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PlayStation 4 Video Games

Exclusive Interview: 3on3 Freestyle Executive Producer Chan Hyun Kim

 

While I’ve long been someone who doesn’t enjoy sports — playing them, watching them, seeing them on my TV when The Simpsons should be on instead — I’ve also long been someone who doesn’t enjoy sports video games. Unless, of course, the game takes a less serious, arcade-ish approach. Such is the case with 3on3 Freestyle, a PlayStation 4-exclusive street basketball from Joycity, who previously made the street ball games Freestyle and Freestyle2 for PC. Though to figure out if I’d actually like it as much as enjoyed such similar games as One On One: Dr. J Vs Larry Bird and NBA Jam, I spoke to Chan Hyun Kim, the game’s executive producer to get the lowdown on this free-to-play game.

Categories
PC PlayStation 4 Reviews Video Games Xbox One

Moto Racer 4 Review

While fans of arcade-style racing games have always gotten to drive dirt bikes on off-road courses, there haven’t been many lately where they’ve gotten to take motorcycles on to city streets or designated tracks. But while the on- and off-road arcade motorcycle racing game Moto Racer 4 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC) aims to fulfil that need, it’s somewhat undermined by a badly executed difficulty system and a generally cheap feel.

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PC PlayStation 4 Video Games Xbox One

Worst Games Of 2016

Some games are good; some games are bad. And some games are just so terrible that you wonder about the mental health of those who made them.

Here now, in no particular order, are the worst games I played in 2016.

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PC PlayStation 4 Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Best Games Of 2016

While 2016 wasn’t the best year for video games, there were a bunch that I had a lot of fun playing.

Here now, in no particular order, are the best games I played in 2016.

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News Toys Video Games

Funko Announce “Fallout 4” POP! Toys

 

Funko have announced that they’ll release a new series of Fallout 4 POP! toys this February.

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Books Video Games

Exclusive Interview: Assassin’s Creed Heresy Author Christie Golde

While there isn’t a new Assassin’s Creed game this year, there’s plenty of sci-fi history for fans of this series to enjoy regardless, including the Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection, an upgraded remake of the second, third, and fourth games; an an eponymous movie that’s stars Michael Fassbender (X-Men Apocalypse), Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises), and Michael K. Williams (The Wire). But for those who enjoy the games for the story, the most interesting addition is Assassin’s Creed Heresy (hardcover, paperback, digital), a new novel by Christie Golden, who, coincidentally, also penned the Assassin’s Creed: The Official Movie Novelization (hardcover, paperback, digital). Though in talking to Golden about both Heresy and Novelization, it doesn’t sound like she’s tired of traveling back in time to kill people.

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PC PlayStation 4 Video Games

Exclusive Interview: “Abzu” Composer Austin Wintory

 

The third-person, underwater exploration game Abzu (PlayStation 4, PC) was one of 2016’s more interesting and immersive games. And one element that made it so effective was the music, which really made you feel like you were scuba diving in a serene, fish-filled sea.

With the score for Abzu now available on CD and digitally, I spoke to its composer, Austin Wintory, about how he came to make the music for this game and what he did to his score to make it work as an album.

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iOS PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Video Games

Exclusive Interview: Lara Croft GO The Mirror Of Spirits Developers

Earlier this year, Square Enix brought the turn-based, mobile stealth puzzle game Hitman GO to the PlayStation 4 and Vita. Now they’ve repeated that move with the turn-based, action puzzle game Lara Croft GO, which is out now for PlayStation 4, Vita, and PC after being available on iOS, Android, Amazon, and Windows Phones for a year. Except that lady Lara is packing a little something extra, as the PlayStation 4, Vita, PC, and Mac versions of Lara Croft GO are also getting an expansion called Lara Croft GO The Mirror Of Spirits, which won’t be available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phones until March.

To find out what Lara Croft GO The Mirror Of Spirits is all about, I sat down with Square Enix Montreal’s Antoine Routon, the Co-Creator of the original Lara Croft GO, as well as Design Director Bronson Zgeb and Studio Director Saleem Dabbous from Ko-Op, who designed this add-on.

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PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

“Bethesda Pinball” For “Pinball FX 2,” “Zen Pinball 2” Review

 

One of the common traits shared by the games published by Bethesda Softworks is how they always immerse you in rich, detailed worlds, whether it’s the medieval fantasy realm of The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, the ’50s-flavored post-apocalyptic wasteland of Fallout 4, or the Hell-adjacent space base of the new Doom.

So it’s interesting to see how the equally skilled folk at Zen Studios have not only translated these games into excellent pinball tables for Bethesda Pinball, a triple pack for Pinball FX 2 (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC), Zen Pinball 2 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita), and Zen Pinball (iOS, Android, Amazon), but have done so in a way that makes them as fun for pinball fans who aren’t into Bethesda’s games as those who do.