PODCAST - Talkin' Ship Behind Your Back (A.K.A. Puns Are Hilarious)

Fear not, as far as I remember, there's one pun and it doesn't even involve the word "ship". (It's a lot worse yet I make no apologies) Al, Dave and I finish talking about our old navy days and all the ships we saw. Kisses. ;)

PODCAST - What A Load of Ship

This week Al, Dave and I get into what we think makes a good ship. Then we meander wildly because of our collective ADHD. You know, standard stuff. Enjoy. ;)

PODCAST - Wind in the Willows Appreciation Society

We all band together as a unit for our love of woodland creatures. For realsies! Lol jk, my co-hosts are the devil and I deserve them. Enjoy. ;)

RECOMMEND - Shadow of the Colossus - David and Goliaths

Name: Shadow of the Colossus
Developer: Team Ico, SIE Japan Studio, Bluepoint Games (Remake)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Release: 17/02/06 (Original), 07/02/18 (Remake)

I'm a sucker for a remake, remaster, rerelease and most other things that start with "re". (Except rent, not a fan) When I heard Shadow of the Colossus was getting a remake I knew straight away I would be buying it Day One. It had been a few years since I last played it on the HD Remaster for the PS3. (Yes, I've now bought this game three separate times, it's my money) Anyway, let's get on to why this game should be in your life, shall we?

First off, let's assume you've never played this before. If so, I'm jealous. As great an experience playing through Shadow of the Colossus again is, getting to play it for the first time is so much better. Meeting every one of the colossi for the first time will, or at least should, make you do that "mouth kind of ajar as you stare at something pretty amazing" thing. With the improved graphics of the remake, this effect is only amplified. The stunning scenery as you travel around the map, the grand and foreboding arenas where you face the titular colossi and the actual colossi themselves are absolutely amazing. My mouth still does the "thing", to be honest. (Followed by a massive smile/frown depending on how I remember the fight going the last time I faced them)

The game looks, from pictures and various videos, like your standard Zelda-esque romp through the wilderness, exploring caves and temples. That's kind of half right. You play as Wander, a young man on a quest to revive his lady love, Mono. Yes, you can do some exploring. There are a few items that can be collected to boost health and stamina. These are useful but not necessary for completing the game. I've actually taken the time to do a proper tour of the map with this playthrough, and I'm being completely blown away by what I missed/didn't properly appreciate the first time around. You start the game with the equipment you'll need for finishing it. Namely, your sword, your bow and your horse, Agro. This may sound a little limiting but fear not. There are items you can unlock that essentially act as powered up versions. They can be unlocked by fighting the bosses again in a "Time Attack" mode after you've completed the game. (Which is something you'll be wanting to do anyway, as some of these fights are serious fun)

Speaking of fighting, the main attraction of the game is the colossi, unsurprisingly. There isn't one that isn't initially terrifying as it either lumbers about, minding its own business or sits waiting, watching for you to make the first move. Each encounter presents a new challenge, like a big puzzle you need to climb all over and hope you don't die while doing so. Where are the weak points? How do you get to them? How does it attack and can you take advantage of it? There are multiple ways to take down most of them, or at least to get aboard them. Once you're on, then there's the struggle of staying on. This is where the stamina comes into play. While climbing (or holding on for dear life) your stamina bar depletes, once it runs out you fall to the ground. (Where you generally become vulnerable to becoming a stain on the sole of a giant foot) Even if you find yourself on a relatively flat surface on top of the colossus, it's not going to want you up there. Some will try to shake you off, others will attempt to grab you. (Imagine a guy, about an inch to two inches high, climbing all over you, trying to stab you. Not great) I've talked before about "edge of your seat" fights. Shadow of the Colossus was and continues to be the champion of tense combat, where one mistake can result can send you falling/flying/dying through the air. I Love It. Also, unlike a boss or monster from a regular game, winning a fight in this game doesn't fill you with the same sense of joy you would expect. (Seriously, play this game)

While this is a remake of a 12-year old game and a lot has been improved, there are a few aspects that fall a little short. Riding Agro at times can cause a bit of agro for the player. Sometimes the smallest rock in his way will make him stop dead or turn wildly. Getting the momentum back up for his gallop can then be a process that gets tiring to repeat over and over again over a short space of time. He can be fine in big open spaces, but try and ride through some woods or a tight ravine and it can seriously become a battle of attrition. Aside from that minor gripe (and I say "minor" as according to my stats, I did most of my travelling on foot), everything else seems the same or better.

This game is an absolute belter that is very much worth your time and money (About £25 if you shop smart) if you feel like travelling around a beautiful landscape and fighting massive, intimidating and tremendously haunting creatures.

God, this game.

Top 5.

There, I said it. Kisses. ;)

PODCAST - Adapt to Survive

Here we are again, talking about adaptations like we're cultured or something. Part 2 this week, the grand(ish) finale next week. Enjoy. ;)
 

REVIEW - Pinstripe - O Daughter, Where Art Thou?

Name: Pinstripe
Developer: Atmos Games
Publisher: Armour Games
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 (reviewed)
Release: 25/04/17 (PC & Mac), 13/02/18 (PS4)

I've seen this game floating about for a while now. On PC though, which is why I haven't gone near it until now. From the little that I had seen of it, I thought I was going to be treated to a classic platformer with some puzzles thrown in to keep it interesting. (It turns out being wrong isn't always bad)

You open with you (Ted) and your daughter (Bo) travelling on a train late at night through a snowstorm. Bo wants to go a look around so you follow her through the train, each carriage acting as a short yet efficient tutorial in basic jumping, switch pushing and timing. So far, so pleasant. After a short time, you come across a mysterious, smoking stranger. Now, I'm not one to be commenting on another person's appearance but this new guy looks creepy as hell, and his voice very much matches the face producing it. (Think Tim Curry as Hexxus in Ferngully, but much worse) The man takes a very keen interest in Bo, going as far as offering her a balloon. (As if the first Tim Curry reference wasn't enough) As her father, you are given a couple of dialogue choices, one nice, one not so much. These are a thing in the game that doesn't really affect the story to any great degree, but choices have consequences. Chaos ensues when Bo runs off without you and it turns out the stranger, the titular Pinstripe, has kidnapped her. A call to adventure if ever there was one. Then the train crashes...

What follows is a game short enough to finish in one sitting easily. This is in no way a bad thing, however. If you're like me you'll not want to put the pad down until the credits start rolling and you've found out what kind of journey you've been on this whole time. As I've said, there are some light puzzling elements, mostly centred around using your trusty slingshot to hit switches, defeat enemies and generally just shoot stuff to see what will happen. I can't really think of a point the controls made any of these events unnecessarily tricky or frustrating, unlike a few games I've played of late. It all seemed to flow and escalate accordingly to the distance progressed through the game. Pinstripe is full of little secret spots that will reward the curious for playing about. Generally, you'll be rewarded with the currency of the game, frozen oil drops, that can be used to pay for various things. Some items are required, and therefore affordable in a single playthrough, others are clearly extra items that require a few playthroughs to get the dough for. (We'll get back to that)

While I've said that you use your slingshot to defeat enemies, combat isn't really a major concern in the game. Outside of the final boss, the only real adversary you have to face is the unsettling atmosphere and dark tones of the story. (Deep, I know) Every character you meet offers a glimpse into Ted's life, despite the fact that much like you, the player, Ted seems to be meeting them for the first time. This plays into the mystery of the game perfectly and was one of the reasons I couldn't put it down. Despite the dark tone and grim landscapes, the characters are actually quite funny. This is something that without, I probably would have had a few issues with the game. Mr Pinstripe, the antagonist, is especially enjoyable to interact with when he turns up to taunt Ted.

Getting back to the New Game Plus the game offers after the credits finish. This mode is an opportunity to collect more oil drops, on top of the ones you finished the game with, to purchase some of the extracurricular items on offer. I won't spoil what they are for two reasons. 1) Play this damn game yourself and 2) I haven't bought them yet anyway because I wanted to get this written up before I indulged in some gothic goodness again. Also, throughout the game, you'll come across (after some serious searching or dumb luck in my case) secret film strips, these unlock yet another mode and can be cashed in if you have five of them at the start of New Game Plus, so keep your eyes peeled. ( I currently have two)

Would I recommend this game to you? Yes, very much. This game caught me completely off guard. I picked it up thinking I would be in for a little light puzzling and a cheeky bit of platforming. What I got was a short, well-crafted, daunting story that has enough humour to make the journey more than worthwhile.

Currently, the Pinstripe is available on Steam for £7.14 and PlayStation Network for £11.59. (I bought it when it was on sale for under a tenner, but I think it's definitely worth your money if you decide to get it)

PODCAST - Adapt and Conquer

Part 1 of our conversation about our favourite adaptations. Enjoy. ;)