Tunic

Art by ScruffBucket

I’m just gonna come right out and say it.

Tunic is amazing.

It’s probably the best game I’ve played in the last two years. I had a better time with it than anything that’s come out since 2020.

On the surface, Tunic looks like someone took a Legend of Zelda game and swapped out Link with an adorable little fox. The game begins with you waking up on a beach without any way to defend yourself and a dangerous world ahead full of mysteries to solve and enemies to battle. And while exploration and combat play a big part, there’s so much more to Tunic than it initially lets on.

Now it’s pretty tough to explain what makes Tunic so special without spoiling all of it; this is 100% a game you should experience for yourself. But to give a little context: a major part of the gameplay involves you collecting pages of an in-game instruction booklet (in the old-school NES vein) that are scattered across the world. The pages – as well as most in-game dialogue, signs, etc. - are mostly written in a strange, indecipherable language. As you gather more and more pages, and gather more and more information from them, you slowly start to piece things together. The plot comes into clearer view. Your path forward does as well. But more importantly, so do the game’s mechanics. 

Think of it as an “anti-tutorial”, in that information is deliberately kept from you and drip-fed slowly over time. Whereas most games give you an info-dump whenever you discover a new item or gain a new ability, Tunic makes every new discovery important and meaningful. But the game’s secrets and surprises run much deeper than that. There’s an end-game portion to Tunic that truly caught me off guard and changed how I viewed the game world completely that I wouldn’t dare spoil.

Tunic would be an incredible game to watch speedruns of. Pretty much everything you need to power through the game is available to you from the get-go. Finding out what the various mysteries scattered across the island mean – the golden platforms on the ground, those little hooks you see in high-up places, that dang giant door up at the top of the snowy mountain! – generated some of the greatest “A-HA!” moments I’ve ever had in a game. Once everything starts to click, Tunic is a great big serotonin factory.

I can rave on and on about how much I truly love this game. And while it’s not without its flaws – combat is not as smooth as it should be, and some of the later bosses are near impossible without using the game’s no-fail mode – they weren’t distracting enough to take away from the overall experience.

A sign of a good game for me is when it stays in my head long after credits roll. Whenever I remember a certain part of the game or listen to its amazing soundtrack, I feel happy. It’s pure digital bliss.

And how can you not love that little fox?

A New Gamer Life

 Near the end of 2021, I tweeted this:

I realized as I’ve gotten older my taste in a lot of things has, inevitably, changed a bit. Every so often I would “fall out” of video games for a month or so, having gotten burned out or overwhelmed or in need of a break. However, around the midpoint of 2021 I was feeling a bit disconnected from video games in a way I hadn’t before. Nothing I played, even if I did end up enjoying my time with it, felt like it meant something to me like games in the past had. I couldn’t decide if what I had played just wasn’t that great or if I had finally gotten tired of video games in general. Turns out, it was a mix of both.

So that’s when I decided for myself that I would step away from my desire to play every big-name video game release of the year and go in search of other, smaller games I wouldn’t normally give my attention to. I’ve always loved “indie” games – I’ve always felt they had better design and more inventive ideas than 90% of what big developers dish out on a yearly basis. But each year as I found myself with less and less time on my hands, I had to carefully choose which games I gave my full attention. So, 2022 was going to be the year I veered away from expansive, 60-plus hour gaming adventures and more towards weird, inventive little games with something more interesting to provide. (I did play Horizon Forbidden West to start out the year, and that was the game that, while I thoroughly enjoy it, reminded me why I needed to distance myself from those experiences more)

Every so often I’ll post my thoughts and experiences with these games here. Hopefully I’ll inspire you to try some of them out, too. 

I guess my personal goal with all this is simple: expand my horizons and get out of my comfort zone a bit. Maybe even “grow up” a little, too.

NOTE: I meant to start this project earlier in the year but, you know, LIFE HAPPENED.

Mike's Mid-2021 Video Game Awards Extravaganza!!!

Hey! We made it halfway through what could be one of the last years we have left on this planet so it's time to celebrate the one thing that hasn't totally ruined my pathetic life yet: VIDEO GAMES! That's right, in a futile attempt to curb the seemingly never-ending stress, depression, and anxiety I experience on a daily basis, I decided to look back at the last six months of this gaming year and make up some totally arbitrary awards to give out to the video games (and gaming-related stuff) that helped me escape this nightmare.

Some of these games will probably end up on my (hopefully more normal) end of the year 'best of' list and some might not. But for now, they can bask in the glory of knowing that I, random white man on the internet, got some much-needed reprieve from them. So HERE WE GO!

Best Level From a Game I Totally Forgot Came Out
Dartmoor - Hitman III

Did you love 'Knives Out'? So did IOI!

Hitman III burst onto the gaming scene way back in January, so I kinda have a bit of an excuse for forgetting this game even existed. When thinking about giving out an award for "Best Level", my mind almost immediately went to House Beneviento from Resident Evil Village (more on that later, though). And while that dollhouse of horrors was arguably the best part of RE8, when I got to thinking (and actually remembered which games came out in 2021) I realized there was no way I could not give this to the Dartmoor level from Agent 47's newest adventure. Hitman's levels are some of the best designed in all of gaming, and this sprawling mansion in the English countryside is among the series' best. There's only one main target in Death in the Family, but what sets this apart is how it lets you partake in a twisting murder mystery. You find clues, interrogate witnesses, and can come to multiple different conclusions, all branching the mission off in various directions, all with that trademark Hitman sense of humor.

Most Sickeningly Adorable Next-Gen Console I Bought This Year
Xbox Series S

I can't believe this little fella runs Forza so well

Man, those next-gen video game consoles are super hard to find, huh? The fact that I managed to get a PS5 last year is nothing short of a miracle, and having set aside some money for one of Microsoft's shiny new machines a while ago, it was only a matter of time, patience, and fighting off the urge to buy one from scalpers that I got one for myself. And to my surprise, the one I settled for was not the super giant and powerful Series X, but its smaller, less-powerful baby brother, the Series S. So why did I sacrifice 4K and better GPU for 1440p and 60fps? Well, for one, it was the only one I could find in stock anywhere and at retail price. But thinking about it, I'm a pretty simple man when it comes to gaming and don't need a whole lot. I've got a PS5, so I already have that giant, powerful box sitting in my entertainment center. Plus, my time spent on Xbox systems has waned over the last few years, despite Game Pass constantly calling me. All I really wanna play on there is some Halo and some Forza, and the Series S allows me to do that without breaking the bank. Sure the games don't look as good as they do on PC or the Series X, but personally I'll take a better, faster frame rate over resolution any day. The Series S is a neat little technological marvel and, paired with Game Pass, is quite possibly the best deal in gaming right now. Plus, LOOK AT IT! IT'S SO DAMN CUTE AND TINY!

Most Gleefully Stupid Video Game of the Year (So Far)

Chivalry 2

This photo is pretty misleading in that it shows no stupid stuff

At first glace, first-person medieval melee combat game Chivalry 2 looks pretty serious. The combat is simple but pretty deep, and takes a bit of practice to get really good at. Its lore is surprising grounded, and the variety of objective-based matches have you raiding villages and castles and causing all sorts of mayhem. But that's about where the seriousness stops. Chivalry 2 is a really dumb game that knows it's a really dumb game. It's essentially the video game equivalent of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail where Lancelot rushes the wedding party and kills pretty much everyone. It has a dedicated 'battlecry' button that lets you scream at any point during the match. Heads and body parts fly on a near-constant basis. Players run around with barrels and jump around on fire. You'll hear various characters yell "OI I'VE LOST ME GOOD ARM" and start randomly dancing around a pile of dead bodies. The moment I knew I loved this game was when I decapitated a dude, picked up his head, threw it at another guy, and instantly killed him with it. It's rare that a game doesn't pretend to be anything that it isn't, and Chivalry 2 is one hell of a good, dumb time.

Best Roller Coaster Ride

Resident Evil Village

Pictured Above: SPOOKY ATMOSPHERE

This was a shoo-in for Dumbest Game of 2021 before Chivalry 2 came along (heck, Ethan Winters alone is dumber than anything else in gaming this year) so it'll just have to settle for being the most constantly thrilling and entertaining one instead. You'll be kind of disappointed if you come into RE8 looking for the same kind of scare-fest that RE7 provided, and though the first half of the game certainly makes it seem like it will be (especially in the previously mentioned House Beneviento section) the remainder of Village just gets real action-y and real stupid. Not that it's a bad thing, though; RE8 is a fast-paced action/horror romp that's wonderfully paced and features some of the best set piece moments in the entire series. In all honesty Village is the perfect way to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary, as it covers just about all of the bases that previous game in the series have. It's got towering unkillable enemies that constantly pursue you, well-earned scares, inventory management, lots of shooting, and big, over-the-top action moments. So for me, Resident Evil Village is just pure, non-stop entertainment and one of 2021's best games.

Game of the Year 2021 (If The World Ended Right Now)
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

What I wouldn't do for a good R&C cartoon

As a fan of the Ratchet & Clank games dating all the way back to the original on the PS2, Rift Apart was a game I was really looking forward to and most definitely not disappointed by. By just looking a the game in motion you'll realize just how much a technical showcase this is for the PS5 and probably wonder what kind of witchcraft they're practicing over there at Insomniac Games. Underneath the next-gen shininess and incredible graphical detail lies the best, most fine-tuned Ratchet & Clank game ever made. It doesn't do anything revolutionary from a gameplay perspective, but it's a near-perfect slice of good ol- fashioned gaming pie. The story is surprisingly engaging, and though I still miss the borderline adult humor of the original games, it's still by far the funniest game Insomniac has written in a while. The best kinds of games are the ones that capture my attention and don't let go until credits roll, and Rift Apart was one of those for me. It's stunning to look at and even better to play, and is both the best PS5 game to date and my favorite game of 2021 so far.

Most Anticipated Game for the Rest of 2021

Deathloop

Still can't get over how cool the art is for this game

Coming from one of my all-time favorite developers, Deathloop is a PS5 exclusive action/shooter where you play as a secret agent trapped in a time loop, and if that doesn't get you excited I don't know what will. Based on what I've seen from previews, Deathloop's got that trademark Arkane look and feel but with some cool new twists. On paper Deathloop may look like a rougelike, as you have to kill eight targets within a single run in order to finally break the loop you're stuck in, or else be forced to start over and over and over until you do. But you're not given a strict time limit and have almost unlimited freedom in order to complete your mission. Plus is has a multiplayer element that lets another player invade your game as a rival assassin who's main mission is to stop you. Deathloop has been on my radar ever since it was revealed at E3 a few years ago and I've only gotten more and more excited for it the more I hear about it. It's got 'Mike Game' written all over it and I can't wait to play it when it comes out in September.

Just for fun, some of the other games I'm excited to play the rest of this year are: Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, Solar Ash, Battlefield 2042, Metroid Dread, Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp, Psychonauts 2, Back 4 Blood, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

One Week With The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo sure does know how to make a great box

As a kid, I cut my gaming teeth on Nintendo systems. My cousins had a NES, so every holiday gathering was punctuated by intense matches of Double Dribble and endless rounds of Duck Hunt. I got a Game Boy Pocket when I was about six years old, followed by a Nintendo 64 a few years later. In those early console war years, I was firmly on Nintendo’s side.

Despite such hearty nostalgia for the gaming giant, my interest in the Switch was somewhat muted. You can blame that in part on the Wii U, a system I picked up about a week after it launched in 2013, only to have it collecting dust next to my TV three years later. The Wii U was, in my opinion, a system that was void of a true purpose. The Gamepad was a cool idea, but Nintendo (or any other developer for that matter) never seemed to know what to do with it. Add to that the lack of any compelling software outside of first-party releases and the system was doomed to fail.

Even though my interest for Nintendo had waned in recent years, I was still very much interested to see what they would offer next in terms of hardware. On the surface, the Switch seems like a home run. A system that doubles as a home console and a handheld is a pretty novel and practical concept. And unlike the Wii U, it would appear that Nintendo learned from past mistakes and has a very clear vision for the Switch.

I still had my reservations, but that deep love for all things Nintendo was boiling up inside me to maximum levels. I had every intention of pre-ordering a Switch but was too late to procure myself one.  I figured, much like with the Wii back in 2006, I was going to have to wait to get my hands on one. And to be honest, that was perfectly fine with me.

Until I stumbled upon one in my local Target on launch day, that is.

The combination of nostalgia and a rather unhealthy obsession of being an early adopter of just about every new tech device drove me to walk out of the store that day with a shiny new Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild in tow.

So now that I’ve had a week to analyze every inch of Nintendo’s new machine, what do I think?

That’s… kind of a complicated answer.

The core concept of the Switch is executed very well. Being able to play a game on a television and then immediately continue playing on the go works to perfection. For me, not having to be locked to one location to play a console-quality game is quite freeing. Switching from playing on the TV to handheld is fast and easy, and there isn’t any real noticeable dip in quality between the two modes, outside of a slight downgrade in resolution.

The joy-con controllers, while small and a tad bit uncomfortable to hold after a while, work well and offer multiple play styles. Being able to hold one in each hand allows me to be completely relaxed while playing, especially when I’m sprawled out on my couch. Even when docked with the included joy-con grip, they make a solid controller, though I’m sure many would prefer the (rather expensive) pro controller.

As much as I enjoy playing on my television, I’ve mostly used my Switch in handheld mode. With the joy-cons attached to the sides of the console, the Switch becomes a pretty comfortable (if a little oversized) handheld device.  I’ve spent many nights this past week bundled up playing Breath of the Wild before I go to sleep. Everything works just as smoothly away from my television as it does docked to it. 

Playing like this on my desk has caused productivity to cease completely

The Switch also has a little kickstand on the back, which allows you to prop it up on your desk or table. It’s there so that you can play local multiplayer games by just using the console and joy-cons, but I’ve found myself setting it up on my desk or on my bedside table to play on my own. Suffice to say, I really love the multiple ways the Switch allows me to play video games while being a lazy bum.

As a piece of gaming hardware, the Switch is well designed. It feels sturdy and has a good weight to it. The UI leaves a bit to be desired, as it’s somewhat bare bones at the moment, but hopefully Nintendo jazzes it up a little in the future. Friend codes are still here, which is unfortunate. And to the disappointment of myself and millions of other Nintendo faithful, the eShop has no music.

Right now, the Switch has laid a pretty sturdy framework for the future. But there’s still so much that’s unknown about it at this early stage. What will the online service be like? Will there be a more robust social element? When will we get streaming services like Netflix and Hulu? Will third party support show up in force? When will the virtual console make its way over?

As it is right now, the Switch feels unfinished. But there’s a lot of potential here. If Nintendo continues to add features and there’s a steady stream of software (from first- and third-party, as well as indie games) they could be onto something big here.

Deciding whether or not to take the plunge on the Switch is entirely up to you. Zelda’s the only true reason to buy it right now, though if there was ever a single game worthy of justifying a new console purchase, this is it (but more on that later).

Personally, I feel like my purchase has been justified. Zelda is huge enough to keep me busy for months if not years, and big games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey aren’t that far off. Nintendo’s also taken a huge step forward in terms of indie games, as there are numerous titles on the way for the system, many of which will make their debut on the Switch.

Nintendo still has quite a bit to do to fully regain my confidence in them, but I’d say they’re off to a good start. Unlike with the Wii U, I truly feel there’s a reason for the Switch to exist. It’s a new idea that doesn’t feel gimmicky and serves a real purpose. Nintendo has said they’ve always been about games, and for the first time in years they’ve produced hardware that’s worthy of playing them on. 

The Game Awards 2016 - Nominations and Predictions

Photo courtesy of Game Informer

Now that 2016 is winding down, it's officially awards season! The Game Awards is back once again, and the nominees for this year's show have been announced.

In my opinion, 2016 was a pretty solid year for gaming (but not a solid year for just about everything else). This is reflected in this year's nominees, as big-budget games and small-scale indies get equal love. Looking at everything on this list, I've found it hard to choose who I think should win (as of writing this, I'm still slaving over my 'best of' list for this year) as just about every game mentioned here is award-worthy.

Following the break, I've included a good portion of the nominations (you can view the entire list here) and have highlighted the games I would vote for. Understand that there are a few categories (Fighting Game and VR, for example) I'm not the best judge of since I don't typically play games in those genres, but I've chosen the winners anyway just for posterity's sake. Also, this list is going to be a pretty big indicator as to what's going to be on my end of year list, if you're into that sort of thing.

My 7 Favorite Games of All-Time

A while ago, #fav7games became a very popular trending tropic on Twitter. It completely took over my feed, so I spent a good amount of time reading about the games that meant so much to so many people. It made me realize just how wonderful a hobby gaming is, and I began to reflect back on the games that I love so much. But no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn't curate my own personal list. I kept adding and subtracting titles, trying to think about the ones that had the biggest impact on me as a person and as a gamer. I've been playing video games for a very long time, so needless to say, this was not an easy task.

Inspired by that popular trending topic, I've come up with seven games that have been burned into the back of my brain forever. If the video game industry collapsed today, these are the games that I could play from now until the end of time and never get bored.

One Last Time

There's a moment early in Uncharted 4 where Nathan Drake, newly retired from treasure hunting, is at home in his attic. Scattered across various shelves are many of the artifacts he has amassed during his adventures; Nate can interact with them and reminisce, in a somewhat solemn tone, about his past. In the corner is a toy gun. If picked up, Nate begins to roleplay as if countless enemies have invaded his attic. There are numerous targets hanging from the ceiling, and you can dive, roll, and shoot your way across the attic. The classic Uncharted battle music plays while Nate makes his famous quips. After a bit, you hear his wife Elena calling from downstairs, beckoning him to come down to dinner. Nate puts the gun down, heads downstairs, and returns to his normal life.

At this moment, I realized this was going to be a very different Uncharted game. Everything you've come to expect from an Uncharted game is here for sure; shooting, exploration, puzzle solving, and traversal are all here in spades, and done better than any game in the series. But what sets A Thief's End apart is its strong focus on story and characters. It's still as swashbuckling and entertaining as fans of the series have come to expect, but the stakes have never been higher. Not only is countless treasure on the line, but so is Nate's personal life. He puts his relationship with those he loves at risk because he simply can't ignore the call of adventure.

The plot rolls into action when Nate's long-lost (and thought dead) brother Sam shows up at his office (Nate now works in marine salvage). Sam owes a huge debt to a very dangerous man, and in order to pay it off he needs Nate to help him finally find the lost treasure of famous pirate Henry Avery, something the two of them have been chasing since they were kids. Hesitant at first, Nate succumbs to the call of fortune and glory once again, and the two head off on a globe-trotting adventure.

The theme of the story is simple: letting go. Both Sam and Nate can't let go of their desire to find ancient treasure. The game's main villain, Rafe, is tired of living in Nate's shadow and is obsessed with forging a legacy greater than his. This theme of letting go can also pertain to the player, as developer Naughty Dog has stated multiple times that this is the final Uncharted game. Whether or not that proves to be true, A Thief's End brings satisfying closure to the series. Without spoiling much, the game's ending is as unexpected and emotionally satisfying as they come.

The influence of The Last of Us is felt heavily throughout the game, both from a mechanical and storytelling standpoint. There's more of a focus on stealth during action sequences this time around, as the game's new massive open-world sections allow you to tackle enemy groups in any way you please. But it's obvious that Naughty Dog has taken everything it learned while making The Last of Us and applied it here. In addition to the various collectible treasures scattered around levels, you can stumble upon various letters that expand the game's lore. Optional conversations also pop up from time to time, providing you with some very intimate and beautiful character moments.

A Thief's End was not the game I was expecting, but in a good way. It's everything I ever wanted from an Uncharted game, but much more grounded. Sure, there's pirate treasure to be found, but the focus isn't on that. It's a very human story about some very human issues. Are we truly willing to sacrifice everything because can't ignore our own selfish desires? This is the real struggle we get to see Nate, Elena, Sam, and Sully go through. We've gone on countless adventures with them but this time they're at their most vulnerable, stripped down to their very core. They may be digital, but they feel real. Their struggles and emotions feel real. In the midst of such an over-the-top adventure lies a very simple, believable tale of love and loss.

From its opening moments to the final, beautiful closing shot, I loved every second of Uncharted 4. It has immediately taken its place among my all-time favorite video games and is one I will return to again and again. As a huge fan of the series, I'm incredibly sad to see it end, but I couldn't think of a better way to send it off. The performances, visual design, gameplay, soundtrack, writing, direction, pacing, thrill, and mystery of A Thief's End are all perfection. I can't say enough about it, other than it's something that must be experienced. It's truly a treasure.

The Endless Magic of Fallout 4

I am currently about 30 hours into Fallout 4 and I have seen and done more things than I can count. I've totally lost myself in post-apocalyptic Boston, exploring every corner of the map, completing numerous quests, liberating and upgrading settlements, and modding every gun I can get my hands on. As someone who sank way more hours into Fallout 3 than they would like to admit, my anticipation for Fallout 4 was off the charts. I'm happy to say that every ounce of hype I piled on it has been justified. It's an absolutely massive game, and as much as I feel I have accomplished in those 30 hours, I know I have just barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer.

I've currently hit the halfway point in the game's main story, and as simple and straightforward as the plot has been, it's the characters and their stories that make Fallout 4's world come alive. The main plot is just fine (and gets really interesting thanks to a pretty cool mid-game twist) but the real draw narrative-wise are the moment-to-moment conversations you have with companions or other NPCs. Getting to know the characters and learn about their history in the wasteland is one of the best things about Fallout 4.

Needless to say, the gameplay here is fantastic and ever-so addicting. The gunplay has been vastly improved, so much so that I've been using V.A.T.S. less than I did in Fallout 3. However, there have been plenty of combat encounters that I had to take a step back and be more tactical. Be careful though, as V.A.T.S. no longer completely stops time; I've actually died a few times while using it. It's a welcome change and adds a new level of challenge. The RPG elements have been toned down a bit, and I really like how leveling up works now, as it's much more streamlined (not to mention that the Perk Chart is absolutely adorable).

A lot has been made of the game's crafting and base building aspects, and though I haven't really dabbled in them as much as I would like (I'm totally afraid I'll lose myself in them) they are a really cool and welcome addition to the Fallout series. While there are a few instances where crafting or modding is required, it's a totally optional part of the game.

If it's immersion and atmosphere you want, the Fallout games have them in bunches. One of my favorite things about Fallout 4 are the character interactions that occur in real-time. You could just be walking around Good Neighbor or Diamond City and stumble upon NPCs engaging in conversations about events that have already or are currently unfolding in the Commonwealth. It just makes the world you're exploring, even as over-the-top and barren as it may seem, more lived-in and believable.

One of the staples of the Fallout series are the various radio stations you can tune into with your Pip Boy; Fallout 3's Galaxy News Radio was perhaps my favorite thing about that game. Wondering the wasteland and murdering countless people/animals/creatures while listening to The Ink Spots and Billie Holiday is one of the most satisfying things in all of gaming. Fallout 4's Diamond City Radio contains a fantastic song list, though has a rather uncharismatic DJ, especially when compared to Galaxy News Radio's Three Dog. Regardless, it just wouldn't be a Fallout game without a robust and varied song list. (Tip: don't ignore the Classical Radio station, as mass murder is much more enjoyable when Chopin is playing in the background).

Perhaps more than anything, the most magical aspect of Fallout 4 is exploring. If you're able to ignore the multitude of quests and crafting/modding opportunities that the game presents you with, just being able to wander around the wasteland, discovering new places is just indescribably cool and surprisingly relaxing, when you don't stumble upon a Super Mutant camp that is). With Skyrim, I completely ignored any and all quests just to wander around marking new places on my map. I'm not doing it as much with Fallout 4, but that sense of discovery still powers my experience. The Commonwealth is so varied (and colorful!) that I have to take time out from my exploring and murder to take in the sights.

Out of everything the Fallout 4 offers (and there's a lot), it's the little moments that make this the best game I've played all year. Whether it be stopping to take in a view, finding that one piece of rare scrap you really needed, blasting off a super mutant's face in slow motion with just a sliver of health left, delving into the backstories of your companions, or watching the little mushroom cloud that happens when cars explode (they're SO COOL!), Fallout 4 is full of intensely satisfying moments that you just can't experience anywhere else.

What a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. game it is.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go play more Fallout 4.

The Game Awards 2015 - Nominees and Predictions

This has been an great year for gaming, filled to the brim with fantastic titles that spanned various genres and earned the acclaim of critics and gamers alike. I can't tell you how great it is to able to say that, especially considering how barren 2014 was. Now that we're reaching the end of 2015, awards season has begun its slow crawl towards us. Last year's aptly named Game Awards returns again this December, and the list of nominees has recently been released. While I enjoyed last year's show, I hope that the 2015 version moves closer to a more traditional awards show format, forgoing the out-of-place interviews and announcement of awards off camera. Regardless, it's nice to see gaming starting to get the recognition it deserves.

Here is the list of this year's nominees, as well as who I think should win (highlighted in yellow):

A Look Back at 20 Years of PlayStation

Image courtesy of Sony

On September 5th, 1995 the original PlayStation made its way onto U.S. store shelves and into the hands of hungry gamers all across the country. Sony's original machine was considered a huge underdog, especially considering how much the gaming industry was dominated by Nintendo and Sega at the time. But here we are, twenty years later, and the PlayStation brand stands tall as a pillar of the industry. I can't imagine this industry without PlayStation, and shiver to think how I could have ever developed such a deep love and respect for gaming without all the countless hours I spent way too close to my television, late at night, powering through games like Shadow of the Colossus and the Uncharted games. I love all things video games, but PlayStation remains closest to my heart.

While I have a rather long personal history with PlayStation, I actually didn't own the original system. I was a Nintendo kid growing up but had a lot of friends who owned PlayStations, so I got my fix going over to their houses whenever I could. I drooled over games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy VII, and Metal Gear Solid, all experiences that I could never get on my N64. Regardless, my allegiance to Nintendo was so strong that when the next generation of consoles arrived, I chose a GameCube over the PlayStation 2, a mistake that I would finally rectify a few years later.

The summer after I finished 8th grade, I saved up enough money and finally bought myself a PS2. I was now fully caught up in the phenomenon that was PlayStation. My first two games were Enter the Matrix and Burnout 2: Point of Impact, two games that admittedly weren't the best way to introduce myself to a PS2. I later picked up classics like Metal Gear Solid 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, Ico, Jak and Daxter, and Ratchet and Clank. The PS2's library of games was absolutely massive, and even though I had my GameCube and (eventually) an original Xbox, the bulk of the games I played during the 6th generation of gaming consoles were on PS2. I kept my PS2 powered up long after its life cycle had ended, and still go back to it occasionally to this day. In my eyes, the PlayStation is the greatest video game console to ever exist.

When I started college, I bought myself a PS3, along with Resistance: Fall of Man and Motorstorm. Like most people, I was somewhat letdown with the PS3 after the amazing experience I had with the PS2. I had the original "fat" model of the system, and it was bulky, loud, and constantly overheated. Though I spent a fair amount of time with it, my PS3 eventually fell by the waist side as my gaming attention turned to the Xbox 360 full-time. It wasn't until my junior year of college that I decided to give the ol' PS3 another try. My original model was dead by that point (I could never figure out why) so I picked up the smaller, remodeled version that was released in 2009. Consider this point in time the "PlayStation" renaissance for me. Games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Infamous, and the phenomenal The Last of Us relit the fire in my heart for all things PlayStation. As the 7th generation of gaming console was winding down, the PS3 seemed to be finally finding its footing, a kind of resurgence that would carry over to the PS4. Even though my experience with the system was uneven, I'm glad I owned one.

I was also an early adopter of both a PSP and PS Vita, two machines that deserved much more than they got. The PSP has a remarkable library, and the PS Vita is perhaps the best way to play indie games, but it was clear that Sony didn't know what to do with them. I still have a strong admiration for the PSP and spent a lot of quality time with in on long car rides and sleepless nights. My PS Vita still gets some love from time to time but is still second to my 3DS. It's a powerful and impressive machine that doesn't deserve the cards it is being dealt.

I currently own both a Xbox One and a PlayStation 4, but it is clear which I prefer more. Sony's latest console corrects all of the mistakes that the PS3 made and improves on all of its successes. Not since the PS2 have I been this excited about gaming, as the PS4 has once again recaptured my love for Sony's trademark gaming brand. Its UI, online functionality, game streaming, social interactivity, and exclusives (Bloodborne, Until Dawn, The Last of Us: Remastered, Infamous: Second Son, and Resogun come to mind) make the PS4 the clear frontrunner in the race for the 8th generation crown.

So what does PlayStation mean to me? Simple: video games. I've spent a good amount of time during my life playing them, and though I share many great memories across all systems, some of the best I've ever had occurred on a PlayStation system. It's insane to think its been over 20 years since Sony first staked its claim in the gaming world, and even crazier to think about how far they've come since then. Sony's trademark gaming platform has had numerous stumbles, but there's no denying that the gaming industry would have not grown as popular if that little square box wasn't dreamed up by Sony over 20 years ago. The best part about all of this? It seems as if PlayStation is just getting started. So here's to 20 more fantastic years of gaming bliss and unforgettable memories!

Thank you, PlayStation. I owe you a lot.

20 Hours in the Wasteland: My Early Thoughts on Mad Max

Mad Max was released to absolutely no fanfare whatsoever last week, as it was covered in the massive shadow of Metal Gear Solid V. Being the fanboy that I am, I decided to pick up the Mad Max game instead of The Phantom Pain, ready to explore the wasteland and live out my fantasy of being Max Rockatansky. I've spent a good chunk of time with the game and have barely even scratched the surface of what it has to offer. There's no other way to say it: Mad Max is a HUGE game. The map stretches on for miles and miles, and there is side content covering nearly every inch of it. Like any good open world game, you are constantly pulled away from the main storyline to complete a side quest, collect scrap, compete in races, or take down outposts. It takes the better bits from games like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry and mixes them up into a pretty solid post-apocalyptic package. Critics are mixed on the game, but personally I've been having a great time with it.

For the uninitiated, Mad Max is an open-world game that focuses on vehicular and on-foot combat. It features all of the trappings every open-world game does, including vantage points, a robust upgrade system for both Max and his car, numerous side quests, hidden collectibles, and more. The main plot revolves around Max's quest to rebuild his car so he can escape to the "Silent Plains" and finally find peace. Early in the game, Max (reluctantly) teams up with a master mechanic named Chumbucket, who, with Max's help, promises to build the "Magnum Opus", a new and improved version of Max's classic Interceptor. Throughout the course of the game, Max forges other uneasy alliances with various leaders in the wasteland, completing side quests and helping them rebuild their strongholds. There is a LOT to do in this game, which serves as its strength but also its greatest weakness (but more on that later).

First off, Mad Max absolutely nails the atmosphere of the George Miller films. The world is filled with the most awesome cars and bizarre characters you would expect from the Mad Max universe. It's also a visual feast, with some of the best graphics I've seen this generation. Voice work is solid, though Max tends to talk a bit too much for my liking. From a purely audio/visual standpoint, Mad Max is incredible.

Control-wise, the game does a nice job of balancing a lot of different schemes. Driving does take a lot of getting used to, as it feels a bit sluggish and heavy at first. Nothing has ever been too problematic, but considering how much time you spend in a car, the driving should feel better. In addition, driving and shooting gets a little convoluted as you have to press multiple buttons at once that can result in cramped hands. Regardless, I never felt that the game's controls were bothersome, and the longer I played the easier and more fluid they became. Max controls well when he's on-foot, but is somewhat sluggish as well.

Combat, both in a car and on-foot, can be exhilarating at best and middling at worst. Battling against multiple enemy vehicles while blasting across the dunes at 100 mph is super fun, especially considering how amazing the explosions look in this game. The on-foot combat system is stolen right from Rocksteady's Batman games, so you spend the majority of your time countering and attacking. There are some special moves you can unlock as you upgrade Max, but the core combat remains the same. After a while of beating down the same enemies in the same fashion, the hand-to-hand combat can get a little grating. Car combat can as well, especially when you're trying to complete various objectives and a group of enemies crash your party, forcing you into combat. However, other than the visuals, combat is the game's biggest strength and provide plenty of explosive (pun intended) and memorable moments.

Max's health can be replenished with water, which is scarce enough to cause urgency but is still readily available to avoid frustration. Same goes for gasoline, which is needed to power your car (of course). However, gas can also be used as a weapon to use against enemies as well as outposts, so you have to decide how to use it.

Your car is the main attraction here, as it can be outfitted with numerous weapons and defensive features. You can choose to build and customize your own car, or steal others from around the game world to use. In addition, Chumbucket also has blueprints for cars called Archangels, which are super powerful vehicles that each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The main currency of the game is scrap, which can be used to upgrade either Max or his car. In addition to scrap, hidden "part pieces" are scattered all across the wasteland which can be used to build various projects within strongholds. For example, if you find all of the pieces for an oil drum, each time you visit that particular stronghold your car is automatically filled with gas. Scrap is the single most important collectible in the game, so make sure you're constantly on the lookout for it.

As I've said before, this game is massive, so much so that it constantly feels somewhat overwhelming, as the map is littered with seemingly endless things to do. While there maybe a lot tasks to complete, very little of it actually feels unique. This brings me to Mad Max's biggest problem: repetition. In order to progress through the story or gain upgrades, you have to drive around the map completing the same side content over and over. It's not as grind-y as you may think, but it does take time and patience if you want to get the best stuff. Even the combat can get repetitious, though not as much as the side content.

At its best, Mad Max is a thrilling ride that pays fantastic tribute to the universe George Miller created. At its worst, it's repetitive and sluggish. Despite my gripes, I've had a really fun time with it so far. I'm not sure if the need to grind and complete the same tasks over and over again will diminish my positive feelings towards in as I continue playing, but for now I give Mad Max a passing grade.

Remember Kids: Pre-Ordering Games is Bad

Image courtesy of Kotaku

Well, now I've seen everything. Earlier this week, new information on the next entry of the Deus Ex franchise, titled Mankind Divided, was revealed. It got a firm release date of February 23rd, 2016, a pretty cool looking collector's edition, and a new form of pre-order program that Square Enix is calling "Augment Your Pre-Order". It works like this: the more people that pre-order Mankind Divided, the more pre-order bonuses are unlocked, starting with new character skins and working all the way up to new levels and even the ability to get the game early. Think of it as Kickstarter for pre-orders, which is just as horrifying as it sounds. It claims to be a way for fans of the game to "collectively expand and enhance their own Day-One edition" of the game, but I just see it for what it is: a shameless cash-grab.

Now I kind of understand where Square Enix is coming from; they want as many people to play the game as possible. But as someone who rarely pre-orders games, this is a terrible attempt to gain a quick buck and once again cheat a good number of gamers out of some cool content. Personally, I only pre-order games if I want a collector's edition that has the potential to sell out quickly (like Fallout 4's Pip Boy Edition). Back in the day when games weren't as widely spread, pre-ordering made sense, as you wanted to guarantee you had a copy on release day. In today's world games are everywhere, and you can almost always walk into any store and pick up a copy without having to worry about it being sold out. I've even had experiences where the store I bought a game from gave me its pre-order bonuses anyway, without pre-ordering it.

The biggest problem with this campaign is that once pre-order number grow enough to unlock a new tier, all the previous rewards are rendered obsolete. So if you really want those character skins, you better hope that no one else pre-orders the game or else you're stuck with a lousy digital art book instead. What's worse is that Square Enix is teasing the ability to release the game four days before it's released if enough people lay down their money early on a game that may or may not be any good. They are purposefully holding back the game's real release date because they want their money right now. If that's not an evil scheme, I don't know what is.

I don't really have anything against pre-orders in some situations. I think if publishers provide tangible rewards for putting down money on a game early (like Mad Max did with a die-cast replica of Max's Interceptor) then I'm all for it. However, I feel that digital rewards, like new levels or characters, are a scam. Gamers who opt to wait out for reviews before purchasing a game are cheated out of some potentially cool stuff and are forced to purchase them later. It serves no purpose other than to ensure sales.

Can pre-orders work? Of course they can, just with the right mindset. If a publisher is going to offer exclusive content to those who pre-order, make it available for free six months or so after launch. That way there's an incentive to pre-order a game without punishing those who don't.

My faith in the gaming industry wanes more and more each day, but I still see hope for it. Please game publishers, don't continue down this path! Treat your consumers with more respect, and maybe you'll get some back.

My 5 Most Anticipated Games of the Fall

This Fall's game release schedule is full to the brim with some major releases, and I'm having a really tough time deciding what to spend my money and time on. However, with some time and very careful consideration, I've narrowed down the list of games I'm willing to spend my money and time on to just five. Of course, that isn't to say that I'm going to play more of them. Knowing me, I'm going to go incredibly broke this Fall and disappear for the next four months.

Anyway, here are some cool games I'm excited for:

Image courtesy of Duuro Mag

Mad Max
Avalanche Studios
PS4/Xbox One/PC
September 1st

It's no secret that Fury Road absolutely took over my life this year, and I'm super excited to see if the game can bring Max and all the madness of the world he inhabits into the digital space. It serves as a prequel to the film, shedding light on what Max was up to before he joined forces with Furiosa. The fact that it's being developed by Avalanche Studios, the team behind the super fun and destructive Just Cause games, gives me hope; if there was ever a development studio that can pull off a Mad Max game, its this one. However, publisher Warner Bros. seems to have completely given up on the game, based solely on the fact that its received little to no fanfare leading up to its release, not to mention the fact that it's going head-to-head with the behemoth that is Metal Gear Solid V. Regardless, Mad Max looks very promising, with the ability to fully customize Max's car and engage in chaotic vehicular and hand-to-hand combat across a massive open world. This is a day one purchase for me.

Image courtesy of IGN

Super Mario Maker
Nintendo
Wii U
September 11th

Did I ever tell you guys that I have a Wii U? Well, I do. It's just sitting next to my TV collecting dust, is all. However, Super Mario Maker looks like just the thing I need to revitalize the little black box when it releases this September. The game's premise is right there in the title: you have the ability to create and share your very own Mario levels. There are a wealth of options at your disposal that allow you to fully customize each level as you please, allowing each player to effectively take Mario games where they have never been before. Like most games that allow and encourage player creation, Super Mario Maker will live or die depending on community support. But I'm not worried, as Nintendo fans are some of the most rabid and creative gamers on the planet, and I fully expect to play some truly unique levels for months and years to come. Just don't expect anything good from me.

Image courtesy of 505 Games

Adr1ft
Three One Zero
PS4/Xbox One/PC
TBA September

If you know me, you know that I like the so-called "walking simulator" genre of video games. Experiences like Gone Home and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture continue to swirl around in my head long after I played them. Adr1ft is not a "walking simulator" per se, as you're in space. So it's a "floating simulator"? Whatever genre is may or may not fit into, Adr1ft holds a lot of promise. You're the lone survivor of a massive space disaster with no memory of the incident, and it's up to you to stay alive long enough to make contact with Earth, as well as piece together what happened. The fact that it's set in space is enough to get me pumped, but it looks visually stunning and looks to offer an intense and thrilling experience. There's still no release date set yet, but the sooner it comes out the better.

Image courtesy of Bethesda

Fallout 4
Bethesda Game Studios
PS4/Xbox One/PC
November 10th

No duh. Like, what human isn't excited for Fallout 4? It's been on everyone's mind long before we even knew it actually existed, and when it was finally revealed earlier this year, the gaming world collectively lost its mind. It's bigger, badder, and more colorful than Fallout 3. It's got improved shooting controls and mechanics. The awesome V.A.T.S. system returns, as does an upgraded Pip Boy. You've got an invincible (!!!) dog that can aid you in item collection and combat. You can even build a settlement from scrap and customize and upgrade weapons and armor. You've got a truly massive apocalyptic Boston to explore until the end of time; seriously, Fallout 4 will be endless. There's no level cap and the game continues even after you complete the main story, a welcome change from Fallout 3. So yeah. I don't have to do anything to explain why Fallout 4 is the most anticipated game of the Fall for me. Even though I just kind of did.

Image courtesy of EA

Star Wars Battlefront
DICE
PS4/Xbox One
November 17th

I like Star Wars. You like Star Wars. The whole world likes Star Wars. So we all know how cool it would be to actually be a part of all the massive battles that the films are known for. Ever wanted to pilot a Snow Speeder during the Battle of Hoth? How about cruise around on a Speederbike and fight the Empire in the Battle of Hoth? Well, Star Wars Battlefront hopes to do just that when it launches in November. Those looking for a single-player campaign will unfortunately be left out in the cold, as the new Battlefront is multiplayer only. Being made by DICE gives me hope that the shooting and flying will be as tight and responsive as always, but being in the hands of EA worries me. Will Battlefront, which has a pretty slim selection of maps and locations at launch, be propped up by endless DLC and microtransactions? Or will the base game be enough to entertain and thrill fans? Only time will tell, but what I've seen of the game so far has got me excited. My anticipation for all things Star Wars is at an all-time high, and a new entry in the Battlefront series can only add to it.

Does Until Dawn Have a Chance?

Image Courtesy of Game Informer

Until Dawn, the choose-your-own adventure-style horror game from Sony and Supermassive Games finally arrived for the PS4 earlier this week after an overly long development. Perhaps more surprising than the fact that it actually came out (it originally was a Move game for the PS3) is that it's good. I'm talking really, really good; it's garnered praise from critics and gamers alike as a gripping, unique, and genuinely scary experience. Sounds like Sony has another hit on its hands, right? Well, that answer may be a little more complicated than it seems.

Sony doesn't have a huge tentpole title for the PS4 this Fall, as Uncharted 4 got pushed into next Spring, and is having to rely on the remastered Uncharted collection to be their "big" first-party exclusive for the final quarter of 2015. While the system has great third-party support, there's no new, exclusive title that Sony could use as a system seller. Except there is, and it's called Until Dawn. Having played a good chunk of it, I can safely say it's one of the most surprising games of the year, and one of its best so far. My fear is that it's going to fade into obscurity, especially considering that Metal Gear Solid V is just around the corner. It seems like Sony's leaving it out in the cold to die.

Sony's first big release of the year was The Order: 1886, and even though it was lauded as a "must have" game for the system, it most certainly did not live up to the hype that surrounded it. The thud that it made when it launched earlier this year is still ringing in a lot of people's ears, particularly Sony's. It seems as if Sony is desperately trying to avoid that kind of let down again by not pushing Until Dawn as hard as it could. Part of me also thinks that they don't know what to do with it; I imagine it didn't focus test well, as it seems more suited for a certain kind of audience (horror movie fans, adventure game fans, etc.) and doesn't scream "mainstream appeal". Regardless, Until Dawn is good enough to be the first-party exclusive Sony so desperately needs going into Fall, but it won't, and that's a real shame.

Whether Until Dawn ends up being a hit or not, Supermassive Games is to be congratulated on crafting a very, very good game. It delivers on the potential of games like Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls (in fact, Quantic Dream should take a few notes from it) and delivers something unlike I've ever played. It practically begs for multiple play-throughs, as every single choice you make alters the narrative in a unique way. Even if you don't like horror or adventure games, give Until Dawn a chance, it really deserves it. On top of its innovative gameplay and narrative structure, it's also well acted and written, and is perfectly paced to build some solid tension, leading to lots of great scares.

I really want to see this game succeed, but my gut tells me otherwise. It's not getting the kind of marketing push it deserves, and though it's scored well with gaming outlets, its coverage is being pushed aside for all things Metal Gear. I feel as if it's a great reason to pick up a PS4 if you haven't already, as it's the kind of game you won't find anywhere else. Until Dawn deserves your time, money, and attention, and if you have a PS4 and about 10 hours of free time, definitely give it a chance. It deserves more faith than it's getting.

Two Days with the Black Ops 3 Beta

Image courtesy of Treyarch

Over the weekend, Activision opened up the previously closed Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 beta to everyone on PS4 (as it was originally only available to those who pre-ordered the game). I am admittedly not the biggest COD fan on earth and have always been bad at its multiplayer. Even though my opinion on the series has remained the same over the years, I always find myself drawn towards it for some God-awful reason. I do usually like the single player campaigns, as I find that they have a goofy charm to them, but could never for the life of me enjoy its insanely popular multiplayer the same way everyone else could. But, for reasons unknown, I always seem to pick up the newest entry every single time. This leads to me following the same emotional path each year, something I like to call "Failing to like COD in Four Easy Steps". It is as follows:

1. A new game is announced
2. I think, "Maybe this will be the one!"
3. I play the new game
4. I realize, once again, I've made a horrible mistake

I just can never, ever get into it. Is it because I'm bad at it? Well sure, that does play a large part. But for me, its biggest crime is that it's just not fun to play when you're bad at it. I've played countless shooters in my day, and there have been plenty of them that I'm not good at, most notably of which is Halo. I'm passable at it, but I fluctuate between good and downright awful at it at the flick of a switch. Thing is, I'm always having fun, regardless of how well I'm doing. Heck, to me, COD isn't even fun when you're winning. It's too twitchy and it feels like each player is make of paper; get shot twice and BOOM you're dead. I never feel like I have the time to defend myself or be tactical. I just run around the maps like everyone else hoping to run into someone and shoot them before they shoot me.

But I know you're all asking the same thing: if you don't like COD, why did you play the beta? Easy:

1. It was free
2. I had nothing else to do over the weekend

Please understand, I'm not a COD hater! I just don't like it. But that won't stop me from playing a free version of it!

Black Ops 3 does try to do some cool things to change up the COD multiplayer formula. Instead of customizing some random character that means absolutely nothing, BLOPS 3 gives you multiple characters to choose from, each with their own unique personalities, designs, power-ups, and voices. Yes, you heard me: COD's multiplayer characters now have voice over! And you know what, it's pretty cool! Running around and hearing your character interact with your teammates in-game is a nice touch. Your specialist (as they're called) is allowed one of two special abilities, which can either be a more powerful weapon or "power-up" of sorts. The one I used, a badass looking lady named Battery, had armor that reflected bullets for a short time. Another character had the ability to come back to life after being killed. Imagine my surprise when I thought I actually killed a dude for once, only to have his lifeless corpse pop back up and kill me dead. They are a cool addition but I didn't feel like they really changed up the rhythm or tide of a game too much.

I played a bunch of the modes that COD is known for, like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Kill Confirmed. The game plays just as fast and smooth as previous entries, and the shooting remains tight. Fans of Advanced Warfare will be happy to know that the ability to double jump is back, as is the ability to swim I also checked out a new game mode called Safeguard, in which each team takes turns escorting an A.I. robot across the map. It was cool and a nice, tactical change of pace for the series, except for one small thing: the robot always reached its destination, as it continuously regained its health after being disabled. I don't know if there were any other rules for the mode, but the game ended in a tie as neither side could stop the robot. Again, this is a beta, and Treyarch mentioned they are messing around with is and that the beta was a great place to do so. Hopefully it gets fixed up, because I thought it was a pretty cool addition.

For a beta, it played very well (except for that one time it completely broke) and looks to be in good shape when it ships this November. For better or worse, Black Ops 3 is more Call of Duty, which means you'll either love it or hate it. But the thing is, you're probably going to buy it. Why else do they keep making them year after year, and sell millions of copies? COD has a HUGE fanbase and I don't see that ever changing any time soon. Thing is, this Fall has some really, really big games coming. As for me, I know exactly what I'll be doing in November, and I have convinced myself that this is the year that I finally heed my own conscience and NOT buy the new Call of Duty game. Hooray for me! And my wallet!

I just don't like Call of Duty's multiplayer. Nothing against the series, as I see its appeal and respect it as a well designed and polished video game. But it's not for me, despite my endless attempts to change that. Do you like Call of Duty? Well, congratulations! Black Ops 3 is more of what you love, with some cool tweaks. It's gonna sell out the wazoo for the 186th time in a row, regardless of what I or any other person says. So go get hopped up on Moutain Dew and kill some racist 14 year-olds online. I'll just be over here, playing something else.

Back to Basics Stealth: My Thoughts on Volume

I've always had a soft spot for stealth games, especially the ones that rely on the player's quick wit and swift movement rather than deadly force to succeed. Volume, the new game from Thomas Was Alone developer Mike Bithell, does just that: it's a beautifully old-school take on the stealth genre that also manages to hide a few new tricks up its sleeve. I've only just begun to scratch the surface of what the game has to offer (it features 100 campaign levels) but have been so incredibly taken by it so far. Much like Thomas Was Alone, Volume features deceptively simple game design: collect all of the items in a level and escape, all while avoiding enemies. Both games also share a similar learning curve, as you learn new techniques as you progress to counter the equally evolving enemy types and level design. It's always challenging without being overly difficult. It's equal parts Robin Hood, Tron, and Metal Gear Solid, a lovely combination if I do say so myself.

The premise is a science fiction take on the Robin Hood legend. You play as Rob Locksley, a small-time thief who uses a device called the "Volume" to simulate robberies. Rob decides to stream his digital robberies online (I like to think he uses Twitch) to demonstrate to the citizens of dystopian England how to "steal from the rich". It features the vocal talents of YouTube celebrity Chris McDonnell, Danny Wallace (the narrator from Thomas Was Alone), and even Gollum himself, Andy Serkis. Story takes somewhat of a backseat to the gameplay, but it's well written and implemented, and always intriguing.

As the game progresses, Rob is given some new toys to play with, like a noise maker that can be thrown to lure guards away from their posts or a flashy item to distract them. Of course, Rob can also utilize some less advanced techniques to outwit his enemies, like whistling and hiding in closets. Controls are butter smooth and the level design is excellent, though it is easy to take advantages of the A.I. at times. It's fun, challenging, and addicting.

Volume features 100 story missions (which all last around 5 minutes or so), but the real draw here is its robust level editor. It gives players every tool that was used to create all of its campaign levels, allowing them every ability to create an endless stream of new content. If the community plays its part (like I think it will), Volume could have some serious legs.

I've been looking for a game to really grab me all year long, and have yet to find one until now. Volume is a "just one more level" kind of game, one that begs you to just keep going. I had a hard time putting my controller down the first time I started playing, and could see myself spending a lot of time with it in the future. If you've been wanting a stealth experience in the same vein as the original Metal Gear Solid, then Volume is just the game for you.