Wimpy simp Leon vs. Chad Leon [video]

While being a fun video, it’s one of the best showcases to symbolize the decay of fun, and somewhat edgy video-game characters. All to fit a “modern audience” (whatever that entails). A character that is now not even allowed to be a little cheeky towards the opposite sex. It’s a tough world when not even a self-assured super agent like Leon is given a pass in this sanitized age. What makes this video so great is that the modern remake is essentially the same game as the classic Resident Evil 4, but with a re-written protagonist to not run the risk of offending anyone.

He is not the only one in the cast to be neutered, but he is the stand-out character in this case. Although I enjoyed the Resident Evil 4 Remake, much of the cool 1990 to early 2000s personality was erased, to be replaced by a boring semi-depressive hero, rather than the collected one-line spouting badass that he once was. Check out the great video below, by the channel TerakJK.

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Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India – Punjab Adventures

The Assassin’s Creed Chronicles continues with Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India. While it’s a better game on a technical, story and gameplay level, I’m not sure if I appreciated the added difficulty in the form of assassination immune units, multiple timed events, and forced stealth segments. Specifically the last one, which I think ruined a unique aspect of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. The mechanic that lets you continue despite your failures, but punishes you with a lower score. Now, that is still a thing, yet, way too many levels suffer from insta-restart if you make the tiniest mistake.

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Cyber Knights: Flashpoint 1.0 is out!

Finally, after years, and months of suffering, Cyber Knights: Flashpoint version 1.0 is here. Goodbye Early Access! I have already given it about six hours of my life, and my first impression: pretty damn good. However, it’s not without faults. I think going 3D should have come with a tad more polish concerning the visuals and animations. Characters can come across somewhat weird in a cartoony way, and when moving, it looks like agents and soldiers ice skate instead of walking. A little sloppy, unfortunately.

Two other issues are the alarm system for when going loud, which punish you with endless enemy reinforcements. Never liked these types of mechanics, even if I know why from a gameplay standpoint (to punish you for getting caught). The final problem (so far) is that initiative/turn-order is individual instead of being group based. It adds to the tedium when you have to make daring escapes, as it can be really hard to plan ahead. More in-depth first-impression coming soon (probably). Other than this, the game is fun, and the narrative device seems interesting as well. Check out the launch trailer below!

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My Top 10 Tactical Games (X-com-likes) on PC

Welcome to yet another top ten list! This time we are leaving the RPG genre behind and going straight for intense tactical combat in the form of X-com-likes, with the X-com games included. Specifically, this means: The games on this list must have some kind of base/camp management, where the player will upgrade, equip and recruit units for the campaign. The game must also involve tactical combat, with an overlaying strategic map where decisions are made like where to attack. And finally, the most important requirement: It must be sandbox-orientated—even if it has a story, where the deaths of soldiers, agents, or mercenaries don’t result in an instant game over.

The X-com genre is one of my absolute favorites. The gameplay is dynamic, has natural high tension thanks to permanent deaths, cool sense of progression, and sweet tactical action when tasks must be accomplished. But it’s not exactly a well-defined genre on its own. However, I will try to keep it in line with the original that started it all. With that said, let’s start the list with the most obvious entry:

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Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China – Mongol Prevention

It’s once again time to assassinate a bunch of folk. From people of history to the lowly unknown guards, just doing their boring job of walking back and forth, thinking about their life decisions. To eventually not change one thing, so the Templar-Assassin’s Brotherhood war can continue in perpetuity. Yep, I’m going into Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China a bit salty. It’s because of the drawn out modern-time plot of the Assassin’s Creed franchise that never seems to go anywhere. However, I’m pleased to say that the gameplay is top-notch, even if the story is a standard revenge type of thing, in the usual Assassin’s Creed manner.

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