Gameplay

When I first saw footage of Titanfall, the nerd inside of me got extremely excited. Mechs?! Guns?! Ex-Call of Duty team?! I was sold. Then the more I read and saw, I was starting to get hesitant. Could the gaming gods at Respawn really pull off the infantry and mech portions of the game? How about the cool parkour? It just seemed too ambitious and loft. Well, after spending many hours drooling (and sweating) over the keyboard, I can say that this game lives up to the huge amount of hype it's managed to garner. First off, the game feels TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT (ok, no more Breaking Bad references) in every way, especially for a beta. The gunplay, the mech controls, the weapons; it's all fast, furious and extremely intense action. I don't use that world lightly. I can't imagine playing more than an hour or so at a time of this game because the excitement and intensity might make your brain explode. I do wonder about longetivity of game modes and maps. I hope content remains fresh and new. Either way, whether it's the default mode or Last Mech Standing, the gamplay is stellar.

Even the loadout screens are Nerdgasmic.

Graphics and Sound

Anymore, loading up a game on PC feels like gambling most of the time. "Ohhhh please don't be an unoptimized, buggy mess!" constantly enters my mind but thankfully, Titanfall looks great and runs quite smooth. I didn't run into any technical issues running the game (except server issues) and I thought the game looked fantastic. Details were sharp, cityscapes were gritty and lush vegetation in areas that it needed to be. One item of particular note was the awesome rocket effects in the mechs. Drool centrals. The loadout screens are awesome and polished along side the interface as a whole. Some more polish wouldn't hurt in some areas, but this was a beta after all.

Way better than Halo. Yeah, I just typed that.

Along with the graphics, the audio were a nice tour de force through Mech and combat geekmania. Weapon sounds are different but awesome, music was appropriate when active and voices were pretty sweet on the mini screens. Mechs sound and feel beefy with stellar weapon effects and stomping metal feet sounds as you crush your enemies. Overall, an audio delight and one portion I can't wait to hear more of.

Fun

Look, I'm not gonna lie. Just a few short weeks ago, I was very hesitant towards Titanfall. I almost thought I'd dislike the beta altogether. Instead, I was treated to something rare. Something different but also something familiar enough to jump right in. I loved every minute of my time with the game and an extremely excited to play the full version. If you have even the slightest interest in mech and our unique shooters, this game is a must. It's coming to PC and Microsoft consoles March 11th. Buck up and preorder soldier! You won't regret it..

Intro

Look, we here at Digital Hippos like to play games and we like to play good games. Wow, that was deep. We don't like sucky titles. Anywho, we suffer through the crap and show you what games really matter. While most of these games have yet to be released, we have picked the best, brightest and of course, the most fun gaming gems out there or on the horizon. If you thought you were buried with good releases currently, just wait til you see what's coming! Without further delay, here.. we.. go. (Name that movie!)

Featured Game - Grim Dawn

http://store.steampowered.com/app/219990/

While action RPGs are becoming more and more common, amazingly polished and fun aRPGs are not so common. A lot of Diablo-esque ripoffs have been released over the years but one we've have our eye on for several years now is Crate Entertainment's Grim Dawn. When I first saw this announced my Diablo and Titan Quest geek inside screamed out "YES!!" Well after an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign and some magic performed by a small yet talented team, Grim Dawn is now in alpha form available on Steam early access -- w00t! If you played Titan Quest, you'll feel right at home. The team has licensed the engine and it rocks! Weather is dark, damp and murky. This fits the mood and story of the dark campaign perfectly. Graphics are tight, sound is awesome and gameplay is extremely polished for an alpha. Loot and weapons are a blast to collect and tweak. If you even have the slightest interest in Diablo style games, GET. THIS. NOW. You'll thank us later. Our featured game choice was an easy one, this is high on our hype list.

realMyst: Masterpiece Edition

http://store.steampowered.com/app/244430/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1

Oh Myst, how we love thee. Has it really been 20 years since you enticed up with your revolutionary graphics, music, ambient sounds and devious puzzles. Yes folks, 20. years. Wow. Anywho, if you've never played the game or just want to revisit the island and world that Cyan created, you need to check out the Masterpiece Edition. It features free roaming, advanced graphic features of the latest video cards and best of all, day/night cycles and enhanced effects. As the Cyan gaming gurus prep the next installment of Myst for us, this is by far the best way to revisit a classic or discover it for a whole new generation of gamers. This is not Call of Duty and that is a good thing.. time to revisit an absolute classic with modern technology. BAM! This little gaming nugget is available on Steam now.

Divinity: Original Sin

http://store.steampowered.com/app/230230/

Remember Divine Divinity? If you don't, shame on you. It was an amazingly deep RPG title for the PC oh so many years ago. Guess what? A new title is currently in beta/early access on Steam! I must say, I am extremely impressed with the latest tweaks, content and visual style of this game. With both a female and male lead, it's an absolute blast not only created and designing you characters but exploring and looting a huge world. Spell effects are fantastic, animations are silky smooth and I love all the class choices and hybrid posibilities. Like RPGs at all? Then check this out STAT! Larian Studios has a group of extremely talented peeps and they deserve your support and you deserve a stellar gaming experience. This is it!

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II

http://neocoregames.com/van_helsing_2

While I can't disclose much due to this game still being in closed beta, let's just say the team at Neocore Games has some of the most talented artists, programmers and musicians on the planet. If you haven't played the first title, you're dead to me. No, really, check it out on Steam ASAP! It was one of the best surprises of late for me and it combines both horror, Steampunk, humor (!), action, RPG and a bit o' Diablo style game play for those who are into that. Unless you dislike awesome games, you should pick up the first game now and then eat, sleep, drink and dream about the second title in the series. With tons more content, classes, tweaks and baddies to slay, WE CANNOT WAIT for May for this bad boy to come out. Hey, you can purchase a supporter pack and play the beta right now. You're welcome.

Starpoint Gemini 2

http://store.steampowered.com/app/236150/

Space Sims. Drool. While the world anxiously awaits Chris Roberts opus, there are plenty of other games in the genre to not only keep us busy but excite us, entertain us and impress us. Starpoint Gemini 2 is one of those games and it's available on Early Access via Steam right now! Boo yeah. Anywho, if you have even the slightest interest in space at all, you owe it to yourself to pick this little baby up right now. Stop typing, click on the click above and jump into this bad boy. While still in beta, there is plenty to do, see, shoot and blow up right now. I love little hidden gems and this is one of those games that deserves your time and attention. GET 'ER DONE!

Gameplay

Does Diablo III, let alone the Diablo universe really need an introduction? Not really but if you really need it, here you go: So you are a hero and you always end up fighting Diablo. Happy now? Well, that's not exactly true for the much anticipated expansion that we are checking out today, Reaper of Souls. When launched in 2012, the original Diablo III came with much fanfare but also many venemous comments and critiques. I won't say how many hours I spent burning, freezing and just plain obliterating the many enemies of Sanctuary but I will say that almost my first play through, I just kept feeling like I was being punished or maybe better described as the carrot-on-the-stick syndrome but the carrot was nigh unreachable, unless I went to the Auction House to buy gear. I am pleased to say, with the Auction House gone and drop rates up, THIS feels like the Diablo III we all wanted and then some. Apart from the beautiful yet dark (just like we like it!) campaign, the game really opens up after you beat it. Upon kicking some serious Death arse, you open up Adventure Mode and Nephelem Rifts, the true heart and soul of Reaper of Souls (Pun intended) -- Now, don't get me wrong, the campaign is HUGE improvement of much of vanilla DIII but most people will rush through it.

I can't emphasize enough the rewarding feeling that RoS has compared to the original game. Through Nephelam Rifts, Adventure Mode and playing the campaign at harder and harder difficulties, the rewards, improvements and fun just keep coming. Yes, it still sucks to run into a super tough pack of Vortex Arcane Extra Health Super Duper Unbeatable packs of elites and that has never been fun but at least they have the possibility of dropping some good loot! Also, chests, pots and bosses have a bigger chance of dropping Legendaries (Finally) -- Overall, this is the game you've been seeking and for the first time in years, I can't wait to see what Team Diablo has in store for us next... (!)

See all those legendaries? That would never happen in the original game..

Graphics and Sound

The original game was definitely a mixed bag back at launch. Overall, Diablo III is a gorgeous game with some lush backgrounds, spooky environments and a lot of bright, flashy colors. Something was missing though and that was maybe a little bit darker and atmospheric environments. Along with that, there are no real time lighting effects for spells, etc. That being said, Reaper has a lot better looking and darker environments IMHO. The marshes are fantastic, the event areas are spooky and creatures more intimidating and grotesque. While the real time lighting is still lacking and dissapointing in 2014, the game is no slouch. Effects are stunning and overall, I was very pleased tearing through Westmarch and other worlds as I popped around the game. Be sure to check out the 1440p screenshots and video footage below to get a test of our Wizard in action. A large step in the right direction, now give us higher end graphic options in the next game!

Apart from the lush graphics, the sound is improved, especially in the music departmeny for Reaper of Souls. The sound effects and voices are just as impressive as the first game but once again, seems a tad more polished. There is a ton of dialogue to dive into in between missions and I really enjoyed hearing it all. Another step in the right direction and let's hope someday Blizzard can hire back Matt Uleman and then we'd be in geek heaven..

Moody. Dark. Delicious.

Fun

A polished Blizzard game is always a treat and Reaper of Souls fits that bill nicely. Regardless of how polished a game is, the fun factor always wins out and in this case, I am happy to say that Reaper of Souls is a ton of fun. No more grinding baddies for hours on end just to trash compact 3,000 uniques that are worthless. Instead, I always had something to do and it was just SOMETHING to do, it was a fun, exciting and getting upgrades was an absolute blast. Also, some of the Legendaries I received were an absolute riot. A wand that laughs at you when you die? Check. A super awesome trinket that resembles Deadmau5? Check. Other surprises are in store but I won't ruin the.. fun. That's right, this game is FUN and I can't recommended it enough. Perfect? Nope. But a huge step towards the Diablo III we always wanted and a precursor to hopefully cooler and cooler stuff to come. Good job Blizzard, you have restored this fan's faith.

The Scoop

UPDATE: Check out the 24 Hour Adrenaline rush including FFlash giveaways, loads of flash sales and other contests. GOG RULES!!

Whether or not you've heard of or even checked out GOG.com before, you should definitely jump over there right now. The 2014 DRM-FREE SUMMER SALE is on now and it is freaking awesome. I just picked up the entire Wing Commander Saga for under $10 bucks. Also, I have been watching (and buying) a ton off the hourly flash deals that are an absolute steal, even compared to another big Summer Sale going on right now.. *cough*Steam*cough*

Beyond the amazing games at insanely low prices, the fact that you get awesome GOG exclusives like FLAC soundtracks, artwork, etc with a lot of games, there is NO DRM schemes, traps and annoyances to be had, at all. I have bought way too many games on this sale but I am glad to say, I haven't had a single issue with any game either new or old. That being said, even if you do have issues getting a game to run, the folks at GOG offer a 30 day money back guarantee. Seriously, go buy some games, NOW. You're welcome.

Gameplay

"Oh, the places you'll go!" Honestly, that was the first quip that came to my mind when I really I dug into The Elder Scrolls Online. After I got past the initial frustrations of the economy, the chat, and grouping systems. "What is the new devilry?!" was what I had to keep asking myself. Props to Bethesda and the ESO dev team for going out on a limb and bucking the trends of your generic WoW clones and wannabes but for everything that is stellar, there are a few heardscratchers. Now, let's back up a bit shall we? Why even wait so long to release a review of a game that came out months ago? Well, let's start at the beginning.. First off, The character generation and starting areas of the game are absolutely stellar. With a strict attention to detail and a level of polish, even at launch, is extremely impressive to say the least. I had very few connection problems at all throughout most of my play sessions. Technically, the game is quite amazing. Now, after you get a million items in the starting area, you want to sell those on the auction house.. right? Nope. There is no public marketplace or auction house. You have to join a guild to sell your items in an auction style format. Great idea, right? Not if the interface and search engine completely sucks. Yep, for every good idea, there seems to be something that holds it back. Yes, there are mods but come on, this game has been in dev for years.

"Oh the places you'll go!"

For better or worse, most of the convential MMORPGs elements are different here in ESO. While that is extremely refreshing in some ways, it's really painful to have such an item heavy game and such a poor economic interface and design. Also, dungeons, while extremely fun, detailed and for the most part, well designed and integrated into the story, it's painful to see "LFG Spindle!" being spammed over and over. There are options to find groups but it seems backwards and outdated in the age of dungeon finders. You may enjoy that change but we found it quite tedious. Without killing all the fun and spilling all the games secrets, the the strongest point is there IS a ton to do, explore, find and discover for yourself. YOU be the judge if it's worth your mighty gaming dollar but for us, we thought it was worth several months of game time and you may find even more..

Malificent - Summer 2014

Graphics and Sound

If you can't tell by the untouched screenshots in this article, this game looks fantastic and in some areas, absolutely jaw dropping. I took almost 600 screenshots during my months of playtime and I wish I could include them all here. This is eye candy at it's finest, especially for a MMO. While some textures are lacking in detail, for the most part, every area is either a blistering desert, a shimmering oasis or deep, dank cave but what shines the most is the amazing spell effects, skyshard glow and other lighting effects. The character design and facial animation is a huge leap beyond previous Elder Scrolls titles as well and that deserves special mention. Overall, It's stunning to behold and if you have a machine beefy enough to handle it, MAX this sucker out. You won't regret it! A staggering acheivement in both design and execution, THIS is how you do the graphics and effects in a MMORPG. Be sure to check out our industry 1440p video and screenshots below!

If the graphics and effects aren't good enough, you will absolutely be immersed by the stellar sound effects and soundtrack to boot. Still not impressed? How about an all star cast of talented voice actors? Well, this game is chock full of several hours of full voiced quest and story dialogue. While you may get annoyed by some recycled actors a la Skyrim and Oblivion, you can't help to be impressed by the sheer amount of ear candy in this game. Audio and video wise, I can't imagine this game getting any better...

Barbie Horse Adventures Online!

Fun

Well, here we arrive at last, for me, the most important part of any game: Is it any fun?! This game is a polished gem in a sea of lame WoW knockoffs, quest and level grinding borefests and other missteps so, there is definitely that to be considered. Did I have fun over the past several months with the game? Definitely. Do I think I'll still be playing this with my friends in a year from now? Probably not. While I praise the devs and had a blast, I can't help to think that making another single player adventure with a co-op option would have been a better option than trying to "force" a full blown MMORPG. That being said, I had fun. I got my money's worth and you will too! Jump in, enjoy the game and you be the judge.

We love summer because of all the lovely outdoor activities we can jump into but we are too in love with our games, Blu-rays and tech to care much about the outside world.. right?! While some games and movies just flat out rule, a whole other set just left us cold and wanted, even when the temps are 90+ outside. Enough of the cheesy weather talk, let's jump in! Anywho, here is a short list of what's hot and what's not on our list. First up, the hotties:

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Honestly, when this review code, the 41 GB (!) download was complete and the game fired up, my expectations were extremely low. Don't get me wrong, I have fond memories of the original DOS version of Wolfenstein and many late nights fragging friends and strangers in Return to Castle Wolfenstein but I just didn't have high hopes for the modern reboot that the folks at Bethesda and Machine Games had conjured up. Suffice it to say, I have never been more wrong.  From the stellar, cinematic intro to the strong voice acting but most of all, the disturbing but at same time, fantastic story, this is not your run of the mill, cookie cutter crap. The atmosphere is thick, the action heavy and the mood is exciting but extremely somber. Seriously, stop reading, buy this game now!

Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1 High-Fidelity Gaming Headset

Oh Audio-Technica, how we love thee! Oh.. ahh hem. Anywho, we keep wondering when the wizards at AT are going to send us something crappy to review. Not that we are wishing for it by any means but once again, we have an amazing piece of electronic deliciousness on our doorsteps and now, almost permananetly on our ears. Every single game (and movie) on this list were demo'd on the ATH-ADG1. Seriously, I was absolutely shocked regardless of what was playing on these beauty cans. The highs, detail and clarity are simply unmatched compared to anything else we've tested, TO DATE. We've had the privledge of checking out some pretty bad arse headphones and headsets over the past years but nothing is as razor-sharp as the sound that comes from these babies. I had to perform several checks and reboots just to make sure I was really was hearing as much clarity compared to my other sets in my mancave. Sure enough, these are comfy, gorgeous with just enough bass and more than enough crystal goodness. Buy these. Now. I compel you. HERE. You're welcome.

Age of Wonders III

I like surprises. I like pleasant surprises even better. Age of Wonders III is one of those games that due to its legacy, that is expected to be good but not THIS good. From the detailed opening title screen to the lush music, I was instantly intrigued. I've played, a lot of games that are similar to this one but nothing in recent memory that absolutely nails it in every department including graphics, sound, interface, story, detail and polish. Whether you want to follow the meaty campaigns, play scenarios against the CPU or troll peeps over online matches, this world is your oyster. Even better, this little (immense) gem is available on sale at both Steam and GOG so, pickyour poison, you are going to absolutely love it!

Brian May & Kerry Ellis: The Candlelight Concerts Blu-ray

Another pleasant surprise in a disc that I originally put in the "meh" category. Even though I love the members and music of Queen, I really thought this would just be a snoozefest. Once again, I was proven dead wrong. Not only is this a great set of music that was played live at Montreaux in 2013, the video quality is somewhat solid but the DTS-HD 5.1 audio is absolutely fantastic! Brian May's warm guitar and vocals especially shine in "Love of my Life" and the track itself is awesome inspiring at loud volumes. There are a ton of other classic and contemporary hits and lesser known tracks on this disc but be assured, all of them are crank worthy.. especially if you just want to chill. The folks at Eagle Vision have hit it out of the parkagain. You can check out the main disc page HERE.

*** The Lukewarm Section Not So Hot, No So Cold. Hey, they have to fit in somewhere*** 

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II

Well, I wanted to give this game five stars. The original was a flawed but fantastic game in its own right. It had charm, great level design, graphics, effects and the music... *sploosh* Sadly, the second entry in the series feels a bit.. meh. The enemies are just piled on and they feel like.. filler. Also, the humor seems a bit more forced this time. Don't get me wrong, this game still scored high enough to play and warrant a purchase but just don't expect that elated surprise that the first game was. Either way, the team at NeoCore is on the right track and with a bit more polish in combat, sound effects and LESS filler mobs, it really would be a top notch title. Either way, if you are sick of Diablo III or want to try something unique by a team of devs who love what they do, check the game out on Steam.

47 Ronin Blu-ray

What a difficult Blu-ray to give a score to. The video and audio? FIve stars. It looks gorgeous. It sounds stunning. The disc is produced with the greatest of polish and beauty. The film itself..? Where, that is where it goes into the lukewarm category. I really wanted to love this film, I did. I came in with a totally open heart, afterwords, my hope for Hollywood action blockbusters waned a bit. WHERE is the skelton tattoo dude on the movie poster?! He's in the film for literally 5 seconds. So much wasted potential. So much beauty in art, vidoe and sound but it doesn't help when the story and chraracters themselves are dreadfully boring. If you want a brainless action flick with varying degrees of quality throughout, this is for you. If you want a reference disc for audio and video demos, this is it as well. You be the judge!

Bound by Flame 

Hey, we are nice guys here and nobody likes to put any sort of game, movie or tech in the cold section, especially one we were looking so forward to! Honestly, the more I watched and learned about the game, I cautiously was more excited and optimistic as the release date approached. I installed this little bad boy and cranked my headphones. Sadly, after a strong opening with BEAUTIFUL (hence the higher score than it should have received) musical score, I was throw right into the middle of a fantasy world that sounded more like the dialogue from an episode of Jersey Shore. ATTENTION DEVELOPERS: Quit throwing in ton of adult language into games just to make them more edgy. It sounds juvenile. It sounds out of place. It sounds ridicioulous in an otherwise passable fantasy setting. Sheesh. This game could have been something incredilbe from the respectible Spiders studio but honestly, it feels like wasted potential, especially for the stellar soundtrack. If you can put up with the horrid dialogue, you may find an ok action adventure game.. maybe.. If you are interested, cheam it out on Steam, HERE.

Intro

So, you want relive all your childhood and teenage memories pumping quarters into fancy arcade machines at your local pizza joint, gas station or bowling alley 'eh? How about every console system from Atari 2600 to Super Nintendo? Not a problem either. When I discovered the magic of MAME and other emulators almost 15 years ago, the rush of nostalgia was overwhelming. I long for the long summer days racing down to the local gas station on my BMX bike in rural Utah to spend my hard earned $2 on Outrun, 720, Paperboy, Rolling Thunder and many other classics. Also, I remember the cold winter days that were filled with the bleeps and blops of Pitfall, Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog and many others. I've always wanted to have the arcade and console experience at home but never had the means (or space) until now.

Why play just arcade games when you can nerd it up with NES, SNES, Genesis, and more?!

The Parts and Pieces

The first step in seeking out my ultimate nerdy arcade cabinet dream was actually trying to find a cabinet at all. Do I build one myself? Do I buy an old Ms. Pacman, strip it down and repurpose? Or do I buy a prebuilt system with everything already done for me? There are many pros and cons to each option but in the end, I chose the Premium XL Xtension Cabinet from Rec Room Masters for their quality, flexibility and good looks. In short, I am glad I went this route and the quality of the Premium XL is absolutely fantastic. Although the door design leaves a little to be desired, that is a minor quibble compared to all the pros of such a solid, built in 'Murica piece of hardware. It supports up to a 27" flat screen display but I was able to barely fit in an Insignia 28" 720p HDTV I found from a local classified ad. It fits perfect and looks fantastic. With the cabinet built and my display mounted, not to mention our custom marquee from the wizards at Rec Room Masters, my excitement was rising to get this puppy rolling.

Next up, was deciding on the joystick and controls. Since the Premium XL was designed for the X-Arcade Tankstick, that choice was a no brainer. It slides right in and plugs in via USB for easy and almost instant action. More on that later. Next up, it was time for some premium speakers. I remember several arcade cabinets that were equipped with killer sound systems back in the day and they made a huge difference in the experience, alongside the quarters lined up on the screen and sometimes sticky floors. After testing several units, we went with the JBL Jembe computer speakers that fit perfectly in the XL and sound amazing! Just enough volume and plenty of bass to rock the old classics. Almost there. Nerd level rising.

X-Arcade Tankstick + Arcade Guns = Nerdsplosion

So, next in line for the ultimate dream machine was light guns. Hmmm.. that's a tough choice right? Nope. The we chose the Dual Arcade Guns PC Light Gun Kit from AracadeGuns.com. BAM! No pun intended. These little bad boys all solid, well built and feel awesome whilst blasting some Duck Hunt, Carnevil or whatever arcade shooter you can throw at them. With the cabinet nearing completion, it was time to choose a PC and front end interface. First off, I look at doing every custom on emulators, front ends, etc until a found an absolute treasure trove of gaming goodness with the Tiptonware Arcade Hard Drivethat contains almost every emulator and game, preconfigured with a beautiful front end, videos, animations and sounds from your favorite arcade classics and console systems as well. That made a lot of the work easy and worth every penny. It comes on a 4TB (!) hard drive and is absolute stunning. After debating on which PC to buy to shove in the XL, I found an old HP Pentium D system and installed Windows XP (with no Internet) on it. The beast was complete.

Final Thoughts

After some control tweaking and other misc design, the system was up and running. Games were being played by myself and my kids. My grin was huge after playing so many classics and having such a quality system in my gaming room. Over 15 years ago, I dreamed of having of a sweet arcade machine in my basement or mancave, now, it's complete and I look forward to many more memories. Sniff. Please hit me up dustin (at) digitalhippos.com with any questions or help on designing your own system. Enjoy!

Longing for the Old Days

After firing up a bunch of old CRPGS like Icewind Dale, Planescape: Torment and the like, I thought to myself, "Why can't we have these same games but with modern graphics?!" Well, my wish has come true and Larian Studios has dropped Divinity: Original Sin upon us! Like a blessing from gaming Heaven, it's all I've ever wished for and more. First off, I've been following this game since early beta but I am glad I let it develop and stew before I really dove in. Thanks to an incredibly successful Kickstarter, the level of polish, detail, and love in the game are definitely on display. In the beginning, you start by creating and controlling two characters that not only interact but also combine forces in combat and decision making. You aren't just clicking through prompts but instead, you feel like part of a world teeming with Sourcery (magic) and areas filled with loot, traps, baddies and secrets. Props to Larian for making this jump into such a grand adventure that is beautiful but feels like a classic CRPG. All the gameplay goodies we've run into so far just keeps urging us to play more and more..

Louis, I think this is the start of a BEAUTIFUL friendship..

Divine Audiovisuals + Giveaway

That's right, Divinity sports lush graphics, animation, and gorgeous sound to bash baddies and collect treasure to. While extremely taxing on max settings, I feel the game is still being optimized but oh boy, is it stunning! Little details are key from hidden, gleaming treasues in dungeons to the glow of a giant pearl lying on the beach. To say this game looks and sounds beautiful is quite an understatement, especially coming from a Kickstarter campaign. You will fall in love with CRPGs all over again and for the techies out there, there are plenty of graphic options to boot.

Now, enough talk. It's time for action. For your chance to win a full copy of the game on Steam. Just follow these three easy steps to enter:

1 - Like DigitalHippos.com and this article on Facebook

2 - Tell us your favorite CRPG gaming memory

3 - Tell us why, in the most creative way, why you deserve a free copy of Divinity: Original Sin

Enter now and don't miss the entry deadline of Tuesday, July 8th at 10pm MST. GOOD LUCK!

The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Developer: KING Art
Price: $29.99 Steam
Release: Early Access

**Click on gallery images below for the full 1440p screenshot experience!**

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Developer: The Astronauts
Price: $19.99 Steam/GOG
Release: NOW!

Wasteland 2
Developer: inXile Entertainment
Price: $29.99 Steam/GOG
Release: NOW!

Age of Wonders III: Golden Realms
Developer: Triumph Studios
Price: $11.99 Steam/GOG
Release: NOW!

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary
Developer: Pinkerton Road
Price: $19.99 Steam ($16.99 pre-order)
Release: October 15

The Last Door - Collector's Edition
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Price: $9.99 Steam
Release: NOW!

(Pixelated high res?! That's right. Don't let it fool you, this game is a gem!)

Gameplay

Let's start out by saying I am a HUGE fan of all things Middle Earth. I adore the books, movies, and heck, I've even enjoyed quite a few of the games from Lego to the RTS games of yesteryear, even the EA action titles on the original Xbox and PS2. That being said, as we wind down on the last Hobbit flick, my excitement has waned quite a bit. Enter Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor which was nothing more than a small blip on my radar when it was first announced. Well, I love being pleasantly surprised and that's exactly what I was when I fired up the game on my PC for the first time. Not only is this a seemimgly more dark and violent side of Middle Earth, the game is much more than a simple free roaming hack n slash. There is a lot of lore buried in the world teeming with life, orcs to slay and herbs to munch on (Pipeweed!!)

Without going spoiling most of the fun, let's just say there is a whole plethora of activities to do in Shadow from the main quest, perfecting and upgrading your combat skills to investingating lore and artifacts. Like most open ended games, I had more fun investigating side quests and areas off the beaten path. That being said, the game never leads you astray and you can play it in just about any way you'd like. As I mentioned, half of the fun is seeing all the detail and hard work put into the game and I promise, even if you are semi interesting in this world, you will absolutely love this game. Trust me, dive in ASAP!

Graphics and Sound

Slowly but surely, advanced PC game settings seem to be dying a slow death. Once again, the folks at Monolith and WB have surprised us with not only a whole lot of advanced PC settings but Ultra level HD textures as an optional download as well.. W00t! Let's just say the game looks absolutely stunning not only in an artistic sense but on a geeky technical level as well. Sure, you'll need a high end PC to enjoy the game smoothly on Ultra but if you need proof, check out our 1440p gallery and video below. From dark orc blood being splattered across the land to small herbs to gain health, your eyes will always have something to feast on. Despite pre rendered cut scenes (why?!), this is a gorgeous game in every sense and a huge step in the right direction for not only the Tolkein universe but PC games as a whole. Now, how about an option to scale and/or hide the GUI as a whole..?

Think the graphics are stunning? Then check out the audio portion of the game that could be summed up as ear candy at it's finest. From swords clanking and crashing to smashing orc skulls to stellar voice acting to orchestral music that excites and pleases, this is how games should sound. Whether you are enjoying this audio feast in a good set of headphones or a thumping surround sound system, you will enjoy it. We promise.

Fun

Now that we have established that the gameplay, graphics, and sound are second to none, that is all fine and dandy but is the game any fun to play? I can answer that with a resounding YES! You may have noticed that we have left out some detail on a lot of the systems, in depth upgrades, etc but that is definitely our intention. Why? As I mentioned, half of the fun of this title is discovering all the nuances, combat tricks, tips, and secrets on your own. Go into this game blind as we did and I guarantee you will be impressed and most importantly, you will have a lot of fun. We can't wait to dive into the game again!

Gameplay

Ahhh.. Sherlock Holmes. I absolutely love the universe from the old SegaCD games to the Robert Downey Jr to the recent Benedict Cumberbatch series. I am definitely not a learned and scholarly gentlemen when it comes to the books, lore, and legends but I love me some murder mystery. Enter Crimes & Punishments, the latest in Frogwares stellar series of our calculated detective using not only his ears and eyes to track down criminals but in this game, you'll actually go inside his brain to connect events, synapses, etc to solve the case. While some gameplay elements could use a little more tutorial, figuring it out is half the fun. This is a world teeming with small detail and we enjoyed nearly every moment of investigating each case. This is a meaty adventure full of humor, terror, suspense, and classic mystery. You will switch between fee movement modes between each scene to the brain sequences and many other surprises in between. This is a solid gameplay venture with a very minor niggles here and there. Sherlock! You've done it again.

Graphics and Sound

Ahhh.. the Unreal 3 engine. It's getting old and showing it's age right? Wrong. Check out our 1440p gallery of screenshots if you need proof of what a gorgeous title this really is. Is it "WHIZ! BANG! POW!" type of beautiful? Nope. It's subtle, detailed, and perfectly rendered for tracking down criminals and investigating crime scenes. Lighting is subtle, beautiful and the scenes are perfectly lit. The showcase of this whole engine and design is the incredible detail in the characters and faces, especially when zooming in and finding clues with the characters and their motives. Overall, this is a stunning acheivement in the world of graphics and Frogwares deserves major props for this accomplishment.

Along with the fantastic graphics, the audio portion of the game is equally impressive. Despite my wishes that Benedict Cumberbatch (!) voiced our Sherlock here, there is nothing to complain about besides a few dry deliveries in voice acting. For the most part, the music, ambient sounds, and effects are extremely well done. Some areas are creepily minimal in their sound design which actually builds suspense. The musical score is wonderful and overall, this is a beautiful soundtrack that brings the world of Sherlock alive and makes yours ears happy to be a gamer.

Fun

Hey, what's more fun than investigating a death by fracking harpoon?! Well, if that statement alone turns you off from the game, you best stay away. If you want non stop action and excitement, this game isn't for you. What Sherlock IS though is a detailed, polished, and fantastic romp through London and several locations that are perfectly rendered, lit, and full of atmosphere. The gameplay is varied enough to keep things interesting but most of all, I enjoyed the environments teeming with technical and artistic details. Grab your pipe, your costumes, and your magnifying glass, Sherlock is back!

Title: Broforce
Developer: Free Live
Release: Steam Early Access
Price: $14.99

List of Essential SLI Tools

MSI Afterburner
NVIDIA Inspector

Ryse: Son of Rome

Use NVIDIA Inspector and add RYSE.EXE to the Sleeping Dogs profile. Or use the bits, 0x080010F5.

Settings:

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Use the Unreal 3 profile in NVIDIA Inspector

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Use the F.E.A.R. 3 profile in NVIDIA Inspector (Not working perfect yet)

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

Use the Unreal 3 profile in NVIDIA Inspector

We are usually bombarded this time of year games, apps, and a whole plethora of activities around the Digital Hippos Tech Den. Well, not only have we been slammed, we've been BURIED with a ton of quality titles. Usually we have some gems mixed with some stinkers. Not this time! Behold, Part I of the Fall PC Avalanche!

Wasteland 2 - 4.5/5 Stars - Digital Hippos Highly Recommended - Out Now

Ahhh.. Wasteland. What a gorgeous game of guns, death, and beautiful loneliness. Let's just say that my expectations were high, maybe a little too high. How do you followup a game that is the inspiration and basis for dozens of developers and titles today?! Well, I am pleased to say, that after a few updates, this game is really shining! Do you want easy, simplistics stats and combat? Sorry, this is hardcore,, old school RPGing with a beautiful, modern coat of paint. I say that with the highest regard. This is a fantastic title from visuals, audio, to exploring its deep gameplay. If you are even remotely interested in RPGs, pick this up yesterday.

Legend of Grimrock II - 4.5/5 Stars - Digital Hippos Highly Recommended - Out Now

Wait, wuuuuuuut?! Another hardcore RPG with a fresh, modern look? Yep. You got it. Not only was the first Grimrock a wonderful surprise, the second entry in the series to be frank, blows it away! When I loaded up the game, I expected more of the same from the first game. Not only is the game bigger, badder, and much more diverse in environments, it just feels much more polished and a joy to play. There is little to no guidance in the game but that's what makes it so darn awesome and rewarding. For every moment of frustration, there was 5x the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. This is the pinnacle of old school gaming in our modern age. Pick this up ASAP, you will not be let down.

Gabriel Knight Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary Edition - 4.0/5 Stars - Digital Hippos Recommended - Out Now

Sierra! Oh how I love thee. So many summer afternoons and cold, winter nights of my childhood were filled with the likes of Space Quest, Kings Quest, and any other Sierra or Dynamix style games I could get my hands on. Not only was obsessed, I was enthralled with the worlds that had been created and laid out before me. I am stoked that many of these series are being Kickstarted and recreated in various forms. This entry is extremely well done and faithful to the original. Maybe a little too faithful to the original. If you want a modern duplicate of the original game from long ago, this is right up your alley. You WILL enjoy this title! If you are looking for a revelation or a new spin, there isn't much to dazzle you. The voice acting is spotty in some areas which is unfortunate because there are several actors that are fantastic. Either way, this is a huge step in the right direction for modern adventure games. BAM!

Quest for Infamy - 4.0/5 Stars - Digital Hippos Recommended - Out Now

Speaking of Sierra classics, when I first booted up Quest for Infamy, I honestly was transported right back to the days of Kings Quest V. The low res but highly artistic loading screens, icons, inventory and graphics are definitely retro in the best way possible. Not only is it a fantastic mix of old and new humor, it really does feel like an irreverant adventure game of the early 90s. Props to Phoenix for pulling that off in 2014. The only small niggles are a somewhat slow and uninteresting start and if you are a feminist, you might not like most of the female portrayal of characters. I don't want to spoil the surprise. If you want a true adventure game, complete with pixels but fantastic art, this is your cup o' tea.

The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 - HypeMeter 4/5 - January 2015

Wanna know what's awesome about Germany? Bratwurst, Oktoberfest, KingART and adventures games. BAM! Those Germans definitely know how to create a fantastic adventure game and TBOUT2 is definitely the pinnacle of modern adventure games. The graphics are stunning, the voice acting, the puzzles, even the tutorial is polished to a gleaming shine. Seriously, even if you aren't into the genre, this is a work of art and should be experience by one and all. January 2015 can't come soon enough..

The Long Dark - HypeMeter 4/5 - TBA

I hate cold. I LOATHE cold. Seriously. after spending several years in South America in 70-90 degree weather almost year round, I wonder sometimes why I live in the Rocky Mountains. So, when the op came to check out The Long Dark, I immediately cringed. Why would I want to play a game surviving in the cold?! Well, before I even processed that thought, I was getting my hands warm in a ranger station and rationing supplies. This is a wonderfully unique game in a world of nonstop Modern shooters and sequels. Seriously, the game is so well done and well designed so far, I can't wait to see how far I really can survive.. Even if you hate the cold, you can check this out on Steam Early Access now.

RDPGuard -  4/5 Stars - Out Now

Our sole app on this feature today is definitely not the least even if being the last on the list. We live in a world of constant Internet risk and any increase in security is a plus in my book. If anyone has ever run a gaming server or media server of some sort, you may want to access the server from the outside world or enable remote access. You, like me, are a bit hesitant with the security risks. Enter RDPGuard that not only logs attacks, prevents unwanted access, it tracks IP by location and can blacklist said IPs from even connecting or attempting to connect period. The GUI is simplistic but extremely effective. Whether you are a hardcore server admin or just casual, RDPGuard does a solid and consistent job. Check it out ASAP.

Some of you may may be huge F.E.A.R. fans, some may have tried the first game from what seems like forever ago, some may have never heard of it at all (Shame on you!) but now, the folks Aeria Games have brought a stellar F2P offering that is not only a old school style romp but an actual well developed and supported games. Despite a few patch issues we encountered over our play time, the wealth of things to do in this title is absolutely fantastic. There are plenty of unlocks, MP modes, and customization options to keep even the most obsessive person busy. Beyond that though, the most important thing is the stellar feel of the old school shooting. I was wade through the endless piles of F2P games, this one stands out among the best.

Check it out now and play for FREE at http://fearonline.aeriagames.com/

Gameplay

Another call of COD to chalk up right? WRONG! This is a stellar looking, feeling, and silky smooth title in the series. Is it ground-breaking? No, but it is a huge step forward for the series and PC versions especially. You are tossed immediately into chaos in the single player portion of the game. In a present but futuristic flair, the single player feels more like BF4 than any previous COD entry. That is a good thing and it makes it feel more "grown up" than some of the more recent titles. Multiplayer is slick, fun, and has TONS of customization. Look peeps, if you like shooters, you'll like this game. Period.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics, the sound, the presentation, all top notch here. As I mentioned, this looks and feels more like the Frostbite engine and, with that, DADDY LIKEY. So, why should you care? Well, it felt like recent entries were more cookie cutter and the same ol engine. Not the case here. Check out the 1440p screenshots and video below. DELICIOUS! The sound and music are also solid but standard fair. I still am waiting for other shooters to catch up to BF4 and.. Soldier of Fortune 2.

Fun

I had a ton of fun playing this title. Did it make me stay up at night wanting to play it and lose my marriage and children? Not really, BUT, it feels refined and polished. I enjoyed oogling the graphics and story, customizing my wussy solider. I did not enjoy getting smoked by pre-pubescent teens all day online. Either way though, I wish Activision would start adding two MP modes: One for ADD, attention span lacking kids and another slower, more methodical and bigger map gameplay for adults. You heard it here first folks! COD with actual strategic MP maps and modes coming soon.

Kiss! No, not the has been band. Kiss Ltd, the label that is bringing us titles like Gunspell, Gold Rush Anniversary and other indie titles that you have to check out ASAP. We have been playing those two titles that were mentioned and if you are looking for something unique and DEFINITELY not cookie cutter, check them out ASAP! Here is a blurb from their site:

Kiss Ltd is a full service digital distribution management company with nearly 100 years combined experience in the games industry. Launched in 2012 by Peter King as COO/CFO and Darryl Still as CEO/Publishing Director, there are five co‐operative members in Europe, North America and Asia working together with the KISS management team.

Darryl says, “We wanted to form a co‐operative to share best practice and experience in the PC digital distribution market with our development partners. All our team continue to work in their own right but join us in a collaborative capacity to bring independently developed games to the digital vendors we work with. I’m really excited that we’ve brought together this outstanding group of people – the relationships and contacts we now have are second to none in the PC digital distribution market.”

http://www.kiss-ltd.co.uk/

I am a sucker. A sucker for anything nostalgic. Well, I've been punched, kicked, and beaten into complete submission over the past several weeks playing the absolutely fantastic 3D Realms Anthology collection. Yes, it works on all the latest versions of Windows. Yes, it's easy to use, polished, and complete. Yes, I am in absolutely nerd heaven playing through many titles that graced my 386, 486 and Pentium 133 back in the day. 

This fantastic collection is available at https://3drealms.com/

The 3D Realms Anthology contains the following games:

● Arctic Adventure

● Bio Menace

● Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold

● Commander Keen: Goodbye Galaxy

● Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons

● Math Rescue

● Monster Bash

● Mystic Towers

● Paganitzu

● Monuments of Mars

● Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure

● Crystal Caves

● Death Rally

● Alien Carnage

● Hocus Pocus

● Major Stryker

● Blake Stone: Planet Strike

● Realms of Chaos

● Pharaoh's Tomb

● Word Rescue

● Secret Agent

● Raptor: Call of the Shadows

● Terminal Velocity

● Wacky Wheels

● Stargunner

● Shadow Warrior

● Wolfenstein 3D

● Rise of the Triad: Dark War

● Duke Nukem

● Duke Nukem 2

● Duke Nukem 3D

● Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project

Gameplay

Well, it's not much surprise if this game rocks, right? It's our Digital Hippos Game of the Month for December -- BAM! Whether you played the console version of this game or not, know that is the complete antithesis to a cookie cutter, run of the mill type of game. It's fresh, unique, fun but it's also smooth enough and easy to pick up, that it doesn't overwhelm. It's also the perfect mix of RPG, Action and Strategy all rolled into one. Without spoiling it, let's just say that discovering the game, mastering it and discovering why the title is so beloved is half the fun.

Graphics and Sound

See that image above? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the amazing graphics and stylistic art from the gorgeous title. Ranging between a pencil sketchbook style and a water color painting, I absolutely love the technical and artistic merits of Valkryia to death. While those running above 60hz on their PCs may have a few technical difficulties, we were running smooth with the latest patch and NVIDIA drivers. Make no mistake, the art and animation of this title is like a high budget anime production. YUM.

Along with the eye candy, there is plenty of audio goodness to go around as well. Orchestial and old school music abound, the sound effects, ambient sounds and everything else is top notch. This is how you score and make effects for such a unique title.

Fun

Well, all is good in the land of gameplay, graphics and sound but is the game any fun to play. Well, duh, YES! Apart from being a work of art in every sense of the form, PC gamers finally get the opportunity to enjoy this unique and magical title. There are so many good games you could be playing right now but this is the game you should be playing 100%. It's fresh, it's polished and it's a blast to play. Pick it up on Steam ASAP. You won't regret it.