New member, I like this thread. I hope no one minds this post being a bit long, but I've completed a handful of cool games recently. These were all played on PS4.
The Hong Kong MassacreSo if you've played Max Payne or especially Stranglehold, you'll feel pretty comfortable with this game. It gets compared to Hotline Miami a lot, because it's a top down, one hit death game, but it feels to me like its game play roots are more in Max Payne and it's overall style comes from John Woo cinema as exemplified in Stranglehold. You basically run around blasting people using dives, ground slides and bullet time. Graphically...it looks like a John Woo movie. The music is very catchy, so much so that some youtubers have been dancing and free styling while playing this game LOL. The story isn't much to talk about, but it's not that important in a game like this. It basically consists of what you'd expect given the game's cinematic influences. A dead partner cop, a dude seeking revenge, police interrogations, Asian gang members getting murdered, and lots of birds flying around everywhere for some reason.
Since you die in one hit, a good play through of a level really does play out like a well choreographed John Woo shoot out with your character gracefully dodging bullets while popping off head shots, destroying scenery and generally just causing bloody mayhem. There's lots of destructible stuff in the environment, so you can shoot through doors, dive through windows, etc. Again, it's kind of like a top down, twin stick shooter version of Stranglehold. Every level has three challenges. Beat the time limit, kill everyone without missing a shot, and the hardest one which is finishing the stage without bullet time (I really hate that one). If you want to unlock new weapons and upgrade them, you'll need to do some of these challenges
Overall, a fun game if you like bullet time shooters, John Woo cinema, and Hotline Miami. You might also be interested in God's Trigger, a game I may eventually talk about here when I finish it
Astro Bot Rescue MissionSo basically, if you want a game with the magic of a classic Mario title on your Playstation 4, this is it. Honestly, I had more fun with this game than Mario 64 and Super Mario 3d Land. The game is just pure joy in video game form as it's hard not to constantly find yourself smiling while playing it.
It uses VR to great effect not just in creating visual spectacles, but the fun ways the game interacts with the player. You'll move Astro Bot through each level, jumping about and attacking enemies in typical platformer fashion, but you are also physically moving through each stage yourself. This means you'll have to interact with certain things in the environment, while also avoiding obstacles, and even providing assistance to your little Astro Bot through various gadgets tied to your controller, like using the dualshock as a flashlight to reveal hidden platforms for Astro Bot to use. It's almost like you're controlling two characters while playing through this game. It sounds more complicated than it is, basically you're just following Astro through each level. As you maneuver him past various enemies and obstacles, you'll be automatically moving forward through the level just behind him. Basically, you're on rails but he isn't. This creates a fun dynamic in each stage. Just to give an example, in one area you'll have Astro Bot maneuver past some canon balls and as you follow him through the same area, you might have to physically move your actual head in order to avoid one of those canon balls smacking you in the face (which causes a cool shattered glass effect on your screen)
Other than the neat, two character feature, this is your typical, collect-a-thon platformer. In each stage you'll be hunting down Astro Bot's stranded pals (eight per level), while also looking for "space chameleons" that unlock fun (and occasionally frustrating) extra challenge levels. The VR is put to good use as you'll sometimes need to look all around you to keep up with what's going on. At times Astro Bot will be moving around above you, behind you, or to the left or right of you. You'll need to look around in every direction sometimes just to find all of the hidden bots too. It's a fully, 3-dimensional experience in a way that a non-VR platformer like Mario 64 or Spyro could never be. And the first time an enemy attacks YOU instead of Astro Bot will probably catch you by surprise.
The game looks gorgeous, other than the rather low resolution and occasional blurriness and pixelation (which are problems with every PSVR game). Astro and his pals are very cute and bosses look amazing as the sense of size and scale they have in VR is incredible. These are big, giant sized enemies you'll be facing off against and you'll feel pretty small by comparison. The soundtrack is incredible with really catchy, upbeat, feel good tunes. Astro Bot will make you feel like a kid again
Honestly, Astro Bot is probably THE reason to get a PSVR. Though there are plenty of other quality titles as well (like Moss). Astro Bot has serious mascot potential
Volgarr the VikingVolgar is HARD, like really HARD...and that's why it's great. Because if you stick with it, you WILL eventually make progress and it will feel very rewarding. This game plays a little like a Ghouls n Ghosts game, and it also has a clear influence from Rastan. You lose equipment when you take hits and if you don't have any equipment then the next hit kills you. The game is low on checkpoints, so death means replaying a significant portion of the level again, especially if you die at a boss. The death system is cool. Crystals bring you back to life using the power of Odin, so death in this game is part of the narrative. There's two paths through the game. The second one is harder and instead of crystal checkpoints, you'll have a Valkyrie following you around. She can resurrect you only a limited number of times, so on "The Path of the Valkyrie", you will need to master the game as you can't die an infinite number of times. Did I mention there's no saves? You will need to finish the Path of the Valkyrie in a single sitting, though that shouldn't be so odd to those of us raised on 8-bit, 16-bit and arcade games.
The game is meant to be tough, it's even in the game's original advertising. The thing is though, the more you play, the more familiar you become with the levels, the enemies, and each stage's hidden secrets. Little by little, the game gets easier...until eventually you master it. At which point, the game becomes almost stupidly easy. Volgarr is a methodical, almost puzzle like game. Typically, when you die it's only because you haven't figured out the right way to approach the situation. Each time you figure out how to get past a certain tough part of a stage, it gets committed to memory. Eventually you will memorize the entire level and it then becomes a cake walk. Bosses too, have predictable patterns you will eventually learn, but only after they've killed you and made you replay half a stage at least a dozen times. The game is very old school...and very metal. Seriously, there is an actual heavy metal track you will hear if you beat the game. Heck, just listen to the music in the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN9mKr_O2ogThe game has some neat mechanics, like the variety of ways you can use Volgarr's spear to not just take out enemies, but help him with platforming, and even protecting him from enemy projectiles. You have a very limited number of moves, but it's surprising the number of ways you can take advantage of them due to the game's clever level and enemy design. It's a fun game. If you like Rastan, Ghouls n Ghosts, power metal or vikings, check it out
The MessengerNinja Gaiden is back baby! Seriously, if you like the NG trilogy on the NES, stop reading and go play this. Honestly, the less you know about the game the better, it's full of fun surprises. If you want to know more though, read on.
So yeah, it plays a lot like the old NES games. The biggest difference is "cloud stepping". The way this works is any time you attack ANYTHING, you can perform a jump, even if you're in mid-air and have already jumped. This gives you a lot more maneuverability and flexibility than classic Ninja Gaiden. As you play through the game, you will unlock other techniques that give you even more mobility options, like air gliding, and a whip like ability that lets you latch on to objects and enemies. This game must be a dream for speed runners as the number of techniques you will acquire, in addition to cloud stepping, allow you to not only do some crazy platforming the likes of which I haven't seen since Guacamelee, but also keep your forward momentum going at all times.
Oh but there's more, you can purchase upgrades via a shop keeper, who is hands down one of the greatest characters in video game history. Seriously, this character has incredible dialog. Some of it is down right hilarious and some of it is surprisingly serious and insightful. The writing in this game is top notch. The story, while not as complex as the old Ninja Gaiden games, is very interesting and the game's mix of humor and philosophy kept my attention at all times.
Another neat thing this game does is similar to the Valkyrie I mentioned when talking about Volgarr. When you die, a little demon named Quarble will rewind time and bring you back to your last checkpoint. The catch is, he'll follow you around and steal your money until he has collected his debt for saving you, which can slow down the upgrade process for you. Also, he will endlessly troll you every...single...time...you die. Imagine the old men from The Muppet Show following you around and heckling you every time you die...and you will die. Oh yes, this game has a level of difficulty comparable to the old Ninja Gaiden games...well, maybe not THAT hard. It is tough in some parts though, especially if you hunt down the optional Power Seals, each of which requires you to overcome a difficult platforming challenge. And that's AFTER you actually find them.
There's still MORE to talk about. This game is so full of surprises. Eventually, the game will actually switch from 8-bit graphics to 16-bit graphics, for reasons you'll have to play the game to find out. The first time this happens is a true WTF moment, especially if you haven't seen any of the game's trailers. Even crazier, the game eventually goes from linear, side scroller to an actual Metroid style game. You will revisit each of the linear levels you've previously completed, but now you can switch between their original 8-bit versions and the new 16-bit versions, which will give you access to new areas, new story elements, and new bosses! It's f***ing awesome!
This game is fantastic, and it even got a nod of approval from NG's original creators:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctijWWXznFgOkay, I'm done. That was a lot of typing
