I’m currently enjoying getting down and dirty with nature. Taming dinosaurs in Ark: Survival evolved is exciting and frustrating in equal measure. Exciting because I’m taming friggin dinosaurs. Frustrating because bigger dinosaurs keep eating them… And when I’m not playing that, I’m exploring the freezing mountains in Rise of the Tomb Raider – seriously, I have never felt so cold playing a videogame. It’s the way Lara hugs herself in the chill wind as the snow clings to her jacket. It’s one of the most beautiful games I’ve seen in a long time.
Guest Article : Steven Harbor. Steve now has a blog. Check it out here.
Near the end of 2010, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was announced to unfettered excitement at the Spike Video Game Awards. From the moment the title card showed up on that giant stage screen, Skyrim has had a red carpet rolled out for it in the gaming press every step of the way. It has always been a celebrity, a shining knight that has come to whisk us away on a journey to a far away land in the snowy peaks of northern Tamriel. Almost three months since the first sword was swung, Skyrim now sits high and mighty on its throne, having been adorned with many game of the year nods and near universal acclaim. Many who find themselves out of the loop probably scratch their heads trying to figure out why we spend hundreds of hours plugged in, worshipping at this game’s almighty altar. I have taken it upon myself to make sense of all of the fanfare, explaining in detail what this game does right, what it does wrong, and how it affects the video game industry.
There’s only one game I’m thinking of today, but we can’t have a ‘Cyborg Day’ without mentioning the game that preceded today’s big release over a decade ago. I say ‘precedes’, but technically Deus Ex: Human Revolution is set before JC Denton even existed. Alas, let us reminisce. The original Deus Ex was (and still is) one of the best games ever made, so it’s only fitting we celebrate this with some amusing YouTube videos that take the piss out of it. Click below and enjoy.
I’d like to tell you about a book. Wait, don’t leave. Its about a man who wants to be a cyborg. Sounds good, right? It’s the story of a scientist who, after chopping off his own leg in a freak accident involving a huge bit of industrial machinery, decides to build himself a new one. He quickly realises the benefits of technology over biology and delves into a journey of self-discovery, voluntary amputation and a bit of love.
This is the time when I’d usually write about three random games that I’m playing, and give you a brief run-down on each one, telling you what I think so far. But due to there being very little to play this summer, (all I’m doing is paying another visit to 2009’s Arkham Asylum and its proving to be a perfect warmup to the sequel which is out soon) I thought I’d tell you about some games that are nearly ready, but not quite… We’ve talked about Battlefield 3, Deus Ex 3 and Skyrim already, but here’s three other games that deserve some more attention.