PlayStation Plus Free Games March 2018

Perhaps it was a means to ease the blow of Sony‘s earlier announcement regarding dropping PS3 and Vita games from their list of freebies, or a way to boost those memberships at the end of the fiscal year (which traditionally ends in March, here in Japan). Whatever the reason, Sony has some great titles for their PlayStation Plus free games March 2018.

For the PlayStation 4, there’s Bloodborne, the action RPG set in a Gothic, Victorian era by the same makers as the Dark Souls series. And Ratchet & Clank, the platforming action sci-fi adventure and remake from the original PS2 title.

On the PlayStation 3, we’ve got Legend of Kay Anniversary, a remaster of the original PS2 title featuring martial art combat, platforming, and puzzle solving as we follow the exploits of a hotheaded young cat named Kay. And Mighty No. 9, a 2D side-scrolling action shooter set in the same classic style as the Mega Man series. Mighty No. 9 is also a cross-plat with the PS4.

Finally, the PlayStation Vita will be getting Claire: Extended Cut, a story-driven psychological horror, where the protagonist Claire is on her way to visit her sick mother when she inadvertently finds herself in a dark world filled with mystery. And Bombing Busters, an action battle game in the spirit of Bomberman, where players help a scientist dispose of the random critters by blowing them up. Both Claire: Extended Cut and Bombing Busters are cross-play with the PS4.

Excluding Bombing Busters, all free games for March 2018 have Platinum trophies to unlock. Among them, Ratchet & Clank is by far the easiest, particularly for those with experience in the series, requiring about 20 hours of gameplay. Also, Claire: Extended Cut is not particularly difficult if following closely to a guide, and needs only 5-6 hours. Also, both Mighty No. 9 and Legend of Kay Anniversary is rather average in terms of difficulty and requires 30 hours. While Bloodborne is a fantastic title, expect some rather challenging trophies and about 60-70 hours of your time.

From Japan: Waikiki and the Japanese Tourists

Back in the 1980â€Čs, the Japanese economy was booming.  With all this money and looking for ways to spend it, many turned away from the local hot spring resorts and began experiencing travels abroad.  While neighbouring countries such as Korea and China were popular choices for a holiday, Hawaii dominated – beautiful resorts, safe, and only a 7 hour plane ride away.  And Waikiki, located on the South shore of O’ahu, became a prime target for Japanese tourists, with its white sandy beaches and shopping districts conveniently placed nearby.

Over time, things continued running in a cycle.  More Japanese tourists visited Waikiki, so the local shops catered to their tastes and studied the language, which only brought in more tourists.  Now, the rumour in Japan is that “you don’t need to speak English if you visit Waikiki.”

I recently returned from a holiday in Hawaii, which included a 5-day stay in Waikiki, and found this rumour to be 100% true.  From bus drivers to restaurant waitresses, I heard “Irashaimase” and “Arigatou gozaimasu” and “Ki o tsukete kudasai.”  I, of course, was spoken to in English.  But my girlfriend, whose English ability is rather limited, felt confident to roam around the city on her own, using Japanese to order and buy things, while I stayed by the pool and played video games.

And it’s not just the language.  The stores themselves are obviously catering to Japanese women, who are more prone to travel overseas than men (I don’t know the exact statistics, but my guess would be 8-1).  Louis Vuitton, Coach, Prada, Gucci, and about a million cosmetic stores.  I even found a Book-Off, a Japanese shop which buys and sells used books, games and DVDs.  The lady at the counter who sold me some games spoke very little English.

Japanese touristsDue to part of my Italian background and having been depraved of real Italian food for so long, I was anxious to sink my teeth into some veal fried in tomato sauce, or feast on a huge plate of ravioli or lasagna.  We went to an “Italian” restaurant in Waikiki, but unfortunately the menu was just like those here in Japan – paper-thin crusted pizza with corn toppings, and bowls of spaghetti served with tuna.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Waikiki.  The beach, though crowded, was beautiful with waters as warm as a pool.  I even managed to find a Gamestop and make the owners happy with my vast number of Xbox game purchases.  And riding that helicopter over the volcano was pretty cool!

If you’re Japanese and looking to travel abroad, but worried about the language barrier, then Waikiki’s the place for you.  and if you’re North American who wants to experience Japan but worried about the problems with communication, then Waikiki’s the place for you.

It’s like Shibuya with a beach.

 

written by Damon Finos

Sony is Dropping Free PS3 and Vita Games from PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus members should be receiving an email notification announcing that Sony is dropping free PS3 and Vita games from PlayStation Plus, which will take effect next year in February 2019.

Sony stated that in February 2019, PlayStation Plus members will continue to receive two PS4 titles each month – but no other titles. Previously downloaded freebies will not be lost, however.

“Many of our fans are playing on the PS4 platform,” stated Sony. “With the increasingly vast number of PS4s in homes around the world. We’ll continue to prioritize the benefits you receive through your PS Plus membership, such as online multiplayer, online game save storage, PS4 monthly games, and exclusive PS Store discounts across content and network services.”

This may come as a blow to trophy hunters who enjoyed those occasional easy Platinum trophies on the PS3 and Vita. However, while Sony didn’t specify, we may anticipate the occasional free PlayStation VR title in the mix, based on their recent pattern.

X-Men Destiny Review

6.5 / 10 Banzai!s

The Game:

Up until, and even after, the game’s release in September 2011 in North America, and October in Europe, X-Men: Destiny was saturated in scandals, reminiscent of the infamous Duke Nukem Forever.

Silicon Knights, the developing team behind X-Men: Destiny and founded by Denis Dyack, was drowning in lawsuits and counter-lawsuits with Epic Games over the Unreal Engine 3 licences. Shortly after X-Men: Destiny was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and Wii, and receiving fairly harsh reviews, Silicon Knights lost the counter-suit, resulting in its founder to leave and start up a new company: Precursor Games. Then, an article in Kotakuclaimed the reason behind X-Men: Destiny‘s poor quality was a lack of funding, after Dyack had diverted money towards other projects. Denis Dyack, now an Executive at Precursor Games, posted a video online stating that the allegations weren’t true. He also apologised for the game’s quality, stating that Silicon Knights had tried to give it their best and make a great game, but “sometimes it doesn’t happen.”

But scandals and lawsuits aside, what’s this game about, anyway?

Based on a story written by Mike Carey, the creator behind the X-Men: Legacy comic series, X-Men: Destiny takes place in San Francisco. Professor X is dead, Magneto is missing, but the X-Men continue to find peace between mutants and humans. This dream is quickly shattered when, during a peace rally, everyone is attacked by anti-mutant Purifiers possessing a high-level of technological weaponry. But why are the mutants being captured alive? What do the Purifiers have in mind, and from where did they get this super technology? You’ll need to play the game to find out.

X-Men Destiny ReviewPlayers select from one of three characters, each with their own backstory, and one of three powers. As a mutant newbie, you begin by assisting members of both the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants, but eventually make your way to joining one of the two sides. As a third-person action title, X-Men: Destiny also includes RPG elements, such as upgrading both your character and powers by collecting X-Genes.

 

What I Liked:

I have to admit, sometimes I’m in the mood for a simple button-masher. Reminiscent of DC Universe Online, you’ll spend the majority of your time hitting the square button (on the PS3) as you progress through the levels, while occasionally jumping, climbing, and using another button which activates a special power.

Now, I’m not praising the game for being a button-masher. Some people aren’t into that, just like some people aren’t into RPGs or first-person shooters. But sometimes when I come home after a rough day at work and want to play a game, but too tired to play anything complicated, then a simple button-masher is the ideal choice. If you ever find yourself in one of those moods, then X-Men: Destiny is the game for you.

The story is well-written, and heavily targets avid X-Men fans. If all you know of the X-Men universe comes from the movies, then you won’t be familiar with over half the characters in the game. Mike Carey did a great job of immersing the player in the X-Men world, with a story as though straight out from the comic books, filled with mystery and surprises, and even interesting back-stories for the three playable characters.

 

What I Didn’t Like:

Again, reminiscent of Duke Nukem Forever, the game felt unfinished. There were cutscenes which looked fantastic, and others that seemed forgotten to be rendered – such as buildings exploding in large polygraphic shapes surrounded in digitalised pixilated smoke. Occasionally, you’ll be watching Cyclops or Wolverine talking to your player-character, and all of a sudden, for a quick second, they spasm as if electrocuted. Or you’ll be moving the camera, and something white will flicker on the wall. This last bug wouldn’t be so annoying, if the collectibles didn’t happen to be small white markers. Each time you think you’ve found a collectible as you move the camera, you’ll waste a few minutes scouting the area, only to realize it was a flaw in the imaging.

Also – and this is more on a personal note – I wasn’t a big fan of the whole “choosing sides” thing. It was cool when you first experienced having consequences for your actions, like back in the days of Fallout 3 with its karma system, or choosing either the good or evil path in Infamous. But it feels to me this whole choosing light or dark sides has been done to death, to the point where it now feels like a clichĂ©. Like anything else in a game, if it’s done well and creatively, then great. If not, then I’d much rather play a game from start to finish without worrying about two different endings to watch.

X-Men Destiny ReviewIn the case of X-Men: Destiny, you make choices which either link you closer to the X-Men or the Brotherhood of Mutants. It’s as though they took this clichĂ©, and made it the whole point of the game. It’s even in the title: “Destiny.” Okay, so there’s these two different teams among mutants with different ideologies, that’s fine. But at the end of the day, your choices don’t matter. If you side with the X-Men, all it means is there are certain missions you can’t clear with the Brotherhood, and the final 2 minute cut-scene is a bit different. Otherwise, your “destiny” has no bearing on the game. In Infamous, for example, your character begins to look different depending on your choices, and the environment gradually becomes filled with either civilians rooting for you, or throwing rocks at you. But in X-Men: Destiny, nothing really changes depending on whether you side with the X-Men or Brotherhood. You appear the same, your powers are the same, and your enemies are the same. Now, I’m not saying they should have taken this “choosing sides” out of the game – rather, they should have integrated it more. Maybe have you battle one side or the other. Ironically, there’s a boss fight with Magneto – and it doesn’t matter which side you choose; you’ll still be fighting Magneto with Cyclops at your side.

 

Overall:

Much like Duke Nukem Forever, X-Men: Destiny is an average game with the potential of being more. Interesting concepts and a great story, but clearly left unfinished – and I don’t just mean the bugs. Yes, it’s basically a button-masher, and yes it will get repetitive. If you’re in the mood for that, then great. But if you’re looking for something a little more challenging – particularly mentally – then you might want to pass on this one.

As far as trophies go, X-Men: Destiny‘s Platinum isn’t too difficult. Two playthroughs, one of which on Hard mode, find some collectibles along the way, and use the chapter select to mop-up. Should take the average gamer only about 15-20 hours to complete.

On the plus side, if you’re an avid fan of the comics, then there’s plenty to entertain you, from the story to the vast number of character cameos. Overall, the game isn’t as bad as many other online reviewers stated, but it’s not that much better than Duke Nukem Forever. In the future, X-Men: Destiny may be more remembered as the last game developed by Silicon Knights, and for the scandals surrounding it.

 

written by Damon Finos

Defiance Review

8 / 10 Banzai!s

The Game:

From Trion World, the recently founded American developer which seems to specialize in MMOs, brings us Defiance, a sci-fi third-person shooter MMORPG for the PlayStation 3, as well as the Xbox 360 and PC. But this is more than just a game – it’s also a TV show!

Defiance takes place in a future San Fransisco Bay Area, which has been both ravaged by war and terraformed by aliens. In back-story, a group of different alien races – collectively called Votans – came to Earth looking for a new home and began changing the environment to suit their tastes, unaware that the planet was populated with people. After having seen so many alien-invasion films, the humans took the Votan’s terraforming as a threat, and started a war. This went on for a number of years, until both humans and Votans decided to put their differences aside and give peace a chance.

Players have limited customization, though outfits can either be earned or purchased later in the game. Rather than classes, you select yourself one of four special abilities to begin with, but gain the others as your character levels-up. Weapons and vehicles also level-up as you continue to use them.

Like most MMOs, the map of the San Francisco Bay Area is littered with quests to fulfill, time trials and races, merchants, and the occasional “Arkfall” in which pieces of an alien ship have fallen to Earth, allowing for a vast collection of XP and new weapons while fighting off creatures along side the gathered online players. In addition, both co-op campaigns and competitive arenas are available for your enjoyment.

What makes Defiance unique is that it’s fueled by a TV show by the same name. The program, airing originally on the Syfy channel, takes place in St. Louis during the same time as the game, and the two cross over. Characters in the show may leave St. Louis and wind up in San Francisco in the game, becoming a participant in a quest. Meanwhile, the top players will get to have their name mentioned as a real character in next season’s show.

 

What I Liked:

I have to admit, what first attracted me to the game was how it crossed-over with an ongoing TV show. Yes, it’s a gimmick. And yes, it’s pretty cool that they thought of it. There’s titles like Dragon Age and The Elder Scrolls which contain a lot of backstory that can add an extra layer of depth and interest to the game’s plot – that is, if you feel like picking the books off the shelf and reading them off your screen. But Defiance took that a step further, and instead just made a whole new sci-fi program. You get a better feel for the setting, the different alien races, the politics happening behind the curtain, just by sitting back and watching the show as it better orients you in the setting of the game. And if that’s not cool enough, the two stories – game and TV show – cross paths with one another.

Defiance ReviewI’ll give an example. I watched one episode in which a woman tried to destroy a town by using pheromones to attract alien-like creatures. She was caught, her plan was foiled, but she escaped prison by leaving St. Louis. The next day, I loaded up the game and there she was in San Francisco, as a character in a quest. Now, I didn’t need to see the show in order to understand why she was there, but knowing her backstory simply made the quest all that more interesting. In a nutshell, the game and TV show fuel each other.

But like Tetris, it’s hard to be specific about what I like about this game, other than it’s addicting. It’s fun to run around and shoot stuff – which is the majority of the game. You can team up with online players, or simply do things on your own. The Arkfalls, which are both randomly timed and randomly placed on your map, is a good spot to recruit people into your group and share in the XP. Or join a Shadow War – another random event – in which you help your team defeat enemy players.

Everything you do in the game somehow affects the improvement of your character. From driving around, to shooting mutants and raiders with different weapons, to killing certain types of enemies, to fulfilling your goals. The weapons and vehicles themselves level-up as well, which you can modify and enhance. There’s certainly a lot to do in this game, and while so far I’ve put in a good +60 hours, I’m still not bored. Unlike, ahem, DC Universe Online.

The graphics are great for an MMORPG, and again – unlike DC Universe Online – the setting is richly colored with strange terraformed landscapes, ravaged cities, farmlands, lakes, and military installations – and all with warp-points on your map. In many ways, it feels a lot like playing an online version of Oblivion.

 

What I Didn’t Like:

The bugs.

Granted, it must be hard to keep things running smoothly when you’ve got hundreds of players all on one map. And for the most part, while I’m on my own, everything runs honkey-dory. But once you’re in the vicinity of other players, suddenly the map or your inventory takes a while to upload – and that’s a problem, considering there’s no pause button on an online game. Imagine both your weapons are out of ammo, so you hit start to bring up your inventory and change weapons, but you have to wait almost 20 seconds, and meanwhile you’re getting shot. Yikes!

Defiance ReviewThese bugs get worse as your screen fills with other online players. During an Arkfall, you might have about 20 or 30 people running around shooting enemies. Suddenly you can’t change your weapons. Holding the square button over an ammunition depo doesn’t work, and then there’s a horrible screeching coming through your speakers which never stops until the Arkfall is destroyed and all the action subsides.

As far as freezes, I’ve only had this happen once. Granted, I’ve played worse. Fallout: New Vegas and Terminator: Salvation, to name a few. And those weren’t Massive Multiplayers. So yes, I’ll give Defiance some leeway with its bugs. But running around with an empty pistol because you can’t change your weapons does tend to take the fun out of an Arkfall event.

 

Overall:

Defiance is a fun online action-shooter with plenty to do and lots to improve your character on. It’s also a nice little pick-up-and-play game with quick loading time, allowing you to shoot a couple bad guys or complete a mini-quest before rushing off to work or school. Plus there’s a TV show to fuel the story of the game, with fun cross-overs. There’s hundreds of missions waiting to be completed, creatures and cyborgs waiting to be blown away, and online players to give you a hand. Yes, there are some bugs – but hopefully these will be patched in the near future.

As far as trophies go, with the exception of some challenging PvP-related trophies, the platinum is totally doable – just very time consuming.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll become the top player and wind-up appearing in Season Two or Three of the Defiance TV show.

 

written by Damon Finos