Author: Thomas Ortsik

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

PS4 Firmware Update 2.50: It’s Official

The Official US PlayStation Blog has come out with an official feature list of the upcoming 2.50 firmware update for the PS4.  Here are the more interesting features we can expect to see:

  • Full 60fps mode for SharePlay (requires more bandwidth, you can toggle it in the options)
  • System-level button remapping
  • Accessibility features like text-to-speech, bold fonts, high contrast mode, picture zoom
  • Automatic screenshots when you earn a trophy
  • Rest mode will suspend your application or game and start you where you left off

You can check out the full list in even more detail at the US PlayStation Blog!

Throwback Thursdays: AH3 Thunderstrike

Thunderhawk didn't seem like anything special on the PC and Amiga. Another polygonal military flight game that sat somewhere between the basic Tomahawk and the much more interesting LHX Attack Chopper. For some reason, Core seemed to think it was a perfect candidate for the fledgeling Sega CD platform and took extra care to maximize the system's horsepower and transform this game into a console graphical tour-de-force for the era. Taking on a faster pace which gave it a more arcade-like feel, this new form was a much better fit for the platform and gave it broader appeal.
This is the unlikely game that made me stop and stare at in-store demo kiosks and made the Sega CD in my eyes go from a platform that only received CD soundtrack enhanced ports and FMV games, to a must-have add-on for my Genesis.  It blew away anything Mode 7 effects could accomplish on the SNES, adding a ton of on-screen scalable/rotating sprites and allowing the entire world to tilt as you banked left and right. It felt like a truly upgraded experience that almost justified spending about $250 at the time on a console peripheral. It was clearly not a mirror of its simulation-type cousin you saw on the PC side and nothing could touch it graphically in the same genre, until the breakthrough title Comanche came along the next year.
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Thunderhawk on Atari ST vs AH3 Thunderstrike on Sega CD

On this side of the pond, the game was known as AH-3 ThunderStrike and in addition to Sonic CD, it was a day-one purchase that saw a lot of play. Spanning 10 different world stages that could be selected in any order and with multiple missions each, there was a lot to do. Missions would consist of a collection of primary targets you had to take out, in special cases, an area or bridge that you would have to bomb and even a stealthy rescue mission. Peripheral targets would be scattered about, giving you bonus points and medals for taking them out and a higher completion rate for the mission.  If you wanted to spend even more time in each area (and I did), you could even blow up every tree and bush with your unlimited machine gun ammo.
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Mission Briefing

Wailing guitars would accompany the piercing gunfire, booming explosions, and hissing missiles, ratcheting up the arcade feel. The soundtrack made you feel like you were taking part of an action movie, no doubt inspired by films like Top Gun.  Speech samples would narrate the upcoming mission's goal, so you'd hear “Incoming bandit” crackle over the radio when an enemy chopper or jet would enter the mission area, or mission control yelling “Get out of here!” when you were going out of bounds.
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Banking For a Turn

It's unfortunate that the Sega CD wouldn't see many other games take full advantage of its capabilities, but I was happy to have the system just for this one game.  It felt like I had something truly next generation in my home and definitely impressed my friends as we took turns blowing up boats, radio towers, surface-to-air missile turrets, convoys of tanks and extending our turn at the game by mowing down entire forests of trees.
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Blow Up Mission Targets... Then Commence Deforestation

The series would go on to see another entry on the PlayStation, Windows and then exclusively on the PlayStation 2, but none of them felt as unique for their time as the Sega CD game. Is it still worth going back to?  To a retro enthusiast like me, definitely and would probably still be enjoyable to anyone who wants to revisit 16-bit console titles. Unfortunately you'll have to track down the original disc, because there's no Virtual Console or PSN/XBLA release available.
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Take the Fight to Varied Landscapes Like the Desert, Snowy Tundra, and the South Seas

This game seemed like an obscure gem at the time. It didn't get a lot of magazine coverage or word of mouth among gamers, and I guess it ended up fading away after less-than-stellar sequels failed to nurture a fan base that could have built up around the series.  Games like WarkHawk and Air Combat probably stole all the attention away that would have gone towards future entries.  I just wanted to give a little more attention to a spectacular game that many might not have heard of, but has a special place in my library and still stands out to this day as a show piece for the generation.
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Jye Cauffle

PSN Spring Fever Week 2: Hotline Miami 2 & Saint’s Row Sale

Sony's Spring Fever promotion is entering Week 2, and the new game this week is Devolver Digital and Dennation Games' Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number for PS3, PS4, and Vita Cross-Buy.  For those of us who loved the first entry, the long wait is over.
You'll also find a Saints Row sale with Gat Out of Hell, Re-Elected, and a combo pack of both of those together for PS4.  All of the PS3 entries and DLC are on sale as well, and discounts on all for Plus users.
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Source: PSN Store

Twinstiq – 28 Days Later (incl. Giveaway!)

Only one month of Twinstiq? Yep, but what a busy month:

We collected writers from Around the World in 28 days.
We saw 28 Shades of Twinstiq.
Provided by the 12 Monkeys on the team right now.
Some of them even Angry Men.
Right now I bite myself in the ass for not starting it 2 days later, since this would have allowed me to sneak in a Friday the 13th reference, but I feel like this is already borderline self-indulgent anyway.

We achieved much in this month and there is still much more yet to come, but despite the intro, this is not supposed to be the celebration of a banner, but the people who meet under it: You, you, yes, you too and even you.

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Without you, we wouldn’t find news and reviews here.
Without you, we wouldn’t hear the perspective of an older gamer.
Without you, we wouldn’t feel as connected in our unwillingness to grow out of gaming.
Without you, we wouldn’t know what an aspiring Game Developer is excited about.
And because of that and more: Without you, this project would be dead already.

Even though we are still young and small, our community is already dedicated and strong.
Of course we are still nowhere near Joystiq, but in some aspects, we are already beating heavyweights like Videogamer.com
How crazy is that?!
As a little sign of appreciation, I decided to ask the editors for their favorite comments so far and if one of them is from you, Congratulations! You just won a little game.
More of these giveaways will follow in the future and even though I’m not yet sure about the format, I can guarantee you that they won’t include any BS “we might share your personal details with a 3rd party” clause and that they will always reward those, that are strong pillars of this site.

So if your comment is listed below, make sure to write a mail incl. your Disqus name to competition(at)twinstiq.com

Thank you for sticking with us and let’s make it to 28 Weeks next!

-Dr. Strangethumb/Thomas Ortsik
(who would also like to send a very special “Thank You!” to everyone from the old Joystiq crew, especially those that visited us. You are all amazing!)

And the Top Comments are from (with the editor who nominated the comment in brackets):

  • Acidicpack78 (Whylekat) for thanking the Twinstiq crew for their awesome work in the WRUP: Avengers Assemble! (again: borderline cheating :D )

Project Cars pushed back to mid-May

After being plagued by multiple hiccups in development, Bandai Namco and Slightly Mad Studios have yet again delayed Project Cars from its planned April release date to mid-May.

In a press release Slightly Mad Studios' head Ian Bell offered some comments on the delay.

“Despite our long heritage and pedigree in making critically-acclaimed racing games, Project Cars is by far the grandest and most intricately detailed of them all,” Slightly Mad Studios boss Ian Bell said in a press release. “Despite therefore the game being 99.9% complete, the remaining 0.1% attending to small issues and bugs has been tricky to anticipate. We’re absolutely dedicated to delivering a ground-breaking experience and by targeting mid-May fans can be assured that’s what they’ll receive.”

Bell continued, “Again, we want to thank our fans for their support and patience on this matter. There’s a high expectancy from racing fans around the world that Project Cars is going to be an exciting new contender in the simulation racing space and we firmly believe gamers deserve it to be in its most complete and polished state when they come to play it on day one.”

Bell goes on to discuss Slightly Mad's plans to offer “some free content” to all players as a mea culpa.

“This gift, that we’re sure is going to excite fans, will be available from day one and revealed shortly, Keep an eye on our website for more info.”

This is not the first time the game was delayed. Project Cars' initial release was planned for last November, but was then moved to March, and again to April.


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William Sierra
[Source: Gematsu]


PSA: Dragon Age: Inquisition Free Trial

Own an Xbox One and have a Live Gold membership?  Don't own BioWare's Dragon Age: Inquisition but have been dying to check it out?  You're in luck, because right now you can head over to the Xbox Store and download a free trial that will last until March 16th, which means you have almost a week to explore the world of Thedas.  If you're collecting Achievements, you'll be happy to know that they're enabled and you'll be able to keep them even if you don't purchase the game.  What have you got to lose?  Only yourself... in the vast world and deep story.

What were they thinking? – Top 15 Swords in Gaming

A couple days ago, GameSpot did a top 15 most bad-ass swords in video game history. This list even ranked Link's Master Sword at #15. I don't know about you but I'm a little perturbed by their picks and I want to justify it. This being said, they really had no criteria or anything aside from "It cuts through things," to back up these decisions. I want to take this a step further and produce something that can actually be talked about. Maybe even turn it into a video sooner or later.

So I decided to make an alternate list, to compare and contrast where my ideal picks fall. I'm going to base my conclusions on why the sword will be considered "bad-ass" by these reasons:

1.       Look - If it makes me say, " Wow that's really bad-ass,"
2.       Damage - " Does it slice and dice onions? Or does it take off an arm with a quick swish.
3.       Character/Story - Is it used for most of the story, or is it just something the character has?
Is it a more notable sword?
4.       Actually is bad-ass - It made me say, " Wow that's really bad-ass," please refer to step 1 for more information.

This is where you guys come in. I will post my version of the list. If you agree or disagree, or even have your own list of most memorable weapons, drop me a line below!

Shall we take a look?

Alright now that you've clicked that read more, Let's get this ball rolling!

#15 - Rebellion (Devil May Cry Series)

We start off strong, with an iconic sword from Devil May Cry. It was Dante's pride and joy. You were able to strengthen this weapon to make it do even more damage than when you started. However some people weren't able to pick up Devil May Cry until later on in life, because of its maturity warning. This sword did not rank higher on my list because of it's simplicity. There are no bells and whistles when looking at the sword. Strong but plain.

#12 - Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker (World Of Warcraft)

Do you see how happy that skeleton man is? Look at him! Look at the sword! It's glorious! However, without that nice lightning effect, it's pretty plain. Also, do you know how hard it was to get this? Even nowadays, with the content being able to be soloed, the drop rate on the items needed to craft this sword was ridiculous. Wait a minute, I need to link this in trade chat really quick. Oh yes, I remember the hours and hours of chat-log of those who spent their days spamming Thunderfury in Trade Chat. I'm pretty sure they still do it too.

#14 - Auron's Katana (FFX)

Auron was a more notable character in Final Fantasy X and his starting weapon also is held on this list for its style. Slow but hard hitting, this sword was used more times to break shields than anything else. Again, this did not rank higher only because of simplicity. The golden design at the bottom was a nice touch, but does not keep people interested. Not even in the game, where you are able to swap it rather quickly for a better one.

#13 - Fierce Deity Sword (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)

You better put that thing down, or so help me! No need to be upset, you're at the 13th spot. The Fierce Deity Sword is not really all that well known, unless you are a die-hard Zelda fan. This is where we start to see color and even a different shape. However, what makes this sword appear so low on the list, comes from the amount of work actually needed to obtain it. If you remember, Link trades twenty non-transforming masks to the four Moon Children Inside the Moon. The final child will give Link the Fierce Deity Mask. Wearing this mask enables Link to transform into the Fierce Deity only during boss battles.

#11 - Shuraba  (Bayonetta)

#10 - Dragon Sword (Ninja Gaiden)

Talk about gorgeous. This sword is ranked at 11 on my list of top swords, because of it's stereotypical Japanese katana model. Though, if you take a closer look, you do see that this sword is a living demonic weapon wielded by our very own Bayonetta. It's one of the easiest weapons to use, along with having a very nice damage and speed when playing the game.

#8 - Soul Reaver  (Legacy of Kain)

Technically named "The Reaver", which was also used in every one of the game titles. It's ugly, and also looks like Ozzy Osbourne had it created for one of his concerts. Would hurt the mightiest of foes with its snake like construction. The sword was originally created to take victims' blood, but was altered when it absorbed the soul of the time-traveling wraith Raziel. As the story continued, the sword became the ultimate weapon for the vampire Kain, some of you might not even remember this game. Thanks guys now I feel old.

#7 - BusterSword  (FF7)

The only way I can technically describe this sword is: F***ing Huge. But I can't just write that and get away with it. Here, I'll go to the definition: The Buster Sword can be classified as an enormous broadsword. Very slow, but hard hitting, it came to be one of the most iconic swords in video game industry. However it falls short of the top five for the simplicity of the design.
Ryu Hayabusa, the main character of Ninja Gaiden, wouldn't really be a Shinobi if he didn't have his trusted sword with him. Not really much to nit-pick, this sword slices, it dices, it makes really good julienne potato fries, OUT OF YOUR ENEMIES BONES.

#9 - Brotherhood (FFX, FFX-2)

I tried to stay away from using the same game multiple times, but I just couldn't deny a really great example. Brotherhood is an iconic sword wielded by Tidus in FFX, and later raised by Yuna in FFX-2. This sword not only came with a great look, but a great story to follow too. The only bad thing about this sword was it's stats. It was one of those, looks cool, but hits like a limp noodle. Sure, it was okay for a level or two, but I found that I replaced it way to quickly.

#6 - ChaosEater  (Darksiders)

Do you see this thing? It's gorgeous, but it's so ugly at the same time. I mean, what's going on here? Is it a barbarian style sword? Is it a spawn from a demonic being? Actually, this is the blade that the Red Horsemen carried during his battles between Heaven and Hell. This thing hurts, it was powerful and killed everything. The main problem with it? It's cool looking but it never truly hit bad-ass.

#5 - Energy Sword (Halo)

We start our top 5 Bad-ass picks with the Energy Sword. This, this is gorgeous. A plasma sword that when cutting also cauterizes the wounds, but that doesn't matter because you're already dead! It's truly one of a kind, that has an amazing color palate and stunning in game graphics. This was the weapon that everyone tried to grab when they saw it. 'The actual blade is composed of two partially ionized 'blades' of free moving electron based gas held in a blade-like form by two small magnetic-field generators built into the handle of the weapon.' (The facts)

#4 - Frostmourne (World of Warcraft, Warcraft 3)

Number four Bad-ass sword is Frostmourne. A deadly, enchanted rune blade that is known throughout the Warcraft lore. It was a blade that Ner'Zhul threw into the Frozen throne, predicting that Arthas, the most current Lich King, would find it on his quest to kill the dread lord Mal'ganis. To the players who have seen it in game during the boss fight, it really sticks out. It not only has graphics in game but each cut-scene is carefully crafted to show the true power of the blade. Truly a top five in my book.

#3 - Monado (XenoBlade Chronicles)

One of THE MOST original sword designs to have ever been featured in a video game and the number three spot on the Bad-ass countdown goes to Monado from the XenoBlade Chronicles. It's not every day you're beating you're enemies with a legendary blade. Not only does the sword destroy you're enemies, it also grants the wielder the ability to see into the future. This sword leads the way into battle by controlling the ether around it. Like the sword in the stone, the Monado can only be tamed by one, and you know him as Shulk.

#2 - The Master Sword (Legend of Zelda)

Number two on my most Bad-ass list of swords goes to The Master Sword, held by our very own Link. This sword is used by the main character for every game he's found in. It's the most iconic sword available today. People go to great lengths to get their very own version, even if it's Styrofoam or metal. It's not the most extravagant piece around, but it gets the job done. I can't really explain this sword more because it's so well known already. Parents are pretty much almost training their kids to know the story behind this sword from a young age.

#1 - Nightmare's Soul Edge  (SoulCalibur)

It's big, it's evil, it's original. The number one pick on my top 15 Bad-ass swords goes to Nightmare's Soul Edge. The look, the feel, the gameplay, everything was perfect. Sure, everyone had the Heavenly version, but everyone who was anyone decided to go for the Nightmare version as soon as they could. It just felt better, a heavy hitting sword that danced in the air like a Japanese cherry blossom petal as it slowly falls to the ground. This sword has been seen in multiple SoulCalibur games and is still a fan favorite to this day.

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Wholy, my hands are tired. Well that's it for now!
Like I said, if you have a better suggestion, or have a more favorable weapon from a video game let us hear!

As always,
-Tisnight


White Night Review

The horror game genre is in a bit of a slump as of late. Most games that claim to be in it are either action games masquerading as horror, or simply jump scare factories. There are few games these days that try to tell a story and build suspense, most just yell boo and hope for a reaction. White Night understands the value of suspense and storytelling, even if it stumbles a bit in a few other areas.

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Messiest. Ghosts. Ever.
You play a man who thinks he's struck a woman on the road under the cover of darkness. Your car swerves as you try to avoid her and you injure yourself in the process. Looking for help and possibly answers you seek shelter at the closest house. A garden full of graves and strange markings litter the outside of the home. Things go from bad to worse when you venture through its doors to discover the abode shrouded in darkness. Armed only with your wits and a pack of matches you begin to unravel the mystery that lies therein.

Those who’ve played survival horror games like the original Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark will feel right at home as they skulk around the house, finding clues and unearthing the enigma that surrounds it, all while avoiding the ghosts that will stall your progress at every turn. Gameplay harkens back to the days of old school adventure games like Grim Fandango and the Monkey Island series with its series of simple but fun puzzles, almost all of which employ the use of light to uncover the solution.

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Come on baby light my fire.
It is this contrast between light and darkness that becomes the backdrop for the game. Smaller touches, like the soft film grain on white areas, are what make images pop on the screen and brings the noir motif out fully. Combined with the fixed camera angles made famous in the survival horror games of the 90’s there are multiple moments that will make you feel as though you are in one of the many pulp novels the game draws inspiration from.

For a story in an adventure style game to work, it needs to be fairly straightforward, something White Night does a decent job at. It services the gameplay well and you’re rarely left wondering where to go and what to do next. The intermittent narration that runs through White Night sums up the events well enough, that if you miss any of the scattered documents found lying around such as diaries, letters, and news clippings you never feel out of the loop.

The puzzles are relatively easy, but they never bore you. You’ll figure them out within the first few tries with the exception of one or two that had particularly obtuse solutions. The best puzzles are ones that service or supplement the game’s story while not becoming a roadblock to it. White Night does this in several instances by using the game’s lore to its advantage, so if you’ve been following the story with any passing interest their solutions will foreshadow events that will happen later, adding a nice touch to the experience.

You’ll be going to these puzzles by navigating the mansion’s many blackened rooms. The only method to light your way in many cases, is by using a pack of matches. These only last a short period of time and if you’re left in the darkness too long, you’ll be at the mercy of the ghosts that roam the halls; if you get too close to them, they’ll come for you anyway. The matches themselves are a nice idea, think of them like the ink ribbons in the original Resident Evil, however there are simply too many of them around. It brings the suspense down a tad knowing you can simply go to the kitchen and find dozens of them lying around. I had managed to beat the game with 10 matches remaining (you can carry a maximum of 12) with plenty more within arm’s reach.

In addition to the game’s cutscenes and vivid gameplay, there are a number of various tomes and publications around the mansion that offer more details as to who the characters are and how they fit into the story. While not essential to beating the game, they offer a bit of flavor text that would have been nice; that is if someone bothered to proofread them. The documents’ seemed to receive only the most cursory of revision, before being hastily sent to market. It is my understanding that the developer is based in France, so there may have been a translation issue. Either way, there are multiple grammatical errors, which seems inexcusable for what is such a short affair.

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Since Steam won't let me take a screenshot of the game's bad grammar here's a pic of the protagonist pushing furniture.
The game clocks in at about 4-6 hours, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Games, especially those in the survival horror genre, tend to overstay their welcome and bring little to the table after they do. It is simply harder to get scared when you’re 10 hours in on a 30 hour story. White Night fits a good amount of content within a little package.

Fixed camera angles may be a deal breaker for some. It can be frustrating at times to run from a ghost in one room and suddenly head back into that room and die because of the next room’s perspective forcing you back, but that is the same for nearly every game that uses this mechanic. It’s an unavoidable problem that seems to plague the survival horror genre the most. I found it to be annoying but it did not completely detract from the experience.

White Night is a game that rises above its faults and provides a short but unnerving survival horror experience. There are some that won’t be able to look past its brief length, fixed camera angles and lack of editing but if you’re able to, you’ll find a delightfully creepy story that has a great deal of suspense and intrigue. Recommended for anyone who is a fan of old school horror games.


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-William Sierra

Reviewed: Digital PC copy of White Night provided by Activision.
All screenshots provided by the publisher.