Author: Thomas Ortsik

Founder and Kinda-Editor-In-Chief at Twinstiq.
Also known as Dr. Strangethumb

Metareview: Mortal Kombat X

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First thing's first, I'm the realest. Drop this and let the whole world feel it. And I'm still in the Murda Bizness. I could hold you down, like I'm givin' lessons in physics. You should want a bad bitch like this. Drop it low and pick me up...for just $4.99 as DLC
Guess who hasn’t a launch day review for Mortal Kombat X.

Yes, us.

Why? Well, that’s conspiracy territory:
We requested a PC copy and as it turns out, the PC version seems to be broken for many people.
But we all know that a games publisher would never do something like this on purpose, so I’m sure this is only a very unlucky coincidence, as proven by the abstinence of Xbox One reviews. (Hell, even well known PC only magazines got PS4 code)

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some already released reviews.

Game Informer (9.25/10 PS4): “Mortal Kombat X is a fantastic successor in every sense. The mechanics may be similar to 2011’s strong release, but with so many new modes and features permeating every part of the experience, it’s a worthy upgrade. Mortal Kombat X is more than the continuation of NetherRealm’s successful vision for the franchise; it’s one of the best fighting games in years.”

The Escapist (4.5/5 PS4): “Mortal Kombat X offers the best story mode I've ever personally seen in a fighting game. Its cohesive plot and extended cinematics makes you feel much more like a participant in a film than a player on the couch. The fighting is frantic, fluid, and dynamic, with the glorious goriness of the X-Ray moves often turning the tides of battle.”

Metro (8/10 PS4): “Surprisingly generous is not a phrase that gets used much nowadays but in terms of the number of characters, modes, and unlockables Mortal Kombat X exceeds expectations. And more importantly it’s a really fun, and amusingly grotesque, fighting game. It’s still not the deepest fighter around but that’s not what’s its aiming for. Instead, there are several things it does better than its rivals and even just being identifiably different is no mean achievement for such a crowded genre.”

Videogamer (8/10 PS4): “With fighting games requiring pinpoint precision and timing, input lag in online multiplayer is a noticeable and disappointing issue. Each of the online matches I’ve played has suffered with input delay. When trying to pull off special moves or X-Rays, having to wait half a second for the command to pay off in the fight is nigh-on impossible to compensate for, and more often I’ll fail to do the attack. It remains to be seen if this will be fixed, but it's not a great start.
Overall, however, Mortal Kombat X is the most entertaining fighting game on next-gen.”

GamesRadar+ (3.5/5 PS4): “As a whole, Mortal Kombat X is a rock-solid fighting game that owes a lot to the power of its presentation. The story mode is unparalleled in terms of sheer entertainment, but MKX has a way to go in terms of teaching the player how to get the most out of its core systems. Once you've wrapped your head around the many variations and found some actual people to play against, the blisteringly fast back-and-forth matches really start to open up. If you're not willing to make the commitment to seeking out challengers and learning beyond the basics, though, this fighter definitely has a shorter life expectancy.”

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Coming Fall 2015 to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, is the latest Naruto themed fighter from Bandai Namco. It looks as cinematic as ever, and even though it looked incredible on previous consoles, the graphical upgrade for current gen systems makes many improvements.
Tons of particle and smoke effects, motion blur, impact lines, and sparks fly around the huge arenas. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is going to have some fierce competition on the visual front!
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Source: YouTube

Fifty Final Fantasy Fighters Forthcoming

Although Square Enix and Team Ninja's collaboration will ship with 14 fighters, the third Dissidia will eventually grow its roster to 50 fighters via post-launch updates.
So far, seven characters have been confirmed

  • Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy I)

  • Onion Knight (Final Fantasy III)
  • Terra Branford (Final Fantasy VI)
  • Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
  • Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)
  • Y’Shtola (Final Fantasy XIV)
  • Ramza Beoulve (Final Fantasy Tactics)

Source: Gematsu

Microsoft Talks Xbox One Power Consumption

A recent post from the National Resources Defense Council has drawn attention to the Xbox One's idle power consumption. In a blog post on Xbox.com, Microsoft details the effort they put into the console's efficiency, mentioning the console's energy saving mode as an alternative to the instant-on setting.
Microsoft claims that the " lower power state consumes less energy and can save customers an average of $6 to $15 in energy costs* per year in the U.S."
Source: Xbox.com

Xbox One now £299.99

The Xbox One has received a £30 cost cut, and can now be had for £299.99 in the UK. Sony and Microsoft's consoles are both available bundled with various games, so there's a lot of choice out there, but this latest price drop could help the Xbox compare more favorably to the £349.99 PlayStation 4.

Monster Hunter Stories is a New 3DS RPG

Coming up on the 10th anniversary of the Monster Hunter franchise, Capcom has announced Monster Hunter Stories, a new 3DS story-focused RPG.
Capcom is exploring new territory for the series and is focusing on telling a story in this spinoff. Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto gives us the lowdown.

"While staying true to the world of Monster Hunter, and a story that can only be told through an RPG, we’d like to pack it with fun and enjoyment that we can’t even begin to describe with words"

This might be the game that has the potential to establish a broader audience for the niche series.

Bandai Namco Capcom and Sega Announce Project X Zone 2

Two days after an unofficial leak, a new Project X Zone has officially been unveiled. Featuring a mash-up of Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Sega franchises, Project X Zone 2 promises a ton of fan service. There's already good news for Europe and North America, we're getting it too!
Project X Zone 2 will feature characters from Virtua Fighter, Sakura Wars, .hack, Resident Evil, Shinobi, Devil May Cry, Mega Man X, Tekken, Yakuza, and more all in one game!
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Source: Gematsu

Playing the Fairway: Six Of My Favorite Golf Games

Like many others, I will be enjoying the close of the Masters Tournament this afternoon. I've long been a fan of both watching and playing the sport of golf, even though I'm not all that great at it myself. I've always found it to be a relaxing means of enjoying the outdoors while simultaneously scratching that innate competitive itch. It's also a great social activity that allows you to drink, take in some scenic splendor, and catch up with your friends, your brother, your dad, etc.

The only problems are that it's expensive, and that you need to have the right weather for it. That's why, sometimes, it's just a better option to simulate the experience. Although having drinks and buddies on hand is still encouraged.

I have a long history with golf games, going all the way back to the mid '80s when I frequently played NES Golf at my friend's house. The graphics, mechanics, and attention to detail have all improved by leaps and bounds since then. Though some features have surprisingly changed very little. I guess that's to be expected considering how little the game itself changes. I've played a lot of different virtual versions of the sport over the years. The following are my six favorites.

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