The lack of Stealth in a Vampire game…

I have been trying out the newly released RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, and the lack of any kind of stealth in this game is an incredibly missed opportunity that would have added an excellent thematic gameplay mechanic. Instead, if it’s scripted not to do so, you will have to fight your way in or out of a situation every time.

While this is clearly a skill issue from my part, I find the combat incredibly awkward. This is mostly due to a spastic camera and the brutal action‑based combat, where you are supposed to block, dodge, and kill multiple opponents on a regular basis. And well, it’s just too hard for an old fella like me, yet I can play Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord without trouble using manual blocks. I’m not sure what is going on here, outside of having a difficult time focusing on what’s happening in a skirmish, visually. Anyhow…

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The Journey of Marvin Mobuto [Halo Animation]

It has been a while since we watched a fan animation of a game, so here is NotPipi with The Journey of Marvin Mobuto. It’s a tragic, but also slightly amusing tale of a marine onboard the Pillar of Autumn—the lone survivor of his squad after crashing into Halo in his escape pod. Now, this guy is badass, as shown in the film, yet his fate was sealed as soon as he ran into 343 Guilty Spark. If you understand what I mean. Watch it after the jump!

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Splinter Cell: Conviction – Sam Going Loco [Review]

The one Splinter Cell game that, in my opinion, got the most flak. Not totally undeserved, but perhaps the critique was a tad harsh back when it was released. People wanted more of the slow, duct-crawling stealth kind. Instead, we got commando Sam Fisher, who has no problem with murdering people to the left and right for the slightest of reasons. This felt off with a lot of people. However, I think Splinter Cell: Conviction fits perfectly in the Splinter Cell lore. Sam is a loose cannon, and without anyone guiding his actions—he is just a brutal killer, especially when fueled by vengeful revenge. Having Sam go crazy with bloodlust, makes narrative sense in the grand story of Splinter Cell.

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EXODUS – Extended Gameplay Reveal [Gameplay trailer]

Is EXODUS the new Mass Effect? If we go by this twenty-minute narrated gameplay demonstration, there is a pretty good chance it is. Before watching this video, I honestly thought EXODUS was a semi-dead AAA project (like most of them). You know how it is—while it got the mechanics and gameplay down, it’s looking absolutely soulless yet here we are now. It actually comes off as genuinely fun, with a strange future to explore (sentient animals, anyone?), good third-person pop-a-mole combat (even has stealth), and classic choices & consequences to ponder.

Now, this could be a highly curated slice of gameplay, which it probably is, but I can’t help getting a bit hyped. I need a new massive third-person space-opera shooter to explore! Check out the video after the jump!

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Pulsebreaker – Demo Impressions

Wow, the Pulsebreaker demo really impressed me. If we start with the typical aspects of a classic Resident Evil survival-horror clone, it has everything that is needed. The game has a moody, short outbreak story, a dirty urban location to navigate, and zombies that just feel right for the genre. However, what Pulsebreaker also has is a somewhat innovative skill-based combat system, on top of the standard stop-and-shoot approach.

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007 First Light – An Update of Despair

I’m actually taken aback a little by how I feel about 007 First Light, and usually I’m pretty lenient towards these movie‑type games. Let’s just say if the story and the presentation dazzle me (jingle keys!) with a semi-competent gameplay loop, I’m essentially sold. So, while 007 First Light sure has the presentation down, and most of the moment-to-moment action gameplay—I’m having a serious issue motivating myself to continue Bond’s adventure.

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