Saturday, December 24, 2016

—Demo Review— NieR: Automata DEMO 120161128

I have NIER for 360 but I've barely played it. Honestly, it lost me somewhere early on. Regardless, the clips and trailers for NieR: Automata were just too intriguing for me to ignore. When I saw there was a demo, I grabbed it. 


***NieR: Automata***
DEMO 120161128


Published by Square Enix
Developed by PlatinumGames
Full game to be released March 2017
Action, RPG | Demo for PS4 | Full game for PS4, PC
*Rated M for Mature*
Blood | Partial Nudity | Strong Language | Violence
(Rating is based on the full game.
More details can be found at ESRB.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

Friday, December 23, 2016

New Loot! (#41) - "Take My Money" Edition

Yet another post in which I tell you of my latest gaming finds...


***Take My Money***
New Loot #41


Yet again, the PC peoples got me with their sales and whatnot. I'm so easy...

From Steam (the Thanksgiving sale they had...I think):

From Steam's Winter Sale (in effect now through Jan 2):
  • Ys I & II Chronicles+ - I've had this on my wishlist for a while. Figured I'd grab it while it was under $5. 
  • Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - I started playing this on 360 and for some reason never finished it. I'll finish it this time. Plus it was under $3. 
  • Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition - another that's been on my wishlist for a while. Grabbed it for less than $10.
  • Mass Effect - one of hubby's favorite games. Figured I oughtta give it a try when it's under $5. 
  • Mass Effect 2 Digital Deluxe Edition - another of hubby's favorites. Pretty sure he said this was his favorite of the three games that are currently out in this series. It was under $5 in the Winter Sale. Plus Steam let me bundle it with the first game and gave me an extra discount.
  • Final Fantasy VI - 'cause I didn't have it yet. Enough reason and it was half off, putting it under $10. 
  • Tales of Zestiria - yet another from my wishlist that I just couldn't resist in this sale. It was under $15, and well worth it, if the reviews are to be believed. I grabbed one of the DLCs as well. 

From GOG: 
  • The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Game of the Year Edition - I own so much Witcher crap. Games, books, soundtracks, comics; the list goes on and on. Granted, most of that comes with the digital versions of the games from GOG, but the books I buy as they're translated and released here in the US. Everyone had to know I'd eventually get this game. I had to wait a bit for the price on the GOTY edition to drop. Then it went on sale [again] for $30. Now it's mine. All mine. Mwahahahahaha!!!!!!

GOG gave me (as part of their Monstrous Winter Sale): 
  • D&D Neverwinter Nights Diamond - Seems interesting. This was the game they gave to everyone just for stopping by and checking out the sale. It was free for 48 hours. 
  • Shadow Warrior Classic Redux - Um...it was free for getting 5000 points in the Winter Sale. I don't actually have an opinion on this one...
  • Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut - Again, seems interesting. This was the free game for reaching 15k EXP. I bought Witcher III so I got a crap-ton of points.
  • Stasis - Again, no opinion on this one. It was free for getting 30k points. I did that with one purchase. Go me. 

And because I just can't help myself:

Gotten any good games lately? Tell us in the comments. ♥

Until next time...

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Facts About FFXV's New Game+

The series where I share a tidbit or two that you may or may not have already known...


"Did You Know...?" (#2)
Square Enix Introduces
New Game+ Mode for FFXV


Square Enix recently released the first of a series of updates for Final Fantasy XV. One is a new playthrough mode called New Game+. 

Anyone familiar with FF games or RPGs in general is familiar with this mode. For everyone else, it's basically a mode where you can play through the game again, keeping certain levels or items from your previous playthrough. It's cool that Squeenix decided to release this mode as a free update. 

The thing is, as with everything new, there is a lot of misinformation out there pertaining to this new mode. I've started my New Game+ playthrough and here are a few of the first things I've noticed. ▼

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

What You Missed Wednesday (11/9-12/20)

The series in which I list all the posts from this blog....usually a week's worth. This time it's more...


**What You Missed Wednesday**
November 9 - December 20, 2016

It hasn't been a particularly busy month on the blog, though I've been playing a lot of FFXV, so it's been a really busy month in that sense. Anyway, here's what's happened around here lately...
Until next time...

Monday, December 19, 2016

Movie Monday (#34) - FFXV Hunter Quests


The series in which I share a video or two or three, somehow related to gaming...


***Final Fantasy XV***
Hunter Quests
Movie Monday #34


As is the norm lately, all I'm playing is FFXV. It's such a fun game. And I'm really loving the action RPG-ness of it.

There are these particular side quests called hunter quests. Below you'll find videos of two of them. I'm really bad at blocking, dodging, or parrying. Really, really bad. ▼

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Tips N Tricks Tuesday (#16) - Stomping Warlord Nix (Battleborn)

The blog series in which I share some gaming tidbit that may or may not help you in your quest to be a better gamer...


***Stomping Warlord Nix***
Battleborn


Warlord Nix is a mini boss you take on in the second chapter (mission, or whatever they call it) in Battleborn. I play solo, so I need to find ways to defeat bosses without dying. 

I still die. 

A lot. 

In most of the games I play. 

That said, here's what I did recently to defeat Nix without dying, or even taking much damage. ▼

Monday, December 5, 2016

Movie Monday (#33) - FFXV


The series in which I share gaming vidz, or game-related vidz, that may or may not be me playing the game...


***Final Fantasy XV***
Movie Monday #33
Double Feature



I'm here again with a couple short gaming vidz for you, my lovely fellow gamers. I got FFXV on release day and I've been playing ever since. I've already got so many videos it's not even funny. 

Except it is. Funny. I'm getting such a kick outta this game. Burning and electrocuting these guys is HILARIOUS. 😆 See for yourself. ▼

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Screenshot Saturday (#36) - FFXV

The series where I share pics of games that I'm playing, or have played, or... well, I guess that's it. 


***Final Fantasy XV***
Screenshot Saturday #36

So, yeah. I pre-ordered FFXV. I just couldn't help myself. It arrived on release day (11/29), and I got to work... 

Bye, Dad. I'll miss you...

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

New Loot! (#40) - It's here! It's here! It's finally HERE!!! Edition

The series of posts in which I tell you, my lovely readers, all about my latest game-related score...


**It's here! It's here! It's finally HERE!!!**
New Loot! (#40)


Oh my freaking heavens, the day HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! It is November 30, and just yesterday I received my copy of Final Fantasy XV. I'm playing it now, as you read this post. (Yes, I scheduled this post, 'cause I KNEW I'd have no time for blogging once my game arrived. I was right.)

I also got the Blu-ray edition of Kingsglaive / Brotherhood over two weeks ago and I've watched them both multiple times.

Gotta go now. Not sure why, since at the moment I write this, I have no game to play and all that demands my attention is my kids and my housework. Pfft.

Until next time...

Monday, November 28, 2016

Movie Monday (#32) - FFXV Episode Duscae (Triple Play)


The series in which I share a gaming vid or two that may or may not be me...


***FFXV Episode Duscae***
Triple Play


Tomorrow is the official release day for Final Fantasy XV. With that in mind, I've been playing Episode Duscae, trying to satisfy my desire for this latest release in the FF franchise. I've discovered a couple of things in the fighting that I hadn't noticed before... ▼

Friday, November 25, 2016

Gaming Misadventures (#3) - NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!


The series in which I share something interesting, upsetting, or just plain weird that's happened in my gaming world...


***NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!***
Gaming Misadventures

Let me set the stage. I'm comfortable in my chair, getting ready to take on the end boss in Lightning Returns (FFXIII). Everything's set, I'm recording ('cause I just know it's gonna be epic), and everything's as it should be.

Let's do this!!

I get all the way through the boss fight and I'm enjoying the billion and one cutscenes that come after. I'm still recording 'cause why not, right? I want to capture the entire end of this game. 

I glance at the little recording icon in the corner of the screen. Wow. 30 minutes? That's one of my longest videos. I go back to watching the cutscene. 

And blink.

What. Just. Happened??

Unfortunately, the TV (and all the power in the house) blink too. Just like that, the last 36 minutes disappear as if they never happened.

I am desolate.

There is no happy ending. I restart everything, hoping, desperately hoping that the game did some kind of auto-save after I defeated the boss.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alas, it is not to be. The save starts right before the boss. And the video borked so I don't even get to have that as a happy reminder of slaughtering the end boss.

I rage quit, shutting off the computer without using the proper methods, part of me actually hoping it borks the whole damn setup. 

Have I ever mentioned I have a tendency to overreact?

Until next time...

*Final Fantasy is owned by Square Enix, who in no way endorses this gaming / fan / reviews blog. Images used here are licensed from Deposit Photos (images are linked to their DP pages) and some other place I can't remember.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

New Loot! (#39) - The Lara Croft Edition

The series in which I brag about the games I just bought, and refuse to admit that I'll probably never play half of them...


***The Lara Croft Edition***
New Loot!

Yet another edition where the number of games I bought exceeds the viability of making the new loot post pretty. However, I've included links to the games I just added to my library. If only Steam didn't know just  how to tempt me...

New additions to my gaming library:
Can you believe it? Sheesh. They said I could have them all (plus any and all DLC) for only $22. I couldn't turn that down when I didn't even own 8 of them yet. (I already had I & II for PS1 and Guardian of Light for 360.)

Anyway, if you can see it, I've embedded a link below that will take you to Steam. They have the Tomb Raider games on sale quite often, I've noticed.


Until next time...

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Screenshot Saturday (#35) - Victor Vran

The series in which I share random still shots from a random game. Today's selection is from Victor Vran, an indie ARPG made by Haemimot Games. Enjoy!


***Victor Vran***

Ever get the feeling you're being watched...?

Friday, November 11, 2016

New Loot (#38) - GOG Got Me Edition

The series of posts wherein I share my latest gaming hauls...


***GOG Got Me***
New Loot #38

Oh my heavens, GOG really got me good this time! I grabbed so many games in this recent sale that I'm just gonna list 'em here instead swiping pics and making everything all fancy-like.

I bought...
  1. World of Goo - I used to have this game way back when it first came out. The developers had it set up on a donation basis. Yes, I gave them money. Yes, it was more than a penny like some people gave them...
  2. Tales from the Borderlands - I wanted this for PC even though I already have it for 360. What can I say? I'm a Borderlands junkie.
  3. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - So many happy memories playing this game on PS1. Weird thing, we never actually bought it. We rented it. Remember back when you could rent video games? Do they still do that? 
  4. Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus - The sequel to Abe's Oddysee. Had to get it for that reason alone.
  5. Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee - Another sequel, of sorts. Isn't rated as highly as the other two games, but I figured I oughtta add it anyway.
  6. The Witcher Adventure Game - I have every other Witcher game (except Wild Hunt, but I'm waiting for a slightly lower price) so I grabbed this one. 
GOG gave me...
  1. Little Big Adventure 2 (aka Twinsen's Odyssey) - Hey, it was free, so I grabbed it. 
  2. Expeditions: Conquistador - Might be fun...
  3. DEX - Looks interesting...
  4. Victor Vran - Yeah, I already have this, but now I have it twice. I really like it. lol
Until next time...

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

What You Missed Wednesday (11/2-11/8)

The series in which I list the posts from this blog from the previous seven days...


**What You Missed Wednesday**
(11/2-11/8, 2016)

I'm not posting every day like I was for a while there, but I am posting again. The end of October/early November are tough on me. The weather gets me depressed and I just can't...anything. [sigh] Anyway, here are the posts from the past seven days... 


Until next time...

Monday, November 7, 2016

Movie Monday (#31) - Short Change Hero


The series in which I share some video related to gaming, usually a video of ME gaming. The following is not. Me gaming, that is...


***Short Change Hero***
Cover by Rexon

Sometimes when wandering aimlessly through the jungle that is YouTube, you stumble across something truly remarkable, something worth sharing.

This is one of those times.

Except for the fact that I didn't stumble across this video. My brother told me to look it up. And he was right. It's really great. I love it. Check it out. ▼

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Screenshot Saturday (#34) - Bastion


The series in which I post random still shots from random games...


***Screenshot Saturday***
Bastion

Today's screenshot selections are from Bastion, the really fun indie RPG that is on sale this very moment over on GOG.com. ;) 

Just getting started...

Friday, November 4, 2016

GOG's Huge Fall Sale is RIGHT NOW!

I am a sucker for a PC game sale and GOG knows just how to hook me. In their big sales, you can earn free games. Check it out...


***GOG's Huge Fall Sale***
Happening NOW!

Graphic I swiped from GOG's site. Clicking it will take you to GOG.com.

GOG has most of their catalog on sale right now. Telltale games, Witcher games, LEGO games, Oddworld games, old school retro style games, and more. There's a crap-ton I've never heard of, but that's not difficult; I'm not all that familiar with retro PC games.

I mentioned FREE GAMES, didn't I? You can earn them by doing little, cost-free things on the site. Seriously. The last sale I actually earned a game without buying anything—I just didn't have any money at the time. Don't you judge me. Buying games earns you the free ones faster, of course, and to earn the 30,000 XP game, you'll definitely have to part with some cash. Which means more games. And that's a good thing.

So what are the games you can earn? Expeditions: Conquistador (5,000 XP); DEX (15,000 XP); and Victor Vran (30,000 XP). And to give an example of how the XP works when buying games, if you buy the Game of the Year Edition of Witcher III The Wild Hunt (on sale for $29.99) and The Witcher (on sale for $1.49) you'll earn 31,490 XP (29,990 + 1,500), which will net you all three games. Heck, just logging in and buying Witcher III will net you all three, since logging in gives you 1000 XP. See where I'm going with this?  

The best part about GOG games is that they're DRM-free. You don't have to be online to play. So go check it out, grab an inexpensive game, and get to playing!

*All the mentioned games are property of their respective owners. GOG does not in any way support or endorse this gaming / fan / reviews blog. The HGG is not affiliated with GOG or any of the aforementioned games, their developers, or their publishers. 

Until next time...

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

What You Missed Wednesday (10/12-11/1)

The series of posts where I list all the posts since the last time I managed to post a list of...posts...


**What You Missed Wednesday**

I've been very lazy with my blogging lately...and my gaming too, for that matter. Ever get so depressed that even gaming requires too much of an effort? Yeah. So, anyway...


Until next time...

Monday, October 24, 2016

—Demo Review— World of Final Fantasy

I didn't think there'd be a demo for this game, so I was rather thrilled when I discovered there was. I grabbed it and gave it a try right away.


***World of Final Fantasy***
Dungeon Demo

Published and developed by Square Enix 
Full Game To Be Released Oct 25, 2016
JRPG | For PS Vita, PS4 | Review: PS4
*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*
Alcohol Reference | Fantasy Violence
Mild Language | Mild Suggestive Themes
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 7/10

Friday, October 21, 2016

—Game Review— Bastion

I've known about this indie game for a while but it wasn't until Steam had a sale that I finally opted to give it a chance. I'm really, really glad I did.


***Bastion***


Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developed by Supergiant Games
Released 2011 | Action, RPG
For Xbox 360, PS4, PS Vita, PC | Review: PC
*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*
Animated Blood | Fantasy Violence
Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Screenshot Saturday (#33) - FFBE

The weekly blog series in which I share still shots from some random game I'm playing...

Today's choice happens to be a game I play every day. It's a free-to-play mobile app called Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.


***Final Fantasy Brave Exvius***

Part of the opening sequence...

Friday, October 14, 2016

—Game Review— Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

I already had the first two FFXIII games, so getting the third was kind of a no-brainer. 



***Lightning Returns***
Final Fantasy XIII


Published and developed by Square Enix
Released 2014 | JRPG
For Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Review: Xbox 360, PC
*Rated T for Teen*
Blood | Mild Language | Violence
Suggestive Themes | Use of Alcohol
(Click HERE for more ESRB rating details.)

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

What You Missed Wednesday (10/5-11)

The blog series in which I post about the blog posts posted to this blog in the last seven days...


**What You Missed Wednesday**
October 5-11, 2016

It's that time again. What did you miss?

Until next time...

Monday, October 10, 2016

Movie Monday (#30) - Death to All Goblots! (FFXIII LR)


The blog series in which I share a gaming video. These may or may not be smooth sailing...


***Death to All Goblots!***
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Lightning Returns is set up so when you've killed enough of a particular baddie, the "Last One" appears, glowing all weirdly purpley pink and supposedly holding within it all the power of the previous ones of its kind. They're all Highlanders, apparently, and "there can be only one." So when the last one appears, just cut off its head. Heh.

Lame jokes aside, I've killed off a few of these and below I've linked a vid of me killing yet another one. This time it's a Goblot. Enjoy the poison-y goodness! ▼

Sunday, October 9, 2016

New Loot! (#37) - Another RPG

The blog series in which I brag about my recent game-related acquisitions...to make you jealous...


***Another RPG***
New Loot!

It's clear I have a thing for RPGs. I just want to collect them all, or something. To that end, I've added yet another to my growing library of games...


If you can't see the little embedded thingie above, it's Victor Vran, which I grabbed while it was discounted on Steam.

Until next time...


Friday, October 7, 2016

—Demo Review— Dragon Quest Builders

I got an email from Squeenix letting me know there was a free playable demo of this game in the PlayStation Store. Even though I'm not a Minecraft-style of game fan, I do like a good JRPG-style story type of game. Figured if anything could make me a Minecraft fan, it would be this game. 


***Dragon Quest Builders***


Published and developed by Square Enix 
To Be Released Oct 11, 2016
Sandbox, Action, RPG
For PS4, PS Vita | Review: PS4
*Rated E10 for Everyone 10+*
Alcohol Reference | Fantasy Violence | Mild Blood
Mild Language | Mild Suggestive Themes
(Click HERE for more esrb rating details.)

HGG Score: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8/10

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Throwback Thursday (#2) - How Old = Retro?

My newest blog series, in which I go on and on and on about old games, old consoles, and other old things...


***How Old = Retro?***
Throwback Thursday

Have you ever wondered, how old does something have to be to be considered retro?

By definition, retro is anything that involves, imitates, or relates to something from the recent past.

I think we can all agree that arcade games, Atari, and NES are definitely retro: classic 8-bit graphics, tinny music, and main storylines short enough to play in one sitting.

But a phrase like 'recent past' is highly subjective. Everyone's opinion on what constitutes 'recent' could be very different. Technically, yesterday is the recent past.

With that in mind, could we now consider the Xbox 360 / PS3 to be retro with the advent of Xbox One / PS4? Those earlier consoles first came out in 2005 / 2006 respectively. That's 10-11 years old.

Huh. My youngest child is ten.

The original Xbox was released in 2001, and honestly, it feels a bit retro to me. But from a personal standpoint, I consider the original PlayStation (released in 1994) and anything older as retro. To me, playing FFVII-IX, Tomb Raider I or II, Gran Turismo I or II, the Dino Crisis games, or Sled Storm is retro gaming.

And this doesn't even get into PC gaming. Many old games have been ported to PC. But what about old PC games? I have no experience with them at all, my PC gaming only dating back a year or two. I would love some input on retro PC gaming in particular. ☺

What do you think? How old do you think a console / game needs to be before you consider it retro? Let us know in the comments section below. ♥

Until next time...

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

What You Missed Wednesday (9/28-10/4)

The series in which I catch you up on the blog posts you might have missed over the past seven days...


**What You Missed Wednesday**
September 28-October 4, 2016

Another week, another set of blog posts. What did you miss?
Until next time...

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Tips n Tricks Tuesday (#15) - Old Slappy Must Die! (Borderlands 2)

The series in which I share a gaming tip or trick. These are most often Borderlands 2...


***Old Slappy Must Die!***
Borderlands 2

In yet another edition of 'hide in that corner so the baddie can't get you,' I bring you the mini boss Old Slappy in Borderlands 2.

In Sanctuary, Sir Hammerlock gives you a side quest called Slap-Happy that involves killing the thresher who took his arm. Below, you can witness me killing him without getting hit.

...except for that one time. ▼

Monday, October 3, 2016

Movie Monday (#29) - Personal Hell (Vergil's Downfall DLC)


The series in which I share a gaming vid, or game related vid, that may or may not be my own....


***Personal Hell***
Vergil's Downfall Mission 1
DmC Devil May Cry DLC

Today's video is me playing Vergil's Downfall (a little awkwardly), the playable DLC included in the Definitive Edition of DmC Devil May Cry. I've cut most of the cutscenes from this, so it shouldn't be too much of a spoiler, but beware anyway. And this is rated M, so consider yourself warned. Enjoy!

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Gaming Misadventures (#2) - That's Not the Name of that Song


The sporadic series in which I share some odd occurrence related to my gaming life. These stories may or may not be funny...


*That's Not the Name of that Song*
Gaming Misadventures

I finally decided to listen to the music from FF Type-0 HD and when I plugged the CD into my computer, this is what Media Player said:


Weird, right? I can't stand when Media Player grabs the wrong info, so, of course, I went through and corrected it all by hand.

That's it. That's all there is to this misadventure. Struck me as odd, so I thought I'd share. Anything like this ever happen to you?

Until next time...

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Screenshot Saturday (#32) - FFIII

The weekly series in which I post some random screenshots from some random game...

This week's selection is Final Fantasy III. Enjoy! ♥


***Final Fantasy III***

Ingus as a red mage in the opening cinematic

Friday, September 30, 2016

—Game Review— Bayonetta

I can't remember now what made me want to play Bayonetta. I ended up buying it, though, and actually enjoyed it. For the most part.


***Bayonetta***


Published by SEGA
Developed by Platinum Games / Nex Entertainment
Released 2009 | Action
For Xbox 360, PS3 | Review: Xbox 360
*Rated M for Mature 17+*
Blood and Gore | Intense Violence | Partial Nudity
Strong Language | Suggestive Themes
(Click HERE for ESRB rating details.)

HGG rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 6/10
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