Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Otway93 (580 KP) rated the Playstation 5 version of Resident Evil: Village in Video Games

Dec 29, 2021  
Resident Evil: Village
Resident Evil: Village
2021 | Horror
Gameplay (3 more)
Style
Character Design
Style
Advertising (0 more)
Basically flawless!
Contains spoilers, click to show
While at first I was dubious after the teaser trailers showing what appeared to be more classic horror creatures, they pulled it off perfectly!

The gameplay, while mostly unchanged in style from RE7, is still superb fun, and gives us a slightly more open-world to explore compared to the previous Ethan Winters adventure, as well as a more traditional gothic feel.

The various characters and bosses are all very different and for the most part original, each having their own look, combat style and personality.

My only criticism is not with the game itself, but with advertising. Most people will have noticed that Lady Dimitrescu, the pale, 9ft tall queen of RE memes features more than almost anybody in posters. The thing is, she has a surprisingly small part in the game. Advertising would have you believe she is the main antagonist of the game, where in fact she is in fact the very first main boss. That is as much as I will tell you in that regard!

Altogether, an outstanding game!
  
40x40

David McK (3562 KP) rated Assassins Creed: Mirage in Video Games

Mar 31, 2024 (Updated Mar 31, 2024)  
Assassins Creed: Mirage
Assassins Creed: Mirage
2023 | Role-Playing
The Assassin's Creed games used to be a favourite of mine.

Until they drifted away from the formula, turning too much (IMO) intro a standard open-world game.

So at around about the time of AC: origins, then.

I still played Origins and (forced my way through) Odyssey, but heard bad things about Valhalla.

By this time, I was also getting fed up with having to spend over a year just to complete the story, so skipped Valhalla completely.

So I felt that the back-to-basics approach of Mirage was exactly what was needed to revive my interest in the series. I've also heard that this was originally meant to be an expansion to Valhalla; truth be told I'm glad that they didn't go down that route as otherwise I would have missed this one out completely.

There's no mention - like, at all - of the Animus in this, which purports to tell the back-story of Basim, who was (apparently) a character in Valhalla. I'd no knowledge of that beforehand; thankfully it also felt like that wasn't needed.
  
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)
2017 | Action, Drama
Simple Story Line (2 more)
Action Packed
Good Cast
Bad CGI in some parts (2 more)
Editing
Over the top stunts
Action Packed, Explosions and All Around Craziness
Contains spoilers, click to show
Man do I love action movies, but this one seemed to get out of control sometimes. I really do like the XXX series but there were somethings I would change about this one. The fact that Xander Cage was dead and come back was fine, but I would have liked a little back story on where he was hanging out. It also felt like he was doing a good job staying off the grid so finding him that easily and getting him on board felt simple.

The opening scene was OK, that's usually the part of the action movie that is supposed to grab you. But with Gibbons blowing up and not being a part of the movie was kind of sad. I really do like Vin and Sam's back and forth during the movie. Adding a little comedy the way they do is why I like their chemistry on screen. The rest of the plot was simple and straight forward. Only adding a few twists to a movie like this makes it more fun to watch and less to think about what is going on.


I like the addition of the XXX teams, it really showed that something was going on in between movies. Although it made is seem like the "bad" XXX team went rogue, but they were still trying to do right by the country. The team up between the 2 was fantastic, they finally realized they were on the same team and kicked some ass.


Now for the bad, there were times in this movie where the stunt work was too over the top even for me. You can do action without all the flipping and jumping. There are great stunt coordinators out there that can put together a great fight scene with out all extra stuff and still make it a good movie. There were also a few parts of the movie were you could tell it was CGI and not edited very well. The most notable was the motorcycle jet skis on the water. You really could tell how fake it was. Which is sad because it really could have been a cool scene.


Overall the movie was fun to watch, I would see the other 2 XXX movies before jumping into this one. There are a few hidden easter eggs that might make the watch more enjoyable. I wouldn't look to hard into the quality, just sit back and enjoy the show.
  
To Touch You (Mates #4)
To Touch You (Mates #4)
Cardeno C | 2017 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
a fitting end
I purchased both the ebook, AND audio copy of this book (November 2017)

This is book 4 in The Mates Series, and the last one. You don't need to have read the other three, but there is some overlap with books one, Wake Me Up Inside and book 3, In Your Eyes, so there may be spoilers, sorta, kinda.

Yoram Smith is 7 years old when he first meets Salvatore Rossi, and he knows nothing but the pull of his scent. Sal is, in Yoram's eyes, his friend. It takes a turning of Sal to vampire and over 20 years before Sal finally admits that Yoram is his mate.

I LOVED this final installment in the Mates series! I really did. But I can't split the narration from the book, so the lines might be a bit blurred on this one.

I read this book, in December 2017, and I was going through a rough patch, so didn't actually write a review for it, then the audio came through the blog for review, and I had credits available, so I grabbed it. SO glad I did!

I loved Charlie David's narration, his voices especially. Yoram is 7 when we first meet him, and I was curious how David would change his voice as he grew. Nailed that one, I tell ya! At7, at 14 and as a full groan Yoram, his voice is the same but different, if that makes any sense? I could tell it was Yoram at every step of the way.

And trust me, it's a very long way these two took to finally get together! Sal doesn't fully understand the workings of being a vampire, he finds no joy in feeding and certainly not socialising with them, but he HAS to feed. Until the blood turns up on his doorstep, and THAT blood is different. Takes him a while to figure out where it's coming from!

I loved that Zev and Jonah ( book 1) and Samuel and Korban (book 3) play a part here, but I especially loved that Ethan and Miguel are a HUGE part of this book. When I read this, I could hear the voices of these guys but they weren't right, not at all. So it was great to be able to catch up with them here.

I loved that, once Sal finally dug his head out the sand and returned to Yoram, he was all in, totally and utterly.

Like I said, I can't really split the narration from the book, so

5 stars all round!

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Charisma Check (Dungeons and Dating #6)
Charisma Check (Dungeons and Dating #6)
Katherine McIntyre | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
saved the best til last, I reckon!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.


This is the final book in the Dungeons and Dating series, and I strongly recommend you read all 5 books previous to this one. Not strictly necessary, but it will give you a better view of Jasper, and how he is with everyone else, and of this amazing group of people. And you know, cos I SAID SO!


Jasper doesn't do commitment, he thinks he's too broken. So crushing after the straight owner of his fav cafe is a safe bet, cos ain't nothing gonna happen. Then, though, Matt turns up at a shibari lesson and is paired with Jasper. Which sets off all sorts of chain reactions from the both of them.


Oh Jasper, Jasper Jasper! I've been waiting, so very impatiently for Jasper to tell his tale, cos all through the other books, he SAYS he's happy with his lot, not having to commit to anyone, just hooking up as and when, but deep down, DEEP down, Jasper needed someone to love him. It comes out in all the other books, and here? Oh my days!


Jasper has crushed on Matt for a couple of years and while Matt looked forward to seeing Jasper every day, he was straight and in a relationship. Then that ends, the lesson occurs and Matt begins to question everything about his previous relationships and why they didn't work. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't that he needed to be more dominant, like all the girlfriends asked for, but the opposite?


Loved the progression of Matt and Jasper, how well they fit together and moved things along. Jasper was always gonna say yes to Matt, but Matt wasn't sure what he was asking for, til Jasper said or did JUST what Matt needed. And I loved that, while there was some questioning of his sexual preferences by Matt, once he decided that he'd had it all wrong, he was ALL in with Jasper.


But then, Jasper does what he does and I was reading in bed, and I must have said out loud, "oh Jasper, you IDIOT!" cos my partner was, who is Jasper and what has he done?? And I rarely react verbally when reading, so it shows how powerfully what he did affected me, let alone Matt!


And then, against Jasper and Matt's story, we have the Tabletop tavern and what's happening there. Granted, Jasper leaves it late, but once he gets his head out his ass and goes to war, they pull that off wonderfully!


So, now, I'm sad. I'm sad cos all these wonderful people are partnered up and I am so going to miss them! There are lots of people here, with the battle to save the buildings from developers, people I don't recall meeting before. People with interesting hints about and I wonder if we'll get a follow up? I'd love one!


So, 6 books, 5 of those are 5 star reads, and one slipping to 4, but a series I strongly recommend.


5 full and shiny, but kinda sad, stars


*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
W(
Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #1)
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I first started reading this book, I tried really hard not to compare it to Jim Henson's Labyrinth. Girl doesn't pay attention to her baby brother, he gets kidnapped, and she has to go into a dangerous, magical world to save him. But I figured I'd give it a chance.

...and then the talking coyotes in red jackets tried to light a fire.

All I could think of was the Fire Gang scene from Labyrinth. Coyote-bird monsters who play with fire. I dare you to tell me those things aren't half-coyotes!

To the book's credit, it gets better. Once you get past the premise, it really does become its own story.

You've got to question what kind of parent doesn't get suspicious when their 1-year-old doesn't make a sound all night, though. Prue's able to just slip out by wrapping up some blankets to look like a baby, and telling her parents that Mac is "really tired". So they don't go to kiss him goodnight? They don't check on him at some point before the morning? These have to be the worst parents ever. Which I guess kind of fits in with what you learn about them later, but it seemed weird when I first read it.

Going into this book, I'd heard that it was a somewhat tedious read. I didn't feel that at all. Sure, it occasionally slowed down when you had to switch between Prue and Curtis, but mainly it was a lot of exposition.

Anyway, if you can get past the parts that feel like you're reading a Labyrinth/Narnia hybrid, it's not a bad book. I look forward to the sequel, which I've heard good things about.
  
40x40

Dean (6927 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Friday the 13th : The Game in Video Games

Feb 16, 2019 (Updated Feb 16, 2019)  
Friday the 13th : The Game
Friday the 13th : The Game
2017 | Action
Good graphics (2 more)
Shows the love for the films
Easy to play
Some minor flaws (0 more)
So young, so pretty.... Kill them all Jason!
A very good game based on the film franchise that came about via the kickstarter website. You can tell this was created by fans of the franchise, one of the biggest backers is a playable character in the game. The attention to detail is great. I've watched the first 4 films again recently and the layouts for the maps are the same as the films. Little details like the look of the cabins and interiors are true to the films as well.
I've read that Kane Hodder did some motion capture for the Jason character and SFX expert Tom Savini had an input on some of the kills.
The game is simple survive and try to escape as a counsellor or kill them all as Jason. The graphics are good with the moonlight and thunderstorms at night looking realistic. As with the film the music adds great tension, even better on surround sound during the storm!
There are a few offline challenges, closely taken from the film scenarios. Also a virtual cabin which acts as a museum of sorts with details about the films.
There are a couple of flaws, wait times for a lobby can be annoying, quitters, time it takes to level up and unlock some items. Also sometimes getting stuck on scenery when shifting. All these are quite minor though.
Overall you can sense the love and detail that has gone into this game, a great achievement for a crowd funded venture. Time to go camping... Think I'll take this old hockey mask with me.
  
40x40

p3anut (62 KP) Feb 20, 2019

Good review. I.myself was very disappointed with how the game ended, all because of that stupid lawsuit. I was really looking forward to more characters and a single player story mode. I was an early adopter of this game so playing it through all the glitches and bugs and server issues (more than there are now) Was well worth the wait for where it is now. But I'm still left wanting more.

40x40

Dean (6927 KP) Feb 20, 2019

Yes it's a shame, there was a recent update to fix some bugs. Hopefully fixed wait times for games. Still good fun to play.

BR
Blue Ridge Sunrise (Blue Ridge #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Denise Hunter used to be a hit or miss for me. Either I loved her work, or I didn't. However, after reading this captivating novel, I feel like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time when reading her work before. This book, this emotionally moving novel, hooked me from start to finish, and the writing was incredible. I am now on a mission to read all her books, now that apparently my head is in the right place to read them and enjoy them (which you will soon see my review of book 3, Honeysuckle Dreams, in the near future as well!).

Now, I will tell you this: this book is not a light read. It is very emotionally moving. The characters within the book do make some very questionable choices. However, it's all part of the story, all part of what leads to a greater message. The characters need to make those choices for the reader to fully understand what's going on in the book. With the past that I have had, with a relationship that I had, I could absolutely relate to Zoe. She was beautiful and scarred and I loved that about her. And Cruz. Bless him and his patience and understanding ways. I loved his devotion to those he truly loved.

Mrs. Hunter's Blue Ridge Sunrise book is not for everyone. It's for those that need the reminder that not everyone is perfect, but to Him, every is perfectly redeemable and can find hope, love and grace with His guidance and love. This book is definitely worthy of 5 stars and more, in my opinion. She has taken my heart and made me a forever fan. Well done, Mrs. Hunter!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
Ms. Bridge is a new to me author and I can tell you that I loved her unique, quirky style. I'm now a fan for life! I love a good cozy mystery full of twists, turns, and who dun its and Ms. Bridge's third installment to the Hampton Home and Garden Mysteries did not disappoint! It had the perfect blend of all that and more.

I love that this book is centered around a bed and breakfast called Bibliophile Bed&Breakfast! It seems perfect for us book lovers! A rare manuscript,a killer on the loose and lots of decorating to do, Meg finds her hands full in this book filled with witty characters and happenings that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat while you help Meg uncover the  clues and solve the mystery. Following Meg on her race to find the who's and why's behind it all was so fun! I read this book in one sitting, turning the pages long into the night. 

I definitely sing this book's praises. The theme, the characters, the mystery behind it all, make the perfect cozy read and will capture you from the start. It's worthy of 4 stars and two thumbs up. And while this is the 3rd installment in this series, it could easily be read as a stand alone. So, what are you waiting for? Grab that cup of coffee, this amazing book, and settle in for the roller coaster ride of your life! Ms. Bridge will capture you wholly with her characters, charm and who dun it mysteries! And, as a bonus, Ms. Bridge throws in recipes and decorating tips! <a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/review-ghostal-living-by-kathleen-bridge/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
  
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ben is a reporter, and he's been brought in to shed light on a new case that's baffling local law enforcement. With his keen investigative knowledge and sharp eyes, they're hoping he can tell them how this killer is managing to get into women's homes, considering all the doors and windows are locked except the front one as he leaves the grisly scene behind. Aside from this, Ben has a few of his own issues: He's supposed to be writing a mystery novel, but his brain's stuck in reverse, and he doesn't feel like it would be anywhere near as good as his first book, a true-crime novel. He's also having to deal with his ex, who's determined to take half the royalties from that first book, seeing as how he worked on it while they were still together (divorces are grand, aren't they?). Even beyond all that, it turns out this current killer has more than just a passing fancy with Ben, and poor Ben gets dragged along for the ride as this story heats up.

I definitely enjoyed this novel, as I always love a good mystery/thriller. The main characters were very personable, and I like how Ben tries to use his skills as a journalist to not only do what he's been asked by law enforcement, but also to try and figure out just why this killer is obsessed with him. There are certainly some shocking twists all throughout the story, and I can say that I was on the edge of my seat more than once, trying to speed-read so I could get to the next jump.

4 1/2 stars