Final Thoughts - Resident Evil Village (Playstation 4)

When I first played the demo for Resident Evil Village on the last day before the game was released, I had no idea that I would be sinking so many hours into this game. I've never been the biggest fan of the RE franchise, but part 7 renewed my interest. Was it the change from a 3rd person perspective to 1st person perspective? Was it the new cast of characters? I don't know exactly, but I liked part 7 enough that I decided to come back for more...after a price drop of course!

I treated myself to this game during the Black Friday sales events in November 2021, grabbing it for just $20 at Walmart. I figured I'd get my entertainment value out of the game for $20, but at no time did I ever believe I would love the game as much as I do or put in as much time as I have. Knowing that I'd eventually buy this game I really stayed away from all of the hype leading up to it's release. Other than playing the 1 hour timed demo, I really knew nothing about the story of Village. Until I got into the game, I didn't even know that it continues the story that was started in part 7. So let's unpack the game, my thoughts and why I've completed the game 3 times and working on my 4th play though.

I order to get the full effect of this game, you have to play the previous installment, RE7 Biohazard, or at least familiarize yourself with it's story. Village pretty much takes place shortly after the conclusion of Biohazard. You again play as Ethan Winters, wife Mia and daughter Rose are your whole world and you are trying to put past events behind you. Chris Redfield has moved your family to home in an unnamed country and all hell is about to break loose.

Prior to playing RE Biohazard, I did spend a lot of time with the PS4 remake of RE4. I had always heard great things about that particular game so when I finally played it I was able to discover for myself just how awesome it was. One aspect of the game I enjoyed so much was the setting, no longer set in Raccoon City, you were in some small rural European town. As soon I as fired up the Village demo and started to investigate the village, I immediately got that RE4 vibe. The lack of color, the gray washed desolate environment was creepy enough as is, but then you had Castle Dimitrescu looming on the mountain in the background. So beautiful, yet scary at the same time.

The village outside the castle proves to be the hub of the game if you will, as you revisit this area after completing other areas that branch off, like the castle. Each area that you tackle has it's own unique look at feel. Most of the castle has a very colorful and regal feel to things, but also has it's dark corners to explore. The 2nd level if you will is House Beneviento, which is a straight up haunted house. If you have a phobia of porcelain dolls like my mother in law days, brace yourself! The 3rd level takes you to into an old mining area around a large dam. In the 4th level you'll find yourself in an expansive steam punk like manufacturing factory that just seems to go on and on and on. I love the sheer variety of these different areas as it gives the game some diversity.

Each area has it's own unique lord (or boss) you'll encounter and here you'll find more even more diversity. When you first encounter Lady Dimitrescu inside the castle she will stalk you much like the Tyrant does in RE2 or RE3, only weapons won't slow her down. I did notice a flashbang grenade would momentarily stun her for the briefest moment, but save your ammunition. Before you can take her on in her true form, you have to deal with her 3 daughters. I found these mini boss fights to be fun and clever at the same time. Working in various ways to expose them to the outside light to weaken them enough to damage with conventional weapons was a satisfying way to dispose of them. Once they are out of the way (and a few key items are found) you are free to take on the tall lady herself at the top of a tower. The creature design is grotesque and the fight is frenzied. To deal the most damage you have to be able to switch between your different weapons at different points in the fight. It's a challenging fight, but not too difficult.

Via various cut scenes, Ethan experiences a lot of visions on the path to the house, causing him confusion over what's going on. Once inside the home you'll be faced with all sorts of psychological horror, including a nightmarish and grotesque fetus baby that stalks you. You don't have access to any of your inventory, including your weapons in the part of the game. The puzzles you have to solve are different and the fight against this area's Lord is unique to say the least. I almost dreaded this part of the game on each play through just because of how creepy it was.

Just as how the Castle Dimitrescu and House Beneviento are different from each other, so are the last two sections. This is a big reason why I enjoyed the game as much as I did...the level design is great. There were so many times I would get "lost" in the level design, soaking in my surroundings only to let my guard down and be attacked by some terrifying monster. Gone are the familiar zombies, lickers and undead dogs, replaced with vampires, werewolves and other undead creatures. The enemies this game throws at your are horrifying, but so satisfying. Exploding the head of a werewolf with a single shot from your magnum is so much fun!!

My first play through was on the Casual setting...because I know I can be a weenie at times. I was able to make it through without too much trouble, though it did take me a lot of time as I used the opportunity to explore and try to capture as many of the in game trophies as I could. I was so entertained by the events of the game that I decided to take it on a second time, this time on the Standard setting. Thankfully Capcom brought back the "New Game+" option so I could replay the game with all of the money, items and weapons (including upgrades) from my previous play through. After beating the game for a 2nd time, I decided I was up for some punishment so I tackled the Hardcore difficulty level. This is something that I rarely (i.e. never) do with a game. With a huge backlog of both modern and retro games to play, I usually move on after beating a game and try something different. However this time I kept being drawn back into the game, wanting to finish upgrade this weapon or that weapon...going for those higher tier trophies.

There are a lot of different elements that must come together to make a truly great game. Graphics, story, gameplay are all equally important and too many times games fall short in one area or another. In my opinion Resident Evil Village hits a home run in every one of these categories. Capcom makes you care about Ethan, Mia, Rose...and even Chris Redfield to a lesser degree. The story is captivating, especially if you are a family person like myself. It's a beautifully stunning game to look at and of course so much fun to play. Maybe it's a bit more action oriented than survival horror, but that's what good games and good game franchises do...they evolve. I told myself I was done after my 3rd play through, but now I'm half way through my 4th go, this time on the unlocked Village of Shadows difficulty. I never thought this game would suck me in as much as it has, but hey, I'm not complaining one bit. This is one of the best video games I've played in a very long time...or maybe period. I am very much looking forward to seeing where the story goes next as I have a feeling that we aren't done with the Winters family just yet.

Initial Thoughts - Resident Evil Village DEMO (Playstation 4)

Earlier this week I finally got the Resident Evil Village DEMO downloaded to my PS4. My internet connections speeds in my game room aren't the best so it took a good chunk of the day to download the 9 GB file. Once it was finally done I eagerly launched the game.

I didn't notice at first that the demo gave you two different options. You could explore the Village or you could jump right into the Castle area. I started with the Village since it seemed more "appropriate" to begin at the beginning. For the most part I had steered clear of watching any videos on YouTube or reading other's reactions to the demo. I knew that the story takes place a few years after part 7 and you again take control of the hero, Ethan Winters. It's been a few years since I played through the 7th chapter of the Resident Evil franchise, but the similarities to the previous game in terms of game play existed. I also felt like I was playing part 4 at times, what with the breakable boxes and the return of money and a merchant. I loved the 4th game in the series so I was OK with these additions.

The graphics are top notch, and I don't even have a PS4 Pro. The village was very eerie looking, even under a blanket of fresh snow. The buildings old, some falling apart, but what made the village so creepy was knowing something was going on and just not having all the info. No longer was I fighting villagers like in part 4, but now werewolves? The demo gave you just enough of a taste without spoiling too much as I believe I only had two encounters where I had to fight. The gunplay was more of the same, which I was OK with, but the enemies seemed a lot tougher than before. I can already tell the challenge will be there, even on normal or easy difficulty.

The demo only allows you to play for one hour, then it's essentially useless. It took me about 38 minutes to complete the Village part of the demo so when I was ready to enter the castle, I didn't have as much time to play and to explore. I was amazed at how eerily gothic and beautiful the castle was. The level of detail is simply amazing. Just going through a few rooms on the first and second floor I can already tell there will be a lot of backtracking and puzzle solving, let along running from the Lady Dimitrescu. From what I know, she will stalk you like the Tyrant from RE2 (which I recently just completed on the PS4)...I'm still unsure of what to think of this aspect.

The demo was just enough to wet my appetite and leave me wanting more. I'm sure plenty of people that played the game and enjoyed it quickly preordered the game afterwards (if they didn't already have a copy secured), but I'm going to wait. I'm not the biggest fan of the Resident Evil franchise, but RE4 & RE7 left me wanting more so I decided to go back and check out some of the PS4 remakes of earlier games. I recently played through RE2 three times to secure the best ending. I picked up RE3 to try next, though I still want to get Origins. I figure there is enough previous RE content to keep me busy for awhile.

Resident Evil Village launches in the US today, 05/07/21 so I'm not sure if the demo will remain available for download, but if you're like me and just curious it's worth a play through if nothing else. I'm sure the game is worth full retail and I'm sure I'd play the game through on multiple occasions, but this is one new release that I'll be waiting for the inevitable price drop / Greatest Hits.

Final Thoughts - Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

I'm not a fan of double dipping and buying the same game more than once. Even though me and my family loved Super Mario 3D World on the Nintendo Wii U, I had planned on skipping the Switch release initially. Then I saw the trailer for Bowser's Fury and I knew I needed this game in my life.

I had planned to do a "Initial Thoughts" type post once I had a little bit of the game underneath my belt, but I was having so much fun that it was hard to put down the controller to write a post. Yes, the game is that good.

Bowser's Fury is the first open world type Mario game. I've heard other gamers speculate that this may have been Nintendo testing the water to see how an open world exploration Mario game would perform and if this was the direction the Mario franchise would go. Now that I've beaten Bowser's Fury I can only hope Nintendo has more Mario games in this vein in our future.

This add on game is short. I'm still working on completing the game 100%, but had I not been so obsessed in finding and collecting all 100 Cat Shines in the game I could have probably finished the game in 5-6 hours. Don't let this figure however deter you from the game as the gameplay is so good.

Mario is approached by Bowser Jr. and asked for his help to essentially calm down his dad. Bowser has someone become so enraged that his size has increased and he's covered in some sort of black goop. The game can be played with a second player controlling Bowser Jr., otherwise the computer will take care of controlling him for you if you're playing solo. There is a setting of how much you want Bowser Jr. to help - you can have him collect coins and fight nearby enemies, or you can have him mind his own business. Bowser Jr. floats around in his hover clown vehicle, wielding a paint brush. Throughout the game there are hidden areas that you can command Jr. to paint. Painting these areas will yield some soft of power up for Mario.

The main world in the game comprised of different islands, each with their own lighthouse. Initially you are somewhat limited in your exploration of these islands by the same black goo that covers Bowser. Each island has 5 hidden Cat Shines to collect. As you collect these they'll add more and more light to the lighthouse, eventually clearing some of the surrounding black goop. You can however tackle most of the islands in any order that you wish.

While playing the game I couldn't help but think of previous Mario games like Mario 64, Sunshine Mario. You don't have Cappy from Mario Odyssey or even FLUDD from Mario Sunshine, but Bowser Jr. can surprisingly be helpful. I initially started my playthorugh on my own, but eventually turned Jr. over to my daughter to control. She seemed to love playing along and she ended up being a huge help in some of the later levels.

As you navigate this new watery world, Bowser will rear his ugly head from time to time and wreck havoc. The sky will turn dark, the music changes, rain starts to fall and the wind picks up. From the center of the map Bowser will spin up into the air and out of his shell. Large blocks will appear from the ground, some of which you can you to reach new coin blocks or just higher ground. Bowser will rain fire balls from the sky and even unleash his fiery breath at you from time to time. Be prepared to dodge his fire any way you can as it can easily cause you damage.

To aid you in your quest to defeat Bowser you can collect and store several different power ups to use at your will. This reminded me of the inventory management first shown in Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES.

The object of the game is to grab a Giga Cat Bell to fight Bowser, but before you can do that you have to collect pre-determined amount of Cat Shines. Once you have enough and Bowser appears, the bell will activate. This Giga Cat Bell will turn Mario in a large "Leo Mario" (that's what I call him), allowing you to go toe to toe against the titan Bowser. You'll essentially need to fight Bowser three times before he's done for good. You can aid yourself in these fights be grabbing a Cat Shine and activating one of the island's lighthouses. This light will prematurely end Bowser's attack sequence and run him off, taking a small sliver of his health in the process. Towards the end I was able to whittle away all of his health bar so by the time I grabbed the final Giga Cat Bell all I needed to was to land one single hit on Bowser to defeat him.

The game is so seamless and not having to worry about loading screens is so refreshing. I haven't enjoyed a Mario game this much in some time. Mario Odyssey was a blast, but Bowser's Fury was a nice change of pace. To be honest I was surprised at just how good this game was since it's essentially an add-on. I know a lot of fans may not have experienced Super Mario 3D World before on the Wii U so it's a no brainer for Nintendo to port the game over to the Switch. I'm sure they were hoping by including Bowser's Fury that it would entice people like myself to buy the game for a second time. Well, I'm proof that it worked! Both games in this package are excellent and well worth the $60 asking price. I hope the game sells well because I'd love to see a full length, open world exploration type Mario game in the near future.

Halloween Gaming Playlist

Usually my October is spent watching lots of horror movies, but this year I've found myself playing more games. Many of these games have a darker or scary motif so I thought it may be fun to make a list of games (from my library) that are perfect for the Halloween season. This list is not in any order, as most of the games from top to bottom are equally fun.

1) Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, 2009)

Does this game really need any explanation as to why it's on the list? 1st person shooting frenzy, (fast moving) zombies galore, multiplayer mayhem. I can't remember how much time I put into this game back when it was released on the 360 in 2009 (wow, has it really been that long?). I feel like the game still holds up incredibly well today and remains to be a highly entertainly fun zombie massacre.

2) Hunter the Reckoning: Redeemer (Xbox, 1993)

While all 3 of the Hunter the Reckoning games are a lot of fun, the final installment, Redeemer, is the best in my opinion. I enjoyed the progressive story of the franchise and the introduction of Kylie as a playable character is a nice touch. I never spent a lot of time with this game when it was new, but since I've returned to the game it's been a blast. It does feature multiplayer, but I've yet been able to experience the game in that manner.

3) Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Playstation 4, 2017) 

Prior to my original playthrough of RE7, I hadn't picked up a game in this series since the 2nd installment on the N64. Yeah, it had been a really long time. I found the PS4 version on sale for $20 several years back and it sadly sat on my shelf for a year or so before I got around to playing it. I loved the new 1st person perspective to the game as it made it that much more creepy for me. I was immediately hooked by the story and couldn't wait to get to the ending. I knew the game had DLC to continue the story and gameplay, but until recently I hadn't gone back to play. Wow, what a mistake I made! I need to try some of the other games in the franchise, but it'll be hard to top this installment.

4) Werewolf: The Last Warrior (NES, 1990)

Werewolf: The Last Warrior has always been one of my NES guilty pleasures. I remember being mesmerized at the box art and while the art may be better than the actual gameplay, it never stopped me from trying to beat this game. To date I'm still trying to accomplish this task! Lately I've been experimenting with a few Game Genie codes to help me thanks to the built in ability in my AVS console. Game is still tough, but werewolves fit in perfectly with the season.

5) Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine, 1993)

Easily one of the best games in the storied Castlevania franchise, this game eluded my grasp for many many years. I eventually was able to import a copy from Japan long before the game became more accessible on modern gaming platforms. I almost went with Symphony of the Night, but I've played that game to death that I really haven't returned to it. I'm still working on beating Rondo of Blood however so it's a game I often try and during the Halloween season it's a great, creepy 16-bit masterpiece to re-visit.

6) Darkwatch (Xbox, 2005)

High Moon Studios did a great job with this vampire/western first person shooter. I'm really surprised the game's sequel was cancelled as I really enjoyed the game. The art in this game is fantastic and the story of a vampire sheriff is unique and unusual at the same time. The game has a lot of replayability as you can choose the path you take your character (Jericho) down. Do you succumb to your vampire tendencies and increase your vampiric powers? Or do you fight the urges and hold onto your humanity?If you are a fan of FPS game and or vampires then this game is right up your alley. 

7) Zombie Revenge (Dreamcast, 1999)

Zombie Revenge was one of the first games I purchased for my Dreamcast after winning my console courtesy of a Bubblicious gum contest. When I first bought the game I had no idea it was part of the House of the Dead franchise, so imagine my surprise when I started to notice the easter eggs in game on my first few playthroughs. I will admit this game doesn't exactly have a lot of staying power, but it's still fun to this day to pick up and play in spurts...particularly during the Halloween season.

8) Wolfchild (Mega CD, 1992)

Yes, another mediocre werewolf game you may be thinking. While you may be right, I always enjoyed this game for some reason. Albeit in short spurts, this was and still is a fun game. I enjoyed it so much that I tracked down the Mega CD version from Japan and that's the version I still play to this date. While the gameplay may be a little flat for some, it's a beautiful game to watch and the music is quite well done. I'm sure this game isn't on many people's radar, but it's not as bad as some say. Give it a try if you can find any version.

9) Blood Drive (Xbox 360, 2010)

Part destruction demolition, part vehicular combat...with zombies. This over the top vehicular massacre is a blast to play. The commentary is a little tongue in cheek, but I've always like this style of game. It reminded me a little of Vigilante 8 or Twisted Metal...just with zombies (and lots of blood) added in. If you're looking for a high octane multiplayer game this Halloween season, give Blood Drive a try.

10) Vampire Night (Playstation 2, 2001)

Vampire Night just edged out The House of the Dead collection for the Wii simply for the fact that I wanted to play a different light gun game this Halloween season. There aren't a whole lot of GunCon games on the PS2, but this is a fun on rails light gun shooter that lends itself well to this spooky season. Prior to picking this up to play again, it had been a long time since I last played so I had a good time with it.

I thought about listing a few honorary mentions, but I just couldn't decide on a few so I'll end it here. What are some of your favorite games to play during the Halloween season?

Final Thoughts - Days Gone (Playstation 4)

After countless long nights and who knows how many hours I've put into Days Gone, I have successfully completed the main game. What a ride.

Some reviews I've read online complained about the story, or the repetitive gameplay, or the bugs in the game, but I found it not only to be a fun game, but a story that drew me in and kept me wanting to play so I could advance the story. Now that I completed the game and have the whole picture, I wanted to return and share my final thoughts.

Like with any game there are positives and negatives. We'll start off with the positives.

THE GOOD:

* The story: The game opens up with a flashback scene somewhere in Oregon. Buildings are on file, you can screens and gun shots. People are running from their lives. From what? It's not clear, but you know it's bad. Deacon St. John, the main character, is on the move trying to escape the city with his wife, Sarah as well as his best friend, Boozer. His wife is injured and the scene ends with Deacon putting her on a NERO (National Emergency Response Organization) helicopter.

Fast forward two years and Deacon and Boozer are held up in a observatory tower trying to survive. There are three different camps that survivors have built up. You can run errands for them, gaining credits (in game currency) as well as building your trust with each camp. The higher the trust, the better weapons and upgrades for your bike you can purchase. Most of this is optional, but highly recommended as it does help flesh out points of the story, as well as help you later on in the game.

The cause behind the outbreak is not known, but you do see NERO helicopters later in the game that have researchers checking out points of interest. You know there is more going on to the story, but you have to keep playing to figure out how NERO works into the overall story. In the midst of this, you are presented with more flashbacks pre-outbreak of Deacon and Sarah. Most of these scenes help set the stage on how Deacon and Sara met. Some of these are playable scenes while others are just cinematic. I like it when the story jumps back and forth as it helps keep you interested, getting little glimpses of how everything is tied together.

Towards the end of the game you infiltrate a militia camp and this is where I felt the game was ratcheted up a notch, in both the story and gameplay. You get access to new weapons and better gear as you have two new camps you can run errands for. There are even new Freakers to kill, the zombie like creatures that now exists because of the outbreak.

* Gameplay: This may be debatable for some, but I loved the gameplay. From the motorcycle travel, to the gun play, crafting and even the inventory management - it all feels pretty authentic. 

I've never been on a motorcycle before, but playing this game makes me want to jump on a dirt bike and hit the road. At first it's a little tedious riding your bike because you are constantly running low on gas and have to pause your current objective in order to search for gas. Luckily you can always find a gas canister on the back of a tow truck, at a NERO checkpoint or fill up at any camp. Once you're able to upgrade your bike some the traversing the large open world map is so satisfying. You can fast travel between camps, but I found myself wanting to drive there just because it was fun.

Weapons. You can only carry three weapons at a time, your main gun, a sidearm and your special weapon. You also start off with a boot knife and can pick up a melee weapon (which can be upgraded). I like it when you are limited to what you can carry as it feels more authentic. You see all of your weapons on your character at all times, another nice touch in my opinion. You have rifles, automatic weapons, shotguns, sniper rifles and more and all of them are so fun to use on the neverending supply of Freakers you'll face.

In addition to your weapons, you can also craft throwables such as pipe bombs, molotov cocktails, smoke bombs and attractors to lure Freakers. Many of these I never used much of in my initial playthrough and what a mistake that was. You can also craft health packs which you'll need. At times it may feel like a collect-a-thon as you'll constantly be picking up items, but you'll need them as you'll go through some of the craftable items quickly at times. It's easy to craft anything and you can even do it as you're running around, though you can't craft while on your bike.

Inventory is managed using a onscreen wheel you can bring up at any time. When doing so the game does not stop, but does slow down. This allows you to change weapons or craft an item while running or shooting, but with you still being vulnerable you have to be careful. 

* Freakers / Hordes: Freakers are fast moving zombie like creatures. I look at them as a cross between the cave dwellers from the movie The Descent crossed with zombies from the movie 20 Days Later. They are ugly, make blood curdling noises and can be a pain in the butt to kill at times...especially when you encounter a horde of them. At the onset of the game you just encounter "normal" Freakers, but later on you come across more advanced versions, similar to the zombies in Valve's Left 4 Dead franchise.

At first I ran from hordes as there was no way I was equipped to take one on, but once you get the proper gear (and the guts) to take them on oh what fun it can be. Don't get me wrong, there are times when the story tasks you with taking out a horde and it can be frustrating, but there are so many different strategies you can use that part of the fun is trial and error.

* Graphics: This game is beautiful. The Oregon countryside is gorgeous, whether you're in the woods, the rocky terrain or in the snow. The changing weather and day and night cycle are also great. Watching the ground underneath your bike change area to area or during the rain or snow is equally as impressive. The character models are also done well and the Freakers are pretty eerie looking.

THE UGLY:

* Stealth Missions: The NERO agent (O'Brien) that takes your wife to safety at the beginning of the movie later crosses paths with Deacon and eventually asks you for help in exchange for information. These missions involve sneaking around a NERO landing site and eavesdropping on NERO researches. The problem is these researches are always accompanied by NERO soldiers. You can't harm or kill these guys and if you are spotted you have to re-start the mission. You have to use stealth tactics to sneak around, throwing rocks to distract the soldiers while you run from cover to cover. In some case have to follow the moving researcher which can be tough to stay hidden, yet stay within ear shot. I hated these missions even though they are there to help advance the story.

THE BAD:

* Bugs & Glitches: For a AAA title such as this, I didn't expect to find so many bugs in the game...even more so since I didn't play the game until after it had been out for some time. There were times while playing the frame rate would just drop, barely chugging along. I also found times were the textures just disappeared and I'd be surrounded by smooth, nondescript landscape. These glitches didn't ruin the game for me, but it was a little annoying at times and ultimately disappointing.

FINAL VERDICT:

I give this game a solid A+. The open world exploration and large map will keep you busy, even after you complete the main game. I'm sort of a completionist when I play these games so I opted to complete all of the side missions and optional objectives before I tackled the final mission, but you can play the game however you like. I don't want to spoil the ending of the game, but it has an awesome secret ending you can unlock that leaves a doozy of a story twist. It seems as if this game falls into the Syphon Filter game universe, a game franchise I'm not familiar with...but may have to look into now. Days Gone is a great game with a few hiccups here and there. I've enjoyed the game so much I'm now playing the New Game Plus on Hard II difficulty and I'm finding it to be just as much fun a second time around. Highly recommended...even at full price I feel this is purchase worthy.

Initial Thoughts - Days Gone (Playstation 4)

I've been trying to find time to write this post for weeks...but I've been so drawn into this game that I've had a hard time putting down the controller and pulling up the blog. 

Days Gone is an action/adventure horror survival type game which also is a Playstation 4 exclusive. Like a lot of AAA titles, I was late coming to this game, purchasing it early in 2020 once the price dropped to $20. So far, this has been money well spent.

I'll be honest, going into this game I knew very little. All I knew is that it was supposed to be a big PS4 exclusive and it was now cheap. I knew it was open world and that appealed to me. Coming off playing Horizon Zero Dawn, this game felt very natural to me. The visuals were beautiful and the story was intriguing, two positive checks on my list.

At the time of this post I've made my way through the majority of the game...like I said, I've hard a hard time putting down the controller so I could write this. I've enjoyed the game so much however that I just had put my thoughts on "paper".

You play as Deacon St. John (love the name by the way), a former motorcycle gang/military guy, stuck in rural Oregon during the end of days. Something has happened to the world's population and now these mutated creatures prowl the earth. Known as freakers, these ugly creatures remind me a little of the monsters from the movie The Descent. They prefer darkness so at night they are numerous and during the day the majority of them "hibernate" inside caves and other small/dark places.

The game opens however with some cutscenes that give you just a small piece of the story. Deacon, his girlfriend, Sarah and your best friend, Boozer, are trying to escape from a city (Portland?). Sarah is injured and placed on a helicopter used by the NERO organization. She is flown to safety while you and Boozer try to escape the overrun city. The story is only given to you in bits and pieces and you eventually find out that the camp Sarah was flown too was overrun by freakers and she died. Much of the early story is Deacon trying to come to grips with this and overcoming his own bereavement.

It's not that often that I fall in love with a game so quickly. Usually I have to put in several hours before I know if this is something I want to put a lot of time into. Time is precious and I'm a man of many hobbies so if I'm going to sink a lot of time into a game it has to be really good. Days Gone is that for me.

I love the idea of a zombie like post apocalyptic story/setting...reminds me a lot of the Walking Dead. The varied settings really help keep the game interesting. I'm currently in the southern portion of the world map and wow, what a difference it makes from the first half of the game. 

I'm enjoying the gun play and other weapons, especially as I'm unlocking better and better items. Riding a motorcycle has never been more fun. Sometimes I just enjoy riding around and doing whatever I want to versus taking on one of the many missions in the game. My youngest daughter would rather watch gameplay than play games (most of the time) and even though the language can be salty and the game can be violent, I've put the TV on mute and let her watch when I'm not doing story based missions. 

I've run into a few issues with the game thus far, but nothing that has made me want to stop playing. I'm anxiously awaiting to finish off the story and hopefully getting more answers to my questions as I've started to become attached and sympathetic to many of the characters. I'll leave it at this. If you like open world type games and or horror survival, at $20 you really can't go wrong. I'll be back with a "Final Thoughts" post after I'm done with the game...whenever that may be.

Retro Store Visit: TF Games

Last month (July) we visited some family stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky. In the little town of Radcliffe just outside the base I saw a game store. I asked my brother-in-law about the shop and he said it was pretty cool, citing they sold older games in addition to modern games. My wife was gracious enough to give me some time one afternoon so I could check out this store along with a comic shop I also saw.

Upon walking into the store I was very impressed. It was well lit and bright. The walls and floor were white so that helped brighten things up. Immediately to the right upon walking in were large glass cases. This is where all of the 8 ad 16 bit games were housed. Instead of the games just being stacked up on shelves, they were nicely arranged and the shelves had a nice overall presentation. PS2, Wii and GameCube games were on open shelves to the left of the glass cases. The other side of the store had a section of video game apparel before giving way to more open shelves that housed PS3/PS4, Xbox 360/Xbox One games.

There was a section at the back of the store that had accessories, handheld games and a whole section with TVs with various consoles hooked up. I was impressed with how neat and clean everything was and the staff was very polite and courteous.

When I visit these mom & pop type stores I have to buy something and show them my support. Since I have so many retro and modern consoles in my game room I gave each platform a good look over before making my purchases.

I first settled on Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for the NES. I still have a copy of Nintendo Power that has a detailed walk through/review of this game, plus it was priced fairly and it's a game that I don't see in the wild that often. Next I grabbed Alice: Madness Returns for the PS3. I would have rather found the 360 version as that is my platform of choice from that generation, but this game doesn't seem to show up very often and when I have found the game it's been expensive.

Upon checking out I noticed in the display case by the register their selection of PSP games. While I didn't find any PSP games that I wanted, I did spy two UMD movies that I couldn't pass up...especially since they were each priced at just $2.99. I have a small collection of horror movies, particularly slashers, so these were a nice find.

This is a great shop and I highly recommend you give them a visit if you're ever in the area. Great selection, more than fair prices and great, friendly staff.