March 22 it was...

So now that I've tried Super Mario Run for myself it is genuinely a fun mobile game. It has nice graphics, responsive controls (tapping mechanics) and the typical Mario story line. The trial period the game gives for free is well done, giving worlds 1 to 3 then asking $9.99 for the rest of the game. It's definitely worth it in my opinion to get your Mario fix on mobile. However I just decided to plunge into the 3DS world (via ebay). I got some great deals and I'll share those in a future post, so come on back.

The Best AT&T Fusion 2 (Gophone) Review on the Internet

    For a budget smartphone this phone holds its own very well.   Compared to other phones on contract that are subsidized it comes up short in overall technology.  But one cannot compare this phone to the iPhone for example, as it will lose every time.  However it can be compared to other phones in the pre-paid arena and come out on top.  I have had this phone for over 6 months, it is my first smartphone (but I have used and played with iPhones from other people) so I know what to look for a smartphone comparison. 
    Having had this Fusion 2 for six months I have seen a lot of good using this phone and some bad.  Firstly, the cost is $80 which is an incredible smartphone for the money.  It has a great form factor with its 3.5 inch screen and thin profile, very pocket friendly.  Good bright screen still visible in daylight though washes out some it could be brighter though.  Wifi works and connects and stays connected great.  I have not had any occurrences of dropping a call and the voice clarity is excellent.  Texting is as instant as the other newer smartphones, very easy. 
    There are some downsides though, because it isn't the newest and greatest tech inside it has its limits.  Not running the latest Android version, though 2.3.6 (gingerbread) it does what's needed of it though.  Don't expect to play high-end graphics games here, basic apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Scorecenter for sports nuts, stock market apps all run very well as do simpler, casual games.  It does have a camera but in anything other than ideal lighting pictures won't look great, it's passable though just barely.
    What it comes down to in the end is ultimately cost involvement every month, and this phone and AT&T's excellent Gophone plans are great, very affordable for anyone.  Battery life is flat-out amazing, I leave it on always and get 2 - 3 days before a charge with Wifi on always and with fairly constant use. 
    Who is this smartphone for?  Anyone looking for a smartphone without breaking the bank monthly. As a first smartphone perhaps.  Is it top of the line, not even close but it does a lot for the price. 
    What I would like to see in say a Fusion 3 if there should ever be one, the same $80 (to $100) price, vastly improved camera with flash, slightly improved processor with newer Android version, and that's about it really.  I don't see myself carrying this phone for another 3 years, but I will for a while still, it does a lot well and costs practically nothing monthly.  

AT&T Fusion 2, good modern phone look and feel on a budget

My BF4 Beta Review

    I've had the Battlefield 4 beta for a week and have played about 5 hours in it and my first thoughts are that it is very rough.  Rough around the edges even for a beta a month away from release on current generation system.  There is only map playable on two modes, conquest and domination.   I enjoy domination more because it centers the action more for the 24 player matches on PS3.   The controls after a couple hours become second-nature again to a BF3 minded player with the slight changes to the layout.  The gun sounds are all unique and one can still differentiate what guns are what based on the sound, much like BF3. 
    On to the bad parts, as I already said it is rough even for a beta.  The end match graphics don't always appear properly nor are they always properly placed on screen.  My biggest complaint is the change to the gun leveling up for new attachments.  No longer are new attachments rewards for getting kills with a gun but now they are what appears to be luck based in the form of "battle packs."  For example, I have been playing mostly assault class with one weapon and at rank 3 I earned a battle pack giving me 3 attachments for an engineer weapon I have barely used.  I don't fully understand this concept at this stage of the game but it may improve.  
    It plays like BF3 which is a good thing and it adds some elements like 5 player squads, commander mode which isn't in this beta but does seem intriguing and new weapons to learn to master.  I think the PS4 and Xbox One versions will be the superior way to play with 64 players matches and using the full size of the maps.  This beta only showed in the end it is very rough still in development.  

GTA V Early Thoughts

   Without a doubt the most anticipated game of 2013 is Grand Theft Auto 5.   Does it live up the spectacle of what the GTA series has become?  It does and blows all others out of the water.  Its compelling story grabs you in and immerses you like no other GTA game has before.
   Graphically it is the best yet as it should be.  The look of the game varies so much from day to night, urban Los Santos to rural San Andreas and smooth paved highways to dusty dirt roads.   The voice acting and the script is so entertaining, the sounds of everything around just immerse you fully.
   It's as close to perfect one could want in a "sandbox" style game and GTA Online doesn't launch until October 1st which I am sure will bring in even more entertainment in an already excellent game. 

Sports Champions 2 Demo Review

   Sports Champions 2 demo plays wonderfully, not surprising because it is made by the same folks who made the first one. Tennis is way, way fun and I really want to play it on tougher difficulty in the full game.  The opponent AI in this demo is obviously set on 'easy.'  Skiing is more fun than I thought and I really want to try different slopes. Golf plays like golf as it should requiring lots of swing to drive the ball, I hope we get 18 holes in the full game. The controls are brilliant with the 1-to-1 motion expected with the Move.  It's a day one purchase for even the mildest Sports Champions fan.

LBP Karting Follow-Up & Review

    The beta has concluded and while I didn't play it as much as many I had fun when I did.  The reason I didn't play it heavily is simply it lacked fun-factor the way LBP draws you in.  I know why I didn't like Modnation Racers now, even with a LBP coating I still don't like cart racing games.  It's good and has a definite fun-factor in small doses but it lacks overall originality in its game play. I highly doubt I'll buy this game, it was fun to play in a beta but cart racing games aren't for me.

Battlefield 3 (beta) Follow-Up Review

   As I was first playing this demo I liked it because it was different and fun, however the more I played it the more I found I didn't really like the game as much.  The game has a slower pace but it feels like it wants to be faster than it is when it shouldn't be.  Unlike MAG where reviving teammates is almost a core aspect of the game, Battlefield 3 doesn't really emphasize this as much as it could or should.  The biggest disappointment with this game (and game series) is the small squad size, only four, this means I can only connect and talk to four friends or teammates.  Sure I can be in the game or team as all my friends but this limits the fun.  By comparison MAG has a squad size of eight and Call of Duty has a team size of at least six and in the lobby one can hear and talk to everyone else. 
    I have made a decision on what game to buy on release day and that is Modern Warfare 3.  The more I watch youtube videos of MW3 the more fun it looks.  I just hope it is as much fun to me as Black Ops has been, Black Ops has been and still is my favorite Call of Duty yet.  I have preordered the hardened edition (which include one year elite membership as well as some other add-ins) on Amazon which has no sales tax and $0.99 release-day delivery so I should have release day without leaving home.  Besides, I tried Best Buy and Gamestop and they were both sold out or hardened edition preorders, but this Amazon option turns out to be better after all. 

Battlefield 3 (Beta) Review

   Just like MAG the new public beta for Battlefield 3 give me the feeling of attacking or defending.  I get a real sense of "kill confirmed" fragging enemy players playing this game.  The one map available doesn't feature vehicles to drive which would've been nice.  It is however very varied with the bright park in the first section and dark-lit subway tunnels in the next. Defending is naturally easier but attacking gives an accomplishment feel because you know it's tougher.  For a public beta (or demo as I see it) it is running very smoothly, I have seen no player lag or skipping which is what I was expecting with so much interest in this game.  It is a fun game and could be a very good change of pace from Black Ops. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops Campaign Review

Now that I have played through and beat the campaign portion I can give a better opinion on the game.  It is spectacular to say the very least.  For a military themed game like this it is very enjoyable to play through all the missions.  The missions are very varied offering many unique ways to play every mission besides the straight up run to the next checkpoint approach.  The soundtrack is amazingly engaging and really fits in well pulling you further in than you already are.  Treyarch is so much better than Infinity Ward at creating a more gripping campaign as evidenced here and previously World at War.  The only flaw is one can play through the game in a day as it only really involves about seven hours to complete on normal difficulty.  There is some replayabilty built in with trying to obtain all trophies in a second veteran difficulty playthrough.  Multiplayer aside, this game is worth the purchase, the multiplayer only makes it that much more of an amazing package. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Review

   At this time I am reviewing the multiplayer portion of Black Ops, however I will review the single player campaign soon (as soon as I beat it.)
   Black Ops is the biggest selling game of the year and it delivers.  The big thing about multiplayer in this Call of Duty is variety.  There is so much to do in the multiplayer side it is almost overwhelming.  In World at War the Zombies co-op was the highlight for most players pretty much outshining the competitive multiplayer.  In Black Ops it is every bit as impressive only this time the multiplayer can hold its own. 
   The competitive multiplayer games are even more deep than ever offering more of everything and improving on what Modern Warfare 2 did wrong.  Killstreak rewards have been toned down but not to the point of uselessness.  Ranking up and unlocking newer weapons is still the goal for many and this game has weapons and attachments that one can spend almost as much time menu surfing than actually playing.  Perks are more balanced and don't modify the game not nearly as much as in Modern Warfare 2. Stat tracking is massive showing everything you do in-game with detail down to the gun and where you are hitting your targets; and you see these same stats of your friends and even recent players.
   Wager matches are the new modes here offering a good diversion from the other multiplayer mayhem.  It is a fun way to see who the quickest draw with a pistol is or who is the most skilled with every weapon.
   Here's an example of a wager match "one in the chamber"):



   A training mode with AI bots for you to practice or test out weapons is also added.  It even generates player names from your own friend list to name the bots which is a fun addition.  Black Ops also records every multiplayer game (from the past week) for you to watch later from different angles or player's perspective.  Although a direct save ability to the PS3's hard drive would have been nice but this could potentially be added later perhaps.  This is the best Call of Duty games since the fourth installment.  Be sure to check back later for my review of the single player campaign.