Pokemon X & Y I Choose You

As we are only a few short days away from probably one of the biggest Pokemon launches ever, I feel the need to talk about how awesome these games are going to be. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will be the next installment of the Pokemon franchise, also known as Generation 6 of the Pokemon games.


Most of us have followed Pokemon from the beginning, and have almost grown up with this franchise. With Pokemon blue and red on the original Gameboy , your goal was to become the Pokemon master and catch and train all 150 Pokemon. Now do we still feel this as a realistic goal? Have some of us grown away from the series, as they just keep bringing out more and more Pokemon? Well I have to say to people who do feel that way to give it another chance.

 

 This generation is expected to be one of the best since the original 150. Not only do you start the game with 3 new starters: Froakie, Chespin and Fennekin, you also get to choose one from the originals: Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. How cool is that, two starter Pokemon from the beginning and not to mention that there are now a total of over 700 Pokemon to catch, train and battle with.

 You now start your adventure in the Kalos region, and as always you go from town to town collecting badges and becoming the ultimate trainer. Sounds familiar right? Well now you can do all that in full 3D. You will experience Pokemon in full 3d for the first time;from regular battles to the new sky battles, and a full 3d world to explore. Still not convinced this is the game for you?


Well it gets better with the  introduction of  mega evolve forms, for now they are restricted to certain Pokemon, but man are they cool. You can now power up your favorites like Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur and evolve them one step further.

 I myself am very excited for the release of this game and know how I'm spending my Thanksgiving weekend, Pokemon X and Y on sale Oct 12th. .


Till next time, Game on gamers!

By Chris Bingham

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Game Night: Sour Apples to Apples

Sour Apples to Apples is a varient of the game Apples to Apples (reviewed here) with a twist.

Sour Apples to Apples is a card game for 4-8 players with the same basic rules as it's predecessor. As you might recall, the player that is the judge for that turn will draw and play an adjective card while each other player will play a noun that best suits the card drawn. The judge then picks one of the players as the winner and they gain a point.

In Sour Apples to Apples the judge must also pick a loser for the round. The loser then has to spin a special apple spinner that will decide their punishment. The punishments are as follows:

Can't talk your next turn
For the next turn the player is unable to say anything. This could cause the player to miss out on some serious lobbying time and may cause them to lose the point.

Play red before green
For this punishment you must play your noun card before the adjective card is even revealed. As bad as this sounds, sometimes it causes some pretty hilarious results.

Pass the sour apple
Phew! That was close. When you land on this you must pass the sour apple to any other player and they have to spin the apple and except the punishment on your behalf. That was nice of them.

Double play
The next time you play a noun card you get to play two instead of one. Okay, so this one is not quite a punishment. Double the play, double the chances to win!

Lose a card
This is probably the ultimate downer. When you land on this you must discard 1 card from your hand. For the rest of the game you will be down 1 card. The only saving grace here is that if you land on this again, it has no effect. You cannot have any less than 4 cards in your hand at the beginning of each turn.

Another difference between this version and the original is that the decks are simplified by having the adjective and nouns all on the same card. You just flip your card to the correct orientation depending on what you are using it for.

My only issue with this is that sometimes you toss out really great words because the card is being used for the other side. That being said, there is still plenty of hilarious combinations to be made.

Again, Sour Apples to Apples recommends the player be 12 or up, but it really can be played with younger players. The cards are not mature in theme and the rules are simple enough to be understood by a child younger than 12. 

Sour Apples to Apples is every bit as great of a game as the original. I personally have both versions and they get busted out at family gatherings all the time. The kids especially love this version as the threat of a punishment adds a certain level of excitement to the game. It can also be considered a deterrent to use a turn as a "throw away" when you feel like you have nothing else to play.

If you're board of Apples to Apples and want to mix it up a bit, I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Sour Apples to Apples. It is sold exclusively at Target, but doing a quick Google search shows there may be some re-sellers out there if you're looking to pick it up online. 

I give this game 7 sour apples out of 10.

@lamron_eb_yhw

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Retro Rewind Reviews Rayman Legends for the WII U

When this game first came out about a month ago, I saw it on the shelves and passed by rather quickly when I saw the $59.99 price tag. I didn’t even give it a second glance. This week I received a free copy of it from the company, and thought what the heck I’ll give it a shot.

To my amazement it’s probably one of the best and most innovative games I’ve played for awhile. My original thought was it’s just another Rayman game, like the original on ps1 or when they jumped to the 3DS and Wii with Rayman origins and now Rayman legends. I had heard the Wii U version was the best for this game as it utilizes the WII U gamepad more and you can be more interactive with the game. They were right, my favorite function is that there’s a tv off mode. You can play the game mainly on the gamepad and not have to have your tv on,which is perfect at night in bed.

I found this game grabbed a hold of my heart; I really got into it and couldn’t put it down. There’s a big list of characters; like Rayman, Murfy and Barbara, and tons more to unlock all with their own unique attacks. You can also unlock levels from Rayman Origins and experience that game, I thought this was a great added bonus. The smooth 1080 graphics really deliver in this game even on just the gamepad. The way you interact with the level to solve puzzles, run from monsters and switch between characters is just great.

I feel this is the kind of game Nintendo should be focusing on, one that involves interaction with the gamepad as you play. In my opinion this version is by far superior to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, as your more hands on with this and actually do more than just push down a single button.

There’s One part that blew my mind where it’s a circle maze and you have to rotate the gamepad to help the character find the exit, It was so cool! I look forward to playing more of the game and I recommend it to anyone willing to try something new, I know the price tag is high but I ensure you its worth every penny. Till next time Gamers!

By: Chris Bingham

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Game Night: Apples to Apples

If you're looking for a fun, family card game that will allow you to make absolutely bananas comparisons, Apples to Apples might just tickle your fancy.

The box consists of to separate decks of cards: Things (the noun cards) and Descriptions (the adjective cards). The noun cards are red, and the adjective cards are green.

On each turn there will be one judge. The judge will draw an adjective card and read it out loud. They will then place the adjective card in the middle of the table for all players to see. Each other player then takes a noun card from their hand that best suits the description. The noun cards are placed face down. After all players have played their card the judge will shuffle them, read them out loud one by one, and pick the card they like the most. The winning player then receives one point. To make for easy scoring, the winning player can just keep the adjective card in front of them as a score keeper.

As the judge you can decide if you want to pick the card that is the funniest to you, the card that is the complete opposite, or something that fits the description completely. As this decision is completely up to the judge you will find each player will learn to adapt to their audience.

Apples to Apples is meant to be played with anywhere from 4 - 10 players. As always with these types of games, the more players usually means makes for a more diverse game. However, my friends and I found it was possible to play with as little as 3 players if each player (aside from the judge) played two noun cards to give the judge more options.

Although the game recommends ages 12 and up, it really is possible to be played with a younger crowd. While there is some cards that a younger audience may not understand, for example the names of older actors or politicians, the cards are all clean and appropriate. It can also provide a learning opportunity as each card does have a small description at the bottom.

Each game lasts anywhere from 30 mins to an hour but can really be customized to meet your gaming needs. If you only have a short time to play, you could have a game where the first to 5 points wins. On the flip side, if you want a longer game, you can make the goal higher.

The great thing about this game is that you really don't have to be a complex gamer to understand and have fun. The rules are simple enough for anyone to understand and yet the game play packs enough punch to keep everyone entertained. It is so rare to find a game that will both keep adults and children entertained for hours on end and Apples to Apples definitely does just that. When playing with children it's easy to keep things clean but if your game is strictly adults it's possible to slip the odd inappropriate joke in there.

Whether you have a young family or just want to play while having a few drinks with your friends, the diversity of the crowd it speaks to alone is worth picking up a copy of Apples to Apples. I give it 7 out of 10 apples.

@lamron_eb_yhw

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Top Ten: Favourite NES games

Most of us grew up in a time where home gaming systems were quite rare to find, and weren’t always enjoyable. What else did we have to do other then going outside and playing with our friends?  In 1985 we all rejoiced as we were given one of the best home gaming systems we would see for quite some time, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Right off the bat Nintendo pumped out great titles that we could enjoy playing, not only alone, but with our friends and those annoying neighbourhood kids. Now I didn’t get to experience the NES until almost the end of its era; when Super Nintendo was released, however I got to play some fantastic games that I still play to date.

These are my top ten all time favourites and probably most gamers favourite NES games.

10. Mario Bros/Duck Hunt double cartridge
These two games were both original releases for the NES, and they were so popular they eventually made a double cartridge that released with almost every NES system from 1988 onwards; these are easy to find and most people have a few copies of them. Mario was something we had never played before and I feel it changed our childhood for the better; I remember my first time playing Mario bros and stomping on my first goomba, an experience every child should have.Duck hunt you got to use the cool Nintendo gun and actually shoot ducks on the screen, even though when you missed the dog would laugh at you. It wasn’t always your fault as the gun only worked sometimes.Both are fantastic games.

9. Battletoads
Released near the end of  NES years, Battletoads starred 3 toads Rash, Pimple and Zitz. Ya these were gross names, but hey the game was fun. In my opinion this is one of the hardest NES games I've ever played. When I first played this game I found it very challenging; and even harder when you played with a friend. You can hit each other and never make it far. It's a beat 'em up style of game and  back then we didn’t care if we beat the game or if we just spent hours playing. I don’t know anyone that’s actually beat this game.

8. Double Dragon
This is one of the games I had as a child and though it was great. Released in 1987, this game starred Billy and Jimmy as they fight to rescue there common love interest Marian. It is a beat 'em up style much like Battletoads; in fact they created a game called Battletoads/Double Dragon where the 5 of them team up in the ultimate fight! This game was equally as  hard as Battletoads. 

7. Contra
Never before had we seen or will see such a smooth shooting game like Contra. The controls and how they characters moved were fantastic; in fact many other shooter games tried and were unsuccessful.  The player can jump, move, and fire in eight directions. You can also move or jump simultaneously while firing. The downside is one hit and your dead. Another 1987 released game. My first run through of this game I had trouble not dying but as you play it you learn tricks to keep going like: never stop shooting and keep moving or your dead.

6. Castlevania
This game has very different controls and it takes sometime to get use too. Castlevania was released in 1987 and was the jumping point for 2 sequels on the NES and more on other systems. You play a character called  Simon Belmont who sets out to kill Dracula, and other various monsters on your journey

5. Metroid
A great first title for the series that had many more. When I first played this game I was kind of lost as it doesn’t really tell you where to go. Like most games and you spend a lot of time wandering around. This is the first time we got to play as Samus Aran; A mysterious character in a suit. To our surprise it was a girl character for once: her mission  to retrieve the parasitic Metroid organisms that were stolen by Space Pirates

4. Ninja Gaiden
A great fast paced game that can be frustrating. My first play through of this was very irritating as I'm not one to rush through a level; but with this game you have to because if you stop the enemies respawn and kill you.A hard game to learn and master but a great one! You star as the character Ryu Hayabasu as he journeys to America to avenge his murdered father.

3. Kirby’s adventure
Kirby had his debut with gameboy, however in 1993 he had his first home console debut and it was finally in color! Kirby is a fun character; he sucks up his enemies and uses their abilities to help him along his way to King Dedede. I personally love Kirby games they're not overly challenging but just a basic game that’s easy to learn and enjoy.

2. Zelda
One of my all time favourites, and one of the popular franchises in Nintendo history.You are Link, you wander into a cave to get a sword from an old man, and from there your adventure begins. You have to collect the tri force pieces, as well as various weapons and tools, solve puzzles and defeat tons of enemies and bosses to rescue Princess Zelda. I remember spending hours playing this game; it took that long to find where your going. There's secrets like burning a certain bush to unlock a level or solving the maze to get into the graveyard. Some parts were frustrating, but  it’s the ultimate game none the less.

1. Mario 3
Mario taken to the next level, its probably one of the best made NES games. The previous Mario bros games were quite basic and couldn’t explore much, but with Mario 3’s world map and various level choices, items and power ups, and you were introduced to Bowser's children. It was a fun game you wanted to play over and over.   When I got this game I could finally explore in levels instead of being pushed by the level to advance. The under water levels were a new feature, as well as cool new suits like the racoon and frog suit. Lots of fun to play. 

And those are my Top Ten NES Games. Until the next one Gamers!

By: Chris Bingham

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Game Night: Star Fluxx

Are you the type to get board of the same old rules to the same old game? Maybe you're just a fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr Who, or Firefly. If any of the above are true for you then grab you're Intergalactic Travel Guide because it's time to explore Star Fluxx by Looney Labs. But watch out... It's a trap!

Star Fluxx is a card game that is both beautifully simple and intriguingly complex. It's simplicity really comes down to reading what it says on the card you want to play, and then doing that thing. The complexity is a result of the games ever changing rules.

The game can be played in anywhere from 5-30 minutes with 2-6 players, but as most card games, the more players you have, the more interesting things get.

To start you will place the Basic Rules card in the middle of the table. You will then shuffle the deck and deal each player 3 cards. The remainder of the deck will be placed beside the Basic Rules to form the Draw pile.

The deck contains six different types of cards:

Keepers - Played in front of you to show possession. 

Goals - Set the criteria for winning the game. Usually this will be a combination of two keepers you need to have in front of you in order to win.

Creepers - Are immediately thrown into play when drawn. They are the 'evil' versions of the Keeper cards and usually prevent a player from winning. Although there are a few Goals in which you need a Creeper to win.

Surprise - Can be played out of turn to interrupt another players move.

Actions - Are one-time cards that are used by the player to perform actions such as stealing another players keeper or bringing back an already played card from the discard pile.

New Rules - Are played in the middle of the table and sometimes can modify the Basic Rules. The New Rules can be anything from changing the draw or play amount, instating a keep or hand limit, or even allowing you to draw extra cards.

On your turn you will draw and play the number of cards that is currently required, discard down to the current hand limit (if any), and comply with the current keeper limit (if any). The game continues until one player meets the conditions of the current goal.

This game is awesome for a great deal of reasons but if you're any kind of sci-fi fan, you're going to love the thought that was put in to some of these cards. For example, the Expendable Crewman card (complete with red shirt) in the picture above which allows you to protect your other Keepers through it's sacrifice. 

The greatest part of the game is that the instructions are printed on each card. You are never left with one card in your hand the entire game because you don't know what to do with it but you don't wan to ask to give away your hand.

 For all of these reasons and more Star Fluxx is a perfect game for introducing newcomers, satisfying your want to endlessly quote your favorite science fiction characters, or just breaking up the longer games of the night. I give it nine Holographic Projections out of ten.

Live long and prosper.

By: Britt Turkington

@lamron_eb_yhw

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Game Night: Zombie Dice

By: Britt Turkington

Eat brains and don't get shot. The life of a zombie is pretty basic. Luckily for 'Zombie Dice', that doesn't mean it can't be fun!

Zombie Dice is a dice game (surprising, huh?) where you play a zombie that's is on the hunt for brains and the dice are your victims. The game comes with 13 beautifully simplistic and brightly coloured dice -- 3 red, 4 yellow, and 6 green. The red dice have more 'shotgun' sides, the green have more 'brain' sides, and the yellow have equal amounts of 'brain', 'shotgun', and 'footprints'.

To start you put all of the victims... I mean dice in the cup and shake them around. You then pull three at random and roll them. If you get a brain that means you've eaten your victims brain. If you get a shotgun that means your victim fought back. If you get footprints that means your victim has escaped.

If you roll three shotguns, your turn is over. If you roll any other combination of things, you can choose to stop and score your brains, or continue.

If you decide to stop and score you will score one point for every brain you have rolled this turn. You would then put all the dice back in the cup and pass it to the next player to have them start their turn.

If you decide to continue, you would keep all of your footprint rolls in your hand and take random new dice from the cup bringing your total up to three dice to roll. Keep your brain and shotgun rolls on the table to keep track.

If you keep going, your turn is over when decide to stop or when you roll a total of three shotguns in total. IF you 'shotgun out' you don't get to keep any of the brain points you have rolled during your turn. So if you know you have a lot of red dice left in the cup, maybe you want to think about ending your turn and scoring your brains. The first to 13 brains wins. Simple, huh?

This game is great for a game night to break up the longer games. It really doesn't take a lot of strategy and each game tends to be nice and short.

It also works really well as an introductory game. If you have some friends that seem interested in board games but are intimidated thinking they have to spend 6 hours learning the rules and then another 6 just to get to the point where they can play their turn without you helping them, this is a perfect game to ease them into the scene.

The "press your luck" aspect of the game tends to keep things interesting. Some players will stop at two or even 1 shotgun, others may be a bit more risky and roll with pretty much anything.

If you're not sure about Zombie Dice you can always test it out by downloading the App that is currently available on Windows Phone and iOS for $.99.

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Robot Turtles: The Game to Teach Kids to Code

By: Britt Turkington

Ever tried to sit down in front of a computer with a 3 year old to teach them programming? Sounds ridiculous, right? I can see the mess of Cheerios in the keyboard now. But what if you had a game that would not only give your family hours of fun, but also teach your child to code without them even knowing?

'Robot Turtles' is a board game created by father and entrepreneur Dan Shapiro for kids ages 3 - 8 to learn the fundamentals of computer programming without even needing a computer. And what's more, they don't even need to know how to read to play.

The beauty of the game is that only one person, the 'Turtle Mover', needs to read the rules to play. This means the kids can get right to what they do best. Playing.

So how does it work? After each child, or 'Turtle Master', picks their favorite turtle character, the adult, or 'Turtle Mover', makes a maze on the board with a jewel at the end. The children then need to find their way through the maze by playing a series of instructional cards. The object of the game, of course, is to make it through the maze to get the jewel.

The game allows the children to learn the basics of skills such as order of operations, planning a program, debugging, and much more. There are even 'unlockables' for when the basic game becomes too, well, basic, allowing the game to grow as they do.

Shaprio is now on Kickstarter to raise funding to produce a minimum run of 'Robot Turtles' -  he now has over 2,000 pledging over $100,000 to help make this a reality! Currently the game is being offered to backers for a special price of $29 and is due to ship in December,

@lamron_eb_yhw

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