Bioshock Infinate Review

"I couldn't stop playing!" - 9.8 / 10 -

 

You are Booker Dewitt and the year is 1912. Given an opportunity for redemption for all of the debts he accumulated, "Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt." Upon your travels, you will face storms, lighthouses, rich gardens, beaches, USA inspired buildings, factories, churches, floating cities, illusions... and more. Once you set foot into the floating city of Columbia; you will be ankle deep in a flooded church, surrounded by stain glass windows and an awful lot of candles. Upon passing this section of the game, you walk through vast areas of stunning, vibrant gardens with humming birds flying around you. At the end, you will find a door. Once you walk through, you eyes will be stunned to see the city of Columbia at it's best, families having picnics, hot dog carts and confetti, statues and banners everywhere to greet you. So my friends, that was the very beginning of the game and yet it was packed with much effort, CGI and character.

 

~ In game environments ~

The girl you are sent to retrieve, is a young 20 year old name Elizabeth who resides in Monument Island in the shape of an angel. Guarding this young woman, is "Songbird" a mechanical bird who serves as both warden and friend to Elizabeth. As a child, Elizabeth saw Songbird as a close friend and adored his company but as she grew up, she realised that Songbird was her jailer, refusing her need and curiosity for freedom. Little did she know, that she was being observed and tested on. Having never been outside or interacted with other people, Elizabeth is a free spirit with a some-what child like mind. But don't think of her as a typical pest you must guard closely. She can take care of herself in combat, she can throw you aid in battle, skyline alongside you, can decode various texts and messages, unpick locks and can open tears to use again your enemies.



So, what did I like about the game?

Well, I of-course enjoyed the combat including using vigours, guns or melee. Overall gameplay was a pleasure to experience. Elizabeth's usefulness adds a more interesting touch as there are many occasions where, playing any other game, your being ganged up on and desperately need aid or ammo. Thankfully there is such a person in this game, and it's a very welcomed edition to add. As we look closer, I adored the animations and "human" behaviour to Elizabeth. I believe they capture her character and emotion extremely well and I am very impressed with just this small thing within the game. When Elizabeth was happy, I believed her not just through her eyes but, mouth and eyebrow sincs also. I liked the "tribal" like music, adding a great sense of tension yet excitement through-out. A great concept of 1912 meets fantasy fair-ground theme. Other likeable areas include the "decisions" where you pick a necklace for Elizabeth etc, story, character, environments, music and audio etc. However; I wish we could have seen more of song bird as I believe he could have played a more longer role and I think the whole, you can only equip two weapons at a time thing abit strange, yet I understand that this is to make combat more balanced and not make the character over powered. One last thing, I wish we faced enemies that used more vigours during combat as this would make it more challenging and rewarding to the player.

Other than that guys, I believe this is one most anticipated games out this year! It has been a pleasure to play the game, definatly worth your investment and time. And I hope we see more Bioshock games in the future.

You can buy Elizabeth's necklace!

Coming soon - Assassin's Creed Series Reviews -

Game Trailer Reiews

As part of my Assignment for university, part of my research must include market research. As a games artist in training, I believe that research is crucial for game production. By doing this, our understanding into how games work and how we should match that with an artistic approach is heightened dramatically. The aim of a trailer is to entice the audience through either sound, CGI or colour. This post is to compare and evaluate which trailer I believe was the "Perfect Trailer." As you may know, I already reviewed one of the most anticipated games coming out on the PS4, Thief 4. Therefore; I wanted to study more trailers including: Skyrim: Teaser Trailer and Dead Island; Riptide.

Even though it's been over two years since the release of Skyrim. It would appear that this game came out of the blue.... aiming to stun the world. Thankfully, it has. Let's look at this trailer in-depth starting with the audio. Posters so far, illustrate the imperial logo of mostly grey and silver tones surrounded by a black background. The aim of the poster is to be simple and simplicity can just as build up the same excitement as a design that's more complicated.



Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Teaser Trailer

Trailer Rating: 9.5 / 10

Firstly, the narrator's voice shows aggression yet a warmth atmosphere to the tone. It makes you believe that if you were there face to face with the narrator while he was telling you the story, such atmosphere would make you want to believe it was real. This atmosphere was further enhanced when certain carvings on the wall came to life, breathing fire at the lone fighter. This made me think just how stories can be powerful tools and how they can influence our lives no matter it's significance. The colour scheme works very well, creating a cold atmosphere with only touch of hope/warmth. This further adds a more human/ intense touch to the trailer. CGI is also impressive, further enhancing the feeling previously mentioned. Therefore this is a trailer is designed to warm your heart, to build the feeling of excitement. To me, the trailer aims to please mostly every sense except touch and sight. It's a nice change from other trailers that seem to focus on more the CGI perspective, to please the eyes.

Dead Island: Riptide

Trailer Rating: 9.2 / 10

After the first games success, there was a call for a sequal. This meant that the developers would have to think bigger when it comes to combat, environments and enemies. The colour palette for the logo of Dead Island: Riptide has changed for the better. Instead of the black and red, we see sunset animations that adds more depth and texture to the logo. Of-course the font is a lot more darker than the background animation thus capturing the heaven-hell balance of the game.

The first thing you will notice is the lack of voice overs/ narrators. Instead there is a sad yet placid music played by a piano.  So I could immediately tell that this trailer was designed to capture the feeling of desperation but also contentment. Personally, I thought the introduction dragged somewhat but I understand that this was to capture the couples love for one another in a time of imminent danger. The use of film language was very good, with interesting close ups of the lighter/ couple and long shots of the zombies and the town in the background. To me; this trailer takes a more human approach in terms of last minute decisions. The couple knew what would happen if they didn't act. But neither did they panic. Instead they thought rationally and comforted each other in the process. Such trailers and situations like this don't always need voice overs, as it would ruin the calm/ loving atmosphere in a chaotic environment. The balance of heaven and hell exists here and I believe the couple did find some form of heaven... in each other. And so ended their suffering... not to mention the many heads and bodies of zombies.

All in all; the trailer was brilliant. Good film language, storytelling, pace and audio through-out. The changes I would apply would be: More detailed animations for the couple and alter the introduction slightly. Once again; its nice to see a trailer that doesn't just talk endlessly about guns, explosions etc.

Assignment Mod Number: ARD407 - ARD409 Ideas and Concepts (Storyboard for Game Trailer)

Thief 4 Trailer Review ... "This looks promising!" - Trailer Rating 10/10 -

After some time playing from one game to another in the thief series, it seemed as though this beloved character and game was fading away, presumably to be forgotten and re-invented in the next generation of gamers. Thankfully, the developers recognised that Thief offered much not only to other games within the stealth genre but also in the gaming industry as a whole. I know stealth isn't the most fun and popular aspect of a game, yet it offers such a realistic atmosphere that is often enhanced with real life simulations and careful yet quick decision making. Despite the lack of actual gameplay footage, there was several things about the trailer that caught my attention:

1. The use of CGI ( where the main character jumps out of the window, with shattered glass all around him) for example.
2. Voice acting ( An intellectual individual with a rust and warm sense of presence)
3. The overall pace (Music contributed to this, good use of film language, perfectly paced through-out.)
4. Audio/music (Great use of classical and modern day mix, each element complimenting each other.)
5. Animations (The movement of Garrett's clothing e.t.c)
6. The Ending (The Garrett's hand grabbing the game title)

I know some of you would have preferred actual gameplay footage. HOWEVER! I must point out the purpose of trailers with this nature. A trailer is to give the players a hint into the  world, situations, combat and interaction in which they will be placed in. Hints may include, audio, CGI, footage and colour. The whole atmosphere and architecture (from what we have seen so far) looks beautiful, intricate (even if it was mostly in the dark) also; Garrett's new look, retractable bow, robes are very detailed as-well. The animations in which the clothing moves, certainly means that the developers have taken their time, identified the game's needs and added these extra touches to inspire and motivate us further.



Here is where I will be honest: I have never played any of the Thief series. I believe this to be a good thing in some way as I can be introduced to Garrett, understand his characteristics, identifying his strengths and weaknesses and then apply them to any situation. Yes playing the past titles would have helped with this. However; with each different game, comes a new set of rules, goals and methods (Nothing never truly remains the same.) Personally, I believe the trailer was excellent. All areas of creativity and audio were perfect, creating a nice tone to reboot the series. To me, this is a great example for any games artist/designer to be heading for in terms of standards and work. Therefore, I will be purchasing the game and I can't wait for gameplay footage. I will keep you all updated if I hear anymore information about this promising title.

Sketchbook Sketches related to my Studies ...

 

Continuous Line Studies (30 min duration)

  

DJ Character Design for Cut out Animation Draft 1



Summer Sketchbook work (Coffee, black Indian ink, lace, bubble-wrap, cardboard, washers, machine stitching, Collage, biro and PVA glue)

 



 

Second Draft for Cut-out Animation

 

Life Drawing Study - Foot - 20 mins

 Life Drawing Studies Of The Body - 30 mins -

Line bodies studies



 

Charcoal Sketches (15 mins)

 

Back view of male using permanent marker and ink pens

A lesson in Silhouettes by Olly Stephan

(Theses are Olly's Studies)



Collage continues - Summer Sketchbook - 

 

Life Drawing study of the Stomach (45 min study using biro)

Study of rock forms at Aberystwyth and a stencil of a manuscript - detailing the laws of the Welsh -





Silhouette lesson continues with landscapes ...

 

Summer Sketchook Cover - Bubble-wrap, permanent Markers, Rose petals, PVA glue, scrap newspaper, biros, lace, coffee and roses -

 

More life drawing studies of the human form

 

Second half of line studies for life drawing

 

Anatomy Sketches from Sketchbooks...

Skull sketches - Using Biro and Coffee - (6 hours study)

 



From this study, I conducted an experiment. Half of the skull (that has coffee half painted on it) was drawn using references (that being a plastic used in classrooms) and the other part from drawn from memory with the other side covered up. I believe this was a great study to develop my fine art/drawing technique. I believe the study of the human form is vital for any artist's study. Some may argue that this is too timely as it could take a lifetime to learn. While parts of this argument may be true, it is a worthwhile study that has benefitted artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci etc. Many artist aid their drawing abilities through life drawing. This is a study of life forms while they are either moving or still. Again, this is a valuable practice to invest your time in. 

Biro Studies (2 hour study)

 

These studies were conducted through a mixture of plastic models, Google images (for the eye,) sheer imagination and using my own wrist as a reference. Basically, I let my instincts take over. Not allowing my mind take over these studies means I wont overdue them. I have to admit the eyes were a little tricky so I consulted with a friend of mine who has years of experience in drawing and graphic design. His advice has been fantastic and advised me not to over-think (which is easier said then done!)

Stop-Motion Animation Evaluation April 2013

ARD407 Ideas and Concepts and ARD409 Creative Media Production (Stop Motion Assignment)

 

For this assignment; I was required to produce a stop motion video lasting several seconds, using an model character, Dragon-Frame Software and so on. The idea of Stop-Motion is to capture your models movements with ease and fluidity. Using expression was also required as this gave our character's unique personality traits.

The first task was completing character design sheets for our characters and I also added a colour board which explored the models textures, skin tones and fabrics. I really enjoy the development process, however; I would still like to include some elements of fine art. After the designs were completed ,we moved onto making the model frames for the characters. However; I was very disappointed with this stage. Instead of us making the armatures for the models, the tutor wouldn't really let us make them. I can only suggest that he felt he was doing us a favour. As we were first years, we didn't have the knowledge to make them and lacked the confidence. But for us, it was frustrating. Not only with the tutor but our divisional leader in Art and Design wanted a model from each of us (there were 6/7 people including me in my class.) While the tutor was making the framework, I diverted my attention to my animation sequence. What setting would be appropriate? How long should the film be? How far should I move the body-parts of my character? etc... At this point, I thought that everything was in-place etc. Sadly, Glandula Fever meant I was sick for 6-7 weeks. Thankfully, there was an Easter break during these weeks, so all I missed were 2 or 3 assignments.

So what did I do during the time I was sick? I couldn't just lie there and do nothing. It was a great opportunity to get my sketchbook work out of the way and further plan my animations and an assessment coming up in May. This is what I got done:

• Completed all sketchbook work
• Completed CRB Check for work experience
• Applied for a loan/grant for my Second year at university
• Started Game Reviews for Game Trailer Assignment
• Sorting out a house for my university accommodation for 2nd year
• Updated my blog
• And something else!

    
   When I returned to university, my first priority was getting the film work done. All in all; I believe the process was going well. But during those 3 days of filming; I was hit by numerous problems. The main issues were the lighting, software, camera and the model. During these 16 seconds of footage, some of you may have noticed that the lighting varies. I tried on numerous occasions to rectify this problem by altering the settings etc but to no avail. The next issue was that I couldn't connect the camera, software and MAC. I know the movement of my character isn't perfect, this because that the model's feet didn't have magnets so flexibility was sacrificed. I improvised by placing sticks, pins or small stones at/under certain parts of the feet.

My tutor wanted to see the eyes of my character instead and showed signs of not liking my character in shades. However; I completely disagreed. Through careful consideration, I wanted to answer the brief in a different way from my peers. I wanted to answer the requirements by experimenting as I noticed that many animations only focus on expression through eyes. I realised that I could still have shades for my character. So ... I thought. To create a realistic character, I can focus on placing expressions through the mouth, eyebrows and the shades themselves. In affect, I am using the more difficult areas of expression.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this assignment.

By using Stop-motion techniques, my admiration for animators who within this sector has been very insightful and I hope I can work on Stop-motion again for my 2nd year. However; I believe that if it wasn't for technical issues, the animation would have been done in just 2 days. If I was to make changes to this animation, I would have added magnets to my character's feet and added sound effects. It would have been brilliant to add sound and it would have improved my grade. However; I have no experience in working in sound. But it's my intention to learn more about this when I return to university after the summer months. At first I thought I would be awful at animation but as it turns out... I have displayed some form of skill in traditional animation and stop-motion. And at the same time, I have really enjoyed working with these technique and I believe my confidence is growing. A great brief!

PHD's and Post Graduate Study ...

I know! I agree that my posts recently have been random. Sadly, my game reviews I have had to put on hold. These posts are part of my assessments coming up early next month. So it's vital that I get the information up there! However: I will try and keep the posts related to games or the art and design sector. And hey, just because they are part of my degree assessments, doesn't mean you guys can comment on the blog and the posts. So please feel free to get in touch and voice your opinions! :)

 

What is a PHD?

 

Level 7/8 and it's a research degree. Upon completion, this qualification recognises you as a Doctor in your area of study. PHD's are hard to achieve but are very attractive to pretty much every business. There are courses that are similar to PHD's BUT... academically their importance comes between a Master's and a PHD. This Qualification is called a Mphile.

 

A PHD is about becoming an expert in something that few others are experts in.

 

Other options

 

• MA (Master of Arts and Philosophy)

- This is a course that I'll be applying for after my degree -

 

Course Duration: 12 months

Full time and part time available

Teaches you the Philosophy and creative skills behind your area of study. (A post graduate degree is a mixture of practice and research of your specialist subject area)

 

 

MA - Art Practice (Fine Art)

MA - Design Practice

MA - Creative Media

 

"Let your practice lead your thinking"

 

Advice? If you have been accepted and about to start the course...

 

DO YOUR PRACTICE EARLY! As the written work has to be done in the summer months.

 

The aim of the degree:

 

• To resolve design problems accordingly and creatively
• Collaborate with others to demonstrate a compacity for independent study and research
• Communicate clearly and support ideas with intellectual and with critical authority
• Demonstrate an awareness of philosophical and contextual issues with contemporary practice and theory.

Positives of the Qualification:

 

• In Wales - If you have studied in a welsh in the past and apply for an MA at the same university, you will be given a discount. Instead of paying the full tuition fee of £3.800, all you would need to pay is £1,900.
• MA's offer more time to find out about your practice and what you want to research.
• You are in-charge of your briefs.
• You can research what you want to research
• You can learn from your classmates and they can learn from you

The Negatives:

 

• You can not apply for a loan or grant for this type of course! You must provide other means to fund a post graduate qualifications.
• Dissertations have to be 7,000 words or more.

How to re-inspire yourself and avoiding distractions...

There are many times that... feels as though everything is piled on-top all of us, making any real break through with studies, difficult. Believe me, you are not the first and you shall not be the last. Even if you are not a student, adults who work hard suffer the same as students. So I hope this entry helps you all, it's helped me quite a few times in the past!

 

How do we fail/feel as though we aren't progressing

 

• Easily Distracted
• Overwhelmed by everything you have to do
• Don't like being told what to do
• Difficulty Prioritising
• Perfectionism
• Fear of failure
• Too Different
• Hypo focus
• Always Late
• Do things at the last minute
• Live and work in a disorganised atmosphere
• Can't find equipment etc.

Whether your working or currently studying, make sure your working with a subject/area that you are  passionate about. I assure you that this will make everything easier.

 

Take a step back and look at yourself

 

• You probably do meet your deadlines
• What is the problem?
• What is the solution?
• What is the very worst that could happen?
• Don't compare yourself to others
• Use your imagination to your advantage
• What is really stopping you?
• When are you at your best?
• What works for you?
• Prioritising - Could this be done tomorrow?
• - Separate the things you need to do today and what you can do at a later date

What can you do?

 

• Decide on the next action
• Break things down into steps
• mind-maps/ brainstorm
• Concentrate on the starting and the finishing will take care of itself
• Learn to say no
• Delegate
• Set a timer
• Give yourself rewards
• Take regular Breaks
• Eat
• Keep yourself healthy
• Keep yourself a schedule
• Concentrate on one thing at a time
• Keep yourself away from the computer
• Work in bed
• Talk to yourself
• Listen to some music while you work

Avoiding Distractions

 

• Only check emails twice a day
• Keep yourself away from social networking sites e.g. Facebook
• Noise
• Keep your phone on either silent or vibration
• Avoid chatting
• Keep your workspace clear and tidy
• Gather everything you need for the task at hand

Which Assassin's Creed Game was the best? ...

   

 The first time since I have began reviews for games, I will be conducting a huge investigation into all Assassin Creed games. But most important of all, I will be asking you guys what you thoughts are etc. So if you would like to be part of this then leave your opinions in the comments box below and I'll make sure your comments are credited for:) Just make sure that you explain your reasons as to why you loved or hated this particular game and be creative in your answers!

 

 

 

If you have a Collectors Edition of any of the games listed above, feel free to express your opinion about the Edition:)

Assassin Creed 3 Review...

 

So much Promise... yet did not fully achieve 7 /10 ...

 

After much success from previous franchise (AC: II, Brotherhood, Revelations,) it was no suprise that AC fans were excited about the next Assassin's Creed game. The first teaser trailers showed the face of a new assassin confronting a Templar while a battle was occurring. Racing through cannon fire and masses of British soldiers: this immediately filled this game's atmosphere with high expectations and excitement. From then on; it seemed as though everyone was falling in love with the new concept, environments, historical figures and the different methods of confronting your enemies.







From the trailers I have to admit, I was very impressed, not just with the imagery but with the small hints of combat and bonding with a new Assassin. The first hour of gameplay is always about learning the ropes... literally. Here you play as Haythan, (Pictured above) who recently arrives at an Opera House to receive a mission. As you can imagine, this being in an Opera House, there is some degree of not running into people, climbing across balconies and stage areas, pick-locking doors and creeping up on some poor sod who so happens to be carrying the compass you were after. After these events, you find yourself on a ship for several weeks identifying the mysterious aspects occurring on the ship. After a couple of hours and some twists to the story, not only have you been playing as this guy for 2 - 3 hours but he is in-fact a Templar. It was only after, that we were introduced to Connor. The journey of Connor transforming himself into an assassin was quite long. The first time you see Connor was when your play hide an seek with his friends, with the village mothers telling them not to stray far and be back by a certain time. I understand that this mission was a somewhat tutorial to teach the player how to track animals or humans but there are better ways to teach the player these skills without resorting to learn them as a child. Upon leaving your village for training, the next part is convincing your mentor to take you on as his apprentice and then running errands for him while in Boston. I could go on a on with the journey missions, but I fear this would be unfair to you all.

So what were the good aspects of the game?

 

 

Well, certainly the game graphics! The environments for one thing. They are a lot more improved with unlevelled terrain and great use of weather systems. This forces the player to take to the trees to out-flank your attackers (when there's snow.) And let's not forget the use of contrasts between the seasons of the year etc. It was a great feeling to be using this method in navigating across the terrain and hunting animals. The action was smooth and unique, with stealth areas being added to creep up on an unsuspecting enemy. Let's take a look at the combat or gameplay. First off, I adored the brutality of taking out enemies with my Tomahawk and Assassin's blade. Those are my favourite weapons by far as they felt true to me as an assassin. The History. As someone who doesn't know a lot about the American War of Independence or why the British were colonising American lands, I thought this would be a great learning curve. Upon playing the game, I understood that the founding fathers were very strong, good-willed men who could lead their men well during battle. I believe that there was a lot to learn from, not only from your enemies but also important historical figures, the cities etc. From this I discovered that the cities in the game were almost identical replicas of vast maps and drawings the developers had access to during production. Not only this but also learning that American tactics were deeply frowned upon by their British counterparts. I quite enjoyed building my own community where my homestead is situated as well as building relations with the people. Connor's language and culture was very rich and fresh to the franchise. And lastly lets not forget being commander of your very own ship. The callouts and weather conditions really add a realistic atmosphere to the mini-game.

 
 

And the bad parts?

Playing as Haythan. If you guys enjoy playing as Connor's father, then by all means skip this comment. But to me, this would explain why so many people ( especially my university colleges and friends etc) felt as though they didn't have enough time to really bond with Connor's character. So I asked around... and many of my findings show agreement in my concerns for this game. Personally; Haythan should not have occurred for such a long period of time. Although it was a change to play as a former Assassin, I fear this is one of the main reasons why the game let it self down. Combat. Now before you scream at me, I have already praised the brutality of combat etc. But for me, the combat is quite long and tiresome (especially if your fighting against hoards of enemies.) Community. In previous AC games, you had allies (the Romanies, Courtesans, Mercs, and thieves) but in this game, you have none. The only faction that is mentioned is the thieves guild. This is a great shame, especially if the game is about fighting for independence. Also there is no town improving system. I know we have had this system thrice but I believe the developers could have made it a lot more intricate in terms of what uniforms you want your tenants to wear, what services you want them to offer. They could have done so much in just a faction of a game. The Chase. As the game progressed, I noticed the speed in which you kill/chase your target. I found that it was far too quick and unrewarding. Your mentor. Compared to Uncle Mario or Theodora, Achilles was by far the most uninspiring of all mentors. Yes he is wise but lacks the charisma of others. There were numerous petty conflicts between Achilles and Connor. While Connor is decisive, Caring, strong willed and filled with a strong sense of justice, Achilles shows more caution, in-action, intelligence and reluctance in Connor's actions. Time Gap. I was surprised to learn that the game was situated in the 18th-19th century. Not that I thought it was an terrible idea but I just believed the taking such a huge step in time was random and suspicious. Freezing Bugs. During certain moments of gameplay, there have been numerous times where the game completely freezes.

Conclusion



For three years of work, I believe the developers could have done a lot more. When you think of the content shown in AC2 and Brotherhood for example, AC3 is a huge step down in terms of what the other games offered. I preferred the Renaissance period as well as the sense of community around that time. It's such a great shame that for all AC3's efforts, they didn't amaze the critics.

Since the games release, I have heard vast reports confirming my concerns for the game. Could this explain why Ubisoft has already released trailers and pre-orders for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag? Have the developers realised where they went wrong? I can only hope that they have listened the fans and applied the much needed change to redeem the series.

So there you have it guys, Please feel free to get in touch. Do you share the same concerns? What did you enjoy about the game?  Feel free to share your opinions :)



 



Borderlands 2 Vault Hunters Edition Review 2013

 
Very Addicting! 10 / 10 ...



9 / 10

Let's have a look at these awesome goodies that 2K have included in our worthy investment XD
First of all let's take a look at the packaging, the illustrious style definatley sparks the return of a largely anticipated game. Textures and colour palette are strong and compliment every area of the edition perfectly. However; my only complaint is the gradiant for the background is quite dark but I understand that this was to enhance the character's profiles and domimance. But this complaint only applies to the main side of the box. Up next came the 5 inch + Marcus bobblehead. A brilliant paint job with excellent comic detail and a suprisingly substantial weight to the figurine. Along side this was the 157 page hardback artbook with concept art ranging from character development to 3D animations and weapon design (for all you gun nuts out there! XD) This makes the edition worth the price tag, lets face it, it's not common for most collectors edition's to have artbooks of this thickness and standard. Other bits and bobs include: the digital contents code, Premiere club voucher, stickers and the free comic book download. Personally I would prefer the postcards (from the loot chest edition) rather than the stickers as the graphic design is way better than the simplicity of these stickers. Another issue was the missing code for the free comic book download. It turns out, I'm not the only one. According to 2K they said that they removed the codes right at the last minute so that everyone can have it for free online. So far, I have tried to download the comic book but to no avail, therefore I shall continue to find a way past this issue. Links to these edition are included at the end of the review.



Apart from these minor complaints, this is a worthy edition to invest in. My attempts in purchasing the loot chest edition were numerous. Eventually; I found out that the loot chest editions sold out within 2 days of pre-order. wow... If your interested in the loot chest edition; check Ebay as you might get the edition for less than £220.00 (Amazon's price.) If you like the sound of the comic books, have a look on Amazon as they usually sell them at a discounted price.

 

 

A terrific sequal to it's creator... In Borderlands 2, 2K introduce four more vault hunters to Pandora: Maya the Siren (The only returning class so far...) who can use her Phaselocking ability to trap enemies and deal a serious amount of damage nearby enemies. Axton, a former DAHL soldier who can call upon his turret for assistance in battle. Salvador (the Gunzerker) who can dual-wield any weapon of his choosing and for a short period of time, deal double the damage. And lastly... a mysterious assassin by the name of Zero who can create decoys to manipulate his enemies. Despite the first Borderlands game being hugely successful, this was by far a huge step up. The inventory system, (equiping and assigning points to your characters skills etc) is alot easier to use. The vast variety of weapons are alot more intricate in terms of design, animations and sound effects e.g. Maliwan. The variety of colourful environments makes a welcoming change from the constant desert surroundings in the previous game. Character animations, voice acting and call-outs are believeable and are specially appointed to a certain type of character. E.g. Maya is quite a verocious young siren who is very proud of her god-given heritage, thus she shows off her markings more than her siren "sister,"  Lilith. As a result, her callouts often reflect her personality, "Silence!" or "I'm back bitches!"

So as you can tell, Sirens on the whole fascinate me an a games artist. Mainly, because their history is still mysterious today, that and their gifts are complicated and unique in their own right. Customisation has become a abit of a hit this time offering skins like "Admiral Kickass." or Maliwan. These skin are achieved through either progression or completed challenges. A very interesting way of making a character feeling like your own. And certainly worth the effort in collecting. Briefly I would like to add that the story was cleverly thought of in terms of the inter-linking importance that every played. Basically, you start off as being on then train along-side your allies. Soon enough you find out that Handsome Jack tricked you and filled the train full of explosives. Found unconcious by Claptrap, he takes you to sanctuary: a city where the people openly reject Jack's rule... If you havn't started the game, I will not continue. But trust me, you will face many missions and enemies... make sure you bring friends... more fun that way XD

Which brings me to this glorious section, to those who are great fans of the game so far, you would be pleased to know that Lilith (a.k.a the Firehawk) returns alongside with ex-boyfriend, Roland (Leader of the Crimson Raiders), Mordecai and Bloodwing (alcoholic and Spy) and lastly Brick (Leader of the slabs.) Old faces will also return e.g. Scooter, Moxxie etc. These guys act as your mentors as well as protectors thorough-out your time on Pandora. Indeed alot has happened in 5 years (game wise) from random appearences of Angel to filling Handsome Jack's head with bullets. However; lets not forget just how far our past charactors have evolved as people. Not only have they become leaders in their own right but their personalities have matured furthered as well as their abilities. This is reflected in their clothing. Take for example, Lilith: ever since the discovery of the vault and it's contents, Lilith's powers has surged through her body enabling her to "liquify enemies" and teleporting. Her clothing has suffered, her hair is alot longer and care free. Moving on, the enemies seem to have been given a make-over aswell. Voice wise, they are alot more talkative and there are some variety of bandits. They are in essence alot more fun to fight with!

 

One of the most enjoyable times while playing BL2, was meeting and completing quests for Tiny Tina. Her voice... was so distinct and it suited her character beautifully. Tina is a 13 year old girl who lives near Mordecai and so happens to be a explosives expert. A very unique take on a character who shows some degree of insanity while living in an area full of irratating insects and . For example, she sends you on a mission to recover her "Badonkadonks" and hosting a tea party while electrifying the bandit who was responsible for killing her parents. I cannot tell you the pleasure of watching her. A great character who deserves to be in the game! I just wish we could have seen more of her.

 

 

 Combat overall was astounding! The amount of exploration and side missions is definatley worth your interest and money. And more importantly they aid you in strengthening your character and provide you with more skill points. Claptrap has become somewhat of a legend in BL2. Trust me and look into what he says on youtube. His performance on the whole has changed for the better, giving him more of a humerous yet sarcastic nature. Afterall, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise XD




Overall NPC's are excellent in terms of performance, combat and voice interaction. Borderlands 2 has more touching relationships than it's first. Take for example the father-daughter relationship between Roland and Tiny Tina and contrast that with Angel and her father, Handsome Jake. Having spent a considerable amount of time by herself in her "prison" and her power being openly feared and abused by her parents, it's no suprise that Angel detests her father. While we can see Handsome Jack as being this terrible overlord, his interests were protecting his only daughter but at the time, using her for his own interests and manipulates those around him. His traits do not rub off on his daughter, instead she cares and provides your character (plus allies) with useful information etc. The most touching part of their relationship was when the vault hunters faced the daunting task of killing Angel. Screaming from the monitors of Angels chambers, "Your killing an innoccent girl! Angel please! The sacrifces I have made, the people I have killed and manipulated was to protect you!" Again this is very touching, but Angel coldly dismisses this explaination as she see's this as him manipulating her further. When Angel passes away, we instantly see a change in Handsome Jack. No longer is he "merciful," as a man who has nothing left, nothing can stop someone in this mindset from creating more devastation. This indicates that Jack did love his daughter but his greed and treatment of her and innoccent people hastened her death.

 

So to conclude this review.... this is a must buy for an avid gamer who adores this illustration style and voilence. All aspects have been improved and made gameplay alot more enjoyable as well as to watch. The vault hunters edition and the loot chest edition are definatley worth your money. The best place to buy this edition is either Amazon or Ebay. Make sure the the editions are being sold by a trusted retailer with nearly 99.9% customer feedback.

Here are some useful links!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_15?url=search-alias%3Dvideogames&field-keywords=borderlands+2+vault+hunters+edition&sprefix=borderlands+2+v%2Cstripbooks%2C320

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=loot+chest+edition&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Overal I rank this game as: GREAT