Spaztic Reviews - April 2018

April flew by this year, and I've been playing stuff and watching stuff like crazy. While all of you were playing God of War for the past few days, I've been playing a ton of Rock Band 4. The Rivals mode is fantastic, breathing life into an old game and an even older franchise. From what I can tell, it's still going strong with no end in sight. The beginning of the month was action packed with Ubisoft's Far Cry 5. Anime has also been great this month - as many of the Winter premieres are finally wrapping up. So many good series are finishing up, and many new ones are starting.

As a reminder, the games on my list are NOT part of my list because they released during this month.

These lists merely contain the games I've been playing this month. They could have come out in 2018, 2013, or 1984. Bearing that in mind, here's what I've been playing!

- Top Game of April 2018 - 

Far Cry 5 

Peppered in between the Rock Band 4 Rivals grinds, I got my hands on the collector's edition of Far Cry 5 with the steelbook case. Is the steelbook worth the $100 I payed for it? No, but the season pass is a major perk of the game. Not only do you get the three expansions, you also get Far Cry 3 remastered and some special avatars, I believe. When you consider the game itself was $60 brand new, the season pass is $30, I really only paid $10 extra for the steel case, which is beautiful.

One major selling point for the season pass for me is three different storylines all mashed into three separate add-ons. One is set in Vietnam, another is a zombie apocalypse, and the last is set on Mars. How can you argue with those? Especially taking into consideration the success of Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, you can't go wrong but to get this Season Pass.

It's been a busy month what with Easter and family holidays (birthdays), so I didn't actually beat Far Cry 5, but I will still review it the best I can. It's my top game of the month loosely based on the franchise itself and how much I've enjoyed them ever since Far Cry 2.

The Story

Considering I haven't yet beat the game, I feel like I'm less qualified to insert a section about the story of the game. However, it's an engrossing story about a deputy who went to detain the leader of a cult in the middle of this rural, mountainous area in a fictional Montana county.

The leader of the cult is assisted by three "henchmen" I'll call them, and I've so far only beat one. So far, the story is paced fairly well. There are some confusing parts to the story that don't really add up like pulling the player from friendly sanctuaries and putting them into an enemy encampment out of the blue, but I think those will make more sense the further through the story I play.

I can't say enough about my excitement for the end of the game, as Far Cry titles usually end with a bang. I'll either update this blog, or post a new one when I'm finally done.

Combat and Other Mechanics

Far Cry 5 is a fresh installment of the series, but it's still Far Cry through and through. I've read that Far Cry Primal's melee system was carried over to 5, and it does feel like an improvement over the melee system in 3 and 4.

Climbing, gun fighting, and most everything else feels identical to previous Far Cry titles. The wingsuit feels a bit different (feels much better), but it could just be me. I don't know that they actually changed anything.

I'm enjoying the level of customization for weapons and vehicles in this game. I'm running around playing as a pseudo Rick and Negan mash up from The Walking Dead. I carry a barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat and what I believe looks like a .44 magnum. Going up against the cult in the game vaguely reminds me of tackling Negan or the Governor from the television show, so it all fits together nicely.

Flying was a great addition to the game! Planes don't control quite as I'd like them to, but they're simple and fun to fly. They add a great new way to traverse the map, and it really helps to push the map size. On the ground with all the trees around you, you feel utterly lost. In a plane or helicopter, you feel slightly less lost. It's a fun time!

Speaking of helicopters, there's nothing better than grabbing yourself an armed chopper, hovering down next to an outpost, and letting the lead fly. It's so much more satisfying than sneaking through, taking the enemies out one by one.

Finally, outposts! They've been kept in the game (as I think this is Far Cry's main staple), and they're largely the same as what they've always been. They're as tricky as ever, and enemies do seem more intelligent this time around, but they're the same old outposts you either love or hate. Their philosophy is clearly "Don't fix what's not broken", and I'm okay with that.

Conspiracies and Preppers

This game shines a light on a certain group of people who are usually deemed insane. When compared to a malevolent cult, they don't look so bad! Maybe they're still a bit insane, but they actually seem kind of cool with their bunkers and prepper supplies.

One thing I love about Far Cry 5 is the insertion of actual conspiracies/UFOs/cryptids. In one cabin, you stumble across a prepper's cork board that connects certain areas of the map to bigfoot sightings and crop circles. How cool is that?! Move over Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry 5 might actually have a bigfoot roaming the map.

I haven't fully explored the map, so I don't actually know what all is in the game yet, but it's exciting to say the least. Going on a hunt for cryptids or aliens (even if it leads to a whole lot of nothing), is a game within a game that I always thoroughly enjoy.

Final Word

Far Cry 5 won out over Rock Band 4 simply because of the game's age. I have far more time in Rock Band 4 this month because of the Rivals season grind (curse you, bloodstone!), but Far Cry 5 really hit home for me. I loved 3 and 4, so when 5 hit the store shelves, I knew it was going to be a fun game for me.

The gun play, flying, outpost captures, hunting, and conspiracy theories really push this game over the top for me. The story on top of everything else, I'm sure, will seal this away as one of my all time favorites. Ubisoft continues it's climb out of the whole it dug itself into with another great title.

- Top Anime of April 2018 - 

The Ancient Magus' Bride

One of those Winter series wrapping up this month is The Ancient Magus' Bride. This series is set in a fictional part of the world that is either parallel to ours or one that is just a secluded part of Earth.

 The Story

Chise is a young girl who is bought at a human trafficking ring by a mysterious stranger. When brought to the stranger's house, it is revealed that he is an ancient mage who bought Chise in order to train her as his apprentice, and for her to become his bride.

It might sound weird, but it is one of the best new series I've ever watched. With some dark overtones (I mean, it starts off with human trafficking), and some light-hearted moments in between for comic relief, it's a series that keeps on giving.

All that, and then throw in some dragons, fae, elves, alchemists, familiars, and even mythological figures and you have yourself The Ancient Magus' Bride. It all focuses on Chise finding her place in the world.

Artwork and Animation

The Ancient Magus' Bride brings top notch animation to your television and streaming devices. The quality of animation is on par to a feature film, and the special effects are stunning. The background scenery and locations that the anime takes the viewer to are unique and beautifully crafted. Some of the series takes place in London, and other parts take you to a mystical land of dragons, a magically charged forest, and more.

It's such an easy anime to get lost in, and the story is fantastic. As cliche as this sounds, it keeps you guessing until the final episode.

The Final Word

If you're looking for a great fantasy and slice of life anime with a great dub cast and excellent artwork, look no further than The Ancient Magus' Bride. There are themes that everyone has encountered in their life at one point or another, but the events in the story are told in a very mystical and satisfying manner. Have a tissue box ready for some moments, but be prepared to laugh at others. The series is a great balance of good story-telling, intense drama, and uplifting moments. As a shonen series, I feel confident recommending this series to everyone.


Talking Points

Top Games of 4/2018

1. Far Cry 5 (PS4, PC, Xbox)
2. Rock Band 4 (PS4, Xbox)
3. Terraria (PC, PS4, Xbox)

Top Anime of 4/2018

1. Ancient Magus Bride (Funimation (dub), Crunchyroll)
2. Tokyo Ghoul (Funimation (dub), Crunchyroll)
3. Junji Ito Collection (Funimation (dub), Crunchyroll)

Spaztic Wishlist and Predictions - E3 2018

Hello everyone!

With how fast this year is going, E3 will be here before we know it (even though it's still over a month away). I thought I'd jump on the hype train a little early and share my wish list and predictions for the event.

E3 is much like Christmas for gamers. So much news comes out about the gaming world that it's hard to avoid sinking your teeth in and really savoring the moment. The last couple years, on the other hand, have been slow even though some great games have been showcased and released since then. I feel like game companies are going to ramp things up this year, and deliver an even greater lineup than we've seen in recent years.

Wishlists:

Nintendo
It's the big company that recently used Phoenix Down and removed their fainted status effect. The Switch release earlier this year was met with great success, and most of their first party games were complete hits. I don't know what Nintendo has up their sleeve at E3, but it has to be exciting if they want to keep up the momentum...and they've already gone on record to say that they do really want to keep up the momentum. They're aiming for a life span longer than the traditional ~6 year console generation. Will it continue to be a success? Or will it start to go the way of the Wii U? I'm betting on the first option.

My specific wishlist for Nintendo is kind of hefty, but I'm okay with not getting much. That being said, I hope they're okay with me not playing their system as much too.

My specific wishlist for Nintendo is this:

• Some news regarding Pokemon on Switch
• A new F-Zero game
• Virtual Console release
• A new Metroid title
• Finally (and this is the biggie), I want a complete makeover of the Switch's UI.
• With the online mode coming out later this year, I'm thinking they'll revamp the UI to include a more robust profile system. At the very least, they might make it easier to make and maintain friends, track games and play times, and I'm particularly hoping for profile-linked achievements.
• I doubt this will happen, but rumors have been tossed around that Nintendo is researching new console tech. If they don't announce it this year, or even next, I suspect they'll tease a smaller even more portable Switch as the final nail in the coffin of the DS family.

PlayStation and Xbox
The typical contenders of the "console wars". Both have been strong in recent years, but with the release of Xbox One X, I expect big things from Phil Spencer and his company. Playstation, on the other hand, has a load of first party games coming out, and I suspect something new in the way of portability and VR peripherals. With the Pro doing fairly well, they already have a competitor for the newest Xbox iteration, so I think the Sony vs. Microsoft console war has come to a stalemate. What's next for the two companies? I'll share in my wish list and predictions below.

Specific Wishlist for both consoles:

•  I'm hoping for some information on all the first party titles that will be coming out around or after E3, including
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• State of Decay 2
• Shenmue 1 and 2 ports, Shenmue 3
• More Spider Man Footage
• Spyro Remaster
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• The new Battlefield

This is a weak list, but I don't expect much from the major consoles. Sony has a leg up because of the next thing I'm going to talk about, but I don't expect new hardware for PS4 or Xbox this year.

Vita: The Resurrection
Sony recently commented on Nintendo's new console, and how they "can't ignore" the portable devices success. Sony and Nintendo were in a firm "war" with one another when portable games were in their prime between 2005 and 2012. During this time, the PSP and DS were the juggernauts, and remained at the top as far as handheld gaming go. Since then, they've been replaced by the 3DS XL and PS Vita 2000. All those systems have run their course, but now that the Switch has been released, the gaming industry sees just how desirable portability really is. I think Sony is ready to step back into the portable ring.

Specific Wishlist:

• This one's easy: A new Vita.

I doubt they'd do something as crazy as shipping a brand new Playstation system dubbing it a literal Portable Playstation (i.e. PS5 for all intents and purposes), but I do expect something new from Sony for the handheld market.

PC gaming
All hail the master race...if you're one of those snobs. Everyone knows PCs are more powerful, and Steam is hands down the best gaming platform available, but can't we all just get along? Anyway, there's usually not much at E3 specifically for PC. Consoles run most--if not all--the games that PCs do now-a-days. Every now and again, we get some sweet news about games like Civilization or Total War. I think last year, we got a look into the new Warframe expansion that made it open world. This year, I'm hoping we see a bit more hardware that I can't afford, as well as a lot more news about new PC games hitting the market.

EA and Ubisoft
Oh Ubisoft. One of the most hated companies in all of gaming really has performed a distinct one-eighty. Are their games perfect? No. I will say that I've been impressed as of late with their titles though. Far Cry 5 is fun, Watch_Dogs2 was a blast, and I'm hearing wonderful things about Assassin's Creed Origins. I'm well aware of the issues in Siege, however, and For Honor was sadly a minor bust. Ghost Recon is still alive and well with it's second season pass, but The Division is possibly out of steam as well. Might we see a sequel somewhere in there? Maybe a new IP? Whatever they decide to do, it will look like gold compared to EA.

Electronic Arts has been shoveling themselves out of a pile of crap bigger than Pluto. Ever since Battlefront II hit the shelves, they've had nothing but drama and controversy. They destroyed sports games, Bioware titles, almost killed A Way Out...they really put a damper on Star Wars video games in general...and while we're at it...they probably kicked a dog too. They'll have to show a lot more than Anthem to redeem themselves. I doubt redemption is even possible for the foreseeable future.

I will say that I'm impressed with their decision to roll back micro-transactions in Battlefront II (to whatever degree, I'm not sure). Unfortunately, by the time they saw that the gaming industry really didn't like their business model and they decided to make some positive changes, it was too little too late.

Square Enix
Kingdom Hearts 3. Enough said. (Although I really hope they showcase some more Final Fantasy XIV VR content). Oh and Project Octopath Traveler. I have high hopes for this game - the aesthetic itself is enough to sell the game, but the actual gameplay felt really good in the demo (and Square is committed to improving the game even further based on demo feedback), so that's win-win in my books.


Specific Wishlist:

• Kingdom Hearts 3 information
• Final Fantasy XIV VR or new expansion information (I think it's too early for a new expansion though)
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake news or release date

Bethesda
Todd Howard walks out on stage. The lights are gleaming down in front of him, making the rear view of his body just a silhouette before the thousands sitting with bated breath. The crowd's applause fades to a few coughs and sniffles, while Howard rubs his hands together. The camera switches to his face, and he says: "Watch this."

Epic music starts playing and it's immediately evident that it's the old familiar score for The Elder Scrolls series. The audience goes wild, the game looks magnificent, and E3 implodes on itself in grand fashion. See you at E3 2019, folks!

Okay, maybe I took that too far. Bethesda, in recent years, has been relatively quiet. Their E3 2017 performance was their quietest in years, and it almost seemed as though Pete Hines was nervous about something. Did they pull a game that they planned to show? Who knows now, but I do feel like they'll have an excellent showing at E3 this year. Will they show TES VI? Maybe, maybe not. I feel like it's past due, but they may have also been working on something else other than Fallout and The Elder Scrolls like the nearly mythical Starfield. Who knows for sure what we'll see, but I hope it's a game developed by Bethesda and not one of their other studios that they publish for. I'm all for games like Prey and DOOM, but I'm really excited for a new TES or Fallout.

Speaking of Fallout, I also wonder if we'll ever see an MMO rendition of the Fallout universe like what ESO brought to The Elder Scrolls. That, and I'd like to see a remaster of New Vegas or even Fallout 3.

That said, those are their flagship games, and they have a lot of other studios working under them that they publish for. Dishonored, The Evil Within, Prey, and DOOM all fall under that category. There have been rumors floating around that DOOM 2 will make an appearance at E3 2018 as well. That. Would. Rock.

Specific Wishlist:

• The Elder Scrolls VI
• Fallout MMO
• Fallout remasters
• Oblivion and Morrowind remasters
• Starfield
• DOOM 2

CDPR
I almost forgot about the Polish company that brought us the wonderful Witcher franchise. The Witcher 3 was one of the classiest, most underrated games of this console generation and their next game is looking to top that.

While the game industry was falling apart over microtransactions and really shady business practices,  CDPR released The Witcher 3 which had no microtransactions, came with a ton of freebies in the physical copy (stickers, a nice map, the soundtrack), and they released three paid add-ons that were big enough to be successful games all on their own.

Their new game, Cyberpunk 2077, is a futuristic cyberpunk game that is an RPG, has online elements, and looks to dwarf the size of The Witcher 3. 

Specific Wishlist:

•  Anything dealing with Cyberpunk 2077: News, screenshots, gameplay footage, a release date maybe? (Pretty please?)

So those are my wishlists for E3 2018. What about my predictions?


Predictions:

All in all, I think we'll have an exciting E3. I don't know how much of it will contain off-the-wall surprises. Unless a game company does something really bizarre, I think this year will be pretty easy to predict. That said, I did also claim that this would be a major year for the exp, so time will tell.

Here are my major predictions for E3 2018:

1. Sony will announce a new handheld
2. The Elder Scrolls VI will be teased (only if we get a minor teaser sometime in May)
3. Nintendo will announce virtual console and
4. Nintendo will also explain the online features and announce a new major UI overhaul
5. A new Metroid title will be announced
6. The Division 2 will be teased or announced
7. DOOM 2 will be in the main showcase for Bethesda
8.  Pokemon for Switch will be teased at the very least, possibly shown in detail
9. Super Smash Brothers will be shown in detail
10. Project Octopath Traveler will get a lot of attention
11. Spyro will also get a lot of attention, including gameplay
12. Sony will announce new peripherals for PSVR (better controllers)
13. Nintendo will showcase the titles from the direct in March
14. State of Decay 2 will be one of the biggest showcases for Microsoft (I can't wait!)
15. Ubisoft will have a mediocre showing with The Crew 2 and The Division 2
16. Ubisoft will showcase the first Far Cry 5 DLC
17. EA will show some sports games, and have awkward and cringe-worthy spokespeople
18. EA will also show Anthem gameplay and offer a release date
19. Square Enix will offer more detailed information on Octopath Traveler
20. We will finally get more Final Fantasy VII Remake information 
21. Rockstar will showcase Red Dead Redemption 2
22. Rockstar will announce future plans for GTA V, including possible expansions to the still-popular GTA Online