Yearly Archives: 2018

Ancestors Legacy SDK Released from Overwolf

Ancestors Legacy - Offical Nations Trailer - YouTube

1C Corporation announced that players of Ancestors Legacy now have a new opportunity to create tools, features, and integration for the game, with the release of the official SDK. SDK released the official SDK that will enable programmers and motivated players to develop overlay apps to help new players and advanced players take their skills to the next level. These fresh tools can expand a player’s capabilities and make their experience with Ancestors Legacy a more enjoyable one by introducing the required external tools and services right into the game. Players can create real-time event tracking, post-game analytics, self-coaching tools and much more to enhance your Ancestors Legacy experience.

Overwolf’s mission is improving competitive gaming experiences for gamers worldwide through useful, effective in-game apps and tools. The Overwolf client enables fans and publishers to add functionality to existing games, and allows players to easily select, install and use hundreds of applications and in-game tools improving player communications, user interface, and most importantly – competitive performance and straight-up skills.

Yakuza 0 Review (PC)

by Jason Parker (Ragachak)

Yakuza 0 -Fight

Well, if it’s a whoopin’ you’re a wantin’…

How did I not do a review of Yakuza 0? I completed it on Playstation 4 and have a fairly close to 100% file. I’m still getting there in NG+. But I have reviewed several of the Yakuza titles and fell in love with the series on the first one I played (Yakuza 4). Since I either neglected 0 or simply cannot find it, let’s talk about the franchise as a whole and this particular iteration. I was worried that controller support would be an issue because Yakuza demands to be played with a controller. Sure, keyboard and mouse controls are there, and they are good on Yakuza, but it’s so much better with a controller in hand. I used a Switch controller and a Playstation 4 controller on Steam and personally, the Playstation 4 controller only did better because I was used to those buttons, and didn’t have to swap them around because of feel/controller shape. If you can use a controller, please do. But it’ll be fine if not.

Yakuza 0 - Cabaret

The King of the Night, Goro Majima.

Yakuza 0 takes place in the 1980s in Japan and is a prologue to the Yakuza franchise. It follows two characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Kazuma Kiryu (the main character of the franchise) who is a solid, powerful man who joins the Yakuza, but isn’t a sleazy scumbag. He does what is right in most situations and is a pretty cool dude ™. Goro Majima is more of a badass, lanky, smooth, and for some reason, he has an eyepatch (it’s explained in the game what happened to his eye). Goro Majima runs a Cabaret (Night Club) but desperately wants back into the Yakuza life. Their paths will intersect over the years, but this is the first time they will come across one another. If you’re familiar with games like Shenmue and Sleeping Dogs, Yakuza will definitely be your cup of team. The story is centered around “The Empty Lot”, a plot of land that seems to be unowned in Kamurocho, and is the key to financial dominance. Death, betrayal, love, this game has it all. And money. So much money…

Yakuza 0 - Cash

Buying real estate like it’s nothing. That’s just another day in the life.

This takes place during a financial boom period in Japan and everyone seems to be absolutely loaded. You spend money to increase your powers, from health to new techniques across the skill board. You also have side quests to learn new powers and abilities too, across Kiryu’s stances, which vary depending on what you want. There’s a speed stance, aggressive stance, balanced stance. The two characters play very differently, with Kiryu being focused on more standard, acknowledged martial arts, and Majima being a thug. He switches between a baseball bat, punches/kicks, and a capoeira/break-dancing style. In the 1980s, a legend is born, and his name is Kazuma Kiryu. Speaking of money, each has their own way of making dough, other than completing side quests and pummeling people into custard. Kiryu gets into Real Estate (which is more boring, but bigger money faster) and Goro runs a club (which is way more interesting, but not as much money quite as fast). They can also, once you fulfill the requirements, send money between each other through a financing/investment system. It can feel really annoying to grind for money, until you learn these systems. Then it will be desperately trying to spend it all.

Yakuza 0 - Arcade

What can I say? Arcades are awesome.

The Yakuza franchise is built on four things: Each game has an incredible, unforgettable story filled with drama, loss, and emotion. The twists and turns are very real, and the stories are among my favorite across video games. Then you have the extra content, the side games. From classic SEGA arcade games, hostess clubs, disco, karaoke. This stuff plays into the game in some way or another, and are all fun. They are fitting to the era they are in at all times, up to Yakuza 6 having online chat with gorgeous JAV stars (akin to modern day camgirls). This content tends to tie into the third point, which is the side quests. Side Quests are held by people in town that need some kind of help, and many of the side quests are absolutely ridiculous. They’re comical stories that Kiryu/Majima get tied up in, and it’s a nice way to break up all of the drama in the main story. Plus it’s a great way to get new items/money (like the Trouble Finder, easily the most useful item in the game).

Yakuza 0 - Majima Fight

Majima’s my favorite to fight as, if I’m being honest.

Combat is the final part of this recipe, and the most important. Most of the items in the world can be used as weapons, from bicycles, trash cans, signs, car doors, and metal railings. You can equip weapons sure, but it’s more satisfying to lift someone up and suplex them into a metal guardrail. Trust me, it’s better. The combat is a little repetitive with the combos you use, but it’s always fun to drop the beat down on Yakuza, random thugs, drunks, or whomever is unfortunate to decide they want to shorten their lifespan by picking a fight. And I have to say, it all works beautifully on PC. It looks better than it does on my Playstation, and the only thing I saw that was weird was occasionally Kiryu’s walking animation during cutscenes is really jerky and weird. But the gameplay is smooth, beautiful, and it’s just as good as the console version. I was really worried, because I’m always worried about ports, but it’s clear that SEGA is putting care and love into the Yakuza franchise.

It All Begins Again: 5/5

Yakuza 0 - Boston

Yakuza is a franchise that simply must not be missed.

I only had one or two minor qualms with this otherwise excellent port. Keyboard/Mouse controls are great, but camera turning in combat is weird and clunky, and it’s so much better with a controller. The game does warn you of that if you aren’t using one though. The only other problem I had was the volume. I did not see an in-game volume control and wound up changing the balance of the audio, creating a weird monoaural sound. I can control it out of the game and that’s fine, but I’m just glad that Yakuza is finally on PC (and it’s long overdue, in my opinion), but it came out beautifully. Yakuza Kiwami is next on PC, and it’s my sincere hope that we continue to get remakes. I’ve heard that Yakuza 2-5 are going to get remakes or remasters in some fashion, and the real question is “Will we get them?” Lord, I hope so. I still have a Playstation 3 for Yakuza 4 and 5, but it’s not the same. I’d rather have it on my Playstation 4 and/or PC. Anyone who has read my reviews knows I don’t care for sandbox games; having too much space to roam around in makes me nervous and choice paralysis happens. However, Yakuza has a smaller area than say, GTA, but it does more with space. Every inch of the town has something useful, and it’s packed with people, places, and things. It does more with the space and does not feel like a tiny town by any stretch. Yakuza 0 is true to the area it calls home, and true to the era. I have a close friend who I introduced to the series who informed me that he’s been to/seen many of the places that are depicted in-game and to me is just wonderful.

Crackdown 3

Crackdown 3 is an open-world action game offering limitless ways to interact with the fully-destructible sandbox environment. Shoot, blow up, or mow down enemies in an attempt to clean up the streets and return peace back to the city. Available for Windows and the Xbox One.

Features:

God of Destruction: Tear through the town using various weapons, vehicles, and even abilities like agility which allow you leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Setting the Trap: Kill grunts and blow up buildings to bring vicious kingpins out of hiding.

Of Mobs and Men: Go at your own pace in the single-player adventure, or heat things up in the competitive 10v10 multiplayer.

Kingdom Hearts III

Kingdom Hearts III is an action role-playing game packing the Disney, Final Fantasy, Pixar, and Marvel franchises into one unforgettable adventure. Join Donald and Goofy once again to put a stop to Xehanort, claim the Key to Return Hearts, and put a close to this long-running Dark Seeker Saga. Available for Playstation 4 and the Xbox One.

Features:

Awe and Wonder: Explore beautiful Disney worlds complete with gameplay altering ‘attractions’ dynamically changing the way you interact with these theme parks.

Chosen Master: Bring the fight to the wicked Heartless taking advantage of magics, combos, teammates, link attacks, contextual moves, and the all new dual-wieldable and transformable Keyblades.

Sailing Through the Stars: Pilot your customizable Gummi spaceship to new planets engaging in deadly engagements along the way.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a medieval-Japan themed action adventure game where every connecting swing of a sword is fatal – for better or worse. Deftly assault an enemy’s poise and balance while managing your own, the first to let their guard down dies. Available for Windows, Playstation 4, and the Xbox One.

Features:

Nothing Personnel Kid: They took your arm and young master, it’s time to return the favor.

Armed and Dangerous: Use the hook and torch prosthetic to explore the environment for vital information and additional navigational opportunities.

Blood and Beauty: Discover the wonder and atrocities of a 16th century Nippon.

Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4 is a racing simulator featuring a selection over 450 unique high-performance vehicles. Catch a ride and drive through a huge gorgeous map modeled after real locations in the United Kingdom. Available for Windows and the Xbox One.

Features:

Spoiler Alert: Mix and match modifiers to hand-craft your dream car.

No More Ghosting: Join up to 74 other players on a synchronized server in real-time.

Rain, Snow, or Shine: The roads won’t always be exactly as you remember. Check back in on previous locations and a new path may have opened up depending on the weather.