Vampin' Gamer

Developer and publisher Niantic have created the next great thing, and it’s the game you’ve probably heard a lot about by now: Pokemon Go.

People all over the world have been playing the free-to-play augmented reality game and posting all about their Pokemon adventures. The game allows players to capture, train, battle and eventually trade Pokemon that appear throughout the real world.

Players first create an in-game avatar that will be displayed to determine the players' current locations. Players move around the real world to make the avatar walk. Within the players’ immediate surroundings are Pokestops and Pokegyms, which are placed at real-life memorials, restaurants, parks, churches, tourist attractions and more. Gamers can also encounter Pokemon, players may view them in an augmented reality view or with a pre-rendered background. The augmented reality view showcases a Pokemon in the real world by utilizing the mobile device’s gyroscope and camera.

Players use a unique system to catch Pokemon, relying on the gamer to throw a Pokeball at the right time and with the right amount of force to make a successful capture. Players are then rewarded with a new Pokemon, as well as candies and stardust — the in-game currencies that are used to raise a Pokemon’s combat power (CP).

Players' in-game avatars also earn experience points for actions like catching a Pokemon. As gamers gather experience, the in-game level of their avatar will rise. Once a player reaches level five, they can join one of three teams (red, blue or yellow) and battle at Pokemon Gyms found throughout the world. Players can capture gyms for their team by battling members of the opposing team occupying the gym. Every victory by the attacking team lowers the gym's prestige. After the prestige of the gym hits zero, the attacking player can take control of the gym and choose a Pokemon to defend it. Similarly, team members occupying a gym can upgrade the gym's prestige by battling the gym leader.

Pokemon Go is a genius game that has used a game’s world to work flawlessly with our own world via augmented reality and mobile devices. The game does a bad job of explaining all the features and activities players can take advantage of, but a little searching online will explain all. Outside of the poor user interaction from the company, the game itself is perfect and highly addictive. The out-of-the-box element of having gamers actually walking around the real world to interact and play the game is truly refreshing.

Now excuse me as I take a walk around the block and attempt to "catch them all."

Developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a video game for the Wii U. Players are able to choose from 16 characters to play single or double matches of tennis with familiar characters from the Mario Bros. universe. The game also includes power-ups that give players special abilities and four different modes to choose from.

Ultra Smash does a great job of presenting players with an action-paced, arcade-y tennis game. Players will welcome the subtle difference in each type of shot performed, as well as the difference in each character that can be chosen. Also, the game is very pretty and colorful, which fits well with the Mario theme.

The game includes four modes: Mega Battle, which allows players to power-up with a mushroom that gives the player more power and range; Knockback Challenge, which lets players play through a wave of different AI characters; an Online Mode that lets players match up with random opponents; and Classic Tennis, which allows players to change the rules such as jump shots, power-ups and chance shots.

Although the game is fairly fun, Ultra Smash falls short thanks to a number of negatives. With no tournament or campaign mode, players have nothing outside of multiplayer to continue playing the game. Also, the AI either too easy or too hard: There is no in-between. I also found it hard to find an online opponent at times. Since the online play requires you to play a random person, players cannot even "party-up" with a friend online.

Even with the game’s downfalls, Nintendo still has a pretty fun game that is family friendly. The game shines as a tennis game but fails at providing longevity. It's definitely best played online or with local multiplayer friends. If players can overlook the missing characters and game modes, they are in for fun, fast-paced action.

Blizzard Entertainment’s multiplayer shooter, Overwatch, is set to release May 24 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game centers on players who must use teamwork while choosing between 21 heroes, each with their own abilities and roles. I had the opportunity to play the game during the beta, and it did not disappoint.

Players are tasked with choosing between 21 heroes split between four classes: offense, defense, tank and support. Offense characters are fast and deal out lots of damage. The defense characters provide field support with sentry duties and other abilities to trap the enemy team. Tank characters draw enemy fire away from their team, as they have high hit points, and support characters use buffs and debuffs to enhance their own team and weaken the enemy team.

Since each character is unique, players will get an entirely new game experience with each gameplay if they choose a different character. This also makes it necessary to work as a team: No one player can do it all alone.  Players will be more inclined to change out their hero mid-game depending on the other team’s success.

The character designs and maps are beautifully made, with vibrant colors and unique locales. Different genders and ethnicities are portrayed within Overwatch and allow for much wider accessibility. Also, the map locales feature places from Route 66 near America’s Grand Canyon to the Japanese city of Hanamura.

The game will be officially released in a week, and gamers will be in for a treat. Overwatch is a shooter unlike any other out there now on the market. With its many characters with unique abilities and the absence of a traditional team death-match mode, Overwatch will not disappoint.  I spent many hours enjoying myself during the beta, and I cannot wait for May 24 so I can jump right back into the game where I left off.

Developer Gearbox Software and publisher 2K Games are back at it again with a first-person shooter, this time with multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements. The first intellectual property since Gearbox Software's Borderlands, Battleborn is labeled a “hero shooter” for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Battleborn will feature 25 playable heroes when it’s released May 3, 2016. Each character will have different abilities, weapons and an "ultimate ability" specific to each hero. In addition to melee and ranged attacks, heroes will have area-of-effect (AOE) attacks and magic casting.

The campaign mode does a great job at being a shooter, similar to Borderlands. The campaign is heavy on dialogue and Gearbox’s signature mature humor. Players can play the campaign alone or with a group. I opted to play with a couple of friends in the beta and found it quite enjoyable, with just the right bit of challenge. The multiplayer battle mode, however, is more catered toward the MOBA elements. Each team is tasked with escorting their minions down three lanes as you destroy enemy lackeys and heroes along the way.

The game is a joy to play, but there are a few things I think Gearbox Software could have done better. The style in Battleborn is very nice and colorful, but at times there’s entirely too much going on with all the different animations and sprites found on the screen. Also, the MOBA elements may present a bit of a learning curve for new players. There isn’t a tutorial for the mode and the game just throws you into the action, letting players figure it out for themselves. Hopefully there will be some type of tutorial instituted in the final version.

Although the game has multiple feels to it in the two different modes, I think Battleborn gets it right and has done an excellent job. My friends and myself were sold on the beta, and fully intend to buy the full version once it comes out May.

Developer and publisher Michael Todd Games has found success with a retro-styled 2D platformer named Electronic Super Joy.

The gameplay follows a humorous story of a human character who navigates through a world set to a soundtrack electronic dance music as he seeks revenge for his stolen butt.

The player is able to run, jump and smash his way through the game while solving puzzles, navigating mazes and overcoming obstacles on his quest for revenge. Enemies, missiles and moving stages force the player to move quickly while trying to clear Electronic Super Joy.

Players will find amazing level designs, backed by powerful and catchy electronic music, that make this game stand above the rest. Since there isn’t a health bar and the character will die instantly when hit, Electronic Super Joy is a welcomed challenge compared to a lot of the easier indie and even AAA titles released lately. The levels are designed in a way that players will die often trying to figure out the puzzles; thankfully, carefully placed checkpoints — from which players can resume the game if they die — take away the frustration.

The game's music also plays a huge role in pushing the player forward and onward with each jump and smash attack. Electronic Super Joy’s electronic music overlays a blunt visual design of silhouetted figures and landscapes against brightly colored backgrounds that work perfectly.

Electronic Super Joy is a true platformer that reminds me of games like Mario Bros. and the more recent Super Meat Boy. Players who love a challenge will enjoy the linear yet sometimes intimidating levels the game throws at them. And although it’s pixel graphics, the game is still stunning to look at and really holds its own against many of the games that have been released lately.

I’ve really enjoyed playing the game just as much as I’ve been enjoying the music that accompanies it. Although the game may make you rage at times, it’s a good type of rage that players who love a challenge will really enjoy. Electronic Super Joy is a hardcore side-scroller that keeps you entertained for hours. Anyone looking for a good challenge — and some really good music — would do well to pick up this title.

Developer and publisher Harmonix has done it again and brought gamers another insanely addictive and fun iteration of Rock Band. Rock Band 4 is everything you loved about the previous music video games, allowing you to simulate playing music using instrument controllers that mimic playing lead and bass guitar, drums and vocals.

Harmonix was able to add to a genre and game that was already well-made and successful. If you are familiar with the old versions of the game, this iteration will play out the same way but with a few added delights. Harmonix, remarkably, was able to bring back the previous eight years’ worth of content so players can easily re-download their previously purchased song content.

The game has gone back to the basics, with just a lead guitarist, a bass, a drummer and one to three vocalists. Pro guitars have been removed, as well as the keyboard instruments. However, there are added bonuses on the ways to use the instruments that have remained.

With a new focus on freestyle, players can now take part in musical solos. Guitarists are able to glide across the frets to create unique sounding solo pieces. Also, vocalists can earn extra points for singing anything in a solo section as long as it is in the right key. Finally, drummers too can get in on the action with Classic Fills, which let you go crazy; Static Fills, the actual recorded fills; and Dynamic Fills, which are randomly pulled from a pre-recorded library of fills.

Although the game is primarily a huge success, there are some elements that are lacking and left the game feeling unfinished. The campaign's story was a bit underwhelming and didn’t truly engage the players as much a it could have. Also, the content and new ideas were pretty much just solos and nothing else innovative.

Finally, the biggest disappointment was the lackluster track list that ships with the game. Many of the songs are unknown tracks that band members will be unfamiliar with.

Thankfully, Harmonix has promised players that nearly every song from previous versions will be re-downloadable. The game launched with over 900 of the legacy tracks available, and approximately 800 more will be available over the next few months. If you own any of the previous songs, the game will recognize the old song purchase and allow you to re-download it free-of-charge. And thankfully, the old songs have been remastered to utilize the new solo modes in Rock Band 4.

Although there is a lack of content and tracklist, players will still find Rock Band 4 a popular and enjoyable game to play. The insanely fun core game play remains, and new Freestyle Solos only add to the already entertaining experience. Harmonix have revived the perfect game for co-op gaming parties and musically inclined gamers to enjoy.

As the third game in the series and the sequel to 2010's Just Cause 2, Just Cause 3 is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix. Main protagonist Rico Rodriguez has returned to liberate Medici, a fictional Mediterranean island, from the ruthless dictator General Sebastiano Di Ravello.

Unlike a game like Grand Theft Auto, Just Cause 3 is pure sandbox open-world, embracing explosions and ridiculousness over realism. Players will find themselves blowing up gas stations, pulling down statues, swinging from helicopters and making other liberal uses of explosions to take down the dictator.

The game includes Rico’s signature tools of a grappling hook and parachute to cross the 400 square miles of Medici with improved mechanics. New to this iteration of the game is a wingsuit that allows Rico to fly or glide across the map at a much faster pace, which can make for some interesting ways to get from point A to point B when combined with the grappling hook.

Once again, creative and destructive impulses are key in the game as players can tether objects together in a countless number of ways. The game feels like a Michael Bay experiment — there are so many things that go boom. A general rule of thumb: Anything marked red in the game belongs to General Ravello and must be destroyed. For example, players can connect explosive barrels to enemy vehicles, causing huge explosions and mayhem as they destroy the dictator's army.

The actual shooting and driving are very fun and fit well with the game's nonrealistic approach. It’s refreshing to be able to load up a game where I can fly a jet, open the hatch and walk out onto the wing while I continue firing at the enemy, just before gliding off with my wingsuit before the jet crashes into one of General Ravello’s camps.

Just Cause 3 is like a gamer's playground, where players can take frustration out on the in-game world without feeling guilty about it. The narrative may not be on par with the likes of GTA or Fallout 4,  but if you’re looking for a game that gives you the opportunity to go crazy in a impressively sized world with top-notch graphics and explosions, Just Cause 3 is the game for you.

Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, Fallout 4 — the fifth installment in the Fallout series — is an open-world, role-playing action video game. Set in a post-nuclear-war Boston in the year 2287, players assume the role of the character who exits an underground bunker known as a Vault to find his lost family.

Fallout 4 is a game filled with tons of content and plenty to do. The game has a SPECIAL system: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck. Each of these SPECIAL abilities have 10 skills attached to them, and each one requires a higher rank to unlock the next. The game also has a VATS or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System that slows down time and allows the player to target specific enemies and their weak spots.

The main story is unsettling yet engaging, but the vast number of side quests are just as interesting and gripping. Traversing the post-apocalyptic Boston — known now as The Commonwealth — players will find a multitude of areas including swamps, forests, bombed-out urban areas and more. The developers had a keen attention to detail. Although Fallout 4 may not be the prettiest game on the next-gen systems, or even use anywhere near the full potential of graphical power, the game is still nice to look at and offers plenty of sights to see.

Players will have full control over creating their character and even their character's spouse. The create-a-character options are very diverse and give players full control to truly make a detailed in-game player. Also,  the armor system allows players the pick of clothing and outfits across the world. Items such as helmets, chest plates and arm and leg pieces will help give player’s character even more identity and personalization.

Weapons have been handled well and players will find many different types to suit their needs. Gun play is on par with other first-person shooters and with VATS, it has a unique spin. Critical hits are an added bonus and sometimes make for some gruesome headshots and more. And while mentioning weapons, I have to include the many different types of enemies players will come across. Enemies include everything from other survivors of the war to mutants, rats, bugs and even more odd and unique monsters that will put you six feet under.

Fallout 4 has so much content that I couldn’t begin to hit on every aspect of the game here today, but I can tell you that the exploration, writing, crafting and game play are all highly successful and will make a strong candidate for game of the year. Gamers should be prepared for literally losing much of their life while playing this game; the main story alone clocks in at about 20 hours. Also, the lead producer has said he's played the post-apocalyptic RPG for 400 hours already and still has not seen everything it has to offer.

One of the greatest game franchises is at it again — but this time they’ve added more mechanics and content that have been nonexistent in previous iterations. Developer Treyarch has created a brand-new multiplayer experience in the Call of Duty franchise with Black Ops III. Countless customization options, new thruster mechanics, unique Specialists and a new four-player co-op mode for the campaign have made this the most rewarding and interesting Call of Duty game yet.

The campaign mode takes place in a future world of 2065, 40 years after Black Ops II, where science and technology have radically changed the world. Machines have taken a strong role in society: Even humans are part machine now as super soldiers take to the battlefield. Like previous iterations of the game, players take the role of a protagonist that must save the world from an evil power set on controlling it and spreading their evil.

Totally opposite of the campaign mode, zombie mode takes place in a fictional city during the 1940s. The four players, played by Jeff Goldblum, Ron Perlman, Heather Graham and Neal McDonough, have to make their way through undead groups in a jigsaw-type quest straight out of the movie Saw to find redemption from a character named the Shadowman, who reveals himself as a manifestation of Cthulhu.

The mode with the greatest improvements and content is, of course, the multiplayer. The thrusters, which are a momentum-based movement system like the one found in the game Titanfall, are used to perfection in the detailed and most innovative maps found in a Black Ops game. Also, new Specialist abilities and characters add a twist to the multiplayer by giving players special powers and weapons unique to each Specialist. However, players will still have some things that are carried over from past Black Ops iterations, like the pick-10 loadouts, which allow players to choose from 10 weapon attachments, grenades, perks and more gear for battle.

Treyarch has definitely pushed the bar with the newest iteration of Black Ops and that’s good for the franchise. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a Call of Duty game in a long time and I think it will hold up against time. Gaining experience and leveling up my Specialists and character are tons of fun, and the newly added customization options for the characters, weapons, emblems and calling cards are welcomed additions. This is by far the most feature-packed and updated Call of Duty to date.

Developer 343 Industries continues its blockbuster shooter series with Halo 5: Guardians, which is the first Halo title on the Xbox One. As the staple game for the Xbox brand and the first widely successful first-person shooter (FPS) on a console, Halo 5: Guardians will run at 60 frames per second on dedicated servers. Bringing both a competitive multiplayer experience and ambitious campaign, Halo is looking to be the successful title Xbox One can get behind.

With the game’s hero, Master Chief, missing and his honor questioned, a new force threatens the galaxy. Master Chief and his Blue Team squad disappear as the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) dispatches Spartan Jameson Locke and his squad, Fireteam Osiris, to locate and figure out the disappearance of Chief and Blue Team.

As it did with Halo 4, 343 Industries has tweaked the Halo template a bit to keep the game fresh but still core to the mechanics that work. 343 Industries has brought back the sprint ability but has also added another twist called "dash." The dash button gives players a burst of speed, allowing for greater maneuverability and longer jumping. If you have played Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, the dash button is very similar to the dash options found in that game — though in my opinion, the dash button works much better in the Halo universe.

To keep players from abusing the dash, players are given a cool-down icon that lets them know when they can use the ability again. Also to balance the sprint power, players' shields will not replenish while they are sprinting. These small tweaks make for some fun and strategic firefights and go a long way to help avoid exploits.

343 Industries has also added aim-down sights (ADS) for all the weapons. With the exception of the energy sword and sniper rifle, players can ADS while on the go with any weapon now. Getting shot while in ADS will push the player back to normal view. Being an old-school Halo gamer, I'm not too fond of the ADS right now and prefer hip-firing with most of my weapons to keep up with the speed of the game. I'd also like to note that you can still zoom in with the sniper rifle to take long-distance shots by clicking the right analog stick.

With all the new changes, Halo 5 seems to be a more mobile and agile beast than any of the former games, and that's not a bad thing. The game is very fun and I have very good first impressions. The game is, of course, exclusive to Xbox One. Bonnie Ross of 343 Industries noted that the game's scope would be broadened with the use of the Xbox One's dedicated servers. Being of fan of all the former Halo games, I have high hopes for this title and I’m sure 343 Industries will deliver a Triple-A experience.

This weekend, I stepped out of the box for a minute and played a fun, insanely addictive and third-person online multiplayer shooter from Nintendo.

Yes, you read correctly: Nintendo has developed a creative and uniquely enjoyable shooter for the WiiU by the name of Splatoon. Splatoon is a game where creatures called “Inklings” battle it out while transforming between their squid and humanoid forms.

Developed by Nintendo EAD Group No. 2 and published by Nintendo, Splatoon is primarily a four-versus-four online multiplayer match where players shoot ink, which matches their team color, to cover as much of the map as they can. The ink and weapons can also be used to “splat” or kill opposing players.

Players start off in a humanoid form, but transforming into the squid form allows the player to swim through their own ink color that has been sprayed across the map. Conversely, the opposing team's ink will slow down the player and cannot be swum through.

Players can choose a variety of different primary weapons, each with different statistics and traits. They each also come along with a secondary weapon and a special attack. The primary weapons resemble pistols, assault rifles, sniper rifles and more; they also include paint rollers, buckets and brushes. Secondary weapons include bombs, disruptive fields, sprinklers and more. Weapons are sold in sets and are purchased with money achieved by playing online matches in the lobby, starting at Level Four.

The online matches are categorized as regular and ranked matches. The regular matches use the “Turf Wars” game type where players cover the map in as much ink as they can before the timer runs out. Ranked matches rotate between the following game modes: Splat Zones, Tower Control and Rainmaker. Splat Zones is a king-of-the-hill mode where a team tries to control a designated area by keeping it covered in their ink color. In Tower Control, a team must capture and escort a floating tower that is located in the center of the map towards a target at the opponents’ end of the map. Finally, Rainmaker is a capture-the-flag mode in which players capture a totem and bring it back towards the opponents’ end of the map.

Outside of the online mode, there is also a single-player campaign mode. Players must rescue The Great Zapfish, which serve as Inkopolis’s source of power. Players have to use a default weapon in this mode as they navigate through platforms, obstacles and enemies. After clearing the areas, players will encounter a main boss before proceeding to the next area. Defeating a boss will unlock blueprints that can be used to upgrade and enhance the player's weapon.

There wasn’t much that Nintendo did wrong with this shooter; however, there are a few issues that should be addressed if possible. Once a player chooses a load-out before the match, they are stuck with that weapon and cannot change until the next match. Also, the cut scenes from the Squid Sisters are annoying, as players have to read through the cut scenes that have no skip option. I also found it disheartening that Nintendo did not include a co-op option for online play. The only way to play with a friend locally is via a 1-versus-1 competitive mode. There is also no voice chat, so players cannot coordinate attacks and strategy.

Although there are a few negatives, the positives vastly outweigh them. Splatoon is a fresh and welcomed take on the shooter genre. Although it looks simple and childish, the game will challenge players and includes moments where skill and competitive play shine through. The network holds up very well and lag never really showing up at all, while the leveling and customization keeps the replay value high. I hope Nintendo continues to improve upon the game, as I’ve already spent many hours splatting inklings across the globe.

Developer Visual Concepts and publisher 2K Sports have released the ultimate basketball simulation game with NBA 2K16. The amount of detail in this year’s iteration of the game series is unbelievable and gamers will be delighted with the results, such as Steph Curry playing with his mouthpiece and Chris Bosh videobombing post-game interviews. 2K16 is by far the most detailed basketball game to date.

Visual Concepts has said that they added over 10,000 new animations to the video game, and it’s apparent once you start playing. Players move more realistically in the game and also feel heavier — they don’t glide or slide around the court as often as they do in past 2K games. The controls have been updated, giving players more precision for passes, lobs and more. Teams will realistically run plays and handle the ball as they do in real life.

There has also been a huge improvement to the AI defense, rendering the opponents less susceptible to exploits. Playing against them is actually a challenge now. The AI defense adapts over time, so gamers will not be able to run the same plays over and over again.

One of the biggest additions to this year’s game is the Spike Lee-directed MyCareer experience, which plays out like one of Lee’s movies. For about the first six hours of MyCareer, the game will follow a linear story of your MyPlayer, who is fully voiced and motion-captured. The career is the typical rags-to-riches story that will follow the player, nicknamed Frequency "Freak" Vibrations, through high school all the way up to his NBA profession.

Presentation is king with this version of NBA 2K, and it delivers an experience that is TV-worthy. Playing the game is like watching NBA on TNT as Ernie Johnson is joined by Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaquille O’Neal for pregame, halftime and post-game analysis. In-game commentary is handled by Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony and Clark Kellogg.

Visual Concepts has given players so many choice on how to play, be it online or offline. Alongside MyCareer, there is also a MyGM, MyLeague and MyTeam modes. MyGM lets players live out the fantasy of running an NBA team by essentially being the boss of the entire organization. MyLeague is similar to MyGM and is described as a “sandbox” version of MyGM that allows for more online multiplayer components. MyTeam allows players to create their very own team to play 5-on-5 online games. Players customize team logos, color schemes, court designs, jersey styles and other basketball-related things, including the players.

All of these features and modes of NBA 2K16 are tied together by a compelling gameplay. The biggest stars in the NBA have been accurately remodeled and animated almost to perfection, giving the game a life-like feel. The authenticity of the players, teams and more have created the biggest and best basketball game I’ve ever laid my hands on, and I cannot wait to get some more hours in to win the NBA championship trophy.

With its 11th and final installment in the Metal Gear series and fifth within the series’ chronological series, Kojima productions and Konami Digital Entertainment have released Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The new iteration is an open-world action-adventure stealth game that was designed, directed, co-produced and co-written by Hideo Kojima. The game was released Sept. 1 on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

The game follows Punished “Venom” Snake as he sneaks into Afghanistan and the Angola-Zaire border. Like previous Metal Gear games, players can sneak around the game world from point to point by remaining undetected from enemy guards. Snake’s arsenal includes pistols, assault rifles, binoculars, maps, explosives and more for his covert operations. The Phantom Pain encourages players to be stealthy and avoid killing throughout the game, by using non-lethal weapons like the tranquilizer darts. Players can traverse the open world in cars, tanks, on foot and on horseback. There are also AI companions who help Snake in situations, and whose abilities and effectiveness will depend upon the players’ relationship with the companion.

Phantom Pain is by far the deepest and most dynamic Metal Gear game found in the series. The sheer magnitude of the open world has redefined stealth games and given new life to the genre. Players will find themselves breaking into bases and installations to free prisoners, acquire weapons and capture enemy soldiers to build up your own mother base for a hidden fortress and army named Outer Heaven. What’s great about the open world nature of the game is that players do not have a set way to tackle any mission. Players have a free choice to be as stealthy as they like or just run in with guns blazing.

As expected, the graphics and cinematography are beautiful and really give you the impression you are playing a movie and not a game. Keifer Sutherland does a good job as the new voice of Snake and all other voice acting is nicely done — as always in a Metal Gear game. While the story isn’t as deep and centered on long, drawn-out cut scenes like past iterations, there is still plenty to go around to keep gamers interested and enthralled. Day-and-night cycles that run real-time also add to an already impressive environment.

Players looking for a true espionage game where they call all the shots will be delighted with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Adapting and improvising on the fly has never been more imperative than in this game and should bring a welcomed change of pace to players used to set objectives and missions. Kojima has made the Metal Gear game we all deserved and yearned for, and I believe he ended the series on a good note.

Ndemic Creations is excited to announce that Plague Inc: Evolved is coming to Xbox One on Friday, September 18th 2015. Originally announced during Microsoft’s E3 stage show last year, Plague Inc: Evolved for Xbox One is the latest edition of the hugely popular infectious disease simulation game with over 55 million players. Plague Inc. was originally a hobby project but has now grown to be one of the most successful strategy games in world.

The game is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected 'Patient Zero' - now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself. The game features: -  9 Different Disease Types: Master every pathogen; from bacteria to bio-weapons and mind control to zombies, end humanity by any means possible – different diseases will need radically different approaches. -  20 Unique Scenario s: Adapt your strategy - how will you handle a new strain of Swine Flu, or infect a world in Ice Age? -  Hyper-Realistic World: Strategize in the real world - advanced AI and use of real-world data and events make Plague Inc: Evolved a highly authentic simulation of a world-ending pathogen. Even the CDC likes it! -  And much more... including speed runs, Mega-Brutal difficulty and genetic modification…

Regular free updates and DLC are also coming soon. Initially, we plan to add the Simian Flu disease type, followed by Custom Scenarios created by the community. Expect to hear more on these in the near future! "Plague Inc: Evolved on Xbox One is a fantastic experience” said James Vaughan, the creator of the game, “Everyone loved playing it at Gamescom  and I can’t wait to see Xbox One players all over the world finally getting to enjoy the game at home. I’m particularly proud of how we’ve made a strategy game for console which feels easy and effortless to control.“

Already Plague Inc: Evolved has been a huge success in Early Access on Steam, managing to infect well over half a million people in its first 12 months on sale, with 95% of players reviewing the game positively. The original mobile game, Plague Inc., has spread to over 55 million players, still regularly featuring at the top of the App Store charts three years after release.

Plague Inc: Evolved will be available to purchase as a digital release on Xbox One this Friday, September 18th 2015.