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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Suburbicon (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Suburbicon is a peaceful, idyllic, suburban community with affordable homes and manicured lawns -- the perfect place to raise a family, and in the summer of 1959, the Lodge family is doing just that. But the tranquil surface masks a disturbing reality, as husband and father Gardner Lodge must navigate the town's dark underbelly of betrayal, deceit and violence.
I saw this trailer so many times in the run up to the Unlimited Screening. It initially intrigued me, I'm not a particular fan of Matt Damon, but I do like Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac the more I see him. Both Moore and Isaac seemed at home in this 50s setting, but Damon didn't feel very convincing.
The story had a lot of potential. Lodge wants to kill his wife who has become bitter towards him since he caused an accident that left her in a wheelchair. The plan is to stage a home invasion that leads to her death. This will leave room for her twin sister to move in and take her sister's place in the family. But when a suspicious insurance investigator comes sniffing around the case things start to fall apart. In the background of this though there is a story about the new African-American neighbours that have moved into the property behind the Lodge's. I know that this is fitting for that era, and some sort of big "distraction" was needed for a lot of things to work, but it just felt very detached from everything.
This isn't one that I'd watch again, I feel like it's going to fade into obscurity in my mind and in about ten years someone is going to ask me if I've seen it and I won't be able to remember.
I saw this trailer so many times in the run up to the Unlimited Screening. It initially intrigued me, I'm not a particular fan of Matt Damon, but I do like Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac the more I see him. Both Moore and Isaac seemed at home in this 50s setting, but Damon didn't feel very convincing.
The story had a lot of potential. Lodge wants to kill his wife who has become bitter towards him since he caused an accident that left her in a wheelchair. The plan is to stage a home invasion that leads to her death. This will leave room for her twin sister to move in and take her sister's place in the family. But when a suspicious insurance investigator comes sniffing around the case things start to fall apart. In the background of this though there is a story about the new African-American neighbours that have moved into the property behind the Lodge's. I know that this is fitting for that era, and some sort of big "distraction" was needed for a lot of things to work, but it just felt very detached from everything.
This isn't one that I'd watch again, I feel like it's going to fade into obscurity in my mind and in about ten years someone is going to ask me if I've seen it and I won't be able to remember.
Katie (868 KP) rated Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa in Tech
May 30, 2018
Affordable (3 more)
Expandable Storage
Good for reading
Good for video
Somewhat poor image quality (2 more)
Some apps/browsers are slow
Need to sideload some apps
Fire HD 8 6th Generation Tablet
For the most part, this is a solid tablet. I mostly use it for reading and watching movies and it works well for those things. Most apps run pretty smoothly on it. The browser (Silk) works pretty well but can be somewhat slow.
Another downside was that I had to sideload Google Play onto this tablet because there are several apps that were not available through Amazon's selection. They do seem to have most things, but obviously, they would prefer you to use their reading platforms over others so some of them are not available through their app store.
The screen may not be as clear as an iPad or some other tablets, but it still works very well. I've watched movies on it and read comics and have had no issues. If it's important to see an image as clear as possible for any reason this may not be the tablet for you. I've spoken with some photographers who will not use this tablet because it somewhat distorts the images they want to view. Of course, for most people, I doubt that will be a problem.
The device has either 16GB or 32 GB options. This may seem small to most people, but the Fire allows you to expand that with an SD card.
If tablet color matters to you, I love the magenta option for this tablet and I think that the color choices of the 6th generation were much better than the current generation.
Overall, this is not a perfect tablet but it is still a great device. If you have the need for high image quality or fast speed, this may not be the tablet for you. If you just want a tablet to enjoy media on that can fit into just about any budget, this might be what you're looking for.
Another downside was that I had to sideload Google Play onto this tablet because there are several apps that were not available through Amazon's selection. They do seem to have most things, but obviously, they would prefer you to use their reading platforms over others so some of them are not available through their app store.
The screen may not be as clear as an iPad or some other tablets, but it still works very well. I've watched movies on it and read comics and have had no issues. If it's important to see an image as clear as possible for any reason this may not be the tablet for you. I've spoken with some photographers who will not use this tablet because it somewhat distorts the images they want to view. Of course, for most people, I doubt that will be a problem.
The device has either 16GB or 32 GB options. This may seem small to most people, but the Fire allows you to expand that with an SD card.
If tablet color matters to you, I love the magenta option for this tablet and I think that the color choices of the 6th generation were much better than the current generation.
Overall, this is not a perfect tablet but it is still a great device. If you have the need for high image quality or fast speed, this may not be the tablet for you. If you just want a tablet to enjoy media on that can fit into just about any budget, this might be what you're looking for.
Flexible plan choices (2 more)
Affordable
Easy to use
I finally decided to make the switch from cable to Sling and I'm glad I did. I chose the "blue" plan with DVR and HBO and it is the perfect amount of television for my family for a great price.
I've tried Sling on my android phone, Roku and Fire stick and it runs smoothly on all three devices. I've only experienced some skipping when using it and it's most often during commercials and not during the actual show. I'm not sure why this is, but it doesn't really bother me.
The DVR offers up to 50 hours of recording. I am able to record as many shows as I like at one time even when I have my devices shut off (there are some limitations to what can be recorded I believe, but I haven't run into any of them). Cable only allowed me to record one show at a time and my box had to be running. If I wanted to record more than that It would add another $10-25 to my bill as well as some installation fees, not to mention the amount of electricity the box uses when left running.
Not only that, there are tons of television shows and movies available On Demand!
One unexpected result of switching to Sling has been that we are actually watching television more because there are no longer so many junk channels to sift through to find something to watch. It's also nice to be able to watch cable in every room (thanks to our streaming devices) rather than only the rooms we can afford to put a cable box in. There is a limit to only 3 streams running at a time with my plan, but I doubt that will ever cause any issues for us.
Sling has made television enjoyable for me and my family again.
I've tried Sling on my android phone, Roku and Fire stick and it runs smoothly on all three devices. I've only experienced some skipping when using it and it's most often during commercials and not during the actual show. I'm not sure why this is, but it doesn't really bother me.
The DVR offers up to 50 hours of recording. I am able to record as many shows as I like at one time even when I have my devices shut off (there are some limitations to what can be recorded I believe, but I haven't run into any of them). Cable only allowed me to record one show at a time and my box had to be running. If I wanted to record more than that It would add another $10-25 to my bill as well as some installation fees, not to mention the amount of electricity the box uses when left running.
Not only that, there are tons of television shows and movies available On Demand!
One unexpected result of switching to Sling has been that we are actually watching television more because there are no longer so many junk channels to sift through to find something to watch. It's also nice to be able to watch cable in every room (thanks to our streaming devices) rather than only the rooms we can afford to put a cable box in. There is a limit to only 3 streams running at a time with my plan, but I doubt that will ever cause any issues for us.
Sling has made television enjoyable for me and my family again.
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Playstation 4 in Tech
Feb 26, 2019
Incredible games (4 more)
Easy to use
Very comfortable controller
Brings in a new audience for affordable vr
Great value
My favourite console of all time?
Yes i know im a bit late reviewing this. This is a system that has been out for over 5 years. But what better time to reciew when a large bulk of games have come out and we have come to see most, if not all, of wha ps4 has to offer.
First off we have to talk about the games. Last of us remastered, uncharted 4, god of war, spiderman, detroit, bloodborne, ratchet and clank, until dawn, horizon zero dawn.......i can keep going and going. The list just cant seem to end. The amount of games on this sysem is astounding, the list of exclusives even more so. There is a game for everyone and they will blow you away. We are nearly the end of its life cycle now and i have to see this has been 1 of my favourife systems, if not THE favourite system and ive been playing since sega master system.
I dont want to speak too much about vr, ill most likely do a seperate review but ps4 managed to bring in an audience like myself into vr at an affordable price. Is it the best vt experience on the market, of course not but at the price they other you can certainly have a lot of fun with it with a bunch of different games. Just being able to offer vr at all makes the ps4 an impressive machine.
The ps4 controller is vastly upgraded since ps3 and feels incredibly comfortable in my hands. The touch pad was a nice touch but i feel very underused. Not many games utilise the touch pad aspect, its mainly just used as a button to open maps in games or in some cases change camera angle.
The ui is slick and simple. Its easy to find specific things and this has been updated over time to make things even easier. The addition of making folders, while small, was a huge help with organising my digital library. There are countless themes on the store which change the icons, text and background of the ui. Some will will even have their own tones and music to give a more relaxing vibe.
The playstation store is so much more improved since ps3. Its no longer an app to be booted into. You just find it to the far left on the main menu and your on the store in seconds. It appears its constanly open which is a huge help. It can be a little difficult to navigate but once you get the hang of it it gets easier. The constant sales and the many categories on the main page in the stores means i am always in here. It can just be a little tough to find the free ps plus games for example.
Ps plus is a must have for this system. Its an expensive subscription at about £50 a year but it is a must have if you want to play online. You do also get free ps4, ps3 and ps vita fames every month but as of March 2019 it will only be ps4. The games can be hit and miss. Amazing 1 month but meh the next or so sometimes they will be games i already own.
There are so many things i can still talk about but i dont want to make this too long so for now ill make a list of any other things and may expand on them in future.
Comes with 500gb or 1tb hard drive but can easily be upgrades
External hard drive support
Fun apps like youtube (now with vr support), media player, bbc iplayer
Ability to share clips, screenshot or stream gameplay
Boost mode and supersampling (ps4 pro only)
Party chat with friends
Overall if your a gamer you need this system. Its amazing and needed for all the incredible exclusives that have come out and yet to be released.
First off we have to talk about the games. Last of us remastered, uncharted 4, god of war, spiderman, detroit, bloodborne, ratchet and clank, until dawn, horizon zero dawn.......i can keep going and going. The list just cant seem to end. The amount of games on this sysem is astounding, the list of exclusives even more so. There is a game for everyone and they will blow you away. We are nearly the end of its life cycle now and i have to see this has been 1 of my favourife systems, if not THE favourite system and ive been playing since sega master system.
I dont want to speak too much about vr, ill most likely do a seperate review but ps4 managed to bring in an audience like myself into vr at an affordable price. Is it the best vt experience on the market, of course not but at the price they other you can certainly have a lot of fun with it with a bunch of different games. Just being able to offer vr at all makes the ps4 an impressive machine.
The ps4 controller is vastly upgraded since ps3 and feels incredibly comfortable in my hands. The touch pad was a nice touch but i feel very underused. Not many games utilise the touch pad aspect, its mainly just used as a button to open maps in games or in some cases change camera angle.
The ui is slick and simple. Its easy to find specific things and this has been updated over time to make things even easier. The addition of making folders, while small, was a huge help with organising my digital library. There are countless themes on the store which change the icons, text and background of the ui. Some will will even have their own tones and music to give a more relaxing vibe.
The playstation store is so much more improved since ps3. Its no longer an app to be booted into. You just find it to the far left on the main menu and your on the store in seconds. It appears its constanly open which is a huge help. It can be a little difficult to navigate but once you get the hang of it it gets easier. The constant sales and the many categories on the main page in the stores means i am always in here. It can just be a little tough to find the free ps plus games for example.
Ps plus is a must have for this system. Its an expensive subscription at about £50 a year but it is a must have if you want to play online. You do also get free ps4, ps3 and ps vita fames every month but as of March 2019 it will only be ps4. The games can be hit and miss. Amazing 1 month but meh the next or so sometimes they will be games i already own.
There are so many things i can still talk about but i dont want to make this too long so for now ill make a list of any other things and may expand on them in future.
Comes with 500gb or 1tb hard drive but can easily be upgrades
External hard drive support
Fun apps like youtube (now with vr support), media player, bbc iplayer
Ability to share clips, screenshot or stream gameplay
Boost mode and supersampling (ps4 pro only)
Party chat with friends
Overall if your a gamer you need this system. Its amazing and needed for all the incredible exclusives that have come out and yet to be released.
Xabier Rey (42 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of No Man's Sky in Video Games
May 5, 2019
Is this not the hardest game to review ever? Although I liked the game from the start, the vanilla version was not OK for many, many reasons. Mainly because we didn't get the game we were paying for, at all. But things have changed now.
If you play the game nowadays, it is a really, really good one in my opinion. But it's so unfair that many people probably bought a limited edition, hoping it would be THE game, and didn't quite get that at first. That moment, when so many of us realized in our coaches that the game was not what it was meant to be... we just didn't deserve it. We had been praising the studio, the concept, the way they talked about their project... everything, just to be betrayed.
I honestly love what the game has came to be. It is one of the most innovative games of the generation, if not the most. It brought many new gameplay and storytelling mechanics, but it also widened everyone's perspective on what can be achieved. I'm sure many people, like myself, have thought about many ways to tweak the game to make it absolutely unique and mindblowing. As a Ready Player One fan I suggest the following: Please, Hello Games, spawn your single most beloved arcade machine on a random planet in the universe and make it interactive, so we can actually play it during a sunset in whatever planet, of whatever galaxy you pick. That would be insane, and probably affordable.
Another thing that this game has brought to the industry is a experience I never had before with a game. That is, waiting and especulating on what's gonna be the next update. The whole, everlasting hype thing that's going on the back of my mind every time I think about this game. That feels, in many ways, like being in love. Yes, Sean... I guess I love you after all.
So, if the rating is not higher for me, it is just because of many people's first experience with this game. It was heartbreaking and, again, totally unfair. Other than that, I think this is a historical game, a total gamechanger.
If you play the game nowadays, it is a really, really good one in my opinion. But it's so unfair that many people probably bought a limited edition, hoping it would be THE game, and didn't quite get that at first. That moment, when so many of us realized in our coaches that the game was not what it was meant to be... we just didn't deserve it. We had been praising the studio, the concept, the way they talked about their project... everything, just to be betrayed.
I honestly love what the game has came to be. It is one of the most innovative games of the generation, if not the most. It brought many new gameplay and storytelling mechanics, but it also widened everyone's perspective on what can be achieved. I'm sure many people, like myself, have thought about many ways to tweak the game to make it absolutely unique and mindblowing. As a Ready Player One fan I suggest the following: Please, Hello Games, spawn your single most beloved arcade machine on a random planet in the universe and make it interactive, so we can actually play it during a sunset in whatever planet, of whatever galaxy you pick. That would be insane, and probably affordable.
Another thing that this game has brought to the industry is a experience I never had before with a game. That is, waiting and especulating on what's gonna be the next update. The whole, everlasting hype thing that's going on the back of my mind every time I think about this game. That feels, in many ways, like being in love. Yes, Sean... I guess I love you after all.
So, if the rating is not higher for me, it is just because of many people's first experience with this game. It was heartbreaking and, again, totally unfair. Other than that, I think this is a historical game, a total gamechanger.
Kelly (279 KP) rated FreePrints Photobooks in Apps
Nov 24, 2018
Just pay for postage
I have used this app many times now, each time FreePrints have delivered a good quality product. In a day and age, where we tend to store our photographic memories digitally, I thought I would be a good idea to have some stores physically.
I was dubious to begin with, as the app states all you pay is the postage, but I braved uploading photos expecting to receive a large postage charge at the end. The postage charge is a little above Royal Mails small parcel price, but affordable at £4.99. This makes the photo book cheaper by far than some of its rivals.
The app allows you to upload photos from a variety of sources, including your phones internal storage. You can crop photos and allocate several to one page. The app even lets you know if the photos resolution is low (ideal if you have sourced the photos from social media), so you can decide whether to keep or swap your images.
The default setting for the free photo book, is for a 20 page 7x5 soft back book. You also have to option to write a title or small message on the front cover. There are plenty of upgrade options available on the app, at an additional charge, if you chose to use them. Upgrades available include hardback books and additional pages. It is worth keeping an eye on the app and notifications though, as FreePrints regularly have upgrades on offer or even free.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the item and the care that has been taken by FreePrints to post the books securely - they come in a card based package to prevent bending or creasing in the post. I have ordered many over the course of months. As they are of a quality that is gift worthy, I have ordered some to use as stocking fillers for Christmas - ideal for the grandparents.
I have already begun to recommend this app to friends and family.
I was dubious to begin with, as the app states all you pay is the postage, but I braved uploading photos expecting to receive a large postage charge at the end. The postage charge is a little above Royal Mails small parcel price, but affordable at £4.99. This makes the photo book cheaper by far than some of its rivals.
The app allows you to upload photos from a variety of sources, including your phones internal storage. You can crop photos and allocate several to one page. The app even lets you know if the photos resolution is low (ideal if you have sourced the photos from social media), so you can decide whether to keep or swap your images.
The default setting for the free photo book, is for a 20 page 7x5 soft back book. You also have to option to write a title or small message on the front cover. There are plenty of upgrade options available on the app, at an additional charge, if you chose to use them. Upgrades available include hardback books and additional pages. It is worth keeping an eye on the app and notifications though, as FreePrints regularly have upgrades on offer or even free.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the item and the care that has been taken by FreePrints to post the books securely - they come in a card based package to prevent bending or creasing in the post. I have ordered many over the course of months. As they are of a quality that is gift worthy, I have ordered some to use as stocking fillers for Christmas - ideal for the grandparents.
I have already begun to recommend this app to friends and family.
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated Dick Wilde 2 in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
When I hear people talk about V.R. being just a fad and saying that they do not see the reason for it, I often tell them while it is not for everyone; there are some very good games and experiences out there and the technology continues to improve and become more and more affordable.
For those who own a PSVR gaming system; there are numerous quality V.R. games available as the system has a number of great exclusives as well as some that are available for other V.R. platforms as well.
Dick Wilde 2 is a fun, challenging, and action filled adventure that casts players as the title character as you travel on your raft down rivers and waterways. Of course the areas are inhabited by all sorts of debris and mutated creatures so players have to shoot first and fast in order to survive.
Should a player make it to the end of the level; then they can by health, armor, new weapons, and more to help them better survive the challenges ahead. Using the Playstation Move Controller in a guns akimbo style; players start with dual pistols and can add shotguns, machine guns, and other weapons to the mix to use in pairs or to alternate. The shotguns for example do great damage; but are slow to fire. The machine guns spew bullets at an amazing rate but are not the most accurate of choices which for moving targets and incoming projectiles makes things a challenge.
The country themed humor and abundance of enemies and locales makes the game lots of fun and it is great to look around your V.R. raft and see the detailed amount of decorations that are along for the ride.
Players will also get the option to select which path to take during levels and can also opt to play the game in a multiplayer setting with another player.
One of the best endorsements I can give for the game is that my wife took a turn playing it and played through several sessions of the game. This is unique in while she does play games; she had not played a V.R. game since doing a demo before the PSVR was released at PAX as she found it gave her a headache. The new system updates have alleviated that and she played several other titles as well that evening.
The cartoon style graphics work well within the setting of the game and it is tons of fun to play as well as a real challenge at times.
If you own a V.R. system, I highly suggest Dick Wilde 2 as it is great shooter and lots of fun.
http://sknr.net/2019/03/17/dick-wilde-2-psvr/
For those who own a PSVR gaming system; there are numerous quality V.R. games available as the system has a number of great exclusives as well as some that are available for other V.R. platforms as well.
Dick Wilde 2 is a fun, challenging, and action filled adventure that casts players as the title character as you travel on your raft down rivers and waterways. Of course the areas are inhabited by all sorts of debris and mutated creatures so players have to shoot first and fast in order to survive.
Should a player make it to the end of the level; then they can by health, armor, new weapons, and more to help them better survive the challenges ahead. Using the Playstation Move Controller in a guns akimbo style; players start with dual pistols and can add shotguns, machine guns, and other weapons to the mix to use in pairs or to alternate. The shotguns for example do great damage; but are slow to fire. The machine guns spew bullets at an amazing rate but are not the most accurate of choices which for moving targets and incoming projectiles makes things a challenge.
The country themed humor and abundance of enemies and locales makes the game lots of fun and it is great to look around your V.R. raft and see the detailed amount of decorations that are along for the ride.
Players will also get the option to select which path to take during levels and can also opt to play the game in a multiplayer setting with another player.
One of the best endorsements I can give for the game is that my wife took a turn playing it and played through several sessions of the game. This is unique in while she does play games; she had not played a V.R. game since doing a demo before the PSVR was released at PAX as she found it gave her a headache. The new system updates have alleviated that and she played several other titles as well that evening.
The cartoon style graphics work well within the setting of the game and it is tons of fun to play as well as a real challenge at times.
If you own a V.R. system, I highly suggest Dick Wilde 2 as it is great shooter and lots of fun.
http://sknr.net/2019/03/17/dick-wilde-2-psvr/
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated Alien: Blackout in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
FoxNext and D3 Go have presented Alien fans a new game for mobile devices entitled Alien: Blackout. When it was first announced; many fans thought it was the Alien Shooter that had been announced earlier in 2018 but that is to come at a later date according to FoxNext.
The game has players play as Amanda Ripley; Daughter of the main character of the “Alien” film series and star of the Alien: Isolation game. Although it is described as not being a sequel to Alien: Isolation, Amanda does briefly mention events from the game as her prior experience with the title creature.
Hidden in an Air Vent; Amanda must direct members of a docked shuttle through seven levels as they attempt to locate items and accomplish tasks needed to escape.
There is of course an Alien on the loose and using Motion Trackers, video cameras, and luck, players have to protect Amanda and the shuttle crew as the movie around the map.
The Alien can come after Amanda who can protect herself by closing a vent. The issue is in doing so she cannot look at the map and cameras, and as such The Alien can vanish anywhere including one of the other tunnels that lead to her. Having to watch two or three tunnels as well as a map can be difficult as players have to rely on sound and luck to assume when the Alien is creeping down a tunnel towards them.
Players also have to make hard choices like allowing the Alien to attack and kill a character so another one can move along toward a goal. Being able to open and close doors also allows Amanda to help fence in the creature but it does not always appear on the cameras and as such players have to guess where it is. Amanda can tell characters to hide or hurry up, but there is also the matter of a ticking clock which requires objectives to be completed before a timer runs out.
The game does offer some fun and challenge but is short as with only seven levels, you can complete the game in under an hour once you get the basics down. The game allows players to pick up from the chapter they last completed and does offer some fun cut scenes to enjoy.
The biggest issue is while affordable at $4.99 fans may want more out of the game as aside from the short play time; this style of game may not be the best use of the Alien franchise. It would make a great segment of a larger game but after guiding Amanda through Alien: Isolation; having her hide in vents and direct others seems to be a step down.
While Alien: Blackout is not the game that fans had hoped for; it does offer some decent entertainment and hopefully will tide players over until the next game in the series is released.
http://sknr.net/2019/01/31/alien-blackout/
The game has players play as Amanda Ripley; Daughter of the main character of the “Alien” film series and star of the Alien: Isolation game. Although it is described as not being a sequel to Alien: Isolation, Amanda does briefly mention events from the game as her prior experience with the title creature.
Hidden in an Air Vent; Amanda must direct members of a docked shuttle through seven levels as they attempt to locate items and accomplish tasks needed to escape.
There is of course an Alien on the loose and using Motion Trackers, video cameras, and luck, players have to protect Amanda and the shuttle crew as the movie around the map.
The Alien can come after Amanda who can protect herself by closing a vent. The issue is in doing so she cannot look at the map and cameras, and as such The Alien can vanish anywhere including one of the other tunnels that lead to her. Having to watch two or three tunnels as well as a map can be difficult as players have to rely on sound and luck to assume when the Alien is creeping down a tunnel towards them.
Players also have to make hard choices like allowing the Alien to attack and kill a character so another one can move along toward a goal. Being able to open and close doors also allows Amanda to help fence in the creature but it does not always appear on the cameras and as such players have to guess where it is. Amanda can tell characters to hide or hurry up, but there is also the matter of a ticking clock which requires objectives to be completed before a timer runs out.
The game does offer some fun and challenge but is short as with only seven levels, you can complete the game in under an hour once you get the basics down. The game allows players to pick up from the chapter they last completed and does offer some fun cut scenes to enjoy.
The biggest issue is while affordable at $4.99 fans may want more out of the game as aside from the short play time; this style of game may not be the best use of the Alien franchise. It would make a great segment of a larger game but after guiding Amanda through Alien: Isolation; having her hide in vents and direct others seems to be a step down.
While Alien: Blackout is not the game that fans had hoped for; it does offer some decent entertainment and hopefully will tide players over until the next game in the series is released.
http://sknr.net/2019/01/31/alien-blackout/
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Fort: Cats and Dogs Expansion in Tabletop Games
Feb 3, 2022
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.
This breakdown is for the expansion for the hit game Fort, and this expansion titled Fort: Cats & Dogs Expansion.
This expansion adds a bunch of Dog cards, some Cat cards, and four Doghouse tiles. The Dog and Cat components belong to their respective modules, and the expansion can be played with either module or both simultaneously.
The Dogs module will add Dogs to players’ starting decks. When a Dog is played, their need (the text immediately below their picture) must be fulfilled before their special action is completed. They may also be used as their normal icon to be played with the base game actions. Most Dog cards are then discarded to the players’ Doghouse. However, if Dogs end up in a player’s Yard, at the beginning of their turn they must discard the Dog to the neighbor’s Doghouse. The player with the most Dogs in their Doghouse at the end of the game scores a cool seven points!
Cats, however, are little terrors and have no loyalty to their owner and their special abilities may be lent to whomever currently controls the Cat card. Cats are attracted to certain players based on which cards are present in their Yard at the end of their turn. It is then that the Cat card moves to the player’s tableau and can offer ongoing effects. The other players may then attempt to lure the Cat card to their own Yards at the end of their turns as well. Players score more points at the end of the game for having more Cats attracted to their Yard.
In my opinion Fort did not need any expansions that change the game. However, after adding Cats & Dogs to my game I found that another level of attention must be paid to each turn if you wish to score these extra bonus points. For example, should a player monopolize all the Cats and also have the most Dogs, that will score them 17 bonus points at the end of the game! That is certainly nothing to sniff at. The cards feature great art, again by Kyle Ferrin, and the Doghouses are nice cardboard tiles. I still most certainly enjoy playing vanilla Fort, but I think that with other gamers who are familiar with the base game I will almost always include both Cats & Dogs modules in my games.
Official recommendation: If you are a fan of Fort, as we all are, then adding in Cats & Dogs may spice up your game for you. However, if you are a fan of Fort as is, then this is certainly not a must-have. I thoroughly enjoy this expansion, and like I mentioned – will probably always be adding it into my games, but Fort definitely stands on its own. It is a luxury expansion, yes, but it is also very affordable. So pick it up the next time you are filling your board game carts. I recommend it highly, and the value added far outweighs the cost for this reviewer. MORE FORT!!
This breakdown is for the expansion for the hit game Fort, and this expansion titled Fort: Cats & Dogs Expansion.
This expansion adds a bunch of Dog cards, some Cat cards, and four Doghouse tiles. The Dog and Cat components belong to their respective modules, and the expansion can be played with either module or both simultaneously.
The Dogs module will add Dogs to players’ starting decks. When a Dog is played, their need (the text immediately below their picture) must be fulfilled before their special action is completed. They may also be used as their normal icon to be played with the base game actions. Most Dog cards are then discarded to the players’ Doghouse. However, if Dogs end up in a player’s Yard, at the beginning of their turn they must discard the Dog to the neighbor’s Doghouse. The player with the most Dogs in their Doghouse at the end of the game scores a cool seven points!
Cats, however, are little terrors and have no loyalty to their owner and their special abilities may be lent to whomever currently controls the Cat card. Cats are attracted to certain players based on which cards are present in their Yard at the end of their turn. It is then that the Cat card moves to the player’s tableau and can offer ongoing effects. The other players may then attempt to lure the Cat card to their own Yards at the end of their turns as well. Players score more points at the end of the game for having more Cats attracted to their Yard.
In my opinion Fort did not need any expansions that change the game. However, after adding Cats & Dogs to my game I found that another level of attention must be paid to each turn if you wish to score these extra bonus points. For example, should a player monopolize all the Cats and also have the most Dogs, that will score them 17 bonus points at the end of the game! That is certainly nothing to sniff at. The cards feature great art, again by Kyle Ferrin, and the Doghouses are nice cardboard tiles. I still most certainly enjoy playing vanilla Fort, but I think that with other gamers who are familiar with the base game I will almost always include both Cats & Dogs modules in my games.
Official recommendation: If you are a fan of Fort, as we all are, then adding in Cats & Dogs may spice up your game for you. However, if you are a fan of Fort as is, then this is certainly not a must-have. I thoroughly enjoy this expansion, and like I mentioned – will probably always be adding it into my games, but Fort definitely stands on its own. It is a luxury expansion, yes, but it is also very affordable. So pick it up the next time you are filling your board game carts. I recommend it highly, and the value added far outweighs the cost for this reviewer. MORE FORT!!
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated Titanfall - Expedition in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
Fans of Titanfall can celebrate the release of three new maps in the brand-new Titanfall Expedition DLC. The collection retails for $9.99 but is available for $24.99 for those who wish to save some money and purchase all three of the planned content packs ahead of time at a reduced price.
While the collection does not offer anything new in terms of gameplay modes, weaponry, or significant upgrades, what it does offer is three new highly enjoyable and highly detailed maps which can be played in both attrition and variety pack modes.
Attrition is the classic Team Death Match where essentially if it moves, shoot it, while the variety pack is like having the game on iTunes shuffle as you could be playing Capture the Flag one moment and attrition the next.
Swamplands is the first pack that I played and this is an interesting mix of combat in the Temple as well as within a swamp as the name would suggest. With plenty of roots, trees, and various to hide it could be a sniper’s delight but for those stealthy enough to take advantage the cloaking abilities you can point your opponents and rack up some impressive streaks. I found that alternating between my Wingman side arm and machine gun work very well and I was not against using some up-close melee combat to finish enemies off.
For me setting my Titan in auto mode was the best option due to some tricky terrain that time could create bottlenecks and leave your Titan a sitting duck.
Wagames takes the best of Titanfall’s industrial maps and combines them into a combat simulator complete with holographic displays and environments. There were some Tron-esque elements to the landscaping and I love the elevated platforms it allowed me to take out enemies arriving via dropship below and pouncing down upon them and enemy Titans that passed by. With a nice mix of street combat as well as rooftop and building interiors this is ideal for run and gun gameplay enthusiasts such as myself.
Runoff is the final map and the least unique of the new offerings. That being said it is extremely well designed in that the feature of the map is that it is best suited for gamers who were on the move. Set in a water filtration plant, everything from Walks and towers, to ditches and drains make up this environment and the ability to leap from one environment into the water is very enjoyable.
There is a nice mix between close quarter and ranged combat and having a nice variety in your combat areas does allow for a welcome change of pace.
While none of the new maps are certain to be items that push you over the top if you’re already on the fence about purchasing the game, remember you are essentially paying $3.33 per map, less if you purchase a season pass. So in summary, while it is not necessary to have it certainly adds to the enjoyment level of the game in that you get three new diverse and enjoyable environments in which to test your skills at a very affordable price which makes it very easy for me to recommend.
The collection is available for the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 versions of the game.
http://sknr.net/2014/06/02/titanfal-expedition/
While the collection does not offer anything new in terms of gameplay modes, weaponry, or significant upgrades, what it does offer is three new highly enjoyable and highly detailed maps which can be played in both attrition and variety pack modes.
Attrition is the classic Team Death Match where essentially if it moves, shoot it, while the variety pack is like having the game on iTunes shuffle as you could be playing Capture the Flag one moment and attrition the next.
Swamplands is the first pack that I played and this is an interesting mix of combat in the Temple as well as within a swamp as the name would suggest. With plenty of roots, trees, and various to hide it could be a sniper’s delight but for those stealthy enough to take advantage the cloaking abilities you can point your opponents and rack up some impressive streaks. I found that alternating between my Wingman side arm and machine gun work very well and I was not against using some up-close melee combat to finish enemies off.
For me setting my Titan in auto mode was the best option due to some tricky terrain that time could create bottlenecks and leave your Titan a sitting duck.
Wagames takes the best of Titanfall’s industrial maps and combines them into a combat simulator complete with holographic displays and environments. There were some Tron-esque elements to the landscaping and I love the elevated platforms it allowed me to take out enemies arriving via dropship below and pouncing down upon them and enemy Titans that passed by. With a nice mix of street combat as well as rooftop and building interiors this is ideal for run and gun gameplay enthusiasts such as myself.
Runoff is the final map and the least unique of the new offerings. That being said it is extremely well designed in that the feature of the map is that it is best suited for gamers who were on the move. Set in a water filtration plant, everything from Walks and towers, to ditches and drains make up this environment and the ability to leap from one environment into the water is very enjoyable.
There is a nice mix between close quarter and ranged combat and having a nice variety in your combat areas does allow for a welcome change of pace.
While none of the new maps are certain to be items that push you over the top if you’re already on the fence about purchasing the game, remember you are essentially paying $3.33 per map, less if you purchase a season pass. So in summary, while it is not necessary to have it certainly adds to the enjoyment level of the game in that you get three new diverse and enjoyable environments in which to test your skills at a very affordable price which makes it very easy for me to recommend.
The collection is available for the PC, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 versions of the game.
http://sknr.net/2014/06/02/titanfal-expedition/