tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21058492858704827562024-03-17T23:02:51.083-04:00Paralysis ShriekReviewing media such as games and movies, from a wide variety of genres based on my wildly fluctuating moods and interest. CURRENT FOCUS: Android mobile games. More Roblox reviews coming soon.atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.comBlogger345125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-7506543819368188662023-09-20T12:41:00.002-04:002023-09-20T12:41:51.479-04:00Basket Battle (Android)<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvcttGa6EBgXNGZBD7Y5s_S77YSIVyzJiPtIw0Eeox9RDRzJoglhgxIfrG0HveQcodsTfRdXmQtPXtyNOkPudgNBRd4HhpUkMY7v9p6rIXEPO1YgDvKtDY8mb0QSZuCG2JimEwSd23k9iz1FMHV3LPn0YQIs_rZ6Sl4kel7_i-NoPAjfdifHUH9AHOc3P/s512/basketbattle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvcttGa6EBgXNGZBD7Y5s_S77YSIVyzJiPtIw0Eeox9RDRzJoglhgxIfrG0HveQcodsTfRdXmQtPXtyNOkPudgNBRd4HhpUkMY7v9p6rIXEPO1YgDvKtDY8mb0QSZuCG2JimEwSd23k9iz1FMHV3LPn0YQIs_rZ6Sl4kel7_i-NoPAjfdifHUH9AHOc3P/w200-h200/basketbattle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></p><p>“Basket Battle” is a single-player, one-on-one basketball game in which players rush to score three baskets before the opponent does.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>INTERFACE/UI</u></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQ7_owAkt4c9kJ-j-7aByN-kjiWgmitaRGGUpf2wdLsWlFy52jDMWpT61d0nhM4sgaVip0i-CNryCXItT8p6arrGPSLM6sQb2m_kJqI3RYjH_FsYN0KqmzSapQQKndlvEbjcP3lKahA0oP_xwUwnbIMy_S6Up0b_k0xjsaWkd7WEYqyXfRG118LUm9VEZ/s2340/Screenshot_20230918-065313.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQ7_owAkt4c9kJ-j-7aByN-kjiWgmitaRGGUpf2wdLsWlFy52jDMWpT61d0nhM4sgaVip0i-CNryCXItT8p6arrGPSLM6sQb2m_kJqI3RYjH_FsYN0KqmzSapQQKndlvEbjcP3lKahA0oP_xwUwnbIMy_S6Up0b_k0xjsaWkd7WEYqyXfRG118LUm9VEZ/s320/Screenshot_20230918-065313.png" width="148" /></a></div><p></p><p>Navigating through “Basketball Buddies” is as simple as it gets - mainly because there’s nothing to really navigate through. The main menu is also the “start game” screen; just tap anywhere outside of the menu options to start the match.</p><p>There are some other options available - like accessing “skins” or the “shop” - but these aren’t required. In fact, most of the changes are cosmetic and don’t alter gameplay.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>GAMEPLAY</u></p><p>Gameplay is very straightforward. Actually, it’s too straightforward. I mentioned in the synopsis that the goal is to make three baskets before the opponent does. But that’s not just a basic summary of the game: It’s the entire summary.</p><p>There are no additional game modes. There are no multiplayer options. Games can’t be elongated (or shortened) beyond the standard 3 basket limit. It’s literally the same thing every single time.</p><p>Playing offensively simply means trying to score a basket. Defensively, you can aim at the other player using the same method as “passing/shooting”. If your ball connects with them in mid-flight, they will drop the ball and be “dazed” for a couple of seconds.</p><p>And that’s as far as tactics and techniques go. About the only “rule” that I noticed is that you can’t score multiple baskets without touching the ball. For example, if you shoot the ball straight down so that it goes in, pops back up through the hoop, and then lands back through it again, you will only be given credit for the first basket. If, however, you grab the ball on its way down, and have your character throw it back through again, it will count.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8i46FeIWey8MxcYiiHTRe4g8r7aWdnS4CIed9ESRSv2vGREjL9YHfh66ZbcmMt6_vDSShNmrJVldaZWl1kDyTbmNOyqf2_mJTmSeL5Rdurbn7tRRiBbOD5lwz_r6sXPEhUYEIuKIRB5fhTbJZvi7Hr_tPDLssCmqo8Vl9VksJ-UqBSv5txaO0PRZGymI/s2340/Screenshot_20230918-153714.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8i46FeIWey8MxcYiiHTRe4g8r7aWdnS4CIed9ESRSv2vGREjL9YHfh66ZbcmMt6_vDSShNmrJVldaZWl1kDyTbmNOyqf2_mJTmSeL5Rdurbn7tRRiBbOD5lwz_r6sXPEhUYEIuKIRB5fhTbJZvi7Hr_tPDLssCmqo8Vl9VksJ-UqBSv5txaO0PRZGymI/s320/Screenshot_20230918-153714.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Really, any one image can summarize the entire game.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>On the one hand, that makes it so simple that anyone can pick up and play it. It also means even players on the brink of a loss almost always have a fighting chance to even it up. But on the flipside, it’s so simple that anyone over the age of 6 will be paralyzed with boredom after just a few short matches. </p><p>There’s very little in the way of a learning curve, and the repetition only deemphasizes it even more. Beyond that, the AI is laughably atrocious. This is especially true on levels where the basket is hidden directly under a block. Often, the computer players will stand on top of the beam and throw the ball around indefinitely, from an angle that would be impossible for even the most math-obsessed trick shooters. </p><p>Somehow, I played through 230 matches. (What can I say? I get bored.) By my count, I lost only 7. (I say “by my count” because the game is too lazy to even keep track of basic stats.) I made it through the first 30 matches before suffering my first defeat. The point of mentioning all this is not to brag, but rather to point out that most new users will likely have a similar experience.</p><p>Players do get “points” based on how “difficult” the shot is. For example, scoring from in close to the basket will grant single-digit points, while shots that ricochet off several surfaces before going in otherwise untouched can yield a couple hundred (or more). The thing is, none of the points seem to matter. Points are separate from the in-game currency, which seems to accrue at the same rate no matter how complex your baskets are. And there are no achievements or stat-keeping to even encourage beating your personal bests.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>CONTROLS</u></p><p>The controls are probably the highlight of the whole affair: They’re responsive and easy to grasp. This is the type of game that virtually anyone can pick up and play. </p><p>Tapping anywhere on the display slows down the action and places a movable arrow on the screen. This represents the trajectory of the ball path. Sliding a finger along the screen alters the angle that the ball will be thrown, while moving “back and forth” will alter the ball’s power. Once the screen is released, the ball will be flung in that direction.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsaGvagC2oISD3NrSIOyZobijqJxIAEeFOduUD0y6R5uhjDcOL3IvhpZSEwVNc5-kF0YpKs5flA4lzKQbEfoF3CUAiinnmcZAJCi198GxGDkxJDZe6Or_iDHfrAhmCy6oucxJrIS3wJSIyhJ27f47c0c4IHV_kZLsN2CtRgE9Ues1_znwngVt8FXiDIv7/s2340/Screenshot_20230918-153705.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsaGvagC2oISD3NrSIOyZobijqJxIAEeFOduUD0y6R5uhjDcOL3IvhpZSEwVNc5-kF0YpKs5flA4lzKQbEfoF3CUAiinnmcZAJCi198GxGDkxJDZe6Or_iDHfrAhmCy6oucxJrIS3wJSIyhJ27f47c0c4IHV_kZLsN2CtRgE9Ues1_znwngVt8FXiDIv7/s320/Screenshot_20230918-153705.png" width="148" /></a></div><p>In order to “catch” the ball, the player must tap the screen again once the ball is in the air. The player will latch onto the ball wherever it is at the time of the pressing, as it continues its forward trajectory (with the player attached). Scoring is achieved when a player tosses the ball through the hoop, using that same exact method.</p><p>Overall, the controls are pretty responsive. Aiming is easy enough, and “teleporting” (via the screen taps) is effortless and almost instant. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>GRAPHICS</u></p><p>Like everything else, the graphics are simple. The backdrops vary slightly, with some levels featuring “obstacles” blocking the basket, but the overall “feel” and look of each one is exactly the same. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3d7QSpZzYHJM21wOOOTzA9Uyh3aI19C_DQCtUuMDbDiZKCmvYxPNe4kTsnTD9K5tHemXgoxatbERMQR2De-ib_Kmp6neLiDqduKFThDMuKDgVsckJksnR-7UoIEdNlxliaXwdEF8krARnH4gi079DBmUyoKPNVbhaLwM2Jra1XdGCF5Z04arzjIX4Ew7/s2340/Screenshot_20230918-070416.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3d7QSpZzYHJM21wOOOTzA9Uyh3aI19C_DQCtUuMDbDiZKCmvYxPNe4kTsnTD9K5tHemXgoxatbERMQR2De-ib_Kmp6neLiDqduKFThDMuKDgVsckJksnR-7UoIEdNlxliaXwdEF8krARnH4gi079DBmUyoKPNVbhaLwM2Jra1XdGCF5Z04arzjIX4Ew7/s320/Screenshot_20230918-070416.png" width="148" /></a></div><p>The characters are silly and cartoony. Even though everything seems pretty low-effort, there’s nothing offensive or “ugly” about them. In a different game, they might even come off as “cute”. Unfortunately, given the incredibly basic, single-note approach seen here, they are never given a chance to exhibit any time of “personality”. That means every character acts the same way as all the others, including your own.</p><p>Overall, I guess the graphics would be considered “average”, although one gets the feeling the developers are capable of so much more.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>GAME MODES</u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5QxKhWQY-cxXV8cK122--WxGWM6bxq6TXPkxAHhyOg6f_tkeb-e3iXmXTUfz5MP8O_bB1-Afvoq9d9JDXjTQ12ogprR3-fa0kqyDjztFbDnKyXs2fNdphxmrZHnaStGyNKe_6fdkX9FozGGkFYpKr0J_SCvipusDCG5YHBcmaDH-VqXq9cIU-oNf7v86/s2340/Screenshot_20230918-065514.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5QxKhWQY-cxXV8cK122--WxGWM6bxq6TXPkxAHhyOg6f_tkeb-e3iXmXTUfz5MP8O_bB1-Afvoq9d9JDXjTQ12ogprR3-fa0kqyDjztFbDnKyXs2fNdphxmrZHnaStGyNKe_6fdkX9FozGGkFYpKr0J_SCvipusDCG5YHBcmaDH-VqXq9cIU-oNf7v86/s320/Screenshot_20230918-065514.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Merge Arena" is a fun place to combine balls for absolutely no reason.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: left;">As if you can't already tell, "variety" clearly isn't high on the developer's agenda. However, "Basket Battle" does offer one brief departure from the core game: It's called "Merge Arena". In it, you combine balls to form other balls with the ultimate goal of...nothing. I have no goddamned idea what the point is. You can level up, but the balls you unlock still aren't available for use in the main game. It's every bit as pointless as everything else in this godforsaken mess.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>ADS</u></p><p>The ad load is a little on the “excessive” side. Every round ends with a “skippable” ad, which is one that can be bypassed after five or so seconds. Since most rounds last somewhere around the minute mark (maybe even less), it gets annoying rather quickly. Sadly, though, this amount of ads are expected in games like this, so it’s not a dealbreaker in and of itself.</p><p>However, there are two things that push it well over the edge: On top of the “post-level” ads, there are even some random ones inserted in the middle of levels. This is annoying for the obvious reason (yet more ads), but also because it breaks up momentum. There’s no warning save for a quick score summary right before it cuts away. Play also resumes directly from where it left off once the ad is skipped, which can be jarring if you forget where the action left off. This can lead to missed baskets and additional frustrations.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KvbxtCcn9iIQSKpZD5tTH0EGlVtOcPmVU19CpWqlBjZI1zyd84CxrHA8GjJa42FWrq0wwhoqiHU9IIP1jkGd7Q_jrI7fVQszjpBwlvoU0jSoqfqbDna1C2wwUl2QMN5aKAMPfKwWXEblnL0JnH6BFr_QYZjVhJxvmBWETp8QI6BpJLaePdPACvsbMTeY/s1285/Screenshot_20230918-165714~2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KvbxtCcn9iIQSKpZD5tTH0EGlVtOcPmVU19CpWqlBjZI1zyd84CxrHA8GjJa42FWrq0wwhoqiHU9IIP1jkGd7Q_jrI7fVQszjpBwlvoU0jSoqfqbDna1C2wwUl2QMN5aKAMPfKwWXEblnL0JnH6BFr_QYZjVhJxvmBWETp8QI6BpJLaePdPACvsbMTeY/s320/Screenshot_20230918-165714~2.png" width="269" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Well this doesn't seem like an "offline" game...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>That’s not the worst of it, however: Despite being tagged as an “offline” game by developers, it can’t actually be played offline. Turning on airplane mode, for example, results in a warning that the player is offline, with no way to bypass it. If there were multiplayer modes, or other additions that required the use of the internet, this would be understandable. However, there aren’t. That means the sole reason for this is likely to prevent players from disabling the internet in order to avoid ads.</p><p>As always, I feel the need to make it clear that I understand the developers need to make some money. I don’t care about that. Sure, they’re annoying, but that’s the trade-off to getting games for “free”. But the way “Basket Battle” goes about it is shady as hell. Marketing a game as “offline” only to block offline modes for the sole reason of forced monetization? That goes beyond shady, and well into “slimy” territory. It’s offensive, it’s ignorant; about the only thing I can see it accomplishing is angering its player base.</p><p>Here’s an idea to the developers: Give the game some substance. Then that would provide incentive for players to voluntarily watch ads, which would increase the revenue. Add a multiplayer mode, too, so there’s a reason to force players to play online. This would make you look less like douchebags.</p><p>As it stands, there’s no reason to voluntarily watch them at all outside of some very basic cosmetic upgrades. (“Oh cool, look! A new ball! It’s so colorful! This will make a great replacement for my current, less colorful ball.”) And there’s no real reason to fork over cash, unless you want to remove ads.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVXbwxTcmlCQvzTR7s7WYOdjzyRJbO8QZFdAzkWcaiSSwK-kDJtnjfjMtmV70SuqQ3c28IFnLVJQ7C56j5SDBLBXuLCR8DVk7MYNUdYhRhWHq_r-awTiRBgfSZ0PsijgCwPjjvZ-OR6hZF7L5Bi8db3QvKj2vTcLYAKOpBDghsZGg4e3xv03fZ6VB4ZVn/s2340/Screenshot_20230920-113343.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVXbwxTcmlCQvzTR7s7WYOdjzyRJbO8QZFdAzkWcaiSSwK-kDJtnjfjMtmV70SuqQ3c28IFnLVJQ7C56j5SDBLBXuLCR8DVk7MYNUdYhRhWHq_r-awTiRBgfSZ0PsijgCwPjjvZ-OR6hZF7L5Bi8db3QvKj2vTcLYAKOpBDghsZGg4e3xv03fZ6VB4ZVn/s320/Screenshot_20230920-113343.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Upgrades are purely cosmetic.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Doing that will run you $3.49. It’s nice that this is a one-time payment, rather than a monthly subscription, as some games have turned to. But keep in mind these only remove “skippable” ads that appear during games and between levels; earning reward boosts still require the voluntary viewing of a non-skippable promo. Want to get rid of those? Well, “Basket Battle” has an option for you!</p><p>“Skip’its” grant users the ability to skip through rewarded ads, allowing them to claim the reward straight away. These can be claimed for free by - surprise! - watching ads, which seems to be somewhat ironic. In order to avoid that, players can pay real money: Twenty Skip’Its cost $.99, 80 will run you $2.99 and 220 (the “best value”) go for $6.99. What a deal!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>IN CONCLUSION</u></p><p>Honestly, there’s the foundation for a fun game here. But that’s the issue: There’s literally nothing more than a foundation. It feels like a demo; a rough outline of a game that is just starting development. </p><p>But it’s not. If this were a clear work-in-progress, I’d be a lot more lenient. Obviously, games should be given opportunities to expand and grow. Unfortunately, judging from the fact this was released in April, 2022 and reviews have complained about the same things since then, it doesn’t seem to be anything on the developer’s radar.</p><p>Admittedly, it is fun. Even if it’s just for a short while. But it ultimately doesn’t amount to anything more than a lazy cash grab loosely disguised as a lazy game.</p><p><b>RATING:</b> 1/10.</p><div><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-17008049205427262782023-07-23T08:53:00.001-04:002023-07-23T08:53:40.094-04:00Zombie Shooting: D-Day 2 (Android)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9DMcMyjRvqUlO8Wzru_F-EHVKq2E-ikBhCK65HoO36MB8JSWDIp020Z12s4lSenmSp1mIBSVri0B4ezgiJYdcTuBKCiMpOUSZ4-fUAlau_KMnzuzlv_JFwsqSIsf_RCBDnWnLL_xrFNqbUpZfZJYqzyUoVC6LqAzpE5nJ3GcAdb9crR5bnHTQ4sDte8k/s512/dday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9DMcMyjRvqUlO8Wzru_F-EHVKq2E-ikBhCK65HoO36MB8JSWDIp020Z12s4lSenmSp1mIBSVri0B4ezgiJYdcTuBKCiMpOUSZ4-fUAlau_KMnzuzlv_JFwsqSIsf_RCBDnWnLL_xrFNqbUpZfZJYqzyUoVC6LqAzpE5nJ3GcAdb9crR5bnHTQ4sDte8k/w200-h200/dday2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“D-Day 2” is a single player offline mobile Android zombie FPS game. In it, the player assumes the role as an unnamed hero, who must singlehandedly save the world from a zombie apocalypse. It is from the same developers of the severely underwhelming “Zombie Virus”.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6735c6bb-7fff-27b3-3eb2-d0790f881dcb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>UI</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhMKcjn9NiLv1k71-ietNMy3MxyXoOEWEX8VsI5TmnIUmbiBJTJnmBLffsG09sl81jBmj0mszqdp7Uu29xA_9v3DYpoVw6xjDEPnV5-Inpi4XOj1j0L5CMMTagG0QVSIOyFv35Vz7WXNQH_vMsiqoWsdBdzi4iWa31USLkCeFjD8UlR2x4P6NazW4qEn2/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025642.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhMKcjn9NiLv1k71-ietNMy3MxyXoOEWEX8VsI5TmnIUmbiBJTJnmBLffsG09sl81jBmj0mszqdp7Uu29xA_9v3DYpoVw6xjDEPnV5-Inpi4XOj1j0L5CMMTagG0QVSIOyFv35Vz7WXNQH_vMsiqoWsdBdzi4iWa31USLkCeFjD8UlR2x4P6NazW4qEn2/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025642.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The user interface is clean and straightforward.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I decried CleGames’ approach to “Zombie Virus”. To summarize part of my complaints, I found the UI to be incredibly stressful to navigate, with visits to several menus and submenus required in order to get the most out of the experience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Well, they seem to have listened. (This actually came out well before my previous review, so that comment is in jest.) Everything about “D-Day 2”s user interface has been modified, and mostly for the better. There are three game modes: Scenario, “Bonus”, and the newly-added “Defense”. All three are prominently displayed and easily accessible from the main screen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGREI5WY-sJ4M-AE1Qb551j-Zee6hvsp5ao0e1U_6ANtySUZUR2bNyETeMyWyKVtLDokPcMlYRLDWjCRIGoGbnPK7fcmCtF3YMiUsdEZeWaqib9baKdjVSr17_VkpSC0Fkq1AvNNxSiEuBQ4GG8a2cnguuj4wwTz2PGcyqyLBspgMU0SBzUhEOGMSgxDpu/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025717.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGREI5WY-sJ4M-AE1Qb551j-Zee6hvsp5ao0e1U_6ANtySUZUR2bNyETeMyWyKVtLDokPcMlYRLDWjCRIGoGbnPK7fcmCtF3YMiUsdEZeWaqib9baKdjVSr17_VkpSC0Fkq1AvNNxSiEuBQ4GG8a2cnguuj4wwTz2PGcyqyLBspgMU0SBzUhEOGMSgxDpu/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025717.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The scenario mode "map" is also easy to navigate.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Weapons can be purchased and upgraded from the clearly-labeled “Weapons” icon. Pretty much anything you could ever need is right there in front of you. Some games are so confusing to navigate they should come with tutorials for “new” players. But “D-Day 2” is not one of those games.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>CONTROLS</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Controls are typical for a “stationary” shooter. Since the character cannot physically move in any direction, the left thumbpad controls the crosshairs. A large “fire” button on the right side of the screen activates the weapon. Surrounding this are smaller buttons that switch between the two equipped guns, reload the current weapon, or activate grenades or medkits.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This might be the best control setup I’ve seen in this regard. Many other games have abilities centered in the middle of the screen, or in other harder-to-reach places. This can make activating them on-the-fly rather difficult. The close proximity of all the actions to the fire button makes it easy to pull them off in mid-battle, without having to take time to look.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GRAPHICS</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The graphics are very similar to the graphics in “Zombie Virus”. In fact, some of the very same zombie skins are used. Thankfully, more are added to prevent the large waves from becoming too redundant. The backgrounds are adequate, but nothing noteworthy. The only “outstanding” feature in the visual department is the inclusion of “night vision” in some levels. It doesn’t change the gameplay at all, but it adds a nice touch.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qg1Odz5gPNWj4I_RHXyE0fPMVqM22PocNizg_HFGtwPvNlf1EKprXJx_pYYgcxDvAaehLd_mRNcu9yIAjZlSdAbRzFgriqFCx0dcGDvLzGRBEYcMleVQqFuy_o73SIKNmjKayq6pR6h6u3ovLrWOfHPGXJfGTsRDydgkHTnGBcov89SnxJCcZ8hZVqbx/s2340/Screenshot_20230722-080843.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qg1Odz5gPNWj4I_RHXyE0fPMVqM22PocNizg_HFGtwPvNlf1EKprXJx_pYYgcxDvAaehLd_mRNcu9yIAjZlSdAbRzFgriqFCx0dcGDvLzGRBEYcMleVQqFuy_o73SIKNmjKayq6pR6h6u3ovLrWOfHPGXJfGTsRDydgkHTnGBcov89SnxJCcZ8hZVqbx/s320/Screenshot_20230722-080843.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Graphics are rehashed from "Zombie Virus", with some added textures/monsters.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game runs smoothly on a Google Pixel 7 Pro on the “very high” graphics setting. For players with “lesser” devices, there are four other options, including a “very low” setting that should run on just about any supported Android phone or tablet.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>AUDIO</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Like many mobile games, the audio is serviceable, but nothing outstanding. Guns sound like guns, but are rather thin-sounding. They don’t pack much of a powerful wallop. Explosions sound like explosions. The moans of zombies constantly fill the air, resulting in a satisfying ambience that’s heightened by the equally atmospheric music.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But hindering the effectiveness is the inclusion of a narrator who announces “reloading!” every time you reload. Every single time. Even worse: it sounds like an audio clip culled from a ‘90s arcade action game. This is completely pointless, especially since the word “reloading” appears on screen as it’s happening, lest a player is confused about what’s going on. Adding to the weirdness: The “narrator” is completely absent from the game otherwise. No other on-screen actions are audibly explained. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is a game you can play muted and miss out on nothing.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GAMEPLAY</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The “mission” system of “D-Day 2” is one thing that’s carried over from “Zombie Virus”. Each “area” is broken down into 10 “stages”. The individual stages consist entirely of battling 1-3 waves of zombies. The total number in each wave is presented at the top of the screen, with the number reducing for each zombie killed. This gives players a nice “at-a-glance” summary of remaining threats that can give a tactical edge.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another frustrating element that makes its return is the ammo system. Every time you reload your weapon, you’re charged for the “clip”. The cost of bullets vary from gun to gun, but of course increase based on the weapon’s grade. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t know why, but this nonsensical system is utilized in many other games. If you’re going to charge for bullets, whatever, but at least give players the chance to purchase them upfront. Offer ammo in a store of some sort, so players can factor them into their budget. It’s an aspect that’s easy to forget, because it’s so dumb. Nothing is worse than spending large amounts of money on necessary upgrades, only to be hit with an “out of ammo” notice in the middle of a gunfight. It’s ignorant and flies in the face of all logic. Is the character swiping his credit card between reloads to pay for the clip in mid-battle?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s particularly maddening because the game offers no melee weapons, or other lines of defense in this scenario. You can carry grenades, but the several-second cooldown between uses prevent them from being a reliable line of defense. The world’s safety depends on a man who can’t even run or kick?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh6SZyaZ4VsuuQk5314FOjLgD8orSQ5a-SHNwtbh76WQYUzF4qQ3741Y-FLllE8PXI9hQ01u02wLoOBBf0roT_JEElxZEZ6jg5vJ-6-gL5VIWP1FkuI6uvbvK9W24zkNThuTNZtfb2kx2wmEQxdfTkoOGRjty6X0XZewkiTSABsU81K59jp0P1uc83cud/s2340/Screenshot_20230723-074431.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh6SZyaZ4VsuuQk5314FOjLgD8orSQ5a-SHNwtbh76WQYUzF4qQ3741Y-FLllE8PXI9hQ01u02wLoOBBf0roT_JEElxZEZ6jg5vJ-6-gL5VIWP1FkuI6uvbvK9W24zkNThuTNZtfb2kx2wmEQxdfTkoOGRjty6X0XZewkiTSABsU81K59jp0P1uc83cud/s320/Screenshot_20230723-074431.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boss attacks offer ample warnings.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At the end of every “area” is a boss level. In these stages, players square off against a huge, building-sized monster. When the creature is revving up their attack, targets are placed on the bosses’ weak points. Firing repeatedly on said weak points “cancels” the attack, knocking them backwards in the process. This gives players time to fire away at the temporarily defenseless entity, before it slowly repeats its attack cycle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But the grotesque entity isn’t the only thing players have to worry about: Waves of zombies are also let loose. This means players must fight off the large creature’s attacks, while also defending themselves from ground threats. Since all bosses follow the same patterns, defeating them becomes easy once you get the hang of it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The main area where “D-Day 2” is a huge improvement over “Zombie Virus” is in the weapons system. Gone are the randomized “shards” and convoluted upgrade structure. Here, there is only one main character, and weapons can be purchased directly from the shop. Guns are unlocked based on progression, with stronger weapons becoming available the further you progress. Each gun can be upgraded up to five times; doing so requires only in-game currency.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDdh79EPReNAKQ7Y7piFhp254cA3sIQ9PGHxiKtNLjvnU9IQSw5Ml_0I-WZnMPDkAMIcJprjifxVXhaQ2XQ9n25AoxMgJEkCIDBRVxZRc2kHLXtpL11qG3kaa3s5n5Qr9lcJ6nLOXolR1qMvD_Rekp2s14nQ4CtRkvTikyMksePk0deu61Mqy6PYlzFjH/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025700.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDdh79EPReNAKQ7Y7piFhp254cA3sIQ9PGHxiKtNLjvnU9IQSw5Ml_0I-WZnMPDkAMIcJprjifxVXhaQ2XQ9n25AoxMgJEkCIDBRVxZRc2kHLXtpL11qG3kaa3s5n5Qr9lcJ6nLOXolR1qMvD_Rekp2s14nQ4CtRkvTikyMksePk0deu61Mqy6PYlzFjH/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025700.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You can use in-game currency to purchase and improve weapons.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game starts on “Easy”; once all the levels are completed, it moves on to “Medium”, and so on. There are a total of five difficulty levels, with “Hell” being the toughest. However, the overall “hardness” doesn’t really change, no matter how far you progress. As long as you’re purchasing unlocked guns as they become available, progressing through “Hell” stages feels the same as completing one on “Easy”. It’s all relative.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Grinding” isn’t even a requirement here. While on paper this might sound refreshing, it feels like a bit of a letdown. Boss stages payout enough currency to purchase the next unlocked weapon almost right away. I’ve complained many times how hard some games make it to progress after reaching a certain point. Many times I’ve had to spend more time watching ads than actually playing, in order to gain enough resources to advance. This has not been an issue in “D-Day 2”.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I should be ecstatic about this. I should be elated that completing missions doesn’t require a whole lot of time or effort. And to an extent, I am; I would much prefer this to a game that virtually requires paid upgrades to advance. But in this situation, it makes an already-linear game feel even moreso. Players are essentially spoonfed progress, with little room to make their own decisions. Everything must be done in order, even down to purchasing specific weapons at specific times. And as long as you adhere to the “checklist”, passing through most levels feels like a breeze.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS2Py_bNZ8Q6Ao3EtGvN57lt2DpVH5Q4Dbs1qcwkGFfWIkxo9fpAUO-FWw08LDVSqClrKCmErHik1gMz4ujG1NpGpe8asZsBWI2Qeacg9shxY6lkXYPdm0UpuKUclagxSdFC0jYsymPosn2qZCowl3B2qstrIF4dsC9caMxd3Hf1npLBU5U-OJB_KDazl/s2340/Screenshot_20230721-052107.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS2Py_bNZ8Q6Ao3EtGvN57lt2DpVH5Q4Dbs1qcwkGFfWIkxo9fpAUO-FWw08LDVSqClrKCmErHik1gMz4ujG1NpGpe8asZsBWI2Qeacg9shxY6lkXYPdm0UpuKUclagxSdFC0jYsymPosn2qZCowl3B2qstrIF4dsC9caMxd3Hf1npLBU5U-OJB_KDazl/s320/Screenshot_20230721-052107.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Hell" mode sees weapon costs skyrocket, with real money replacing "gold" option.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The only exception to this is in the “Hell” difficulty, where the cost of guns goes up exponentially. An “SS” grade gun will run you $1.75 million in in-game currency. But the alternative option to purchase with gold - something available in every previous level - is removed. Instead, players short of in-game cash must pony up $79.99 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">real-life dollars</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to obtain it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’ll admit, I’ve lost enough interest in the game to see if it causes issues later on. I’m in area 1 of “Hell” difficulty, and it hasn’t been an issue thus far. But with four more areas to go - and no way to upgrade my gun in the future - it’s very possible later stages will be near-impossible to defeat without ponying up the cash. And, if that’s the case, it’s going to take a fair amount of “grinding” to earn enough in-game currency to make that happen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GAME MODES</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When I first started playing the game a couple of months ago, “D-Day 2” offered just a single player campaign. Since then, they’ve apparently added a “Defense” mode. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This mode does offer up a new style of gameplay. Instead of being stationary on the ground, you’re placed in the back of a moving vehicle. Of course, zombies are attempting to overtake the automobile, forcing you to blast the fast-moving hordes. Aiming on the move is much harder and adds to the intensity. So, too, does the timing component: Unlike the base game, levels don’t depend on killing a certain amount of zombies. Instead, a timer represents the amount of time before the car reaches its destination. In order to complete the level, you must stay alive until the countdown reaches “0”.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjY7-fQ9QUXNMOZSEtOi98iOWpaSX-vStnKCTv-pwyC-bcRu4H8fMS4H1gynqyj5sASmdOu4ZXaNQuPSZ9r7wtn2m16GTTOS7ravvd8SAj7SjN1g7-k1GWk_vr16HnkTa38b6xtMOOuJ2Xg63aLKXtuPh8ny2azZbDCFP6f9jCujqrt69m4OJLeEkNU-F/s2340/Screenshot_20230721-040854.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjY7-fQ9QUXNMOZSEtOi98iOWpaSX-vStnKCTv-pwyC-bcRu4H8fMS4H1gynqyj5sASmdOu4ZXaNQuPSZ9r7wtn2m16GTTOS7ravvd8SAj7SjN1g7-k1GWk_vr16HnkTa38b6xtMOOuJ2Xg63aLKXtuPh8ny2azZbDCFP6f9jCujqrt69m4OJLeEkNU-F/s320/Screenshot_20230721-040854.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Defense" mode puts you on the back of a moving vehicle.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This also introduces yet another type of currency: coins. These are used to purchase weapons and other upgrades exclusive to “Defense” mode. What’s the point of all this? While I agree the main campaign is rather short compared to other games, this isn’t the way I would have expanded upon it. There were already two types of currency - gold and cash - so the addition of a third seems pretty excessive.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I didn’t play this one enough to analyze it in-depth. Quite frankly, the only reason I opened the game again at all was to write this review; I have no further interest in it. Based on the three stages I played (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">stages</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, not </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">areas</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">), it seemed like a decent change-of-pace from the main game. It was pretty chaotic, with new monsters introduced to make the challenge of surviving that much more difficult. If it was “included” with the game when I initially downloaded it, I would have played it more. But it wasn’t, and I’m over it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The other mode is simply called “Bonus”. This is also a change from the norm. In this one, you’re placed in a helicopter circling high above the ground. A lone cop car sits stationary on the ground below. You’re placed in control of a machine gun with infinite ammo, and must prevent the zombies from destroying the car for a full 35 seconds. It sounds like it should be easy…but it’s not.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12h3Rx_RcILMi1z5ekKzUehK0gltISOb0sDMAi57od9nYsTmeO84xhGDNzUpxpMo24gzuvgjv7MDquad5UHB0bd6K_LBqFepTpEKQd4z0VJ91Sbr5juef3lRJptCaz2u8KV8tE61l1pa1ZKBnY_ZP7Fsv-ic-dWTD4pr19IT_6mlpnReFvWFM53iQaiwp/s2340/Screenshot_20230718-080402.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12h3Rx_RcILMi1z5ekKzUehK0gltISOb0sDMAi57od9nYsTmeO84xhGDNzUpxpMo24gzuvgjv7MDquad5UHB0bd6K_LBqFepTpEKQd4z0VJ91Sbr5juef3lRJptCaz2u8KV8tE61l1pa1ZKBnY_ZP7Fsv-ic-dWTD4pr19IT_6mlpnReFvWFM53iQaiwp/s320/Screenshot_20230718-080402.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you'd rather shoot zombies from a helicopter, "Bonus" mode is for you.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The helicopter moves and sways randomly each time, making success feel like a gamble. Sometimes, it stays closer to the action, making it easier to pick off the zombies. Other times, it flies way overhead, making it harder to aim. At any rate, my success rate is pretty low.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just attempting it rewards some cash, which is helpful; “beating” it results in a higher payout that can be doubled by watching ads. Players are limited to three attempts per day. It’d be nice to see some variance in this mode - can we get a different setting at least? - but it’s another interesting break from the main campaign.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>PAY TO PLAY?</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The ad load in “D-Day 2” is, like virtually everything else in the game, “average”. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Players are “treated” to a skippable ad after completion of every “stage”. There are also many opportunities to increase monetary rewards by voluntarily viewing unskippable 30-second ads. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9JcYTIDjJmnxLkUK-exqCwKUU3OBbv9EKuZ_e-YvsLj4GDYz-UHeavpM1r8JjqA2R69_utwuDvoWc0pq0wW-cDqSf-Pk1_sT-Pzfa1Ida1ttApVw8D735fGsAeR6ALHflMB-E7Wj7BLJK0qw_6Dpmkdp_lQ9JVQJT9Wq7KU1RJJ8DnKJ6o7pPujMyaJ4/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025631.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9JcYTIDjJmnxLkUK-exqCwKUU3OBbv9EKuZ_e-YvsLj4GDYz-UHeavpM1r8JjqA2R69_utwuDvoWc0pq0wW-cDqSf-Pk1_sT-Pzfa1Ida1ttApVw8D735fGsAeR6ALHflMB-E7Wj7BLJK0qw_6Dpmkdp_lQ9JVQJT9Wq7KU1RJJ8DnKJ6o7pPujMyaJ4/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025631.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A $100 pack offering a "1,000% bonus". Over what?</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When it does decide to peddle upgrades, however, it holds nothing back. On a recent visit to the game, I was offered a “Slayer Pack”, containing two “S Grade” guns. It was $99.99. (Although I was assured it was a “1000% bonus!”; over what, I don’t know.) That’s a pretty exorbitant sum for a game that feels much shorter and easier than other zombie games I’ve played.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adding to the greedy mentality: Weapons don’t carry over between the two modes. Therefore, getting a similar grade gun for “Defense” mode would incur additional out-of-pocket expenses. To be fair, there are several other gun packages available, and most of them are less expensive than the above example. But the fact remains the same: Multiple packages must be purchased in order to gain weapons for each mode, which at least doubles the overall cost no matter which ones you buy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYeTdhlNNmW2HEVxGEEqjG-qfVjwJU8UMLVprGZPTTRseKMZX_w2biN8zKeq5vS0DhEWxjj5hDeke5KTwXWETz96NTGdl-Wd-jJM807A55h687gKOY0dMAHclZsR1L5q3WA_DIm3GHmh_V2U4A94j1-mxij12uTHTzpH0casu_zhYngK_WYL3D-UYQwMz/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025623.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYeTdhlNNmW2HEVxGEEqjG-qfVjwJU8UMLVprGZPTTRseKMZX_w2biN8zKeq5vS0DhEWxjj5hDeke5KTwXWETz96NTGdl-Wd-jJM807A55h687gKOY0dMAHclZsR1L5q3WA_DIm3GHmh_V2U4A94j1-mxij12uTHTzpH0casu_zhYngK_WYL3D-UYQwMz/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025623.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The game offers some pretty helpful rewards for daily visits.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The fact that progressing is already so easy without spending a dime makes these “offers” feel almost “scammy”. I mean, why is there a need to offer in-game, digital products for such a high price, anyway? Who would pay $80 for a weapon that can only be used in one game? I guess there are enough people who do it to justify the developer’s approach. But for most casual gamers - or those without expendable income - it’s just stupid.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>IN CONCLUSION</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim87VF-CaF0uWCfOtA9eQrN8DkHkxOrPElO6UPbUZs8qHEbmJCoK2Yy-x_Tp2FlPz4s_YVOrjh7Zf5DQAInvStl4fY_beC5U_ud_lugUEkSHszHHc-EPvJiRxZIoHC0HABHf43USmoXyZvxi2LIEfeCLtE5cAZQECA0Ib9bvQQzveSKMrySpZ3gilUoi5/s2340/Screenshot_20230711-025613.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim87VF-CaF0uWCfOtA9eQrN8DkHkxOrPElO6UPbUZs8qHEbmJCoK2Yy-x_Tp2FlPz4s_YVOrjh7Zf5DQAInvStl4fY_beC5U_ud_lugUEkSHszHHc-EPvJiRxZIoHC0HABHf43USmoXyZvxi2LIEfeCLtE5cAZQECA0Ib9bvQQzveSKMrySpZ3gilUoi5/s320/Screenshot_20230711-025613.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Random image of title screen, because why not?</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When all is said and done, “D-Day 2” changes many of the issues I had with their previous “Zombie Virus.” However, those changes aren’t always for the better. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Whereas their previous effort was too hard, relying on a horrible upgrade system in order to progress, “D-Day 2” suffers from the opposite problem: It’s too easy. Progression is almost spoonfed to the player, with weapons unlocked in the order they are needed. This makes the game feel too linear and straightforward: As long as you do things in the order the game presents them, passing through levels is a breeze.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While a couple of other game modes might help to elongate replayability a bit, there’s nothing unique or outstanding enough to elevate “D-Day 2” above other mediocre mobile zombie games. It’s worth a look for casual gamers looking to kill some time (and zombies), but once the initial excitement wears thin, there’s little else to sustain it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">OVERALL: 5/10.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-59526506486261575892023-07-10T07:37:00.002-04:002023-07-10T07:37:30.582-04:00Zombeast (Android)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZLIVVH7skFchqYoJklCR3KOOKYppnMFQq544rTVUsayWbEh-Vg5rQ_K4emSo2-iNXQaSbAYtxA7d36sXKpYM56leFCJneJvXGQnmKOoutqauHvoUdVvW5DsGIw4jkOvPC7GXfjmaaNzbKXdqyo6e8uT5Jur56jzMzEoNNZR1ziQ6ss9WFJ33lagL4A07/s240/zombeastappicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZLIVVH7skFchqYoJklCR3KOOKYppnMFQq544rTVUsayWbEh-Vg5rQ_K4emSo2-iNXQaSbAYtxA7d36sXKpYM56leFCJneJvXGQnmKOoutqauHvoUdVvW5DsGIw4jkOvPC7GXfjmaaNzbKXdqyo6e8uT5Jur56jzMzEoNNZR1ziQ6ss9WFJ33lagL4A07/s1600/zombeastappicon.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9398dbc2-7fff-5ccc-e931-0616d70dfdba"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombeast” is one of many zombie-themed games in which users blast waves of zombies in order to progress to the next level, where they get to do it all over again. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">UI</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuReJ_pn-vmN3lqR8Cnadus8R8EfBSwO-l9be0io5gq1shX5kO1iw2Xek8ucw-fAMQj5kv4clB8_2GKGszAA05Bn5wN25aoUytSiod_Um6KK6XqBoj3RaDt_HTzzfU_LXYhjVu_SuHT9n2cKlt3AQRoH7PbKPXSInTKmSaUm4JNuqoOZa-0vf1cMZ7w_q/s2340/Screenshot_20230702-094105.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuReJ_pn-vmN3lqR8Cnadus8R8EfBSwO-l9be0io5gq1shX5kO1iw2Xek8ucw-fAMQj5kv4clB8_2GKGszAA05Bn5wN25aoUytSiod_Um6KK6XqBoj3RaDt_HTzzfU_LXYhjVu_SuHT9n2cKlt3AQRoH7PbKPXSInTKmSaUm4JNuqoOZa-0vf1cMZ7w_q/s320/Screenshot_20230702-094105.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Navigating the menus is a pretty straightforward process.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Zombeast's" user interface is much more straightforward than other games of its type. The main menu lays out all the options in a clear and concise format. Weapons can be purchased and upgraded from a menu option clearly marked “Weapons”. “Bestiary” is a “catalog” of all the creatures in the game, along with their characteristics and weaknesses. The “Free Bonus & Shop” option offers up some time-released freebies, and is also where players can use real cash to buy guns and other progress-boosting items.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Clicking on “Campaign” takes the user to their current level on a map. It also opens up options for additional game modes. There are apparently 750 levels available to blast through, which is a rather astonishing number. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4XVAs0C0_ybljRy1efWU7yvdy3QIah6nBonW3Agg4mSAAtUk8qb8U2_M8mLY1Od__tXhNHy3sUDGLxjJ6NH1yEUjFTeCmryctkL4x9vcn5xYO5Cc0JYBhvG9bBhxgjTHFBPMPZlOo-Lu3QVByawUOqGSBUj31SoVjqB4DSJWS3VqAd4eWeq263TjTbJO/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-063404.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4XVAs0C0_ybljRy1efWU7yvdy3QIah6nBonW3Agg4mSAAtUk8qb8U2_M8mLY1Od__tXhNHy3sUDGLxjJ6NH1yEUjFTeCmryctkL4x9vcn5xYO5Cc0JYBhvG9bBhxgjTHFBPMPZlOo-Lu3QVByawUOqGSBUj31SoVjqB4DSJWS3VqAd4eWeq263TjTbJO/s320/Screenshot_20230710-063404.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Everything can be accessed via the "Campaign" screen.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Overall, it’s got a clean, well-organized look that’s simple to navigate and explore.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GRAPHICS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Having grown up in the Nintendo era (I was born in 1984 for reference) I probably place graphics much lower on the list of important features when compared to other millennials (and newer generations). That being said, “Zombeast” boasts some pretty impressive graphics for a mobile game. I would argue they’re among the best I’ve seen (although my experience is limited, as a casual gamer). Many zombie games go for a more “cartoony” approach to their visuals, but this one revels in its dark setting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfoSM5crMIOXDAYIr0Q2redB2lzV6WVZ0QmuLAc66wbrnRmBNeb4j4nCaxcVt4M0K7ZeRC2kDaYUKEQvEd-vjd8WM65Wb4cf-BJuNwSNfMHbfodPc-HhjjO0N3nhe3sndKc3FyOcY9i0WE-Mok6C8GGuYAhzIEQavyJ7Yv1EQVeFDGD0u6g1SUayESWyq/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-054740.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfoSM5crMIOXDAYIr0Q2redB2lzV6WVZ0QmuLAc66wbrnRmBNeb4j4nCaxcVt4M0K7ZeRC2kDaYUKEQvEd-vjd8WM65Wb4cf-BJuNwSNfMHbfodPc-HhjjO0N3nhe3sndKc3FyOcY9i0WE-Mok6C8GGuYAhzIEQavyJ7Yv1EQVeFDGD0u6g1SUayESWyq/s320/Screenshot_20230710-054740.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Widows" are pretty terrifying.<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Each creature has their own distinct strengths and weaknesses, and have an appropriate visual style to match. Inarguably, the most impressive examples are “Widows”, ghostly white female “demons” that stand in one spot, swaying from side-to-side while holding their heads. If unprovoked, players can easily walk past them with no consequence. However, once they are hit by gunfire, they “snap out” of their trance, issuing a bloodcurdling wail before charging at the player. They take a lot of hits to kill, and can cause massive amounts of damage in close quarters.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And as for gore, “Zombeast” wallows in the red stuff. Striking a target often results in severed limbs, complete with arterial sprays. It’s not uncommon to be hunted by armless creatures, who are unrelenting in their quest to kill you. This is easily the most violent mobile zombie game I’ve played, with the detailed visuals adding to the intensity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It all runs smoothly with the highest graphics setting enabled on my Google Pixel 7 Pro. However, the high level of detail will no doubt cause some visual hiccups on older tech. For those players, “Zombeast” offers two lower graphical settings to ensure smoother performance for “lesser” devices. It’s worth noting there are no options for turning off the blood, further proof they’re targeting a more mature demographic.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitksqYztEIMH_FNzNG6po_JSkmQP2mWq0Me9e4M9HdU3jHydKkETnnjDwBGupNPc1UTk7YKlT0dxEls6u54-NPeHL6AmnwsOisrEYhR8c24Cxb50_WSAJQCGV-_RN9d2ReUi1CPetN547VzyZ05cyh6lH8tqJYWBPt1rmq062Lkn1nDmVGuYH05ISjUELZ/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-053849.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitksqYztEIMH_FNzNG6po_JSkmQP2mWq0Me9e4M9HdU3jHydKkETnnjDwBGupNPc1UTk7YKlT0dxEls6u54-NPeHL6AmnwsOisrEYhR8c24Cxb50_WSAJQCGV-_RN9d2ReUi1CPetN547VzyZ05cyh6lH8tqJYWBPt1rmq062Lkn1nDmVGuYH05ISjUELZ/s320/Screenshot_20230710-053849.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The non-removable gore isn't for the faint-of-heart.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AUDIO</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here’s another area where “Zombeast” excels. I generally play mobile games muted, but this is that rare game that <i>actually</i> benefits from the use of headphones.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Moans and wails of each enemy can be heard, even when they’re visually shrouded in distant fog. Each type also has their own distinct sound. This helps to not only create a relatively unnerving atmosphere, but also provides clues as to what dangers lurk in the shadows. The arterial sprays and dismemberments are appropriately “squishy” and wet to match the game’s graphic visuals. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The various weapons and explosions also have their own dedicated effects. In other games, they frequently sound “canned”, like the developers took them as-is from free sound libraries. That’s not the case here. The gunfire blends in with the settings, making them sound realistic. Ditto that for the “environmental” weapons (laser beams, lightning, etc.) that can be obtained. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s obvious a lot of care and detail went into almost all facets of this game, which makes for a riveting experience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CONTROLS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The controls in “Zombeast” are a little weird, to say the least.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Well, not the control scheme itself. The left side controls player movement, while the right side controls the weapons. It’s a basic setup that should be familiar to anyone who’s ever played a mobile action game before.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What’s “bizarre” are the two unorthodox ways the game handles aiming.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For starters, “auto aim” is on by default. When this mode is enabled, the weapon’s crosshairs automatically move to the nearest target. It doesn’t matter which side of the screen they are on, or how far. As long as they’re within the weapon’s range, the crosshairs will automatically “lock on”. All the player has to do is press the large “fire” button to engage the weapon. It’s kind of an odd choice to even include this as an option; it’s even weirder that it's automatically activated by default.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-kW3pyKShPfSscbPyIg8zFDvK1K-qpSKMn-2ifqJAs2rjeQgwxHYxBc6n89po7ef_iYF9GyPcSgUoCkbS8-20BOGdyUfoUFByXtnSBXAmqyI5owx8AVoO-g_1GRVbPDJZw0bhjWEBATLJAclZSKtWZV3TaQbDinFEf2aRaRZm05KRgEoG4zGqu7uOrfH/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-054528.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-kW3pyKShPfSscbPyIg8zFDvK1K-qpSKMn-2ifqJAs2rjeQgwxHYxBc6n89po7ef_iYF9GyPcSgUoCkbS8-20BOGdyUfoUFByXtnSBXAmqyI5owx8AVoO-g_1GRVbPDJZw0bhjWEBATLJAclZSKtWZV3TaQbDinFEf2aRaRZm05KRgEoG4zGqu7uOrfH/s320/Screenshot_20230710-054528.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Choose from either auto-aiming, or auto-fire...there are no fully-manual options.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Players that want more “control” over their gunfire are given a “manual aiming” option. But even that doesn’t work the way it should. Activating this removes the fire button entirely. Moving the crosshairs is accomplished by sliding your right thumb along the right side of the screen. Similar to how player movement is controlled via the left thumb. Once your crosshairs come into contact with an enemy, the gun is automatically fired. So you’re basically choosing between “auto-aim” or “auto-fire”. It’s baffling that, no matter which one you choose, you’re never given full control. Some aspect is automatically handled for you. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another odd choice is that your character can only move straight ahead. There is no way to see what’s behind you. Even weirder: You can </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">walk</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> backwards, but you have to face forward the entire time. The positive to this is that enemies can't attack you from the back, but it's a rather awkward design decision.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAMEPLAY</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombeast” takes the same basic formula of so many games that have come before. Players complete missions, and use the money earned from those missions to purchase and upgrade weaponry. In the most unique aspect of the game, each mission lasts for a set amount of “meters”, which are tracked in the upper left hand corner of the screen. In order to complete the level, the player must travel the set distance. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkLC-emFNEj2TLJqKuW7HF_X8kRqeR4dgPPH01_I0JS6eVgCz5WIIzLCbwNcn_Kr_tkhQMRgidyt3O4bWzZHX8LAtAHwSxvEvufB0n30Iox8hEOsYmd_kA7Nrr-rbvs-ultEJhr6iy0tlW9ezPzSm9ts8xKonlY-B--_YCSMPM6ATnLrpwtOmr9AXWy4S/s2340/Screenshot_20230601-205000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkLC-emFNEj2TLJqKuW7HF_X8kRqeR4dgPPH01_I0JS6eVgCz5WIIzLCbwNcn_Kr_tkhQMRgidyt3O4bWzZHX8LAtAHwSxvEvufB0n30Iox8hEOsYmd_kA7Nrr-rbvs-ultEJhr6iy0tlW9ezPzSm9ts8xKonlY-B--_YCSMPM6ATnLrpwtOmr9AXWy4S/s320/Screenshot_20230601-205000.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Players must travel a set distance in order to complete levels.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are three “objectives” in each level that grant extra cash upon completion. These are displayed before each mission. The first two are always the same: traveling a distance equal to the end of the level, and killing a certain number of enemies in the level. The last one varies. It can be killing a certain amount of enemies with a specific gun (that you may or may not own), or killing a specific number of a single creature type.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Early stages attempt to tell a “story”. Apparently, you’re one in a group of survivors attempting to survive the zombie apocalypse. Each level has a description setting up the “plot”, and outlining the mission’s objectives. They’re always incredibly basic, such as killing enemies to clear out a safe zone for other survivors, or saving an ally in distress. Regardless of the objectives, no other characters are ever seen during gameplay.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hilariously, this idea is abandoned somewhere around the 100-level mark. Each mission beyond that simply states “Story writing is in progress.” I would say this makes the game feel incomplete, but considering how poorly-written and unengaging it is up to that point, it actually feels like an improvement.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJuaHDC-rFOBaG_Z4I29jYvqRcpfUDivC2taEernNf_QcoSWWvDlfEs2Sx3610rzSYfWEx3D_DrzlLezg13MiYt7R4DrmPptWOTM58u_XPPrZk2d6EBcUlqUhAFuCVwP8fKvKNsto-e0_E_Ds4YYBsXbVe2cXG91R5l0mIcO11ptwQM9fTiUREvsAvH2-/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-054709.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJuaHDC-rFOBaG_Z4I29jYvqRcpfUDivC2taEernNf_QcoSWWvDlfEs2Sx3610rzSYfWEx3D_DrzlLezg13MiYt7R4DrmPptWOTM58u_XPPrZk2d6EBcUlqUhAFuCVwP8fKvKNsto-e0_E_Ds4YYBsXbVe2cXG91R5l0mIcO11ptwQM9fTiUREvsAvH2-/s320/Screenshot_20230710-054709.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Apparently, the story writer quit in mid-development.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Players start each mission with a small-ish amount of ammo, which can be increased by paying money or watching an ad from the pre-mission screen. Weapons can also be swapped out from the same screen. Users can equip any two guns from their arsenal in order to prepare for battle. This is a nice feature, as other games sometimes put limits on the types of weapons that can be used in certain levels.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Each stage also has ammo crates available at regular intervals. Only once can I recall running out of bullets in mid-level; typically, there’s a generous amount spread throughout. (For the record, I also pay for the extra ammo boost at the beginning of each stage.) However, in one of the game’s most genuinely refreshing highlights, even ammo-less heroes have a fair shot at survival.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Players can use their feet to “kick” the incoming hordes. Sounds pretty weak, right? It’s not: Kicking insta-kills any enemy within a small radius. Even more helpful: Any “exploding” creatures fly out of damage range to the player. They still explode, potentially causing harm to nearby monsters, but won’t harm the main character. Of course, there’s a cooldown period, preventing users from overusing it to survive levels. But it’s an incredibly helpful tool.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKJw3JdmX8lVbetdhNvMUth3FrtRCrWKNTkCJm0ijUjrbJFBwvnE4jPr_w3a6wY88I36LghrGpcwTcELJa8zXSgJwqiNMSwuoHY8ZCD-B7R_wJjytN8z_LxDO7cgVdNHGpEtAKXb10TTTPRvqzAYjV-oAKLX3agqwTIb0i6Jtg96_N_suoa8_VBzqOGKV/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-054811.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKJw3JdmX8lVbetdhNvMUth3FrtRCrWKNTkCJm0ijUjrbJFBwvnE4jPr_w3a6wY88I36LghrGpcwTcELJa8zXSgJwqiNMSwuoHY8ZCD-B7R_wJjytN8z_LxDO7cgVdNHGpEtAKXb10TTTPRvqzAYjV-oAKLX3agqwTIb0i6Jtg96_N_suoa8_VBzqOGKV/s320/Screenshot_20230710-054811.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kicking is surprisingly effective.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As a last resort, enemies can be avoided simply by running past them. Obviously, this isn’t very fun, and it’s a little too easy in most cases. But it is nice that even resourceless combatants still have a chance to complete missions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One thing I like is that there’s a tactical component to the game. Simply running and gunning through most levels will likely lead to a quick death. Barriers are set up throughout each stage, which can slow down incoming hordes long enough to reload weapons or to replenish the kick meter. Moving slowly can also reveal distant enemies, allowing you to take them out before they have a chance to attack. This is a nice feature that adds to the “realism”, while also rewarding players who employ a more strategic approach.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Even despite these additions, it still gets repetitive rather quickly. The missions don’t vary much; all consist of killing waves of hostile creatures.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But at the same time, that’s also one of the game’s biggest strengths. It’s what kept me coming back to it again and again, over other zombie games. Progressing through levels doesn’t require constant, costly upgrades in order to remain competitive. In fact, I’ve had the same weapons for the last 50 or so levels, and have had little trouble completing missions. They’re not overly easy, but with some tactical planning, they’re also not too difficult. It’s the perfect game to pick up and play when you just want to mindlessly blast a few creatures. And with a whopping 750 levels, there’s no shortage of opportunities to do just that.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Beyond “leveling up” your character, which doesn’t seem to do much on its own, “skills” can be purchased. These cost a set amount of coins, as well as “skill points”, and offer the player a wide variety of powerups that can be used during levels. They are organized by “tier”, with all boosts in a specific tier required before stronger skills can be purchased. The effects range from lowered kick cooldown and reduced damage, to ranged attacks, like artillery fire and laser beams. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n7ryj8yO1atQnVgMB7Wa1gKOPiqQ5C5GXqFlIdLfSkA-HbGPq-XlPxvzhPV1vr5eI0EN8V0_i8E2a4xUP7UUqW3ZP0h1tbI8Wl-nxwtTQTBhN8Km3R3-wiCgcTC_py65kD8rLnr5DXyhey9jgObSN4oX40k5I8Yxyw8JkCAmVpg5qVd9M649J7_yQr3g/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-062056.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n7ryj8yO1atQnVgMB7Wa1gKOPiqQ5C5GXqFlIdLfSkA-HbGPq-XlPxvzhPV1vr5eI0EN8V0_i8E2a4xUP7UUqW3ZP0h1tbI8Wl-nxwtTQTBhN8Km3R3-wiCgcTC_py65kD8rLnr5DXyhey9jgObSN4oX40k5I8Yxyw8JkCAmVpg5qVd9M649J7_yQr3g/s320/Screenshot_20230710-062056.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Upgradeable skills can further tilt missions in your favor.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Each skill can be upgraded multiple times, which increases their effectiveness. They can only be performed once her level and, in an interesting turn, only become available once players travel 60% of the total stage distance. I don’t understand the reasoning for that guideline, but it is what it is. (A final available upgrade reduces this requirement to 45%. It still doesn’t make any sense to me.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The biggest hindrance in the gameplay department: Each stage costs a certain amount of “energy” (represented by coffee cups) to play. In the early going, they cost five cups each. As you progress further, however, the cost doubles to 10.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The maximum amount of cups one can have at any given time is 30. That means players are only able to play up to 3 levels at one time before being forced to watch ads, use in-game currency, or pay real money in order to gain more. The cups do “regen” naturally pretty quick (I believe one every 3 or so minutes), but it’s still an annoying tactic. Going the ad route refills 5 cups per non-skippable ad, up to a maximum of five times per day. Instantly replenishing it with in-game currency costs a whopping 40 diamonds, which is pretty steep.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrjZN8CCxfCwh1PkMsvpGCrpXM7aHjwcQBe_3CgqA4qN_2-28RSDG4JeKWyD6OhJVdzZjGOq-oU_7oGcWw9zJZ_zbQiiudl8BiVryuJtNH1QDMUjaHsmSK2cYeYk_WYKFuxtZRKXVjcl4kNClI0D6bOKdoh0p0siA_JA_BQ_W0mjgu-VHcBNJRHT0Y_W6/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-055116.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrjZN8CCxfCwh1PkMsvpGCrpXM7aHjwcQBe_3CgqA4qN_2-28RSDG4JeKWyD6OhJVdzZjGOq-oU_7oGcWw9zJZ_zbQiiudl8BiVryuJtNH1QDMUjaHsmSK2cYeYk_WYKFuxtZRKXVjcl4kNClI0D6bOKdoh0p0siA_JA_BQ_W0mjgu-VHcBNJRHT0Y_W6/s320/Screenshot_20230710-055116.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Playing missions cost a certain amount of "cups".</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What does this approach hope to accomplish? Do the developers really think people are going to shell out money, or watch ads, just to keep playing a few more levels in one sitting? I don’t know, maybe people do; this isn’t the first game I’ve seen to utilize this approach. Personally, I just find something else to play while the cups are regenerating; eventually, I’ll get sick of doing that and stop playing entirely.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAME MODES</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There aren’t a huge variety of modes, or “side missions” to break up the monotony. The one notable exception is the “Daily Mission”. Players must navigate their way through three consecutive levels of increasing difficulty. However, there are “checkpoints” throughout each level that grant the user one power-up of their choice to help them tackle the neverending mobs. Each of these powerups carry over into the next level. The options range from heightened physical attributes - quicker kick “cooldown” or faster player movement - to “environmental” dangers, such as a laser beam that randomly incinerates zombies within a set distance every few seconds.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlcfgwelaVHkKafXKuBCfaRFLFnn3-n38DLcBgQQGxhKMmZLd-J9QjrMs0a7URIeNms0kGB3UStYHFJjEnEKV-a35YisExkFwUzGeVlVTMxaJo8HqUHLLyp7_q7DZfIbOCHVXSr9rsu7DhD5ZO0nPzgHtATPZqp7GIC-RaHFfypFZHXD9NkXZX1-IKVKb/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-053930.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlcfgwelaVHkKafXKuBCfaRFLFnn3-n38DLcBgQQGxhKMmZLd-J9QjrMs0a7URIeNms0kGB3UStYHFJjEnEKV-a35YisExkFwUzGeVlVTMxaJo8HqUHLLyp7_q7DZfIbOCHVXSr9rsu7DhD5ZO0nPzgHtATPZqp7GIC-RaHFfypFZHXD9NkXZX1-IKVKb/s320/Screenshot_20230710-053930.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Daily missions" are brilliantly chaotic.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This mode is wonderfully, brilliantly chaotic. There can be around 20 “skills” active at any given time. By level 3, the waves of monsters are met with everything from lightning strikes, to grenades, to freeze blasts, and much more. It’s still challenging - survival is not guaranteed - but it definitely injects the game with an excitement that is otherwise missing. Especially since dying at any point requires the player to start from the first level all over again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Events" can be accessed via a button on the bottom of the "mission" screen. There are two: "Dead Rage" and "Zombie Target." Neither change the core mechanics, but do offer weapons specific to that event. They aren't updated very often, though; in the three months I've had the game, these have been the only ones available.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Other modes are reachable via a "Modes" button on the right side. “Hell on Earth” is essentially the base game, but with more monsters and firepower. It’s alright, but too similar to everything else to be engaging. The last one is simply called “Zombies”. This mode features several levels, each broken down into three “stages”. The name of the levels change, with each one named after a particular entity. The power and speed of the titular creatures in each level are altered in various ways via displayed attributes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNdDPXeYfpbkELg06hGVMAdickcamjsqiFx5WPV7FtZ06YhJGESiKr_6AEYABCR6z0enqy4KcLFqsppPgCGzgpTnuo490Sy6aZH0BGgGaxugYyK0SnW4BMAtyIpxzKd4M6_dwMEV9l9G4m8MuQREInAR1sz4OIVgj8br2-k71NgHoSgGRFbGVEoUdNO-4/s2340/Screenshot_20230710-055242.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNdDPXeYfpbkELg06hGVMAdickcamjsqiFx5WPV7FtZ06YhJGESiKr_6AEYABCR6z0enqy4KcLFqsppPgCGzgpTnuo490Sy6aZH0BGgGaxugYyK0SnW4BMAtyIpxzKd4M6_dwMEV9l9G4m8MuQREInAR1sz4OIVgj8br2-k71NgHoSgGRFbGVEoUdNO-4/s320/Screenshot_20230710-055242.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There are additional game modes beyond the main campaign.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For example, a level might say “Damage: +45%; Speed: +80%; Health: -50%”. That means the monsters in the level will cause 45% more damage per strike, and be 80% faster, but have half their normal health. In other words, they’ll be easier to kill, but can move in quicker and be more dangerous if they reach you. Completing these levels pay out a respectable amount of coins.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is a somewhat interesting variation, in that it changes up the core mechanics slightly. It adds a “puzzle” aspect missing from the main game. For example, one level maxes out the enemy’s health, so that they cannot be killed. The only way to complete the level is to avoid them, something that feels like a welcome change from typical objectives. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two other modes, titled "Endless" and "Premium", are available to paid "premium" members only. That's fine with me, because I hate endless modes anyway.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">PAY TO PLAY</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unfortunately, no review of mobile games these days are complete without a section on ads. They’re taking over everything. Ever since streaming replaced cable as the main source of entertainment, companies have had to find new avenues to peddle their wares. Naturally, anything and everything have become hotbeds for advertisements. Mobile games - especially “free” ones - might just be the “peak” of these efforts.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Zombeast earns “slightly above average” scores in this category. Ads play after every completed mission (which run for about 1-2 minutes, on average). These are skippable after a few seconds. Beyond that, players are given the option to earn double the rewards of the level by watching another ad. These are “full” thirty second ads, and are not skippable. This is pretty much standard across mobile games as a whole.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The most egregious example of developer “greed” occurs when increasing your character’s stats. Once you hit 600 points (which are earned from completing mission objectives and daily tasks), you are able to “level up” your character. This entitles the player to earn extra items, like diamonds, grenades, and energy. However, in order to collect said items, players are first forced to watch a full, unskippable ad.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ajcv4c54zyQY3nXRSteUG76TG1LRyB27HLvLTN7dmhmW7FUwD6MFwAWbkHliRx_KjN3gjcS38ge2mEUj-i9WMoQq8DWuhdFeEyY-rEpzd0RifpKzCOrE-LyR7cZg4h_MkFSKfkL35iXW1gUwIstO1rLpeQF0JH3vgOoTszexdX_bgd2aLg1gnbtyl-xF/s2340/Screenshot_20230603-080530.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ajcv4c54zyQY3nXRSteUG76TG1LRyB27HLvLTN7dmhmW7FUwD6MFwAWbkHliRx_KjN3gjcS38ge2mEUj-i9WMoQq8DWuhdFeEyY-rEpzd0RifpKzCOrE-LyR7cZg4h_MkFSKfkL35iXW1gUwIstO1rLpeQF0JH3vgOoTszexdX_bgd2aLg1gnbtyl-xF/s320/Screenshot_20230603-080530.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Viewing an ad is required to level up your character.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I understand the need for ads in games. I understand developers need to be rewarded for their efforts in making games. And I completely understand the “voluntary” viewing of ads to earn additional perks. But when it’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">required</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to gain items you’ve </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">earned </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">- by playing a game that already features advertisements - it feels rather low.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is especially true in the beginning, when it’s much easier to gain XP for your character. There were times when I’d save up enough points for 5 level boosts. Guess what? That meant viewing five ads - one for each time you level up. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For those who have some expendable income, “Zombeast” offers paid upgrades, of course. The cost of these items are rather exorbitant, in my opinion. For example, purchasing infinite energy costs $20.99. That’s a pretty high price considering all that does is allow the player to play as many missions as they want at one time. (To be fair, it also comes with 250 diamonds, but that won’t go very far.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZedd2J0TN7CPmg6ndrNl5Ih3MzOLM1zVtcx0pT-xjy8noILNW6JUOdEVRgwRp0czJcRTHqsLqygcCgRr6ue2b8W9muoAJ1sd-i-lIXN6xBo6jEeyePXEDYDQhz322X04i8S7oaEKNxXzDQz8-WBAk70rLcOCn3hxAEFZrUKvVRgOcJH-gRuinWwWzGJqm/s2340/Screenshot_20230707-073615.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZedd2J0TN7CPmg6ndrNl5Ih3MzOLM1zVtcx0pT-xjy8noILNW6JUOdEVRgwRp0czJcRTHqsLqygcCgRr6ue2b8W9muoAJ1sd-i-lIXN6xBo6jEeyePXEDYDQhz322X04i8S7oaEKNxXzDQz8-WBAk70rLcOCn3hxAEFZrUKvVRgOcJH-gRuinWwWzGJqm/s320/Screenshot_20230707-073615.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Paid upgrades are costly.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Packages with guns start at $9.49 and go up to $35.99. Most only include single guns, along with a fair amount of coins and diamonds. Again, I find these prices to be pretty excessive. Even worse: The images and purchase screens offer no descriptions on what you get for your hard-earned money. This is especially problematic for the “Dead Rage” package, which costs $9.99 and includes a gun that can only be used in the very-limited “Dead Rage” event. That information isn’t offered anywhere, which comes off as rather deceptive.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Despite these missteps, “Zombeast” doesn’t feel like a cash grab. It doesn’t flaunt paid upgrades or boosts in your face at every turn, and progress can easily be made without spending a dime.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">IN CONCLUSION</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombeast” is a confusing nut to crack. The graphics and audio are well-above average, and combine to help give the game a dark, creepy atmosphere. The game’s graphic, non-removable violence and detailed monster designs serve as proof this is a game for a more mature crowd. It avoids the “cartoony” look of other zombie titles, which is a welcome change of pace. And the “Daily Mission” is a brilliantly chaotic game mode that injects some life into an otherwise straightforward shooter.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But the “energy” system limits the number of levels that can be played at once. The aiming system is weird, with no options available to give players complete, manual control of their weapons. The limited movement system - the main character cannot look behind them - feels unnecessarily constricting. And each of the 750 (?) missions offer the same repetitive gameplay.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk_OSIFSFMrJOOLXXJxS7KtcQqEMMhGnTI0joXXVHmOxuGV8CEpRUW9HJnS8n-c87GL4yvkMjc-km4R29gzDX2KzYTtQgaStSt0oaaBVO1HZOQXdR5d11Tf9vukMWN-o0qS-A1GU_ThwwJ4NyXDH0YT-Pgko4TzmxKtblzqtIR1r2iJAKBZKDgWriseTs/s2340/Screenshot_20230603-080631.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivk_OSIFSFMrJOOLXXJxS7KtcQqEMMhGnTI0joXXVHmOxuGV8CEpRUW9HJnS8n-c87GL4yvkMjc-km4R29gzDX2KzYTtQgaStSt0oaaBVO1HZOQXdR5d11Tf9vukMWN-o0qS-A1GU_ThwwJ4NyXDH0YT-Pgko4TzmxKtblzqtIR1r2iJAKBZKDgWriseTs/s320/Screenshot_20230603-080631.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The "bestiary" details each creature's strengths and weaknesses.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet, despite these hiccups, “Zombeast” was the game I kept coming back to. It doesn’t require constant, costly upgrades in order to stay competitive, nor does it flood the user with paid enhancements. It might be a little too limited to maintain long-term interest, but it’s a great choice for casual gamers who just want to mindlessly blast a few nightmarish creatures.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">OVERALL: 6.5/10. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-26230178772545294622023-07-03T15:21:00.000-04:002023-07-03T15:21:01.589-04:00Dead Target (Android)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP4UrT9ffVbC34h0r4j28DElYPzKFD8mbYDMkUUyi4GVSh4g16NKzZnHFQ8u1qWBJEPOouI1zLO-MdOyWpexKsnEItnVHpQe148-iQIm7Ye-HV_tTk9QA80tKoqByjq5mxZJEvvB6HTtuc7G6Hil-iMA0gMD4Qigjgy_SQVcbvCa1Vs0GZFpVNU1hW9mN/s240/deadtargetappicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHP4UrT9ffVbC34h0r4j28DElYPzKFD8mbYDMkUUyi4GVSh4g16NKzZnHFQ8u1qWBJEPOouI1zLO-MdOyWpexKsnEItnVHpQe148-iQIm7Ye-HV_tTk9QA80tKoqByjq5mxZJEvvB6HTtuc7G6Hil-iMA0gMD4Qigjgy_SQVcbvCa1Vs0GZFpVNU1hW9mN/s1600/deadtargetappicon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;">WHAT IS IT?</span></u></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-61a37122-7fff-99ab-a502-37782aee1e21"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Dead Target” is an offline, single player FPS, in which the player completes levels by destroying waves of zombies and other creatures hellbent on destroying them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>UI</u></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hRpQUz6WU5ZXiSssXIFGorotlPrEFp2y7DYUFMZdPZDNjJ4RiqTxhIG4e9Nnsec3cqvbka_J6ltkSNjNnbAGhII9ZhHHYKevYTzD9iF205FWYC6yQQ_H1P1STzJAp-4E45HkbyJS8ToqV9r4LFXjlUYi_Av4yJuV-H6-EWcbEmc8ib1uIKoBxfaZlGQu/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112009.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hRpQUz6WU5ZXiSssXIFGorotlPrEFp2y7DYUFMZdPZDNjJ4RiqTxhIG4e9Nnsec3cqvbka_J6ltkSNjNnbAGhII9ZhHHYKevYTzD9iF205FWYC6yQQ_H1P1STzJAp-4E45HkbyJS8ToqV9r4LFXjlUYi_Av4yJuV-H6-EWcbEmc8ib1uIKoBxfaZlGQu/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112009.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maybe I'm just old, but this is overwhelming.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The interface in “Dead Target” is a perfect example of a game that tries to pack in way too much. I might be in the minority, but I prefer simplicity…this isn’t that. In fact, it might be the most convoluted game I’ve encountered yet.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The “main” screen lists all available levels, via a map-style display. There are several available at any given time, based on your progress. The difficulty of each is helpfully displayed, to give you an idea of what to expect. This part is pretty simple and attractively designed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Navigating to the shop, upgrading your weapons, and claiming rewards for completing daily tasks (called "quests") can be accessed via buttons along the bottom. Once again, these submenus are pretty clear once you enter them.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem is that there are often multiple events, games of chance, and “battle pass” contests going on at any given time. These are available via buttons off to the right side of the screen. Exploring all of them can get pretty overwhelming, since they are constantly rotating. This requires navigating through different "event" menus, and even claiming "event only" rewards that are only available from these menus.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The icons on the left side are without textual context. This can make them confusing, even after repeated sessions, since most users won't navigate over there very often. The top image - of a chest - takes the player to a "progress map" which shows a preview of upcoming missions. These can be good or bad. For example, it might show rewards a user will receive if they reach a certain level. On the other hand, it can show a particularly difficult boss that the player will have to contend with. Overall, this feels like another pointless and unnecessary addition.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The "trophy" icon lists player achievements, and grants gold bars for completing them.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDOt99x6k0YZSxiL06-PDPWX6AJA-jAnzn99abTC_9dUU1AN5j_wd47ITliIu2ud_OBsOqDJvTnh1fzETloF118bJgAnXEwg9Dfqvggz76CxQVw0uY0xs6U3DJ5p4pJtH4rkax5aP5hbSIyh-w58JIMU3qDXRVPjH34DDPmKmNlw-gKrTGBeDRjwS2uOc/s2340/Screenshot_20230703-090919.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDOt99x6k0YZSxiL06-PDPWX6AJA-jAnzn99abTC_9dUU1AN5j_wd47ITliIu2ud_OBsOqDJvTnh1fzETloF118bJgAnXEwg9Dfqvggz76CxQVw0uY0xs6U3DJ5p4pJtH4rkax5aP5hbSIyh-w58JIMU3qDXRVPjH34DDPmKmNlw-gKrTGBeDRjwS2uOc/s320/Screenshot_20230703-090919.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Earning medals grants added health and power.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The medal icon takes the player to their "medal collection". Earning medals grant increased rewards and power based on completing certain objectives. These are broken down into tiers; all three requirements of each tier must be met in order to acquire the reward. The positive side is that the boosts obtained here carry over throughout every campaign; they aren't single-use or otherwise limited.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Overall, the UI is probably the one area of the game that requires the steepest learning curve. There are so many menus to browse through that it can get pretty overwhelming.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GRAPHICS</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The graphics are appropriate, consisting of rather basic 3D sprites. I’d say they border slightly on the “cartoony”, complete with the green blood that puffs out of every bullet strike. The backgrounds are also pretty standard, and consist of the same few settings repeated over and over again. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The monster variety is adequate. Beyond the basic zombies, there are some that climb walls, shoot projectiles from afar, and even little poisonous zombie toads (?). Each enemy looks appropriately menacing (well, aside from the toads) and are well-designed. However, the basic zombie textures are very limited, leading to many battles involving fighting of the same sprite over and over again. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSUDKrHTHs90eLVxS62RS4xuYxQfHj9_tC53_pFYi0nHq8ZnN66c48WqyaI2sAecIfYH6WC_MKAaFcr1_hGU-K4ZTxoVh59kysrVfy9-IhLGdDgEbfjeTFwejwuOkMc8xdz7OhcKKKK9WcnpY3RQBWrKyOqQWA5k2Tj_DuNB1QAVNw2yXRsl_eQvoHsI1/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112558.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSUDKrHTHs90eLVxS62RS4xuYxQfHj9_tC53_pFYi0nHq8ZnN66c48WqyaI2sAecIfYH6WC_MKAaFcr1_hGU-K4ZTxoVh59kysrVfy9-IhLGdDgEbfjeTFwejwuOkMc8xdz7OhcKKKK9WcnpY3RQBWrKyOqQWA5k2Tj_DuNB1QAVNw2yXRsl_eQvoHsI1/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112558.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The graphics are adequate.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game runs smoothly on my Google Pixel 7 Pro, without any noticeable lag or drop in frame rate. However, it should be noted there are no settings to adjust the graphics level. That means users on lower-end older devices might have troubles running it. I can't see that being an issue for most, though, as there's nothing really graphically intensive.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Visually, there's enough effort here to show that the developers care, but not enough to stand out in any way, shape, or form. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GAME MODES</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is where the game sometimes goes off the rails, for better or for worse. There’s always at least one event of some sort going on at any given time. Some of them provide a refreshing respite from the typical game mechanics, while others just add extra “objectives” to the standard game. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEN5KKBJ5yq1I7FFgynt6AaIpvub2DNCfYbl80E1ZaScEcTiGY-gakyV3rkEcD-TKYQc0yHPJag5ExzYUVh11sfq7f3GT1b5hw74pDINHui5vLO6DenvvYnVyPbuSKXnz9KO-KBfNFLAO7cHB0eHAcmt3AcL-7SWeeSVfJI1CKChqkapesVkv2flLTKN/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112034.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEN5KKBJ5yq1I7FFgynt6AaIpvub2DNCfYbl80E1ZaScEcTiGY-gakyV3rkEcD-TKYQc0yHPJag5ExzYUVh11sfq7f3GT1b5hw74pDINHui5vLO6DenvvYnVyPbuSKXnz9KO-KBfNFLAO7cHB0eHAcmt3AcL-7SWeeSVfJI1CKChqkapesVkv2flLTKN/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112034.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Blast busty women (?) for extra rewards in the "Summer Paradise" event.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For example, the current one is “Summer Paradise”, in which a busty woman randomly appears in “scenario levels” and must be destroyed to earn extra “popsicles” (?). These popsicles are then used to unlock additional event-only rewards. Oookay. Another recent one replaced the busty lady with toy nutcrackers. It wasn’t even close to Christmas. These are the types of events that don't change the game mechanics, as the popups are inserted into existing levels. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Other times the levels are separate from the main campaign, such as the “Frankenstein event”. In these episodes, players blast their way as usual through a selection of randomized levels. The only difference is that Frankenstein's monster appears at some point within the level, and must be defeated to earn event rewards. This one also becomes tiresome. While the levels are played in no particular order, there are only a handful of different ones. And since the monster pops out in the same spot and at the same time on each one, it's easy to memorize them after a few playthroughs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjOWNmhYzjg68Ax1Nga8FrU8dehQZfvvd5EoJwjt29z3hJz6rLYXQxw0bktiT90bYjQTtxkoVocOu-xSnzRWldp33IUBF4ZCZMmmi15j1paRQqmmNCN28ibVj710OUVx9jyJ4V9VPY46pcn2ZXe3-BjqGdJcAKgXsecY-_hso3yJ_AgMTgqSmPtepa4V5/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112304.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjOWNmhYzjg68Ax1Nga8FrU8dehQZfvvd5EoJwjt29z3hJz6rLYXQxw0bktiT90bYjQTtxkoVocOu-xSnzRWldp33IUBF4ZCZMmmi15j1paRQqmmNCN28ibVj710OUVx9jyJ4V9VPY46pcn2ZXe3-BjqGdJcAKgXsecY-_hso3yJ_AgMTgqSmPtepa4V5/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112304.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A busty woman appearing in the wild.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet, in other events, the gameplay mechanics are altered in refreshing ways. One event featured a board game that allowed users a set number of free rolls per day. Players would roll the die and navigate around the board according to the numbers rolled, gaining additional rewards based on the spaces they landed on. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another event added an "idle" aspect to the game. In it, a continuously-firing turret destroyed a never-ending wave of zombies. This occurred even after the player exited the game. The power of the turret could be increased by completing levels, with players limited to the number of levels they could play at once. Rewards were granted based on how many zombies they killed with the turret at the end of the event. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Even outside of events, "Dead Target" offers up other modes separate from its main "story". “Apocalypse” sends endless waves of zombies at the player, and continues until the player is killed. The user selects a powerup to start, with additional powerups granted every fifth wave. Monetary rewards are also issued at the end of each completed group. There are multiple areas available, which can be unlocked by surviving to wave 25 of the previous level.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Side missions” are generally easier than normal missions, and pay out extra cash. These can come in handy if you’re stuck and need money for upgrades or other items. However, these levels follow the same mechanics of the main game, and offer nothing new in terms of variety or interest.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There's definitely no shortage of options that deviate from the main campaign. Unfortunately, they often don't <i>feel </i>any different.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>GAMEPLAY</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you’ve ever played a mobile action game before, you already know what to expect. "Dead Target" utilizes the same approach as countless games before (and after) it. Your character is stationary and must blast through several waves of zombies and other creatures. Once all the zombies are destroyed, the level ends, and you progress on to the next one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The player’s progress is clearly tracked via a “map”. This displays all of the playable levels available to a player, along with an assigned difficulty based on the player’s weapons. One thing I do like that prevents the game from feeling too linear is that there are generally two levels available at one time. That lets players pick and choose which ones they feel like playing. This can provide a tactical advantage at times; for example, if one is “easier” than the other.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-uz2qlfMXpTUNDhiCdncRry2O2whSZuHJlDJmkl-FkCcIjPA8BZcvR5_AKdCOeEBWxLtJY6VERvjS1yQEKleplJoQDn3uTsoBlW7a-L0ZDDEAt2Oraqzmv4VzO0DJ6Rco0PcpdKoAh-fAKNqvnJo_q1E5uQaX85z055Hd8pkLoLLSj9gLHoR2RC2YD3/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112550.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-uz2qlfMXpTUNDhiCdncRry2O2whSZuHJlDJmkl-FkCcIjPA8BZcvR5_AKdCOeEBWxLtJY6VERvjS1yQEKleplJoQDn3uTsoBlW7a-L0ZDDEAt2Oraqzmv4VzO0DJ6Rco0PcpdKoAh-fAKNqvnJo_q1E5uQaX85z055Hd8pkLoLLSj9gLHoR2RC2YD3/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112550.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There are some pretty cool enemy types.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But the gameplay also provides plenty of irritating design decisions. One is that the effectiveness of the weapons seem to vary greatly between the main campaign and events. Oftentimes, purchasing a new weapon yields equal results to using older, “weaker” ones in the single player “Mission” mode. Each level displays a “recommended” weapon that presumably will make completing the level easier. But that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Many times I’ve entered a level with a suggested weapon upgraded far beyond the recommended level, only to discover the hard way that it’s not enough. Enemies would take multiple hits to kill - sometimes an entire clip - allowing the other zombies to overwhelm me in the meantime.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet, using that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">same</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> exact weapon in other events or game modes results in single-hit kills and much easier completion of missions. Why? What’s the reasoning behind this? It feels like a pretty unbalanced system that leads to more frustration than anything else. Especially when you get used to laying waste to levels, only to return to a fruitless campaign that leads to a quick death.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Also on the weapons front - and another source of irritation - is the upgrade system. Upgrading the first few weapons is straightforward: Pay a set amount of cash, and your weapon is taken to the next level. However, once more powerful weapons are acquired, upgrading the weapon becomes an unnecessarily complex process. Every third upgrade requires an increasing number of “weapon shards”, on top of an also-increasing cash sum. Don’t have enough pieces? Then you can’t upgrade your weapon. “Pieces” can be obtained through missions and events, but they are entirely randomized. That means you might get several for a weaker weapon you no longer use. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63uJX1NGg-DUSppCoWyJ-PNhRNlgT0CZHUocKOZiyE_XiQcFgWyA70S2k0QStcrSKmYWAt-_Cmqq1FFayVvAvb_5GckiYT1cue8nHy4nMs_1-9XgpNSZJ-E_OQMFiKcDJrlPljhNOxa71MCZZTRnaq-BCO06C0HOWsZ5rOwiDznH-JOlJV2GwMHytJDpf/s2340/Screenshot_20230703-092334.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63uJX1NGg-DUSppCoWyJ-PNhRNlgT0CZHUocKOZiyE_XiQcFgWyA70S2k0QStcrSKmYWAt-_Cmqq1FFayVvAvb_5GckiYT1cue8nHy4nMs_1-9XgpNSZJ-E_OQMFiKcDJrlPljhNOxa71MCZZTRnaq-BCO06C0HOWsZ5rOwiDznH-JOlJV2GwMHytJDpf/s320/Screenshot_20230703-092334.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Upgrading later weapons can be a bitch.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Adding to the confusion, “tech modules” are also suddenly introduced. These are weapon-specific boosts that affect the gun in various ways, and can be added after every third upgrade. For example, one might increase the rate of fire a certain percentage for a set amount of time after killing a creature. Each module can only be used for one weapon at a time. Multiple modules of the same type can also be “fused” together to increase the power of the effect. Free modules can be drawn once every few hours; “better” ones cost red diamonds (rubies?) which are relatively rare and hard to earn during normal gameplay.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Outside of the weaponry, players can also obtain powerups and other items to help survive the zombie apocalypse. Some of the powerups, like “rage mode” are activated within levels as needed, and last for ten seconds. Other items grant the user increased stats for the entire level, and can be selected from the “pre-game” screen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Rage mode” freezes the action for ten seconds, excluding the time it takes to reload your weapon. During this period, your weapon auto-aims, and every bullet fired connects with the heads of nearby enemies. Other ones can be acquired, although I'm not exactly sure how; I think it has something to do with the medal system.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiZNUl8hJ_F10k_NwrjO_iaJvyZdVVnoTirZTl0Ct_RD9AJkZMHp4A4reDR6W5hOfKyeiVbgYgAmYIQA2ShesVb9_qiu3hDY6NQudOc1JS53c_x_zEmAFwdUOTfuwTlsm7qMFe90N_OH5XCIkgUQeU0HScAjsACJYIMMFPzk7n27uTTLj_IHNM8rYaW8-/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112209.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiZNUl8hJ_F10k_NwrjO_iaJvyZdVVnoTirZTl0Ct_RD9AJkZMHp4A4reDR6W5hOfKyeiVbgYgAmYIQA2ShesVb9_qiu3hDY6NQudOc1JS53c_x_zEmAFwdUOTfuwTlsm7qMFe90N_OH5XCIkgUQeU0HScAjsACJYIMMFPzk7n27uTTLj_IHNM8rYaW8-/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112209.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The pre-mission screen lets you select items to prepare for battle.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The “full level” powerups are bullets that increase damage by 50%; a clip that boosts fire rate by 30%; a skull that grants the user 2x critical damage; and a powerful, single-use gun that can be used for the entire level. The latter is a nice touch, as it grants users the chance to use guns that cost real money. Of course, the point is probably to “sell” them by giving the user a small taste of otherwise unobtainable power, but I find these are helpful in easily passing otherwise difficult levels.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Otherwise, there’s the standard issue grenades and medkits that can be purchased using in-game currency. They work as expected, complete with a standard “cooldown” rate to prevent overuse. (This is a mechanic present in many similar games that never makes sense to me. If you have them, why can’t you use them as you see fit?) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One semi-cool feature is that the player is aided by an indestructible hovering drone that also shoots at enemies. While it is helpful, the basic turret can only do so much. And as far as I can tell, upgrading it requires resources that can only be purchased with real money.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Oh, and another sour note: This is one of those stupid games where using ammo costs money. Of course, the "better" the weapon, the more expensive the magazine. Every time you reload, the amount of the bullets are deducted from your total. If you run out during a battle, and don't have enough funds to purchase more, you're basically as good as dead. So make sure to save a little cash in the bank before heading into battle. (By default, bullets are auto-purchased. This can be changed in the settings, although I don't see why anyone would want to do that.) </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CONTROLS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The controls follow a similar setup to many similar games. The game is played with the device set to “landscape” mode. The bottom left side controls where the player is looking/aiming, while the right side handles the weaponry. A large “fire” button engages the equipped weapon. This is responsive and works the way it should.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Surrounding the fire button are smaller ones. One swaps weapons in mid-battle, while the other one handles reloading. These can be easily engaged during the heat of battle and are attractively aligned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m9TbWZdEg6-lrcHHfLLyBs8Q2xS4IDXx6h3sJ5Rsk-JRRQFqRKNWKIjE5UDyPjJ1ssoKCIs99HPPO8E8uj3UlkNR1HjcWPagwPVruH7wdldvhJOsPesKl2S5oFdxDL-jwbwtUznPrT8oPEDOuJBKuduV2SI4bPIWAf3BBzijNplUXWjuWpioDsjKkoJ3/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112238.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m9TbWZdEg6-lrcHHfLLyBs8Q2xS4IDXx6h3sJ5Rsk-JRRQFqRKNWKIjE5UDyPjJ1ssoKCIs99HPPO8E8uj3UlkNR1HjcWPagwPVruH7wdldvhJOsPesKl2S5oFdxDL-jwbwtUznPrT8oPEDOuJBKuduV2SI4bPIWAf3BBzijNplUXWjuWpioDsjKkoJ3/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112238.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The control UI is familiar and well-designed.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Special” moves are right above the movement pad on the left side. This makes them pretty easy to reach for most players. Once again, this is a “win” in the design department as some games make certain buttons harder to reach than others. But “Dead Target” seems to be well-aligned and has clearly taken player feedback into consideration.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The weakest link in the control layout are the medkits and grenades. These are placed more toward the middle of the screen, though aligned right, toward the fire button. At least to me, these are the hardest buttons to reach on the fly; so much so, that I sometimes forget they’re even an option. I can’t really fault the developers, however, because there are only so many places where buttons can be placed. And there are no setups that are going to completely satisfy every player. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One nice touch: The buttons can be “flipped” for left-handed players, butting the fire button on the left and movement controls on the right. This is a feature missing from many other games and helps to make it more accessible to a wider range of players.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>AUDIO</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The audio in “Dead Target” is a mixed bag. The menu music is appropriate and sets the tone for the game. Despite the inclusion of zombies and other hideous creatures, it doesn’t aim for a “creepy” angle. Instead, it focuses squarely on the “action” aspects. This is conveyed through the “epic” opening track that kicks things off. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The in-game effects are also a couple notches above “standard”. Each gun has their own sounds that are relative to the weapon’s power/capabilities. For example, the “Tesla” gun - which blasts beams of electricity out of its barrel - emits the sound of…well…electric currents. The M249 LMG - a powerful machine gun - has an appropriately loud sound to match. It doesn’t sound “canned”, with reverb effects that blend into the surroundings. This is a nice detail missing from other games.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But where the audio falters is in the addition of a “Mortal Kombat”-style “narrator” that constantly interjects pointless commentary. For example, hitting a creature in the head causes him to quip “Headshot!” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">every single time</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Killing multiple creatures results in phrases like “Killing spree!” or “Rampage!” Sometimes, he even interrupts himself in mid-word, to offer up another escalated description. This would be annoying even if it was occasional; the fact it’s constant makes it almost unbearable. Currently, there are only options to mute “sounds” and “music”; there should be a separate one for the voices.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lastly, completing a mission leads to a different person exclaiming “You win!” It’s hilariously out of place, and seems ripped from an 8-bit Nintendo game. Maybe it was. At any rate, it borders on self-parody in a game that, for the most part, seems to take itself seriously.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">PAY TO PLAY?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The ad load and greed level in “Dead Target” can be considered “excessive” compared to similar games. Before the menu can be accessed, players are bombarded with at least one offer to purchase some extreme gun using real money. That’s followed by at least one pop-up notifying them of any events that are ongoing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicImlR2c9H_P9xwqTVL7FyWgR1sJYRdHiMwMCQ-nBajGBGMjvZahCejqZvdO9pzQDNOdZ_zkD0C_-CxRPUI2GmxfKfD-w_JPO4pCyMHizsUkpcGXSXqEs7Ei2u6VGtdAeI_dszLd8mltYznc6M8HwHi3EU2l6yhCWZmSa4pUdecxgF66CwzaWINe7kb_Xx/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-111905.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicImlR2c9H_P9xwqTVL7FyWgR1sJYRdHiMwMCQ-nBajGBGMjvZahCejqZvdO9pzQDNOdZ_zkD0C_-CxRPUI2GmxfKfD-w_JPO4pCyMHizsUkpcGXSXqEs7Ei2u6VGtdAeI_dszLd8mltYznc6M8HwHi3EU2l6yhCWZmSa4pUdecxgF66CwzaWINe7kb_Xx/s320/Screenshot_20230628-111905.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Expect at least one of these popups every time you enter the game.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In-game popups are also fairly frequent. Randomly, a message stating “HQ has sent you some intel” pops up, along with a small cash and gold reward. This is followed by a skippable ad. That’s it…the ad is the “intel”. I guess it’s a nice touch that they try to work the ad into the design of the game, but it’s still dumb. Completing levels will also result in occasional pop-ups featuring gold and cash “packages” that users can purchase.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">These examples are annoying, but nothing too extreme when compared to other games. After all, games are made by people who have bills to pay and mouths to feed, like everyone else in the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_dAjDcsAnPitp8q-wWGpO9EHBZTNB_HEXgMsFHJS4hMuWSC3CzvgryMYd12YfwsJGBUGn058iwV1GLL6BgT6oJaVpyBtmHIcb72I3H4-dNPwxv6EENVRpK7CQIq1hzUg4AEI3sFRyp66sYPCa8tlf8THNeA4nMaRy6nkwCDnqtmxTiPAC3MPF1skuwz/s2340/Screenshot_20230703-091148.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW_dAjDcsAnPitp8q-wWGpO9EHBZTNB_HEXgMsFHJS4hMuWSC3CzvgryMYd12YfwsJGBUGn058iwV1GLL6BgT6oJaVpyBtmHIcb72I3H4-dNPwxv6EENVRpK7CQIq1hzUg4AEI3sFRyp66sYPCa8tlf8THNeA4nMaRy6nkwCDnqtmxTiPAC3MPF1skuwz/s320/Screenshot_20230703-091148.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>$100 for an in-game weapon seems reasonable.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But where the game does go a little overboard is in the myriad of rewards openly displayed, but inaccessible to non-paying users. This is a known psychological tactic prevalent in all facets of the internet age. It makes “free” players feel like they’re missing out, and is clearly designed to push them towards a purchase.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Arguably, the “greatest” example of this is the “Battle Pass”. Completing event levels moves the player into higher “tiers” based on the number of event items they collect. Free players typically get one basic item per tier, ranging from a few gold bars, to a few thousand dollars in cash. However, “Battle Pass” players get two items that are of highly increased value. Of course, these are displayed under the “free” items, and even have a button to “collect”, which leads to the “Battle Pass Upgrade” screen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWkp2TywhHPJDoKzkbWz1uRYF1f1z6sCETUk-9P73KYSv-PA6aUMnRV1W_fAsOskjqgMZFWhqyC93Ma90GTNH8DUUa0rl4Xm1ZhreafESF2wWA9FB_Ant7HoEB_smxjTT2bmd4MaZ9HUjF5VCIk322PNLqaFfpuBULS7zuPGjnPpuWt4oE-MjAnMAsc72/s2340/Screenshot_20230703-081306.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWkp2TywhHPJDoKzkbWz1uRYF1f1z6sCETUk-9P73KYSv-PA6aUMnRV1W_fAsOskjqgMZFWhqyC93Ma90GTNH8DUUa0rl4Xm1ZhreafESF2wWA9FB_Ant7HoEB_smxjTT2bmd4MaZ9HUjF5VCIk322PNLqaFfpuBULS7zuPGjnPpuWt4oE-MjAnMAsc72/s320/Screenshot_20230703-081306.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Want all those rewards on the bottom? It's going to cost you...</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That’s already a little low, but it gets even worse. The screen shows a 50% off discount for the upgrade, complete with a banner that exclaims “One Time”. It seems like this is insinuating a one-time purchase grants the user the “Battle Pass” indefinitely. But the fine print states otherwise, explaining that this is on a per-event basis and that it must be re-purchased every “two weeks”. So then what’s the “one time” designation on the top? It would appear to be the number of times you can purchase it at the discounted price. These are the types of shady tactics that push a game deeper into “greedy” territory.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To be fair, there are also quite a few ways for free players to gain additional items. The aforementioned events are one of them. Side missions are also included, which grant users more cash upon completion than “regular” levels. I’ve earned over $1,000,000 in one day (in-game, of course) just from experimenting with other game modes. Users can also get “daily rewards”, just for opening the game. These get better and better with each passing day; best of all, the days don’t have to be consecutive. So whether you play 14 days straight, or spread out over two months, you’ll still get the same helpful resources.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwsqBalgXCBVTMWJUqqpNx-U9hX6fOU12Fz59OQctcUaHNZmRqpMACE4wK9JcIAfKQDtUrHU8_RiGTp33g-KHsVBIENP3DQqZZM65lrvMPUpUv7eG4Vi9NLCoSO__qsB30U9bZ33YrvFWroG3LgG8RiWYdXoTbx-omTp4mlzCXmB71tWmt9laWjRYQYbo/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-112045.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwsqBalgXCBVTMWJUqqpNx-U9hX6fOU12Fz59OQctcUaHNZmRqpMACE4wK9JcIAfKQDtUrHU8_RiGTp33g-KHsVBIENP3DQqZZM65lrvMPUpUv7eG4Vi9NLCoSO__qsB30U9bZ33YrvFWroG3LgG8RiWYdXoTbx-omTp4mlzCXmB71tWmt9laWjRYQYbo/s320/Screenshot_20230628-112045.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>To be fair, there are plenty of ways for free players to gain extra cash.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While it will still be a much slower slog, “Dead Target” doesn’t completely alienize us cheapskates.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><u>IN CONCLUSION</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For all its flaws, “Dead Target” does have a high level of replayability. The various events are often interesting, and there are quite a few opportunities for free players to earn extra cash and items. Even when my progress in the main game was stalled, the other game modes gave me reasons to continue returning to it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, that can only go on so long. I made it to mission 129 before I felt my time with the game was up. That's when upgrades started becoming too costly, and the frequent events grew stale.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For those with a greater “thirst” for such games - and who don’t mind paying real money - there’s probably enough here to keep them occupied for a little while longer. For the rest of us, “Dead Target” is a valid time-waster that’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to resonate once the game is closed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">OVERALL: 5/10.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-55685572283270242312023-06-28T12:16:00.000-04:002023-06-28T12:16:22.332-04:00Zombie Virus (Android)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zOn8AfbIgQ6bbCZpI3EngDkstvnDUFaTvjJyF0eYqhf_pvqO7J8-E3l2fyZh7ytUvc2QZ3Jjd0MHOgrLdYd8fh4ZDWT46nc26zS4q_luDvaosjNaqbru8d-CqnmHoPvHqGJ-VksYD2iDoU8BnlfLPaZOIZb7E4_iX-kg7CNukl6a1_MOy3X0dktNBBqT/s1200/zombievirusappicon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zOn8AfbIgQ6bbCZpI3EngDkstvnDUFaTvjJyF0eYqhf_pvqO7J8-E3l2fyZh7ytUvc2QZ3Jjd0MHOgrLdYd8fh4ZDWT46nc26zS4q_luDvaosjNaqbru8d-CqnmHoPvHqGJ-VksYD2iDoU8BnlfLPaZOIZb7E4_iX-kg7CNukl6a1_MOy3X0dktNBBqT/s320/zombievirusappicon.png" width="320" /></a> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">WHAT IS IT?</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1a7092e8-7fff-d26a-3a41-160372e01c5c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombie Virus” is a FPS featuring both PvE and PvP modes. In the main single-player offline mode, players blast waves of various undead creatures to progress through areas, broken down into several areas and sub-stages.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">UI</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Navigating “Zombie Virus” can be a rather formidable task, especially for new players. Accessing the main game modes is quite simple, with “Scenarios”, “Defense”, and “PVP” options prominently displayed. But maximizing the “Zombie Virus” experience requires having to constantly pass through several menus, some of which aren’t super obvious.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9inWa7dl8X2MD8YqUrBxtrlkKFtzmKgfUDsKuAssOtydo17NnSl8hWhidSmmOV9Ryk2cZYCZfVNWbiVX53mItFUIpmB7hVodTs1x3heT6gQrUz7pvdmrgjX9gNxkMtnboTXvmsCUkLqqzFHltNlar4Tz-GimnMNpzIUcYwHu8d7MTtye-PEgwjd7eqd-S/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-090945.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9inWa7dl8X2MD8YqUrBxtrlkKFtzmKgfUDsKuAssOtydo17NnSl8hWhidSmmOV9Ryk2cZYCZfVNWbiVX53mItFUIpmB7hVodTs1x3heT6gQrUz7pvdmrgjX9gNxkMtnboTXvmsCUkLqqzFHltNlar4Tz-GimnMNpzIUcYwHu8d7MTtye-PEgwjd7eqd-S/s320/Screenshot_20230625-090945.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Main menu/screen.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The main game modes - “Scenario”, “Defense” and “PvP” - are all given large windows on the main screen. These are going to be the ones used most frequently by the vast majority of users, so their prominent display makes sense.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Along the bottom there are separate buttons for “Character”, “Weapons”, “Quest” and “Gacha”. Visiting these sections will be necessary from time-to-time. The first two are where you will upgrade and modify your characters/weapons. The “quest” button grants rewards based on completing daily and long-term tasks. And the “Gacha” system forms the basis for weapon and character upgrades.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t know, maybe I’m just an old man who longs for the days where games were simple. But navigating around “Zombie Virus’s” myriad of menus and submenus feels rather convoluted and unnecessary.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAME MODES</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game has three main game modes. “Scenario” is an offline mode that pits the player against waves of zombies across several “areas”. “Areas” are broken down into ten smaller “stages”. Passing on to the next area requires getting through each stage.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“PvP”, for the uninitiated, stands for “player vs. player”. It’s an online mode where you square off against another player. I always hate this mode in games, mainly because I suck at them; thankfully, “Zombie Virus” does things a little differently. Instead of hunting down players and killing them directly, you’re both stuck on opposite sides of each other in a single room. The usual waves of zombies attack. Killing a zombie causes an additional one to respawn, and head toward the opposing player. Once certain kill counts are reached (every 24 or so kills between both players), “special” zombies spawn to attack each contestant. These are the additional non-zombie creatures that require more damage to kill.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game ends when one player’s health has been depleted. I still hate this mode, but at least there’s a little more to it than the typical “hunt the opposing player down and kill them.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItHIDZ89TMWLB2dpj9o9eiSh0gWgMAPSFHXxi527KsLz65PPKPhz_BIzEJSfvFAH6uJtATXbjqIbFn6yEZkr0Yo6kkRMvQrfOHMMLIryANCJVTPtY1YU9YEClgTo3gAEEzey2x4x5Zc2B4Ou99wejVV_xbHRfjs72OEj4upC_Sk1-63GnBqgROrA8MGth/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-105324.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItHIDZ89TMWLB2dpj9o9eiSh0gWgMAPSFHXxi527KsLz65PPKPhz_BIzEJSfvFAH6uJtATXbjqIbFn6yEZkr0Yo6kkRMvQrfOHMMLIryANCJVTPtY1YU9YEClgTo3gAEEzey2x4x5Zc2B4Ou99wejVV_xbHRfjs72OEj4upC_Sk1-63GnBqgROrA8MGth/s320/Screenshot_20230628-105324.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Defense mode is fun, at least for a little while.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The last, and the most promising, is “Defense”. In it, you’re stationed next to an automatic turret that fires single shots at zombies. Meanwhile, you’re given a minigun (aka “chaingun”) with unlimited ammo, while waves of zombies attack. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Who wouldn’t love the idea of just going to town on massive waves of zombies?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Besides that, there’s not much else. There is a section for “events”, but that just grants a rotating set of rewards based on actions taken during the main game. It’s technically not really another “mode” at all.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAMEPLAY</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombie Virus” is a rather typical mobile action game, pitting the character against seemingly endless waves of creatures. Players are stationary and can look around to aim and fire. Movement beyond that is “on the rails”, meaning it’s automatically controlled by the game itself. Kill one wave, and a cutscene will move your character forward (or backwards, as the case may be) into the next wave. This goes on until all the groups have been defeated (typically three per stage). Once the level is done, the player is taken to the main screen, where they can prepare for the next wave by leveling up/obtaining items/etc. This cycle repeats indefinitely.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVfq0EYZBiWN2wOp6Bdbw1FGX1DuSiq9LZEsGmTLuRJ4gjniu5_NMqP49E-Qj0AJ8-saPGyEGNlIjJ5tTEIoi8PeAl6jialAI6IVUaT_tgAAFSxKt51PeRysJ-NOYIAfYbWG7J_QaX_rNvIhhloXt8IAerqA1Fcy0uhTbS7D-LufOidyvQn-tDjd9Y93s/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-104320.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVfq0EYZBiWN2wOp6Bdbw1FGX1DuSiq9LZEsGmTLuRJ4gjniu5_NMqP49E-Qj0AJ8-saPGyEGNlIjJ5tTEIoi8PeAl6jialAI6IVUaT_tgAAFSxKt51PeRysJ-NOYIAfYbWG7J_QaX_rNvIhhloXt8IAerqA1Fcy0uhTbS7D-LufOidyvQn-tDjd9Y93s/s320/Screenshot_20230628-104320.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This pretty much sums up the base game.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The core game and its mechanics are similar to all the rest. There’s nothing unique or interesting enough to separate it from other games of its ilk. But one area that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">is</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> different is the “upgrades” system. And it’s also the game’s fatal flaw.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It works like this: You earn “Weapon” and “Character” cards by completing levels, daily tasks, and watching ads. Each card contains a random “weapon” or “character” fragment. You must collect 30 of the same card in order to actually obtain that item (outside of single use things like grenades). Cards can be drawn individually, or in groups of ten if you have the appropriate number of cards.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Weapons are broken down by letter grade, ranging from “D”, to “SS”. The “D” weapons, as expected, are the weakest. “SS” ones are incredibly rare, and nearly impossible to get.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Typically, each card contains one gun shard. Since there are over a dozen weapons in each category, it can take a long while before you accrue enough to actually obtain that weapon. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a card with all 30 gun shards on it at once, granting you that weapon immediately. The issue is, the gun levels don’t necessarily “progress” with the character. That means it’s entirely possible (perhaps likely, even) that you will obtain a gun weaker than one you already have. Or that you will obtain “good” guns in only one category, while the other two suffer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY_P3xKLDNLpGaGLHFBxHVMn37PDb_pYJtXnCEBJa0iTs6smcuX5uyTgvxoBWqpOKMmPPXoa52ewaFGkEkohxFfN6O_i2ECEukf-WKHv0ynO8dOkEHIMsZSjIEzRTxrIEuuW3pnyvf6guSZacwhD9GdWr1qvdOe_Sb2Iau4WVhxYpcEL0Xcj5iOz0CtBs/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-091128.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY_P3xKLDNLpGaGLHFBxHVMn37PDb_pYJtXnCEBJa0iTs6smcuX5uyTgvxoBWqpOKMmPPXoa52ewaFGkEkohxFfN6O_i2ECEukf-WKHv0ynO8dOkEHIMsZSjIEzRTxrIEuuW3pnyvf6guSZacwhD9GdWr1qvdOe_Sb2Iau4WVhxYpcEL0Xcj5iOz0CtBs/s320/Screenshot_20230625-091128.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A typical weapon draw, where the gun I acquired is too weak to actually use.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A personal example: I’ve gone through countless draws, and what do I have to show for them? Five shotguns, including a couple “B” graders; four “assault rifles”, including the “A” level M4 carbine; and four machine guns. However, the four machine guns are the four weakest in the game, with my highest one rated as a “C”. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The solution sounds simple, right? Just use the shotgun and assault rifles for every level, and ignore the machine guns. Well, “Zombie Virus” has another random mechanic in place to further prevent players from having fun. Every level has two weapon slots, and the two available gun types rotate between stages. So in some levels, you can take one machine gun and one assault rifle. In others, one shotgun and one machine gun, etc. While the shotgun is powerful, it also has fewer bullets and longer reload time than its automatic counterparts. This relegates it to more of a “backup” weapon in levels with loads of enemies. And the machine gun can’t step up to the plate to provide a solid first line of defense.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This unfair balance in weaponry is beyond infuriating. For the longest time, I was easily able to pass levels that “allowed” the use of shotguns, but died instantly on ones that didn’t. Even now, I’m stuck on a level rated “common” (the second easiest) because my guns apparently aren’t as strong as they should be. I’ve tried to pass a dozen times, and barely make it to the second wave.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SZdav0Ri6iVKayPyvXo486e6vRbX_NjQJVIVI6HRz_ZUtpw8rfu90y4mLNMkx-wZ6BOA8zUd4aKUjITtb00075bwmOWj_eo-OKGrbOrk7u1ftozR2Be-eFYkBhOQmwoHB-dtUWbmmLtDSRwpLbsXIcgZhCZJfj4eLjrkbRthqalcEnuFSor75HUXv6jd/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-091238.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SZdav0Ri6iVKayPyvXo486e6vRbX_NjQJVIVI6HRz_ZUtpw8rfu90y4mLNMkx-wZ6BOA8zUd4aKUjITtb00075bwmOWj_eo-OKGrbOrk7u1ftozR2Be-eFYkBhOQmwoHB-dtUWbmmLtDSRwpLbsXIcgZhCZJfj4eLjrkbRthqalcEnuFSor75HUXv6jd/s320/Screenshot_20230625-091238.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't be fooled: The two-star "B" grade shotgun is weaker than the one-star gun next to it.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The only way to “level up” your gun is to acquire 30 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">more</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> shards. Assuming you manage to do that and apply them to a “D” grade weapon. That means you’ve at least got a “C” grade gun now, right? [Buzzer sound] Wrong answer! Your weapon is now at star level 2. You have to get five stars before your gun goes up an actual letter grade. Oh well, at least you can upgrade your weapon beyond level 50 to make it more powerful, right? [Buzzer sound] Wrong again! You’re still stuck at 50! Your gun gets a slight boost in power from the increased star, but not enough to prevent “insufficient firepower” warnings. That means in order to take a gun from one letter grade to another, you’ll need to “find” at least 150 total shards for that one weapon. It’s seriously the worst possible system imaginable. (And I’m not even going to get into the “mileage shop” where you use “extra” cards to buy other items. It’s confusing and completely unnecessary). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s the same with the “Defense” mode. Remember, this is the only mode where you can actually spend cash to purchase a weapon. Sounds great, right? Except that the cost of the weapons are absurd. The second minigun beyond the default, for example, costs over 2500 gold bars! That takes quite a bit of grinding to achieve. To purchase a better auto turret is even more expensive, coming in at over 3,000 gold bars. Weapon upgrades are a little more doable, as they cost cash rather than gold. But the upgrades start at $10,000 and increase with each successive one.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IOKmfjmeMSr-HvsLO1p7zmhVn_p86VFZ-w_B121uCpN3A8qBrDiuhKAJn3bBD5VFF7Tb_fv-7_0mZ64imb_t_KThTwNk2YIbsuH3yozm2jhXGmP9N6py3i8HyTA_U-zSy-a4HqQkfhY7YtaDd8XWbAGafLqdufeWBxbsdeVZZGP8CorVclna0MuQE31Y/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-110740.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IOKmfjmeMSr-HvsLO1p7zmhVn_p86VFZ-w_B121uCpN3A8qBrDiuhKAJn3bBD5VFF7Tb_fv-7_0mZ64imb_t_KThTwNk2YIbsuH3yozm2jhXGmP9N6py3i8HyTA_U-zSy-a4HqQkfhY7YtaDd8XWbAGafLqdufeWBxbsdeVZZGP8CorVclna0MuQE31Y/s320/Screenshot_20230628-110740.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The cost of upgrades in defense mode are absurd.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is especially cruel because passing “Defense” levels pays out </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">way</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> less than Scenario stages. On the final stage of Area 9, where I’ve been stuck for days, the payout is $1,360 for successfully completing it. In “Defense” mode, I’m on stage 4 of area 5, and the potential earnings are a measly $520. Five hundred and twenty dollars! For a mode where the upgrades cost twenty times that! Details like this certainly push the game further into “cash grab” territory.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You can also obtain and upgrade characters. This requires the use of “books”, which can be obtained via the “Gacha” system. Each upgrade “costs” a certain amount of books and cash, which boosts their stats. The characters each have certain special abilities and areas of expertise that can boost stats. Using Kate, for example, increases critical assault rifle damage by 10%. However, I didn’t notice much of a change during actual gameplay.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Earning” new characters works in the same way as acquiring weapons; it’s all luck of the draw. There are four total, and after a month of play, I only have two, including Liam, the default. I’m just a third of the way toward “earning” each of the other two. At this rate, it would take me another three months just to get another player I’d have to keep leveling up. No thanks.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp6V51qH3fL-pSd60uG1VwdnZNp4mga0z_ewlXUgOjaEdswZBKHFG8cZZYJvlIa6fgAIqf7gD4WPJB94fbh0YCJdF1Bwqvw6GXyvFaOHC5M8K1a1SsIxbag4R2n_UVOjZ5SqGtqb5lDOiNJ4rzghEJw1o_Zcjwvd7nxdzDawLz8qt_ikrc_MYcVc_nSPl/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-111152.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp6V51qH3fL-pSd60uG1VwdnZNp4mga0z_ewlXUgOjaEdswZBKHFG8cZZYJvlIa6fgAIqf7gD4WPJB94fbh0YCJdF1Bwqvw6GXyvFaOHC5M8K1a1SsIxbag4R2n_UVOjZ5SqGtqb5lDOiNJ4rzghEJw1o_Zcjwvd7nxdzDawLz8qt_ikrc_MYcVc_nSPl/s320/Screenshot_20230628-111152.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I just need 13 more "pieces" of James to put him together and use him.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In other words, everything about the game feels way too convoluted. It might be great for hardcore gamers looking for a long-term grind (if there is such a niche), but casual gamers will likely end up disillusioned rather quickly.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GRAPHICS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The graphics are somewhat appealing, albeit in an “old school” way that might be lost on some. The visuals remind me a lot of the old “House of the Dead” games on Dreamcast. Since I was a fan of those, I actually found a certain sense of nostalgia playing this.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That being said, that wave of past memories wears off after a few levels, before it just becomes bland. There are only a few textures for “regular” zombies, who all start to look the same after a while. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkA3zLbEvt1IldFjdejQQ92-qQgKJT4Ue1njoBE3rFyY3IJANASEKEGDZU_mppWI9D-qyrmlr49Abhr9ZpD_gFqybBWnmfwTpQ6lm7EzcjT6o3vEGYFaPEMAeMYRjLTms-3fLurUrFXsCEdgd4wzlbVFaLTK0kLXljnMhA1bXH8pfR7MYeFNlpr7Gft7P/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-104632.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkA3zLbEvt1IldFjdejQQ92-qQgKJT4Ue1njoBE3rFyY3IJANASEKEGDZU_mppWI9D-qyrmlr49Abhr9ZpD_gFqybBWnmfwTpQ6lm7EzcjT6o3vEGYFaPEMAeMYRjLTms-3fLurUrFXsCEdgd4wzlbVFaLTK0kLXljnMhA1bXH8pfR7MYeFNlpr7Gft7P/s320/Screenshot_20230628-104632.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Zombie textures end enemy types are limited.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In an attempt to break up the monotony, there are other “monsters” besides zombies looking to kill the player. Jumpers, for example, are large beasts that lunge at the player from great distances, before leaping back and repeating the same cycle until they are killed. There are also weird monsters with split heads that shoot green orbs at you from afar. And large monsters that explode when killed. There’s also…well, I think that’s it. Needless to say, variety is lacking overall.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The violence is nothing noteworthy, either. A quick spatter of blood erupts from each bullet hit, and headshots result in an exploding head. Neither are particularly memorable. Curiously, the blood cannot be turned off in the settings, making this a game squarely aimed toward a more mature crowd. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I can run this on my Google Pixel 7 Pro at 60fps on the highest graphical setting with no stutters or lag. Obviously, some older devices might not be able to handle it. For those players, there are settings for “medium” and “low” to help it run more smoothly. Additionally, the frame count can be dropped to 30 to further limit system resources (at the expense of reduced graphics, of course).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CONTROLS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Controls are pretty standard, and should be familiar to most players experienced in mobile games. A “movement pad” on the left side of the screen allows the player to aim/look around. The gun is controlled from the right side of the screen, with a large “fire” button placed in the middle. Reloading can be manually controlled via a “reload” button placed to the left of the “fire” button. Guns can also be switched in mid-battle from the right side, via small buttons placed quite a ways above the “fire” button.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are a couple of things I don’t like. The medkit, grenades and “special ability” are also placed on the left side, but more toward the middle. This makes accessing them in-game - especially during frantic life-or-death moments - rather difficult. Players with smaller hands will have an even harder time, as there’s quite a reach involved. To make matters worse, the buttons are rather small, and require perfect finger placement to activate.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOx2LIzzI087QYyxLrLhANpC2oZ-Cvk3pbqKBt4OQtTvDW7HWM9qG5ivcFAlFYCRSd0nckpJ-PebjeDpJJ1SBjmKhKhbkAY38NbB3zD0pFJG9oP_y8-9fpdbK3ht2V9NTNAqDtZW_qE4D_FNfUmD2ed5qURa0KJVlXg1h6xpOIJ_eIhvvJVIoFVCMq3Lm/s2340/Screenshot_20230628-104245.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOx2LIzzI087QYyxLrLhANpC2oZ-Cvk3pbqKBt4OQtTvDW7HWM9qG5ivcFAlFYCRSd0nckpJ-PebjeDpJJ1SBjmKhKhbkAY38NbB3zD0pFJG9oP_y8-9fpdbK3ht2V9NTNAqDtZW_qE4D_FNfUmD2ed5qURa0KJVlXg1h6xpOIJ_eIhvvJVIoFVCMq3Lm/s320/Screenshot_20230628-104245.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The control interface should be familiar to action gamers</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Speaking of small buttons, the “reload” button is small and, in my opinion, illogically placed. So many times I’ve attempted to reload during “down time”, only to discover that I missed the target spot. Sometimes it takes me two or three tries before my character finally reloads their weapon. It’s rather annoying.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The act of firing is pretty responsive, as even a light tap will engage the characters’ firearm. Then again, that’s what you would expect, so that’s not much of a “win”. It should be a (mostly) familiar setup for anyone who’s played this type of game before.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AUDIO</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The audio is one area where it seems like the developers decided to cut some corners. The menu music is serviceable, but rather basic. The “battle” tracks are little more than drums and synths; nothing to really add to the mood much. In fact, it quite literally fades into the background. This can be good in some cases - i.e. it doesn’t call attention to itself - but in this case it doesn’t really add to the atmosphere. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Same with the sound effects. The gun sounds are “tinny” and unconvincing. There is no “reverb” or other audio effects to make it “blend” into the actual locations or gameplay. Getting hit elicits a generic “uh”. Dying elicits the same sound. The menu sounds consist of a “cha-ching” type when earning money, and various similar effects when upgrading weapons, but nothing of note.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I played this game on mute for a month and didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ADS/”GREED”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The basic ad setup of “Zombie Virus” is like most other mobile games: There is a skippable ad after every level. Gaining extra resources requires either paying money, or watching additional promos. There is also a pop-up urging you to spend real-life cash for a “Start Package” every time upon startup. It’s annoying, but nothing egregious compared to similar games.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKCS6p09cdIZ4i1oPckjL7N98wp0HKE_yP-Cw7HVoMbpP3bINpeb5Gr0VT0Rub2LODbUu1zEGRYu5fl700LgdH-wh-XKTDaVatyVIOmPHEaJlFlDWVz8YoXgwM65WAph9xyFuUfXicpCoHLV_FsJXZgX44nkFXylO7Y0ENW6UPYZeb1ek84hy67QkVXAS/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-090412.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKCS6p09cdIZ4i1oPckjL7N98wp0HKE_yP-Cw7HVoMbpP3bINpeb5Gr0VT0Rub2LODbUu1zEGRYu5fl700LgdH-wh-XKTDaVatyVIOmPHEaJlFlDWVz8YoXgwM65WAph9xyFuUfXicpCoHLV_FsJXZgX44nkFXylO7Y0ENW6UPYZeb1ek84hy67QkVXAS/s320/Screenshot_20230625-090412.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get used to being greeted by this.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To be fair, there are also several opportunities to gain items without spending money. The “Gacha” page has “Daily gift” and “Free gift” options. Each one gives you up to 10 free items each day. That means 20 free items, ranging from cash, to gold, to weapon shards, and anything in between. That’s nice, except that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">each</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> free gift requires viewing a 30 second ad. To get all of the daily freebies, you’d have to watch at least </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">10 minutes</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> of ads. You know what? I’m not ashamed to say I’ve done this multiple times, and it’s been nothing but a waste of time. (Okay, I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">am</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> ashamed to admit that.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In order to level up quicker, “Zombie Virus” offers </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">several </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">options involving real money, and spread across individual categories. The aforementioned “Start Package” gives users 500 gold, $35,000 cash, and 10 weapon and character draw cards. This costs $4.99 and can only be purchased once. Additionally, players can also remove ads (only in Scenario mode) and get 300 gold for the same price. Again, this is a one-time purchase.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r6OW3vSkLcMlAow4Fl_AdpFBoDngYUZY9L6GEXeruVXAGarr6yqzSIKJYI-o2RHYBKHJsyRs41_Z2OxtMKTyBXzK4lCQx2dntrhwFAbZMTZWccefXK4h3XbIX63e4AkgX4BejvHnkAe-1GfauQdXUrRwoeIZx1ubmIWsKdnHpp3_YvT76wtOASG8yuAo/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-091110.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r6OW3vSkLcMlAow4Fl_AdpFBoDngYUZY9L6GEXeruVXAGarr6yqzSIKJYI-o2RHYBKHJsyRs41_Z2OxtMKTyBXzK4lCQx2dntrhwFAbZMTZWccefXK4h3XbIX63e4AkgX4BejvHnkAe-1GfauQdXUrRwoeIZx1ubmIWsKdnHpp3_YvT76wtOASG8yuAo/s320/Screenshot_20230625-091110.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you're willing to watch 10 minutes of ads, you can get 20 free gifts daily.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Remaining packages all pertain to certain categories, and are offered in numbered tiers. For example, the “Weapon Draw” package gives users 10 weapon draw cards, 150 gold (not much) and $15,000 cash (useless) for $5. For $50, players can earn 200 weapon draw cards, 1200 gold and $120,000 cash. So the user can draw 200 weapons, thus increasing the likelihood of getting “good” weapons. However, it’s still based entirely on chance; the user could also get nothing of great use. I’ve easily drawn over 200 cards total and still have little to show for it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Looking for character cards instead? Time to pony up another $5 for 10, or $50 for 200. There are other tiers in between, but rise in cost accordingly. And once again, the results are entirely randomized.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For those who don’t want to leave it up to luck, graded weapons can be purchased outright. But the price of these qualify as outright scams. For example, the lowest grade assault rifle will run you $10. Ten bucks! For a base weapon that can’t even hack it beyond the second or third area! Instantly acquiring an “A” grade assault rifle is a whopping $50, while “S” grades come in at an eye-watering $70.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFPCEpZVOaEB0aTcb5ojszUhzZDe758OIG8fPLiYume_278VV9BzK0ARyW0ma0Bk2aPP211KC8RY75T5EVH3OBUU-y8UU-sQJSUKqyBla0dwmM9OlCVfJMFOza2Jv8tI8_iFsI79xHcOvQaSF8LSNGzjqdOz6-7K96H79tzjTrZp-M-6S9KYvRSnOQn_h/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-095047.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFPCEpZVOaEB0aTcb5ojszUhzZDe758OIG8fPLiYume_278VV9BzK0ARyW0ma0Bk2aPP211KC8RY75T5EVH3OBUU-y8UU-sQJSUKqyBla0dwmM9OlCVfJMFOza2Jv8tI8_iFsI79xHcOvQaSF8LSNGzjqdOz6-7K96H79tzjTrZp-M-6S9KYvRSnOQn_h/s320/Screenshot_20230625-095047.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You could buy a real gun for this price.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And keep in mind these prices are for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">one</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> weapon in a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">single</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> category. So, to buy one “S” grade weapon in each category (shotgun, assault rifle and machine gun) would set you back $210. Two hundred and ten real-life dollars. If this doesn’t scream “cash grab” to you, then I don’t know what would. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">FUN</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As you can probably tell if you’ve made it this far, “Zombie Virus” is far more frustrating than fun. Of course, that’s not the case in the beginning. In the game’s early stages, it was promising. While I hated the weapons system from the get-go, I figured it would result in upgrades that would evolve with the game’s difficulty. That just hasn’t been the case.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’ve spent more time watching ads in the hopes of acquiring useful items, than I have playing actual missions. And all that time has been nothing but a complete waste. When newly acquired weapons are frequently weaker than the ones you already have, it’s maddening. It’s pointless. The “Gacha” system almost singlehandedly ruins any potential for excitement the game had.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWllRYA4DLfMyT_3vVOSQZ0eWiIUqDoUnn3Wg5vkYRPX0v9G0LtkTtWPUvj-mEDn73SxcjlBpo7US1PkKm0jh6Qx4G6Ghc_sRCKkMe10VirZ-aav8k5lb7-QP-LOYzTIkJ2YanT636VuuQLmGIyD257ictUc35NKfgU04s5ialf1oB2eBxRGDdyB9wg76q/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-091238.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWllRYA4DLfMyT_3vVOSQZ0eWiIUqDoUnn3Wg5vkYRPX0v9G0LtkTtWPUvj-mEDn73SxcjlBpo7US1PkKm0jh6Qx4G6Ghc_sRCKkMe10VirZ-aav8k5lb7-QP-LOYzTIkJ2YanT636VuuQLmGIyD257ictUc35NKfgU04s5ialf1oB2eBxRGDdyB9wg76q/s320/Screenshot_20230625-091238.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There are a wide variety of guns you'll likely never acquire.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t mind a challenge. That’s not the issue. I don’t expect to breeze through every level. But when it takes an entire clip to dispatch one zombie, leaving twenty others open to attack you, that’s not a “challenge”: that’s suicide. And that’s not something I ever find entertaining. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">IN CONCLUSION</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Progress comes rather swiftly at first, but once it stalls, the fun is gone. It got to the point where I was spending more time watching ads than actually playing the game. And where’s the fun in that? The weapon system is absolutely maddening, relying almost entirely on luck (or real cash) to get anything good. And the lack of monster variety only makes things even more dull. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I wanted to like it. I really did. I played far longer than I wanted to, in the hopes that grinding would eventually lead to a better experience. But it never did.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unless you have loads of expendable income to blow on weapons, “Zombie Virus” quickly becomes a waste of time. And even if you do, there’s still the matter of its repetitive gameplay and randomized upgrade system. It’s too convoluted for its own good, ultimately collapsing under the weight of its “grand” ideas and poor execution.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">OVERALL: 2.5/10.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq1wxaUYaqCBikhaOTicS-XcfPSOWwihweb-lTQn5XNN1YERyyr1wabPHWYJI1a6J0IXbkId0IUexEU83U9CWFpueTfHokEE83Fr6MZLECA3XTZ2wPUAgsUxH2viFQWvdjqBJz64oeO4B7VQm4v0oH6G5Z-77JCveU3HA-FmYr67sDAzTytN5f2YZvSxR/s2340/Screenshot_20230625-090357.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq1wxaUYaqCBikhaOTicS-XcfPSOWwihweb-lTQn5XNN1YERyyr1wabPHWYJI1a6J0IXbkId0IUexEU83U9CWFpueTfHokEE83Fr6MZLECA3XTZ2wPUAgsUxH2viFQWvdjqBJz64oeO4B7VQm4v0oH6G5Z-77JCveU3HA-FmYr67sDAzTytN5f2YZvSxR/s320/Screenshot_20230625-090357.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On a side note: This opening message might be the best thing about the game.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><br /></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-18578579804104471652023-06-23T09:00:00.003-04:002023-06-23T09:00:59.866-04:00Glass (Roblox)<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD95i0vspaKlqZc3_M9L9PjUOExrq5qKn5NTWLZve3rDRlEMCCWq4V7hGFlrOv_jlYBCArMW24iuUuXEi48n_05qvrExNRs-SfcA30XTDY_tS_K1O1nMTv0edwCuxKwZAZhPfhwWQxCM_ZRyAqb_I3vVMGmg5eDsw1RSPWO2h5OU67kk1_fpkXQEsg5UQl/s768/glassroblox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD95i0vspaKlqZc3_M9L9PjUOExrq5qKn5NTWLZve3rDRlEMCCWq4V7hGFlrOv_jlYBCArMW24iuUuXEi48n_05qvrExNRs-SfcA30XTDY_tS_K1O1nMTv0edwCuxKwZAZhPfhwWQxCM_ZRyAqb_I3vVMGmg5eDsw1RSPWO2h5OU67kk1_fpkXQEsg5UQl/s320/glassroblox.png" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When it comes to gaming in general, I veer more toward horror games. Why not? It’s my favorite genre. But I’m also open to playing any game that I feel is different enough to warrant some attention. (Okay, who am I kidding? I’ve played my fair share of “simulator” games, some thanks to my child…and some not.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Glass” is a game unlike any other I’ve seen on the platform. It seems to get its name from the way the enemies "shatter" when struck with bullets. From what I can tell, it’s basically a side-scrolling version of “Superhot” that brings the same main mechanics. You can walk, run, jump, slide and - most usefully - slow down time. But don’t let its appearance fool you: “Glass” also functions as a puzzle game. The way the bad guys are aligned at the beginning of each level often hints at a simple solution. This isn’t a run-and-gun style action game where you just blow everything to bits. Instead, it’s a thinking man’s shooter.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbn3bSk6HySEE1LQ24PnEGJ-DX8S7lNI30I0pId2xhKE4RC76Q2qQWoi33bYas7a6OFc9GeO1R--KLFGMK-lvgYhUyvcra_nXcW2eAQ-61AB7kYjYg7aLA_8pRmy5knljZkel3nc9IFVkuAbaGmQ3IfBj0GEoidhZ4E3DD0j0qtJigOnCBlLTPPj28vw9/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20230622_202915936.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbn3bSk6HySEE1LQ24PnEGJ-DX8S7lNI30I0pId2xhKE4RC76Q2qQWoi33bYas7a6OFc9GeO1R--KLFGMK-lvgYhUyvcra_nXcW2eAQ-61AB7kYjYg7aLA_8pRmy5knljZkel3nc9IFVkuAbaGmQ3IfBj0GEoidhZ4E3DD0j0qtJigOnCBlLTPPj28vw9/s320/RobloxScreenShot20230622_202915936.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The introductory tutorial makes things <u>seem</u> easy.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The slow motion mechanics help to not only make things look cool, but give you a fighting chance. Especially in later levels, where the number of enemies increase, with some appearing out of nowhere from behind. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The game is nearly flawless from an idea standpoint. Unfortunately, it has one </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">major</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> problem: the controls. The keyboard scheme itself is fine - I have no complaints. Mouse aims, shift runs, right click slides, left slick shoots, and space bar jumps; all pretty standard stuff. The letter keys (W, A, S and D) control the character. I prefer arrows, but given the limited 2-D range of movement, it’s easy enough. I’m terrible at aiming on the move, but it’s doable.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">My issue is the responsiveness of said controls. I don’t know if it’s just limited to me, or if it’s a known issue (believable since it hasn’t been updated since 2019), but inevitably the controls just stop working as they should. This has happened every single time I’ve played. Sometimes it’s on the first couple levels, occasionally a little later. But it always happens.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAQl-1bYsH7dhrgZKrWxI2fIzE4dJorTrPvJCep4e2oYwW09QMo4sXOE8lqKVn-YN7JxyJZAhoFbcsfs_cC3dvAkSBvpY0OPoRUBKCgwprFgDXDYlDVcjo5Pgt6ImPTy1aJ7pjMouKqygLFvSjhRl8p_yLMzBq00G7vliWWUKzT4U155hZ1dS1PZk9h2D/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20230622_203009501.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAQl-1bYsH7dhrgZKrWxI2fIzE4dJorTrPvJCep4e2oYwW09QMo4sXOE8lqKVn-YN7JxyJZAhoFbcsfs_cC3dvAkSBvpY0OPoRUBKCgwprFgDXDYlDVcjo5Pgt6ImPTy1aJ7pjMouKqygLFvSjhRl8p_yLMzBq00G7vliWWUKzT4U155hZ1dS1PZk9h2D/s320/RobloxScreenShot20230622_203009501.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is as much a puzzle game as it is a shooter.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">What’s frustrating is that it’s always the most important ones. The slow motion and sprint keys always work, as does player movement. It’s the fire and slide keys that are rendered useless at any given time. And what’s worse is that I can’t find a rhyme or reason as to when, or why, or how to fix it. Sometimes I’ll right click, and my character will fire his weapon. Or I’ll hit the fire button, and nothing happens at all. Generally, if I stand still and press fire repeatedly, it will eventually respond. The problem is, by then I’m generally dead.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I don’t understand it. Maybe the issue is with my computer. I use a laptop, so maybe the game has trouble differentiating between left and right clicks? If so, this would be odd, as it doesn’t happen in any other game I’ve played, Roblox or otherwise. It also isn’t an issue outside of gaming, which is what makes it all the more confusing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">So here’s my quandary: “Glass” is a one-of-a-kind Roblox game with massive control issues. How can I recommend that? I don’t know, but I am. It’s just too unique of an “experience” to pass up. When the controls work, it’s a wholly satisfying action game that’s one of the best on the platform. The shootouts - while brief - are exciting, and can lead to some truly epic escapes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgou4CmVlJ24S7ad2DJEnLEpDAW-bqcc04uem0OafUKFUhTHcluKVPAcRD_boHwRv9dNKr6fJVwSS8s4pjzDS4XujsClVTJWoy5x7z_2MwlQ3mDDOkPSME7XL9l42UzPG3MbNhhFz-ImjzUxO7Od9RXy4ZL2mCZYMTXViQETZ8FYMy8aWBDp67A5AXdej/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20230622_205313179.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgou4CmVlJ24S7ad2DJEnLEpDAW-bqcc04uem0OafUKFUhTHcluKVPAcRD_boHwRv9dNKr6fJVwSS8s4pjzDS4XujsClVTJWoy5x7z_2MwlQ3mDDOkPSME7XL9l42UzPG3MbNhhFz-ImjzUxO7Od9RXy4ZL2mCZYMTXViQETZ8FYMy8aWBDp67A5AXdej/s320/RobloxScreenShot20230622_205313179.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The action scenes are satisfying when the controls work...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">But when they don’t - an all too common occurrence - the game becomes little more than a “suicide simulator”. And who knew watching your defenseless character die repeatedly isn’t nearly as fun as being the one causing all the havoc?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy05IbaDDbNsE0FJB4WzqD5yoCi2LmILf5Ik9SJHo3PfcPE6xlIThIb11cVxhQ8O6TzDugqVl34NfiOUWGzY5VK-6BIypAdVKGjV8sHQcTp3oEPgAfzaqelAeZYH6PIZ4bij7u1NhoxSOzPLVlHHnQrvlo2JXOFcWlXU3knAVkJJLzRdidGrOKwYi0Bis/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20230623_070003199.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy05IbaDDbNsE0FJB4WzqD5yoCi2LmILf5Ik9SJHo3PfcPE6xlIThIb11cVxhQ8O6TzDugqVl34NfiOUWGzY5VK-6BIypAdVKGjV8sHQcTp3oEPgAfzaqelAeZYH6PIZ4bij7u1NhoxSOzPLVlHHnQrvlo2JXOFcWlXU3knAVkJJLzRdidGrOKwYi0Bis/s320/RobloxScreenShot20230623_070003199.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...and this is a familiar scene when they don't.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This is a potentially underrated gem that is ripe for a remake (or update).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Overall: 6/10. </span></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-52567991594277022952023-06-18T09:32:00.002-04:002023-06-18T09:32:59.062-04:00Crowd Evolution (Android)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1AvGtDFNiaJIMiV5GBgfYoFDMJgLc-sNerfy8QVnTSgJKkJVKD5MRFClDeV2kA5-gYqvyBtlVp8k5fLBpvaYKTuMOgaKP-QRT6MyR9uLNoGvIXQpq1cZwGDWuxvvg_azPAVzNvjy9DegXl6AGW4rUD1nKPTtXWa2VG1a0pbfzeiiT_2uuX0oJy1hlQ/s240/crowdevolutionicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1AvGtDFNiaJIMiV5GBgfYoFDMJgLc-sNerfy8QVnTSgJKkJVKD5MRFClDeV2kA5-gYqvyBtlVp8k5fLBpvaYKTuMOgaKP-QRT6MyR9uLNoGvIXQpq1cZwGDWuxvvg_azPAVzNvjy9DegXl6AGW4rUD1nKPTtXWa2VG1a0pbfzeiiT_2uuX0oJy1hlQ/s1600/crowdevolutionicon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">WHAT IS IT?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-ec408570-7fff-760c-1162-57f575d34e49"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Crowd Evolution” is a highly-advertised “action” game where you defeat enemies while going through “windows” that either weaken or strengthen your group by carrying them backwards or forwards through time.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At least, that’s the best explanation you’re going to get within the confines of a single sentence.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">UI</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’ve bemoaned many mobile games for having a confusing user interface. They seem to want to pack in as many different game modes and features as possible, that the experience of merely navigating around can be somewhat exhausting. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYfBpEX1pUaRLag5XxynFUq-2OYTAQYn9ic_E4vBDQ2gpnTQpBy7uH_zzOyZROrnWlW3kld3R-64kopoY7iHLxGGqQ3p9DDpINuqzRNhFkHAWoH0RE-dakxR95dW8TNdTs6DNJpieP4TI_zNIbwg5oWvTiIU1tkD6C3gZ8YIATE13qEbBlAvIa8XiqQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-145740.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYfBpEX1pUaRLag5XxynFUq-2OYTAQYn9ic_E4vBDQ2gpnTQpBy7uH_zzOyZROrnWlW3kld3R-64kopoY7iHLxGGqQ3p9DDpINuqzRNhFkHAWoH0RE-dakxR95dW8TNdTs6DNJpieP4TI_zNIbwg5oWvTiIU1tkD6C3gZ8YIATE13qEbBlAvIa8XiqQ/s320/Screenshot_20230615-145740.png" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The main screen, showing all you this game has to "offer".</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For the most part, “Crowd Evolution” is not such a game.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Settings can be adjusted by tapping on the gear icon in the upper left hand corner of the screen. There are other options, such as a “spin wheel” or “challenge levels”, that can be explored, but aren’t necessary. These require the viewing of an ad to attempt.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Since there’s only one main game mode, the main screen also functions as the start of the level. You’ll get offers to upgrade your “year” or “manpower” by either using cash or watching a promo, right from the outset. There might be a pop-up urging you to view one in order to play a “bonus level”. To ignore these and start playing, just tap on the bottom of the screen and your “army” starts moving. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s pretty much as straightforward as it gets.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GRAPHICS</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a word, the graphics are “abysmal”. There is nothing visually pleasing about any facet of it. The “good guys” are just blue blobs that vaguely resemble humans; the bad guys are similarly-shaped red blobs. They also happen to be naked more often than not. It seems the further into the future we go, the more and more clothing becomes optional and/or irrelevant. The backgrounds are basic and suffer from a severe lack of detail. They always look the same no matter how far you progress.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The “costumes” for all of the different time periods are also incredibly lame. For example, year 5000 A.D. - or thereabouts - is the “Hero Age”. This is expressed through people who wear pink tops, have pink mohawks, and shoot pink stars out of their hands. Or guns. Or something. And how is the year 2000 the “ninja age”? I mean, that’s the era we’re in right now, and I don’t see gobs of people throwing Chinese stars. The time periods are utterly laughable. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIFHqOfafznBa93KiPMB7FCAGIpJ6_iXBzJpHmeJ6zUBBL6WlWd1z7FLnBG5RIMYXBOJUP5AIn6lVA1DRLGooxX0NqslsiDVN15-c0i6YJ5OQ6qhIsizjH0TkDBOgxdCN3BJod0rbZr-XZ29bm-u7dYLVhmCM0NVC5L_ywUMKGLJ6uUo6BtgEuqsZmA/s2340/Screenshot_20230616-002929.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIFHqOfafznBa93KiPMB7FCAGIpJ6_iXBzJpHmeJ6zUBBL6WlWd1z7FLnBG5RIMYXBOJUP5AIn6lVA1DRLGooxX0NqslsiDVN15-c0i6YJ5OQ6qhIsizjH0TkDBOgxdCN3BJod0rbZr-XZ29bm-u7dYLVhmCM0NVC5L_ywUMKGLJ6uUo6BtgEuqsZmA/s320/Screenshot_20230616-002929.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at these stunning graphics.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I guess the plus side to all this, if there is one, is that this game will probably run smoothly on any Android device made since 2010.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAME MODES</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Beyond the base game, “Crowd Evolution” does offer up some “Challenge Levels”. These cost a set amount of in-game currency to play, and, on average, pay less than double the entry fee if completed. These levels are generally more difficult; the enemy count is increased, and more of them are armed. Of course, the player can view an ad upon completion to further multiply their earnings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYJYR0A0ZcgKtirMcjjrz_5wmzX52cbMkIHFsboqc5LceJ1gdfmlesVXiMejl9X5rN-O7RUJFOW74cvAOD-r-trvYaU-a2014ThM4JCfEgL-Vk9yoHfN7UbP7RC2-Tf3AW-aWKiU-XnUV2BkYpZ_oW7O5fK8hxYp-8dAMqHNSLkNwO1oOthU2NS65Dg/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-150729.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYJYR0A0ZcgKtirMcjjrz_5wmzX52cbMkIHFsboqc5LceJ1gdfmlesVXiMejl9X5rN-O7RUJFOW74cvAOD-r-trvYaU-a2014ThM4JCfEgL-Vk9yoHfN7UbP7RC2-Tf3AW-aWKiU-XnUV2BkYpZ_oW7O5fK8hxYp-8dAMqHNSLkNwO1oOthU2NS65Dg/s320/Screenshot_20230615-150729.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Challenge levels" are the same as regular levels, only slightly harder.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While the enemy count is increased, the mechanics otherwise stay the same. There are no penalties for avoiding bad guys; in fact, the payout is the same for killing stationary enemies as it is for armed ones. You do get money for each enemy killed, but outside of that, there’s no need to go out of your way to kill the more difficult ones.</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are also “bonus levels”. These seem to offer more cash than normal, but also require viewing an ad just to attempt. Once again, core mechanics are exactly the same on these. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CONTROLS</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The controls are pretty responsive, and represent the pinnacle of what this game has to offer. Then again, they’re also severely limited. Your characters are automatically pushed forward on every level. Firing weapons is also automatic, and controlled by the game. There are no ways to stop or move backwards. The only movements the player can control is sliding the characters left and right, to avoid obstacles and to activate the “effect panels” as I call them.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve_PZPuHAG2rOUwWavLnIhDhK7HHgkFNvpmJvhSmOirIYijEIfQ4Zvt0xSTrh5S-pRu0yKRyXSVL_-WY88OTOjj-imLLQlQQTN2a_FPETbsnEedUNImhyEofLLOpo_jbPqiVSYpndUXwlWJFi27G0Tr06EiFSF46UgEiNs8P3_CUNTx6VrUTYpRHOwQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-150226.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve_PZPuHAG2rOUwWavLnIhDhK7HHgkFNvpmJvhSmOirIYijEIfQ4Zvt0xSTrh5S-pRu0yKRyXSVL_-WY88OTOjj-imLLQlQQTN2a_FPETbsnEedUNImhyEofLLOpo_jbPqiVSYpndUXwlWJFi27G0Tr06EiFSF46UgEiNs8P3_CUNTx6VrUTYpRHOwQ/s320/Screenshot_20230615-150226.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If you can slide your finger from side to side, you'll have no problems.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">They move where you want them to. That’s all there is to say about that.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AUDIO</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One thing that probably separates me from other mobile gamers - even casual ones - is tha I typically play games muted. I don’t know why. Part of it is because I tend to play violent games with other family members around, and don’t want them to hear the ensuing carnage. Or sometimes to even know that I’m playing a game at all.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sometimes, when turning up the audio, I learn that I’ve been missing out on an aspect that makes the game more immersive. I find that the sounds in the game are actually an important part of what makes the game fun, or exciting.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Crowd Evolution” is not such a game. There is no music at all, even on the main menu. The only sound effects are the constant “swoosh” of weapons being thrown/fired. Hitting an enemy results in a dull “thud”. And that’s about the extent of the sound bank. It seems as if the game was made to be played on “mute”, as the effects add nothing to the experience.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAMEPLAY</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gameplay is “Crowd Evolution” is as simple as it gets, though somewhat hard to explain. You navigate through short levels by controlling an army of blue “good guys”. The number of characters you start with can be increased by using in-game currency, or by watching ads. Your characters start off as cavemen in the “stone age”, throwing rocks at enemies to dispatch them; their starting “era” can also be upgraded through in-game money and ads.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Effects panels” are scattered throughout the levels, their effect on the game clearly marked in the panel itself. For example, passing through one marked “+400 Years” will take your characters 400 years into the future. This changes their weaponry accordingly; cavemen throwing stones will then be shooting arrows.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">They can also have negative effects. For example, walking through one marked “-3 People” will take 3 players away from your “army”. Walking through one marked “-200 years” will set your group’s time period back accordingly. It’s all pretty obvious how each one will affect your team.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hugt9E_xY5m-7prMuZRGh_b3zwQrwfZfCMR0x6prVb7aCrowZ6oLxs7rMpgnuAXxdpfJ2mMi7cmgS-D09H8xQPiKFJ8uRyJnzMYgaKW6n22cMDSfGxWLkNUYKcl9uhyWqTJQ2iHT-AvkldvCkUZkfxJZ3FbwVdM0xw7BVY4geobJFNjktaY_TyHZyw/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-150610.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hugt9E_xY5m-7prMuZRGh_b3zwQrwfZfCMR0x6prVb7aCrowZ6oLxs7rMpgnuAXxdpfJ2mMi7cmgS-D09H8xQPiKFJ8uRyJnzMYgaKW6n22cMDSfGxWLkNUYKcl9uhyWqTJQ2iHT-AvkldvCkUZkfxJZ3FbwVdM0xw7BVY4geobJFNjktaY_TyHZyw/s320/Screenshot_20230615-150610.png" width="148" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Other “good guys” are also randomly scattered throughout the levels. They can be “saved” by walking over them, at which point they are added to your army. They cannot be killed by either enemy or “friendly” fire, making things rather easy. And if you fail to save one…well, once again, there are no penalties. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This setup could make for a rather interesting game mechanic. Unfortunately, the execution is laughably bad. For starters, all the “bad effects” are marked in red, while the “good” ones are in green. This makes it easy to pick the “right” choice at a glance. The only “real” decision making comes when two side-by-side effect panels are of the same color. There might be one marked “+300 months” next to one that’s “+300 years”, forcing you to decide on the fly which one is better. Gee, that’s hard.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Further hindering the game is that the upgrades barely seem to matter. The bad guys all take one hit to kill regardless of the weapon being used. This essentially means using guns isn’t any more effective than throwing stones. And </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">that</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> means the game is incredibly easy. I made it through 150 “normal” levels and a couple “challenge” rounds, before I finally died. (I fell through a hole in the map, effectively killing my whole team in one fell swoop.) That says something, because I tend to suck on everything mobile.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Most of the enemies are either stationary, or run toward your characters unarmed. In later levels, a few enemies are armed and fire back. But these enemies are few and far between, and still don’t amount to much of a challenge. Unless you only have two or three characters remaining.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At the end of each level, your army is dwindled down to a single character, who automatically fires at a series of pillars. Each pillar displays the amount of damage required to destroy it, and increases the further you go. There are about twenty pillars in a row. This is one area where stats might make a slight difference; the higher your damage and firing rate, the farther you’re likely to go. But once again, the weapons don’t add much, if anything. So whether you’re an alien firing lasers, or a guy throwing ninja stars, you’re likely to go about the same distance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmThpIKwVm5aLyG_PXFbJqjBtBabQKV8WRhcJWIoGyJroQ6uoWr2HL_KD2SDuARdEjUxj_73MxPxtCcRi5kWwidfkWPdHrOYC5XYuZU77QlSWQY8fevrtMaEec81S-cyEJAbE3AQvMPGfyLlTFjbKNxyFcwnV9MKw1IMD2jQ4e9HUKnEkhY3RngTYrA/s2340/Screenshot_20230616-001428.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmThpIKwVm5aLyG_PXFbJqjBtBabQKV8WRhcJWIoGyJroQ6uoWr2HL_KD2SDuARdEjUxj_73MxPxtCcRi5kWwidfkWPdHrOYC5XYuZU77QlSWQY8fevrtMaEec81S-cyEJAbE3AQvMPGfyLlTFjbKNxyFcwnV9MKw1IMD2jQ4e9HUKnEkhY3RngTYrA/s320/Screenshot_20230616-001428.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The end of the level is as long as the main part.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you fail to destroy all the pillars, it’s not a big deal: You continue on to the next level, with more chances to upgrade your “stats” through in-game currency or ad watching. If you do destroy them all, you “unlock” a new area on your map, which has no effect on gameplay. The map serves no purpose, outside of functioning as a visual display of your “progress”. The more levels you beat, the bigger and more colorful it becomes. That’s it.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are no rewards for this. You do not receive extra cash, or receive an ad-free upgrade of any stats. Your only “prize” is to continue on to the next level in exactly the same fashion as if you failed. You’re still inundated with offers to upgrade your army through in-game currency or ads, for the same price as before. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gN3i87uJVub93Otxdi7oh5F5trjtvRhhKApyis2PjnTU38LOSQ5MQqcnzXp3GZrjkhwdi5w_UIBOSJyaY41ysvj9ZfyosRdEbR0S3GSlVbKFUOfuTpZu74mH7aiR_AMr9--5pu3rt2d8hXqFFml4w5P1zH17mgjeCwpIyYlnJlgLMdRJ8us_Sbze2Q/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-145749.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gN3i87uJVub93Otxdi7oh5F5trjtvRhhKApyis2PjnTU38LOSQ5MQqcnzXp3GZrjkhwdi5w_UIBOSJyaY41ysvj9ZfyosRdEbR0S3GSlVbKFUOfuTpZu74mH7aiR_AMr9--5pu3rt2d8hXqFFml4w5P1zH17mgjeCwpIyYlnJlgLMdRJ8us_Sbze2Q/s320/Screenshot_20230615-145749.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An upgraded map, which earns you, well...nothing.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The most aggravating part is that this ending section takes about as long - if not longer than - the level itself. With no incentive for its completion, I’ve found the best thing to do is intentionally walk into a pillar as early into this section as possible. This immediately ends the level and moves you on to the next one, saving precious minutes over a short period of time.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ADS/GREED</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It shouldn’t come as a shock that a game that’s abundantly advertised in other games would feature abundant advertisements in their own product. “Crowd Evolution” plays more like an ad with a game in it, rather than vice versa.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2s02tw2vl3NTU8EAOe6rUnyjS2vfR2XqiRtdMhYnlP69xFnKk3tcjFmttXGjHJEyyxvNukTrRtwXo3laY_0uT4kgeNeYGF8_mmM6hyJ5yZmPd6hKW6wyBbnNdBBE5aVE_uQWt5ND2zrdg1KxyDLeoQi9bHVyOaHdfOFroGRMUcfd0NGm832ICjKiqA/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-173918.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2s02tw2vl3NTU8EAOe6rUnyjS2vfR2XqiRtdMhYnlP69xFnKk3tcjFmttXGjHJEyyxvNukTrRtwXo3laY_0uT4kgeNeYGF8_mmM6hyJ5yZmPd6hKW6wyBbnNdBBE5aVE_uQWt5ND2zrdg1KxyDLeoQi9bHVyOaHdfOFroGRMUcfd0NGm832ICjKiqA/s320/Screenshot_20230615-173918.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bonus levels require an ad view to play.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Completing a level results in a skippable ad; money earned from the level can be multiplied by watching an unskippable advert. In-game upgrades use in-game currency; once that’s used up, players are invited to upgrade for “free” by watching an unskippable 30-second promo. There are “bonus levels” that occasionally pop up; these also require the viewing of a full ad to play.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For $2.99, the player can go “ad-free”, which sounds like an enticing deal. However, that only removes the short, skippable ads at the end of each level. The game still constantly hammers you with requests to watch full ones for “free upgrades”. Clearly, paying for the ad-free version just isn’t worth it, something that makes it feel extra scammy.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Outside of the option to go “ad-free”, I must confess there really aren’t any other “paid” upgrades. Everything else in the game can be acquired by viewing promos. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on the person, but I personally find it to be slightly more acceptable than the games that hit you with a dozen pop-ups for $50 guns or bulk “diamond” purchases upon startup. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmplrkSF_QEm5h5XSJnBHZ1THH-bB2yrQXNQkmvQmvDp4lvnMs9pAox8c_0PqH-WhGxzkBKnlNhfP25Nie5Sjil5VMOG-Sc_r6mDmr9Pw8Ezf5YIc8zSn4t-AxOqDHwBl6ESAU0l8h3aE7pPuyuI479Vv1spWvJymeulwAQ-6STLp3Vnp0qmwubdrPQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230615-145720.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmplrkSF_QEm5h5XSJnBHZ1THH-bB2yrQXNQkmvQmvDp4lvnMs9pAox8c_0PqH-WhGxzkBKnlNhfP25Nie5Sjil5VMOG-Sc_r6mDmr9Pw8Ezf5YIc8zSn4t-AxOqDHwBl6ESAU0l8h3aE7pPuyuI479Vv1spWvJymeulwAQ-6STLp3Vnp0qmwubdrPQ/s320/Screenshot_20230615-145720.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get used to seeing these offers.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sure, the constant offers are annoying, but at least they’re mostly voluntary. And since the upgrades do very little, they’re not the least bit necessary.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">FUN</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Quite simply put, “Crowd Evolution” fails to provide much in the way of fun. It’s the type of game you can play once, and quite literally experience all that it has to offer. The levels look redundant, and the gameplay mechanics are the same across the board, no matter what type of “game mode” you’re playing. The “choices” you make are clearly labeled (“green” for “good” outcomes; “red” for bad), eliminating the potential for stressful, on-the-fly decisions.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s the same thing, every single time. There is nothing promoting long-term replayability here in the slightest.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">IN CONCLUSION</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s probably the outline of a fun game in here somewhere, but it’s buried deep under the tedious gameplay and heavy ad load. If you’re not being force-fed an ad after every action, you’re being “requested” to watch one for the sake of providing mostly unnecessary upgrades for your group.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unless you’re the type of person that keeps their cable TV subscription solely for the ads, “Crowd Evolution” has absolutely nothing to offer.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">OVERALL: 1/10.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-36419924159596389512023-06-13T09:43:00.005-04:002023-06-13T09:43:52.279-04:00Zombie Hunter Fire (Android)<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29ycpVkb1qeNUlp-e_kggGF1xp1tpu7Ghlyl4JVCeCLzOS37EB03ZsGVeb34VuJjWw_dip9G4LWVUc90Bw4hFHU1Q4faqWvu0Q8v9r12rQ1YLRNx7GZDxmryTJUjVOmd9x3N_9AxfId4LcMk-JijgtkgJajPfFhVowPrHhQvTuEu411PN9siV2DCewA/s220/zombiehunterfireicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29ycpVkb1qeNUlp-e_kggGF1xp1tpu7Ghlyl4JVCeCLzOS37EB03ZsGVeb34VuJjWw_dip9G4LWVUc90Bw4hFHU1Q4faqWvu0Q8v9r12rQ1YLRNx7GZDxmryTJUjVOmd9x3N_9AxfId4LcMk-JijgtkgJajPfFhVowPrHhQvTuEu411PN9siV2DCewA/s1600/zombiehunterfireicon.jpg" width="220" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-dfcb1c97-7fff-0a8e-5779-8c99a4c540b3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Zombie Hunter Fire</i> is yet another single-player offline Android game where you destroy waves of zombies, in between upgrading weapons and acquiring other items.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">UI</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The UI is…interesting. It’s very ugly, actually. I can’t put my finger on why, but it’s not very inviting to look at. Maybe the size of the lettering? The font? The fact everything else in the game is disgusting so it’s just guilt by association? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeZDtwcF2-5tdpxV3gEVFpgxxpTgzvOnOrD3LlkU9z8H7lCFDccX0ozwXEdtJHFjtOfV20572_aV_0IcTgpXvo2BreUMv4d7MVo16n9oFQ7vq1klYiGOjEi8KXLmpvUQwaWqpEadR0KiG4QLLIfqRQErl58uPDXEkI83vEtCXiLXuXL7SQRk7Xfsx4w/s2340/Screenshot_20230609-075358.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeZDtwcF2-5tdpxV3gEVFpgxxpTgzvOnOrD3LlkU9z8H7lCFDccX0ozwXEdtJHFjtOfV20572_aV_0IcTgpXvo2BreUMv4d7MVo16n9oFQ7vq1klYiGOjEi8KXLmpvUQwaWqpEadR0KiG4QLLIfqRQErl58uPDXEkI83vEtCXiLXuXL7SQRk7Xfsx4w/s320/Screenshot_20230609-075358.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The main menu</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Navigating the menus is generally pretty easy. Weapons are displayed on the side of the main menu; tapping on any equipped item will take you to the weapons page to upgrade them or to purchase new ones. “Stage” can be selected to take you to where you left off in the single-player campaign. Alternatively, you can hit the red “Quick Start” button underneath the weapons on the right side of the screen to jump right into the heat of battle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are also options to get free gold (by watching ads), a menu for upgrading skills, and a “message center” that occasionally grants free coins and items. All of these are clearly labeled and easy to access. The only misleading one is the “gift” icon, which merely offers three additional games to download from the same studio.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Outside of its general tackiness, navigation is pretty clear and straightforward. That’s not always the case with mobile games, so I guess we will consider this a slight “win”.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GRAPHICS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The graphics just look and feel outdated. Actually, the whole game has the feel of being tossed together over a weekend for some 24-hour game competition. The zombies seem to float in the air rather than walk, and the ragdoll physics are just godawful. Destroyed monsters will contort themselves into impossible positions as they fall into their final death pose. Some even stay standing, making it seem as if they’re still “live” enemies.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The “blood” is cheap and generic, with odd glowing red orbs emanating from each bullet strike. Outside of that, there’s no other evidence of physical damage to attacking creatures.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOafvuBpkRGqr5UqytyomgPaIqtIJujkAFOGy_YQ0YEJIxTUaK4ZW99WcbB2_aLSqrVSpHJdOa9W_J4J-meqNso58bb1gnvSRsOIY0GdL7PJ4zjDlJ0zPd7HGYJ8PjitO94M5Kfhjbpyrgj_g-sGOKe2Lnkjt1FeHnqCsQ5q-cIxKjxJHcg64lEePt-g/s2340/Screenshot_20230613-082649.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOafvuBpkRGqr5UqytyomgPaIqtIJujkAFOGy_YQ0YEJIxTUaK4ZW99WcbB2_aLSqrVSpHJdOa9W_J4J-meqNso58bb1gnvSRsOIY0GdL7PJ4zjDlJ0zPd7HGYJ8PjitO94M5Kfhjbpyrgj_g-sGOKe2Lnkjt1FeHnqCsQ5q-cIxKjxJHcg64lEePt-g/s320/Screenshot_20230613-082649.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look at those convincing blood droplets.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Zombies aren’t the only things looking for some fresh meat; other monster types make frequent appearances, as well. There are fat chainsaw wielding maniacs; axe-wielding zombies - in both male and female variants; and shield-carrying undead whose exposed heads are their only weakness. And…well shit, that’s about it. Seeing the same creatures over and over again quickly wears as thin as everything else. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The visuals combine to create a feeling of grunginess that rubs off on the player. It’s akin to the way I felt watching horrible old Italian zombie movies like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hell of the Living Dead</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Burial Ground.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> While that might have sounded enticing to me prior to this experience, I can assure you that playing a Z-grade zombie game isn’t nearly as fun as watching one.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AUDIO</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Proving the developer’s clear lack of commitment to every facet of the game’s design is the game’s godawful audio. The main menu music is ultra-corny rock music that doesn’t set any sort of appropriate mood. In fact, it feels out of place. I can almost guarantee it was lifted from some library of public domain tracks.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The in-game sounds don’t fare much better. During battle, there is no music at all. This could actually be an immersive decision, as it forces focus on the action. Except that the sound effects also feel incomplete. The gunshots in the game are basic and tinny, probably sound effects from a “free sounds” website. Outside of that, there’s the sound of metal when you hit an airborne ax launched from a zombie; a generic “uh” when your character dies…and that’s about it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">No, literally, that’s it. The monsters themselves make no sounds whatsoever. It doesn’t matter what they are doing: attacking, moving, getting hit…they are completely silent. Including the chainsaw-wielding psychopaths, who swing their weapons around so quietly, you could hear a pin drop. Pro tip: If you know your game isn’t going to have the proper budget or time to add sound effects, you probably shouldn’t feature creatures carrying the loudest possible weapons. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">CONTROLS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The controls have a familiar setup to other games, with the left side controlling your character’s movements and the right side handling the weapons. The game uses a “stationary” mechanic where your character is apparently paralyzed; the movement pad moves the crosshairs in the direction specified. Movements beyond that are handled by the game. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikms37ld8V7s5adCp8B9T2BNoZ3zDwCj_ee162VBOe1MfyVr4dWDRo7iRGduwRLgbHcnp_fuKEipPGsva8dooahZnUKde6S0RhOqQ1SwgS9PTGVtf-1Jp0RapZpTJT5bXduqQeaf8PXI_NXz9tLkJvzZBjEML6MVlWVMWMvl-vtF7cCkj-dROl10Tc8A/s2340/Screenshot_20230613-082341.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikms37ld8V7s5adCp8B9T2BNoZ3zDwCj_ee162VBOe1MfyVr4dWDRo7iRGduwRLgbHcnp_fuKEipPGsva8dooahZnUKde6S0RhOqQ1SwgS9PTGVtf-1Jp0RapZpTJT5bXduqQeaf8PXI_NXz9tLkJvzZBjEML6MVlWVMWMvl-vtF7cCkj-dROl10Tc8A/s320/Screenshot_20230613-082341.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The controls are straightforward and marked on the bottom of the screen.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A large “fire” button handles gunfire. Firing the weapon is completely unsatisfactory, and feels too slow. I can’t tell if it’s a control issue, or if the gun just needs to be upgraded in order to perform better. Either way, I don’t even care.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Grenades and other items are centered in the middle of the screen. This is an awkward location that requires moving the hands to reach, lest you have a long thumb. The distance is especially obvious during the “heat” of “battle”.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Overall, the controls are sufficient, I suppose. But not enough to overcome any of the game’s other notable issues.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAMEPLAY</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The base game is like any other zombie hunting game: You play in levels that consist entirely of killing all the monsters that appear on screen. That’s all there is to it. Once you complete a level, you are then tossed into the next one, which looks quite similar to the one before it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is not an issue in and of itself. There are plenty of monotonous games that manage to be fun, at least for a little while. The issue with Zombie Hunter Fire, besides the nonsensical name, is that it has the feel of being thrown together in the dark. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh309La0fFDa4Rv1exI0ddlMzwwfm-2tTvABXcKMqMkk9oWeoB3RbC1vlPbZSHEkiy42mE7c8yqqje0xe45hQYvoilaWqSlwfI-c-Xd9qekCRIo03aXcLljqZYFJ1bNZDqHbk17T46LQqgTQ6JPsGJrPDbIAARzkpfqAjnzobM28JH2O20nmbY-nkxQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230612-055946.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh309La0fFDa4Rv1exI0ddlMzwwfm-2tTvABXcKMqMkk9oWeoB3RbC1vlPbZSHEkiy42mE7c8yqqje0xe45hQYvoilaWqSlwfI-c-Xd9qekCRIo03aXcLljqZYFJ1bNZDqHbk17T46LQqgTQ6JPsGJrPDbIAARzkpfqAjnzobM28JH2O20nmbY-nkxQ/s320/Screenshot_20230612-055946.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My new gun, which apparntly deals 14.4 damage per bullet...</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Take the weapons system, for example. Newly purchased weapons are often way weaker than older upgraded weapons. Yet the cost to upgrade the “new”, “stronger” weapons is notably more expensive. This becomes more obvious in later levels, when it can take an entire clip to dispatch one zombie with weaker guns. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYbsIzH2T1IRu41McB0FnOevx0sBur3Pz7y-3mP_ICWDggc2sIFjyspP4MwDoo7WN2Dpe0Mko5Bu7NmzSVmx7w0vlLGu0HUJU0mfBrMllLmHIqJq52gqZX9YcUu-2SJN1JRquWiOWSd1YZdswz3A4aEZCaIrL1Q-BgkdXozqNSczWLyo245bSlLZHXA/s2340/Screenshot_20230612-055950.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYbsIzH2T1IRu41McB0FnOevx0sBur3Pz7y-3mP_ICWDggc2sIFjyspP4MwDoo7WN2Dpe0Mko5Bu7NmzSVmx7w0vlLGu0HUJU0mfBrMllLmHIqJq52gqZX9YcUu-2SJN1JRquWiOWSd1YZdswz3A4aEZCaIrL1Q-BgkdXozqNSczWLyo245bSlLZHXA/s320/Screenshot_20230612-055950.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...and my old gun, which deals 20 damage and is cheaper to upgrade.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gold can be used to upgrade “skills”, like headshot damage and overall weapon power. The latter is incredibly expensive, and don’t really seem to have much of an effect. My main gun sucked before I upgraded, and still sucked after the upgrade. “Shields” are ridiculously cheap (1 gold bar) and block up to three strikes per round. These are a great deal and are really helpful; they represent the best value in the “upgrade” department.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game is “beginner heavy”, which is a lame term I made up for games that are easy in the beginning, but then quickly ramp up difficulty. I’m stuck on level 53 because both of my guns suck, and my “skills” need upgrading. The problem is, upgrading requires playing the game to earn resources. And I have no further desire to play this game. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Randomly, the game employs an “energy” mechanism, but it doesn’t work the way it does with most games. This is both a welcome change, and also an unnecessary annoyance. Instead of each level costing “energy” to play, it’s only the boss stages and “endless” game modes that require the use of batteries. Alternatively, you can use your available energy to open up supply boxes. Opening one costs 3 batteries, while 5 can be opened for 10. This is a much better “deal”, but the issue is, the contents are always underwhelming.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWatjC5S57vxUDMjzTnfp3p922CrKiV59OpPu6wq77TLdBEchWIEdXL80kW6Hlvq4H4ia1fW8wSlpuDQ-eJ_u3uHzQ8Y3QE3muyCAxmOezz3e3VcQG5OXueSjiqGFEByt7DuE3sMW016lJ7cy4HknNoeTAmozLPKm9-PsaE4ApNPKIYvKHrkdkooQy9Q/s2340/Screenshot_20230609-075330.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWatjC5S57vxUDMjzTnfp3p922CrKiV59OpPu6wq77TLdBEchWIEdXL80kW6Hlvq4H4ia1fW8wSlpuDQ-eJ_u3uHzQ8Y3QE3muyCAxmOezz3e3VcQG5OXueSjiqGFEByt7DuE3sMW016lJ7cy4HknNoeTAmozLPKm9-PsaE4ApNPKIYvKHrkdkooQy9Q/s320/Screenshot_20230609-075330.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wow, look at this great five-crate haul.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Coin amounts in each crate seem to max out at 1,000, but are often much less than that. That means it’s all too common to get fewer than 1000 coins in five crates.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Total</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. The chests can also contain useful items like shields and XP boosts, but don’t feel worth it at all. (Especially since shields only cost 1 gold in the store). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GAME MODES</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To break up the monotony from the single player campaign, Zombie Hunter Fire offers up a couple of other monotonous game modes. The main one is “Survival”. This is a standard in many zombie games. Instead of playing short levels, you square off against endless waves of zombies, seeing how far you can progress before dying. I hate game modes (and games) like this. I don’t like knowing I’m going to die. That’s not something that’s interesting to me. Sure, I die all the time in regular games with an ending, but I like knowing that there’s the possibility of actually ending. Going on and on indefinitely does nothing for me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Plus, the longer you survive, the longer the game goes. I like games where I can just pick up and put it down whenever. The idea of setting aside time just in case I make it far is another thing that doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQYdsVWq8eh5ZEOtBwOPeggFEC706Dpazx5l2_aTXke1PqmzeFGdxEOgWAlZ2kq03F2HK3DCRts2VATmAAZ3sCNxFRtBBaXInpkxlEW3GUFczj23UI0_CdBvBdzZsPdnP7I2fxLjSIbBu6CLwIwXoYUU5IdM8Y2oSPMWcRtnFPnZRQNI9ZrcoI_tu8A/s2340/Screenshot_20230613-083051.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQYdsVWq8eh5ZEOtBwOPeggFEC706Dpazx5l2_aTXke1PqmzeFGdxEOgWAlZ2kq03F2HK3DCRts2VATmAAZ3sCNxFRtBBaXInpkxlEW3GUFczj23UI0_CdBvBdzZsPdnP7I2fxLjSIbBu6CLwIwXoYUU5IdM8Y2oSPMWcRtnFPnZRQNI9ZrcoI_tu8A/s320/Screenshot_20230613-083051.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Test your tolerance for the game in "survival" mode.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The one plus is some games reward players handsomely for progressing far in this mode. Here, you get your score in coins (I believe it’s 20 coins for every zombie killed), and then have the option to triple that by watching ads. I made it to wave 21, and managed to bag over 16,000 coins for my effort. It can be used to raise funds in a pinch, and is helpful in earlier levels.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The problem is, once weapon upgrades start costing upwards of 48,000, even that amount won’t do much to help. And each “round” costs five “batteries” (representing the aforementioned energy). Since you only get 10, you can play twice before being required to wait 2.5 hours to earn enough to play again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Boss” levels are also handled similarly. Each boss takes five “batteries” to fight. Defeating these monsters results in higher cash payouts, but I nevertheless avoid them. Maybe that’s the reason I always find myself short on funds for everything.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ADS/GREED</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2mwvH4z1wJtR4lwz09-rvvZjOb-6d6XLZRjnN2hDA_ovi99s0iNkeyXdoTQFgCtGMwVVJnWKEtAPwy_N-udSxmdPvNXnMyilzKZtsCa3Ypyv435rUKd2pmwHiW7Pt1FW4IdGTq6wTksfJWIKUyuYSryDd90QLVWochvNuqllSEvFjuhS4iJL16c8Xg/s2340/Screenshot_20230609-075316.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2mwvH4z1wJtR4lwz09-rvvZjOb-6d6XLZRjnN2hDA_ovi99s0iNkeyXdoTQFgCtGMwVVJnWKEtAPwy_N-udSxmdPvNXnMyilzKZtsCa3Ypyv435rUKd2pmwHiW7Pt1FW4IdGTq6wTksfJWIKUyuYSryDd90QLVWochvNuqllSEvFjuhS4iJL16c8Xg/s320/Screenshot_20230609-075316.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You're always greeted with one of these first thing.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Zombie Hunter Fire” is guilty of one of the most annoying practices in mobile games: Pop-up ads. And I’m not talking about third-party ads: I’m talking about the ones that offer upgrades requiring real cash. Right off the bat, every single time the application is loaded. Clicking out of them is easy enough, requiring a tap of the standard “X” in the top right corner, but it’s the principle. It’s the mobile equivalent of panhandling on a street corner. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Outside of that, the ad load is actually pretty standard. Completing levels results in the forced viewing of a skippable ad. Users can watch videos for additional gold bars. Past levels can be replayed to earn extra in-game currency (though at a reduced rate), which can further prevent the need to spend money for upgrades. Hell, there isn’t even a way to replenish energy “batteries” quicker, whether by watching ads or paying real money. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The game might feel “scummy”, but at least it doesn’t feel scammy; at least, no moreso than similar games.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">FUN</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here’s one of the few areas that truly matter; the one area where many downfalls can be redeemed. I’m sure we’ve all experienced those games that we have a strong affinity for, despite there being one glaring, or several minor flaws. That guilty pleasure we all turn back to, even though we know we shouldn’t. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAKOILIWpuRbZBTmgXSJXsbpynZ94h7e6zC8lXfsnY-N_3KhkeYMaxxOOKoUz2MkB5oTxEc9F2SpB7uFbQ19u_9zBd8u5ToH8Q9EsyfDRME1lz0Qx9DUMAcR8qV0IeUqR8T0PGv_s4HiXFKGYWOYFJM8cGDjoBMVTqWFb9h_O8QddHlW1q4jyzlBBsw/s2340/Screenshot_20230609-075818.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAKOILIWpuRbZBTmgXSJXsbpynZ94h7e6zC8lXfsnY-N_3KhkeYMaxxOOKoUz2MkB5oTxEc9F2SpB7uFbQ19u_9zBd8u5ToH8Q9EsyfDRME1lz0Qx9DUMAcR8qV0IeUqR8T0PGv_s4HiXFKGYWOYFJM8cGDjoBMVTqWFb9h_O8QddHlW1q4jyzlBBsw/s320/Screenshot_20230609-075818.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get used to seeing these words.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is not that game. Nowhere close. It’s a steaming pile of shit. It feels like a college student’s first attempt at coding their own game. Actually, if this were the case, it would be impressive. But as an “official” full release, it’s nothing short of embarrassing.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s nothing entertaining about it. The levels and enemies are ultra-repetitive. The weapons are often weak and underpowered. Maybe I played the game “wrong” and wasted gold on the wrong things. But that’s the thing: Even if I was easily blasting through every level, the game would suck. I made it to level 52, and the most exciting thing about the experience is the knowledge that, soon, I can delete it from my phone.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">IN CONCLUSION</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Zombie games seem to be pretty popular these days, and there are certainly many good ones. Zombie Hunter Fire is one of those copies that seem to be thrown together just to “cash in” on the popularity of such games. There is no imagination or inspiration behind it, besides earning money. But it even misses opportunities on that front. There’s no way to pay for extra “energy”, which is required for “boss” and “survival” modes. It’s so half-assed that it can’t even accurately succeed as a cash grab.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I really try avoiding this score. I really do. The cynic in me doesn’t </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">mind</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> giving them, but I want the ratings to at least have some sort of personal consistency. And if I’m giving zeroes left and right, that makes me seem like some person who can’t be impressed. Like some royalty scoffing at the peasants. That’s definitely not me. (Well, not usually, anyway).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgPLJf2cYT01e5WpmkIM5CYX8iCI_678Dbl12tKwdw4WQRF31ZVPwZd1ke8bGnesNxWP63dgKOPg7qorKEY5hx1-3WYtY1NUqGKDssZ2fjLn5gPNcsqEuHdrtzG-w2LJ7wIuKRVE8POG4ZrjywWdAQKoWYUQkmrOHr_rYGrnk24-_aOc2zWRj1QUqaQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230613-082648.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2340" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgPLJf2cYT01e5WpmkIM5CYX8iCI_678Dbl12tKwdw4WQRF31ZVPwZd1ke8bGnesNxWP63dgKOPg7qorKEY5hx1-3WYtY1NUqGKDssZ2fjLn5gPNcsqEuHdrtzG-w2LJ7wIuKRVE8POG4ZrjywWdAQKoWYUQkmrOHr_rYGrnk24-_aOc2zWRj1QUqaQ/s320/Screenshot_20230613-082648.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Images can't convey how terrible this game truly is.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The issue is that I’m struggling to find something that I like; some aspect of the game I don’t entirely despise. And I’m coming up with nothing. Just the very thought of playing the game makes me cringe; that probably tells me everything I need to know. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There are so many things wrong with the end result that you’d swear the point was to get people to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">avoid</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> playing it. It’s hard to imagine making something this bad without</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> intending</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to make something this bad. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I got more satisfaction out of deleting it from my device than actually playing the game could ever provide.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>OVERALL: 0/10. </b></span></p></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-44926766034238326802023-05-31T06:11:00.001-04:002023-05-31T06:11:00.138-04:00Soccer Super Star (Android)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4jVljiHNuU5o7D79JIb1H0g9kePex1XZv2e_pkDUlXajWAta9n5exJrZzAowO12nRkvYh6-oTOeVqnB8fkrGBjPewEI42J-VQng2LeAatm-W9RFf-6IQJSZz_3yxUU7Gk7V6jQPoO9xUFtpc3hvwvZidtKcvH9R9rQKPbaOZIGwBGEYNh71llx5xmA/s512/soccerstarappicon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4jVljiHNuU5o7D79JIb1H0g9kePex1XZv2e_pkDUlXajWAta9n5exJrZzAowO12nRkvYh6-oTOeVqnB8fkrGBjPewEI42J-VQng2LeAatm-W9RFf-6IQJSZz_3yxUU7Gk7V6jQPoO9xUFtpc3hvwvZidtKcvH9R9rQKPbaOZIGwBGEYNh71llx5xmA/s320/soccerstarappicon.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-39a7934c-7fff-1346-aa4a-86994e66eea9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “Soccer Star” you assume the role of a soccer player attempting to climb the professional soccer ranks by completing "games" broken down into individual "plays".</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>GAMEPLAY</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In “Soccer Star” you assume the role of a soccer player attempting to climb the professional soccer ranks. Each “game” is broken down into 1-3 “scenarios”, which are essentially scoring chances. Once a player has control of the ball, the game “pauses”, allowing you to see your players and the defensive setup. You slide your finger to dictate where you want the ball to go, and play resumes. If one of your players gets it, they dribble until they’re in position, and the game pauses again, letting you set up the next pass. This continues until you either score a goal, or the opposing team gains control of the ball.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are no “move” limits, so you can take your time setting up the perfect play. The only limit imposed are the “passing lines” visible during each move. Your pass must be within those lines in order for it to be “accepted”. If you attempt a pass outside of these lines, the lines flash to remind you of the rules, and you’re required to make another move that falls within the lines. That means you can’t just fire the ball to any open player, and gives the game an almost puzzle-like feel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8PenE9PNUYWHeQEV_Fbcl2J_UjuC5NKx9o0CB10KYNqcZoxF2bMr4-aZN1x1dpj_xls7_UA2QHmDrdxoV4gd725Jm_hr_GA2A-01k1gjd7clps-c7SUKzlUl1nMyo-gdSyx3HbhhQvpnu8Pln-dbePDcyDq_DSgf7c_X7JHl5QXGS5s5g2hSaeqFcw/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062235.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8PenE9PNUYWHeQEV_Fbcl2J_UjuC5NKx9o0CB10KYNqcZoxF2bMr4-aZN1x1dpj_xls7_UA2QHmDrdxoV4gd725Jm_hr_GA2A-01k1gjd7clps-c7SUKzlUl1nMyo-gdSyx3HbhhQvpnu8Pln-dbePDcyDq_DSgf7c_X7JHl5QXGS5s5g2hSaeqFcw/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062235.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The ball's path must stay within the yellow lines.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to complete a “match”, the player must score a goal in all of the game’s scenarios, without the opposing team gaining control of the ball. The number of plays vary from game to game: There can be as few as one, or as many as three. If the player fails at any point during the match, they must either watch an ad to continue where they left off, or start over from the beginning. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re also given a star rating at the end of every match. The way(s) that you earn them can vary from game to game. Sometimes, you just have to complete the match to earn all three. Other times, certain players or spots on the field (or in the goal) will have a star. In order to earn it, the ball must travel through the starred area (or to the starred player). In the case of players, they don’t have to be the ones to score; they simply have to make contact with the ball at some point.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s pretty much the entire game, in a nutshell.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a few little annoyances that gradually add up to more over time. For example, the difficulty seems to randomly ramp up for certain levels, before dipping back down again. This would make sense for “championships”, or other high-pressure matches, but there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason on when this happens.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most games the opposing team’s goalie will struggle to make all but the simplest of saves. I mean, there were times where even I was upset the moron couldn’t keep it out of the net, and I was the one trying to score. But then, out of nowhere, he’ll piece together a string of three (or sometimes more) back-to-back saves that defy all logic. Ditto that for the opposition’s defense. For the most part, they just stand back and let you develop your play, acting more like obstacles than actual AI. Sure, they challenge the ball once in a while, but not aggressively. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, out of the blue, they’ll attack the ball. They’ll take it from players in mid-dribble. They won’t give your team any breathing room whatsoever. Passes that work almost 100% of the time are broken up with relative ease. Your players will lose the ball without the appearance of even trying not to lose the ball.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then the next level hits and the opposing team is back to their usual “chill” selves. I wouldn’t say the default difficulty is “too easy”, but it’s definitely closer to that than hard. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are also an abundance of questionable AI decisions, both on the part of your own team, and the game itself. For example, you’ll feed the ball to a player who’s all alone. He’s onsides, and ahead of the defense, in prime scoring position with no one else anywhere close. Suddenly, he’ll just stop a mile away from the goal, forcing you to either fire a low-percentage shot on goal, or to make an additional blind pass to a teammate who may or may not be there. You can swivel the camera around to look, but your field of vision barely extends beyond the “passing lines”. In these situations, there are often to visible options, frequently ending in failure.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUG5c4eS7F-GKc9qtNz6Ha2bxClA5urP0DlR7myho9d8kSSko54mj252v-IDNWTBZHRi5VLRqV3f7-ijFOIzsP9AZyUHHiX2XJtr-GUtGdVaDGsg3YYZV3Mp-r7rb5pfNn3gzpBVz0LThNcn4HXqhcdPPqZTomuQ9EeNE9d7g4ZoLRKVsQG6R7CU1LA/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062247.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUG5c4eS7F-GKc9qtNz6Ha2bxClA5urP0DlR7myho9d8kSSko54mj252v-IDNWTBZHRi5VLRqV3f7-ijFOIzsP9AZyUHHiX2XJtr-GUtGdVaDGsg3YYZV3Mp-r7rb5pfNn3gzpBVz0LThNcn4HXqhcdPPqZTomuQ9EeNE9d7g4ZoLRKVsQG6R7CU1LA/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062247.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A random gameplay image that sums everything up.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other plays, you’ll pass the ball to a player with a solid angle who looks like they’ll wiggle free for a clear shot (or pass). But then they’ll inexplicably double back and turn around, forcing you to play the ball to someone further back, out of scoring position.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last issue is the complete inconsistency of when a play is considered dead. Sometimes, it ends when the opposing team simply touches the ball. Other times, it ends after an opposing player dribbles it a few times, giving your team a chance to steal it back. Yet, in other situations, the opposition will clear the ball deep into your own defensive zone, yet the play is inexplicably still live, giving you an opportunity to move the ball all the way down the field in order to score.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Any of the above situations would feel more valid if there were clear guidelines established beforehand. But it gets frustrating when you expect the play to keep going, and it’s just suddenly ruled as a failure. Especially when it’s in the third and final “scenario”, resulting in having to either watch an ad to continue where you left off, or to replay all of them in order to advance.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the positive front, I do like how the situations never feel entirely “scripted”. Passing the ball to the same player in the same situation often yields different results. For example, you might pass to a guy who then loses control of the ball and hands it over to the opponent, causing you to fail. Then, on your next try, you might pass the ball to the same guy, and he manages to shake the defender, resulting in a clear scoring (or passing) chance. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While it can be somewhat irritating in practice (if he wiggled free this time, why didn’t he just do that last time) it also speaks to the unpredictable nature of sports. If you were to take any famous highlight from any sport, and attempt to recreate it multiple times - with the exact same players in the exact same position on the field - the outcome would likely be different every time. A successful “Hail Mary” in American football, for example, would end in an incomplete pass more often than not. Each play depends on several variables that all have to fall in place to deliver a successful outcome.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That makes the AI in “Soccer Star” feel “adaptable” and somewhat true-to-life. Sure, sometimes it comes down to junk AI (it </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a scripted game, after all), but when it leads to a highlight-reel goal, it also makes it feel like your decisions matter. And that can lead to a sense of accomplishment, no matter how small. Or brief.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>GAME MODES</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking to its complete lack of variety, “Soccer Star” offers nothing outside of the main game mode. There are no events, no “PvP” option, no “practice” mode…nothing to break up the monotony of the base game.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words, if you find yourself unimpressed with the first few levels, then nothing following those are going to win you over.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>UI</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cVXmKli_fLX8nWugLL9f1150_uX-NXeBa1kX0UHyhaHF4HAmAxhHThzkAHbuFOhreU7oEfsTs8mjvLy7FR6ZX__kIqTkdoUz7_MApTDcue3q7L4uJn7K-aFy7INOc2crVujvHZfp9HRxFTVq3bdW3wWm7f_z03EUkc8D6IZrUxowCsSgspPlreEYYQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062223.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cVXmKli_fLX8nWugLL9f1150_uX-NXeBa1kX0UHyhaHF4HAmAxhHThzkAHbuFOhreU7oEfsTs8mjvLy7FR6ZX__kIqTkdoUz7_MApTDcue3q7L4uJn7K-aFy7INOc2crVujvHZfp9HRxFTVq3bdW3wWm7f_z03EUkc8D6IZrUxowCsSgspPlreEYYQ/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062223.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The UI is as simple as it gets.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the game may quickly wear out its welcome, the simple design does wonders for its user interface. Navigating through the game is as simple as it gets. The main screen shows you where you left off in your current season. Continuing requires only a single tap of the screen. You can also scroll to results for previous seasons, and return to the current match with the tap of a single button.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYaazKU7Kw0dbp9QhxV4pZYHMNna1qbQhr5TDALZwPI6Nr6o--59bKqqaxKR53c9zSXcEPIPhbzD7-EgaRBEkKaI4yHK09C-ywZeo0O1oBHzpTiA7WeaT0LM8X9Vhb1neOFtdmsnM_j_9dU0EtVo6jEgQla1shS0etlXFc5tqEyvsn10wdXDA4nc2Xw/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062407.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYaazKU7Kw0dbp9QhxV4pZYHMNna1qbQhr5TDALZwPI6Nr6o--59bKqqaxKR53c9zSXcEPIPhbzD7-EgaRBEkKaI4yHK09C-ywZeo0O1oBHzpTiA7WeaT0LM8X9Vhb1neOFtdmsnM_j_9dU0EtVo6jEgQla1shS0etlXFc5tqEyvsn10wdXDA4nc2Xw/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062407.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You can "upgrade" your character's appearance, but that's about it.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to change your character’s appearance, simply tap on your character’s avatar at the top left of the screen. Here, you will see all the unlocked options. You can add features like facial hair, change your hairstyle, or even get a new pair of shoes. The further you progress, the more upgrades become available. Unfortunately, none of them boost your character's stats; they're purely cosmetic.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>AUDIO</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The audio in “Soccer Star” is rather sparse, which also matches the content level. Even with outstanding sound effects, it’s not like the game would be any more varied or immersive.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s some lame menu music, and a couple sound effects when you tap on menu buttons. In-game audio consists pretty much entirely of crowd sounds, including inaudible chants and cheers when a goal is scored; and the ball striking a player’s feet or head (which sound pretty much the same in either case). Occasionally, an otherwise absent announcer screams “gooooooal!” And that’s really about it. These help to boost the atmosphere slightly, but not really enough that the sound demands to be on. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I play it muted every time and don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>CONTROLS</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The controls in “Soccer Star” are pretty limited: Slide your finger where you want the ball to go. It’s as simple as that. A whitish line follows your finger on the screen, giving you a visual cue as to the path you’ve chosen. If the path is outside of the “passing lines” - marked as two dotted lines that represent the area in which the pass has to go - then the lines will flash and you’ll have to try again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the most part, the ball does follow the path of your finger pretty well. You can even curve the ball (within reason), which is a nice workaround for passes (or shots) you want to make outside of the clear passing lines. Obviously, the end result isn’t always what you want (other players may intercept your pass, for example) but I can’t think of an instance where the ball didn’t go where I “told” it to go.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>GRAPHICS/PERFORMANCE</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graphics are adequate for a mobile game. The models are 3-D and look somewhere in the realm of “PlayStation 2”-era graphics. In other words, they won’t wow anyone, but they’re sufficient enough that they also won’t serve as a distraction.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiD8chxt-5VPhVFht0q4Rllq9MXrwQKHceV_LDskP5lxBEE61N6jhv3RXEDKonM_vbM4ph2x1K9jT6xy58Or0QmoI7chE8Ynw2WST8VoLIVR-9l0I9bf0u0Uj7hAReKDVaqV3raMgZfxqRG-SXDBwsfFBq8qTghVbl5xwKcjAhIQA_dSrcNaE5_n6xw/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062307.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiD8chxt-5VPhVFht0q4Rllq9MXrwQKHceV_LDskP5lxBEE61N6jhv3RXEDKonM_vbM4ph2x1K9jT6xy58Or0QmoI7chE8Ynw2WST8VoLIVR-9l0I9bf0u0Uj7hAReKDVaqV3raMgZfxqRG-SXDBwsfFBq8qTghVbl5xwKcjAhIQA_dSrcNaE5_n6xw/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062307.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The graphics are acceptable, but nothing noteworthy.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The game runs smoothly on my Pixel 7 Pro with no lag or other issues during gameplay. The only exception seems to be at the end of longer gaming sessions. Then, the game suddenly has issues loading certain textures. I went through a few levels with large chunks of the “field” missing, leaving only empty white spots in its place. It reminded me a lot of playing old NES cartridges, which are notoriously prone to such visual glitches.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Continuing would eventually lead to the game completely freezing. This issue happened multiple times, but generally occurred after the twenty-minute mark. “Fixing” it was as simple as closing out and restarting it. It also served as a helpful reminder that I’d been playing the game for too long, anyway. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never had any such issues during shorter sessions.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>ADS/GREED</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ad load is pretty much standard: Completing full levels requires the viewing of a (skippable) ad. If you fail a scenario, sometimes you get the option to repeat it for free. Other times it requires the viewing of a 30-second, non-skippable ad. There are random occasional ads here and there after performing a non-game function, such as entering and exiting a menu. While it’s annoying, these ads are also skippable. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc1b0T5knn3aQ_LUk1RlR1gmFNA_sf2nc7x4K6mD896nXw9p2JybOYvQZS_4cwloQhLP4wMAkCGwJtu_aps5yHZkID1XWurOCmoDq7ayIt4r1k0WG1Cn6IIBL7EI0C7yQprBLtNOlu-dcYksmg_zUVnUfTSiyOpxX2OY2WWmaMkQe7tqb7dRitQ8LFA/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-062749.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc1b0T5knn3aQ_LUk1RlR1gmFNA_sf2nc7x4K6mD896nXw9p2JybOYvQZS_4cwloQhLP4wMAkCGwJtu_aps5yHZkID1XWurOCmoDq7ayIt4r1k0WG1Cn6IIBL7EI0C7yQprBLtNOlu-dcYksmg_zUVnUfTSiyOpxX2OY2WWmaMkQe7tqb7dRitQ8LFA/s320/Screenshot_20230530-062749.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Failure usually requires viewing an ad to retry, but is sometimes generous.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since there are no character upgrades, there aren’t even voluntary free ads to “level up” quicker. In fact, the only voluntary ads are to unlock additional jersey numbers whenever you switch teams. There are nine total numbers available, and you get three for free. Watching an ad unveils three more, which you can do up to two times to reveal all nine. Keep in mind, however, that all the numbers are randomized, so even unlocking them all might not reveal a number you want. It’s a rather curious, odd system.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the game’s most impressive aspect: There are no in-game purchases. None. I have to say that this is somewhat refreshing, as most games tend to shove in-game purchases down the user’s throat; “Soccer Star” never once asks for real cash. I guess that makes the ad load even more bearable, as the developers need </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">some</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> way to pay the bills.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>FUN</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have to admit that I’m not a soccer fan in the least. I find the game to be rather dull overall (why can’t they just shorten the damn field). Yet while I wouldn’t consider myself a fan, I do respect the sport. It has a huge worldwide following, which has to count for something. And as little as I care, I find myself getting sucked into following the World Cup when it comes around every four years. Not enough to actually watch the games, but I do view highlights of every match.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All that being said, no matter how much you love the game, “Soccer Star” simply doesn’t have enough to deliver long-term entertainment. I cleared exactly 400 levels, mainly because I wanted to see if there was a way to "finish" the game. I mean, after so long, even the best players have to retire, right?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_0OOKHU8LEDW6tkMYt4Ws0Ka4B6ZXk1C6csIpZV-4DnB_MrFkcZO0-fCdepfiZVnmS0SiVM8x9xx7aVqqZysbF-ynzEav_T0tmHyMvaTe-QTRvx9JXfIX5W0LTL-cXrYbK03-A5GlH-YvCSz9okjdqxhxwASfgw_qxAwZ935GA3txd_T-1IKET79Ng/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-081611.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_0OOKHU8LEDW6tkMYt4Ws0Ka4B6ZXk1C6csIpZV-4DnB_MrFkcZO0-fCdepfiZVnmS0SiVM8x9xx7aVqqZysbF-ynzEav_T0tmHyMvaTe-QTRvx9JXfIX5W0LTL-cXrYbK03-A5GlH-YvCSz9okjdqxhxwASfgw_qxAwZ935GA3txd_T-1IKET79Ng/s320/Screenshot_20230530-081611.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I played this game for far too long.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, I grew bored of it before I discovered the answer to that question. Actually, to be clear, I grew bored of it long before season 22, but continued out of sheer determination to see how many goals I could score. What can I say? I’m competitive (and obsessed with stats). And for the record, it seems there is no end. Playing 22 seasons would put my character at 40 years old (assuming he's 18 in his first season). He still looks exactly the same 20 years in as he did at the start. So realism doesn't seem to be a focus.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There just isn’t enough variety to warrant any kind of lasting “fun”. Every level follows the exact same mechanics of the previous one. There aren’t any additional game modes to change things up or to make things interesting. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hell, there aren't even any incentives for collecting "stars", or even for your character's performance. In fact, the main character serves to purpose at all, except to move the loose "narrative" forward. There aren't MVP awards, or all-star games, or any other reasons to strive for excellence. The game progresses on to the next match no matter which player on your team scores goals. That means whether your character has 0 goals, or 30 at the end of a season, nothing changes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of each season, you can choose to stay with your current team, or to join another in a different league. Your choice has no bearing on anything. The AI is the same. There is no increase (or decrease) in difficulty no matter where you play. The only difference is the color of your uniforms and the teams you play.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It would be nice if there was <i>some</i> reason, no matter how small, for your character to play an actual role in the game. Like the inclusion of "contracts", or something of the sort, where you're signed with a team of your choice in the beginning. Maybe certain, basic "goals" can be included as "clauses" in the contract - i.e. score 20 goals in a season - that serve as metrics as to how "well" you're doing. If you don't meet those terms, then you can be traded. If you hit the milestones, then you can earn extra cash - which would be tracked to give you an overall idea of your performance - in the form of bonuses. At the end of the season, your team could offer you an extension to stay (with a salary raise, of course) if you met their criteria. Or choose to trade you for the "next big thing".</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or maybe a "fan" gauge where you start off with a modest fan base, and the count gradually increases for every goal you score.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are just a couple ideas that could help promote replayability. Neither of them alone (or even both together) would "fix" the game's shortcomings. It would still wear thin pretty quickly. But they would certainly help to push it in the right direction.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>IN CONCLUSION</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If soccer is your thing, you might get a little more mileage out of it…but I highly doubt it. “Soccer Star” is a game that offers some marginal excitement by allowing players to craft some highlight reel soccer goals. But a lack of game modes or anything more in-depth prevents it from being anything more than a quick time-waster. Character customization is incredibly limited, and there are no ways to “level up” or to boost their performance. On the plus side, there are no in-game purchases, which is definitely a breath of fresh air in this era dominated by “pay to win” games. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to overcome the game’s complete lack of substance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">OVERALL: 3.5/10.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-38270291441762446312023-05-30T06:09:00.003-04:002023-05-30T06:09:53.624-04:00Helicopter Escape (Android)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgH1bkqu2NA-5hNRmQ-I8oEvD8ZutKXpexKXH8XkTx4HZm51pxCeF0K27KnYJH9yO8-lbf7A4MH8urEo3RQkf-ibeXMTT_qkzOl3mu0y9FqJ_BM4HED2X727LGl5ljPbCGDKuUXp9iCOJTFwCeCbn2T5wtUHc31y7gtMctJP5Uuup4A3ayvw11YezrQ/s240/heliescapeicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgH1bkqu2NA-5hNRmQ-I8oEvD8ZutKXpexKXH8XkTx4HZm51pxCeF0K27KnYJH9yO8-lbf7A4MH8urEo3RQkf-ibeXMTT_qkzOl3mu0y9FqJ_BM4HED2X727LGl5ljPbCGDKuUXp9iCOJTFwCeCbn2T5wtUHc31y7gtMctJP5Uuup4A3ayvw11YezrQ/s1600/heliescapeicon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>WHAT IS IT?</u></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab52f606-7fff-9eb8-690c-608c33e48454"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Helicopter Escape” is an action game in which you’re stationed in a helicopter (hence the name). However, you are not the one attempting to do the escaping: Most levels consist of protecting a running human by blasting the hordes of creatures attempting to attack them. Other levels find you circling a building, taking out a tower full of baddies level by level. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>UI</u></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm consistently shocked at just how in-depth many mobile games are. There are often menus and submenus, separate "event" menus and side menus, "free upgrade" menus...sometimes it's easy to get lost in all the various options.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somewhat refreshingly, "Helicopter Escape" is devoid of these confusing navigational issues. Playing the game is straightforward, requiring just a single click upon startup to continue where you left off. Seeing your helicopter skins, avatar, and weapons are also easily navigatable from the main screen. Ditto that for the additional "events", which are prominently displayed from the game's initial menu and reachable with a single tap of the display.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, the game's simple user interface comes at the expense of a complete lack of variety.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">GAMEPLAY</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are two types of levels in "Helicopter Escape", and only two types of levels. The typical one involves attemping to save damsels in distress by shooting at creatures attempting to kill the running woman (or "women") from the safety of your own helicopter. The level is completed when the female makes her escape by jumping onto the helicopter's landing gear, allowing it to fly away to safety. Failure occurs when one of the monsters manages to make contact with the innocent character.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the game runs semi-fast and frantic, it does "slow down" into a near bullet-time mode when a bad guy gets close to the would-be victim. In these moments, exclamation points appear above the closest creature, giving the player extra time to aim and fire. This is a welcome addition, although one that makes an already easy game even easier.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFUPd3BwTmORXHxAXVb9NRuHBp0qCiMzwpC9BOQe9niud2VkMrjVsNXtQj6RkOba-LGu1gcvymv98kQok5K7jXNbR9X6sPAqRnW7Krtz7Wxi0mGvo61B8lYIQ2BJTOVbIPw0BDPV0jNd_2p-Q4id03qOsQCPiEzMk9Ik7r_8sZa2xs7yb31ems6ncSg/s2340/Screenshot_20230503-181100.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFUPd3BwTmORXHxAXVb9NRuHBp0qCiMzwpC9BOQe9niud2VkMrjVsNXtQj6RkOba-LGu1gcvymv98kQok5K7jXNbR9X6sPAqRnW7Krtz7Wxi0mGvo61B8lYIQ2BJTOVbIPw0BDPV0jNd_2p-Q4id03qOsQCPiEzMk9Ik7r_8sZa2xs7yb31ems6ncSg/s320/Screenshot_20230503-181100.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The "skyscraper" levels are fun...at first.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interspersed with the "escape" levels are the "skyscraper" levels. In these, the player is still stationed in a helicopter, but the person they are trying to save is themself. The 'copter circles around the perimeter of the building, slowly revealing bad guys in each room. "Bullet time" is then activated, giving the player time to pick off the unsuspecting baddies before they are noticed. If the evil henchmen notice the player, exclamation points appear above their head. This means they are about to fire back. But the slowness of the action - along with the fast response time of the controls - means these levels are still far too easy.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">These levels are initially the most fun, but like everything else in the game, quickly degrades into mind-melting monotony after about the tenth time.</span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>GAME MODES</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like many action games, “Helicopter Escape” offers up a few different “events” and “game modes”. But unlike many games, none of them stray from the core gameplay. Not even a little bit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, at the time of this writing there is a “robot” event going on. But that just means instead of shooting aliens or zombies, you’ll be shooting robots. It’s still the same side-scrolling levels with the same exact mechanics as any other level. A previous event was based on the “Matrix” games, featuring the player blasting loads of agents, while the defenseless running characters were “good guys” from the movie franchise.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg5zgq2Cl-4z5teAsBcZOwWamKcM-VRHGZ_OmKyeVMcqXrW6EqgVQKkYpmuVJDvcEFdeaZoThSMNdPL6rgwyYVjo5PMvfHmnTEI-Y3bPIOYeUy_lcEPpHYbaGXFgkwEBR6gSa5JMOS_xugdyRGEZaHtnpg-fHSBXudNrbPBBJ79yyZsBrvcOYaTsTMQ/s2340/heliescaperobot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg5zgq2Cl-4z5teAsBcZOwWamKcM-VRHGZ_OmKyeVMcqXrW6EqgVQKkYpmuVJDvcEFdeaZoThSMNdPL6rgwyYVjo5PMvfHmnTEI-Y3bPIOYeUy_lcEPpHYbaGXFgkwEBR6gSa5JMOS_xugdyRGEZaHtnpg-fHSBXudNrbPBBJ79yyZsBrvcOYaTsTMQ/s320/heliescaperobot.png" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Robot "event".</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words, while there are “technically” other game modes, none are </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actually</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> different game modes. It’s just the same ol’ thing presented in a slightly more unique way.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>GRAPHICS</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIckcy5YF5B-xkOz-j-24kzAHkr2bM85HDIffjNkmtRUkH11vKJHDDaVQConPSX2V5I0kgAWSi7UNsqq_X6ANweCfJ_n4LqyWQ17pbbic-VTA3lue4v0dBKm_XFWlhp21tZ2-NxfqX0f2zWZqtFajZD4qCbqzNqQvJKOF8sab6yIUIgMClbHFuzoMqig/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-052248.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIckcy5YF5B-xkOz-j-24kzAHkr2bM85HDIffjNkmtRUkH11vKJHDDaVQConPSX2V5I0kgAWSi7UNsqq_X6ANweCfJ_n4LqyWQ17pbbic-VTA3lue4v0dBKm_XFWlhp21tZ2-NxfqX0f2zWZqtFajZD4qCbqzNqQvJKOF8sab6yIUIgMClbHFuzoMqig/s320/Screenshot_20230530-052248.png" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The graphics are cutesy.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The graphics are “light” and “playful” given the subject matter. While there’s the constant threat from waves of menacing monsters, it’s never scary; the action aspects are the focal point over everything else. The guns are also cartoony and over-the-top; some might be based in reality, but they’re generally given “flame” skins or other cosmetics additions that make them less “threatening” than real firearms.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It should be noted that the game does contain blood, by default. This can be turned off in settings. Like the rest of the game, it’s not flagrant or too excessive: a brief “splatter” shoots out once a baddie is struck and quickly dissipates. It should also be noted the blood is only red when facing human enemies. Shooting zombies results in green splashes while robots spew out black “oil”. It’s nothing that would be uncomfortable for most teens, though it would likely be too much for younger kids.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ypxcSKxm68Lwt_dTYtndsjTXdZwhVWZ3nTPCOua_uRfO9tJBlUDT4SVSz94ZFlY9hDsnz24wUzm_Qwaf3TXMMUcqB7rUKdDUzPDMagOdClgp0DGmIovN2Ce_RYRtd-mNHePSuFWy2mZr3ML42wsnhoCxSmLGWrhn9dNfS11YndjqFEGHuuPnnDdbsQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230503-181100.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ypxcSKxm68Lwt_dTYtndsjTXdZwhVWZ3nTPCOua_uRfO9tJBlUDT4SVSz94ZFlY9hDsnz24wUzm_Qwaf3TXMMUcqB7rUKdDUzPDMagOdClgp0DGmIovN2Ce_RYRtd-mNHePSuFWy2mZr3ML42wsnhoCxSmLGWrhn9dNfS11YndjqFEGHuuPnnDdbsQ/s320/Screenshot_20230503-181100.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There's blood, but it's not excessive.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>AUDIO</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much like the game, the audio is thin and monotonous. The music sounds like it was taken from the public domain and adds nothing to the experience. The gun sounds are tinny and unrealistic. I guess both are kind of in line with the cartoonish graphics, but they certainly don’t create any sort of fun - or lasting - atmosphere.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The explosions sound like basic explosions, and each fallen creature elicits a generic “uh” or “oh” upon getting hit. Since there’s no “story”, there’s no spoken dialogue, either. This is one of many mobile games that you can play with the sound off and miss nothing. This can be a good thing when playing in public, but a not-so-great thing when you’re looking for a more immersive experience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>AD LOAD/ GREED LEVEL</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ad levels are a little overabundant. There are skippable ads (after around 5 seconds) following each round, which run around a minute in length. Free upgrades and bonuses require the viewing of a non-skippable thirty second ad. This is pretty standard for a free mobile game.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcHnBQsj9oujpoCDeCBqTnNhBfw04azQ7pbKcpoTVM6eLmPdCNPSRYsDl1VlNdTB6SNL59yA6DDllMfImipybcVJUTo8-P0xVq4vhAz2YYFWQjQoe0TnAV815s7l1xYL8WvyQR8IHpLIKBX0cS89YEH1RWmlJsYfMcryiDMh6Z3L3ZfCpf64rP1HlAQ/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-052213.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcHnBQsj9oujpoCDeCBqTnNhBfw04azQ7pbKcpoTVM6eLmPdCNPSRYsDl1VlNdTB6SNL59yA6DDllMfImipybcVJUTo8-P0xVq4vhAz2YYFWQjQoe0TnAV815s7l1xYL8WvyQR8IHpLIKBX0cS89YEH1RWmlJsYfMcryiDMh6Z3L3ZfCpf64rP1HlAQ/s320/Screenshot_20230530-052213.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's nice to be greeted by an ad first thing.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to that, there are pop-ups for upgrades that require real cash immediately upon "booting" the game. It's presented in the "sale" format seen above. This is the equivalent of a "high-pressure" sales pitch, as it makes people think they might miss out if they don't purchase it right away. I can tell you from experience that no upgrades are even remotely necessary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made it to level 230 (no judging, please) without even feeling the need to spend a dime. Many of the "improvements" (outfit, helicopter) are purely cosmetic. Hell, given the near pointlessness of weapon upgrades, one could argue that even the gun upgrades are purely visual. The higher the weapon level, the more bullets shoot out at once, which sounds like it makes them more powerful. But since most enemies take just one hit to kill, and there's no "cooldown" period between shots, they don't offer any extra noticeable damage.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLlHmICo2bz0rfHMZ91xBNVF4y8JnjZ4_4DWuS3ClfAfpNmDimSo04L0_iEiUAb0kbqjkhDr7Lz3KfuZTBbd-u_6Gml2v55wWSVVSALHhQmXiijJGGHziFzhYg5JrNUrCwMtcxyNBH0v_4dfNb9uGalLEAD17GWv176CjIdsANkgsl4dRwK7Av7SxMA/s2340/Screenshot_20230503-181035.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLlHmICo2bz0rfHMZ91xBNVF4y8JnjZ4_4DWuS3ClfAfpNmDimSo04L0_iEiUAb0kbqjkhDr7Lz3KfuZTBbd-u_6Gml2v55wWSVVSALHhQmXiijJGGHziFzhYg5JrNUrCwMtcxyNBH0v_4dfNb9uGalLEAD17GWv176CjIdsANkgsl4dRwK7Av7SxMA/s320/Screenshot_20230503-181035.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ads are apparently stapled to the bottom at all times.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arguably the most egregious example of the game's ad load can be found plastered at the bottom of the in-game screen. There's an omnipresent "banner" that runs the entirety of every level. I have to admit that I never even noticed it until I took screenshots. I also must admit that not once did I ever accidentally tap on one during gameplay. After all, the action takes place well above that area. So while it's far enough out of the way that it's not much of a distraction, it's still an added tactic I don't think I've ever seen in another mobile game. One that I would go so far as to label "excessive."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the ad tolerance will mostly depend on how obsessed the player is with acquiring upgraded cash and skins. At first, I watched a few videos to get extra money so I could upgrade my guns quicker. Until I eventually realized none of it mattered. After that, I was able to cruise through levels with minimal ad intrusion. And while some gamers who strive to have the “best of the best” might feel compelled to spend some cash, it’s nowhere near necessary to progress.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGtRs0j38-QYC9zJGbJ_D9LNwcPmQn7eRyCXEFS4It6l5QLurOsJNIcPwSs5Y2S9XhXxvjA7Bsqe7osDtDqb_e3hXawnptZWBj6-M44DOeqyxPZIaAI4JGMQgMmkaGOEen6zoE_GF6YxVXgDvoL1lP0TUupXLsRonoITKiF3DFWn7J7yEmgXVNxKRVg/s2340/Screenshot_20230530-052234.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGtRs0j38-QYC9zJGbJ_D9LNwcPmQn7eRyCXEFS4It6l5QLurOsJNIcPwSs5Y2S9XhXxvjA7Bsqe7osDtDqb_e3hXawnptZWBj6-M44DOeqyxPZIaAI4JGMQgMmkaGOEen6zoE_GF6YxVXgDvoL1lP0TUupXLsRonoITKiF3DFWn7J7yEmgXVNxKRVg/s320/Screenshot_20230530-052234.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>There are some pretty expensive, completely unnecessary upgrade options.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>CONTROLS</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The controls are very responsive. Firing the gun consists of tapping the screen where you want the bullets to go. Since you’ll be firing loads of bullets at large waves of baddies, you’ll be furiously tapping the screen. And the bullets go exactly where you tap, as many times as you tap it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This actually leads me to the conclusion that the controls are almost </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">too</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> responsive. No matter which weapon you’re using, the bullets always go exactly where you want them to. That might sound like a good thing, but it’s one of many things that make upgrading guns pretty well pointless. You would think lower level weaponry would be less accurate at first, and then get more and more accurate with each upgrade. But that’s not the case here. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At any rate, I’d still give the controls pretty high marks, as there’s no lag in between tapping and waiting for your gun to fire. It’s actually kind of impressive; probably the most stand-out aspect of the entire game.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>FUN</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s one area where the score takes a hit; it’s just not that fun. Actually, let me rephrase that: It’s fun for a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">very</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> short while. Until you realize that every level - and event - is more or less the same and that nothing really matters. While some may enjoy “upgrading” their helicopter skins, there’s ultimately no point to it. Even the more expensive helicopter upgrades are just that: skins. They don’t provide any stat upgrades or other useful powerups.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUT4_arOwAKdslHT0iELaPqPcD2-Kel8o-TJiHR16HVuleqUyW3uRuaZ5hV8DS4cJDtYbc8oqIL35X1bwNx8VgoTdyJuyfbEZTfZNXZWQEpUoC7fUxwE8amolWwyH13c9VoJ_4RrpXtn5HicwPMjfiE-m-fToTs6usTPKIzi30F-qhcPcdedh0KxpeA/s2340/Screenshot_20230521-082224.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUT4_arOwAKdslHT0iELaPqPcD2-Kel8o-TJiHR16HVuleqUyW3uRuaZ5hV8DS4cJDtYbc8oqIL35X1bwNx8VgoTdyJuyfbEZTfZNXZWQEpUoC7fUxwE8amolWwyH13c9VoJ_4RrpXtn5HicwPMjfiE-m-fToTs6usTPKIzi30F-qhcPcdedh0KxpeA/s320/Screenshot_20230521-082224.png" width="148" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Any single screenshot can more or less sum up the entire game.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Same with the guns, something I feel I’ve already harped on at length. Just out of curiosity, I went and played level 220 with a “weaker” gun; the first one I acquired beyond the initial “default” gun. I still beat the level with no problems. If that doesn’t prove the pointlessness of enhancing weaponry, I don’t know what else possibly could.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I kept playing the game as long as I did out of sheer boredom: I was sick and wanted a way to pass some time. It definitely did that, but by the end I was often more bored than I was before I started. What does that equal…negative fun? I won’t go that far, but let’s just say there’s very little in the way of replayability. And that is, without question, its biggest downfall.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>IN CONCLUSION</u></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The graphics are cartoony and somewhat appealing, and the game is fun…for about ten minutes. Then, the reality of limited game modes and ultra-repetitive gameplay sets in, along with pointless upgrades that don’t add any excitement whatsoever. If you’re just looking for a way to kill time over a short period of time - a doctor’s waiting office, for example - this could give you what you’re looking for. Anything beyond that, and there’s not enough here to create any sort of lasting interest. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>OVERALL:</b> 2.5/10. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-16692878937062778152022-12-16T13:20:00.001-05:002022-12-16T13:20:00.167-05:00Not Russian Roulette (Roblox)<p>Surprisingly, Roblox allows a lot of violence in games. There is a cut-off obviously, but for a platform that was initially geared toward children, they’ve always allowed it. Back before I started playing, I always thought it went against Roblox’s TOS. However, the official rules merely state only “realistic depictions of extreme gore” are forbidden from the platform. </p><p>But how much is too much? And what is considered “realistic”? Finding the line between “excessive” and “acceptable” is something that developers have long sought the answers to. Just go to their developer forums, and you’ll find loads of game creators asking how much gore is allowed in their game. The answers are always vague, because Roblox is a lot like the MPAA: There are no set limits. It’s a collection of arbitrary rules and values that can change from one day - or one developer - to the next.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oxwrwGb_YUoZJLIm6dWNQJ17js2X_NhdSaxWghuAAo--LnAhJI6t1WW56Pt2cJFAgvQQitUbnJTvWZOQToRPDkeA-3o_Mr_QIT0Zwd4peryYXROhpOPjWL75cCBRxCQqUb4W4BmRXMmOIz_OJVPekSlJbuWoW_sKIc87of98wpsLfVOLbn6RqEVq8Q/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221210_211714824.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oxwrwGb_YUoZJLIm6dWNQJ17js2X_NhdSaxWghuAAo--LnAhJI6t1WW56Pt2cJFAgvQQitUbnJTvWZOQToRPDkeA-3o_Mr_QIT0Zwd4peryYXROhpOPjWL75cCBRxCQqUb4W4BmRXMmOIz_OJVPekSlJbuWoW_sKIc87of98wpsLfVOLbn6RqEVq8Q/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221210_211714824.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't know about realistic, but the gore is extreme.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>But there is one category that the company has a clear, no tolerance policy for: Suicide and self harm. The seriousness of this was proven when the popular game “Breaking Point” was temporarily taken down for featuring a game mode based on “Russian roulette”. A game that features several other game modes where the entire point is to kill everyone else in your server. And that was nominated for a Bloxy award a few years back.</p><p>That hasn’t stopped developers from trying to slip it between the cracks. A game simply titled “Russian Roulette” made rounds a couple of years ago before getting banned. Yet copies of it continue to pop up, even to this day. This is no doubt the result of open game code, allowing anyone to replicate the game, with little effort. If nothing else, it proves the primitive nature of Roblox’s moderation. Shouldn’t a game directly titled after bannable content immediately flag the system? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThT1xvJnDdds2Un_iWf9yvhu5dp3FUrQMA7L3jnYF6dwVq8oalk7X0CBplyD_vPHM__Xww5mM7_ym8RgFAP0UTJsIEMAJoxgPtoVzkBaohuF1odruZ_RkcOvyfqgS983CuCvRD0pYCxxTohWrK8kSDzaIysIveef5GkTR4Y6A1L6pS_-PEJCvxF0hkw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221210_211734258.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThT1xvJnDdds2Un_iWf9yvhu5dp3FUrQMA7L3jnYF6dwVq8oalk7X0CBplyD_vPHM__Xww5mM7_ym8RgFAP0UTJsIEMAJoxgPtoVzkBaohuF1odruZ_RkcOvyfqgS983CuCvRD0pYCxxTohWrK8kSDzaIysIveef5GkTR4Y6A1L6pS_-PEJCvxF0hkw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221210_211734258.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The game itself is simple: Everyone in the server (a max of 8 people) sit around a table. The surrounding room is appropriately grungy and monochrome. One-by-one players are handed a revolver containing a single bullet. When it’s their turn, players can either opt to spin the barrel, or fire the gun straight away. If their lucky, the gun doesn’t go off. If they’re not, they die instantly.</p><p>What might make this even more disturbing than “Breaking Point” is the level of gore involved. It might be the most violent game on the platform. Every time the gun goes off, the unfortunate victim’s head explodes, causing a five-second cascade of blood to fountain from the wound. Chunks of what remain land everywhere, often ending up on the table for the remaining contestants to see. The bodies eventually disappear, but the blood stays on the ground, a sobering reminder of the fate that will befall every contestant but one.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwaGgpmuwKnmA8pFXAQWYHwJ7A9SZ6IPuK5D5LndXgagJp83CNbhH9SqNsOWrzTtvUOs9z1iKpAfaS8yUe_HxHG-JIhZpsm2LDfMVpxmovmsywKPgZOjEnHnk5hm2nFgFQJkTi27L48wE2_qddjD9t71HCn4zDgzHQxLrDzs-yXhqCM_o1VyR3AXPoQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221210_213056758.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwaGgpmuwKnmA8pFXAQWYHwJ7A9SZ6IPuK5D5LndXgagJp83CNbhH9SqNsOWrzTtvUOs9z1iKpAfaS8yUe_HxHG-JIhZpsm2LDfMVpxmovmsywKPgZOjEnHnk5hm2nFgFQJkTi27L48wE2_qddjD9t71HCn4zDgzHQxLrDzs-yXhqCM_o1VyR3AXPoQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221210_213056758.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The silly upgrades seem out of place.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>To call it “disturbing” feels too light; it borders on psychological torture. When players exit the game during their turn, the in-game caption reads “[players name] couldn’t handle the stress.” And “stressful” is a perfect handle to describe it. Even though the game uses players’ avatars - which are often ridiculous and silly - it doesn’t make the events any less jarring. Even knowing the stakes are confined to a video game won’t prevent you from sweating every time it’s your turn. It won’t prevent you from releasing a breath of air every time your character survives, or tensing up when the gun goes off, revealing your bloody fate.</p><p>This is one of those games that clearly shouldn’t exist on a platform that is geared toward children, and where the maximum rating is “13+”. It’s the type of game Roblox should ban. But it also speaks to the amateurish grade of their moderation that games like it keep popping up. How are they not immediately detected? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczhkFyjfKQXKsjZ2UgwZbq4-ef7U9s5669gTlWnvE6fpLslE5h-nBNn1YOrN3UNIE9B3_UQz49tiacknBwhIMqemYDx4hQIdIFSZXsL76QjQ91WetRoWD36dQjcL0qkMvB8EPI9HDvUhHmhF4OozMG3ZaLDYxQ1ZSu42zOnBuGofdjAoXfwxZzrxhjg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221210_212316567.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczhkFyjfKQXKsjZ2UgwZbq4-ef7U9s5669gTlWnvE6fpLslE5h-nBNn1YOrN3UNIE9B3_UQz49tiacknBwhIMqemYDx4hQIdIFSZXsL76QjQ91WetRoWD36dQjcL0qkMvB8EPI9HDvUhHmhF4OozMG3ZaLDYxQ1ZSu42zOnBuGofdjAoXfwxZzrxhjg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221210_212316567.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>And yet, part of me admires it. It’s dark. It’s disturbing. It’s intense. In terms of emotional connection, it’s everything a horror game should be. It hits notes that not even the most unexpected jumpscares can replicate. If you’re not at least partially affected by it, you should see a psychiatrist immediately. </p><p>The main thing holding it back is the near-complete lack of interactivity. Unlike “Breaking Point”, there are no other game modes. There is no skill involved. Game play simply consists of selecting “Fire” or “Spin and Fire” when it’s the player’s turn, and nothing else. I don’t know if I could call such a disturbing game “boring”, but it doesn’t encourage long-term play.</p><p>Then again, in this case, it’s probably a good thing.</p><p><b>RATING:</b> 5.5/10</p><div><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-68691872619450603272022-12-14T13:17:00.000-05:002022-12-14T13:17:01.012-05:00The Test (Roblox)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmcNroCdfpgJbXrMPUo2G96eWRbX8drEyGYNeJgsjlnb1ik_7UPY853U5S6fXqdXIJz9DosgKhRVEP4o1SM1Ix3c135jYF2g5ODciy0thAfhaWx-LKdosDDhPr3TVqGN26gv8YG6d-RIt9-EMRqvizxqPDzvfVXx-1FCfCd6selwSqXLGcb0y_o3JpQ/s768/The%20Test.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmcNroCdfpgJbXrMPUo2G96eWRbX8drEyGYNeJgsjlnb1ik_7UPY853U5S6fXqdXIJz9DosgKhRVEP4o1SM1Ix3c135jYF2g5ODciy0thAfhaWx-LKdosDDhPr3TVqGN26gv8YG6d-RIt9-EMRqvizxqPDzvfVXx-1FCfCd6selwSqXLGcb0y_o3JpQ/s320/The%20Test.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Let’s just keep going down the Roblox rabbithole of unsettling games, shall we? This time we’re going to be covering “The Test”, which essentially works as a combination between “Russian Roulette” and “Breaking Point”. </p><p>You and up to three other servermates are seated at a table in a drab cell. A sawn-off shotgun sits in the middle. Gameplay consists of answering one of two number-related questions, or performing a cognitive task. The first player to get it right is handed the shotgun, and decides who to off. The next round follows the same formula until one person is left standing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6feJ4JdhxbWYFbCUklXPfirG8LqX-dXyAC3aFgyDfj86eX8Y3dk_UlcpbyGZMsXTx65aROVy-iEvde1dk2mRNtu7bjzw9y8z7gm4JRgO5eSRZE078XO0nM28W61JJNtvjrK23I54UQ8ncy4bv1uwYL1dJBtHR3PqRAu6U9V3ei2t9lvVwpBrqohGMw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103126583.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6feJ4JdhxbWYFbCUklXPfirG8LqX-dXyAC3aFgyDfj86eX8Y3dk_UlcpbyGZMsXTx65aROVy-iEvde1dk2mRNtu7bjzw9y8z7gm4JRgO5eSRZE078XO0nM28W61JJNtvjrK23I54UQ8ncy4bv1uwYL1dJBtHR3PqRAu6U9V3ei2t9lvVwpBrqohGMw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103126583.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>There are two types of number questions: Addition, and “guess a number”. The latter is pretty straightforward and probably needs no explanation. The only change is that you have to wait 2 seconds between guesses; the first person to get the number right, “wins”. For the former, a number is shown atop the screen, with five empty spaces below it. The players must fill up the empty spaces with numbers 1-10, until they add up to the number displayed at the top. You don’t have to fill up all the spaces, though, like I initially thought. So, for example, if the number is 7, you can put “7” in one space, leave the rest blank, and the answer will be considered correct.</p><p>The other task consists of dragging a red square across a thin board, until it lines up with a blue square. The catch is, every time you hit the sides of the board, you must start over from the beginning. This leads to a frantic race to the end, with no way of knowing the progress of your enemies.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIMWx6-1CSH7hm6lw9CGOfqotKW6Wt-WUS_4gB0ahvsQkDyAdGGyYnbk0L3-6cvJ52xQWFK4cx7n32LujWXNIRFA7qMqPRALQn3S1L76ZnV96gZebbzvtWvMy5Pqd-i4FV8o1ssVs44XTTq6shDgOnmvPxaREJuTaERrwfPFyC_vMD2fdykzaqbmyjQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221212_104444803.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIMWx6-1CSH7hm6lw9CGOfqotKW6Wt-WUS_4gB0ahvsQkDyAdGGyYnbk0L3-6cvJ52xQWFK4cx7n32LujWXNIRFA7qMqPRALQn3S1L76ZnV96gZebbzvtWvMy5Pqd-i4FV8o1ssVs44XTTq6shDgOnmvPxaREJuTaERrwfPFyC_vMD2fdykzaqbmyjQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221212_104444803.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The “life-or-death” stakes definitely add some intensity to the questions. While they’re simple by design, there’s the whole psychological aspect of knowing a slow answer will result in potential death. Or, when the round dwindles down to you and one other person, a certain fate. It might amount to empty stakes in a video game, but “The Test” does a good job of putting the player inside their character. Earning the gun gives you a sense of power and superiority, while facing the barrel of a gun knowing your fate is the stuff of psychological horror.<p></p><p>Matches can be more exciting depending on the server you’re in. Most “winners” will ask trivia questions via chat as a way to narrow down who their victim should be. Answer it wrong, or too slowly, and you might be the next to go. Others just point and shoot with no explanation or motive. The former is more “fun”, while the latter is more jarring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv6O3S8stS7sv1h_SGmbqXnn7X_kW8j890ahRJ1_3DvxPGDLr3kK5U456FCf3P83szz0UhMZNrjSF8ic6Ij7zs_7RSSyF1wzszMn268whlMSY7U6ykqyxJVJsM1_bENfzdePzcq2TJ0GzUOsQZUaWfwsuGiD2fPfz0GjCfSimN1OeKDXQB-xha_erJg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103247258.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv6O3S8stS7sv1h_SGmbqXnn7X_kW8j890ahRJ1_3DvxPGDLr3kK5U456FCf3P83szz0UhMZNrjSF8ic6Ij7zs_7RSSyF1wzszMn268whlMSY7U6ykqyxJVJsM1_bENfzdePzcq2TJ0GzUOsQZUaWfwsuGiD2fPfz0GjCfSimN1OeKDXQB-xha_erJg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103247258.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The violence is grotesque in its realism, as far as Roblox games go. There isn’t a whole lot of blood, but that’s actually one of its more unnerving aspects. Due to the close proximity of the players, as well as the force from the gun, shot players are frequently launched out of their seats, slumping on the ground in impossibly-contorted heaps. Blood splatters against the chair or wall, rather than spraying all over like in other games on the platform. That helps to give it a more “authentic” feel than the cartoonish geysers that spray all over in other games.</p><p>But there are a few issues that truly hinder the game’s overall effectiveness.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVbYI7u6bUVXob0EiSY1G7_pTicgbERErjhSWA3G-cet_T2_-Uivpao-J9nFUSJbA_PjDHGTku6zcUoLwYP9M8cDsqjUoYCiT9XGDyqhWAJMJ5xyvImDVq49aDYrbOvc6DMom4A2xI4uagqSmCVTSzpgFxSgnWx6iaMpBlMWlJuxL_feeukbGXWnFSQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103618188.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVbYI7u6bUVXob0EiSY1G7_pTicgbERErjhSWA3G-cet_T2_-Uivpao-J9nFUSJbA_PjDHGTku6zcUoLwYP9M8cDsqjUoYCiT9XGDyqhWAJMJ5xyvImDVq49aDYrbOvc6DMom4A2xI4uagqSmCVTSzpgFxSgnWx6iaMpBlMWlJuxL_feeukbGXWnFSQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221212_103618188.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The main disadvantage is that there’s very little in the way of replayability. “Breaking Point” gets it right by offering up a variety of different game modes to help keep things interesting. “The Test” is far more graphic, but very one-dimensional: Outside of its basic premise - which wears off rather quickly - the game quickly loses some of its appeal. For starters, the gun is always loaded and always goes off. It would be vastly more terrifying if the gun would occasionally jam, or if some of the chambers were empty. Imagine pointing the gun at someone, only to be met with the hollow sound of the hammer hitting an empty chamber. That surviving member would know your intention was to kill them, and be all the more motivated to return the favor in the next round.<p></p><p>The limited player count is also a point of contention. There are a max of four players per “game”. With one person guaranteed to die in each round, the games typically don’t last longer than two minutes. This is in stark contrast to “Russian Roulette”, which features up to eight players in each round. Those matches can go on for several minutes. While it sometimes feels drawn out - mainly when you’re waiting to rejoin the next “match” - every trip around the table creates a sense of mounting dread. In "The Test", there's no such lingering effect; the game is over before the psychological aspect has a chance to take hold.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1druwlMyKr036N_SHT2Tw4dQe4WBQEijtJpU1T8xnWb4n7fk2GxYkRdJqvS3R0IwdPovBugEq5mIQIeQ5vHeDBVgMnVMRKJSi__SVzxpPuTyCkeP4P7ZLC5bdJ39HCsswBbY5IN6fw0I4VbsQ_Mr48I1VVyYly50dZMg8bWaZfARbb-0M09cLBHqO6w/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221212_104054862.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1druwlMyKr036N_SHT2Tw4dQe4WBQEijtJpU1T8xnWb4n7fk2GxYkRdJqvS3R0IwdPovBugEq5mIQIeQ5vHeDBVgMnVMRKJSi__SVzxpPuTyCkeP4P7ZLC5bdJ39HCsswBbY5IN6fw0I4VbsQ_Mr48I1VVyYly50dZMg8bWaZfARbb-0M09cLBHqO6w/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221212_104054862.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>And lastly, there’s very little variation in the questions. The solutions to the answers vary slightly, but the tasks themselves are the same ones I mentioned above, every single time. This gives clear advantages to players who have been playing for a long time, and can also alienate players who aren’t good at math. Meanwhile, the "cognitive" task seems to be rather impossible for mobile players: Far too often, I've been the first to complete it, despite having to restart multiple times. </p><p>It might work a little better with friends, but even then I think it would lose its luster rather quickly. If you’re looking for a short game that offers a quick jolt to the system, “The Test” delivers. But if you’re looking for something that’s going to keep you busy for a few days, it simply isn’t worth your time.</p><p><b>RATING:</b> 4/10</p><p style="text-align: center;">TRAILER<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RN7P6BtH_Yw" width="320" youtube-src-id="RN7P6BtH_Yw"></iframe></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's fan made, but gets the point across pretty well.</i></div></i><div><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-71814184635895713962022-12-10T20:06:00.004-05:002022-12-10T20:09:52.884-05:00Cupid for Christmas (2021)<p><b>Director: </b>Blayne Weaver<br /><b>Writer(s):</b> Patricia Harrington<br /><b>Starring:</b> Melanie Stone, Ryan Carnes, Natasha Behnam and Richard Kind</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrLaBYAosSQBX6mJ9R1ryQ2G7Bydn_Fui-pAV6V2v7AqHe3dSN2Kt4QbAHtbEQXXnLpXoxfwJPvdwxcJgpJJnCErkxk-T7kLh-mP4pX4-Wdz8aGNGbAkJJGPUlh3Sw3PVAVnCwzSDPcwNACMP9o_Q6BlKYK4uLPZ5fcYu82UJCZ5xGmOJs7mk3yxdkQ/s1763/cupidforchristmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="1175" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrLaBYAosSQBX6mJ9R1ryQ2G7Bydn_Fui-pAV6V2v7AqHe3dSN2Kt4QbAHtbEQXXnLpXoxfwJPvdwxcJgpJJnCErkxk-T7kLh-mP4pX4-Wdz8aGNGbAkJJGPUlh3Sw3PVAVnCwzSDPcwNACMP9o_Q6BlKYK4uLPZ5fcYu82UJCZ5xGmOJs7mk3yxdkQ/s320/cupidforchristmas.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Every holiday season, amongst the sea of mindless, soul-crushing drivel, there is a movie that stands head and shoulders amongst its peers. A movie that somehow actually manages to create a sense of wonder about the holidays. This year, it’s <i>Cupid for Christmas</i>. (Okay, so technically it was made last year; I meant in terms of our holiday viewing seasons.)<br /><br />Even the plot is a little weird: Ruby (real name: Cherub Valentine) is Cupid’s apprentice. The problem is, she’s pretty terrible at her job, as evidenced by the opening scene: In an attempt to make two people fall in love, she inadvertently hits the wrong person with her arrow, leading to a barroom brawl.<br /><br />Cupid, played by the affable Richard Kind, is understandably appalled. He wants to retire, and sees Ruby as his replacement, but fears she’s too kindhearted for the role. So he gives her one final chance: If she can make “unmatchable” college professor Charlie fall in love by Christmas Eve, she gets the job. If not, chances are that job goes to Philomena, a much more adept assistant who wants the position just as much as her colleague. <br /><br /><i>Cupid for Christmas</i> is full of refreshing revelations. Chief among them? Ruby never hides her powers, or ulterior motives. This is something that hinders not just Christmas movies, but movies across multiple genres. How annoying is it when characters keep their magic a secret, even from the people closest to them? Ruby is upfront with Charlie from the beginning, even going so far as to reveal the lingering promotion that’s the sole reason for her interest. Hell, she even disappears in front of bewildered strangers.<br /><br />But that’s not all: She enlists the help of the students in one of Charlie’s classes to help her find a match for the lovably awkward professor. They are mocking, but well-intentioned: They know there’s potential hidden somewhere underneath the awkward and clumsy. It’s just a matter of bringing it out, something no one has been able to do. Once again, she’s up front about her intentions, and doesn’t even hide her magical abilities from them. <br /><br />The strength (or weakness, as the case may be) of this type of movie is in the characters, but that’s only one area where <i>Cupid for Christmas</i> shines. The two leads are attractive and have some believable chemistry together, which plays a big role. But they’re also surrounded by characters who are more fleshed-out than the average holiday rom-com supporting cast. Take, for example, Ruby’s relationship with Philomena. While it could have become a heated competition given their want to replace Cupid, it never becomes mean-spirited or even competitive. Sure, Philomena attempts to sabotage Ruby’s efforts once or twice, but it’s lighthearted, playful, and clearly played for laughs, with no trace of malice.<br /><br />The students are also given their own unique personalities. They’re pretty much all the standard stereotypes - the stoner, the crazy girl, the gay guy, etc. - . On more than one occasion, the interplay between Ruby and the students reminded of “A.P. Bio”, the underrated sitcom starring Glenn Howerton (of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fame). They’re real, to the point, and give off the same silly vibe. But at the end of the day, all they want is to see their professor happy.<br /><br />Obviously, it is a Christmas movie at heart: It still has its fair share of predictable scenes. But I have to confess it kept me guessing on more than a couple occasions; I wasn’t even entirely sure how the ending would play out, until the final ten or so minutes. Others - like my wife, who didn’t buy my myriad theories on possible “shock” endings - might not have such a hard time. But the way the movie consistently shuns familiar tropes had me opening my mind to dozens of out-of-the-box possibilities.<br /><br />It might not explore any of them, but that doesn’t change the fact that <i>Cupid for Christmas</i> is an unexpected delight. It’s a unique (well, as “unique” as these formulaic affairs can be) holiday rom-com that derives glee from stomping on many of the expected tropes of the genre. And, in doing so, avoids many of the pratfalls of its peers. Yet it’s also intelligent enough to know when to stick to the formula, delivering an ending that will appeal to holiday purists.<br /><br />It might not remind you how special the holidays are, but it will remind you that there are decent holiday movies out there, after all.<br /><br /><b>ENTERTAINMENT RATING:</b> 9/10<span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><div style="text-align: center;">TRAILER</div><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vCCH9_j2YQM" width="320" youtube-src-id="vCCH9_j2YQM"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-35867767752207681932022-12-09T10:29:00.001-05:002022-12-09T10:29:22.164-05:00Merry Kiss Cam (2022)<b>Director:</b> Lisa France<br /><b>Writer(s):</b> Maya Boudreau and Evan D. Watkins<br /><b>Starring:</b> Jesse Bradford, Katie Lowes, Nathaniel Fuller, and Benny Elledge<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWq5FExAXWLsjRiWyzrGDSeO8dsK8ksRYitOKe7JlZn8E6MSRghZJaogJziA0_yekbGXHYKQuTwHXjzxHdckF9MGA11xU0lmDNBW7b9818jr8iC45iDhZyROj8plebY1Yo-ET_Zrd9JKNhYNe8Q5VvAMDxCKMt1NJ5txPeA8po6dvBxYmJBI_qf6BEw/s952/merrykisscam.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="952" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWq5FExAXWLsjRiWyzrGDSeO8dsK8ksRYitOKe7JlZn8E6MSRghZJaogJziA0_yekbGXHYKQuTwHXjzxHdckF9MGA11xU0lmDNBW7b9818jr8iC45iDhZyROj8plebY1Yo-ET_Zrd9JKNhYNe8Q5VvAMDxCKMt1NJ5txPeA8po6dvBxYmJBI_qf6BEw/s320/merrykisscam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to notice these sappy chronicles follow a rather distinct formula: Two people meet; usually hate each other in the beginning; are forced to spend time together; fight over something that displays a clear lack of communication; then discover they are actually meant to be together. There are slight variations, of course, but virtually every one of them contain at least four of the five elements listed above.<br /><br />Finding ways to subvert the genre’s expectations while adhering to the above “checklist” can be a daunting task. But there are ways that it can be tinkered with so that it feels different. Those are the ones we generally hold in high regard. And Merry Kiss Cam comes awfully close to reaching the lofty heights of very few hol-coms before it.<br /><br />To be clear, the base idea is even stupider than most: Bartender Danny and widowed artist Jess go on a first date to a college hockey game. Danny is a huge fan of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs; unfortunately, they’re in the midst of a huge losing streak that’s threatening to put them out of playoff contention. The duo are mortified when they end up on the “kiss cam”, a live segment on sports arena Jumbotrons everywhere that urge the pictured duo to kiss. After some urging from fellow fans, they lock lips…and then a miraculous thing happens. The Bulldogs score immediately thereafter, securing a much-needed victory!<br /><br />Due to the close proximity between said smooch and the game-winning goal, the fans believe they are the team’s good luck charm. This superstition seems to carry some weight after they continue to kiss during every game…and the team continues to win. <br /><br />But as we all know things can’t just go that smoothly. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of extra baggage between them. Well, mainly because of Jess, who refuses to tell Danny about her dead ex-husband, something Danny somehow finds out on his own. Figuring she isn’t ready to talk about it, he politely keeps this information secret, which is clearly the right thing to do in this situation. Or so one would think. Her career as an artist is also beginning to take off, adding to her stress - and obstacles that threaten her relationship with Danny - as she tries to meet important deadlines.<br /><br />I don’t want to spoil too much, but the obligatory “fight” is frustrating; it’s about the only thing that bogs an otherwise wonderful movie down. I have mentioned this many times before, but why do these features always feel the need to drive a (temporary) chasm between the two protagonists, anyway? I know, I know, it’s part of the “hol-com checklist”, but it’s an aspect that feels outdated. I guess maybe it’s to show that their relationships can withstand the challenges of daily life, but in many movies, they just feel forced. That’s the situation here, where a small misunderstanding is blown way out of proportion.<br /><br />One unfortunate aspect of critiquing holiday romantic comedies - hell, rom-coms in general - is that, in order to do a thorough job, one must be shallow. I mean, isn’t it a huge selling point that the two leads are attractive? I’ve said this before, but the perfect casting features young-ish characters - generally in their late twenties or early thirties - who are cute, but not overly hot. It’s not just me, though: Clearly casting departments put this criteria over everything else. Disagree with me? Then why are there so many holiday movies without an ounce of chemistry between the two main characters? You know, the ones that we’re supposed to be cheering on to find true love?<br /><br />Refreshingly, Merry Kiss Cam bucks that trend, proving just how shallow we all are in the process. Katie Lowes, who you might know from her stint on the TV show “Scandal”, doesn’t have the typical looks of a romantic lead. That’s not to say she’s ugly, she just has a different look about her that’s well outside the norm. She has robust features that are atypical of the “young and skinny” requirements of most hol-coms. Again, that’s not to say she’s fat; anyone above a size 2 seems to be considered “too big” for most of these roles. (I feel like there’s no way to explain this without drawing the ire of fans, or being considered “sexist”, but let’s be real here: it’s a thing.)<br /><br />Even Jesse Bradford, who you might recall as Kirsten Dunst’s younger brother in the cheerleading comedy Bring It On, has a look that I believe will have to grow on most viewers. He is given a slouchy, uncaring look that is “perfect” for the stereotypical bar owner, which movies typically seem to consider a “slum” job for slackers and ne’er-do-wells. This is a far cry from the clean-shaven good guy who tends to dominate these types of roles. Hell, it’s even more “extreme” than the typical “rugged outdoorsman” who are predominantly featured in the movies that feature country boys as the lead. It’s something that might take some getting used to for Christmas romance traditionalists.<br /><br />And yet the movie manages to work, thanks in large part to their dynamic chemistry. No, I wouldn’t go so far as to say there’s a lot of sexual tension between them, but these types of movies don’t need that. The two leads genuinely give off the aura of a couple falling in innocent, PG-rated love. There feels like there’s a pull between them; like they’re fated to be together. The two actors seem very comfortable in each others’ presence, and their relationship flows naturally. That might sound like something that should be a given, but there are more than a fair share of rom-coms that make it hard to cheer for the two protagonists to find their “happily ever after” thanks to wooden acting or non-existent appeal.<br /><br />But, just like the Bulldogs at the center of the movie, chances are you won’t find it hard to cheer for these two fated lovers to take their romance beyond the confines of a public video screen, and into the real world that exists outside of it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u>STRAY OBSERVATIONS</u></div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>As a hockey fan - and former beer league goaltender - I must say a majority of the hockey scenes are rather below average. Why can’t movies that feature sports also focus on getting the “action” sequences right? The goalies move way too slow to “sell” most of the goals. That might sound nitpicky, but there’s enough hockey footage to be a strong supporting part of the story.</li><li>Benny Elledge is perfect as Bulldogs’ super-fan Derrick Dubonnet, who sits behind Jess and Danny at the games. He’s great at being somewhat obnoxious (again, in a PG-rated way), yet likable at the same time.</li><li>Another refreshing change of pace: They don’t wait until the end of the movie to kiss. Sure, it might not be romantic seeing them do it on a big screen surrounded by thousands of fans, but I like how they get it “out of the way” early. This allows the focus to be on their relationship, rather than their first kiss.</li></ul><div><b>RATING:</b> 6.5/10<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAILER</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T48bDM1oQcQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="T48bDM1oQcQ"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-67753992236982804982022-11-17T09:50:00.001-05:002022-11-17T09:50:00.143-05:00Lloyd Residence (Roblox)<p> <b>Developer:</b> Chuck_Lloyd</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP-dY2jzbhzme2zOjpowOilXx5ANJvxudRSx-MJe4wHUZhp_clXFVnn8vFzh94oaIRInEskGY-K3vHcfanQ3_Lge6Omdilo5sViY8I7TVfwij7aPJp6ZssHIFGL_3OQ9C1_JzZDD_VALHEvnzpqiKHrtOo7N2O-x9wkAchhfyi1RuFpThLAq5NeQBiQ/s300/lloydresidence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP-dY2jzbhzme2zOjpowOilXx5ANJvxudRSx-MJe4wHUZhp_clXFVnn8vFzh94oaIRInEskGY-K3vHcfanQ3_Lge6Omdilo5sViY8I7TVfwij7aPJp6ZssHIFGL_3OQ9C1_JzZDD_VALHEvnzpqiKHrtOo7N2O-x9wkAchhfyi1RuFpThLAq5NeQBiQ/s1600/lloydresidence.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Most games are games; that’s pretty obvious. You jump in, you play, and then you’re done. It’s a very straightforward process. The line between fiction and reality is clearly stated. Even if the game is about perception of reality, all blurred lines are mostly experienced by the in-game character; the user is aware that he or she is playing a game at all times.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d8126bf9-7fff-9fb5-a83e-3802bf14c6c0"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lloyd Residence” is the first time where I’ve “finished” a game and came out just as clueless as when I first started. I can’t tell if it’s simply a genius marketing tactic, or if its story actually cuts into reality. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter, because either way, it’s a relatively engrossing experience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8sK4PXegbErivoiqLozIyVccFKnO4Q6glVTsYOj3gnfbHOiDnfW7-vtU6W1kaCOmCMrlhngbtuCYcd_yBA__JZgLQ68Li6let6LHlq4SMYISC_mhWDz7bTC5dRikaol86CN5nZX3PatSpGFkRnlw-V0PS7tLQl8T-0uNxpFdLOUvY9f5-QGr2oNQAw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221110_181702223.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8sK4PXegbErivoiqLozIyVccFKnO4Q6glVTsYOj3gnfbHOiDnfW7-vtU6W1kaCOmCMrlhngbtuCYcd_yBA__JZgLQ68Li6let6LHlq4SMYISC_mhWDz7bTC5dRikaol86CN5nZX3PatSpGFkRnlw-V0PS7tLQl8T-0uNxpFdLOUvY9f5-QGr2oNQAw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221110_181702223.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story takes place in and around a house. That house belongs to Chuck Lloyd (as is inferred from the title). Your job is pretty unclear from the game synopsis, which only offers one eerie sentence: “Welcome to our house, please make yourself at home.” The house is a small ranch, with one bedroom, and is flanked by a shed and cornfield.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your journey starts on a walkway right outside the house. You are given no specific objectives to complete. In fact, nothing at first glance even insinuates there </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> any objectives to complete. You are free to explore the house at your leisure; it’s the locked basement door and shed that give you some clues on what to look for.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are day and night cycles. Daytime is pretty boring. Nothing happens, although it does give you a clearer vision and greater chance to explore. Once night comes - provided you’re in a dark room - you’re visited by black, ghostly figures with glowing eyes. All they do is stare, only to disappear once someone gets too close. Clearly, something ain’t right with this place.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruN2FhqsMnRxynyhdEL5J32XjXVQX5Sku-snaLbZwtNvZ0yx4Wae3kecOlvkWdCw_CW689mYEIzBQ2UXAFfjkja09C1-cXJI1QbiFYjLiSXI24SzRqi3zFjQix7pdqIW1bdYwBKUM1QYsP5KmJGJOHBJ7BOBgSfk-U0xYFUZmZCajYWrNrBbH6CcQNA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221110_181853982.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruN2FhqsMnRxynyhdEL5J32XjXVQX5Sku-snaLbZwtNvZ0yx4Wae3kecOlvkWdCw_CW689mYEIzBQ2UXAFfjkja09C1-cXJI1QbiFYjLiSXI24SzRqi3zFjQix7pdqIW1bdYwBKUM1QYsP5KmJGJOHBJ7BOBgSfk-U0xYFUZmZCajYWrNrBbH6CcQNA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221110_181853982.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't worry. They're harmless.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I won’t bore you with a walkthrough of how to “beat” the game; there are many YouTube videos already dedicated to that. Actually, that statement comes with a caveat: Supposedly, it’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">impossible</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to complete, in its entirety. Arguments abound as to why - some say Chuck simply never finished making the game. Others insist it was completed, but no one outside of a couple insiders know the codes required to get the full ending.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> bore you with is my experience of playing it. I found the shed key through another player, who disappeared a short while later (not as mysterious as it sounds; probably just left the game.) I trudged to the shed myself and ended up grabbing the shovel from there.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyMhmFtKJJ4MumZWAjQ3-N4J2AlqoNh78uRXbPrzsaq2kUYD3Bw9cfYcv4RnWONhih9aDuYd-ox5rGTSe4XCSfcB_zBaB4c3BW8qDAO40qQ8T_5rsJeaSWw4iLR3_PQ5aLh73kg5lN0hNrOPX68qAnxdXxN_jzIM6Ut5PsxbRQ0tYP8i5imatM2-DAg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221110_182333523.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyMhmFtKJJ4MumZWAjQ3-N4J2AlqoNh78uRXbPrzsaq2kUYD3Bw9cfYcv4RnWONhih9aDuYd-ox5rGTSe4XCSfcB_zBaB4c3BW8qDAO40qQ8T_5rsJeaSWw4iLR3_PQ5aLh73kg5lN0hNrOPX68qAnxdXxN_jzIM6Ut5PsxbRQ0tYP8i5imatM2-DAg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221110_182333523.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In the shed</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time, I stumbled on a different person in the same quandary as me. We both had shovels, but were we supposed to do with them? As if by serendipity, we bumped into another player. His name was Qupify. He told us to follow him, because he knew where to go. We both complied. With Qupify’s help, we completed the next task and ended up with a basement key. The player I partnered up with offered to get a map so that we could navigate the neverending labyrinth of Chuck’s basement, but Qupify confidently claimed he could lead us through without a map. Blindly, we followed him into the dark maze.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the basement are five “checkpoints”. The checkpoints are statues, which you must “say” (via in-game chat) certain phrases to in order to proceed. To complete the game, all five checkpoints are needed. Supposedly, only three were ever actually programmed. Qupify got us as far as we could go, and then invited us to “meet” him in another game so that he could explain everything to us. We were both hesitant, but had no other leads, so we complied. (I honestly don’t remember any of the codes; he entered them all.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-abt3MvoTXgvmv5gh6YiNBK0zkPzqzPK2naCBXbw544Yif8AlrSsTUIUUYoGijs4EhqNm1cvG3zZa03XP-IpKMJOgJKEHf6hB3r58L9JtlxjGzRUWBX-FEVZrsxxHcR1P5tGwl7PRhX-J1-l_KNuEm7wvW3KGCPk_10cNelo6Gd66Uk43XzSXXD3kmw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221110_182438538.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-abt3MvoTXgvmv5gh6YiNBK0zkPzqzPK2naCBXbw544Yif8AlrSsTUIUUYoGijs4EhqNm1cvG3zZa03XP-IpKMJOgJKEHf6hB3r58L9JtlxjGzRUWBX-FEVZrsxxHcR1P5tGwl7PRhX-J1-l_KNuEm7wvW3KGCPk_10cNelo6Gd66Uk43XzSXXD3kmw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221110_182438538.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Digging up the raven (which can't be done on mobile)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The experience he invited us to was called “Qupify’s Residence”. It was just a large, glorious mansion surrounded by forest. Qupify led us into the house, where he offered us some tea. The meeting had an odd aura about it; it was literally like being in the house of a casual acquaintance. He was outwardly friendly, but there was the unsettling feeling that things could go south at any time. It might only be a game, but there was something almost…personal about all of it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once we got settled in (my poor servermate had internet issues and had to leave and come back a couple of times), Qupify sat down and proceeded to explain the game’s lore. Chuck_Lloyd, creator of the game, was actually a man who went by Kazdam. Kazdam owned a group called “Roblox’s Myths”, where users tried to compile - and investigate - myths involving the gaming platform. “Lloyd Residence” was one of them, as Chuck was a part of the “Shadelight” myth. (I won’t bore you with details about this, or any other Roblox myth, because I still don’t even fully understand what they entail.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O-X2tDtkOgEQIxaINIU2ygqkirBLDoCVQSb1se3SJI6Ektbosgopc7UIar8KgNTA4rbubEIa60LxLtzhp9SkpNfi3Ya9YC0dzXxrwHJHexEp1T-hY8zuLae03XliZCTL-QtpUsxWP3up_bagmQuO8HStCGaBKaDEXdYUKyxxlyNT9yT2oa_0nyHh8g/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221114_014125551.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O-X2tDtkOgEQIxaINIU2ygqkirBLDoCVQSb1se3SJI6Ektbosgopc7UIar8KgNTA4rbubEIa60LxLtzhp9SkpNfi3Ya9YC0dzXxrwHJHexEp1T-hY8zuLae03XliZCTL-QtpUsxWP3up_bagmQuO8HStCGaBKaDEXdYUKyxxlyNT9yT2oa_0nyHh8g/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221114_014125551.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Qupify's residence, where the story continued.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As it turns out, Kazdam was involved with grooming and harassing minors on Roblox. Once word spread that he was a pedophile, he was immediately kicked out of the group. The remaining members opted not to continue the group under the same name - which was stained with Kazdam’s “legacy” - so they started a new one, called “The Bureau of Myths.” As a result of Kazdam’s (aka “Chuck_Lloyd”) downfall, the “Lloyd Residence” game was never fully completed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Qupify told us this calmly, as we slowly sipped our tea. At some point, the other guy left, so Qupify had me follow him to an underground bunker he had on his property. A red-headed girl sat inside the bunker, crying. She was chained to the wall. Qupify calmly made some comment to the girl, I think something about her dad owing him money, before </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shooting her in the head</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Right in front of my eyes. I expected him to do the same to me, or for him to chain me up. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But he just matter-of-factly said he had somewhere else to be. With that, he disappeared from the server, leaving me all alone. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent the next five or so minutes wandering around his property, but didn’t really know what I was doing there. So I left. Are there further clues there? Could the secrets of Lloyd’s residence be hidden inside the walls of that house? Or inside the bunker? I don’t know, and I probably wouldn’t be smart enough to figure anything out if the answer </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> inside.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXx4cAx6xhIm1kvv37dqbGZdloP-P0_aoh05xHJwE6UihaJu7UliPGhhCXOMstf_7NtD415EdVG5LeriTuMkD0m_D-WLnpPAy_DR_j1PLzT0M7qLlsnAwMu19IFQxDCh6IMRLehFVSwp6qw1kRBPTCnEetP45rveccfAuoNNRMjNvIAJ_7rwYbSQgkQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221114_014207504.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXx4cAx6xhIm1kvv37dqbGZdloP-P0_aoh05xHJwE6UihaJu7UliPGhhCXOMstf_7NtD415EdVG5LeriTuMkD0m_D-WLnpPAy_DR_j1PLzT0M7qLlsnAwMu19IFQxDCh6IMRLehFVSwp6qw1kRBPTCnEetP45rveccfAuoNNRMjNvIAJ_7rwYbSQgkQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221114_014207504.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The "basement", sight of a shocking scene.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lloyd Residence” is one of the few games - across any platform - that has left me with more questions than answers. And I’m not talking about in the typical way games use ambiguity to create an unnerving atmosphere. I’m talking in a way that almost breaks the fourth wall. Is this even a game? Is it really a myth game created by some ostracized pedophile? Is Kazdam even real? (The only stories I could find use his Roblox name; no real-life news stories involving him have been published.) Is the backstory real, or is it just part of an elaborate, well-made gimmick? Or is it all something that pretends to have substance that it doesn’t actually have?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And who in the hell is Qupify? A member of the “Roblox myth” community? An advanced bot? A “volunteer” who lingers around the game and does this regularly? Is this part of the actual experience? Are there other players like this that exist? Or did I just get incredibly lucky to find him? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I even lucky? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">still</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> don’t know the answer to any of those questions. I’m </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">still</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> not sure the point of it. And after playing through as far as I care to play, I probably never will. But whatever the case may be, there’s no denying this was a visceral experience. It affected me in a way very few games have. It blurred the line between fiction and reality so well that I didn’t -</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">don’t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - know what to believe. It left me shocked and shaken; fascinated and repulsed. And it’s an experience I won’t soon forget.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Overall:</b> 7/10.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TRAILER</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwTljR_mvlQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="YwTljR_mvlQ"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>It's fan-made, and kind of overlong, but it doesn't reveal much and gets the point across.</i></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-30692483704050893332022-11-16T09:18:00.000-05:002022-11-16T09:18:05.893-05:00Christmas Movie Magic (2021)<p><b>Director:</b> Robert Vaughn<br /><b>Writer(s):</b> Rickie Castaneda, from a story by James S. Blakeman and Caitlin English<br /><b>Starring:</b> Holly Deveaux, Drew Seeley, Jill Frappier and Jennifer Gibson</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7puTzTQkfsCX8kDCCMfN126-in7X_KCEvFAADowgwzpQbT8YGMqZYv8ikKWGJ2r5l2_gLf9shrGzbxMACNwzwj9E3JSWYxrKLzTflqSZ0n6GawYOdWaDT1W_nXqrxIRpHNEptHHb2a6JAengpySZeS4W0nZzEq8SYcbBHwXmqb3TBFhz1POPCPZoRQg/s2880/christmasmoviemagic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7puTzTQkfsCX8kDCCMfN126-in7X_KCEvFAADowgwzpQbT8YGMqZYv8ikKWGJ2r5l2_gLf9shrGzbxMACNwzwj9E3JSWYxrKLzTflqSZ0n6GawYOdWaDT1W_nXqrxIRpHNEptHHb2a6JAengpySZeS4W0nZzEq8SYcbBHwXmqb3TBFhz1POPCPZoRQg/s320/christmasmoviemagic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fb279307-7fff-d652-0c9a-987bb3e273e5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first holiday movie of the season more or less sets the tone for all the rest that follow. If we get a bad one, then it’s a case of “bah-humbug” and that negativity follows into the next viewing. And the next. Until one of them finally breaks the cycle by being “good”. Last year we saw an unprecedented number of above-average Christmas rom-coms.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year hasn’t gotten off to such a good start.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually Christmas Movie Magic does get off to a decent start. A man encounters a woman walking her pig in the middle of the street. Through some cheeky dialogue, the two seem to hit it off instantly. But we can tell from the intentionally stilted acting (even for this type of movie) that it’s not from this time period. Alas, it is not: This love story is actually a movie from the 1950s.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was hoping the entire movie would be done in this style. It probably would have gotten a little tiresome, but at least it would have been unique. Unfortunately, the “movie-within-a-movie” is only glimpsed occasionally after the intro, despite playing an annoyingly protracted part in the main movie itself.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alli is an entertainment writer hoping to earn a promotion to the news team. Of course, she thinks her talents are being underutilized, and wants a chance to prove herself. Her boss offers her the chance to do just that - provided she write an article about Christmas With You, that ‘50s movie we caught a glimpse of earlier. Starring Walter Andrews - Hollywood’s heartthrob of the time - it seems the movie had such a profound impact on the city it was filmed in, that it continues even today.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That city is White Falls. And that movie seems to have had no greater impact on anyone, than a man named Brad Westdale who, of course, is Alli’s age. This man is a walking encyclopedia of the movie - in fact, it’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> he fucking talks about. It’s “Christmas With You” this, and “Christmas With You” that. Sure, his history has something to do with it - his grandpa and grandma’s movie theater was the site of the film’s premiere - but come on, Brad, it’s been 65 years. You weren’t around, and only heard the stories through a third party, even if that third party was your grandparents. Seriously, his fascination with it veers into pure obsession.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is some boring “mystery” involving a famous song that Walter wrote for the movie, which was inspired by a secret lover he had on set. Alli and Brad’s drive to solve that mystery forms the binding agent that brings the two would-be lovers together. (Is it a spoiler alert to reveal that the two leads get together in the end?) It’s rather yawn-inducing.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christmas Movie Magic does have one welcome change: Alli and Brad never “hate” each other. There always seems to be friction between the two leads in the beginning, which slowly becomes admiration. Here, Alli seems to be intrigued by Brad from the outset, as curious as it is. I would think most women would be put off by a man whose only knowledgeable topic is an old romance movie, but what do I know?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are also some other strengths: Holly Deveaux is attractive - and adept - as the lead, which helps to give an air of believability to the budding romance. (Brad, on the other hand, comes off as doofy, but I think that has more to do with the script.) The flashbacks to the “classic” movie that forms the backdrop to the modern tale is also done with an impressive level of detail. Even the central song - though it’s not the least bit catchy - does sound like it was recorded in the ‘50s.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe it got us in the wrong mood. After all, reviews of this are above-average across the board (including a positive write-up in the Wall Street Journal, of all places). But Brad’s relentless, grating obsession with a movie that premiered 65 years ago was enough to sink it for us. Add in the final musical number, which takes place in the present day and feels woefully out of place - and a complete lack of chemistry between the two leads - and you have the perfect recipe for holiday drowsiness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STRAY OBSERVATIONS</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As out-of-left-field and laughable as its placement is, I must admit the final musical number is actually well-done, thanks to some competent choreography.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How in the hell has no one seen Walter’s revelatory identity of his real-life love interest prior to this? </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s spelled out and written in huge fucking letters!</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This movie might have actually been helped out by some initial friction, as Alli’s skepticism is never enough to challenge Brad and his annoyingly saccharine vision of life.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took me a Herculean effort just to make it through without falling asleep.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's telling when the two leads can't muster up more than an unemotional peck for their first kiss.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>RATING:</b> 3/10</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TRAILER</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZzUVdeEpuM" width="320" youtube-src-id="xZzUVdeEpuM"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-48626410233125337892022-11-10T16:24:00.000-05:002022-11-10T16:24:55.215-05:00Intrusion (Demo) (Roblox)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdNgvLVVOLVYDVXy6dV_1fLTdEuY7Ns2yy9_BQCfLoin5JNZIKVAY7W2BWFXrQ-o2Vbuy99ZnlbSni78p2udIfTeglCue1KZHmBFY9APcuDh9w5kS2jcqr9_Nm5PoVYhGVSctJX5jMLxIvLBRgv6N4EVfk_SBPw9fOf-auCV5oxH-2SBNsVZn-6vnnA/s768/intrusion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="768" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdNgvLVVOLVYDVXy6dV_1fLTdEuY7Ns2yy9_BQCfLoin5JNZIKVAY7W2BWFXrQ-o2Vbuy99ZnlbSni78p2udIfTeglCue1KZHmBFY9APcuDh9w5kS2jcqr9_Nm5PoVYhGVSctJX5jMLxIvLBRgv6N4EVfk_SBPw9fOf-auCV5oxH-2SBNsVZn-6vnnA/s320/intrusion.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">Finding under-the-radar games on Roblox is pretty hard. The main page offers up the same games every single day, and most are derivative works that all copy off one another. For example, the “one-person-gets-picked-as-bad-guy-and-everyone-else-must-try-to-survive”, which seems to be a staple of the platform.</div><p></p><div>Somehow, my search took me to “Intrusion”, a demo for a forthcoming full-length game*.</div><div><br /></div><div>The beginning finds you inside an elevator. You’re making your way to your apartment after an exhausting day at work. Unfortunately, you can’t just lay down and relax - you’ve got some work to do. You’re moving tomorrow, and must pack up your belongings in order to prepare for the move. But things don’t seem right. The lights to the apartment building go out midway through. It’s an easy fix, but still…why did they do that?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BKD6c7C_XlbO7FFmmc_xpocceCdkLh_1l4B2RORXOzlEY5v7suX3Lfep_NbQVGVA7soLlb4Gv-KkTZbBrIPFGXGqqnNfVEpT4mu7UKdOY5saBitgVnZCFUeVB2lqeJv4VUOR-OSHE7JRsUARA8yHBRn1CS_aAEoPkzHumEGYpbUoluRV7Wl6VHco_Q/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_130626012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BKD6c7C_XlbO7FFmmc_xpocceCdkLh_1l4B2RORXOzlEY5v7suX3Lfep_NbQVGVA7soLlb4Gv-KkTZbBrIPFGXGqqnNfVEpT4mu7UKdOY5saBitgVnZCFUeVB2lqeJv4VUOR-OSHE7JRsUARA8yHBRn1CS_aAEoPkzHumEGYpbUoluRV7Wl6VHco_Q/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_130626012.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm a sucker for games with credit sequences.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Day two is moving day. You unpack boxes from a moving truck, and once again go to sleep. But this time, rudely awakened from your slumber. Wait, you’re in the bed of your own apartment building! And there seems to be something on the loose, willing to do whatever it takes to kill you.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to just get right to it: The demo is frustrating. Every time you die you have to start all over from the beginning. There is no “skip” option for the “boring” scenes before the monster arrives. The developers have stated this will be changed in the full version, but it’s more than a minor inconvenience in the meantime. It’s not like it takes all that long to replay it up to the first monster encounter - probably around 5 minutes. It's just the principle of it. It's redundant, it's boring, and it's highly unnecessary. The developers are aware of it and have changed the system for "A World Below", which is the title of the full game. But the introduction (which is a separate game and the focus of this review) still can't be skipped. Honestly, it’s one of those little things that can alienate would-be players, myself included.</div><div><br /></div><div>I get that they're trying to prepare you for the game, and set up the story, but come on...there's got to be a better way. It could be as simple as skippable cutscenes. I just don't understand the need for something so frustrating to be a necessary learning mechanic.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzE35klJbmFFgIkPMLPjYF37C4gNM9QPC0RRpqtJEkwPNwqOxkad1QR5fN0DClTNdKv06ckXFpcgfl3f2TWV8ojsFRiwcujSe3xSl1fjFPzoW4VGy6ajSvW22xPQGdAvkRJ90OdhE-zLIbtCugbdRs-z_aeZKw6-eaq9RkdRwPguUeynMrd7tcQcSKg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_130709757.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzE35klJbmFFgIkPMLPjYF37C4gNM9QPC0RRpqtJEkwPNwqOxkad1QR5fN0DClTNdKv06ckXFpcgfl3f2TWV8ojsFRiwcujSe3xSl1fjFPzoW4VGy6ajSvW22xPQGdAvkRJ90OdhE-zLIbtCugbdRs-z_aeZKw6-eaq9RkdRwPguUeynMrd7tcQcSKg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_130709757.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I've had the pleasure of stacking every one of these boxes five times now.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>This issue is magnified because you will more than likely die at least once. You are given no warning when the first monster attacks. One night, you go to sleep and then suddenly awake in a panic with “Get Out” being the only objective. I frantically paced in the room looking for clues. What was I even escaping? The room, or…before I could even piece it together, I was killed by a monster who had forced its way in. Tips for escaping the creature that killed you are given on the death screen, which is eerily similar to “Doors”, on down to the design. But in order to put those tips to use, you must trudge through the introductory sequence again. And, in my case, continue to die over and over. (For the record, you have to make it to the elevator you started in at the beginning of the game.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The graphics are actually pretty solid, and that’s with my graphics settings only halfway up. (My laptop is clearly not a gaming computer, and would lag horribly if increased). I would highly doubt it would run well on mobile devices, but I haven’t tested this theory. The atmosphere is also fairly creepy, thanks to its use of “liminal space”. Having a multi-floor apartment building as the main setting is a smart choice, as the lack of other characters gives it that eerie, abandoned vibe. Why is no one else alarmed when the lights go out? Hell, where is everybody?</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess I’m probably not the most reliable critic to review this game. I still haven’t beaten it, and this is just a short introduction. But at the same time, it’s still enough to understand what the game is going for. I’m actually hugely disappointed in the “Doors”-style approach, which has already been completely overdone. Whatever happened to just having one monster to worry about? Why do you need so many more? More specifically, why does <i>this game</i> need any more? (And, for the record, I love “Doors”.)</div><div><br /></div><div>In short, I didn’t know what to expect going in. I figured it was just a “creature breaks into your house” kind of game, based on the title and vibe I got. Instead, it seems to be another “avoid multiple monsters” kind of thing, which isn’t what I was looking for. To be fair, it does seem to have a story, and a much more horror-driven atmosphere than “Doors”. But, for me, it's still a little too similar to other Roblox horror titles to really make much of an impact. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL:</b> 4.5/10.<br /><br /></div><div><div><b><u>*</u></b><i>The game has been released, under the name “Intrusion: A World Below”. I tried playing the full game, and like the synopsis warns, I was completely lost. I will update this review as soon as I actually make it through the introduction.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>**</u></b><i>Apparently, this game is going to be overhauled already, thanks to community feedback. According to the developer, pretty much the whole thing will be changed. I didn’t see specific comments to know what the “issue” was, or to see what direction it’s going to head in. But I’ll be interested in seeing what the future holds.</i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAILER</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLzwEq6R9ew" width="320" youtube-src-id="QLzwEq6R9ew"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-59873396481758952052022-11-02T11:20:00.005-04:002022-11-02T11:20:48.374-04:00The Mirror (Roblox)<p></p>Developer: Egroce<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWXU6rdwdK17LRXt5xFnN6zrpSj6lF-qhuRURvjiY-MSoYLer6aUV17mBSBzeSkHd6cjl8cJ6TRjpfpdquYaEJs2JMJDRvcUc_ZoXnY-iJQ9hKN6H0_YiLMaQSYBBRqWIh_5oeyU8v8AntWadBbBqD_pnnVw3hny-NlkguqlfVEVAdsukoFmhiFGODA/s768/The%20Mirror.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWXU6rdwdK17LRXt5xFnN6zrpSj6lF-qhuRURvjiY-MSoYLer6aUV17mBSBzeSkHd6cjl8cJ6TRjpfpdquYaEJs2JMJDRvcUc_ZoXnY-iJQ9hKN6H0_YiLMaQSYBBRqWIh_5oeyU8v8AntWadBbBqD_pnnVw3hny-NlkguqlfVEVAdsukoFmhiFGODA/s320/The%20Mirror.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The game's logo, or whatever.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div>Roblox is rife with all types of horror games, as you’re seeing here (if you didn’t already know). A lot of them are carbon copies of one another: For every popular game, there are roughly a hundred inferior clones. That’s just the nature of a platform where anyone can make a game, and many are just trying to make a buck.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, there are also a ton of innovative, unique takes on the horror genre. They don’t always hit the mark - many Roblox experiences are created by a handful of people, on down to just one - but many of them at least manage to be interesting, if nothing else.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHTPPqvzaJFqOETSH513CMKc4VpNvXhtRSMYkEufnE4aQf8g79fQDFC7ViHIvfTcwglxisjPJZvT4EmJ_PXAOL8A2_Ezxk85EQy7aZ5R015Zqt8NyGKL4zjIhkiumdDb2Vbzh93L-2L_izhrC1hK_pR8YWSsG2QD946AWAjKBujhw88pDMVjETJIX_w/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123535393.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHTPPqvzaJFqOETSH513CMKc4VpNvXhtRSMYkEufnE4aQf8g79fQDFC7ViHIvfTcwglxisjPJZvT4EmJ_PXAOL8A2_Ezxk85EQy7aZ5R015Zqt8NyGKL4zjIhkiumdDb2Vbzh93L-2L_izhrC1hK_pR8YWSsG2QD946AWAjKBujhw88pDMVjETJIX_w/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123535393.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gameplay is pretty straightforward.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Enter The Mirror, a game developed by a user known as Egroce. Actually “game” might be a little too strict a title, with the game’s warning screen explaining that it’s more a cinematic story than an actual game. It even goes on to say that some may find it “boring”. Clearly this isn’t going to be for everyone.</div><div><br /></div><div>You start off in a small, well-lit room. Inside is a mirror, a lever, a paper affixed to the wall, and a door. In case you’re lost, the paper explains everything. Basically, turn off the light, and stare into the mirror. If things get too uncomfortable, you can turn the light back on at any time. That’s it, because that’s all there is to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, if this was all that happened, “boring” wouldn’t even begin to describe it. Slowly, weird things start happening. And they only get weirder the longer the “experiment” goes on. A few seconds in, the door behind you opens…or does it? Your face starts shifting, getting more and more distorted. Until…</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMfzvZNPWUG-lnCMAWDNlAFGEckVd3So2s0SFbDx4MRgVv-S1P9iS1MC2JVMaXlqq9VwMpBuL4fYoMCYkjjXNcFQ6bY8p6ZljBfg-QAQgoHTUNXWBy_u9ngCfi4NKSeJnA4YVVZ9ELU6g7T6rVZJsqXruNregcFrOx4aq-EnPCZuJ2dMeXVIik7oyrA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123554362.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMfzvZNPWUG-lnCMAWDNlAFGEckVd3So2s0SFbDx4MRgVv-S1P9iS1MC2JVMaXlqq9VwMpBuL4fYoMCYkjjXNcFQ6bY8p6ZljBfg-QAQgoHTUNXWBy_u9ngCfi4NKSeJnA4YVVZ9ELU6g7T6rVZJsqXruNregcFrOx4aq-EnPCZuJ2dMeXVIik7oyrA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123554362.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He seems pretty happy...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The scariest thing about all this is that it’s based on an actual medical phenomenon. I thought it would have some cool name attached to it, like “mirror psychosis”, or something, but it doesn’t. It’s known only as “mirror gazing”, which can also have positive connotations as a form of meditation. Clearly, this experience isn’t about the “self-help” kind. In a published study - the first of its kind - “healthy” and depressed patients both spent 7 minutes in a lightly-lit room staring at themselves in a mirror. A whopping 66% reported facial distortion, while others experienced a range of other visualizations, including seeing the face of a relative, or even an animal. (More curious/frightening: The “depressed” patients actually reported less severe distortions and hallucinations.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I’m a little torn here. The game has made many lists of “scariest horror games on Roblox”, which is how it garnered my attention. But just how effective can a three-minute game with virtually no replayability actually be? I’ll admit it does create a pretty unnerving atmosphere - mainly thanks to excellent sound design. The fact it’s based on a real medical phenomenon only adds to that. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m3NA_Hm1EuGBEOHs145xfax1XP3RN_bquiuah4jfPedT5M2KgV6h8iVaaAv4mVY3ubmId8A5OON0cs7rt4sJ49HF0YsC6uuypnPvhhD6KwrXOGuPGXukrbVUfevhxgVA1JHX3Tx6BZXD1e3HLHFVvb344rxBHdLJ5rbcgYz1TBddU1G0-lL2LXxeqw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123946102.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m3NA_Hm1EuGBEOHs145xfax1XP3RN_bquiuah4jfPedT5M2KgV6h8iVaaAv4mVY3ubmId8A5OON0cs7rt4sJ49HF0YsC6uuypnPvhhD6KwrXOGuPGXukrbVUfevhxgVA1JHX3Tx6BZXD1e3HLHFVvb344rxBHdLJ5rbcgYz1TBddU1G0-lL2LXxeqw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221031_123946102.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Uh oh...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>But, perhaps unfairly, being a creation of Roblox does it no favors. The square-ish “noob” shaped characters - a staple of the platform - come off as rather silly, no matter how you try to mask it. Its decision to use the player’s avatar also potentially leads to reduced effectiveness. I’ve seen some pretty crazy-looking characters, thanks to the endless customization options available to players. If you’re dressed as a cat, or a closet (something I’ve literally seen), or a fruit, then how can it be creepy to stare at yourself for three minutes? Ditto if you have a smile, or other weird facial pose: It doesn't change no matter how eerie things get. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would suggest using just a standard, plain-looking “male” or “female” template. One that looks like a normal human. This could cut back on the distractions that could potentially curb its effectiveness. On the flipside, I guess using the player’s avatar might make it feel more “personal” for the player, which could potentially increase its impact. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQxTm-WsBTD0bldSzcsVVrjZx6j376Lh2H1BvS1MJBEAuT4hyz-9Opw2yqRGn6mQJ62JRqjI1Prdo1J-Icxp-r_DpXOGQFs2rEFSBOvxJkouRh31wmH2yVikBrk1JyEJT27jK8QtGw8u1cU5Ys9HNwLrOSJJcfXXtkwayIqHtQSuU1Hw2C4lwYkNlyQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221031_124031182.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQxTm-WsBTD0bldSzcsVVrjZx6j376Lh2H1BvS1MJBEAuT4hyz-9Opw2yqRGn6mQJ62JRqjI1Prdo1J-Icxp-r_DpXOGQFs2rEFSBOvxJkouRh31wmH2yVikBrk1JyEJT27jK8QtGw8u1cU5Ys9HNwLrOSJJcfXXtkwayIqHtQSuU1Hw2C4lwYkNlyQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221031_124031182.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A "termination log" rounds out the experience.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>At any rate, “The Mirror” certainly does the best it can with its limited resources. It’s a unique idea executed with a clear vision. The fact it was made by one person makes it even more impressive. Its limited scope and replayability might force it into a more “niche” category of Robloxian horror, but it’s worth checking out for fans of the genre.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Overall: 6/10</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>NOTE: There isn't an official trailer. It makes sense, considering the game lasts only a short while longer than the average preview, and it would basically give everything away.</i></div><p></p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-24677442804159320772022-10-31T11:16:00.002-04:002022-10-31T11:16:48.676-04:00Anxiety (Roblox)<p><b>Developer:</b> Zoidberg656</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WEm6WnLeOg6ESq6XbdoPDBeoOOAgjxnJdSkqS9Ko7nbk982H80RpoRX6XBw_NP3TAhvXsbSJ85oFbuxNsbxGpbnrZfm-arCCShZ40ROp1q5UxL5umJfXFXhE_Kwd68B2t6NAzNqNBR-P5ZQnlF-TCZ_dH4YTVcImtGrzRmRdYskCQjDwIdFy5iYrUg/s768/Png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WEm6WnLeOg6ESq6XbdoPDBeoOOAgjxnJdSkqS9Ko7nbk982H80RpoRX6XBw_NP3TAhvXsbSJ85oFbuxNsbxGpbnrZfm-arCCShZ40ROp1q5UxL5umJfXFXhE_Kwd68B2t6NAzNqNBR-P5ZQnlF-TCZ_dH4YTVcImtGrzRmRdYskCQjDwIdFy5iYrUg/s320/Png.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Anxiety is a single-person horror game that’s in the same vein as “The Mirror”, in that it’s basically an “experience” rather than a game. (I know, I know, Roblox calls all of their games “experiences”, but I don’t.) There isn’t too much gameplay involved, outside of walking around a dark house in the middle of the night. Think of it as more of an interactive story rather than something that’s made to be “played”.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6737lGQmOrQSm60ZiEa4dFxl2qX6LIVWV-D18cZyzslIAOHdeWydsp67fMVQgmcfpdmgeKAqcCNGqeI_efMQrxeQgAMBgIlD7-gjVJDHwFwfjC4ohXESKCowKbFhoUJ-lp9KrCzE4EHW7d7bDewH03j9HxYKkVqumWrNeQgRT1R_ayst78oaQvjv_g/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114202228.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6737lGQmOrQSm60ZiEa4dFxl2qX6LIVWV-D18cZyzslIAOHdeWydsp67fMVQgmcfpdmgeKAqcCNGqeI_efMQrxeQgAMBgIlD7-gjVJDHwFwfjC4ohXESKCowKbFhoUJ-lp9KrCzE4EHW7d7bDewH03j9HxYKkVqumWrNeQgRT1R_ayst78oaQvjv_g/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114202228.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Well, this sets the tone early...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>You start off in the dark bedroom of a modest-sized house. A title card informs “You have no objective.” You can wander around anywhere you like, turning on lights and interacting with a few household items. But soon, things start to go awry. A low rumbling noise starts in on the soundtrack and you know things are about to take a dark turn...</p><p>That’s pretty much all I can say about it. This is one of those games that you can’t really talk about without giving specific things away. It was created by Zoidberg656, who suffers from “a severe social anxiety disorder and depression” and wanted to translate the way he feels into game form. At least, as best as he can within the confines of a (mostly) child-based platform. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxQUpSFKADHGdV6qY3MaRteY94OyGAj0s0dH9e-h2bkDRvLUgOcsfcWRLPiyBc8aYCbliMR_9VFmU7AxU33Qe4CyDlEoiCjDJBI7pOtrE6CPUlbDy8s1py8t-ZHFnRv_IhrPbU0AeN2XWqPbodiTuB1ctBF6Dk5AsU7WcPJfRz60KaQQqFGXsCGH1hA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114414922.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxQUpSFKADHGdV6qY3MaRteY94OyGAj0s0dH9e-h2bkDRvLUgOcsfcWRLPiyBc8aYCbliMR_9VFmU7AxU33Qe4CyDlEoiCjDJBI7pOtrE6CPUlbDy8s1py8t-ZHFnRv_IhrPbU0AeN2XWqPbodiTuB1ctBF6Dk5AsU7WcPJfRz60KaQQqFGXsCGH1hA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114414922.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The simple setting provides ample atmosphere.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Tacking on to thatI have a theory that everyone has a mental health issue of some sort. It might be something as “simple” as a short temper, or something as severe as schizophrenia, or agoraphobia…no one’s mind can be “perfect”. They’re not all debilitating: many people can function just fine, and some never even notice they have a “defect”. Or, people just learn to hide it well. As Zoidberg is quick to point out in the game’s synopsis, “not everyone experiences the same symptoms of anxiety”, so this isn’t meant as a blanket statement for everyone; just his own experiences with it. </p><p>There are no jumpscares or monsters, or any other cheap scare tactics that Roblox games usually rely on. There are no creepy characters or hallucinations…just one man alone in a house, trying to fight the demons of his own mind. Thanks to some effective sound design, Zoidberg manages to do a pretty good job of ratcheting up tension that technically isn’t even there. And that’s what anxiety is: Getting “worked up” (for lack of a better term) over mundane things that generally seem “normal” to others.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGc7ljCoUhrkSTILDeuRvZv4mbUenGlJg-woACRIfHuK6cRJhpCilJI1Xv6LOsmNTJ98tnd7qQP8k7AC606LXP9N47EFO2JOOxkh6bWyc84mwAkTilAxzw0P1JufINei80T7r5vGOjEZo2KhXlYAiABWvRG6DbvXecV9kcxoxXTITWceHnzk-wf__ew/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114439491.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGc7ljCoUhrkSTILDeuRvZv4mbUenGlJg-woACRIfHuK6cRJhpCilJI1Xv6LOsmNTJ98tnd7qQP8k7AC606LXP9N47EFO2JOOxkh6bWyc84mwAkTilAxzw0P1JufINei80T7r5vGOjEZo2KhXlYAiABWvRG6DbvXecV9kcxoxXTITWceHnzk-wf__ew/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114439491.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>My wife, for example, has what I would consider to be an irrational fear of storms. Any time there’s lightning in the forecast, I hear about it; if she’s with her family, they hear all about it, too. I’ll admit that, at first, I found it baffling and maybe even a little childish. Who could be so scared of something that frequently happens in daily life? In her case, her fear of storms was exacerbated by a traumatic event from her childhood.</p><p>As the saying goes: “The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” And yet there’s very little understood about a vast majority of mental health issues. That means millions of people are wasting their minds every year, held back by deficiencies that they don’t even fully understand themselves. It took me well over a decade to realize I had ADHD, which explained my constant lack of focus on boring tasks (among other, more serious things). That’s a decade I certainly wish I could have back; I know I'm far from the only one.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnRwJalkM_IhYqJkWAoLlrX0WMdF1LyKPpGF7awLUSbzTVqRq2TkM7Y0XURYajk5RJSXp-XfklfqHXKcfoWoCBMg8r9goU2DctH7jDEcUShQMadkI0o2EcC4T_FOSepRbFqDajPDRmG_OYPAcJj1uQHK4yCV5QBmZ7OJBE3av0FNVHpROp4yO9tp80g/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114501089.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnRwJalkM_IhYqJkWAoLlrX0WMdF1LyKPpGF7awLUSbzTVqRq2TkM7Y0XURYajk5RJSXp-XfklfqHXKcfoWoCBMg8r9goU2DctH7jDEcUShQMadkI0o2EcC4T_FOSepRbFqDajPDRmG_OYPAcJj1uQHK4yCV5QBmZ7OJBE3av0FNVHpROp4yO9tp80g/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114501089.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh look, your house has a toilet!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Once again, in Zoidberg’s own words, this is meant to be “an eye opener” for people who don’t understand it. Either because they don’t suffer from it, or because they have for so long that they just think it’s “normal”. It's a sobering reminder that no one is alone in their afflictions; no matter what you suffer from, so are millions of others.</p><p>It's hard to fault a game like this. It has a clear vision, and was made with plenty of heart and emotion. It's also effective in driving its point home. At the same time, it's a very one-note experience. There are no secrets to find, or multiple endings; there's nothing to "miss" the first time. It's a very linear story told in the most straightforward way possible. In other words, once you finish it, there's no reason to ever play it again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioigr3YQYCCOW8lrExivZdMDvuvd01vzLZ6A_4vToeNeH8eXmOlDUAQgESvLwnLQ2Idw4oATyeTScvFdBtkATMnderdVJyWwR8--J3LYoK0pW4EFnnFZTMErvvYRodHgOG5htG0ptJ4PNYE4ZfZ2uVJgstfk4czMqFQDDn50BLnbUaQ9z2dy_QH1HirQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114832197.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioigr3YQYCCOW8lrExivZdMDvuvd01vzLZ6A_4vToeNeH8eXmOlDUAQgESvLwnLQ2Idw4oATyeTScvFdBtkATMnderdVJyWwR8--J3LYoK0pW4EFnnFZTMErvvYRodHgOG5htG0ptJ4PNYE4ZfZ2uVJgstfk4czMqFQDDn50BLnbUaQ9z2dy_QH1HirQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114832197.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Things are spiraling out of control...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Nevertheless, as a work of art, it's more than a passable time-waster. The simplicity that hinders it is also one of its positives: It doesn't try to be ambitious. It has no aim to be "popular" or to be featured on Roblox's front page. It doesn't try to be preachy, nor is it seeking pity. It merely exists to exist; an experience that simultaneously feels too genuine and personal for Roblox, and yet a perfect fit.</p><p>It's far too short to make any sort of long-lasting impression. But it grabs you from the first moment and doesn't let go. It forces you to listen to what it has to say. It's probably not going to change your life, but it's an effective little game that uses horror tropes to tell a story that deserves to be heard. And one, it hopes, that might make you more aware of the monsters that potentially dwell inside the heads of others.</p><p>Or your own.</p><p><b>Overall: </b>7/10</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXBEhM3kgTfabDZcMCtnBUXKWsdvOg_xiG0jVAAZnH2JRgJk3_y08aBYglLsU-pPzRBYCXFF3JVMCjUsM-Avs_q2x5bLq8Eh6oeJgb-PkFJd63Mz73FcHYOwh-FLsHIqh8NAUpQkh9GUotYHYDjm-7UESZGm-a-XMUrZdkrr_PxDtkwy9UUmh-DJrw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114954179.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXBEhM3kgTfabDZcMCtnBUXKWsdvOg_xiG0jVAAZnH2JRgJk3_y08aBYglLsU-pPzRBYCXFF3JVMCjUsM-Avs_q2x5bLq8Eh6oeJgb-PkFJd63Mz73FcHYOwh-FLsHIqh8NAUpQkh9GUotYHYDjm-7UESZGm-a-XMUrZdkrr_PxDtkwy9UUmh-DJrw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221025_114954179.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Awww, you're welcome.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">TRAILER<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ey4lJ_ZyM68" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ey4lJ_ZyM68"></iframe></div><br /><div><i>The trailer wisely shows off nothing; I'm also a sucker for "nice" music that feels out of place in horror media. It might not "trick" horror aficianados into giving it a try, but it's certainly intriguing.</i></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-17222817053956691262022-10-30T17:05:00.002-04:002022-10-30T17:05:39.866-04:00The Rake: Whispering Pines (Roblox)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Developed by: Al4N</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0W9i-L10xMCsry5YzOnMsxAJ8Rf56qI17zz6INVcd3EJJvT4PKpHQcIaRC8VZJqbKS_zE-MiUeOvyXmjPtGrDF6_mqJBFsnKs4PDllyYmcWvcxijxmzL-x0wF6_0HSIbmjnDYq1xE7wMGjwfL4rRs3StooPA3UEp74eatveNFaT30fdpPO4iIxjlyA/s768/rakewhisperingpines.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0W9i-L10xMCsry5YzOnMsxAJ8Rf56qI17zz6INVcd3EJJvT4PKpHQcIaRC8VZJqbKS_zE-MiUeOvyXmjPtGrDF6_mqJBFsnKs4PDllyYmcWvcxijxmzL-x0wF6_0HSIbmjnDYq1xE7wMGjwfL4rRs3StooPA3UEp74eatveNFaT30fdpPO4iIxjlyA/s320/rakewhisperingpines.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>We’ve already taken a look at “The Rake: Remastered”, the “original” game that helped to kickstart Roblox’s horror genre. Up next, we have “The Rake: Whispering Pines,” an obvious spin-off of The Rake that at least attempts to offer up its own unique take. Well, by “unique” I mean it takes bits and pieces from other games, and combines them into one.</p><p>The basics are the same as any other such game: You find yourself stranded in a wooded area while being hunted by a humanoid creature hellbent on your demise. You simply must “survive the night” against said creature. Over and over again. (It’s always funny to picture Roblox games in real life. Like, why would you stay here night after night instead of just leaving during the day?)</p><p>It should be noted that the game is currently in development, with a 4-phase plan in place before it’s considered “done”. This update, released October, 2022, brings it up to version 1.75. A planned update for tomorrow (Halloween) will bring it up to 2.5, effectively marking a little over halfway through its development cycle. I’ve been keeping an eye on this one since its public beta a couple of months ago, and have been able to track its progress since. And let me tell you, it has been quite an interesting journey.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXedO9qfKjhGcBCA7aShqHtX91UujsIbwzY1Esyvoz__blLTpJEqEJvtGETTNk07UxOw6ukmmiz3coBkHu1OynNM9X8Kv6uc9wFgiP-5mBZsSfqZAmDEvMbvXqq38FcWOo5w2vQMeyN4XxdPmY9k12ErlnLk0XZSdWx5eYLNzQT-rsdQcu3-kwLrBcDQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221030_092749406.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXedO9qfKjhGcBCA7aShqHtX91UujsIbwzY1Esyvoz__blLTpJEqEJvtGETTNk07UxOw6ukmmiz3coBkHu1OynNM9X8Kv6uc9wFgiP-5mBZsSfqZAmDEvMbvXqq38FcWOo5w2vQMeyN4XxdPmY9k12ErlnLk0XZSdWx5eYLNzQT-rsdQcu3-kwLrBcDQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221030_092749406.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Update 1.73 brings new Halloween decor, along with other gameplay changes.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>For the past three months, I fucking hated this game. I hated it. So much so that I had a full, scathing review written. The public beta showed so much promise, but that was replaced by a Rake that was too difficult to escape. Add in a border made almost entirely of invisible walls (one of my ultimate pet peeves) and we were left with a maddening exercise in futility. What was once a promising take on the creature quickly became one of the most consistently frustrating experiences I’d ever come across. Every time I played it, I ended up rage-quitting almost immediately, vowing out loud to never play it again. Eventually, my curiosity would get the best of me. I still followed their Discord and eagerly awaited new updates (secretly) as they were released, hoping it got better. I’m not kidding when I say I wanted to like this game. With the planned update for “Rake: Remastered” put off indefinitely, I needed some Rake games to satisfy my cravings in the meantime. But I was still ready to write this one off.</p><p>Somewhat thankfully, I must say this update has staved off my hatred, and turned it into relative indifference. It’s no longer a scourge of my existence, but rather an experience that I could either take or leave. As underwhelming as it may sound, it once again proves there’s potential in the material. It’s all a matter of harnessing it and turning it into something polished and more coherent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WsIuvpRWMb7amC9VWH5D01FnmYXs1x81f55lESqYVjsgBz3YaweAl0xNvErma-0RmufjIJutUTKNXkzLGmTmzj2uKL3d9hU-IUqvLSDbDHMoTs3-o_sJh-MhVNLeIfjLnyF3cL0FOhsaH6CaEg7x3o0841TuWr8eYklQXPnpDgzGIaG-inUFbHPKjQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221030_093835192.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WsIuvpRWMb7amC9VWH5D01FnmYXs1x81f55lESqYVjsgBz3YaweAl0xNvErma-0RmufjIJutUTKNXkzLGmTmzj2uKL3d9hU-IUqvLSDbDHMoTs3-o_sJh-MhVNLeIfjLnyF3cL0FOhsaH6CaEg7x3o0841TuWr8eYklQXPnpDgzGIaG-inUFbHPKjQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221030_093835192.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The second tower, which contains a shop.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The latest update gives the game quite a revamp. Most notably, it adds a second tower containing a shop; some new survival items; weapons, and with it, a clunky combat system; lockers and corpses to forage from; Halloween decorations on the cabin and towers; fall foliage; and probably a lot more minor things that I’m forgetting. Overall, the game looks very good after the update, which is no surprise, considering it also looked very good before.</p><p>That’s one thing that virtually every iteration of “Whispering Pines” has done so well. No matter how much I hated the game, I’ve always had to give credit to the visual design. My wife - who somehow despises the game even more than me - also agrees. This time around, the changes are even more eye-grabbing. The graphics have always been a high point, but the day-night cycles are much, much smoother. It’s brilliant watching the sunset shine through the fall trees, casting an orange hue on everything. It's little things like this that, visually at least, really elevate the game above most of its peers. (Another cool touch: Nighttime lasts a bit longer, emulating the shorter days and loooong nights of real-life winter.)</p><p>The Rake’s AI has also been partially overhauled. I can’t say for sure what has changed, but he ends up looking like a doofus half the time. I’ve seen people run around him in circles while he frantically chases them; fall off the observation tower because he couldn’t get to the top; and on more than one occasion, I’ve seen him get stuck. Like, completely stuck. The first time he froze next to the shop tower for 5 minutes, until night ended. Just, out in the open, with nothing causing it. The second time probably would have had a similar outcome had someone not run toward him to (intentionally) free him. And the third time my wife and I watched as he got stuck to the side of a rock wall for a solid two minutes. (At least that time he managed to break free.) It is worth noting that the AI is a work in progress at this point, so bugs are naturally to be expected. The next update is expected to see the complete AI revamp make its debut.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV3wTHmxYgCQebPC4OM8wV-CP7a01B4NM9UbI7BuHFO5KMFtff6J0LOsipzvn-XvaSebR4HlqRSzphkDKWqjfAutUcmHsGyTjbtTTMlrsfHTeYA7OOe3BUDXrTHMZOZ6vGs3tQYBzeTuZHEYlFiKzhS2qhuuRPn_1c4e5VtzYm-VrXF1TXIB8QprOsw/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221021_183306069.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV3wTHmxYgCQebPC4OM8wV-CP7a01B4NM9UbI7BuHFO5KMFtff6J0LOsipzvn-XvaSebR4HlqRSzphkDKWqjfAutUcmHsGyTjbtTTMlrsfHTeYA7OOe3BUDXrTHMZOZ6vGs3tQYBzeTuZHEYlFiKzhS2qhuuRPn_1c4e5VtzYm-VrXF1TXIB8QprOsw/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221021_183306069.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The violence quotient has been upped.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The main reason why I despised this game so much: No one else ever played it. If they did, they were in and out within the span of a night. Surviving alone was stupidly impossible. I would always die within 30 seconds of nightfall, no exaggeration. Rake would spawn to a nearby location (something I still think he does, rather than exiting its cave), go straight for me, and no matter what I did, I ended up dying. Once, I hid inside the cabin, which has three different escape options. I stood by the closed back door, fully expecting Rake to bust in the front (which is already open). If it started to come in the back, I would just run out the open door up front. I figured this would be a great idea that would buy me some time to find safety.</p><p>Ten seconds into night, that prick just opens the door next to me and kills me. Literally. No build-up, no fidgeting with the door handle, no attempts to break it down…he just turned the knob like it was nothing and opened it up. Despite having nails three times the length of Cardi B’s. That moment, and the time he teleported to my location just to kill me right before the end of night, were just two (of many) moments that left a bad taste in my mouth.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UfoWgVifW9f7Ju3AdIrI2c1iZ33JuGAoIc_AVobCWDPwpcCunBGVuG-_bOHv0sTeDhozA2SpSoPgLctQ3hFvl7YUOsHXijFYUBFCCBymFKwioYbnh1h1M1aQpLjHYGjzM6z_rl-A6iljKG7bNv-HHtkYqGUnex-pC4LuUP2AVdH1SEIQIhZt2eUSSQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221021_183327456.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UfoWgVifW9f7Ju3AdIrI2c1iZ33JuGAoIc_AVobCWDPwpcCunBGVuG-_bOHv0sTeDhozA2SpSoPgLctQ3hFvl7YUOsHXijFYUBFCCBymFKwioYbnh1h1M1aQpLjHYGjzM6z_rl-A6iljKG7bNv-HHtkYqGUnex-pC4LuUP2AVdH1SEIQIhZt2eUSSQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221021_183327456.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The tower at night with its lights on.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>But the greatest thing this new update has done <i>technically</i> doesn’t have anything direct to do with the game itself: It brought players. It has brought forth more interest. Not a ton, but consistent players nonetheless. Now surviving is actually possible! And that’s something I never thought I’d say about “Whispering Pines”. Once you get the hang of the map, all you have to do is hang out at one of the two towers, stay there until he comes, and then run toward the other tower. That seems to be the closest thing to a “foolproof” survival method I’ve found. (Also, just crouch to regenerate stamina without turning around if he's onto you, and just keep running as soon as your stamina regens.) Once again, it’s worth noting that his AI is still in the process of being reworked. And from the sounds of things it’s going to get infinitely tougher, so these tips won't apply for much longer.</p><p>Despite being almost halfway through its development cycle, the game is clearly still in its infancy. Well, maybe not infancy, but whatever it is, it’s not quite a teenager. The combat mechanics are clunky and underdone; the Rake tracker is the worst one ever made; the use of invisible walls, though reduced, is still frustrating; and the time between rounds is very boring. Opening lockers and going through corpses just isn’t nearly enough to justify the two or so minutes of daytime. (It probably only feels that way to me because I'm so used to "Rake: ZRK", which has a whole plethora of things to do to while you wait for night to fall.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusPF67xQIagonpoBbjGpJxd99hL4U-E6czs-BhsMsXcIIc23qmsC2iTbWMHFL4SruhH3vcPbjg7b_T_jJpLIqklWkdAkB7PHiByqI1tEexhEwgEBJwtAJ6WasKMvdG6riHpoIYEMR-CVgwiT1SrLF7CSEcEyvB_UqJ7fMdkwVD2VMY6PsRq-xplAkRQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221030_093208047.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusPF67xQIagonpoBbjGpJxd99hL4U-E6czs-BhsMsXcIIc23qmsC2iTbWMHFL4SruhH3vcPbjg7b_T_jJpLIqklWkdAkB7PHiByqI1tEexhEwgEBJwtAJ6WasKMvdG6riHpoIYEMR-CVgwiT1SrLF7CSEcEyvB_UqJ7fMdkwVD2VMY6PsRq-xplAkRQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221030_093208047.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The default lantern gives off very little light.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Thankfully, these issues have been addressed by the developer. In my previous (unpublished) review, I excoriated him for not listening to his fanbase. They would mention something about the game (usually Rake’s speed being too quick, leading to survival difficulties) and he would come back with a cold answer. It was always something along the lines of how he could beat any night without powerups, so why couldn’t we? (“Skill issue,” was the frequent response.) Now, he seems more open to new ideas. When people suggested surviving solo is too hard, he mentioned plans for upping the difficulty based on number of people in the server. Other ideas, which were once subject to resistance, are being met with similar understanding. </p><p>However, at the same time, he has stated that future updates are only going to get harder. The Rake's AI rewrite, for starters, will allow him to hide and ambush players. Staples of other Rake games (power generators and stun sticks, for example) are being quashed in favor of more "realistic" features. The combat system is being reworked to make it much more difficult to kill him. From the sounds of things, he's going for more of a "Rake Simulator" type of game, rather than a casual one. As someone who's generally uninterested in combat (much to the chagrin of fellow players), I can respect that. I've always felt the focus in Rake games should be on <i>survival</i>, rather than defeating the creature. If someone found themselves stranded in a forest with a murderous creature hellbent on their demise, fighting it would be the last thing on their minds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ha7JJgmIEgLmLnAHga1vwUnVvUrKarAaZhvpOc0TbxTZDIj_9oKba1MLVD8CJXmI1gfKrKSLP32Zc4TZrIzyOO_In64pWmUnR0oF5upb0v0_2FxABhwc6Ui3mjzoxNYoivmuSMo9aDgm7x6HxzYaV4yIuQl0k7gzUQn6Q5ukUGT4q8ZnvnfNVwBeg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221030_092805652.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ha7JJgmIEgLmLnAHga1vwUnVvUrKarAaZhvpOc0TbxTZDIj_9oKba1MLVD8CJXmI1gfKrKSLP32Zc4TZrIzyOO_In64pWmUnR0oF5upb0v0_2FxABhwc6Ui3mjzoxNYoivmuSMo9aDgm7x6HxzYaV4yIuQl0k7gzUQn6Q5ukUGT4q8ZnvnfNVwBeg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221030_092805652.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's visually arresting, if nothing else.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As it stands now, there's just something missing, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. It's nowhere near as fun as "ZRK", and nowhere near as scary as "Rake: Remastered". The latest batch of updates have certainly pushed it in a much better direction, but it can still go either way from here. Will it have that missing spark? Or will it be too much of a "simulation" to be entertaining?</p><p>Hopefully, he'll find the right compromise between his own vision, and those of his players. After all, if you create a game only for yourself, you can't get upset when no one else wants to play it.</p><p><b>OVERALL:</b> <b><span style="color: red;">5</span></b>/10 <i>(<span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>+3</b></span> from previous update)</i></p><p><i>NOTE: Update 2.5 is scheduled for release tomorrow (10/31). I'll be sure to update this review once I get a chance to spend some quality time with it.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">TRAILER<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_KhrwZ5-Is0" width="320" youtube-src-id="_KhrwZ5-Is0"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-52717405995656365712022-10-21T08:56:00.003-04:002022-10-21T08:56:35.860-04:00The Darkness Beyond (Roblox)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFhTIjY4m2KjpA-diRl9XSfn16YGV0reX_Yq3nV7cwxmKQwPDY_ve4X3ukMQgp_k4ieNdA3A14w9zArMVNNyGfw27Pql8P4mmpxHgX2saX2N6LCj0C9Ty2aalldTIJUgesgKnp0KpjeffBl-t9wkbjunU4eaOAODPj6dEvlt_yFLGMgwhdXiH21-_YQ/s256/tdblogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFhTIjY4m2KjpA-diRl9XSfn16YGV0reX_Yq3nV7cwxmKQwPDY_ve4X3ukMQgp_k4ieNdA3A14w9zArMVNNyGfw27Pql8P4mmpxHgX2saX2N6LCj0C9Ty2aalldTIJUgesgKnp0KpjeffBl-t9wkbjunU4eaOAODPj6dEvlt_yFLGMgwhdXiH21-_YQ/s1600/tdblogo.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The game's somewhat goofy logo.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div>What is scary? This is a question as old as time. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s also one that, of course, cannot be definitively answered as a collective whole. What terrifies one person might seem pedestrian to someone else; it’s impossible to pinpoint something that’s going to scare everyone. But, the basic consensus is that “true” horror is not about what’s seen, but what isn’t. Take a film like The Blair Witch Project, one that’s frequently cited as one of the scariest movies of all time, as an example. Sure, it’s dated now, and a lot of its effectiveness might have a lot to do with the marketing behind it (where it was made to seem like an actual documentary), but the fact the entity is never seen only adds to the terrifying atmosphere. When we can confront our fears by seeing the creature stalking us (or another character) in the night, it lessens the impact: Now we know what we’re up against. </div><div><br /></div><div>Keeping the creature shrouded in mystery, however, forces the player to fill in the blanks with his or her own mind. And, naturally, the mind will wander to the things that bother them the most; the end result will basically be their worst nightmare, brought to (imaginary) life. And best of all? The creators don’t even have to create anything physical to do it. It’s one of those examples where the “less is more” adage is certainly true; it’s a wonder more projects don’t understand that.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW56Z0iWYmSqtuKoRkz8iJcTabiO1UA9SnahEp_Ci1hT23hP6fml0liUKbbrp2pAx_37jndEz0Kn0cPOwIyDtn8soQHULQJei6WEvM_UnxFRAlK9aBmLGJPXNVpNgjo238L-mGbG7-RSYGbuL2jQaO8iKsqbgUA2vJUzk-PeM-2p1MYTs_INIKqlG4Cg/s1600/tdbmainscreen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW56Z0iWYmSqtuKoRkz8iJcTabiO1UA9SnahEp_Ci1hT23hP6fml0liUKbbrp2pAx_37jndEz0Kn0cPOwIyDtn8soQHULQJei6WEvM_UnxFRAlK9aBmLGJPXNVpNgjo238L-mGbG7-RSYGbuL2jQaO8iKsqbgUA2vJUzk-PeM-2p1MYTs_INIKqlG4Cg/s320/tdbmainscreen.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main screen, complete with the chat accidentally pulled down.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>“The Darkness Beyond” takes the idea of “what is not seen is scary”, and runs with it. The game mechanics are so incredibly simple virtually anyone can pick up and play: A creature (known simply as The Demon) is trying to get into your house. You must stop it by quickly closing the doors and windows as he opens them. If you’re too slow, and he gains access, you’re dead. There are no ways to escape (even though the word “RUN” appears at the top; this is just the game’s weird way of telling you you lost), and no way to fight it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The set-up is similar to many other Roblox games. The game consists of a night cycle, which lasts six minutes. Unlike many such games, the time is displayed for all to see. It's kind of refreshing that they don’t charge you for a watch, like many other round-based horror games do. (What kind of competitive advantage does knowing the time even give you? Aside from “slight piece of mind” it doesn’t help you survive on its own.) Every time you make it out alive, you receive a set amount of points (35 on medium difficulty, for example). You can then use those points to purchase upgrades from the shop.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiA_gMobRA_bhbTx1XVQ9CZ7ZAzyryAWdbyQlZtTFhjSE1R4f5Fjeb-3pZw52VxykfINK1PGnZL0zonuZn_emmANoRsI6veMKGty64RrBGMVL3Q_vRIZVsbNwVCvds-6yiwO8RWVEIBiwJOVFkJPk2OkTJOyRY-E_Ug7I4phvrhf6bbR-zjcixixS1cg/s1600/tdbtoolsmenu%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiA_gMobRA_bhbTx1XVQ9CZ7ZAzyryAWdbyQlZtTFhjSE1R4f5Fjeb-3pZw52VxykfINK1PGnZL0zonuZn_emmANoRsI6veMKGty64RrBGMVL3Q_vRIZVsbNwVCvds-6yiwO8RWVEIBiwJOVFkJPk2OkTJOyRY-E_Ug7I4phvrhf6bbR-zjcixixS1cg/s320/tdbtoolsmenu%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the available upgrades.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>As with most games, the upgrades all vary in price and usefulness. They range from worthless (open counter) to incredibly helpful (wood planks, alarm system). The camera system can be useful under the right circumstances, but for smaller groups, it’s generally a waste. Tools aren’t required to win, at least on lower difficulty settings, but they will certainly make things a whole lot easier. It’s worth noting that, whether you win or lose, none of these carry over from night to night. Purchase wood planks but are too scared (or busy) to use them? Sorry, you’ll have to buy them again for the next night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>That does make things get rather expensive in a hurry, and also makes every survival count. Because, in a complete 180 from many other Roblox horror games, you earn zero points when you die. None. Most at least give you a fraction of the survival rate, just so you’re accruing something. But it’s all-or-nothing here.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you do manage to make it out alive, you (and your server mates) receive a set amount of points (35 on medium difficulty, as an example). With the exception of the wood planks (20 points each), the upgrades are fairly expensive, requiring success over multiple rounds in order to afford them. Every item is also only usable for a single round, which drains available funds even quicker. It can be frustrating, especially if you die a few times, but it does make tactical use of money. Don’t expect to just get in here and dominate; not at first, anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>I play with my wife, and five-year-old child. I patrol upstairs, my wife patrols downstairs, and our son is a “roamer”, wandering around to provide backup. (Though, of course, he generally loses interest and just starts wandering around aimlessly by the end of the second night.) We play on the “normal” setting, and it’s just enough to provide a challenge, while not being too overwhelming. It actually is noticeably easier when he’s actually invested in the game; for two people, it can get difficult at times, mainly those rounds spent without powerups.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpeLYRlOP4sfzxUxe3uy3dtQQBzk2DXUWo39EV8qbT2eUa-IrJO_nJbVPBLB0aLIAxMuB-ugr0HBrY4CSsoEG0aPtTDWE2CjgQhkRfQnyZz014iRtVj5IIKa8ZMPyJFZJ3h4yjrCQPjtwj0izuLMewuq7xdABdGKH45c6H1aX4tFQYCvSERDuSaGtyQ/s1600/tdbopenwindow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpeLYRlOP4sfzxUxe3uy3dtQQBzk2DXUWo39EV8qbT2eUa-IrJO_nJbVPBLB0aLIAxMuB-ugr0HBrY4CSsoEG0aPtTDWE2CjgQhkRfQnyZz014iRtVj5IIKa8ZMPyJFZJ3h4yjrCQPjtwj0izuLMewuq7xdABdGKH45c6H1aX4tFQYCvSERDuSaGtyQ/s320/tdbopenwindow.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dreaded open window.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>There’s a certain fear that creeps into your skin when you see a window open in an area you’re patrolling…with no idea how long it’s been open. And the fact you have to get close to it to shut it - thus putting you right in the face of fear - is the stuff that horror is made of. Be prepared to tense up and tightly shut your eyes every time you close something. It’s an almost primitive horror experience. Who’d have thought a game could be made creepy through the simple act of closing a window? I suppose for some, it may feel like nothing more than “Window Closing Simulator”. But if you go in with some prior knowledge - namely that’s all there is to do - and set your expectations accordingly, most should get a kick out of it. For a little while, anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>All this being said, the appeal of “The Darkness Beyond” does tend to wear off somewhat quickly. The limited setting (one house) makes for very limited replay value. The action of merely opening and closing windows and doors is also rather redundant. It’s intense, don’t get me wrong, but it’s still pretty much the same thing, ad nauseum. The house is the same size no matter how many players there are in the server. That makes it woefully imbalanced between a house with one person, or five people in it. And “The Demon” is little more than a “noob” all covered in black with glowing eyes. It’s only seen in short bursts, thankfully, but it’s still enough to ruin the mood should you see him. It takes us right out of the story, another issue a lot of Roblox “experiences” seem to have. </div><div><br /></div><div>The stop-start nature of “TDB” also doesn’t fare well for replayability. Each night is self-contained, meaning that you’re booted back to the main screen whether you win or lose. I feel like this approach makes people less likely to keep playing. I’m sure there’s some kind of psychological study that will back this up, too. When you’re taken to the main screen, you’re taken out of the game. And if you’re taken out of the game, it makes it much easier to pull away, rather than go back in. Look it up: I’m sure it’s in the Journal of Interactive Studies, or whatever.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it’s not just the psychological aspect of letting people walk. There’s also the feeling that each night is kind of pointless. Take most “Rake” games, for example. While all the action takes place at night, there are still shortened daytime cycles. This gives players’ time to visit the shop, forage for goods, or set up plans with fellow players. Most importantly, it keeps them engaged. A chance to feel like part of a community. Whether or not it’s expressly stated, full cycles make everything seem interconnected. The only thing splitting them up does is break momentum. </div><div><br /></div><div>So then what could players do during a daytime cycle if one was added? Who cares? Make a sandwich. Chat. Take a nap. Look through the house for survival tools, or find clues to some backstory. Visit the shop. Go outside and walk through the neighborhood. It doesn’t really matter. In my opinion, anything would be better than nothing at all. And while they’re at it, add something else to do at night. Even if it’s not much. Make it so you have to go outside, or you have a chance to “escape”. Give the game a “blood hour” or something where his stats are boosted, making you work all the harder. Something to give nights more of a sustainable flavor. </div><div><br /></div><div>It might not hold your attention long-term, but “The Darkness Beyond” is still an above-average Roblox horror title, mainly for those who enjoy unique takes on the genre. Same may find it to be little more than a “Window Closing Simulator”, but personally, I think it does a good job of sucking you into its world. Unfortunately, it’s only for six minutes at a time, when it could be so much longer.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Overall: 6/10</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>STATUS: The game hasn’t been updated in over two months, but the developers have promised there is more to come. They haven’t gone into any details - hopefully we can expect new settings - nor have they announced a release date. Don’t worry: I’ll be sure to publish an updated review whenever it decides to come out.</div><div><br /></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-70335731916563802382022-10-14T21:27:00.003-04:002022-10-21T09:00:55.364-04:00Rake: ZRK (Roblox)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu7Hi4niWJjLoddoj_BP5wuPH2rxNQBDYXDHDwAGmO6XFPZtjn2fVd1mF0basoPsxJQhTt1I3Gf_Yll5Expa_bgmk64VKMxRVLse4VtHxGjI4v_2ZbyDRJo6BkJPbvo-mDuOpYkvW2NOxJSw1KLXIR3WRcCjBi3V3p9c9uv05NKULmL4cGKVWYJ4nAw/s512/rakezrk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu7Hi4niWJjLoddoj_BP5wuPH2rxNQBDYXDHDwAGmO6XFPZtjn2fVd1mF0basoPsxJQhTt1I3Gf_Yll5Expa_bgmk64VKMxRVLse4VtHxGjI4v_2ZbyDRJo6BkJPbvo-mDuOpYkvW2NOxJSw1KLXIR3WRcCjBi3V3p9c9uv05NKULmL4cGKVWYJ4nAw/s320/rakezrk.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever a game gets popular on Roblox, there are always dozens of knockoffs, if not more. And since anyone can make games on the platform, they range in quality from unbearably bad, to pretty darn good. Well, we just looked at “The Rake: Remastered”, the game that singlehandedly kicked off the Rake phenomenon. Now we turn our attention to the awkwardly named “Rake: ZRK”, which takes that game’s basic idea, and attempts to add some fresh ideas into the mix. (I still have no idea what ZRK stands for, but I’m pretty sure it’s the acronym of the guy that created it.)</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-69e53f48-7fff-19c8-c3bb-092dab6216bb"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In case you are out in the dark, “The Rake” is a cryptid that originally appeared in a creepypasta story. He’s a creature with glowing eyes that walks on four legs, similar to an animal. At least, that’s how he’s presented in the actual story; in game form, he always stands upright and walks (or runs) similar to a human. In the story, he doesn’t always kill his victims, instead opting to leave some with a lifetime of severe psychological trauma. Of course, that would be pretty hard to convey in game form, so he just attempts to kill everyone here.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The very basic gameplay mechanics of the “ZRK” version are very similar to “The Rake: Remastered”, which is the “original” and most popular Rake game on Roblox. You are given a limited amount of daytime to purchase, or find, items for survival, and then must use those weapons to “survive the night”. Nights are a randomly generated length ranging anywhere from around five-and-a-half minutes, to upwards of eight.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jRbzgQ-bscFocunH-lVCWpdmPD4Xcw6-_mORKQEMSSYblL7Nf8PF64bXBtayX2lsX8zvbhvRFLZkW4diNy895_a5wWbH6GzUgjD0wQR-3G6RdSmiGW-9JPNBVXaFQoptle1zbcsOpfBhcGqeKPhrlLX5eYrfKTlE0KnwaYlvB6ACj6ZUOP3jpRu-iA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221013_175533157.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jRbzgQ-bscFocunH-lVCWpdmPD4Xcw6-_mORKQEMSSYblL7Nf8PF64bXBtayX2lsX8zvbhvRFLZkW4diNy895_a5wWbH6GzUgjD0wQR-3G6RdSmiGW-9JPNBVXaFQoptle1zbcsOpfBhcGqeKPhrlLX5eYrfKTlE0KnwaYlvB6ACj6ZUOP3jpRu-iA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221013_175533157.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's your default field of vision.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this one isn’t a “fan remake” so much as it is an homage: There are more than enough changes to justify this existing on its own. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is just as much an exploration game as it is a horror one. As with “Remastered”, players can visit the shop to buy useful items to help give them a fighting chance. They range from utility tools (night vision, tracker, etc.), to weapons (taser, knife, etc.) But, there’s another facet to the game that makes things even more interesting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scattered throughout the map are crates and cabinets, which can be rummaged through to find additional tools. Also spread throughout the map are four types of randomly generated mushrooms, which either replenish lost stamina (blue and black), or increase the player’s max stamina (purple and red). Two different types of scrap metal - scrap and iron - also litter the map. The regular scraps can be cashed in for money, or they can be used in tandem to craft items at the workshop. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO0n8KahMnmolh5JACFBjb6e82-BEva7KtFwOZtaVc8yiRU9YQ_-QYJI4vOR5_ktpDVBrkGLt2Ckot1pjo4bktlysE5HCcxWoHZjFadPMKbrZ8_7t1g1QJwLOnaRwFZ1a7m-BXZAVaadu63mIAy5DLnhl7H_mY8HBj4rztcrICBNho6QO_fbU5pZcGg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174119086.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO0n8KahMnmolh5JACFBjb6e82-BEva7KtFwOZtaVc8yiRU9YQ_-QYJI4vOR5_ktpDVBrkGLt2Ckot1pjo4bktlysE5HCcxWoHZjFadPMKbrZ8_7t1g1QJwLOnaRwFZ1a7m-BXZAVaadu63mIAy5DLnhl7H_mY8HBj4rztcrICBNho6QO_fbU5pZcGg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174119086.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Foraging through crates can yield some helpful items.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are also flare guns, which can be used to signal a nearby plane to drop much-needed supplies. These can also be found in the original “Rake” game, although “ZRK” ups the ante by having not one, not two, but three different types.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The red flares drop survival supplies: medkits, trackers, mushrooms, etc. Green flares, on the other hand, drop only weapons. These are by far the hardest to come by…I’ve only ever gotten two, on over 400 survivals. The blue flares signal a helicopter to take the player to safety; this can only be done by finding an access card and entering a mysterious cave. A cave that contains a separate monster that hunts players based on sound. Firing the blue flare (which I have never done) signals a helicopter to land on the helicopter pad, thus whisking the player who found it away from the map. It’s probably the closest thing to “beating the game”, although I’m sure you’ll find yourself back within the map come the following night.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The one main difference - and one where support will probably be divided down the middle - is on the approach each game takes. Whereas “Remastered” puts a heavy emphasis on the survival mechanics, making Rake very tough to fight, “ZRK” focuses much more on the fighting aspects. Long-range tools like the taser are offered at the shop, allowing users to take on the Rake from farther distances away. If Rake is defeated during the night, the night immediately ends; this can make for some really short nights if a group of fighters are in the server. It can also be relatively boring for everyone else (although it does give players a chance to forage more, with a much lesser threat of getting snuck up on.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfvr6T_Az9bnUvI6kOYhukwfEH0msNPF1jN8oMsANCTx8HhBDTB0g9i71ZVbNK373H8qCTcqG2UmafOXQYg26-yEREs6q4FMx0U99VlDk2TwczvLA5lXP5e6VfZa1E8wwCNjsiQBAZWNx7S8Ushlg5RG_61HJfjGE6CGhkbOf0qODa1xPXZkCA1Crjg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205127259.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfvr6T_Az9bnUvI6kOYhukwfEH0msNPF1jN8oMsANCTx8HhBDTB0g9i71ZVbNK373H8qCTcqG2UmafOXQYg26-yEREs6q4FMx0U99VlDk2TwczvLA5lXP5e6VfZa1E8wwCNjsiQBAZWNx7S8Ushlg5RG_61HJfjGE6CGhkbOf0qODa1xPXZkCA1Crjg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205127259.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This building doesn't seem to be all that safe...</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, I should probably mention that Rake isn’t the only thing players need to be terrified of. Days labeled “Phobia” bring out an (admittedly goofy-looking) black entity that hovers above ground and strikes players repeatedly. It’s speedy and hard to shake once it sets you in its sights. There are also skinwalkers, who randomly spawn during daytime, assume the identity of a player in the server, then attack unsuspecting players. Thankfully, they are weak and disappear rather quickly, making them little more than a pest. Lastly, there’s Moaneghturr, who hunts players based on sound. He’s a monster that patrols a cave area that requires a keycard to access, which can be found in crates and cabinets. Phew…you can’t accuse this game of being an unambitious, cookie-cutter copy of anything.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But its ambitiousness is also a sore point. Sometimes it feels rather unfocused, tossing a variety of ways for characters to get injured and die. Did I mention you can get struck by lightning? Or that there’s a huge lava pit toward the back of the map that can burn players to death? Blended in with the other creatures - as well as “special modes” like Blood Night and Carnage, which more than double Rake’s stats - and it all becomes rather exhausting. I admire the audacity, but it’s frustrating that avoiding injuries like a lightning strike come down to little more than blind luck.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like “Remastered”, electricity powers a bunch of the game’s utilities; use too much and it goes out, rendering most survival items useless. One interesting touch is that, instead of having one generator, there are eight scattered throughout the map. In order to get the power up and running, all of the generators must be turned on, something that can be fairly impossible for one person, especially at night. If you think it’s difficult to get the single generator in “The Rake: Remastered” working with an angry creature on the prowl, then just imagine having to do seven more, with many of them spread wide distances apart.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmnjgy0bsfyYPYvlXbkxeESuSQGOx61ZcT2xkCdzouWbBFPfE-FmJg3GPbxV0ofrxlE10XcH13BVlkKBNzv5mQt7QKEMgA56ui9UQYUw35D9hihYMNiPOQ0sI_zat_SuuODFtHY_PE7UqF2vCQYmaQZiMj_aJKgDSVqPWVNsdA_20WI008G-2N3clew/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174654623.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmnjgy0bsfyYPYvlXbkxeESuSQGOx61ZcT2xkCdzouWbBFPfE-FmJg3GPbxV0ofrxlE10XcH13BVlkKBNzv5mQt7QKEMgA56ui9UQYUw35D9hihYMNiPOQ0sI_zat_SuuODFtHY_PE7UqF2vCQYmaQZiMj_aJKgDSVqPWVNsdA_20WI008G-2N3clew/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174654623.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One generator down, 7 to go!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The generator is one of the most nerve-shredding experiences of “Remastered”. In fact, I might argue that you haven’t experienced the game until you’ve at least tried restoring it in the dark. Many who attempt it fail, slain in mid-act by a monster who’s clearly programmed to hunt would-be heroes. Very few items - and no weapons - work without it. Unfortunately, the effect is much more muted in “ZRK”. While a few survival tools are hindered, such as the tracker and watch, most of the weapons are still completely functional. This definitely detracts from the overall intensity, as those looking to defeat Rake don’t necessarily have to keep an eye on power consumption.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Points accrue at the end of every round, which then allow players to buy the (mostly) useful items contained in the shop. There, you can find explosive dummies, beartraps, night vision (which, curiously, can be used without power), smartphones (also can be used without power), steak (for replenishing health), and a wide variety of other weapons and tools. One semi-frustrating aspect: Each day, there are only four, randomly-rotated items available at the shop, due to “low inventory”. This does get annoying when something you want isn’t available for several consecutive nights, but I like the general idea. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8DK2lLzft03IeEgKBXpEz93d8hN6SSsK2D3FV67ap9uyLAaz9ZepfGoVxsOq-oTLIi7lAr7GDJvG50jF_rkW4pkOeE9hojURil2qvnF-BPIPEFrLDwcjeHCqfgjI83tLozLjI5kdkKtcF6-xcTl910OAz_uOD5SuIrYCk74ifli3yDYyWPItEC3SmA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221014_210244486.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8DK2lLzft03IeEgKBXpEz93d8hN6SSsK2D3FV67ap9uyLAaz9ZepfGoVxsOq-oTLIi7lAr7GDJvG50jF_rkW4pkOeE9hojURil2qvnF-BPIPEFrLDwcjeHCqfgjI83tLozLjI5kdkKtcF6-xcTl910OAz_uOD5SuIrYCk74ifli3yDYyWPItEC3SmA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221014_210244486.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The shop offers up 4 randomly-generated tools per day.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is one that virtually begs to be played with others. Surviving on your own, while possible, is a very intense experience, especially as you’re just starting out. And the random addition of nights like “Dark Night”, where everything is darker, including his eyes; and “Blood Night” where he’s faster and stronger, up the ante even more. After playing through a few nights alone, with very little in the way of supplies - simply to help our five-year-old son earn enough in-game credits for night vision goggles - my nerves were frayed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6YMq1vKbIjEsoJSi9T5hAlLOEtHeP33Cb5k0fjiUoXwtmwQrsBQl3wLGmhXBKoqTqZfcFirVqt_AXgaEA_28ksIAc7tcqZYDDp-qeLYakBwmQhgsH0aOH3gP727gTXRIUcLAjcQWVeKpQ2AjRctEicnnfu5isgRru3dNnT3gifleDOEWD23W0sEjBA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174110065.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6YMq1vKbIjEsoJSi9T5hAlLOEtHeP33Cb5k0fjiUoXwtmwQrsBQl3wLGmhXBKoqTqZfcFirVqt_AXgaEA_28ksIAc7tcqZYDDp-qeLYakBwmQhgsH0aOH3gP727gTXRIUcLAjcQWVeKpQ2AjRctEicnnfu5isgRru3dNnT3gifleDOEWD23W0sEjBA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221013_174110065.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just these two tools will give you a huge advantage.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The flip side to that is, with a group - or as your supply count grows - the game does lose its tense edge. The night vision goggles have a wide range of sight, and don’t rely on power, while the Rake tracker can detect him from 350 studs away. Having these two tools alone make surviving a typical night virtually guaranteed. Just don’t ever get too comfortable, because there’s probably a Blood Night looming on the horizon; one death will eliminate all of your accrued inventory (unless you have the backpack equipped).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of inventory, it’s linked to the game’s most egregious issue: The saving system.That’s right: Unlike “Remastered”, your items save from session to session. As long as you get out of the game during the day, all of your items should be there the next time you enter. That helps to encourage a bit more, as you can pick up right where you left off. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My wife and I have exited the game</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the exact same time</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> during the day on numerous occasions, only to find that one of us lost our entire inventory the next time we entered. Other times, you’ll lose only one, or a few items. In my case, I lose the night vision goggles probably 80% of the time after purchasing them from the shop. Considering they’re one of the priciest tools ($650 in in-game currency), it can get pretty expensive having to re-buy them over and over again. (It’s gotten to the point that I won’t buy them if I know I won’t be playing long.) This makes whether or not your items save feel more like a lottery than anything. Let’s just say it’s led to many rage-induced moments in this household.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpLv3oVsd0gegA9_WF6a1lLwzjT_TltdIiWFgKos5XcL91QHmk6lpNKkr3MktqEwSi3-khb67I4OHBoDpSkizN2i3e0yjAVcqoctxPLSVK9c1icaYWLISMmSbw8vHJLIj2jGxHLAv6krA6wYXdchgoBzYKqpj943cqHdVmrZ3ObdxPStjH_hJRV6JDQ/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205217217.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpLv3oVsd0gegA9_WF6a1lLwzjT_TltdIiWFgKos5XcL91QHmk6lpNKkr3MktqEwSi3-khb67I4OHBoDpSkizN2i3e0yjAVcqoctxPLSVK9c1icaYWLISMmSbw8vHJLIj2jGxHLAv6krA6wYXdchgoBzYKqpj943cqHdVmrZ3ObdxPStjH_hJRV6JDQ/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205217217.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Add "cacti" to the list of dangers.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are also variables outside of the developer’s control that make it even more frustrating. For example, if your internet goes out during a nighttime round, you lose everything. If you get out and back in during the same daytime session, you lose everything. If you try to load the game and it doesn’t properly load, forcing you to get back out, you lose everything. In other words, there are already enough ways to lose your inventory without “randomness” needing to be one of them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The worst part of it is, the developer is aware of this. Everyone is. It’s a well-known bug, and yet it hasn’t been fixed, or patched. I get it: Roblox development is often one (or a small handful) of people making games for fun. Most games make little to no money. And “ZRK” isn’t a high-profile game. There probably isn’t a lot of motivation for the developer to update it immediately, especially with other games on his plate. But on the other hand, if you have a loyal group of players, you should probably do what you can to keep making them happy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are so many things to do that it’s mind-boggling. If it weren’t for the goofy avatars, it would be easy to confuse it for a “real” game, crafted by an experienced studio, rather than a small group of collaborators on a platform geared mostly toward children. It’s one of the most in-depth horror games I’ve seen on Roblox. On those grounds, it deserves a much wider audience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJFAKvAw_qoHgjme-43anKccE5ASmHXEWyfoHA1F4L-ivWqMKi9jmetFy_riQckgY0_QoEWGzxG4rd92c99chKV_N37sT5WFcSbnhsIUQWzt_ZjXWuf5Y8dAav_4k2FpGmHbFyYRU6fGOTB6sKp6nBN2Z6ds0kyIxPZw6thFOOo-UZ8uclWT3uXY8Ew/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205625832.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1920" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJFAKvAw_qoHgjme-43anKccE5ASmHXEWyfoHA1F4L-ivWqMKi9jmetFy_riQckgY0_QoEWGzxG4rd92c99chKV_N37sT5WFcSbnhsIUQWzt_ZjXWuf5Y8dAav_4k2FpGmHbFyYRU6fGOTB6sKp6nBN2Z6ds0kyIxPZw6thFOOo-UZ8uclWT3uXY8Ew/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221014_205625832.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The flare drops useful items via plane.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, its ambitions sometimes stretch too wide - and its imperfect save system so maddening - that it becomes more of a hindrance. This would probably be our favorite Roblox game if it weren’t for persistent save bugs and a few general annoyances that add up to a lot. There’s a lot of potential here, but it’s at least a major update - or a few minor ones - away from reaching that goal. And with their focus on another game, it doesn’t seem like we’re going to reach that plateau anytime soon.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Overall: 7/10</b>.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>STATUS: Planned updates for this are currently on hold following the sudden success of the developer's new game, "Endless Doors". At this point, it is unknown when - or even if - new content will ever be added. So it's going to be the same for the foreseeable future. </i></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-17423932950761448102022-10-09T09:08:00.001-04:002022-10-21T08:57:07.860-04:00The Rake: Remastered (Roblox)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo1bQXOthaL9i_V-v65TOlUxEFOteusyCeiRiWtWji5EC4OidGlk7dLvQxpoE-kXbTe1aCBveO5SIS-3Xn4QXH7G9KJpiTYm8GUJYmtwYbgmAOb7yIQFhMAAMas0FPh5n-gWyzlf3q3CQcAgV9l8Xzj9Yup7T395RBBLCHX53cuGyhHObcuJs3ULDLw/s768/rakeremastered.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Logo for Rake: Remastered" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo1bQXOthaL9i_V-v65TOlUxEFOteusyCeiRiWtWji5EC4OidGlk7dLvQxpoE-kXbTe1aCBveO5SIS-3Xn4QXH7G9KJpiTYm8GUJYmtwYbgmAOb7yIQFhMAAMas0FPh5n-gWyzlf3q3CQcAgV9l8Xzj9Yup7T395RBBLCHX53cuGyhHObcuJs3ULDLw/w320-h180/rakeremastered.png" title="rakeremasteredlogo" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The average person probably would never even contemplate Roblox being a burgeoning hub for horror. I certainly never did. In fact, I was (and still would be) entirely reluctant to have even tried it if it weren’t for my five-year-old son. I was always under the impression that everything on the platform was geared towards children. How foolish I was. There are all sorts of envelope-pushing games on the platform, clearly geared toward adults. And that includes hundreds, if not thousands, of horror games.</p><p>As with every category within Roblox, the quality of the “experiences” (their term for games) varies. Since anyone with a computer can make games, the system is rife with half-assed and unfinished attempts, or shoddily-crafted ripoffs of more established games. In other words, the quality varies tremendously.</p><p>But one that stands out above the rest is “The Rake: Remastered”. Based off a creepypasta story, its premise is so simple that it seems impossible to live up to: You and your server mates are stranded in a forest, and must survive the night against an evil being that seems to derive joy out of slashing people to ribbons. During the daytime, which is a scant two-and-a-half minutes in real-time, you use points accrued from survivals and the selling of scrap metal, to purchase items that help give you a chance at making it out alive. Come night - which lasts an agonizing eight minutes and twenty seconds - you wander around the frozen hellscape, simply trying not to die. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQyerRhJy3ZMAH5YuGGNKpvAGa0BtB6Wpr228DcjMxgbXhvUG48qgv75ToDwQ868qeX0Y_kqjVGMvTwCKqBrLlPxo8WeQdikAU-sxJ6BM-m_J8rFwEoEOdUB39JRFzX9D5ahbgtIJuI3ZtLnxb62D8ng_OHyUTDqR0JQgFSHByQzZvICPegmxHFQLeA/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141405878.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1920" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQyerRhJy3ZMAH5YuGGNKpvAGa0BtB6Wpr228DcjMxgbXhvUG48qgv75ToDwQ868qeX0Y_kqjVGMvTwCKqBrLlPxo8WeQdikAU-sxJ6BM-m_J8rFwEoEOdUB39JRFzX9D5ahbgtIJuI3ZtLnxb62D8ng_OHyUTDqR0JQgFSHByQzZvICPegmxHFQLeA/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141405878.png" width="320" /></a><br /><i>Enjoy the light while you have it.</i></div><p>Games like this tend to get boring fairly quickly. You might get scared the first few times, but once you understand how everything works, many games grow tiresome. This is true everywhere, but especially on Roblox, where inexperienced developers can churn out anything they want. So then it should come as no surprise that most horror “experiences” on the platform rely almost entirely on jumpscares. The Rake goes in the opposite direction, attempting to create an atmosphere of complete and utter terror. The Rake is almost inarguably the most vicious, unrelenting killer of any Roblox game. This isn’t one of the myriad games that aims to blend horror with “fun”. No, this is go-for-broke horror. It aims for the throat and doesn’t let go.</p><p>This is nearly pitch-perfect horror. Usually, concessions must be given to Roblox games, because the limited development teams (often just one or two people) mean fewer resources. So the games that are impressive in Roblox would often be considered flat and lifeless if fleshed out into an “actual” game. But “The Rake: Remastered” is that rare gem that isn’t just terrifying “for a Roblox game”; it’s terrifying across the board, period. I have played some genuinely scary games in my day, but most of them lose their ability to scare fairly quickly. This is especially true of linear games, where events and item locations can be memorized. I mean, as great as a game like “Amnesia” is, would it still be as scary if you played it through ten times? Hell, would it even be as scary the second time?</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa2zSPCEBOY393co5HMDe76oUo9CTRbLdZiBIAsnkxv6jkbmnpX9QRoOP3aTwdjHyqawlQ-AWnDTVd3iOfSvd8rAjx7aBWEXLraUKR2sdladYrd-Rtcp3YwtESeKDzS-yBd0aBx6ifXP3B74WjqeCCC0o-edPubxoySGtw1IBO4bMZG4GgYLbWGsj1g/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141431578.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1920" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa2zSPCEBOY393co5HMDe76oUo9CTRbLdZiBIAsnkxv6jkbmnpX9QRoOP3aTwdjHyqawlQ-AWnDTVd3iOfSvd8rAjx7aBWEXLraUKR2sdladYrd-Rtcp3YwtESeKDzS-yBd0aBx6ifXP3B74WjqeCCC0o-edPubxoySGtw1IBO4bMZG4GgYLbWGsj1g/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141431578.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Good luck.</i></div><br /></div>What sets The Rake apart from other monster games is the emphasis on survival. While it’s possible to defeat The Rake, success depends on pre-planned, collaborative efforts. This isn’t the type of game where you just go out with guns blazing; taking him on singlehandedly is a virtual death wish to even the most seasoned players. It requires the cooperation of multiple people all working in nearly-perfect tandem. So rare is it that, out of the 800+ rounds I’ve played, I’ve only been in a server where it’s happened around ten times. Ten. And those who attempt, but fail, run the risk of triggering Blood Hour, a rare and intense game mode that maxes out Rake’s speed and strength.<p></p><p>The map features a small collection of landmarks that offer temporary relief, but no guaranteed methods of survival. There’s the base camp, easily identifiable for the red lights that illuminate each side. There’s the observation tower, which sits at least a hundred feet above the ground and is only accessible via ladder. Then there’s the safe house, which isn’t nearly as safe as the name would lead you to believe.</p><p>But for each of their appeals lies a hidden (or obvious) dark side. The base camp is wide open and frequently patrolled by The Rake, who likes to sneak up on his usually-immobile prey here. The observation tower provides no way down should The Rake wander up the ladder (yes, he can climb) forcing the player to either accept their fate atop the tower, or take an incapacitating injury jumping off. And the safe house's damaged roof allows The Rake easy access to the occupants; as does the front door, which is forced open once the power goes out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXdXKA5Io-N44_3HebSgDjBZ6NDoPxKXMX8N_tVAwlM27gLnP5nrlvkb0blCPnrj3gEz1Z_Vp-Mr40idjMMjxsMD92fmuxBqNA23ij-OgvDYjvQI8-H-JrFFW6QPucKwzk4ZTOju3IgjAEFd0W48Ns_ZhECYvaYBCnCRMmRQz9BgA-PTNXIXp8CIRGg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141202224.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1920" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXdXKA5Io-N44_3HebSgDjBZ6NDoPxKXMX8N_tVAwlM27gLnP5nrlvkb0blCPnrj3gEz1Z_Vp-Mr40idjMMjxsMD92fmuxBqNA23ij-OgvDYjvQI8-H-JrFFW6QPucKwzk4ZTOju3IgjAEFd0W48Ns_ZhECYvaYBCnCRMmRQz9BgA-PTNXIXp8CIRGg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141202224.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A few of the shop's cheaper items.</i></div><p>And boy does that power like to go out. The on-site power plant provides limited amounts of energy to virtually everything in the game. Once it’s depleted, it renders everything but the flashlight, map, compass and medikit completely useless. The power stays out until a player restarts it, a process that takes around 20 seconds and provides The Rake an easy, defenseless target. Waiting until day simply renders the most helpful survival tools completely useless.</p><p>For those who would rather just survive - and I’m firmly in that category - there are a few useful items. But, once again, all of them have tradeoffs that still leave the player vulnerable under certain conditions. Take the “Rake Tracker” for instance. It can detect him from up to 100 studs away, giving the player advanced notice as to his whereabouts. However, it’s not linked to a specific direction, so just seeing a number doesn’t tell you where he’s coming from. And the tracker updates every two or so seconds - a time frame that sounds fast, but is agonizingly slow as you await results. Hell, even the 100 stud detection distance is very, very short, giving you a split-second to make a decision before he spots you. </p><p>And if he spots you, boy will you know it. Being spotted triggers a “cutscene” in which Rake elicits a bloodcurdling scream before running toward you. The camera automatically jerks the player towards him - no matter what way they were facing before - forcing them to quickly collect their bearings as they hastily attempt to flee the creature. Act too slowly, or run out of stamina, and you’re as good as dead, triggering a jumpscare that’s the stuff of horror legend: He delivers the final blow, accompanied by a high-pitched, bloodcurdling scream that’s several decibels louder than any other sound in the game. I mean, it’s so loud that I could see it damaging eardrums, or blowing speakers, for those who have it up too loud. The effect is something that you never really get used to, even after experiencing it dozens of times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIHWMoQvR0L0EdOKQ9Bnqqyuc7i4D5Hvw52pnQiwNN80RJg6zXLDUB-1DwWISt_R8ry365yz-dl1TcIE3DILxcojbcjiHObFllUHc2UJEQBTF87xTbjPnxXM8TbKC7xzFXDeAFXgir3RXc_s_KHrbfM6ndlmWlvMDdKEE1Ds9n1Tz3B9u31_oNsOAtg/s1920/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141422810.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1920" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIHWMoQvR0L0EdOKQ9Bnqqyuc7i4D5Hvw52pnQiwNN80RJg6zXLDUB-1DwWISt_R8ry365yz-dl1TcIE3DILxcojbcjiHObFllUHc2UJEQBTF87xTbjPnxXM8TbKC7xzFXDeAFXgir3RXc_s_KHrbfM6ndlmWlvMDdKEE1Ds9n1Tz3B9u31_oNsOAtg/s320/RobloxScreenShot20221007_141422810.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is really your field of vision.</i></div><p>This is one of the most well-balanced horror games I’ve ever played, which only adds to the vulnerability. Some may call it “too difficult” or unfair. Any items purchased (or found) along the way are lost upon death (though they can often be re-purchased at the shop for the next round). Money is hard to come by, with the most effective items costing five or more survivals’ worth. The monster can run faster than a walking player, but not faster than a running one, leading to footraces that become more and more tense as a players’ energy bar is depleted. The sinking feeling of running out of energy during a chase - forcing you to walk instead of run, and knowing he’s still right behind you - is a feeling of helplessness few horror games manage to get right. And once he latches onto prey he “stalks” them walking slowly behind them, out of radar range, waiting for them to slow down or stop so he can make his move. Being attacked from behind results in a one-hit death no matter what.</p><p>This isn’t the type of monster game that holds the player’s hand. In fact, I’d venture to say it’s the perfect introductory experience to the horror genre for young ones. I’ll admit I introduced this to both my wife, and our five-year-old son. In both instances, they were so shaken at first they refused to go near it. Then, gradually, they both warmed up to it. It got to the point that my son was better at the game than I was, able to escape virtually every encounter with the monster. My wife soon followed suit, and we would frequently play the game together during “family” time. There’s just something so…genuine about traveling through a harsh winter hellscape to find your son’s Roblox alter-ego. Or getting separated from your family during a chase, suddenly leaving you vulnerable and alone. Or protecting them from the evil creature as they find themselves being attacked. It got to the point where we felt survivor’s guilt if we didn’t all make it out alive. It’s the type of game where survivals actually feel like an accomplishment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcbo-ugwM3fAtJiKslgKk5e6WXGfsc6p_Z2qLlKnztJ5iRBL_sSP22mOx2Ib12KkLAwA2EiWLZ-JqR4hg0Hynd6boUBa16-qIEkq_eysmd8-Mx33z2Ud2VaY16JGR68y44lVIEhT3VebIwnI-xRNtbuFQgK_4fTWAIGPofec0YKPJubll9bBBjODkuw/s840/robloxapp-20221007-1409551_Moment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="840" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcbo-ugwM3fAtJiKslgKk5e6WXGfsc6p_Z2qLlKnztJ5iRBL_sSP22mOx2Ib12KkLAwA2EiWLZ-JqR4hg0Hynd6boUBa16-qIEkq_eysmd8-Mx33z2Ud2VaY16JGR68y44lVIEhT3VebIwnI-xRNtbuFQgK_4fTWAIGPofec0YKPJubll9bBBjODkuw/s320/robloxapp-20221007-1409551_Moment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>If you see this, you're already dead.</i></div><p>Many detractors decry the game’s difficulty, or the price of the items. They complain that the gamepasses are required to get the most out of the game, at the expense of “real” money. They point to the game’s creator, known as RVVZ, who is known for making cash grabs. (Word on the street is his other game, “Criminality”, is so hard for beginners that it basically forces them to spend cash on weapons that are lost upon being killed. Ouch.) If that’s the case, his greed has inadvertently created a nearly perfect horror experience. It should be hard to kill the creature. It should make you work toward affording the more expensive items. (As an aside, supply drops can be called for via a flare gun hidden somewhere in the map every night. The drops, which are contained in a large crate dropped from an airplane, contain a random assortment of items - including expensive ones - allowing players to avoid having to use in-game currency. Players are limited to one item from the crate, which can be opened by anyone, regardless of who fired the flare. Thes usually only contain one or two weapons, though, so getting one is pretty rare.)</p><p>Okay, so at its core, this is still Roblox. And all the typical drawbacks of the platform still apply here. Players wear their in-game clothing, meaning it’s common to see, for example, a person dressed as a cat (or combinations much weirder than that) wandering around the frozen tundra. It’s a surreal experience that can certainly bring the horror levels down a notch or two. And, while not nearly as laughable as the humans, The Rake’s design - though greatly improved over past iterations - does look pretty dumb from afar. But tell me that when he pops up in front of you and starts giving chase. Or when you’re isolated in a safe house as he slowly tears the roof off. Or when you’re trapped on the observation tower with no chance of escape. It somehow manages to overcome its goofiness by delivering a primitive, effective horror experience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dys-WZo7e9TgPVodudqxOGuoEL58_tI-IwRkzEqaYUpGjO1Eg93q7hAN0ygAuaSShxbu91rS_Xz0LazKkpakg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ah what the hell: A poorly recorded video of his full jumpscare.</i></div><p>Outside of outward appearance, one of the biggest drawbacks is that the Rake is prone to glitches. I know that no game is completely free of defects, but when it does happen, it can certainly destroy the menacing atmosphere. As an example, our son managed to get Rake to stand on his shoulders for almost an entire night, simply by standing directly in the spot that Rake drops into the safe house. He was there so long that, by the end of night, the entire server had gathered at the safe house to view the scene. (I have to admit I had a “proud father” moment over that one.) To be fair, he’s tried that trick many other times, and was usually killed pretty quickly. But on the other hand, he got the idea through watching a YouTube video; it’s clearly a known bug that should have been patched by the developers rather quickly.</p><p>But thanks to the overall quality of the product around it, these issues are minor. It doesn’t detract from the fact this should be played by every fan of the horror genre. Even non-gamers might find something to like here, such as the dreadful atmosphere and excellent sound design. It’s that incredibly rare Roblox game that’s begging for a remake outside of Roblox, with a better graphics engine, and free of Roblox’s many “rules” to ensure a somewhat family-friendly platform. (The original beta version of this, released five years ago, was actually banned for being too violent.)</p><p>Don’t let Roblox’s reputation as a place for children dissuade you from giving it a shot. This isn’t just far and away the scariest game I’ve ever played on the platform, it’s one of the scariest games I’ve ever played, period.</p><p><b>Overall:</b> 9/10.</p><div><i>STATUS: RVVZ and company are working on a “part 2” update, which they assure us is coming “soon”. But considering it’s been 8 months with little word, and that iit took them 2 years to update “Classic Edition” to the “Remastered” version, I wouldn’t really be holding my breath for anything to happen in the foreseeable future.</i></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-385466784851347052022-10-05T20:08:00.004-04:002022-10-12T20:39:20.055-04:00Updates on the Future of Paralysis Shriek<p>Well it's been a long minute, hasn't it? You're probably thinking I've forgotten all about this blog. But that couldn't be further from the truth.</p><p>When I started this little endeavor six years ago (has it been that long already?!) I started it with one thing in mind: To review mostly obscure horror movies. That was going to be my niche. I've always had a fascination with the movies that slipped under most people's radars, so it seemed to be a natural fit. But alas, times change. And they changed quick: Within the second year, I was also reviewing lame Hallmark movies, Lifetime thrillers, and episodes of short-lived television series'.</p><p>And those kinds of reviews have always negated the "Paralysis Shriek" moniker. I'll be honest: The only reason I chose that name is because I liked it, and didn't have any other use for it. It was originally a movie idea, but one I had no interest in writing. So I slapped it on this blog so that it wouldn't go to waste (and as kind of a copyright in case someone else "stole" it in the meantime). But it didn't take long to realize that "Paralysis Shriek calls 'Winter in the Heartland 'a perfect family rom-com for the ages," just didn't really mesh well together. (I would never say that about a movie with that name, but you get my point.)</p><p>So...moral of the story is that I will be moving this blog over to Wordpress next year. It will come with a new, as-of-yet undecided title that will better encompass the broad variety of movies I review. The blog will also broaden its focus to include video games, and other forms of media related to the horror genre (and, on occasion, other genres). Unfortunately, it will probably always remain a low-priority project, with other blogs, hobbies and family commitments coming first, but what can I say? Reviewing things has always been in my DNA.</p><p>The first batch of "other media" reviews should be coming later this month, covering some games on a video gaming platform that can be an underrated haven for horror. I'm sure some cheesy holiday romances will eventually follow.</p><p>I'll keep you all updated as the change to Wordpress slowly happens. In the meantime, I wish you all well, and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet.</p><p>Yours Truly,</p><p>AT</p>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105849285870482756.post-2383940899001841932022-01-07T07:32:00.001-05:002022-01-07T07:32:04.855-05:00The Dating List (2019)<b>Director:</b> David I. Strasser<br /><b>Writer(s):</b> Kelly Peters and Amy Katherine Taylor<br /><b>Starring: </b>Natalie Dreyfuss, Andrew Dunbar, Carmel Amit and Nathan Witte<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2R-Men5tv2NrgrpA8mJm_-dY-u3eu8h3yTZUKa9KuY2g02572Dsf9pPlGwyENCl_dOSE67YTRBhoRgvhm4QcRf4-14jHj3pVchQHUW9bq3EI8skRRj9dW0_YGjasqDx_UDE5zRwQsj4qJcyOa82h1tnYyi7eLTG1VmB-jy_o1wQ9Yzu3Stkzt0a8qFA=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2R-Men5tv2NrgrpA8mJm_-dY-u3eu8h3yTZUKa9KuY2g02572Dsf9pPlGwyENCl_dOSE67YTRBhoRgvhm4QcRf4-14jHj3pVchQHUW9bq3EI8skRRj9dW0_YGjasqDx_UDE5zRwQsj4qJcyOa82h1tnYyi7eLTG1VmB-jy_o1wQ9Yzu3Stkzt0a8qFA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Where do you even begin to describe a movie like <i>The Dating List</i>? It’s impossibly foolish, though I suppose that’s part of its charm; it’s completely implausible, though again, so are all of these wannabe rom-coms. I guess a better question would be, how do movies like this continue to be made? And then I realize that my wife and I are only adding to the problem, no matter which context we are watching it under. I mean, even if people are watching it to poke fun at the neverending silliness, it still counts as a view, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Abby is a young(ish) editor who is looking for both love (aren’t they all?) and a job. She has a chance at one of them when she arrives for an interview at Bell and Howe, one of the most popular publishing firms in the nation. Susan, the Senior Editor, informs Abby that she doesn’t have any openings available, but does offer her the chance to work on a weird side-job, with the promise that she will get a permanent editing position if she succeeds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Susan, you see, wants to get married (don’t they all?), but has a little problem: She’s too busy with her career to make time for dating. So she wants Abby to sift through 3,000 (?!) potential men, all of whom she apparently “connected” with on a dating app, in order to find the one(s) most suited to her. How will Abby know exactly what to look for on behalf of a woman she just met? Easy…Susan supplies her with a(n exhausting) list of things to look for in a potential mate.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so Abby begins the process of pre-screening potential dates, first by whittling them down using pictures and social media, and then by actually meeting the more promising ones in person. But none of them seem to be suitable for Susan.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that’s when she meets Dan. He’s a tall author who comes of as a snobbish dick in most of his scenes (I guess they were going for realism), yet we’re expected to believe that he is slowly growing feelings for her. But the problem is, she’s not supposed to be looking for someone to love <i>her</i>, but rather her <i>boss</i>! And if she fails, she’ll be short a job, which is always the sign of a successful woman in these doldrum movies! Whatever will she do?</div><div><br /></div><div>There’s more convolution to the story: It turns out Dan’s hiding his true identity as a bestselling author who has taken too long of a break between books, but that is neither here nor there. And there’s also Beatrice, the “villain”, who’s a longtime receptionist at Bell and Howe who will do whatever it takes to get rid of Abby. And some tripe about how - on top of sorting through thousands of potential dating candidates - Abby also has to bring Susan a new book that Bell and Howe can publish. Because, you know, even though she’s doing her a huge favor, she still also has to do her job…that she doesn’t technically have…because there were no editor positions available. Whatever. You know the drill…just go along with it, okay? </div><div><br /></div><div>This one is slightly amusing, although it’s mainly for Dan’s coldness. He just has a distance about him that makes all of his lines seem completely insincere, especially when he realizes he is growing feelings for Abby. Again, I guess that could be considered a little bit of realism on the part of Andrew Dunbar, who plays the character (lots of authors and creative types are socially awkward), but considering nothing around him is anything even remotely grounded in reality, just makes it feel off. I can't tell if he's taking the role too seriously, or not even making any effort whatsoever. I guess it's impressive that he can consistently toe that line so well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, when it’s not “slightly” entertaining, it’s really quite boring. There’s not much in the way of humor, so it’s all just watching one crusty author fall in love with one dull, book-obsessed woman. Just because they might be a match made in heaven, doesn’t mean it's one that anyone should be subjected to.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>ENTERTAINMENT RATING:</b> 4/10</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAILER<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uTFHJCJV7ZA" width="320" youtube-src-id="uTFHJCJV7ZA"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903256787648969083noreply@blogger.com0