Tag Archives: Evolve

IDL NEWS – The Crew Wild Run, Cities Skylines, EA And Star Wars Battlefront

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After a fun jaunt down to Seattle, it’s now back to reality and all things video game. Gears Of War Ultimate Edition arrived in the mail yesterday, as did the Day One edition of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – very excited to try these. I’ll be jumping right into MGS V so expect my impressions throughout the week.

I have lots of news to catch up on, I apologize as some might be older, and new games, deals, etc. Lets go!

The Crew Wild Run

Released in November, The Crew Wild Run expansion seems pretty beefy. They’re re-releasing The Crew with the expansion, but no word yet on the DLC and price.

Notable inclusions:

  • Engine sounds have been reworked
  • UI is getting tweaked
  • Car dynamics and handling have been improved
  • Dynamic weather will be added
  • FreeDrive Stunts and the ability to create your own races will be added
  • Motorcycles
  • Monster Trucks
  • Dragsters
  • Drift cars
  • Recurring Championship festival: The Summit
  • Upgraded graphics

Cities: Skylines Expansion

Cities: Skylines has a new expansion coming out, titled After Dark. The new expansion introduces a new day-to-night cycle and with it comes new specialized areas, city services, transportation systems, graphics enhancements, and citizen behaviour. Might have to jump back in. Sept 24th release.

EA Access Backwards Compatibility

EA said that it is investigating adding backwards compatible EA games to the EA Access in the future. November at the earliest when the Backwards Compatibility will launch.

EA has a long list of Xbox 360 games that could potentially be added to the Vault, including the Mass Effect trilogy, Battlefield 3, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Skate 3, and Burnout Paradise.

star-wars-battlefront-offers-first-look-at-fighter-squadron-mode-488398-2Star Wars Battlefront, Sans Server Browser

DICE confirmed today that Star Wars Battlefront will not have a server browser, like in previous Battlefield games, but instead will use a new skill-based matchmaking system to match online players.

EA also announced that a Star Wars Battlefront beta for PS4, Xbox One, and PC will be available in early October.

Evolve – Free Weekend

Evolve will be free for all this weekend on the Xbox One and PC. It includes all the hunters and monsters and unique skins. Those who play it will retain all their experience if they choose to buy it, and those who own it will get the chance to maybe try out some new hunters or monsters, and will get to keep the new skins.

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Game Deals With Gold – Sept 1 – 7

Xbox One

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 30%
  • Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – 50%
  • Rayman Legends – 50%
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts – 67%
  • Shiftlings – 60%
  • Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark – 75%
  • Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – 35%
  • Amazing Spider-Man 2 – 60%
  • Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved – 50%

Xbox 360

  • Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag – 50%
  • Assassin’s Creed III – 50%
  • Assassin’s Creed Rogue – 50%
  • Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD – 75%
  • Rayman Origins – 67%
  • Rayman Legends – 50%
  • Rayman 3 HD* Arcade 75%
  • The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings-  85%
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops II – 67%
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts – 67%
  • Deadpool – 50%
  • Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions – 50%
  • Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark – 75%
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD – 50%
  • Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – 50%

New Games – Aug 25 – Sept 1

Mad Max (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – I got hand’s on with Mad Max over the weekend, and it felt really cool to play. Driving and melee feel really good, and the game looks gorgeous. I had some reservation during my time with it, but only a proper play through will due for my proper opinion.

IGN posted a cool time lapse of the two-hour day and night cycle:

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – This is my go to game for the next week. I briefly started it last night, so expect opinions daily into next week. I’m super stoked.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC) – I played this game back on the Xbox 360 and thought it was a lot of fun. A quite somber tale of two brothers and their messed up world. Sad and tragic, but vast and beautiful. This looks to be the next-gen release of it.

Until Dawn (PS4) – Playstation’s big notable horror game. i don’t really know anything about it though as I’m not a PS gamer. Getting very good reviews.

Dishonored: Definitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One) – Unnecessary HD remaster of one of last gen’s great games. My original review: here.

Mega Man Legacy Collection (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – Reproduction of the classic series original six titles.

The Deer God (Xbox One, PC) – Xbox’s Free game of the month for September. I got it last night and will be including my impressions when I get to it. The title looks very cool, as an indie platformer, and not of the typical shooting variety.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (Xbox One) – Yep. Full remastering of the classic original on the Xbox 360. The game that sold consoles. This edition includes all the multiplayer maps and skins and DLC and the Window’s exclusive story chapters. Excited isn’t sufficient. This game is a game-night staple.

Phew. Well that’s all for tonight. More tomorrow as I continue to go through MGS V and leave my impressions from PAX Prime 2015 and Gears of War this weekend.

-iRogan

IDL News – Xbox Ultimate Game Sale, WWE, and Mortal Kombat X

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Summer. What is it good for?

Super Hero Movies? Bugs? Forest Fires? Encouragement to sit inside and play games, thanks to the Xbox Ultimate Summer Sale?

batgirl-720x720Batman Arkham Knight First DLC
Warner Bros has announced that the first story driven DLC for Batman Arkham Knight will be Batgirl: A Matter of Family. Available on July 14th for season pass holders and a week later for the rest.

The DLC takes place after the events of the main game, and allows the players to play as Batgirl, in an all new location, and will include multiple missions, side quests and secrets.

Mortal Kombat X Updates
Warner Bros has revealed new details regarding Mortal Kombat and its new updates. The Predator character will be made available tomorrow as part of a DLC bundle, which also includes 3 new skins: Commando Johnny, Infrared Scorpion and Carl Weathers as Jax. Available tomorrow for those who have the season pass, or $7.99 on July 14th.

Predator will be made available on his own on July 14th for $4.99.

Warner Bros also announced the Klassic Fatality Pack. For free. Four classic fatalities from Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonja and Johnny Cage.

WWE_2K16_FOB_AGNOSTIC_ENG-720x1018WWE 2K16’s Cover
2K has revealed today that the cover star for this year’s WWE game, will be Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Over the weekend, 2K had some problems with their digital WWE 2K15 as it was accidentally removed from the Xbox marketplace. Normally, no real problem, besides a potential loss of sales, but the removal caused the game to fail to start for all the current digital owners of the game. Issues lasted about 4 days.

Xbox’s Ultimate Game Sale
Microsoft has lifted the lid slightly, on its upcoming Xbox Ultimate Games Sale. The sale kicks off tomorrow, July 7.

The sale will discount over 70 different titles by 40-50 percent. Plus those with Xbox Live Gold will be able to save an additional 10%.

Featured titles on the Xbox One include: Mortal Kombat X, Far Cry 4, Dragon Age: Inquisition, among others

Featured titles on the Xbox 360 include: Injustice: Gods Among Us and The Orange Box. More info will be made available tomorrow.

Some news on my front:

Extra Life 2015 campaign is going strong. To date, the charity has raised almost $500,000 which is double what was raised by this time last year. The big day is coming up in November, so I’ll have new info leading into that. The Extra Life team has joined with Ubisoft to help promote Rainbow Six Siege. Starting July 1st, 2015, anyone who donates $6 or more will receive a Guaranteed Access code to the Rainbow Six Siege Closed Beta. Beta Starts Sept 24th. I’ll be adding more info the Extra Life page as the event draws closer.

extra-life-splash

Started my playthrough of Batman Arkham Knight this weekend past, and boy, is it incredible. Very streamlined with some minor changes. But it is gorgeous to look at and play. I only noticed slight stuttering when driving the Batmobile at a few intersections, but otherwise very smooth. I’ll be leaving my thorough first impressions on Thursday.

Arkham-Knight

I’ve also been dabbling in Evolve and TitanFall again. Now that TitanFall has been added to the EA Access subscription, it’s received some new life. And I’ve completed The Crew’s campaign so I’ll be writing a review for that in the near future.

Tomorrow is new games and news, when we get to see the first batch of games in the Xbox Summer Sale.

Stay tuned.

-iRogan

IDL NEWS – Mafia 3, Free Games With Gold, more News, and Evolve

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The weekend is over and a new week begun. I posted a review for BADLAND, but forgot about the achievement of the week. Oh well. Maybe I’ll add an extra one during the week?

Achievement

Typically the Achievement of the Week is related to what I’m actually, currently playing, so not always current or relevant. Additionally, I already have the Notable Achievements in the iReviews, so going forward, I might make the Achievement of the Week more relevant by including it in the New Games of the Week article on Tuesdays, or keep it as its own post later in the week, but related to the new game of the week? Hmm, says I.

MAFIA3 Registered
June 25th, Take-Two registered a number of domains related to the potential sequel, Mafia 3. These include: Mafia3TheGame.com, MafiaIIITheGame.com, MafiaThree.com, and MafiaThreeTheGame.com. This is obvious fuel to the fire that is the potential sequel, Mafia 3. Mafia II was a pretty great game, and was recently one of the free Xbox 360 games with Gold game of the month.

The Last of Us 2?
More rumours surfaced today, as very recognizable video game voice actor Nolan North may have just outed Naughty Dogs sequel – The Last of Us 2. In a recent Q&A panel, Nolan North casually mentioned the sequel.

“For now, last one,” North said on the video, when asked if he has any upcoming projects with Naughty Dog aside from Uncharted 4. “I know they’re doing a Last of Us 2 but my character in Last of Us kind of had an untimely demise.”

Xbox Live Gold Now With Two New Xbox One Every Month
Starting in July, Microsoft will begin offering TWO free Xbox Games to Gold members through the Games With Gold program every month. For the month of July the games will be as follows:

Xbox One
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – July 1-15
So Many Me – July 16-31

Xbox 360
Plants vs. Zombies – July 1-15
Gears of War 3 – July 16-31

Games can be claimed through the console or through http://www.Xbox.com.

This week, Evolve and the Season 1 hunting pass was for sale on the Xbox One. I personally picked it up and started experimenting with it last night. I did the tutorials, and played a few matches in solo, and tried a couple multiplayer Hunts and Arena modes. Haven’t tried extraction yet.

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The game has been fun thus far, if not a little frustrating at times. Some matches have been slow burn, tracking the monster an exercise in futility, for 15 minutes until he was stage 3, and then just destroyed us quickly. Another match just had the monster play with us, killing all hunters save for Daisy, letting us respawn, only to do it over again, ad nauseum.

What I’ve noticed is an influx of new players due to the sale, but the veterans out there play the monsters. Playing with a pick-up group isn’t as fun either as there’s not a lot of people playing with mics.

Lastly, in arena mode, within the trapper shield is actually a small environment. It requires clear communication otherwise you’ll get stomped by the stage 2 monster. Especially facing against Behemoth, who is like half the size of the arena map :p.

Either way, I expect to keep playing, trying out new characters and classes. So stay tuned. Check out Cro0ked’s review of Evolve when the game originally released. I may do my own irrelevant iReview too ;).

–iRogan

IDL GAMES – New Game Tuesday and some News

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Well, we all know the big game this week, so lets jump right in.

Following the break, we have the new games and deals, and we’ll talk a little about the news and what we have coming later this week on the site.

Batman: Arkham Knight (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – The game is finally here, after only a few delays. Probably worth it. I posted the launch trailer yesterday, and I’ve been excited about this game for a while. It’s on order and will be arriving into my hands shortly, so I’ll be leaving my impressions soon. I don’t anticipate waiting on this game, letting it grow stale on my shelf like some undeserving others. 😥

Tales From the Borderlands: Episode 3 – Catch a Ride (PC, X360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One) – I really enjoyed Episode 1, and now that 3 is out, I should get started on Ep 2.

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Dishonored 2’s Path Chosen To Go
Dishonored 2 is another game high on my anticipation list, and will be added to the E3 page for ongoing opinions. Recently out of E3 was the announcement of a secondary female character. After about 20-30 minutes into the story playing as the new female, Emily, we’re given a choice of continuing as her, or doing the remainder of the game as Corvo. This change is permanent for the remainder of the story but doesn’t change the missions, just the perspective and commentary.

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Deals with Gold and Spotlight Sale
Xbox One
The Crew and Season Pass each 50% off
Evolve and Deluxe Edition each 50% off
Wolfenstein Bundle 35-45% off

I’m currently playing through The Crew, and I’m really liking it. It’s everything I wanted for a social racer. The season pass, which includes 4 monthly car packs plus 2 exclusive cars, might now be worth it.

Evolve, unfortunately, I have not had a chance to try, save for PAX 2014 where I played the monster. Might be time to give it a shot now that it’s on sale. Maybe it’s too late though? This sale comes in time for The Hunting Season Pass 2.

Xbox 360
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier 75% off
Splinter Cell Double Agent 75% off
Grand Theft Auto V 58% off
Grand Theft Auto IV 80% off
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas 75% off
Skyrim 60-66% off
Fallout New Vegas 60-66% off
Dishonored 60-66%
The Evil Within  60-66% off

I’m currently working on adding new material to the E3 page as info continues to surface. I’ll also be working on a PAX Prime 2015 page for the convention in September, and a Extra Life page for the 24 hour video game marathon in November.

I’m continuing to play The Crew and Badland, and streaming those games on Twitch occasionally. I should have a Badland review up this week as the game is a hell of a lot of fun.

I also recently dropped back into Destiny, so I’ll be posting a little summary of the House of Wolves DLC and more info about Year 2 and The Taken King expansion.

-iRogan

IDL NEWS – E3 Recovery

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So with E3 2015 over and done, it’s time to sit back, relax, and dissect all the news. What happened? What’s coming out? Aside from all the notable news, what about the notable omissions from the show? Keep an eye on the E3 page, as I’ll still be posting opinions and thoughts there. At least until PAX Prime 2015 and Gamescon in September.

So, onward and upwards unto the news, as it never slows down.

Red Dead Redemption Leads Xbox Backwards Compatibility
Hot off the news that come holiday season, Xbox One will support Xbox 360 backwards compatibility, Xbox.com currently has a vote for the most requested games to be ported first:

https://xbox.uservoice.com/forums/298503-backwards-compatibility

Currently Red Dead Redemption tops the list, followed by Call of Dutys, Skyrim, Halo Reach and Gears of War 3.

Evolve’s Second Season Pass
Evolve is getting a second season pass, titled Hunting Pass 2, will be available June 23. The latest pass will introduce four new hunters and new monster, and some exclusive skins.

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Batman Arkham Knight Day One Patch
The release game will be a whopping 45GB install and the day one patch size has been revealed to be an additional 3.5GB. By the time the 1TB PS4 and Xbox One consoles hit the market it’ll already be too late. 2TB will be needed.

Arkham-Knight

Tales From The Borderlands: Ep 3 – Catch a Ride
TellTale Games has announced that episode 3 of Tales from the Borderlands, titled Catch a Ride will be released this week on its respected platforms. Means I should get on that Ep 2.

GameStop Retro
GameStop will be increasing its product lineup to include more used copies of retro games and refurbished game consoles. This will include more NES, N64, SNES, Sega Dreamcast, PS1, and Sega Genesis games.

Batman Arkham Knight

‘Nuff Said.

Looking ahead, I’ll be posting some more E3 stuff regarding Rise of the Tomb Raider and Dues Ex (among others) as these are two of the games I am looking forward to the most.

I recently started playing the indie hit BADLAND, and I’ll be posting some impressions of that soon.

What doesn't kill us, definitely reduces our numbers.

What doesn’t kill us, definitely reduces our numbers.

I’m still playing through The Crew and Splinter Cell The Blacklist. So, new games tomorrow, and then more news and further impressions on Crew, SplinterCell, and Badland to round off the week.

It’s summer . . . go outside!

-iRogan