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CollectionsEye candy on the PS4, some of the environments and scenes were pretty impressive. I thought it was a successful launch title - but the campaign felt very rushed and unoriginal. Not to say it wasn't fun, but there were a fair amount of invisible walls and other things wrong with the game that modern day shooters have moved on from.
A multiplayer mode seems a little more polished, and plays great with all the different classes, abilities and gadgets.
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About me
I live in Duluth with my wife and two basset hounds and we are loving it.Occupation: Parcel Sort Supervisor
About my collections
my collection is a work in progress...Lists
  5 votes
2013 - Year of Progress
(16 items)Game list by Hallz Published 11 years, 8 months ago
1 comment   17 votes
My Top 20 Most Overplayed Games
(20 items)Game list by Hallz Published 12 years, 6 months ago
7 comments |
Recent reviews
Killzone: Shadow Fall review
Posted : 10 years, 11 months ago on 22 November 2013 11:10
(A review of Killzone: Shadow Fall) 0 comments, Reply to this entry
Atom Zombie Smasher review
Posted : 11 years ago on 22 October 2013 03:22
(A review of Atom Zombie Smasher)A great zombie title from Blendo Games. I was instantly addicted to the tower-defense-esque gameplay. At the root of the game you will be placing a evaction zone in each randomly generate area as well as barricades, ground troops, snipers, mortars, mines, etc... Then the game plays out as your helicopter flies in sounds it's fog horn, attracting all of the survivors in the area. You are able to move your troops around and such, trying to fend off the horde.
The camera is way above the city. You'll be above the clouds looking down. The helicopter and other larger placeable objects are represented by sprites however the zombies/civilians are represented by just little colored cubes. This isn't a problem, and works really well as you watch the little yellow dots run from the purple dots as chaos ensues.
The sound effects were simple but worked well. They are mostly made up of buildings collapsing and explosions, but they do the trick.
The overmap was fine, but could have been made into more. In the post-game there is a note about the history of the game, pointing out that the earlier game had a more complex overmap, but was cut down in the later versions to focus on the main gameplay. Overall the experience is fun, but it feels like it is missing something.
The "story" is very odd... It throws a bunch of random little comic strips at you, which are range from humorous to just plain confusing. They try to be very different, but I ended up skipping over some of it.
Lastly it is worth mentioning that the game has strong mod support to allow for anything to be changed in the game. I haven't looked into it closely but it was described as being able to change almost anything - I imagine you could change the theme of the game from zombies into something else entirely.
I plan on sinking many more hours into this; you can make your way through a campaign in anywhere from 1-3+ hours depending on your settings - which are fully customizable right in the menu. Addicting!
The camera is way above the city. You'll be above the clouds looking down. The helicopter and other larger placeable objects are represented by sprites however the zombies/civilians are represented by just little colored cubes. This isn't a problem, and works really well as you watch the little yellow dots run from the purple dots as chaos ensues.
The sound effects were simple but worked well. They are mostly made up of buildings collapsing and explosions, but they do the trick.
The overmap was fine, but could have been made into more. In the post-game there is a note about the history of the game, pointing out that the earlier game had a more complex overmap, but was cut down in the later versions to focus on the main gameplay. Overall the experience is fun, but it feels like it is missing something.
The "story" is very odd... It throws a bunch of random little comic strips at you, which are range from humorous to just plain confusing. They try to be very different, but I ended up skipping over some of it.
Lastly it is worth mentioning that the game has strong mod support to allow for anything to be changed in the game. I haven't looked into it closely but it was described as being able to change almost anything - I imagine you could change the theme of the game from zombies into something else entirely.
I plan on sinking many more hours into this; you can make your way through a campaign in anywhere from 1-3+ hours depending on your settings - which are fully customizable right in the menu. Addicting!
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Quarriors Dice Building Game -Box Version review
Posted : 11 years, 2 months ago on 11 September 2013 10:07
(A review of Quarriors Dice Building Game -Box Version)A great game where you and your competitors take turns buying creatures and spells (in the form of dice) to form your "deck". For those familiar with deck building games, this is a a dice building game :)
Each player rolls their dice for a random affect [on each side of the die] and plays their "hand" of dice. It plays quickly and has a lot of variation with different, random creatures and spells available each time you play.
I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes deck building games. It is great being able to shuffle by shaking a bag of dice rather than dealing with a deck of cards.
Each player rolls their dice for a random affect [on each side of the die] and plays their "hand" of dice. It plays quickly and has a lot of variation with different, random creatures and spells available each time you play.
I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes deck building games. It is great being able to shuffle by shaking a bag of dice rather than dealing with a deck of cards.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Primordia review
Posted : 11 years, 2 months ago on 5 September 2013 10:09
(A review of Primordia)I was originally worried about getting hung up on the graphics and low res gui but ended up being so enthralled with the game that I didn't even notice. This ended up being a great game with characters that you really care about.
I give kudos to Wormwood Studios for creating a point-and-click adventure game that doesn't try and be over-creative with it's puzzle solutions. Only a couple times did I come across a solution that seemed to be overly complicated.
I also enjoyed the voice acting. It is worth noting that the main character is voiced by Logan Cunningham, the narrator in Bastion. I'm fine with reading text in games, but bad voice acting can ruin the experience for me.
The story was incredibly interesting. I couldn't get enough and found myself digging for little extra bits of history, which I normally don't do. A lot goes unexplained but I have high hopes that just leaves more room for a sequel/prequel.
I only had a couple of complaints. Some of the animations seemed a little half-assed. Some characters moved really well, but the main character moves choppy. There were also some oddities with pathing in different scenes of the game. Lastly was the cut scenes; in a game where graphics are simple, the cut scenes are where you can really convey the scene's emotion - but awkward pauses and limited/no sound for the scene (gun shot animations with no sound) seemed to take me out of the experience, rather than pull me in.
I only mention of the complains because they seem out of place. Lack of sound effects in the cut scenes when there is sound in rest of the game. Poor animations for just some of the characters. That is just me being too-critical. The game was great and I gave it a 9 because I will remember it for a long time and will continue to follow the studio in hopes that I see more from this universe.
I give kudos to Wormwood Studios for creating a point-and-click adventure game that doesn't try and be over-creative with it's puzzle solutions. Only a couple times did I come across a solution that seemed to be overly complicated.
I also enjoyed the voice acting. It is worth noting that the main character is voiced by Logan Cunningham, the narrator in Bastion. I'm fine with reading text in games, but bad voice acting can ruin the experience for me.
The story was incredibly interesting. I couldn't get enough and found myself digging for little extra bits of history, which I normally don't do. A lot goes unexplained but I have high hopes that just leaves more room for a sequel/prequel.
I only had a couple of complaints. Some of the animations seemed a little half-assed. Some characters moved really well, but the main character moves choppy. There were also some oddities with pathing in different scenes of the game. Lastly was the cut scenes; in a game where graphics are simple, the cut scenes are where you can really convey the scene's emotion - but awkward pauses and limited/no sound for the scene (gun shot animations with no sound) seemed to take me out of the experience, rather than pull me in.
I only mention of the complains because they seem out of place. Lack of sound effects in the cut scenes when there is sound in rest of the game. Poor animations for just some of the characters. That is just me being too-critical. The game was great and I gave it a 9 because I will remember it for a long time and will continue to follow the studio in hopes that I see more from this universe.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Legend Of Grimrock review
Posted : 11 years, 9 months ago on 23 January 2013 12:17
(A review of Legend Of Grimrock)If you like rpgs and are not turned off by the turn-based gameplay, this game has a lot to offer. You create a group of 4 adventures and control the whole party, first person, through the mountain of Grimrock. There are puzzles to solve and enemies to kill. The game is not strong on story but it is interesting; you are simply dumped in the mountain as punishment for your crimes leaving you with hope of survival and finding the exit.
Everything in the main game is predefined, so nothing changes if you decide to play through more than once. It limits the replay but the game is heavy on puzzles which will keep you playing for a while. A level editor is also included which from my brief time with has proven to be very easy to use.
Well worth the money, especially if you can nab it on sale!
Everything in the main game is predefined, so nothing changes if you decide to play through more than once. It limits the replay but the game is heavy on puzzles which will keep you playing for a while. A level editor is also included which from my brief time with has proven to be very easy to use.
Well worth the money, especially if you can nab it on sale!
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Zeno Clash review
Posted : 12 years, 3 months ago on 25 July 2012 08:45
(A review of Zeno Clash)Fun though sometimes frustrating combat and a very strange story. It's almost like someone had a disturbing dream and then made a game in it's image.
It's always nice to see games try something new. Zeno Clash puts you in the body of the main character where you see through his eyes in a sort of true-first-person perspective. The combat is fun though it can be unforgiving, and it's worth noting that the game comes off as a little difficult because of it. Though with adjustable difficulty and a forgiving checkpoint system, the difficulty isn't an issue.
I found it seems the creators tried so hard to come up with such unique characters in the game but didn't put forth the effort to focus on them more. I was interested in hearing and seeing all of the different characters but the game just flew on by them.
Overall a fun game and worth trying for the neat combat system and odd story/characters.
*SPOILER*
The ending was a little odd and I didn't quite get it. I know there is going to be a sequel but it didn't really leave me hanging, just confused.
It's always nice to see games try something new. Zeno Clash puts you in the body of the main character where you see through his eyes in a sort of true-first-person perspective. The combat is fun though it can be unforgiving, and it's worth noting that the game comes off as a little difficult because of it. Though with adjustable difficulty and a forgiving checkpoint system, the difficulty isn't an issue.
I found it seems the creators tried so hard to come up with such unique characters in the game but didn't put forth the effort to focus on them more. I was interested in hearing and seeing all of the different characters but the game just flew on by them.
Overall a fun game and worth trying for the neat combat system and odd story/characters.
*SPOILER*
The ending was a little odd and I didn't quite get it. I know there is going to be a sequel but it didn't really leave me hanging, just confused.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Zeno Clash review
Posted : 12 years, 3 months ago on 22 July 2012 09:07
(A review of Zeno Clash)Fun though sometimes frustrating combat and a very strange story. It's almost like someone had a disturbing dream and then made a game in it's image.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Prometheus review
Posted : 12 years, 4 months ago on 24 June 2012 11:08
(A review of Prometheus)Quick review: Overall I found this to be an appreciated addition to the "Alien" universe. Though it got a lot of mixed reviews, and did have a few over-the-top moments, if you are a true fan of the Alien franchise, it is a definite must-watch. Would like to see a director's cut.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Ready Player One review
Posted : 12 years, 5 months ago on 15 June 2012 07:43
(A review of Ready Player One)A book about the future. The economy has crashed and many people flock to a once-popular-mmo that evolved into something closer to a VR version of the internet. People socialize, play games and even have virtual jobs; for many people it is how they spend their day-to-day life.
The creator of the virtual world ends up passing away leaving behind a will dictating that anyone who is able to find an Easter Egg he hid inside the game will earn his estate.
A very cool book, and a quick read (384 pages). Filled with a ton of 80s pop culture, some of which I wasn't too familiar with (having been born mid-80s). I would highly suggest this book to anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s or enjoys gaming! Very nostalgic!
The creator of the virtual world ends up passing away leaving behind a will dictating that anyone who is able to find an Easter Egg he hid inside the game will earn his estate.
A very cool book, and a quick read (384 pages). Filled with a ton of 80s pop culture, some of which I wasn't too familiar with (having been born mid-80s). I would highly suggest this book to anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s or enjoys gaming! Very nostalgic!
0 comments, Reply to this entry
The Desert Spear (The Demon Cycle, Book 2) review
Posted : 12 years, 9 months ago on 4 February 2012 12:42
(A review of The Desert Spear (The Demon Cycle, Book 2))Does not disappoint. I really enjoy the world the writer has created with this series and eagerly awaiting the next installment.
*SPOILER*
This book picks up with Jadir's past as well as a look at his foreign cuture. It was a big change (and unexpected) from the first book but was great to read. After they author gives you a detailed look on Jadir it falls back into place with the group of protagonists and Jadir becomes a major character that some chapters revolve around.
The Warded Man is really fleshed out in this book and you get a good look on just who he is. The author doesn't really dive too deep into The Warded Man's mind but this isn't done with any of the characters, really.
*Bigger Spoiler*
The book leaves me wanting to read the third installment simply because it seemed it was leading up to a conflict that didn't happen. I am very curious to see what happens but dread having to wait for 3 more books to come out.
*SPOILER*
This book picks up with Jadir's past as well as a look at his foreign cuture. It was a big change (and unexpected) from the first book but was great to read. After they author gives you a detailed look on Jadir it falls back into place with the group of protagonists and Jadir becomes a major character that some chapters revolve around.
The Warded Man is really fleshed out in this book and you get a good look on just who he is. The author doesn't really dive too deep into The Warded Man's mind but this isn't done with any of the characters, really.
*Bigger Spoiler*
The book leaves me wanting to read the third installment simply because it seemed it was leading up to a conflict that didn't happen. I am very curious to see what happens but dread having to wait for 3 more books to come out.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Movies
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 My movies page Rated 367 movies |
TV
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My games page Rated 389 games |
Books
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Hallz commented on a list
My Top 20 Most Overplayed Games (20 games items)"Yay :) yeah. I see some of my lists get featured every once in a while."
7 years, 5 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Games I've Beaten11 years, 8 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Games on GruntLogic's Agenda (46 games items)"The Witcher: I tried playing it on my new computer and it played like crap :( It is very much a system hog... Sims City 4: Why not Sim City (5)? :)"
11 years, 10 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Best Games of 201211 years, 10 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold12 years, 2 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Games on GruntLogic's Agenda (46 games items)"Sword and Sworcery is a pretty cool game. A definite must :) I had to start over because I repurchased it for PC (had it on my iphone) so I have to get back to where I was before."
12 years, 3 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Listal's 100 Best TV Shows (2012)-RESULTS (100 tv items)"1.Battlestar Galactica 2.Lost 3.Dexter 4.Alias 5.Prison Break 6.Arrested Development 7.Farscape 8.X-Files 9.Weeds 10.That 70s Show"
12 years, 3 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
GruntLogic's Favorite Game Series (30 games items)"Hey, wondering: are the featured titles on the list you're favorites from each series?"
12 years, 3 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Top 50 Games (50 games items)"Thanks! I've had a incomplete list for a while. Still working on 100, might be a while :)"
12 years, 4 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Top 10 Books (10 books items)"I am actually very interested in it because it is a completed series... but it is very daunting because of fact is is so long. Though I actually don't know what it is about exactly..."
12 years, 4 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
Games on GruntLogic's Agenda (46 games items)"Orcs must die was a blast but short, and playing through again on the harder difficulty seemed near impossbile!"
12 years, 6 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
My Top 10 Overwatched Movies (10 movies items)"I thought I owned Gladiator, but maybe it is at my parents... I have been looking to pick up a cheap copy on bluray for a while now. I own 16 blocks but I have only watched it a hand full of times. "
12 years, 6 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
My Top 20 Most Overplayed Games (20 games items)"I was trying not to expand it past 10 but you brought up some good additions! It gets hard to tell the difference between hours logged and just having the feeling that I spent a long time with the gam"
12 years, 6 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
We have to go back! (10 games items)"Got skyrim, removed it from the list and added Uncharted 2. Still have to get that last trohpy in Red Dead Redemption... such a grind."
12 years, 6 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
We have to go back! (10 games items)"I actually just need to hit max level in multiplayer and then I'll have it :D I think I'm at level 30~ and I need to get to either 40 or 50. It's been like that for about a year now, the game is fun b"
12 years, 9 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
We have to go back! (10 games items)"Updated: Removed 3D Dot Game Heroes, received platinum Added Red Dead Redemption"
12 years, 9 months ago
Hallz commented on a list
We have to go back! (10 games items)"Good to know! I'll have to look into those. I have a couple of games to tackle before hand because I'm so close... But MGS and Heavy rain are defiantly one's on my list! ;)"
12 years, 10 months ago
Wow, my laptop plays The Witcher 2 beautifully. So... my laptop is more powerful than your desktop? Neat.
Um, and I'd rather play SimCity 4 because that game isn't a complete pile of shit. That's the nicest way I could put that. That new SimCity game is an abomination, and really represents many of the things that are currently wrong with the state of gaming today. That kind of behavior should NOT be reinforced, at all, ever.
And Dear Esther, Sword and Sworcery, Lone Survivor, and FTL between my Minecraft sessions... I'm still big into Minecrafting, so take advantage of that while it still lasts! I think I'm gonna organize my own MinecraftLAN before my weekends fill up. Oh yeah, and starting a fire in a cave in your backwoods sounds AMAZING. I want to do that.
I'll prob check it out. Do you own it?