Season's Greetings, India! We hope you all have a wondrous day full of good cheer & beer.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Season's Greetings!
Season's Greetings!
Season's Greetings! We hope you all have a wondrous day full of good cheer & beer.
Monday, 30 December 2013
CeX Houston Deerbrook open now!
That's right CeX fans, CeX Houston Deerbrook is now open! Come on down to sell/trade your unwanted phones, games, computers and gadgets. Pick up something new and shiny for yourself - you know you deserve it ;), or chat with us about all the geeky things you love.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us at 20131 Highway 59 N., Unit 2272, Humble, TX, 77338, or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us at 20131 Highway 59 N., Unit 2272, Humble, TX, 77338, or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
CeX's Games of the Year, Number 1
Number 1 – The Last of Us
We’ve made it – the list has reached number one and it’s none other than Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. Naughty Dog’s masterpiece is a culmination of this entire generation of gaming – it’s the perfect title, a triumph of the video game industry. It’s not only the best game of 2013; it’s probably the best game of the decade.
The Last of Us is special in many ways but most notably through Naughty Dog’s incredible storytelling and narrative. Post-apocalyptic America is a decaying land, full of grotesque mutants and corrupt humans but it’s the focus on the two protagonists that has the most emotional impact on you the gamer. The Last of Us is gripping from start to end without any respite and it’s this sense of constant danger lurking everywhere that makes this such a special and immersive experience.
The fantastic story is helped along with some absolutely stunning presentation. Visually The Last of Us is simply remarkable – Naughty Dog’s interpretation of a ruined America is horrifying yet simultaneously beautiful and the mutants you encounter are terrifying, utterly terrifying. Some of the best audio is in place here; a stunning soundtrack and attention to detail makes every single movement feel real and immersive.
Finally, this unbelievable title rounds off with amazing gameplay. Survival horror is truly a genre that’s died out in the last generation of gaming but Naughty Dog brings back some ideas that pay homage. Limited ammo, scavenging for supplies and a well thought out crafting system keeps you on your toes and forces you to change your gameplay style according to the situation you’re faced with. The Last of Us is always shifting its dynamics making it unpredictable and as a result, a fiendish nightmare for the senses.
The Last of Us is pretty much everything that’s great about the video game industry. Perhaps we are leaning to more story-driven gameplay, perhaps presentation is taking a slightly bigger influence over gameplay but here we have a title that simply has it all in abundance. PlayStation 3 owners have truly been blessed with another absolute gem from Naughty Dog. The Last of Us is 2013’s number 1 game of the year.
Igor Kharin.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
CeX's Games of the Year, 2 – 4
Number 4 – Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
The fourth best game of 2013 on our list is another early release that immediately caught the attention of gamers globally. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was a wonderful addition to the otherwise dwindling role-play genre. Maybe gamers are starting to lose patience with games that require vested time commitments and prefer the quick in-and-out games but here we have a magical adventure full of wonder, mystery and incredible gameplay. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was not one to miss.
What made Ni No Kuni so appealing straight away was Studio Ghibli providing the visual production for the title. Anyone who knows anything about animation will know about Studio Ghibli’s influence on the medium (My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, etc), so it was an absolute honour to have them work on a PlayStation exclusive. This of course paid off because Ni No Kuni was easily one of the most beautiful games of this year.
Looks can only go so far but luckily for Ni No Kuni, it also possessed one of the most enchanting story lines of 2013 too. The main protagonist Oliver was a lovable child and all the incredible characters you met along the way were full to the brim with life and personality. Ni No Kuni was a true example of how to invest gamers emotionally into a world they have created.
The final piece of the puzzle is of course gameplay and Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch excelled in this department too. Some have described the gameplay as open-world Pokemon-like battling as you collect creatures and use them to battle, and that’s a reasonable comparison. Maybe GameFreak could learn a thing or two here and implement it into their franchise! Back on topic, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of the most special releases the PlayStation 3 ever had and is a must play.
Number 3 – The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
In at number three is the spiritual successor to one of the most popular action-adventure games ever made, A Link to the Past. The Legend of Zelda: A Link between Worlds was initially meant to be a recreation of the classic title but production forced the game in a new direction. While heavily inspired by its predecessor there are enough changes here to make this instalment of The Legend of Zelda series probably the best one to come out on a handheld device ever.
It’s fair to say that very few The Legend of Zelda games wouldn’t make a top 10 list of the respective year they came out – but A Link between Worlds stands out significantly. Most notable is the design decision to allow players to choose what order they complete the game’s various dungeons in. Traditionally The Legend of Zelda guided you in a sequential order but gamers are now free of this style of gameplay and are allowed to tackle the game as they see fit.
Of course exploration is a big part of the game and you won’t find a better world to explore than Hyrule, or the dark world alternative Lorule. A special and unique artistic design follows the series wherever it goes and while it’s not as striking as say WindWaker there’s still something incredibly special, both visually and through audio, to engage with.
The most impressive thing about The Legend of Zelda: A Link between Worlds is that it could have been so easy for Nintendo to rest on their laurels, play it safe and re-create a traditional title. Instead however, we have a game that may not exactly blow the series wide open, but it provides that excellent balance of nostalgia and new ideas and concepts that helps keep the series feeling fresh and alive. This is absolutely one for 3DS owners to get stuck into this Christmas.
Number 2 – Super Mario 3D World
We’ve come down to number 2 and it’s none other than Super Mario 3D World – a remarkably structured, well balanced, heap of fun. This is the go-to local coop multiplayer experience of 2013.
It’s incredible to think that after all the years of Mario games, there’s still possibility for improvement and innovation. While the concept is familiar, the product itself is refreshing. Super Mario 3D World expertly balances fun single player action and competitive cooperative gameplay – something that Mario titles have struggled to do since going multiplayer. This is hands down, the best multiplayer Mario experience bar the Mario Kart franchise.
In terms of presentation the Mario universe could only go from strength to strength on the Wii U. Beautiful artistic design and vivid colours explode from the screen but it’s perhaps the subtle textures and the real attention to detail that makes Super Mario 3D World so beautiful for the senses.
Just like The Legend of Zelda: A Link between Worlds, the most impressive thing about Super Mario 3D World is Nintendo not resting on their laurels and once again providing a reminiscent yet fresh experience. Perfectly balanced with challenging gameplay, incredible level design and presentation makes Super Mario 3D World the best Wii U game available and the second best game of 2013.
Igor Kharin.
Saturday, 28 December 2013
CeX's Games of the Year, 5 – 7
Ah the FPS-adventure – a tried and tested formula that some may consider to be overdone now. What a pleasant surprise it was when Bioshock: Infinite came out and proved to us all that games can be led by story as opposed to gameplay. This was a journey that simply couldn’t be missed.
Straight off the bat it was difficult not to fall in love with Bioshock: Infinite. An enchanting world in the skies hooks you as a dramatic and engaging story unfolds before your very eyes. It was obvious that Bioshock: Infinite’s gameplay was dated (in fact pretty much didn’t change since Bioshock 2) but no one cared because it was all about finding out what happened, what was happening and what was going to happen.
As a series Bioshock has always been philosophical in nature and perhaps that’s what sucks us in but you can’t question how well the developers challenge morality and other intriguing issues. It is games like these that make it vividly clear how video games as an entertainment source can be thought provoking and emotion evoking. Bioshock: Infinite stood for everything that’s great about video games and is an excellent ambassador for the industry as a whole.
So if you’re tired of playing Call of Duty or Battlefield 4, maybe it’s time you took a step into a fictional world that will challenge your mind and engage you on a different level. Bioshock: Infinite is that game that gets you thinking and makes you want to see out the story to unravel the mystery before you.
Fire Emblem: Awakening is a glorious return for the franchise and a wonderful example of what the Nintendo 3DS is really capable of. However due to the brutal difficulty curve the series is known for, not many people have had experience with the franchise. This is a crying shame because veteran RPG gamers classify Fire Emblem as a staple and must-play experience and this tradition is kept alive with Fire Emblem: Awakening.
Fire Emblem: Awakening is not only the most accessible portable RPG available; it’s also the most engaging with the most depth. Opening the door for newcomers while keeping the same intensity traditional fans crave means there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.
Perhaps the best thing about Fire Emblem: Awakening is its stunning production value. An incredible story intertwines thought provoking and engaging gameplay. The ability to actually lose characters due to death imposes a sense of responsibility and purpose on you – something that many games have never come close to properly creating thanks to death being ultimately inconsequential. Fire Emblem: Awakening ensures every decision you make is the best possible decision for victory and survival and this results in one of 2013’s most entertaining experiences on a portable console.
5 – Devil May Cry
When I first completed DmC all the way back in January I said to all of my friends, “this will be a contender for game of the year come December” and I still stand by that statement. Dante returned in incredible fashion bringing with him memorable action, great gameplay and one of this year’s best video game soundtracks to boot courtesy of Combichrist and Noisia.
DmC had a lot of work to do considering the series had gradually lost the spark that made the original Devil May Cry so special. Developers Ninja Theory opted for a reimagining of the series by taking Dante back to his early years. Younger Date was witty, charming and a perfect video game hero, his badass attitude is always unforgettable and this is especially prominent here.
DmC is the only hack’n’slash adventure on our top 10 list and considering other games like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Ninja Gaiden 3 all came out in 2013, it really says something about DmC’s quality. The gameplay was perfectly balanced and the ever-engaging grade ranking system had you battling for those perfect scores. Plenty of weapon, enemy and combo variety meant there was lots of different ways to play the game and lots to come back to.
Perhaps DmC: Devil May Cry’s best feature was the incredible art design implemented. Throughout the game Dante would traverse the barriers between worlds and the design was incredible – fragmented buildings, endless morphing and other artsy movements made this game incredibly pleasant for the eyes. There’s no doubt that DmC: Devil May Cry was one of the best games 2013 had to offer, as it impresses thoroughly across the board.
Igor Kharin.
Friday, 27 December 2013
CeX's Games of the Year, 8 – 10
Happy run-up to 2014 CeX fans and welcome to our round up of the best 2013 had to offer. Over the next 4 days we will reveal our list of what we consider to be the finest, most entertaining and downright incredible titles 2013 served up, culminating in our top Game of the Year 2013.
After the immensely successful reincarnation of Mortal Kombat there was little doubt that Injustice, NetherRealm’s take on DC Comic’s super heroes, was going to be something special and boy it didn’t disappoint.
Translating a host of characters that have never been in video games before into a complex, challenging and thoroughly entertaining brawler couldn’t have been an easy task but there simply wasn’t a more perfect group of developers to take on this challenge. Injustice provided an engaging story, which is incredibly rare for fighting games, while also serving up tantalising combat that had your favourite heroes perform iconic moves in iconic battles.
Ultimately Injustice: God’s Among Us is a unique brawler that welcomes novices, intermediates and veteran fighting fans alike, something that goes a long way in the brawler genre. With an incredible story mode, brimming with content and fan service all in one fantastic package, it’s difficult not to see Injustice: God’s Among Us as a highlight of 2013.
9 – Pokemon X & Y
The Pokemon franchise has been at the heart of Nintendo gaming since the 1990’s and it’s absolutely no surprise how much global success Pikachu and his buddies have had. Pokemon X & Y set a new standard for Pokemon games – the first in the series to completely revamp the games’ age-old graphics and use the Nintendo 3DS’s full power to bring the creatures out of the handheld screen and the result was staggering.
Pokemon games always bring out the kid inside gamers and it’s no surprise that from the word go Pokemon X & Y draws you into the world you loved growing up, while at the same time presenting you with new experiences, ideas and gameplay mechanics that make this adventure feel fresher than ever.
While it may not have been the reimagining die-hard Pokemon fans have been waiting for, it’s absolutely a step in the right direction towards that ever-elusive open world, 3D adventure, Pokemon game fans all over the world are dreaming about. For the time being however, enjoy a beautiful new world, a whole host of new Pokemon and most importantly, fantastic new connection options that have made this Pokemon adventure global.
8 – Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends, which can possibly be described as platforming perfection, not only redefines what’s expected from a great platformer but also provides something that seems to be dying in modern gaming – local cooperative gameplay.
After Rayman Origins created such a buzz it was hard to see how Legends could top such an awesome hit. Fortunately good things don’t need to change much and that’s the case here. Legends builds upon the fantastic gameplay, incredible balance, creativity and fun that was Origins and takes it that one step further.
The result of course is utter perfection, especially when played with friends. Legends shines during the four player local coop (5 players if you’re on WiiU) which gets everyone, no matter what age or skill level, involved and having a blast. Creating this atmosphere in your living room is no easy task but we have an excellent example of the perfect party game to engross a group of gamers.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Rayman Legends is its ability to constantly reinvent ways to show off what you’d probably consider not to be new or innovative content. Rayman Legends’ spin on things is refreshing and utterly hilarious – making it a worthy addition to our list of 2013’s best.
Igor Kharin.
Thursday, 26 December 2013
CeX Santry, now open!
Well jingle my bells CeX fans, CeX Santry is now open! Come on down to sell/trade your unwanted phones, games, computers, gadgets and anything else Santa got wrong this year. Pick up something new and shiny for yourself - you know you deserve it ;), or just chat with us about all the geeky things you love.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Unit 31/32, Omni Shopping Centre, Santry or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Unit 31/32, Omni Shopping Centre, Santry or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Merry Christmas!
Season's Greetings! We hope you all have a wondrous day full of good cheer & beer.
Stores closed 26th December:
Andover, Barnet, Belfast, Castleford, Dartford, Gravesend, Liverpool, Rugby Phone, Runcorn, Stourbridge, Stillorgan
Stores closed 1st January:
Andover, Ashton Under Lyne, Ballymena, Barnet, Barnsley, Basildon, Belfast, Bootle, Burton On Trent, Castleford, Chesterfield, Chippenham, Cramlington, Darlington, Dartford, Grantham, Gravesend, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Leicester Phone Exchange, Middlesbrough, Newry, Rugby Phone Exchange, Runcorn, Salford, Shrewsbury, Skelmersdale, Slough, Southampton, Stirling, Stourbridge, Telford, Walthamstow, Washington, Wythenshawe, Dundalk, Stillorgan
Merry Christmas!
Season's Greetings, Australia! We hope you all have a wondrous day full of good cheer & beer.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Kick-Ass 2
In 2010 the comic-to-film adaptation of Kick-Ass was unleashed upon the world. The film was helmed by Matthew Vaughn who also directed Layer Cake and Stardust and subsequently one year later, X-Men: First Class. No one felt that the Kick-Ass could be faithfully translated to the big screen, and while the film did ease up a bit on the violence and the more controversial stuff, it was one of the best films of 2010. It was a powerful, funny, exciting and a dark twist on the superhero genre. Three years later and Kick-Ass 2 has arrived on Blu-Ray and DVD. It's directed by Jeff Wadlow, a guy who directed a few awful looking films, and had a bit part in 2007's I'm Through With White Girls. So yeah, needless to say Kick Ass 2 doesn't just fail to live up to the original, but manages to take a huge dump on it.
Kick-Ass 2 picks up some time after the end of the original. Dave Lizewski (Kick-Ass) has gotten bored of his life as a regular teenager, and has begun training with Mindy McCready (Hit-Girl), who Dave always viewed as a true superhero. However, Chris D'Amico, now in control of the mob his father left in the wake of his death, takes on the mantle of “The Motherfucker”, and vows to carry out revenge on Kick-Ass.
After Mindy promises to give up being a superhero to her adoptive father, Dave joins “Justice Forever”; the worlds first superhero group. Led by Colonel Stars-and-Stripes, Justice Forever is now in the sights of The Motherfucker who begins assembling his very own group. All of the pieces are in place for Kick-Ass 2 to be better than, or at least as good as, the first film. But Kick-Ass 2 fails to deliver on so many levels.
The script is just awful. Remember in the first film there was a fantastic story between Mindy and her father? Remember how there was so much tension during the scene in which Kick-Ass' identity was going to be revealed? Remember the fantastic dialogue and banter that Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl shared? Well there's none of that here. The loss of the most important relationship in Mindy's life leads to nothing. There are almost zero scenes of tension throughout the film, and the dialogue between Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl is no longer witty, effective or shocking.
However, the film feels like it hits some kind of stride when Kick-Ass joins Justice Forever. This is mainly down to Colonel Stars-and-Stripes, who is played fantastically by Jim Carrey. Sporting a busted up face and mashed nose, the Colonel's weapon of choice is a baseball, while his back-up is his guard dog, Eisenhower, a dog that has quite a taste for human testicles. But while the group is filled with interesting characters, the film just falls flat when trying to keep them interesting. Basically, they’re canon fodder for The Motherfucker. That's what they're there for, and that becomes painfully obvious quite early in.
The other side of the story features Mindy and her attempt at being a “normal” girl. Of course, it doesn't end well, and when I watched the scene in which she makes a bully violently shit herself in front of everyone in the cafeteria, I realised that Mindy's complete story arc in Kick-Ass 2 is utterly meaningless. The film juggles a whole bunch of balls in the air, and comes to a head with a messy, lame and absolutely anti-climactic head-to-head between the superheroes and supervillians. Ugh.
Kick-Ass 2 tries way too hard to be like the first film, and ends up coming across like a shitty, cheap imitation. This is usually most apparent through the violence. Both films are exceptionally violent, but Kick-Ass threats the violence with more dread. The scene in which Big Daddy is set on fire in the first film is shocking, and really hits home the fact that in these films, and genre in which we're conditioned to believe that the hero will always win, no one is safe. In Kick-Ass 2 it treats the violence in more of an immature way. For instance, the attempted rape scene sticks out as just crass, which shows The Motherfucker unable to rape a girl because he can't get an erection. The first film didn't sugar coat things, but fuck, Kick-Ass 2 is just repugnant.
Overall Kick-Ass 2 is a failure, and testament to what happens when you follow up a critically successfully film with a different director and writer for its sequel. It's an imitation of Kick-Ass and not a good one at that. Jim Carrey is the best thing about the film though he refused to support it because of its violent nature. Now looking back he probably didn't want to support it because, well, it's shit. I agree.
Kick-Ass 2 gets its ass kicked with a 3/10.
Denis Murphy
Kick-Ass 2 at CeX
Friday, 20 December 2013
CeX Cork, open now!
That's right CeX fans, CeX Cork is now open, just in time for Christmas! Come on down to sell/trade your unwanted phones, games, computers, gadgets and enjoy the Christmas cheer. Pick up something new and shiny for someone you love at Christmas, treat yourself - you know you deserve it ;), or just to chat with us about all the geeky things you love.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us in on the Ground Floor, Fitzgerald House Grand Parade, Cork or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us in on the Ground Floor, Fitzgerald House Grand Parade, Cork or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
*Much love to all who made CeX Cork possible!*
Gran Turismo 6
It seems like only yesterday when I cracked open my CD case of Gran Turismo for the Playstation and marvelled at not only the superb graphics, but also at the realistic depiction of countless real world cars. That was 15 years ago. Now, after a number of sequels and spin-offs, Sony is openly trying to recapture the glory days of the original Gran Turismo, but does Gran Turismo 6 achieve this or is it just Gran Turismo 5 and a half? A bit of both, really.
Firstly, Gran Turismo 6 goes all out in the features and presentation department. It's really quite remarkable. The first noticeable selling point is the fact that there's an overall of 1200 cars to drive here. Yes, that's right - 1200 cars. Despite some of them almost being cheap carbon copies of each other, there's more than enough to keep even the most cynical gamer happy. From older sports cars like the Alpine A110 1600, to the more modern rides like the Pagani Zonda R '09 and everything in between, the amount of usable cars here is staggering. In fact, the action isn't entirely grounded to our planet either, as the player also has the ability to race the Lunar Rover on the Moon.
Even this track, despite being done for laughs, is actually quite enjoyable due to the time and effort put into the Lunar Rover's handling. In fact, the handling of every car in Gran Turismo 6 is expertly done too, as each one feels completely different to take control of. This general improvement on Gran Turismo 5 can especially be felt on tight turns, in which you can really feel your cars suspension take a beating. From slight bumps in the road to hard direct hits from other competitors, the car controls in Gran Turismo 6 are next to none. Fact.
The tracks themselves are pretty impressive as are the challenges and events. These range from typical races to more diverse options such as Kart racing and rally events to take part in. However, for the most part you've probably seen it all before, particularly in the Gran Turismo series itself. In this respect it can often feel like a rethread of Gran Turismo 5, rather than a completely new title. But I guess this has always been a problem with the franchise, as once it perfects the art of racing, it can't exactly do any better than that.
Gran Turismo 6's solution to this conundrum is throw as many championships, events and cars at the player that is humanly possible. And while that isn't exactly a bad thing, it doesn't do much better than Grand Turismo 5 outside of car handling. But with that said it's not a cheap cash-in. Instead, the developers have clearly tried to get back to basics, and have made a game accessible both to newcomers to the series as well as hardcore fans.
While it may not be a massive improvement over Gran Turismo 5, Gran Turismo 6 is an undoubtedly authentic and utterly impressive racing simulator. While it does have a sense of humour, this isn't an arcade racer, but instead a game that desperately tries to replicate the feel of being behind the wheel. And in that respect it succeeds in leaps and bounds. However, here's my advice: If you're a huge Gran Turismo fan you should buy it, because lets be honest, you were going to do that anyway, right? But if you're new to the series, be sure to dig into the demo first which is available on PSN.
At the end of the PS3's life-cycle, Polyphony Digital have created the best Gran Turismo in years, but for regulars players of the series it might just be too similar to it’s predecessor to justify a full price purchase.
Gran Turismo 6 is just about at full throttle with a 8/10.
Denis Murphy
Gran Turismo 6 at CeX
Thursday, 19 December 2013
The Internship
There was once a day in which Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn could bring in the big bucks, when they were the go-to guys for comedy. But that time is past, and all we’re left with now is the occasional sight of them trying to recapture they former box office glory. The latest film from the duo is The Internship, a film that is not only a huge sickening advert for all things Google related, but also one that is completely and utterly without any redeeming quality. From the typical red-text-on-white-background poster to awful moral at the end of the story, The Internship is less enjoyable than a root canal.
Billy McMahon (Vaughn) and Nick Campbell (Wilson) are casualties of the current economic crisis, and are losing job after job. After reaching his breaking point, Billy applies both of them for an internship at Google. After a weird interview that tests their creativity, the pair- along with other interns- are put into groups and pitted against each other. The winners all receive full-paid jobs at Google. Through challenges such as creating apps and finding advertisers, the groups must show the big guys at Google that they are what the company is looking for.
Of course, the group Billy and Nick find themselves in are made up of various people (aka stereotypes) which include Stuart, a hipster with a punchable face, Yo-Yo, an Asian American with a very stereotypical mother and Neha, a sex addicted Indian American girl who has never had sex before. Oh and the team is led by Lyle, a typical nerdy guy who is the butt of many jokes. Everyone in the film- apart from the lovely Rose Byrne, that is- is utterly unbearable, and are mostly incredibly offensive stereotypes.
The film is just not funny, plain and simple. From half hearted dick jokes to the look Billy and Nick give Lyle when he extends his fist for a bump and says, “Pound it!”, The Internship didn't even give me a chuckle. Apart from obvious script woes, the films greater problems mainly fall on the shoulders of the cast. Everyone involved just seems disinterested; especially Wilson and Vaughn who I'm sure are only doing this for the money. I can imagine it now: The two of them are just waiting by the phone, hoping there'll either be a call for Wedding Crashers 2 or that the debt collector won't break their legs this month. But no, out of nowhere they get a call from Google, and thus kicks off one of the worst films of all time, that just also happens to be crammed with Google praise.
Plus, while I know a film like this shouldn't be held accountable for sending out a shitty moral message, how it handles some of the characters is just repugnant. Billy and Nick bring Lyle to a strip club, ply him full of drink and have him fall in love with a stripper to loosen him up, they get Yo-Yo’s few thousand lap-dances in which he clearly... ummm... enjoys himself so he can stand up to his mother, they show Stuart real female breasts so he stops checking his phone and Neha, well they basically tell her, “you'll find the right guy to have sex with one day, honey”. This half hour of the film in which Billy and Nick “help” their teammates is just truly awful, awful stuff. It's basically saying to the audience, “Don't be such a nerd! Chill out, get shit faced and pay some woman to grind up against you.” The meaning of life according to The Internship, folks.
The reason why I love writing for this blog is the fact that we're very adamant on writing honest reviews. That doesn't happen too often with other publications, I can tell you. So with that in mind I'll tell you this- The Internship is a train crash of a film, a film that was only created with money in mind, a film so devoid of humour, passion and likeability that you'd be better off staring at a wall for two hours. It's trash. Then again, it does have one redeeming feature: Rose Byrne still remains hot.
The Internship gets fired with a 1/10.
Denis Murphy
The Internship at CeX
New store, CeX Newbridge, open now!
Today is a fantastic day CeX fans, CeX Newbridge is now open, expanding to our Irish family in time for Christmas! Come on down to sell/trade your unwanted phones, games, computers, gadgets and enjoy the Christmas cheer. Pick up something new and shiny or just to chat with us about all the techy things you love.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us in at Unit 28, Whitewater Shopping Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare or go to www.webuy.com/stores for your nearest CeX.
CeX Xmas Last Posting Dates
Hey CeX fans!
Are you getting something from webuy.com this Xmas for someone you love? If so, please place your order by midnight, 19th of December to ensure that your yuletide gifts arrive in time!
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Dead Rising 3
“Capcom’s staple zombie franchise rips its way onto Microsoft’s Xbox One as a launch day exclusive. While it may not pack enough of a punch to wow those looking for a true next generation experience, there’s enough here to suggest that we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the Xbox One can truly do.”
The Gameplay:
Dead Rising 3 doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the franchise – rather it streamlines some previous issues, making this a much more fluid and enjoyable Dead Rising experience. Set in a city as opposed to your traditional shopping mall complex – Dead Rising 3 has you fighting for survival while following a timed story with plenty of side missions, psychos and secrets to unlock.
Unlike in previous games Dead Rising 3 is a lot more lenient with its mission time frame, allowing players an opportunity to explore the ins and outs of the city without worrying too much about missing key story segments. Nevertheless, you are constantly watching the clock and battling with the desire to continue completing challenges and side missions to earn valuable PP while also ensuring you don’t fail the main story.
A crucial level up system is still in place here allowing you to create your own versatile zombie killer. It’s your choice how you develop, whether melee weapons are your favourite way to smash through hordes of zombies, or you prefer guns or explosives. Dead Rising 3 has you upgrading various elements, speed, health, survivor capacity – you name it and you can pretty much upgrade it.
One of the key additions to Dead Rising 3 is the on-the-go item customisation. Instead of going to work benches you can now combo up weapons and vehicles instantly providing you have the necessary items in your inventory. Although the weapons are just as whacky as ever, there’s definitely an element of seriousness surrounding Dead Rising 3 that wasn’t present before in the series.
The Presentation:
As with all launch games it’s fair to say that Dead Rising 3 is underwhelming. Sure it does provide glimpses of what the Xbox One is capable of – for example the sheer volume of zombies (were talking thousands at a time) on screen at any given time is thoroughly impressive. Yet character models, glitches in movement and other similar issues keep this from being a smooth and standout experience.
Perhaps the best thing is how well Capcom provide fan-service: finding Blanka masks and other Capcom gems is a lot of fun and shows just how in tune Capcom are with their audience.
The Verdict:
If this weren’t a next-generation title then Dead Rising 3 would be a lot more impressive. It just doesn’t possess anything that makes it a worthy specimen to show off a new machine. It’s a good game but that’s it nothing more and nothing less. The incredible power of the Xbox One does allow Dead Rising 3 to show off some impressive features including zombie volume, but it’s by no means a perfect game. Don’t let that put you off because overall Dead Rising 3 is a whole load of fun.
Gameplay – 7/10
Presentation – 7/10
Replay Value – 8/10
Verdict – 7/10
Igor Kharin
Dead Rising 3 at CeX
Monday, 16 December 2013
Aww yea, CeX Everett Mall open now!
Today is a fantastic day CeX fans, CeX Everett Mall is now open, expanding to our American family in time for Christmas! Come on down to sell/trade your unwanted phones, games, computers, gadgets and enjoy the Christmas cheer. Pick up something new and shiny or just to chat with us about all the techy things you love.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us in at 1402 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA, 98208.
*Much love to all who made this store a reality!*
Only God Forgives
This is an odd one, as after watching Only God Forgives I felt like I needed to give it a second viewing. But after the second viewing I was not only just as confused, but also incredibly annoyed at how pretentious the entire film comes across. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn who previously directed the hugely popular Drive, Only God Forgives is a film that throws out vague themes, imagery and dialogue in the hopes that viewers will find meaning in it’s muddled mess of a story.
The build up to this film had people thinking it was basically Drive 2. I can't blame them I guess. Ryan Gosling, check! Nicolas Winding Refn, check! A mostly silent main character, check! Moments of extreme violence, check! I can imagine it right now. It's a couples first date and the guy suggests they go see Only God Forgives. “I think it's like Drive!” he says as they sit down to watch the film.
An hour and a half later, and with the images of Ryan Gosling inserting his hands into a dead woman’s stomach and him also silently pleasuring a Thai prostitute with his hand (the same girl that he later makes strip in public), I can imagine the couple would never want to see each other again. So no, it's not like Drive. Not at all. And you know what? It never claimed to be, nor should it. This is a different beast entirely.
Only God Forgives follows Julian, an American running a muay-thai club in Bangkok. However, the club is really a front for a drug smuggling operation. After his brother Billy kills an under-age prostitute, Lieutenant Chang of the Thai police allows the girls father to beat Billy to death as a form of retribution. Then, once Julian’s mother arrives in Bangkok upon hearing about the death of her son, demands Julian kills the man responsible. Though hesitant at first, this decision to seek revenge spirals out of control quickly, and leads to Julian and Chang ultimately going head-to-head.
Visually Only God Forgives is outstanding. The film is beautifully saturated in the heavy soaked neon lights of Bangkok’s nightlife. This leads to a great sense of atmosphere, and it works wonderfully well in aiding Refn give us a peek into a dark underbelly of crime and violence within Bangkok. Throughout the film is shot incredibly well and can't be faulted on presentation, it's probably one of the best-looking films of 2012. The same goes for the score which is composed by Cliff Martinez, and contains some absolutely stellar synth tracks that make the soundtrack itself a must buy. The two tracks that stick out are “Bride of Chang” and “Wanna Fight”, both of which use the organ to a creepy and chilling effect.
OK, now that I've laid down some praise, here's my problem with the film. It plays out like an attempt at a pseudo-David Lynch type of film. It's a film in which Ryan Gosling speaks 17 lines of dialogue, looks at his hands for long extended periods, features oddly placed karaoke scenes and just seems so pleased with itself, so fucking pleased with itself that a percentage of people will call it a “misunderstood masterpiece”. No. Sorry if I'm genuinely missing the point here- and I could be, believe me- but it's completely up its own ass with pretentiousness. During the film I found myself in a daze thinking, “What the hell is going on?” and this is coming from someone who easily found meaning and a somewhat structured narrative from Mulholland Drive.
Though we all have different opinions, there will be many that found meaning and great interest in Only God Forgives. And you know what? Good on you. I'm glad it wasn't lost on all of us. But it didn't click with me, and I found myself increasingly lost in what it was trying to tell me. Yeah, I get it. His fists are his penis, and he's putting his hands into his mothers cut open belly because it has to do with being in the womb. But Only God Forgives just ends up meandering into a nonsensical mess of metaphors. I wanted to love it, I really did. It's a film of two parts- on one half it's a visually breath-taking film with an equally impressive soundtrack, while on the half it's a boring muddled mess of a incoherent story. A shame.
Only God Forgives can't be forgiven and is awarded a 4/10.
Denis Murphy
Only God Forgives at CeX
10 Lord of the Rings games that will get you pumped for The Hobbit
After returning to Middle Earth after the success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King), Peter Jackson gave us the first instalment of The Hobbit series last year with An Unexpected Journey. Now, with the promise of Smaug the dragon, elves, Orcs, familiar faces and the rise of the "Necromancer" at Dol Guldur, the latest film has finally hits theatres. However, while there aren't many games based upon The Hobbit yet, there were plenty based on The Lord of the Rings. So, with the fact that Middle Earth is back in our lives once again, here's 10 Lord of the Rings games that will get you pumped for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - PS2/Gamecube/Xbox/PC
I remember reading about this in a magazine prior to its release. "This isn't going to work!", I thought. I mean lets be honest, the idea of turning The Lord of the Rings into a hack-and-slash game sounds a little crazy, right? Then I played the demo. Wow. While the narrative of the film remains intact thanks to excellent inter-spliced film clips, the game plays like a dream as you hack your way through goblins, orcs, Uruk-Hai and even the more exotic creatures throughout the film. Additionally, the following game, The Return of the King, which again follows the exact same concept as this game, is even better. Blending all of the elements that made the films epic, these games from EA remain one of the best and most authentic film-to-game adaptations to date.
The War in the North is another title that brings the hack-and-slash genre to the world of Middle Earth. However, this time it's a little more visceral, bloody and violent. The game doesn't follow the story of the film trilogy, but instead focuses on the northern regions of Middle Earth, and has the player undertake tasks that will aid in the War of the ring. It got a bit of a clobbering on release from the critics, but anyone willing to give it a go will find a fun game with stunning visuals, slick bloody combat and a more mature take on the franchise. It also contains cooperative multiplayer, which is incredibly fun when working together to take out an armoured cave troll!
Lego The Lord of the Rings - PS3/Xbox 360/Wii/PS Vita/DS/3DS/PC/iOS
After a whole slew of "Lego" games, it was The Lord of the Rings' turn into the world of block building. Helmed by TT Games, Lego The Lord of the Rings follows the story of all three films in the trilogy perfectly, and even uses the real casts dialogue right from the films. From exploring Hobbiton and destroying wooden carts to the epic battle of Helms Deep that results in smashing hundreds of Lego Uruk-Hai, Lego Lord of the Rings is a fantastic title that shouldn't be overlooked. Like the Lego games before it, you can also use various Lego pieces to make your own characters, and this leads to a massive amount of customization. Also, despite its completely Lego presentation, Lego Lord of the Rings looks, feels and sounds very authentic.
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age - PS2/Xbox/Gamecube
In my opinion this is probably the most under appreciated Lord of the Rings title. How The Third Age approaches exploring, battles, spells, weapons and armour customization is identical to what you've seen in Final Fantasy- identical. The story itself places you in a secret fellowship whose mission is to stay one step behind the fellowship that we see in the films. You're there to watch over them, and if need be, provide some assistance. This assistance happens now and again, and intersects directly with the plot of the films. The best example of this is when you help Gandalf try and defeat the Balrog, deep within the bowels of the mines of Moria. The fight in insanely epic, and with the authentic film soundtrack pumping through your speakers, you'll feel as if you're taking part in the film itself. It's basically The Lord of the Rings: Final Fantasy, and that alone should be enough for most of you to want to play it right now.
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest - Wii/3DS/PS3/PS2/PSP
Aragorn's Quest didn't really get much press upon release. While it isn't exactly a fantastic game, it is quite an overlooked gem. The game opens with an older Samwise Gamgee sitting down with his children Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Elanor, and telling them the tale of Aragorn, who at this point is known as King Elessar. The game then flashes back to the events of the film trilogy, with gameplay being a blend of light exploration and sword fighting. Compared to the rest of the games on our list, Aragorn's Quest is a little lighter both in tone and visuals, but while it was aimed towards a younger audience, there's a lot of fun to be had here for all ages.
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest - PS3/Xbox 360/PC/DS
At release this was the game on our list that was probably shit-canned the most. I don't get it though, as The Lord of the Rings: Conquest is actually pretty fun and lets you take control of all the different races of Middle Earth. Conquest is purely based on fast combat ranging from many different types of classes from quick and nimble Scouts, purely combat based Warriors, to Mages who are perfect for long ranged attacks. The battles you take part in are loosely based on the films, but much like the films each battle is expansive, hectic and thrilling. The game shines with the absolutely excellent battle of Pelennor Fields, which is on a pretty large scale and ends up being quite faithfully adapted as to what we saw in the film.
You've probably never even heard of this. This little gem was released on the PSP to no fanfare, cheap box-art and graphics that were a little substandard even for the PSP. However, it's actually a pretty great game that everyone has overlooked. Like most games based on The Lord of the Rings franchise, the player has to take part in certain key battles during the trilogy. But in Tactics the battles take place on a grid overlaying each level, and moving your characters around this grid, building up a defence and ultimately attacking equates to a game that feels like chess. It's slow paced, but you'll find yourself planning routes, working out which enemies to dispatch first and enjoying the change in pace compared to other games on this list.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - PS2/Xbox/Gameboy Advance/PC
This is an interesting one. Before EA got their shit together and started cashing into the film franchise, Surreal Software quickly put into development a game adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring. However, it wasn't based upon the first film in the Peter Jackson trilogy, but instead based upon the original novel by Tolkien. It's a completely different take on gameplay compared to everything else featured on this list, but it successfully combines exploration, action and stealth into a nice- if flawed- little package. It's also very overlooked which is a shame, as there's fun to be had, if even for the beautifully crafted world that's presented here and the music that breaths life into it.
I hate real-time strategy games. Well, apart from the obvious exceptions (Command and Conquer I'm looking at you!), I find them quite tedious and boring. So I approached The Battle for Middle Earth with some hesitation. However during the first mission, which opens with a narration from Gandalf himself, my opinion completely changed. The Battle for Middle Earth is absolutely incredible, and lets the player partake in the War of the Ring; various campaigns and battles in a bid to destroy the forces of Mordor. The player can also take part in a completely separate campaign in which they take control of the forces of Mordor itself. These two campaigns are extremely different, and give the game a great sense of re-playability. And yes, you get to attack The Shire during the evil campaign, a mission in which you drive out or kill the hobbits and morph the once sleepy town into a landscape the dark lord himself would be proud of.
And lastly, did you ever want to actually be in Middle Earth? Did you ever want to stroll through Hobbiton or reach the cold heights of the Misty Mountains? Well now you can. Aside from The World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online is one of the best massively multiplayer online role-playing games out there, and lets you venture through the lands of Middle Earth, all the while interacting with countless players from across the world. The best part about it? It's completely free to download on the developers official website. There are expansion packs to buy such as The Mines of Moria, but even at its most basic The Lord of the Rings Online is a treat any Middle Earth fan shouldn't pass up.
Denis Murphy
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Tearaway
With LittleBigPlanet Media Molecule redefined the idea of true player interaction, and the sheer concept of “play” within videogames. But while there may be more LittleBigPlanet in store for us in the future, they have set their sights on the PS Vita for now. The PS Vita isn't selling that well at all though but after the rough sales so far and a lack of must-have titles, along comes Tearaway, a game that proves that buying a PS Vita is almost becoming mandatory for any respectable gamer.
The story it presents is simple. Tearaway is about a messenger- male or female- delivering a message to you, the player. In journeying through a stunningly realised paper-craft world and nicely utilising the PS Vita's unique abilities, the game keeps it simple and lets the player themselves create some of the games more interesting moments.
The game world is absolutely beautiful, and in many ways it brought about the same kind of reaction I had to Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon for the original PlayStation- which pretty much means I fell in love with it. The world is constructed entirely of paper-craft. Yep, from the sky, enemies, and terrain and, of course, the player, everything is made from paper. However, whereas Paper Mario had a similar approach, Media Molecule absolutely nail it here. Everything bends, crumples up, folds and moves, well, like paper!
I'd imagine it's something easier said than done, as little touches like a paper pigs ears bobbing up and down as it runs is just incredibly heart warming. Trust me, it's something you need to see to appreciate, but this paper world that Media Molecule is giving us here is truly a thing of beauty. You know, in a current gaming climate that is just saturated with dark and gloomy graphics, usually consisting of various shades of grey and brown, Tearaway is a breath of fresh air. It's intensely colourful, and contains some of the best visuals of 2013- and that includes consoles!
Tearaway is a platformer with a good deal of tricks up its sleeve. Much like LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway is all about interaction, and this continued trend on Media Molecule's part seems to cement it as their ethos. However, while LittleBigPlanet's player interaction was tied down to the PS3 controller- that is, until the PS Move came into being- Tearaway takes it one step further. While the PS Vita is a tremendously powerful hand-held with plenty of graphical potential, the key features that Tearaway utilizes here are the touch screen, touch pad and camera.
The game is almost built upon them. From tapping the touch pad to successfully bounce on special PlayStation marked areas to virtually busting your fingers through the touch pad and into the actual game, Tearaway is probably the first game that properly understands the potential behind the PS Vita's unique abilities. Personally, I thought the best aspect of Tearaway is the fact you can make your own paper-craft designs and wear them inside the game. It's a wonderful mechanic that will lead to endless hours of awesome creations.
Overall Tearaway is another successful notch in Media Molecule's belt. They could have just given us another hand-held LittleBigPlanet, but I suspect they're the kind of developers that don't like repeating themselves. Tearaway takes what LittleBigPlanet achieved and just runs with it, and puts the player in a unique position for outstanding creation. In the weeks nearing the end of 2013, players everywhere will be purely focused on what next-gen console to buy. However, you can add the PS Vita to that potential buyers list, and that's thanks to Tearaway.
Tearaway gets a well paper-crafted 9/10.
Denis Murphy
Tearaway at CeX
Killzone: Shadow Fall
“Killzone: Shadow Fall’s release was intended to be the staple title for every PlayStation 4 owner. What wasn’t expected was Shadow Fall turning out to be a reinvigoration for the series – making it not only a thoroughly entertaining shooter but a serious competitor in the 1st person shooter market. It’s certainly time to pay attention because Killzone: Shadow Fall impresses across the board.”
The Gameplay:
It’s absolutely clear that Killzone: Shadow Fall is a product that has learned from previous lessons and mistakes. For what was once a bland, sluggish shooter has now been transformed into a much more fluid, colourful and Halo-style space shooter that is thoughtful and engaging.
Shadow Fall’s campaign is perhaps somewhat disappointing – a convoluted story is thankfully overshadowed by engaging and varied gameplay that sees set-piece battles, strategic group encounters and even a dash of stealth gameplay.
The multiplayer community is who will obviously be the most pleased because Shadow Fall impresses with an array of online content to please a variety of different gamers. Lots of classes, weapon modifications and pleasant variety in maps makes this online shooter worth investing in, especially if you’re bored of the standard Call of Duty and Battlefield gameplay. It feels as if Shadow Fall has taken elements from lots of high-profile games like Halo and Call of Duty to create a new and inspired shooter that’s just a whole load of fun.
The Presentation:
Killzone: Shadow Fall certainly had a lot on its shoulders thanks to some unfortunate launch game delays on Sony’s new machine. As a result Shadow Fall really had to impress and give gamers something to talk about. Fortunately the PlayStation 4’s immense power makes this game look absolutely stunning (Crysis-like) and plays with fluidity and speed without any slowdown issues. Impressive terrains, great character models and attention to detail make the visuals far outweigh the actual depth of story and narration.
The Verdict:
Killzone: Shadow Fall may not be a perfect game, nor is it fantastic, but it’s so impressive to see how a franchise that was certainly on its way down has managed to climb back up, learn from its mistakes and shine once again. This is a game series that has clearly broadened its horizons with influence from many other top first-person shooters and consequentially combining those elements into a very enjoyable and thrilling exclusive launch title for the PlayStation 4.
Gameplay – 8/10
Presentation – 9/10
Replay Value – 8/10
Verdict – 8/10
Igor Kharin
Killzone: Shadow Fall at CeX
A Haunted House
You know, not too long ago I would have turned my nose up at anything one of the Wayans family made. But now, not so much. The Wayans family is made up of a whole slew of entertainers, but most notably brothers Marlon, Shawn, Damon and Keenen. Sure they have had their terribly flat comedic moments, but films like White Chicks and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood are absolutely perfect examples of what they're capable of, not to mention their fantastic TV sketch show In Living Color. So after my recent interest in their films, along comes A Haunted House, a film written, produced and starring Marlon Wayans. I had my fingers crossed for this one.
A bit of back story here: Originally Marlon, Shawn and Kennen were heavily involved with the Scary Movie franchise, and were effectively the creative driving force behind it. After money disputes in the lead-up to Scary Movie 3, they all left the project and a new team of writers, actors and director took the wheel on the hugely popular series. Just over a decade later, Marlon Wayans is in many ways giving us his new take on the comedy horror genre with A Haunted House, most notably basing much of the premise on Paranormal Activity.
The story follows Malcolm and Kisha, a young couple moving into their first house together. Despite Kisha's excessive gassy farts during the night, everything seems pretty perfect at first. That is until they start to experience some... paranormal activity (see what I did there? Eh? OK, I'll stop). The ghostly activity is pretty basic at first, but quickly escalates from doors slamming to Kisha and Malcolm getting high with the ghost while prank calling 911. Yep.
The set up is incredibly simple, but nicely opens up potential for some great gags. Since the days of Scary Movie we have seen so many parody films, so many send-ups of well known films, that it's actually pretty refreshing to see something that doesn't reference pop culture every 5 seconds. Remember when Charlie Sheen was in Scary Movie 5? You know, because- for some weird fucking reason- he was hot shit at that time due to idiotic drug and alcohol abuse. Well there's none of that.
Instead A Haunted House is very much a simpler, downscaled film that places its entire weight on the shoulders of Marlon Wayans. He delivers for the most part too. He's a fantastic physical comedic actor, and this shines throughout. In fact, he's the best part of the film, though he is backed up by a whole host of characters including a ghetto priest that quotes Samuel L. Jackson from Pulp Fiction during an exorcism, a gay psychic who desperately tries to get it on with Malcolm, and Rosa the maid of the house that, while the couple are out, gets naked women to cut cocaine and has sex with gardeners.
But despite A Haunted House having some pretty great scenes- including one in which the ghost has sex with Malcolm thinking it’s his wife- it falls flat quite often. It's a little too long for my liking, as the last 20 minutes or so spreads the gags a little too thinly. Also, despite the cast being perfectly acceptable, it would have been fantastic if Shawn, Marlon’s brother who starred with him in White Chicks, took a role in the film. They have great chemistry together and play off each other so well, and this lack of chemistry and effort on everyone’s parts aside from the lead is evident throughout. And yeah, it's not all laugh-out-loud material, but it tries, and when it fails it just moves on and never dwells on any gag too much.
Here's the thing. This is one of those films that get awful reviews and everyone shits all over, but that they probably secretly enjoyed. Go on, admit it. It's funny. You're safe here. If you're reading this review feel free to join W.A.A (Wayans Appreciation Anonymous) like the rest of us. Yea, it's not as good as other projects Marlon has worked on, but it does have its moments.
A Haunted House ghostbusts its way to a 6/10.
Denis Murphy
A Haunted House at CeX
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