GTA 5, YouTube, New Name

Hey hey hey guys I know its been a while but what can i say? I've been busy... being lazy. To tell the truth I've been leaving all my coursework too long that I only have a few weeks left of my summer holiday! So I best get started! Unless you would like to do it for me? Anyway lets get to it..

Speaking of Niko.. Check the resemblance! 

   If like me you are a humungous GTA fan, so much that you want to find Niko Bellic and wear his skin (just me?), you may be itching and twitching while Rockstar tease  us with their lack of a release date announcement. I certainly find my self looking at various articles on google that usually lead to me getting more excited. But good news guys I have found a vaccine if you like. It comes in the form of YouTuber Olli43 (channel and twitter linked below). Alongside doing other videos of different games Olli43 keeps me and several thousand others satisfied while we wait for GTA 5. Any news that springs up and you will be sure to know. I know a lot of you want to be kept in the know with GTA 5 so give Olli43's channel a subscribe.

   In other news I am thinking of rebranding my blog and starting up a YouTube channel. 'Posh Boy Game Reviews' is the name i thinking of. Please feedback on what you think of the name! Also I need your guys help concerning how I'm going to do my reviews as YouTube videos. Really need some ideas here guys I'm not so sure how to do it at the moment!
 

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Sub his YouTube here too!

FIFA 13 Preview

The FIFA series is the Call of Duty of footballing games, and no it’s not called soccer for you American readers, as it isn’t really competing with other footballing games any more. Instead FIFA, like Call of Duty, is competing with itself and its earlier titles. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get my hands on a copy but I’ve read some reviews and gathered up an opinion about the footballing game giant. And if I’m correct fans should be excited!


Features
So let’s get stuck in. For a long, long time FIFA games have tried to replicate the beautiful game and the 2012/13 edition of the game takes that one step closer. The ‘big thing’ that FIFA fans will notice is the players first-touch. For example, in the previous games Lampard might do a nice lobbed through ball over the defense to Torres who would collect the ball nicely as if it were glued to his feet – weather he would go on and score is another thing but I won’t get into that for you Chelsea fans out there. As nice as this is for players it simply isn’t realistic. In FIFA 13 then, how well a footballers touch is will be based upon their overall score. So Van Persie in the prem may have better first touches than League Two striker Burges. Which may be annoying if, like me, you start your manager mode in the lower leagues. I guess I don’t mind though as it is a step closer to the realism FIFA aspires to.
   You may realise that every year in the new FIFA trailer (below) they go on about the same drivel being slightly better. This year is no different: Impact engine has been improved, Jostling has been improved and so on.

Gameplay
Along with the improved first-touch players seem to dribble much more fluently after the developers brought a few things over from FIFA Street. Free-Kicks mechanics have also been improved. ‘Hell Yeah’ I hear you say? I know, I can never score them either! Free-Kicks in FIFA 13 are blessed with loads of new options such as fake kick takers, lobbing the ball forward for players to head it in or playing it into space. This will hopefully allow the lesser skilled or shit – as some like to call my skill level – gamers to capitalize from more set pieces. When defending a free-kick you can add players to the wall, shimmy the wall forward and even run towards the free kick taker when the whistle blows.

Verdict
Other than the above EA have not released any game mode news but unless there are major shocks I guess we know what to expect. The gameplay on the pitch though is a step closer to that realism and that simply is great. More news will be on the way and I’m sure all you footy fans will want to buy the game!

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Sleeping Dogs Preview

Sleeping Dogs seems to have been making a bit of noise recently and for a reason too. The game is similar to that of an over the top Hong Kong action film, you know the Jackie Chan, Jet Li type films. This genre has never really been executed quite like the way Sleeping Dogs has. The game that promises to have high speed chases, kung-fu fighting moves and explosions will be available for all of your Xbox's, PS3's and PC's.

Plot
Wei Chen will serve as your controller dummy as Sleeping Dogs focuses on his story. The protagonist finds himself back in Hong Kong after an extended visit to the U.S. After being summoned to a holding cell by the cops for violent behaviour, he bumps into an old friend... a friend who is making his way up the ladder in the local Triads.

   Chen, quite like some familiar protagonists named Tommy Vercetti and Niko Bellic, gets hired to do various jobs and surprise surprise ends up pissing off some men with power. However Chen ends up making a name for himself and climbs some ladders himself. But what his corrupt colleagues don't know is that Chen is an undercover cop. Cue huge gasp! 

Features

Wei Chen ticks all the boxes as an action hero protagonist: he is an expert in martial arts, drives like a madman in high speed chases and can shoot his enemy with any gun given to him. The controls are surprisingly effective in conveying the kung-fu, martial arts feel with various attacks, grapples and blocks. That stuff seems pretty normal though right? Well it gets really kung-fu'ey (you know what i mean) as pretty much all of Chen's surroundings can be used to preform bone crunching finishers. Just imagine throwing your enemy face first into a power saw. I know, its pretty lethal stuff! As for the Guns, gamers will find them easy to enough to use with the standard Call of Duty button assignments.

   The game has a few elements of Parkour implemented in as Chen often has to vault through the busy streets if Hong Kong. However - a bit like Assassins Creed - you dont really feel as if your doing all of the cool jumps and leaps yourself. Simply holding down the A/X button while running forward and Chen will do what is required in front of him. Although this does allow for free-flowing chase sequences which keep you right in the midst of all the action.

   The free roaming open world setting does feel a lot like GTA, but the driving mechanics are much more reflective of Wheelman. And for the driving aspects of the game I give a resounding 'meh its alright'.

Extra Stuff

Sleeping Dogs offers gamers various things to do while roaming the urban city of Hong Kong such as mini-games and side-quests. Some of these quests include beating up gangs, helping out citizens, hacking into cameras and entering in high stakes street races. As for the mini-games, how would you fancy some Mahjong? You don't know what Mahjong is? Okay well basically its a puzzle game where you, umm... You know what just play it and see for yourself! Other activities include betting on cock fights and visiting massage parlours that specialise in well not cock fights but... You get the idea.

   Players can customise Chen's wardrobe as some might expect. Not sure as of yet though if you can make him look like an utter prat. I always enjoy doing that! Lastly everything you make Chen do will factor into his Cop, Triad and Face meters. Which, when past a certain level, will allow you to spend points to level up various things.

Verdict
Sleeping Dogs, simply put, is not going to change the world of gaming. As a free roaming game it has to be compared to GTA and ultimately it falls into the big pile of games that have failed to replicate the sheer excellence that GTA has.

   However, if you take the game simply for what it is, Sleeping Dogs isn't all that bad. You will certainly have some fun and the grim finisher moves will provide some laughter (if like me you find it funny to watch a guy thrown down an elevator shaft). Overall I'd say its worth a buy and a definite purchase if your into those Jackie Chan, Jet Li films.

Breaking News After a Brief Hiatus!

As you can imagine for students at the moment life is pretty hectic! I’m currently taking my A-Levels and have been preparing for them intensely for a few months now. I have had to step away from my Game Reviews for a little while due to this. But my exams are nearly all done – fingers crossed I don’t fail – so very soon I shall be active on my blog again! I’m sure that’s the great news you were all hoping for. I’ve got some reviews and previews planned for you all to read so keep an eye out. I would just like to say before I took my brief hiatus your support and interest in Game Theft Auto was absolutely amazing so thanks! I’ll be back with you in a couple of weeks!

Thought i'd just share the new 'Last Of Us' ambush trailer as the game looks pretty awesome! Something to sink your teeth into if you have nothing to do.

What do you guys think of the trailer? Leave comments below!

SSX Review

Never been snowboarding? Well SSX will bring the snowboarding to you dude! Totally gnarly!
… Oh wait is ‘gnarly’ for surfing?
Anyway, I know SSX has somewhat of a cult following due to its very successful PS2 titles. Despite fading away for a few years the totally rad game is back!
… totally rad? Is that snowboarding talk?
You know what forget it, just read on!

Gameplay
The good thing about SSX is that for beginners the game can be relatively simple. The left analog stick will twist and turn you while the right analog stick will perform ‘grabs’. ‘Grabs’ by the way are tricks with your board while in the air. The more ‘grabs’ you link up the higher score you will get. Enough successful ‘grabs’ will let you reap the rewards of a boost! The gameplay can be this simple if you are just on a beginner’s level.

With the latest edition of the snowboarding series comes the
wingsuit.

   

   However if you are more experienced or have perhaps played SSX games before, the game can challenge you at your level creating a more enjoyable experience. There is a whole load more to do too. As you progress through the events, you earn armour, ice picks, wingsuits and more! And if you’re wondering what I mean by wingsuits… it’s a suit... with wings! All of these factors emphasis the fun qualities of the game. 

   Again for more experienced gamers, tougher challenges are available. A few races require you to finish with your oxygen tank full for example. Boost is required to finish in time and to get a boost you must perform tricks! Madness! These aspects of the game are tough but the sense of achievement when you finally conquer these exhausting bits is fantastic. Get your smack talk ready.

   SSX may annoy some gamers, as it has an assistance mechanic that can’t be switched off. I noticed when jumping over a rail I’d be drawn to it magnetically, like a pedophile to a playground. Was that a bit too much of an image? Apologies. This can become frustrating when the most skilled gamers want to play without that helping hand.

Features

SSX manages to tick the ‘fun’ box, understanding that gamers want to snowboard on the mountain rather than spend too much time worrying about a story. This may seem like a simple factor but similar games such as the Tony Hawk series sometimes fail to feed to the gamers demands. The various different mountains offer diversity and need for adaptation as each will force gamers to change their style. In addition each mountain requires different equipment culminating the variety and change SSX offers.

    SSX incorporates ‘Ridernet’, an in game online account that tracks yours and your friend’s race times, etc. Readers who are familiar with Need for Speed’s Autolog will know the awesomely competitive nature this feature creates amongst you and your friends. Ridernet gives the game replay-ability and makes your money well spent, as you find yourself coming back to beat your time again and again.

   If you haven’t got an online account there is still plenty to do! Explore mode, for example, challenges you to test out tracks picking up scattered ‘geotags’ as you make your descent. Features like Explore mode makes the game fun and competitive even after finishing the main story. You can always get your friends over to race don’t forget.

 

Characters

SSX games in definition always have great characters to play. Many, I’m sure, will be exited to know they can again take some of the SSX veterans to the mountains again. Psymon Stark, Kaori Nishisake, Zoe Payne and my favourite Mac Fraser all return to the 2012 edition. Who’s your favourite? EA Sports deserve applaud, as the characters capture and enhance the life on the mountain. Furthermore the whole cast fit in the game seamlessly.

My favourite boarder, Mac, preforming a grab.

  
   The new characters may be turning a new leaf for the SSX series. The old cast has always been rather bonkers and the returning characters still have these qualities but the new characters are more cold blooded nutters. Just picture Jason Statham snowboarding. The newbies are still fun but they take SSX down a more serious route leaving behind its crazy ancestry. Don’t get me wrong SSX has not turned stiff or boring, only the game seems to be taking a new direction. What will this mean for future games? We’ll have to wait and see.

Verdict
I won’t lie, with the success of the earlier SSX games and a 5 year wait since SSX Blur, I was hesitant about the latest edition. The old problem of revitalising a great is that the history can be tarnished. While I’m not overcome with awe, I breathe a sigh of relief. EA Sports, despite steering the game in a new direction, have managed to capture the same fun game we first got our thumbs on in 2000.

    The series is like a person, the only way I can describe it. At first it was a little baby that didn’t care about anything only concerned on having fun. Then as the game became a young child it developed its own characteristics while still managing to be a bit crazy and spontaneous. Now the game is a young adult. It has calmed down slightly and now knows where it wants to go, however still managing to focus on having fun.


   I could almost shed a tear for the series, as it feels like it’s all grown up. Definitely worth a buy if you want some fun, crazy, competitive gameplay.



Follow on Twitter @GameTheftAuto for updates on news and reviews!

Assassins Creed 3 Trailer!

The Trailer is up now! Awesome or what?
Maximize screen for better watch.

Video courtesy of IGN.com

Assassins Creed 3 Rumor Roundup

Ubisoft, a few days ago, announced that they will be telling us some big news on March 5th. Since then various, supposedly Assassins Creed 3 images have been leaked. So is it, Victorian Britain? Early Paris? Ancient China? No its none other than America, and the American Revolution to be more specific. So what does this mean for the hidden blade wielding game series?

A lot of rumors have been doing the rounds so lets get stuck into them. Firstly the protagonist will be the son of a Native American mother and a British Army father. Born into a Mohawk tribe, the name of the new protagonist has seen much speculation. A native name of Ratohnhake'ton is a popular guess as well as Connor; which the protagonist apparently names himself. As the name is unknown as of yet, I will refer to him as Susan (because its pretty okay). Susan, unlike our good friend Ezio, finds himself motivated by freedom of his people rather than personal revenge. While fighting for his people, Susan will find his way to the Assassins Brotherhood. The new assassin to hit our screens may accompany hugely notable american figures such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as he helps fight the British.

    Adaptations to Susan's arsenal has also been a hot talking point. Dual wield daggers and tomahawks becoming popular amongst the forums. The Bow and Arrow however might become more useful and important in the third of the assassin series, as Susan will be killing from up in the trees.

   A new Economic System may be introduced, as the game may see players able to collect and sell various items such as animal fur.

18th century New York, Boston and a large countryside landscape could provide the setting for the new game. The map is rumored to be nearly 2 times the size of the Rome that featured in Brotherhood. I don't know about you guys but that gets me excited! The guilds we have come to familiarise ourselves with could be replace with new factions. Filling the landscape will be Native Americans, Settled Americans and the British.

   Desmond will find himself going back through his hidden memories in the Animus and relive significant events in Susan's life. With Desmond being American and the setting of the third game in America, one can get the feeling this will round of Desmond's story.

Please remember guys this is pure rumor that I've collected from sites and forums. Follow me on Twitter @GameTheftAuto for updates on reviews and articles.

Twitter Feedback: 'What do you want from Assassins Creed 3?'

James Harris - @GameTheftAuto I want assassins creed 2 with different weapons and locations. That's I all.

Jack Carlton - @GameTheftAuto Ben Franklin as the new leanardo... tomahawks, and a bunch of conspiracies with presidents.