QCF: Ghost of Tsushima

uring the Feudal era of Japan, the land of the rising sun saw many conflicts, ranging from invading forces to civil unrest within its regions, balancing out into an age of strife and prosperity. To maintain order and peace through the land, the Shogun appointed Samurai, soldiers who adhere to a strict code of honor, to oversee the safety of its people, and protect the sanctity of their laws.

But what happens of the sanctity of your honor means nothing to an enemy that threatens everything you hold dear? What do you place your faith in more to uphold your Samurai code?

In the last three generations of PlayStation hardware, the developer Suckerpunch has pumped out some hard hitters in the Stealth and Open-World genres with titles like Sly Cooper and inFamous, but this time, they’re aiming to combine dynamics of both gameplay styles into one unforgettable experience with the Ghost of Tsushima. While there are some valid arguments against a western studio being able to do justice towards delivering an authentic-feeling Samurai tale, the Sony studio spared no expense in ensuring that Ghost of Tsushima conveys the mysticism of the Japanese warrior, in a world that’s beautiful beyond compare, if not a bit too familiar all the same.

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PPR Presents Play Play: Transformers Devastation

othing rang more true than the slogan “More than meets the eye” with Transformers, like how many MORE chances are we expected to give the property producing a worthy game adaption that’s both fun, and authentic to the robot car brand of action that it’s famous for.

Sure, there may have been some fun titles here, and there, but of it is forgettable at best, and major poop from a butt at worst; that’s why Platinum’s take on the franchise with Transformers Devastation is nice breath of fresh air for once.

Join Transformers mega fan Catie, as she, and low-key closet Autobot admirer Georgie go town with the latest action game in this week’s Play Play—shit’s weirdly more intense than we thought it would be too, enjoy!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

PPR Presents Play Play: Ultonius: A Tale of Petty Revenge

here’s a fine line between appreciating nostalgia and what it is to you, and celebrating it with a devotion that holds it to the elevated expectations of modern day standards.

Ultonius: A Tale of Petty Revenge, is that weird game example what happens when you blur that line; making it that hot mess that tries to have its old cake, and eat it too.

Which is what makes it kind of cool and obnoxious all the same time—it’s really weird.

Ser and George mull the game over and the subject of old arcade games as we boot up this action title from Last Dimension on the latest installment of Play Play; enjoy!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

QCF: Submerged

f there’s one thing that any action video game needs, it’s a sense of stimulus, something that engages a reaction, and response to whatever’s happening on screen, and more often than not, the very first go to for the violent route—good old fashioned combat.

So imagine if you will, a title that endorses action and peril, but no combat, or violence of any kind to threaten you? It’s a game that completely relies on the agency of exploration and world building in a story that’s centers around the human condition during a time of tragedy, and hopelessness.

This is Submerged from Uppercut Games, an apocalyptic setting with veiled premise that attributes global warming to be the culprit behind the tragic setting, where a woman and her injured little one find what little refuge they can within a dilapidated building that’s floating alongside the remains of buildings for miles, upon miles in view.

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PPR Presents Play Play: Bayonetta 2

fter months of shots being fired back and forth on NeoGAF, and hundreds of Twitter users getting blocked by Hideki Kamiya himself, Platinum Games has finally released the highly anticipated to their cult-action title, Bayonetta 2.

And if you haven’t already heard us talk about it before or read the review, we dig the ever living shit out of this game.

Join George, Gil, and Ser as we discuss everything from the minor shortcomings to the frenetic gameplay, to the cavalcade of ass that’s released on the Wii U in 2014, and whether or not we’ll ever be able to convince Ser to buy Nintendo flashy game thing.

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

QCF: Bayonetta 2

here are certain games that are fully aware of the audience they’re intended for—the original Bayonetta was such a title.  The impression of vivacious action and the great deal of spectacle its sultry violence spurs on is the kind of experience that indulges in the very unique spirit of expressionism that can only be realized by video games.

And yet ironically, despite the many eccentric nuances exclusive to the culture of gaming that it did celebrate, it’s appeal and accessibility was arguably a bit niche-sized at best, finding a home within the hearts of only the most hardcore of action fans.

Bayonetta 2 rectifies a great deal of that with Nintendo’s influence, and much to the delight of everyone involved or interested for that matter, it doesn’t compromise any of the distinctive dynamics or personality of the Umbra Witch—quite the opposite actually.

The trifecta of Nintendo, Sega, and Platinum collaboration has not only produced title made of everything that a sequel should be, but Bayonetta 2’s subtle improvements help propel the approachability of it adrenaline-soaked quest into a significantly wider spectrum of player skill and interest that’s good enough to land the Wii U on some wish lists for this holiday season.

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QCF: Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate HD

he Castlevania reboot from Mercury Steam and Kojima productions is a noteworthy one amongst it’s peers that have attempted to modernize with a new beginning. In some degree, no matter how drastic the change to the conventions or tropes with the source material that’s being reworked, there’s always some form of semblance to the roots of the property; Lords of Shadow barely identifies with remotely recognizable to the Castlevania label.

It wasn’t until players were greeted to a cliffhanger ending comprised of several spontaneous details tof a drastic change to story direction. Gabriel’s predicament and radically changed outlook displayed no inkling of clarification to what sort of events took place prior leading to the revelations portrayed within these last scenes—just a bait and switch for the upcoming sequels that would deliver the answers we were seeking. Before we would see the true sequel to Lords of Shadow however, Mercury Steam in true Japanese fashion, would give us the midquel that is Mirror of Fate to bridge the two main games on the 3DS—unfortunately, it didn’t do so hot.

The theme of Lords of Shadow has always been about second chances however, and with Mirror of Fate being rereleased on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network with an HD facelift and improvements directly responding to the criticisms of its portable cousin; the redemption pays off, but comes off a bit winded in the process.

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QCF: Remember Me

magine a world much like our own at its core, one that’s full of greed and desire towards power and affluence. However, the object of desire is something even most people take for granted, memories—an event that’s recorded within the depths of a person’s grey matter that has the ability to shape or define who we are. In the future, your precious recollections are used as currency from a tyrannical corporation that preys on its consumers like cattle to further their own sinister means. In the middle of all of this, you’re the resistance against the reign of mass psychological terror of science fictional proportions; this is Dontnod Entertainment’s Remember Me.

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