about those at the top of my list. That being said, I DO have several games I'm really looking forward to that will be coming out in the next few months, so there will be more to come!

 

 

 

To get the party started, I think it's obvious that I talk about Dead Space 3. I was looking so forward to this game since it was announced and got it the day it released. Now that I've played it and beat it, I'm going to give a quick, honest review.

 

I liked it a lot but definitely didn't love it. I was so in love with the first 2 games and was sad to be slightly disappointed by the 3rd installment. My main criticism seems to be the most popular - that it just wasn't as scary as the first 2. It didn't offer the type of scares and atmosphere that I've grown used to in the Dead Space franchise. That's not to say it wasn't entertaining, because it definitely was. I really enjoyed playing co-op and loved the addition of Carver. I thought both he and Isaac's stories were really great and liked the story a lot overall. What I didn't like was the fact that in adding all the new aspects of co-op and a larger environment (a few different ships, open space and an arctic planet) the horror was really left out.

 

Sure there were a few nice jump scares, but overall the fear was dampened by the developers showing off what new tricks they had up their sleeves with gameplay. If they continue to a 4th game (crossing my fingers and toes!!!!) I'd hope they'd keep the seamlessness of the co-op but pay a little more attention to the scares and they'd have another knock out game.

 

Random note: These guys were so fucking annoying!!!!!!! GAH!!!

 

 

*Drumroll*

And then there's Bioshock Infinite. After just the first few minutes of gameplay, I knew this game was going to be epic and it did not disappoint. The first Bioshock opened my eyes to how far games can push themselves. It was an amazing game and unlike one I'd ever played before. The 2nd game was good, but not nearly as great. It was fun playing a Big Daddy but the game overall felt lacking compared to the first.

 

Bioshock Infinite blew them both out of the water. I don't think I've ever played a game this beautiful, thoughtful, entertaining and fun. The story was wonderful and the ending everything the first 2 games needed. From start to finish I was in love with it. And added bonus? The girl you were saving/kidnapping could actually take care of herself, a HUGE improvement from 99% of female game characters. Both characters were bad ass, the gameplay was smooth and effortless and the combat was extremely violent and satisfying. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better game and it's easily at the top of my "favorite games ever" list.

 

Random note: I WANT A SONGBIRD!!!

And now I move on to old games that I didn't actually start playing until recently... Telltale Game's The Walking Dead came out last year (fall I believe?) and received rave reviews.

 

All well deserved! For a point click game, it was one of the most emotional games I've ever played. The story was incredible. Each character encountered was fleshed out to make you care, whether you liked them or not, each of their lives (or deaths) made you feel something. It's rare that writing is done so well in games and the way your choices affected the game at every turn made it matter to you what you made them do. Everything has consequences in the game, good and bad, but in the end it all came down to a sacrifice that made me want to bawl my eyes out. I read there's going to be a 2nd season to the game and I can't wait to sign up for the season pass as soon as it's available. I felt a little bad for missing out on this game as long as I did and won't make the same mistake again!  

 

 

Random note: Lilly is the biggest bitch in gaming history. Period.

 

That's about what I've been playing for the last few months. I've also been playing Far Cry 3 and have almost finished it, but didn't want to write about it without completing it. I also downloaded Siren: Blood Curse and have been trying to get the balls to keep playing it. I made it to the 3rd episode but those ghosts/zombies/whateverthefucktheyare are CREEPY AS HELL!!!

 

On that note, that's all for now! I'm super excited for Remember Me and The Last Of Us coming out in June so it will be a busy month! Reviews on both once I've had a chance to play them!

 

 



The Last Guaridan

Team ICO. Please.... Just make this game... PLEASE. That is all :)