Monthly Archives: July 2016

I love Zelda. Isn’t that obvious? I mean you guys already know me to be a pretty big Nintendo fan. I didn’t grow up with the Zelda series. In fact, my first time playing one of the games from beginning to end was Ocarina of Time 3D. Since then, I’ve played Majora’s Mask, Minish Cap, Skyward Sword, Wind Waker, and yes, even the original from beginning to end. Now with Breath of the Wild being the next in line, I wanted to talk about why I love the games.

It’s mostly because of the epic narrative. Zelda lets you taste its world in such an incredible way, not even the Elder Scrolls games have captured this in the same way. I don’t think any game is a better example of this than Wind Waker. Architecture, characters, themes, they all come together in this weirdly silent story.

I’ve never experienced something quite like it. Seeing the Hylian Crest on a wall suddenly makes you question how such a place came to be. The sound of Zelda’s song rings across the series, signalling lore and story from decades past. This is a game series that really does stay true to its lore. So much so, that the horrific mess that is the timeline is arbitrary in the grand scheme of the series.

I don’t have a very popular opinion in the sense that I consider Skyward Sword to be the best in the series. This is largely due to its charming cast. I like the villains. Ghirahim is probably one of my favorites in the franchise. His mind-games and fighting style make him a very fresh face in this world of pigs and pitchforks.

I’m sort of getting off on a rant. Tomorrow we’re having the podcast, where our topic will be MULTIPLAYER GAMES! Games we play as a group, and games we think capture the essence of co-op and competition alike. You may even see a familiar face there. So come along and join us here on the GAME ROOM!!!

I’ve been a Playstation gamer all my life. I have every Playstation, 1-4, and I’ve been fine just sticking to Sony. I never had the need to get an Xbox….until now. I’m in a relationship with a Microsoft user (insert shudder here) and they have  convicted me to get an Xbox One. Sony, I swear, it’s not what it looks like.

As a Playstation gamer, there have been many thoughts going through my mind as I get used to this contraption known as the Xbox One, and I thought I would share some with you today.

So I don’t understand why they called them bumpers and triggers. I honestly still don’t know the difference. I will always know them as r1, r2 etc.

Why is the A button in the X button spot? And where is my triangle button? Why is this controller so different and bulky? I don’t think I can handle this. I will say, though, it has better battery life then the PS4 controllers… only because it uses AA batteries.

To be honest, the Xbox One is so chunky compared to the PS4. Like I had to carry that thing around in my duffle bag and I’m pretty sure I killed my back and shoulder. Thanks, Microsoft.

Also I just love all of the exclusives you have….I literally can’t stand Halo, and Quantum Break, the game that came with my Xbox, isn’t so good either. PS4 still has better exclusives right now.  

I remember people saying Xbox One had better graphics than PS4, but I literally see no difference whatsoever. Thanks, Microsoft.

I kicked off my flip flop and it accidently turned on my Xbox. The touch screen turn on is way too sensitive…..Thanks, Microsoft.

Actually, I love my Xbox One so far. It’s taking a lot to get used to, but I get to play a lot of games with my significant other and other friends that have the console. It’s really fun to have parties and just play Minecraft or Overwatch. I can’t decide with console I like better. Both have its perks. Playstation, I swear it’s not what it look like. I can love you both equally. I would say that if you’re thinking about getting an Xbox One anytime soon you should definitely wait until the slim comes out. It’s going to be cheaper, have an actual button instead of a touch sensitive button, and it’s not going to be as heavy. I mean, seriously, this thing weighs a ton.

For more on hilarious commentary and news about consoles, make sure you come back to the GAME ROOM!!!

I recently got Overwatch, and I’m so in love with it. It’s such a fun game to play by yourself or with friends. Blizzard really knocked it out of the park with this one. If you’re still unsure about the game, let me highlight the best things about Overwatch.

So, I know what you’re thinking: you aren’t good at first person shooters, so this game isn’t the game for you. I am someone who is awful at first person shooters. Though, in Overwatch, there’s so many different types of characters. It doesn’t really feel like a first person shooter at all. Sure the character I main happens to have a gun, but there are other characters who aren’t about shooting people. You can play as support characters, which are crucial to the team, or you can play as defense characters that are away from the action but still get kills. Characters I suggest for people who don’t like first person shooters are Mercy, Lucio, Symmetra, Hanzo, and Torbjörn.

Like first person shooters but you can’t aim that well? Soldier 76 is perfect for you. His ultimate is even designed for people who can’t aim. All you have to do is shoot in the general direction of a character. You might also like Junkrat seeing as he has a grenade launcher as his weapon. You don’t really have to aim at people, more like in the general direction people are at. You can also lay down traps which can help you get kills as well.

Want a game that is fun but challenging at the same time? Overwatch. That is literally Overwatch. Characters like Genji and Tracer are hard to master and it can be challenging going up against people who are good with those characters. Though, the game is still fun to play as you work together as a team and defeat the other players. It’s going to be frustrating at first but once you get good as a character, it’s going to be great. Not one game is going to be the same. That’s both fun and challenging. You always have to adapt to the situation at hand.

If anything convinces you to get the game it should be the cast of characters. They are all so unique and have their own story. Sure the story isn’t in the game all that much, all you truly get are some lines that some characters say to each other, but you can tell each character has a personality. You aren’t just playing as Soldier 76. You are playing as Soldier 76 who is way too old for this and he feels like he’s babysitting a bunch of brats. He says so many things during the battle that makes him more than Soldier 76. All these characters are so special. If you compare this to Team Fortress 2, you’re going to see that Overwatch has dynamic characters that just feel different than the ones in Team Fortress. I mean in Overwatch you can play a talking monkey name Winston and a spider lady, named Windowmaker, who snipes people. And all the characters are from different areas of the world. Pharah, a badass lady who flies in the air and shoots rockets, is Egyptian. Reinhardt, he’s a tank that hits people with a huge hammer, is german. Mercy, the team mom and angel healer, is Swiss. D.Va, a teenage gamer who has her own mech, is Korean. Reaper, an emo dead guy with a skull mask, is American. All these characters have so much too them.

From one person bad at first person shooters to another: get this game! You’ll love it, I guarantee it.

For more on Overwatch and other amazing products from Blizzard make sure you come back to the GAME ROOM! 

Hey Game Roomies!

I know it’s been a drought this week. I’m a bit under the weather, and combining that with a lot of my work, it’s been a bit harder to post as consistently. But I still have been writing all week on MMOExaminer, so I figured I’d send you guys in that direction. I know a bit more reviewed content would be ideal, and I’m working on finding a way to make that happen.

In the mean time, here are some of the important articles I wrote this week.

This article is about Overwatch and its new sniper hero. There’s a comic for her already!

This is a RetroNight article where I do a light review of Mega Man X.

This article comes with some patch notes for Hearthstone with the new recruitment feature.

This article is about a game I’ve been playing lately called Furi. This isn’t a full review, just first impressions. I’m going to write a review for it here on the game room this week. That’s a promise.

So that’s four of my most important articles this week. I want to write some original content on here and plan to do so relatively soon. In the mean time, I need to get some rest! Thank you all for reading and come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

This is my favorite part of every week! Hello, Game Roomies!

I want to talk a little bit about what things have been like this week. Things are starting to shift again, and so the posting schedule might start to become more frequent soon. I can’t confirm anything yet.

I’m setting a few new projects in motion, so I’m excited to make some announcements in the coming weeks.

I’ve started playing Gone Home and so far, I’m loving it. This game is legit. It’s already tackling some interesting social themes, which I’m always a fan of.

MatPat said something during his final livestream of Life Is Strange that I keep in the back of my mind. He said, “It’s great to see video games telling stories that matter.”

I couldn’t agree more! We’re in a new stage, people. The world has been forever changed by the advent of modern gaming. Stories are being told in a big new way. I want to be part of that aspect of the medium myself, personally. That’s why I pursued a career in Game Development. I want to be part of making those stories truly come to life for people. Every Xenoblade Chronicles, every Life Is Strange, every Fire Emblem Awakening out there that communicates with a person and let’s them know that the world is a scary place with a lot to offer. The days of classic Donkey Kong and Pacman are gone and the gaming world is headed towards something bigger.

That being said, I’d like to start doing some narrative breakdown of some of my favorite games here on the site. Maybe even address some prominent social themes that are resting within these gems.

In the mean time, thank you all for reading and come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

I’ve been keeping busy this week! With plenty of stuff going on on multiple fronts, it’s nice to finally take a Sunday and keep working just as hard. Just a little joke. Anyway, here are some of the best posts I’ve done this week on other sites.

This one, likely the most relevant to you, is about the PS Plus games for the month. Check it out, this is crucial information, people!

This is a piece about Golden Sun. You’ll enjoy this if you enjoy the game. Simple enough, right?

This piece is about Donkey Kong 64. I know I said I had mixed feelings about the game in my last podcast, but you know.

Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars is on the Wii U Virtual Console! I wrote about that game, because it’s an old time favorite of mine.

Finally, I wrote about The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. This game is unique and interesting, so check it out.

That’s enough to read for one day, right? I’ll try and post more of these more frequently. Kills many birds with one stone. Thank you Game Roomies! Come back soon for more cool stuff from the GAME ROOM!!!

Every summer, I promise myself to fully complete five games I’ve never played before. So far, I’m treading along for this summer. I’ve completed Super Meat Boy, Asura’s Wrath, and DMC: Devil May Cry. It’s always such a fun way to immerse myself in the gaming world. Because of this proposition, I’ve completed many games I never planned on playing. This includes the likes of Golden Sun and even my favorite game Xenoblade Chronicles. 

infamous second son

One game I really want to pour myself back into is The Last Of Us. I’ve owned it for over a year, and I’ve seen the game from start to finish. Yet still, I myself have never done a straight playthrough. I love the mechanics. Yet still I find myself unable to see it through.

I really wish a new inFAMOUS game were on the way, because I’m craving action this summer. I’m sure that can be gathered from the games I’ve played so far. Asura’s Wrath was very spiritually moving for me on a deep level.

So I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m just talking about my personal gaming ventures. Because I want to make this a very interactive segment. Summer is one of the best times for students to game. Simple as that. Between journalism jobs, I like to sit down with a controller and truck through a favorite title.

So I’m going to challenge all of you. If you can find the time, try and play five brand new games this summer. With things like the Steam Summer Sale and PSN Midyear Sale, it doesn’t have to be an expensive venture. Find games, old and new alike, and play them.

I’m going to start blasting this challenge on my social media so I can encourage people to try new titles. In the mean time, this is the best I can do today. Tomorrow, an update on all of my entertainment posting on other sites! Thank you all for reading, and come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

Hey guys! I’ve been saying for the past few days that due to inconsistent posting on my part, I was going to try and find a less extensive posting schedule. I currently have two active paid writing positions and one in the works. It’s been a crazy ride over the past two months. I’ve been able to really get a taste for the work that I love. I’ve been consistent on doing the podcast, and everything has just been really great.

Despite this, I know that this is really intense stuff, and that when I start school full-time again in the Fall, things are only going to continue to change. So until I can figure out something a little more concrete, here’s my idea. I will try to post on Saturdays and Sundays. I will continue to do the podcast on Wednesdays as scheduled. I will also start sharing my MMOExaminer and Press Examiner articles as regularly as possible. I’m writing full-time now. I have to start adjusting my schedule.

Truth is, I love this gig. I don’t care if one person is reading or if a thousand people are reading, if I can get my voice out there and show people that video games are the BEST creative medium on Earth, I’m happy. So whether it’s using Mustapha’s Game Room, MMOExaminer, or Press Examiner, or Penmen Press (My university newspaper) or whatever, I am going to try my best to stay consistent.

In the meantime, thanks again for reading and sticking with me so far. We’re only going up, so stay with me as we continue to grow! For more content on gaming news, reviews, and exclusive interviews, come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!