Mustapha's Game Room

“And so we resolved to forge new life, here on planet Mira.” -Lin Lee Koo (Xenoblade Chronicles X)

And forge new life this game has. Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U manages to live up to the quality of its predecessor while still breathing new life into the series. This game puts emphasis on discovering a new world, and working hard to make it your own.

While Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii was a heavily narrative focused game, Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U is focused more on exploring the expansive world around you. The storyline takes a backseat this time around to some incredible combat centric experiences on the vast rock of Mira.

From the time you start up the game, Xenoblade Chronicles X reels you in with the intense struggle between warring alien forces that leads to the destruction of Earth. Telling you this story to get you invested is merely the first step in connecting you to this world. As the first bit of exposition is done being given to you, the game allows you to create your character. Character creation is certainly deep, and allows you to truly cater to your own personality. There are a lot of expressive design choices for the character you create, and many options for the voice of your character, even going as far as to cite the voice actors in the options menu. For those who want to relive the glory days, the voice actors for Shulk and Fiora from the first Xenoblade Chronicles are an option as well.

Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a wealth of knowledge and resources for all who are willing to explore. From the start of the game, the vast region of Primordia is open to you. By the time you complete the tutorial missions, you are able to explore the entirety of the first three continents in the game. From the rocky grasslands of Primordia, to the colorful jungle of Noctilum, to the beautiful desert storm of Oblivia, the scenic options are available for all. This is only complimented by the game’s stunning visuals. Everything runs at 720p native and is locked at 30fps, for the more technically concerned.

The combat in Xenoblade Chronicles X has been expanded upon in many ways. The new “combat command system” allows you to command other members of your party, and have some control over their behaviors. You can urge them to use a certain type of attack, or focus on a specific type of damage. This adds immeasurable depth to the game, as now, your party members are not simply operating on artificial intelligence. It offers a new sense of player control, and allows battles to flow much more smoothly.

But these are just surface elements. What makes Xenoblade Chronicles X so good is that you truly have access to an expansive world. The storyline of the game is good. The characters are charming, and you get to learn about all of them in different ways, but from a narrative perspective it doesn’t even come close to its predecessor. The vast expansive world is what makes this game. There are countless side quests, which give insight into the world’s geography as well as the interesting cast of characters. There are also tons of Tyrant enemies to hunt down, which are vastly superior to other enemies of the same species. You’ll struggle with them, but exploring various strategies to hunt them down really pushes you in ways you may not have expected.

Another unique thing about Xenoblade X that separates it from most JRPG’s is that it offers over a dozen optional party members. These are people that you can recruit and train to fight alongside you in side quests and story missions. A lot of them are very vibrant unique characters that you want to learn about. This game m
asters world building, but makes you work for it. You can’t get all of your answers unless you’re willing to fight and explore.

Few things in games feel as good as the first time you get to operate a Skell. This huge world that seemed to have control over you is now bowing at your feet as you pilot a massive mech at high speeds. Skells are instrumental to the later parts of the game, and yet, very difficult to keep track of. The “Skell Insurance” thing that the game uses is pretty bogus. It’s a system in place that allows enemies damages and destroy Skells, which feels quite unforgiving, given that you can encounter enemies up to fifty levels higher than you. Skell combat also feels slightly less interesting than ground combat. They added some features to mix it up, like the cockpit reset function, which makes cooldown on your moves disappear completely.

For fans of the original, you may be disappointed by a few things. I for one, was unhappy about the lack of “Talent Arts” from the original game. You’ll also be sad to know that the nopon Tatsu, lacks any of the charm that Riki had in the original game. He is quite frankly, a nuisance.

Lin Lee Koo piloting her own Skell.

Minor inconveniences include the scarcity of resources necessary for “Skell Development” for later parts of the game. The Gamepad manages all map functions, so if you’re like me and prefer the pro controller, sorry. The game is playable without the Gamepad but takes a major dip in quality.

That being said, this game is full. It is enjoyable and atmospheric. It has story, tight combat and wonderful overworld mechanics. This is certainly not a direct sequel. Xenoblade Chronicles X is its own entity, and it truly manages to succeed as that. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a vast RPG, and truly another masterpiece in a long line of Monolith Soft’s spectacular creations. If any Wii U owner is looking for a new adventure, or simply for a cool action packed title, Xenoblade Chronicles X is the game for you.

That being said, this was my post for the day! This is definitely a game that I think all Wii U owners should try. It bridges a lot of elements together that you wouldn’t expect to work. I hope some of you noticed that there’s a new page on the site for the podcast! Check it out if you haven’t already!

For more on games like Xenoblade Chronicles X and other deep RPG experiences, come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

Hey everyone!

I’m Amber and welcome to my first  ever review on Mustapha’s Game Room! I’m also a gaming journalist looking to give you insight on some of the new great games out there. You’ll be seeing me around here more frequently, so I hope you enjoy all the content I bring you!

When I got my PS3 it came with a game called Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. I had gotten the console to play Bioshock Infinite, but I ended up having to wait to get the game. I was not a huge fan of any shooter games before I got the PS3, so I definitely wasn’t sure if I wanted to play Uncharted 3. When I started to play I had no idea what I was doing, and I actually put the game down and didn’t want to play it again. It wasn’t till a friend in my math class told me to keep playing it that I decided to continue. It was one of his favorite games and told me that I would love it.

I’m glad I listened to him because I ended up loving the game.

Sure, I started liking the game because Nathan Drake was cute (not to mention that really nice butt of his), but as the game went on I noticed that I pretty much loved everything about it. The characters, the story, the gameplay, the visuals, etc. The whole game was amazing. As the game ended, I thought that no game could beat it. Of course, I was wrong. There is one game in particular that beat Uncharted 3 in all aspects: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.

The game has been delayed a couple of times, but once I got my hands on it and got to play it….it was well wort
h the wait. As much as I hated all the delays I’m glad that they took the extra time to make such a well polished game.

This felt a bit different than the other Uncharted games. Though, you still get to climb a lot, make things fall while you climb, get to shoot bad guys, and track down treasure while learning a bit of cool history. The game did all of that so well.

No more clunky climbing controls like in the previous games. Many different mechanics were added to the climbing aspects like having Drake pick up a piton, a pick like object used to climb rocks, and having him own a grappling hook. Swinging to different things is just so much fun and keeps the player on their toes. Nine times out of ten when Drake is sliding down a hill, and there is no where to jump to at the end of it, the player will have to guide Drake to use his grappling hook and swing to safety. The only thing that would make the grappling hook better is the player could melee attack with it Though, that is a feature in multiplayer.

I was also impressed with the story they decided to tell. It got me wanting to look up more and try to piece together the puzzle as the characters did. Even though Amy Hennig left Naughty Dog before Uncharted 4 was finished, the story is still has a strong plot, strong characters, and a strong focus on history. I didn’t even know anything about Henry Avery or Libertalia before playing this game. I feel like I’m learning things that my history class would never touch. Sure, not all of it is going to be 100% true, but there’s enough facts in there to get me interested enough to learn more.

The characters were another great part of the story. These were not new characters, they were characters that have grown up from the previous games. Naughty Dog didn’t try to reinvent the characters because of the new generation of gamers. They might seem different, but it is just because they grew up. Nathan Drake still loves Elena Fisher, but now they’re married, have a house, and have jobs they both enjoy doing. Sully is still Sully but he’s a bit more gray and more of the grandpa that cheers from the sidelines. Sam Drake might have just been introduced this game, but you can really tell that he isn’t the little kid that Nathan used to look up too. The character are just so right. These are the character that have been with us for almost a decade.

What’s different, however, is there is more of a The Last of Us feel within the whole game. There were a lot of interactions with other characters than before and a lot of jumping around in time when it came to telling the story. There was also a lot of moving things around so a character could advanced. Instead of moving things so Ellie could safely get across water, there were so many crates and boxes you have to move in order for Nathan Drake to climb up walls that were too high for him. This is the only problem I had with the game. It was okay the first couple of times I had to move a crate, but after a while it felt like Naughty Dog ran out of other ideas. It was annoying in The Last of Us and even more annoying in Uncharted 4.

I guess what all this rambling boils down to is that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a great game. The story is great, the characters are great, the gameplay is great…..everything about this game is just amazing and worth the money. The game looks so great and the visuals are stunning.  I’ve never traveled to the places Nathan and Sam go, but because of the research and art that went into this game, I feel like I’ve been there. Everything is so smooth and looks so perfect. This game definitely gives Playstation a boost over Xbox when talking about exclusives.

And if you’re like me and have played all the Uncharted games, the epilogue made me tear up. What a great way to end the series and truly shows that there is greatness from small beginnings. Just like Sir Francis Drake said.
Thanks for reading this review for one of the best games out there this year, and for more on games like Uncharted and other great action adventure games, make sure you come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

This is the written review for DMC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition. For the video review, click here.

Capcom and Ninja Theory collaborate to reboot the classic action franchise Devil May Cry. DMC Devil May Cry Definitive Edition brings this exciting action reboot to current gen consoles to create a comfortable, mechanically sound experience for fans of the hack’n’slash genre. While this game’s story and characters leave much to be desired, its controls and style make it one of the best Capcom games of the generation.

From the time you start playing DmC it wastes no time establishing tone. Dante is surrounded by strippers, and is engaging in debauchery to showcase his edgy untamed nature. Then his carelessness is displayed as he bares all in front of a visitor at his front door. Things take a turn as, without any explanation Dante is dragged into Limbo, a parallel dimension where demons exist, and they don’t hesitate to launch an attack on him. Turns out, it’s the work of Demon King Mundus, who wants Dante’s Nephilim head on a platter.

You spend the entirety of the first mission getting comfortable with the controls as you fight hordes of rather basic demons. The controls are very easy to learn, and you’re adequately limited. The best way I can describe this game’s combat is by saying that it’s like a juggling routine. You start off with three balls to juggle with and you’re doing a good job. With each new move you learn, and each new style of demon introduced, you’re getting another ball, and while it’s more complex, your routine looks and feels amazing once you master it. By the time you’re able to swap between all of your available weapons and abilities to string together epic combos, you’re left with some of the best game feel in the industry to date.

The definitive edition compliments this quality with its incredible specs, running fluidly at 1080p and 60fps, allowing Dante’s delicious attack animations to flow like water. Combine that with different amounts of tension and screen shake, as well as different weights and sound effects associated with each weapon, and you have the most realistic feeling action experience available in this genre.

That being said, the story does fall short quite a bit, with characters feeling very edgy for the sake of being edgy. Thankfully, the definitive edition removed some of the cringe inducing lines by Mundus’ mistress, as well as Vergil’s fedora. But that doesn’t change Dante’s slurred, angry, almost unprovoked attitude that plagues the game’s dialogue. You will find some reward in completing the game as characters do go through interesting development curves.

Dante and Kat.

The actual game flow of DmC is interesting. The game is divided into missions, which allows for short bursts of gameplay. Yet with so many different enemies, and styles of combat you can pursue, you never quite get a monotonous atmosphere from the game. This is a good balance, as you get to post-mortem your approach to any given mission based on your grades and percentages awarded at the end of each mission.

The game demands you to learn, as boss battles do build off of the basic enemies patterns in some ways. There are few boss battles, unfortunately, but they are impactful and effective.

Outside of the main game, there are side modes. These include special missions where you are forced to fight under specific conditions. For example, enemies will only die in the air. Or Dante will die in one hit. On top of this, there’s the post game DLC Vergil’s Downfall. Quite fun, and similar in tone to the original series. I’d recommend ignoring it until you’re done with the main story, but thankfully it comes bundled with the definitive edition.

DmC Devil May Cry is a special experience on current gen consoles. I’m normally not crazy about “complete” editions of games, but this one truly does offer enough content for the value it’s sold at. Anyone looking for a rad action experience should give this game a go!

Thank you all for reading and/or watching! This is the first of a new wave of Game Room Reviews. I’m setting quite a bit in motion, and you can expect the blog to keep growing as I keep working hard. For more on games like Devil May Cry, and other dynamic action experiences, come back soon for more from the GAME ROOM!!!

Though few have heard of it, “Game and Watch Gallery 4” was one of the greatest experiences available for the Gameboy Advance back in the early 2000s. Now, the game is being brought back for the Wii U Virtual Console, and every kind of player has a reason to try this old gem. The arcade-like experience remastered classic “Game and Watch” titles games like never before, bringing the games to life while incorporating the heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Super Mario crew arrives in classic titles such as “Fire” or “Chef” in recreations of the handheld games created by Gunpei Yokoi. Being the fourth installment of this gallery series, players can expect that the formula has been explored in numerous ways, and perfected. In a simpler time before smartphones were popular, this game could have easily substituted most app games.

While the “Game and Watch” might be technically weak by the standards of modern games, the understanding of basic design principles shines through, showing that good graphics and orchestral soundtracks simply aren’t enough to make a good game. Risk and reward are at play in these easy to learn, difficult to master gaming gems. Iconic characters from the Super Mario franchise make the game feel familiar from the time it’s powered on.

Placing these characters in different scenarios, such as saving Toads from a burning building, or cooking food for a baby Yoshi, brings the world to life, and makes the games feel slightly connected. The soundtrack is beautiful, amplifying the already peaceful atmosphere that the vibrant colors in
the art style create.

With over twenty Modern and Classic style games to play, “Game and Watch Gallery 4” is a great game for killing time and having simple fun in a classic way. This game is available on the Wii U eshop.

I apologize for the short review, I have something kind of big in the works for tomorrow. I still think Gallery 4 was a blast, and I remember it from my childhood. Tomorrow, I’ll be posting something brand new in the Game Room, starting a new segment on our journey! In the meantime, thank you all for reading and come back soon for more from the Game Room!!!