PS4, Knack, and Contrast Review

If you don't want to read this, feel free to watch this video review :)


Hey everyone! Today I'm here to review two launch titles for the Playstation 4, the retail title Knack, and the indie free to play Contrast, along with the system itself. Check out the review for Knack down below.

Overall, Knack, is just okay. That's it. The graphics are in no way stunning, and honestly, could have probably been pulled off on the PS3. While the story's nice, it's certainly not a bragging point. But to me, there are multiple problems with the overall gameplay. As Knack grows (or shrinks) the amount of damage enemies deal do as well. I have not yet explored a part of the game where it didn't require more than 3 hits to completely knock Knack out. At multiple points in the game, there are groups of three or four enemies together that can take out Knack in one hit, causing a plethora of restarts before you gain any ground. This also makes it so the only way you can cause any damage is by running in really fast, trying to get a hit, and then run back out, leaving us with annoying, redundant gameplay. Another flaw in the gameplay has to do with one of Knack's main damage dealers, sunstones. "Sunstones are items found around the world of Knack which can be destroyed in order to fill up Knack's energy bar in order for him to execute Super Moves."-Knack Wiki. If you use a sunstone on an enemy, and then proceed to die (you will. an incredible amount of times) in the same area, the damage the deal to enemies is undone, however, the amount of energy you used isn't, meaning that if you die after using a sunstone, the damage doesn't stay, while the energy still disappears. With overall redundant, overly difficult gameplay, mediocre at best graphics and plot lines, honestly, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

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Next, we move onto another launch title, Contrast.

Contrast and Knack are polar opposites, in all ways. The puzzle platformer game is set in a parallel 1920s world, where a young girl Didi, meets Dawn, a mysterious woman who is able to transform into a shadow and travel along lit walls. The unique gameplay is simple yet engaging, and is presented in a wide variety of ways, with every level being different from the last. The gameplay is very engaging, and lives up to its name as a puzzler, with multiple ways to progress through a level, while also keeping your mind sharp through out, always having to plan ahead. The story of the game is crafted beautifully, and is incredibly compelling. The story has twists, shockers, and even humor in it, and manages to stay fresh through the entire game, always making you wonder what's to happen next. Usually, I'm not a fan of  puzzle games, but Contrast has something for everyone. Intense (yet not too intense like some other games) puzzles, platformer elements, a unique and intriguing plot, and overall wonderful gameplay. Besides a few minor glitches (I haven't noticed one yet that hugely interfered with gameplay) this is a wonderful game that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a solid launch title.

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And finally, we move onto the system itself, the Playstation 4.

Unboxing by yours truly :)

Overall the system itself, IS AWESOME! *Insert rabid fangirlism here* The system immediately grabs your attention with a beautiful upgraded UI, but it also simple at the same time, letting you know where everything is, so it's easy to grasp for newcomers. One of the most interesting features of the new system is the ability to connect your PS Vita over wifi to use it as a controller, showing the action on both screens. While working with high speed wi-fi, the feature is flawless, and essentially works like off screen play for the Wii U, allowing you to continue the action when someone else wants to use the TV. This feature is not only helpful, but saves you $50 dollars on another controller. However, if your wifi is spotty at times, the remote play is essentially useless, and remote play with a USB cord, is unfortunately, not available. 

Another noticeable upgrade from the PS3 is the loading times, for example, a few months ago when the PS Store was upgraded, the loading times for it were unbearable, however, the store now loads in a fraction of a second, along with notably decreased loading times for games as well. The main gripe with the system for me, however, is how the system handles capturing gameplay. The capturing seems to turn on and off whenever it wants, making it impossible to record audio in sync, as it's impossible to tell when it will stop recording. Another problem with the capture is the fact that you can't record audio along with video, rather, having to record video and audio separately. As a YouTuber, I was really excited for the capturing aspect of the system, unfortunately, I think I'll wait for a capture card. On the flip side, livestreaming your gameplay is a much more capable and usable feature.

Another great aspect is the Dualshock 4. the new controller fits perfectly into any sized hands and is overall much better than the previous Dualshock, featuring upgrades such as a microphone jack, a clickable touch pad, and an overall upgraded, sleeker, and easier to use design.

With new, great features such as multitasking, being able to play games while they're downloading, and all the aforementioned details, this system really is, for the players. 

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Well, that's it for my review! If you have it, what do you think of the PS4? Are you waiting for the Xbox One? Share all your comments down below, and I'll see you guys soon!

Microsoft's E3 Press Conference Recap and Review

Hey everyone! On Monday Microsoft hosted their long awaited E3 press conference where they talked about new software and revealed new details about their new console, the Xbox one. Check out a review and recap of the conference down below.

Right from the beginning it's clear Microsoft is looking to make up for its mistake this generation. Immediately from even just the pre show Microsoft started revealing new games that are only for Xbox one, and pretty much in the first five minutes doubled the amount of exclusives found one Xbox 360. However, whether or not they'll be able to keep up the steady stream of exclusives throughout the entire generation is yet to be known.

Aside from just revealing new exclusive games, Microsoft showed what these new games are made of, and why it's worth buying the Xbone to play them. They showed gameplay of the new installment in the long running racing series Forza Motorsport, Forza 5. AIs in these games have evolved beyond being just a computer. Rather than driving in the systematic way we've come to expect with AIs, they drove in a less systematic, more human way, which make for a much more realistic and challenging game.

In the many trailers shown throughout the conference they showed just how realistic games are becoming. At one point in the Quantum Break trailer (A new Microsoft exclusive game) I was shocked that I was looking at a digital person, and not a real human, which shows how dedicated developers are to making the next generation as close to real life as possible.

However, developers are pushing the boundaries in every way, not just in graphics. In games like Project Spark, developers are building on games such as Little Big Planet that let you build your own experience, however, unlike in older generations where you had to use pre made tools that could limit your creativity, in this generation you have complete control over your creations with much more in depth and immersive tools available to you. Also in the same field, there are many new great developments in the open world genre. In new open world games you can interact with everything. Random objects can be picked up and used as improv weapons, and narrow or hard to reach routes that you never thought possible to use in this generation are now easily accessible escape routes, as shown in games like Dead Rising 3.

The conference also showed non gaming features, such as the ability to instantly live stream and record your gameplay to share with your audience online. Basically, everyone in the world will now have a gaming channel. great.

While there were many positives to the conference, it also had many downfalls too. Such as a ton of technical difficulties like no audio, just a terrible pretending to be excited crowd's cheers, in the Crimson Dragon trailer and the gameplay trailer for Battlefield 4 just not starting... like... ever (probably because they were running on Windows 8), scripted and awkwardly delivered jokes that garnered little to no laughs from the audience, and the omission of details like how the Xbone will handle used games and the topic of the Xbone not being able to work unless logging in to Xbox Live every 24 hours, details the gamers need, unlike the constant mentioning and plugging of SmartGlass. And then the worst of it all, an incredible launch price of $500! That means buying just 2 games along with your system will cost at the lowest $640. Is a system full of the exact same first person shooter over and over, live TV only available only at launch and in just one county, and basically not being able to be played in rural areas of the country as you have to stay logged in to play, worth $500? I'll let you answer that one.

Well, that's it for the Microsoft press conference! Tell me what you thought of it in the comments below, and I'll see you soon for EA, Ubisoft, and Sony conferences.

                                                                                                -Colby