I got in some quality time with the PlayStation 4 and Switch versions of BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle! I will say, coming into this with no expectations, I was wowed by how Arc System Works got the balance between accessibility and depth in a pretty good spot. Will be picking this one up on launch! Which version though? I don’t know the answer just yet.
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I really wanted to like the first NBA Playgrounds.
Appearing to be a spiritual successor to NBA Jam with a dash of NBA Street for good measure, NBA Playgrounds should have been a slam dunk. Instead, it stumbled horribly out of the gate with wonky shooting mechanics, a barebones single player experience, bad AI, a reliance on loot boxes to unlock players, and specifically for Nintendo Switch owners, no online play for the first few months of its release. Even though Saber Interactive gone a long way towards writing the wrongs of their base product, I still have a very sour taste in my mouth from that first experience.
Despite a lukewarm reception from myself and other online critics, the game sold well and the sequel is just around the corner. Is there anything in this new game to change my mind?
This EA Sports double-header showcased the company on the rise with two of its biggest sports games: NHL 94 and NBA Live 95!
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In the Dragon Ball universe, Piccolo has always been an impressive and resourceful warrior in his own right. No human fighter would stand a chance against him. However, he also exists in a universe where he’s outgunned by mythically strong fighters that could blow up a planet for the fun of it. Despite his best efforts to get stronger and smarter, he routinely comes up short against the best in the universe as he simply doesn’t have the raw power to keep up.
In the world of Dragon Ball FighterZ, where fighting game developers have to balance their rosters out as much as possible, Piccolo’s skills as a fighter come through with his tricky move set and devastating damage potential. However, one hole in his arsenal prevents him from being one of the best combatants in the game.
What better way to start NES streaming than with one of the console’s greatest games that hasn’t really made its presence felt on modern platforms? Let’s blaze through Contra!
…with the Konami code, of course.
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It’s been a struggle, but I finally got Super Nintendo streaming to work! First up, NBA Jam!
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My love affair with the God of War franchise was brief, yet torrid. Years after its original release on PlayStation 2, I played the original God of War remaster on the PlayStation 3 and was smitten by its thrilling action. However, my desire to play the remainder of the series fell off a cliff. I felt like God of War II and III were too much of the same and I dropped them before completion. Didn’t even bother playing Ascension because I had completely lost interest.
Almost as if Sony heard my criticisms, this new God of War appears to be the shakeup I wanted. From a new setting, to an emphasis on story and adventure over shock-factor combat, the reviews are glowing and the parts I’ve seen of it look right up my alley. Looking forward to picking this one up tomorrow!
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Achieving perfect balance in a fighting game is essentially an impossible task. As long as a fighting game features unique character designs, there’s always going to be instances of certain characters seemingly being better than others. Still, the closer we can get to the equilibrium, the better the game will be, as players want a game where every character is a viable option.
A few months into Dragon Ball FighterZ and we’re now getting a clear idea of who is good and who isn’t. At this point, about 1/3 of the cast basically isn’t in the game, whether you track usage among online players or in tournament play. If you want to get more cynical, there are borderline characters like Gotenks, Piccolo, and Captain Ginyu that may not be worth the effort, either. There’s still much work to be done in order to get these characters to the next level.
Now that we have a better understanding of how the game works, let’s analyze some of the bottom tier characters in terms of why they currently suck and how they could get better in the future.
After a series of returning favourites, Capcom introduces a brand new character to the Street Fighter universe. Falke was originally designed to be an M. Bison clone, but she has broken free of his grasp and now fights alongside of Ed as a member of his Neo Shadaloo faction. She has the ability to imbue Psycho Power into physical objects, which allows her staff to do more than just conk people on the head.
When it comes to meter, Dragon Ball FighterZ doles it out at a very generous clip. After the first few seconds of the match, it’s pretty easy to go through an entire match while still having stocks to spare. However, I’ve run into no shortage of players that liberally burn their meter during the match, only to find themselves bankrupt when the match is in the balance.
Managing your resources is crucial to your success on the battlefield. Let’s talk about two of the most common wastes of meter that occur in a match and what can be done instead to ensure that you have meter when you need it most!
In Third Person 