Daud is quite similar to Corvo–the protagonist of the first game–and while there are some variations in the way he moves and engages in combat, the unique gameplay feel of the original game is retained well. The DLC offers a lot of choices however it is limited in scope, which is understandable.

It features three missions where you will visit Coldridge Prison again, along with areas that have been significantly redesigned. Revealing more will spoil the story, but I would say that there’s a lot of playtime here if you decide to play stealthily.

"The plot of the DLC seems to be its weakest part because you also have to play the first one to understand what’s going on."

The plot of the DLC seems to be its weakest part because you also have to play the first one to understand what’s going on. That’s highly recommended though as you will get a basic idea of Daud’s backstory and his motivations. In case, you need a refresher, Daud killed the empress Corvo was supposed to protect in the original game.

In the prison level, you will encounter a guard who is about to be executed for letting Corvo escape, and this is where the game’s freedom of choice comes in; you can save him or do nothing. What you do in the game is extremely vital though so just like the main game, it would be better if you can just avoid killing people.

Stealth is where the game shines a lot. I had a lot of issues with the Blink power which allows you to teleport small distances, and while it makes it difficult to fully enjoy the experience of sneaking around by increasing the pacing, some players may find it really useful for making those fast getaways.

The second mission sees you in a fetch quest to proceed to the last mission, which is set in a creepy mansion with formidable enemies. This is where Arkane’s expertise shines a lot, as it is most definitely one of the best levels I have ever played when it comes to the pure sense of dread you get while exploring.

"The Brigmore Witches DLC adds a bunch of unique content, and extends that Dishonored gameplay you have come to love."

Everything else is quite similar to the vanilla game. Daud has some new powers like Pull, which pulls enemies closer to him. Overall, it’s not radically different then what we have come to expect, but there’s some variation to be found in the DLC.

In my review of the main game, I lamented on the fact that the game didn’t have a lot of missions and while they were well designed, it could have used a few more missions. Chalk it down to lack of time or something else, but if these DLCs were incorporated in the main game, we would have definitely seen some perfect scores being thrown around for the game.

The Brigmore Witches DLC adds a bunch of unique content, and extends that Dishonored gameplay you have come to love. Although, there are only three missions here, there’s quite a bit of replay value that can be extracted due to the amount of choice offered by the game.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

The core gameplay mechanics are quite similar in both the games. It’s purely a cooperative game that you can play with friends or randoms, and as with any such game, playing with friends gives the best experience because there’s generally more co-ordination and teamwork that can be achieved, not to mention hilarious moments.

It’s a bigger, better game than its predecessor and that’s something you expect from a polished sequel. It’s largely meant to be played online but there’s an offline mode as well which gives you an idea of how to play the game in case you are new to its mechanics. However, learning the gameplay mechanics doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s a very accessible game. The premise is simple: complete objectives, defend yourself from waves of cops, and get to the escape.

"Variety is one of the major themes here. The missions have been significantly increased compared to the first game and there’s just a lot of things to do in Payday 2."

Variety is one of the major themes here. The missions have been significantly increased compared to the first game and there’s just a lot of things to do in Payday 2. One thing I was disappointed in was the size of the maps. I loved the huge maps in Payday: The Heist, and it felt like a real challenge getting from one place to another. Of course, it can still be difficult in this game but the scope of the maps have been reduced by a bit.

You once again play as Hoxton, Wolf, Dallas and Chains, and you can receive objectives from people such as Bain. The story is pretty much non-existent but you shouldn’t really be expecting something it here. Think of Left 4 Dead 2 but with a massive twist.

Another element that was bit disappointing to me was the lack of a system where you can gather your friends and then go find a match. In Payday 2, you have to open up Crimenet and search for contracts which will be listed based on the difficulty and other filters. I initially wasted a lot of time trying to join a game with my friend, since having to find a lobby with one slot free can be really painful. However, if you have four friends, things can be exceedingly simple.

"While the game looks great there are some low resolution textures here and there, but that really isn’t an issue because it doesn’t stick out much."

The real meat of the game is in its missions and the gameplay. If you have played the first game then this will be largely familiar, at least graphically. While the game looks great there are some low resolution textures here and there, but that really isn’t an issue because it doesn’t stick out much. It’s a good looking game when you are actually concentrating on blasting the hell out of cops.

There will be various scenarios and contracts for you to choose from. Some of these contracts are divided into 6 or 7 in-game days and is based on a checkpoint-type system. Finishing these contracts successfully will result in a lot of cash, but if you fail you won’t get much. There are a lot of weapons and equipment available in the game, including classes like Mastermind, Ghost and stuff, however, you will need to unlock them by ranking up and getting skill points.

The game becomes really good as you get to a decent level and unlock a bunch of skills. There’s an extensive customization option in the game, which long term players will find that they have a lot to play for here. Just like the previous game, teamwork counts here and that’s why playing with friends is recommended. You can use voice communication or text chat to guide players and it is generally really smooth.

"The offline AI is useless and I would generally not recommend you to play in that mode since this game really shines online. But you already knew that, didn’t you?"

The weapon animations are something I personally loved. You can decrease weapon recoil by unlocking skills and they sound great too. Not to mention the soundtrack. It is something that pumps you up during heists and the choice of music employed is in very good taste.

The offline AI is useless and I would generally not recommend you to play in that mode since this game really shines online. But you already knew that, didn’t you? Most heists can last a while depending on how you co-ordinate with your teammates and whether you want to clean up the safe before heading to the escape or not. It won’t be that easy though, the cops can get relentless and it won’t be long before everyone goes down.

If someone is arrested you do have an option to exchange with a hostage, but that is way too much of a hassle. Killing civilians will reduce your cash and it is advisable to tell them to get on the ground because they can run helter-skelter and get killed accidentally.

"Payday 2 is quite a solid game but does have its flaws. If you are looking for some incredible co-op action, then by all means do get the game."

As explained above, leveling up really enhances the game since it unlocks a lot of skills. Examples of teamwork are throwing down medical kits or ammo when your team needs it. Some people do it, some just don’t care, and that really makes a lot of difference in this game.

The netcode is great and I hardly encountered any lag while playing the game, however, the game did crash on me once. As I am writing this, a patch has gone live so Overkill seem to be on top of their game. Payday 2 is quite a solid game but does have its flaws. If you are looking for some incredible co-op action, then by all means do get the game, but this is purely meant to be played online and solo players won’t find much joy here.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

There is a reason why the Vita is so attractive to indie developers. It’s easy to create games, it contains impressive hardware grunt for a portable device, and the touch screen simplifies a lot of controls. There’s a certain joy of playing a platformer on your bed with your Vita, and while Sony may have devised grander things for the system, this is something that really makes it desirable.

Stealth Inc. is a unique platformer that blends in stealth and puzzles. The game is set in a prison sort of setting and the main protagonist doesn’t really strike out as interesting, but the whole point of the game is clearing levels and testing your wits anyway.

It’s nice that something like this has been released on the Vita since I found the game to be really addictive since there are some fantastic puzzles here that will test you a lot.

"The checkpoints are pretty generous. You will start really close to the point you died, so if you are stuck at a place then it won’t be that annoying."

The gameplay mechanics are quite simple. You need to get to the exit at the end of each level. It won’t be easy though, if you miss a step and step into the radar of a turret, then that means instant death.

The stealth mechanics are nicely done too. You can either create your own shadows to activate panels or use existing ones to hide behind. There are other floor or wall switches that you can press to create ways to finish the level.

These panels will almost always be placed near a turret so if you are visible in its range, you will die. Thankfully, the checkpoints are pretty generous. You will start really close to the point you died, so if you are stuck at a place then it won’t be that annoying. It’s actually fun to solve a puzzle and see the time you accomplished the level in.

"I didn’t complete the entire game due to the sheer amount of levels on offer, but from what I have played, Stealth Inc. is a quality game and very worthy of a purchase."

The early levels are quite easy and you don’t have to struggle a lot to beat them. The difficulty increases as you keep playing which is something that you would normally expect from a game like this.

There are a ton of levels here, almost 80 odd. The later levels are complex and even if you are in a courageous mood, it will take a noticeable amount of time to clear each one. At the end of each chapter or so, you will face a boss fight. This should be the same as the other levels but the difficulty is ramped up significantly, however, by carefully studying your environment and finding ways to open the exit will prove to be the deciding factor.

As you keep playing, there will be objects that you need to dodge during platforming, and all this makes the game really tough but fun to play. The amount of content and the smoothness of controls on the Vita really makes it a joy to play through the game. The game also features difficult puzzles and you might be stuck in a level for hours like I did.

I didn’t complete the entire game due to the sheer amount of levels on offer, but from what I have played, Stealth Inc. is a quality game and very worthy of a purchase. I’d go as far to say that the Vita version is the best version, and the game truly showcases the abilities of the handheld in a not so gimmicky way.

This game was reviewed on the PS Vita.

You may have probably heard about the game since it was embroiled in numerous controversies, one which questioned its character design, showing highly exaggerated body parts. The argument was that it was not conducive to proper game design but I disagree. That is where the charm of the whole game lies.

Dragon’s Crown is a 2D side-scrolling game with a mix of RPG and beat-em-up mechanics, You get to choose from six different characters to experience a mythical world. The classes themselves are something that most people will be familiar with; Elf, Amazon, Knight, Sorceress and that sort.

Each character classes have their own strengths and weaknesses, and I picked the Elf in my first playthrough. The Elf is a short archer with a cape and the colour can be customized to your liking. I have always had a fondness for characters with a bow, and needless to say it’s really fun to use that here.

"There's a lot of replayability here, more than 100 hours should you choose to beat the game with every character."

The controls are pretty straightforward. The square button does basic attacks, and the circle button does secondary attacks.

You can heal and use items using the d-pad and do other moves by pressing a combination of buttons. Each character has their own moves but the core moves like punching and jumping are standard for all of them.

Since the game is designed in a way that you don’t have much freedom, the combat scenarios can get highly challenging. The initial tutorial section teaches you all the basic moves but you are on your own from there.

This is where the game’s sort of RPG mechanics come in to play. You have three lives which can be extended using various ways and you also have to take care of your AI partners who will be beneficial in many ways.

I got paired up with someone who could open chests for me and he generally stood back from most fights. The great thing about this game is that you can select any character and it really gives you a different experience. There’s a lot of replayability here, more than 100 hours should you choose to beat the game with every character.

"I was a bit disappointed that you don't get much introduction for the character you pick."

I was a bit disappointed that you don’t get much introduction for the character you pick. You are directly thrown in this world where the game’s art style is in full display, and depending on how much you love such design, your enjoyment of the game will vary.

You can repair and buy equipment, and all this requires gold which is available in abundant. You can get them from treasure chests or by defeating enemies and bosses or clearing levels.

There are a bunch of levels here, each with a boss and once you obtain 9 talisman, you can fight the final boss and beat the game. The online mode unlocks after the 9th level. The reason for such a decision has not been given but it definitely struck as absurd to me.

The entire charm is in leveling up and you are able to level up to 99 as you beat the game in hard and inferno mode. Most people will never reach that stage but there’s definitely something to play for here.

"I'm honestly glad that this game came out as it isn't something you find a lot nowadays, so credit goes to Vanillaware for thinking out of the box and crafting an addictive game."

The story is narrated to you and you have the option to skip the text and proceed directly to the gameplay, but the narrator’s voice is quite soothing so I don’t know why you would want to do that. The boss battles are unique and challenging, and the random enemies come in all shapes and sizes as if they were plucked from the 90s and put into this game.

The review code that I was provided with came with both the PS3 and Vita version of the game and the retail version does not support cross buy. This review was done with the PS3 version, and I can imagine the experience of the Vita version to be much higher because this is a game that demands you to play in bed, as the RPG mechanics can sometimes be overwhelming.

I’m honestly glad that this game came out as it isn’t something you find a lot nowadays, so credit goes to Vanillaware for thinking out of the box and crafting an addictive game. There’s a lot of replayability here, tons of customization, and the RPG/beat-em-up mechanics are quite solid too.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 3.

The “HD” version not only features crisp upgraded visuals tailored to the Vita, but also comes with some extra content, making this version highly attractive.

It’s a tower defense game at its core, and if you have never been exposed to the genre, it basically requires you to construct defensive structures and stop the incoming enemy hordes or waves and protect yourself from being plundered.

In this game you play as the Tikiman aka the Forest Defender, and you have to defend your offspring from waves of monsters. Here’s where the game gets real. Ultimately it depends on how much you like the tower defense genre. Personally, I found it to be really fun playing on the Vita, and lazily constructing weapon towers and watching them take down the monsters never became dull.

"Different enemies require different strategy, and enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Placing the appropriate tower and supplementing certain towers will make sure you can take out a monster horde effectively."

I would say the experience is much better on the Vita than it was on the PS3, simply because it suits the handheld somewhat and there have been plenty of improvements here to feel like an entirely different game. Of course, the core gameplay and visuals are the same, but it’s much more polished, something you expect from a game released in 2013.

The Vita version contains 21 original Tiki island levels and 24 challenge levels, and it also adds additional stages of GatiGati Island, along with 15 additional levels of Toki Island.

There’s a lot of content here if you are willing to check them all out, and as a bonus you can also unlock music, videos and concept art.

Tower defense based games usually requires tactical decisions, and it also results in circumstances that may obliterate your complete strategy, requiring you to rethink the placement of the weapon towers. This is where the game can become highly addictive. Setting up towers and mowing down enemies can be hugely satisfying.

Different enemies require different strategy, and enemies come in all shapes and sizes. Placing the appropriate tower and supplementing certain towers will make sure you can take out a monster horde effectively. Sometimes it can be frustrating if some monsters break past your defenses but that is the allure of this genre.

You can collect coin from fallen monsters and from trees. This can be used to upgrade your towers and buy new ones. The concept is pretty simple just like any other tower defense game out there, but with a slight twist. There’s a sensitive balance that needs to be maintained so that the game doesn’t become too overwhelming for the player and Pixeljunk Monsters handles that well. You probably knew this years ago, didn’t you?

"There are some Vita specific features as well which utilizes the touch screen controls. They are definitely implemented in a non-gimmicky way and allows you to zoom in and out of the map. "

There’s also online and adhoc co-op play further reiterating the amount of replayability this game has. On top of that the Vita version also features additional trophies.

There are some Vita specific features as well which utilizes the touch screen controls. They are definitely implemented in a non-gimmicky way and allows you to zoom in and out of the map. The game challenges you and makes you think out of the box only giving you little time between each wave. But that’s actually a good thing, as it keeps you in the “zone” without making you lose interest. You can also retry stages and do things differently, so the element of choice is definitely there.

Overall, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD feels like a love letter to the PlayStation Vita platform. It may feel familiar to people who have already played the game but the game packs in with enough content to warrant a purchase.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation Vita.

It’s made by Trion Worlds as a tie in with the Syfy series Defiance. The game was released on April 2nd, 2013.

Namco Bandai distributed the game on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. [reference]

“We’re delighted to be working with Namco Bandai, a great company with a proven track record in bringing big games successfully to the market thanks to their great distribution network and excellent relationship with retailers,” said Keri Taylor, Director of Sales, Trion Worlds.

The game combines the intense action of a console third-person shooter, with the persistence, scale, and customization of an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online game), while its TV counterpart exudes the scope, story, and drama of a classic sci-fi epic.

After enjoying acceptable sales, the game saw a fairly rapid decline in players, because of this the games business model was changed and Defiance went free to play on June 4th 2014.

• 1. Development
• 2. Gameplay
• 3. Season Pass
• 4. Characters
• 5. Media

Development

Trion Worlds has announced that online gaming veteran Nathan Richardsson, who’s experience spans titles like EVE Online, World of Darkness and Dust 514, has joined the company as Vice President of Development and Executive Producer for their upcoming multi-platform MMO third person shooter. [reference]

Defiance is being developed in conjunction with the sci-fi TV series set to premier on SyFy.

As Richardsson states, “Trion is an incredibly dynamic company and is already leading a revolution in the online gaming space. Defiance is the future of entertainment, and the collaboration between Trion and Syfy means you have two powerhouses blazing a trail that will fundamentally change the way both gamers and viewers consume entertainment. It’s amazingly ambitious and exactly the kind of immense challenge that I’ve been looking for.”

His responsibilities entail collaborating between the Trion development team and SyFy, guiding the overall creative direction of the game through launch. With more than a decade of experience, he’ll be sure to lead Defiance on the right path.

We also interview Nathan and you can read that here. [reference]

He revealed that Borderlands was definitely an inspiration for the game.

“Borderlands and other open world games are definitely inspirations, it gives a lot of freedom and enables us to seamlessly go through very different types of gameplay, ranging from the single-player experience, into competitive multiplayer, like our Shadow Wars to the massive co-op boss battles like the Ark Falls,” he told us.

The game will take 10 GB on the Xbox 360. [reference]

Gameplay

“Character progression is very free-form, there are no classes, you define those yourself from various abilities you gain over time. You then essentially create various builds you switch between while playing. Character customization is part of this progression as well, where we’re closer to a shooter than an RPG but leveraging that we’re an online game so we’re constantly expanding the possibilities,” Richardson told us.

“Looking at weapon customization first, we have about 14 types that span over traditional bullet weapons and explosive weapons to the more alien infectors and BMGs. Each of these can then individually be modified with up to 4 different weapon mods to better suit your play style.

“These are then be combined with your own loadouts or “classes” mentioned earlier, where you have a combination of active and passive abilities which are grouped under what we call, your “EGO”. You gather EGO points through various means which allows you to expand upon these abilities, allowing you more breadth of loadouts you can switch between while playing. It’s that marrying of player skill, player abilities and customization in an open world, where everything you gain, is applicable and usable both against NPCs as well as other players.”

Season Pass

The Season Pass grants players access to the first 5 DLC Packs which are in the pipeline. The Pass is available for  $39.99, 20% lesser than buying each DLC pack individually. [reference]

There will be new playable alien species, new weapons and vehicles, missions, and rewards, plus two bonus items, an exclusive digital Hellbug combat cap and a Lock Box.

Characters

• Karl Von Bach – CEO of Von Bach Industries, the man who hired you to come to the Bay Area
• Varus Soleptor – A Liberata, one of the Votan species, he is a business owner and a very rich person
• Torc Mok – A Sensoth, one of the Votan species, former soldier
• Rosa Rodriguez – A genius inventor who operates Top-Notch Toolworks
• Cass Ducar – An Irathient and an ark hunter
• Eren Niden – A Indogene, one of the Votan species, bio-technician who works with Rosa
• Jon Cooper – The local “Lawkeeper” and former military soldiers
• Joshua Nolan – War veteran and ex-grifter
• Irisa Nyira – An Irathient girl who was rescued by Nolan

Media

Here are some Defiance screenshots [reference]

This wiki was last updated on 2nd, January, 2015. 

Developed exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS, the games were published by both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Given the exclusivity and widespread success of the 3DS, the games received a worldwide launch date of October 12 2013 and were made available at retail and via digital download. When they were launched, both games were met with critical acclaim.

• 1. Development
• 2. Gameplay
• 3. Pokemon Types
• 4. Media

Development

“The worldwide launch of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y this October allows players to begin their adventures at the same time,” said Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company. “Now, Pokémon fans across the globe can discover the secrets of Pokémon games and can collect, battle, and trade with each other immediately.” [reference]

“We brought Pokémon into an entirely new dimension and we’re incredibly excited to bring Pokémon X and Pokémon Y  to fans,” said Junichi Masuda, video game director at GAME FREAK inc.

“The stunning visuals, a completely redesigned environment, game scenario, music, and communication features will bring smiles to the faces of video game players around the world.”

The Pokémon Company international marketing director J.C. Smith feels that it has been long overdue now. [reference]

“This game has been a long time coming,” Smith told Polygon. “Obviously, Game Freak wanted to make sure that when they created this new universe on the 3DS, that it looked fantastic; both in the polygonal style and also when people are able to see the 3D effects as well. It’s really exciting to see the Pokemon come to life a little more.”

“There’s always been an evolution of the look and feel; it just happens to be that we played Black and White, and Heart Gold and Soul Silver, and Diamond and Pearl, and Platinum — all of those games on the same platform. So it feels like it’s been a long time in the same way,” Smith went on. “But between the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color, and moving up into the DS now, it’s always had that change. There’s never been a conscious decision to reboot, it’s just a decision to try new things and express the world in a new way.”

Gameplay

The overall gameplay of Pokémon X and Y does little to change the established format of previous games. That means that the player will take part in turn based battles with other trainers as they travel across the land collecting, training and trading their Pokémon in an attempt to become a Master.

One new mechanic in the game is the inclusion of various training stages that allow the player to target specific traits for training their Pokémon. This means you can focus on making a slow creature move faster or hit harder. This is accomplished by taking part in mini games and by using the training bags that require you to tap the screen repeatedly.

Pokemon Types

Nintendo has also released an infographic of different Pokemon starters and also their weight and abilities. You can check out all the pictures below. [reference]

Grass-type is strong against Water-type, but weak against Fire. Fire-type is strong against Grass-type and weak against Water. While Water-type is strong against Fire-type Pokémon, but weak against Grass.

Heights and weights for the two legendary Pokémon are:

Xerneus, 3.0 m (9’10”), 215.0 Kg (474 lbs.)

Yveltal, 5.8 m (19’00”), 203.0 Kg (447.5 lbs.)

“The new Pokémon, Sylveon, is a new evolution of Eevee, one of the most beloved Pokémon since it was first discovered inPokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. Players with Eevee can evolve it into one of seven evolutions, like Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon. Sylveon will be the eighth Eevee evolution.”

All of the previously established Pokémon types are present in X & Y alongside the new Fairy Type Pokémon. Fairy types are a new addition to help bring some balance to the previously OP Dragon Types which were only weak to other Dragons and Ice attacks, both of which are somewhat uncommon.

To that end, Fairy types are strong against Dragon, Fighting and Dark types and can resist fire poison and steel attacks. Though they were initially scoffed at because of the “fairy” classification, they have proven to be versatile creatures that have won the day many a time.

Media

Pokemon X and Y Wallpapers in 1080P HD. [reference]

This wiki was last updated on 2nd January, 2015. 

Rockstar has released six new images which show what characters you can encounter in the game. The three main protagonists are a known commodity but there are some new ones which show some people which you will encounter in the game.

Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are the main ones and you can also see Michael’s son sitting on a chair while munching on chips and playing games. Kind of like the nerds you encounter in real life. GTA is a parody anyway.

There’s another guy listening on the radio but we don’t know who he is actually, so just check out the images below.

You can check out our entire coverage of GTA 5 over here.

The next installment in the Call of Duty series was leaked early this year and the YouTube user that leaked it first has a few more details on the game.

It will feature an all new character cast, which means, there will be no Price, Roast, or Ghost. The game is called Ghost but that just signifies the mask people were to do good acts or bad based on the reveal trailer for the game.

It won’t be a prequel or sequel to Modern Warfare 3 and the developer of the game is Infinity Ward. The reason for dropping the brand was very clear, they wanted to reboot the franchise with next-gen.

The game will be shown on May 21st during the Xbox 720 reveal, and we may have more details on the gameplay and multiplayer. Check out the video below for what the user has to say about the game.

There will be current generation weapons and the storyline will give enough reasons for using them. You can check the video below.

Ubisoft will be releasing the Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed 4 exclusive PS3 DLC on PS4 as well. This isn’t surprising because Sony has had a deal with them since a while back.

Here’s what a Ubisoft spokesperson told Videogamer.

“We can confirm that customers who will purchase Watch_Dogs on PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 will be able to download 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network after the game’s launch. As of now, we have no more details to share.”

The extra content as found in the previous games isn’t something that will be a deciding factor of buying a specific version because what will decide that is the port quality.

The games will be released later this year on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U and the next-gen platforms.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

In the mean time check out our hub pages for Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed 4 over here and here.