Some people are scared to try out Indie Games, in fear of “wasting their money”, but Reus, developed by Abbey Games and published by SOEDESCO Publishing, is certainly worth the money spent.
Reus starts out with an extremely long tutorial. If you pay attention to the tutorial and don’t skip through it, it can easily take upwards of two hours. While you can skip through the tutorial, it's not advised. There are many different commands, features, and button combinations that you wouldn’t be able to figure out without going through the tutorial.
In Reus, you control the planet as different gods to create different land biomes and make the world habitable to people who will soon inhabit it. Throughout the game, one of your main goals is to keep the different “tribes” of people happy while also preventing them from waging war on each other. In the game, you can only control your gods (referred to by developers as “Giants”). The fate of the human population depends completely on your actions by controlling your giants – the player has no control over the humans.
Throughout the game, you’ll need to provide the inhabitants of your planet with resources such as water, plants, and animals to keep them happy, but not too happy. Soon, your inhabitants will get greedy and begin waging war on each other to gain more resources, which isn’t the point of the game. Your goal is to keep everything balanced in your world for the duration of the round (rounds can be in 60, 90, or 120-minute durations).
Reus was originally released in May 2013 for Microsoft Windows. It was then released on Linux and Mac in early 2014 and made it its final release on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in mid-October 2016. The average price across all platforms for Reus is $19.99/£15.67.
Overall, while I did enjoy playing Reus, I felt that after a while the gameplay became stale and the outcomes of my different choices started becoming the same. If I was to give Reus a rating, it would be 3.7 out of 5 Stars.
The Game Developer, Abbey Games, provided a copy of this game for the sole purpose of conducting a review on the game.
At the start of September, console players on PS4 and XB1 finally got the opportunity to get hands on with BF V in the form of a pre-release beta. PC players had previously had this opportunity in the the form of an earlier alpha. XB1 Squad Staff member JoeyWarFighter of Iron Horse squad was one of those who spent a chunk of time in the week long beta access to get some insight into the Fall release of the latest edition of the Battlefield series. Here are his thoughts on his BFV beta experiences.
I have had play time with BFV before the beta. I was lucky enough to get into the second alpha test for PC. I was more excited for the beta though at the time. With the beta taking its course here are my impressions of the Battlefield V beta. For a little bit, I had to learn the new learning curve (TTK, getting ammo and health, etc). After I had that studied, the TTK felt a lot like a mixture of BF3/BF4. Next, it was time for me to find the weapon to have my back. Those weapons would included the Sten SMG, The Gewher 43, The Erma SMG, and the STG 44. With my time using some of the guns, I really like how you can earn camos just by using the desired weapon. My favorite camo is the Urban Tactical. The thing that confused me though was the upgrade system. Why give us so much stuff to upgrade without no negative consequences? I also wish they could just scrap this system in general and go back to BF4's attachment system (although there would be less options to choose from) you could make this system happen. The STG 44 and the ZH-29 were OP and that's kinda expected during beta phases.
Rotterdam was a welcome addition to the game, because I was so sick of Narvik but, now that i think about it, it's the only map I knew very well or had passed experience on because of my involvement in the second closed alpha and it turned out that both of the maps are good in there own way. I can't explain it at this time but, both maps are good. The fortification system is also another welcome addition to the game too. its a good way to defend positions (like the D flag on Rotterdam and the AA guns on Narvik) and to create new pathways (Bridge building on Rotterdam). DICE can do great things with this system and I can't wait to see what they do with it next. On the vehicle side of things, I tried the German Panzer IV and found out quickly that I was not going to be using tanks in this game unless i was forced to. Planes on the other hand is a different story. So, they have a complex flying system and a arcade flying system. When I found this out i was a very happy boy. If there was one question that really wanted the to, it was this one and i'm glad that the answer was Yes. So both flight systems from past battlefield games have made it into this game and with this. I piloted the Messerschmitt BF 109 to my heart's content. This mattered to me the most because of my grandfathers involvement in WWII. He was a plane mechanic and ill never forget his service.
Some other smaller things that i didn't like and have discussed with my squad are the DBNO (Down but not out) system and the bullet count for primary and secondary weapons or a.k.a the attrition system. Some of my squad mates have asked me why they can't execute an enemy when they are down? My answer to them is because of the Geneva Convention. Yes, this was the answer being mentioned as the reason why we can't execute players from DICE in an interview with Design Director, Dan Berlin hosted by the Youtuber named Jackfrags. Although, I get the legitimacy of the Geneva Convention, You as the player (if your not too huge into history or don't like history at all) need to understand that the Germans didn't give a crap, they were ruthless, especially during the Blitzkrieg phase of the German war machine. This mentality carried over to the Allies side as well to the end of the war. Being in a squad full of veterans from different branches of the US military, they found this answer...displeasing. The attrition system does need to be worked on as well. The question that was asked was why are we allowed one or two extra mags or clips but for our sidearm we have NINE extra mags? I couldn't give them a straight answer because I didn't know the answer either but, the answer was the attrition system.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with the beta and with the recent changes on cutting down on wacky customization and future changes to systems I didn't like. I can't wait to see the final product of the game. It's a shame that we won't get the co-op mode at launch because I really wanted to play it.
For all you car lovers out there, the sensational Horizon series is back with a bang! The open world racing game developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft Studios will be released on October 2nd on Xbox One and PC, unfortunately it will not be released on PS4.
Horizon 4 is set in the United Kingdom and has more vehicles and special events then before. So what's different you ask? For starters the game has introduced season changes, which means it will cycle through the four seasons as you progress through your career, a first for a car game. Horizon 4 will also feature over 450 cars, including a James Bond pack which will feature the classic Aston Martin DB5 and other cars from the films. The developers have added subtle little features which will make all the difference. Such as when you are playing the game in the winter season, lakes will be frozen and you will encounter black ice on the roads, making races and cruising more difficult. Another feature they have added to the season pack is ‘unreachable places’. For example, during the winter season certain roads will be unacceptable, but when spring and summer come around you are free to explore them. An interesting feature none the less as you are limited to time exploring them. Playground Games have not released much information as they want players to learn all about the game when it is released.
Forza Horizon 4 demo is currently available to download from the Xbox and Microsoft store, I’ve personally played it and it looks awesome. It's been a long wait since Horizon 3 but soon the wait will be over and we can enjoy modifying our cars and roaming the countryside once again with friends or riding solo.
Are you looking forward to Forza Horizon 4? What do you think of the James Bond pack? Let us know your thoughts below!
The Playstation 4 Fortnite cross platform beta is finally here and it's the first step in the right direction.
After PS4 completed a comprehensive evaluation process, they have decided that it would be best for the PS community to join in the thousands of other Fortnite players and introduce the cross play beta, which you can play today. The first step Sony is taking to allow PS4 Fortnite players to play with other players from Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Mac operating systems.
All PS4 players need to do to play with other console gamer's is just to play Fortnite. There is no current beta close date, Sony are going to monitor and study the results from the beta and keep the community posted on what is going to happen for the future.
You can follow the updates by checking the PS4 community on your PS Network home.
Excited by this beta? Do you have an opinion on the decision to finally introduce cross play? Please comment below and let us know!
To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of
@TG Valhalla
Head Trainer
TG Badge Descriptions
in Tactical Adventures
as such from this 30th day of September 2018.
This appointee will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the grade to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto pertaining. And I do strictly charge and require all personnel of lesser grade to render obedience to appropriate orders. And this appointee is to observe and follow such orders and directions as may be given from time to time by Superiors acting according to the rules and articles governing the discipline of Tactical Adventures.
Given under my hand at the Tactical Adventures Command on this 30th day of September 2018.
Signed by:
DBLDeathDealer
General of Tactical Adventures
TA Chief of Staff
Rockstar Energy Drink have launched a competition with Bungie web for the Destiny community. Commencing October 7, the Open round begins where in game challenges must be met. First up in the opening week is Crucible, the second week will focus on Strikes and week 3 will involve the new game mode introduced with the Forsaken DLC, Gambit. What these challenges involve has yet to be announced, but in order to compete in these challenges, players MUST register their entry (you'll find the link to the details at the bottom of this article).
For the players who meet the challenge requirements, they will progress within their field into the Legendary round on October 28, again starting with Crucible, then Strikes the next week followed by Gambit. But to progress out of this round into the next, whatever challenges are set, the players need to be in the top 200 within that category.
The Qualifier Round featuring those 600 players go into a Gambit event, scheduled for November 25, where they will compete to be in the final 4. Those 4 will get a paid for trip to Bungie Studios where they will compete against the Bungie team, which will go out live on Twitch.
To see more details on the competition and register your entry, click this LINK
To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of
@TG GRINCHY
I hereby award one (1) Instance of the
Outstanding volunteer Medal
Grinchy has gone above and beyond for divisions within TG to help them with all the graphics they need. Grinchy has been making a lot of graphics for a division he's not even a part of and he has been praised by staff from the division. Thanks to his great work the division has everything it needs and he is helping it succeed with his work. Thank you for the outstanding work you're doing and keep it up
The Outstanding Volunteer Award is given to an individual who has performed outstanding volunteer service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature, to further Tactical Gaming’s cause. While there is no specific time threshold to qualify for the Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Chain of Command (CoC) shall ensure the service to be honored merits the special recognition afforded by this award. This award is intended to recognize exceptional volunteer work over time and not a single act or achievement.
Given under my hand Web Team on this 13th day of September 2018.
Signed:
In this installment of the 'Thank you for your TG service' series. I am interviewing Captain Razgriz117 of the Ghost Recon Division's PC Brigade, 1st Battalion's Commanding Officer. He and I have served the Ghost Recon division together for quite some time. It has been, and continues to be an honor to serve the GR Division with him.
TGxLadicius: What brought you to our community?
Razgriz117: I was frustrated with the way mainstream shooters were being played by the majority of their player populations. It seemed to me that adventure shooters games like Call of Duty had popularized the run-and-gun approach to shooting games because of their forgiving nature, which was designed to make the games appeal to a wider audience than games like Arma or Battlefield. Eventually, this bled into the shooter genre in general and I found myself longing for a more cooperative and strategic tactical experience. That's when I sought out a group of people to play with and found Tactical Gaming.
TGxLadicius: What would you say has been your greatest difficulty you've had in TG?
Razgriz117: The greatest difficulty I have experienced has taken place during my command of my battalion. It is a combination of my efforts to not just drive my men to recruit members, but also effectively retain existing members by providing a sense of engagement and comradery. It's challenging to do all of these simultaneously, but I think I have my squad staff to thank for how well our battalion has faired and how much it has grown. In the end, they are the ones who have executed the right procedures and instilled their subordinates with a feeling of community and duty. For this reason and others, they are a great source of pride for me as their commanding officer.
TGxLadicius: There are many programs and tools available to us in TG. Which would you say has been the most helpful to you?
Razgriz117: Without a doubt, I think the CPP initiative is the most useful. I believe it is an indispensable tool in ensuring our battalion continues to operate as per protocol (and indeed that all the individual cells of our organization operate similarly) but also in determining in what ways members of our CoC might need assistance from their mentors to ensure that they are serving their men to the highest standards of ethics, efficiency, and effectiveness.
TGxLadicius: What would you say is your greatest moment in TG (to date)?
Razgriz117: Any time I am able to honor my men for their service is a great moment. But perhaps the greatest I have experienced was the moment when 1st Battalion finally grew from one to two sustainable squads. This may seem insignificant to members of larger battalions, but as the Ghost Recon community is smaller on PC than on other gaming platforms, this was a huge milestone for our battalion and indeed our brigade as a whole.
TGxLadicius: What advice would you give to fellow members of CoC? Also, what advice would you offer to other TG members?
Razgriz117: To my fellow members of the CoC: honor your men. Recognize their efforts and value what they do in service of you and our organization, for without them you are nothing. Treat each of them as you would you family and they will follow you to into conflict without hesitation and adhere to your word as law. Be kind to them and they will show you nothing but the utmost respect. To my fellow members of TG: be kind to one another, respect your superiors, adhere to protocol, but don't forget to have fun through it all. If we all enjoy ourselves, our bonds will be stronger and our community will grow.
Thank you for you time in this interview, and thank you for your TG service Captain @Razgriz117!
Fortnite Division passes trial phase! Welcome to TG!
To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of
TG Wynend, MissVendettaXO, TG Boyoroyo, and CoGeo567Co
Are hereby award
One (1) Instance of the Medal of Excellence, Achievement Medal, and Leadership Medal
TG_Jupiter, Thendoren, M4TT3H-2Ts, TG Unggoy, TG Squishy, TG No Skillz, TG AlphaSierra, and TG Big Dave
Are hereby award
One (1) Instance of the Leadership Medal and Achievement Medal
GimliTheDwarf59, Pittsco, jim2jam, FISURMAN75, Gutlessgymnast, Skull Intruder, TG-CRiiMSON, Slick82reeves, dg_cato, Baby_Soup2020, Xsniperaddictx, twitchbeast0406, Richmoney, DRACHEN_FLOWER, streetx020, AbbotRoad, LivewireCK, TG_DarkA, Jacob_02169, Tat2NZ, and TGxtonyhowell12
Are hereby award
One (1) Instance of the Achievement Medal
Medals Descriptions
Given under my hand at Tactical Warfare Command on this 9th day of September 2018.
For continued service to the community through competition; for continually representing TG in an admirable and professional fashion, and for placing in the top 1% of teams on the planet for finishing the new Destiny Raid. Tactical Gaming was represented professionally through a stream that was HEAVILY followed as our warriors forged a path that has never been taken before, setting the tone for the rest of the world to follow.
To all who shall see these presents, greeting:
Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of
Danny2step, Tripoc710, TW-SARGE, Fmurad, V69_WARPARTY_V69, Thendoren (JaiyoHD), TG-TheProfessor, and Calvinium
Are hereby award
One (1) Instance of the Bronze Star Medal
One (1) Instance of the Combat Operations Medal
One (1) Instance of the Tactical Gaming Medal
TW-SARGE and Danny2step
One (1) Instance of the Instrumental Leaders Medal
Medals Descriptions
Given under my hand at 2nd Corps on this 9th day of September 2018.
