Killzone: Mercenary PSVita Review

It's been for awhile that I haven't made a review any of the game for the handheld console since 2012, so I decided to get a new game for PSVita because I haven't played any new PSVita games for long time just right before my brother decided to give me his PSVita instead, so I can enjoy any games titles for handheld system. Okay then, lets move on to Killzone: Mercenary for PSVita.

Killzone: Mercenary is a FPS Game for PSVita, which developed by Guerrilla Cambridge and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

I did really enjoy playing Killzone 2 and 3 for PS3, and Killzone: Shadow Fall for PS4 are quite amazing game with excellent campaign, great atmospheres and has really kick ass online multiplayer battle that made the game so awesome for Sony's console platforms.

So what can I say about this game? I say this game deserves more better FPS game than other 2 disappointing FPS games for PSVita, such as Resistance: Burning Skies and Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified which have received negative responses from video game critics. Does Killzone: Mercenary doing well on the PSVita standards? looks like the developer can handle the game really well that pushes the hardware limits, which allowing the game's overall to run better on PSVita system. The game offers really good single-player campaign, great botszone training and decent online multiplayer that the game shows so much potential to become a impressive PSVita game titles.

It really amazed me to see this game have received most positive reviews from video game critics that they are impressed with gameplay, graphics and both of single and multiplayer modes.

So let start the review.


Presentation

The game is set between Killzone 2 and 3. The events takes place in interstellar war. It's starts with Arran Danner, was hired by ISA, teaming up with his boss Anders Benoit and Ivanov arriving in the Vektan City and their mission is to rescue ISA Admiral Alex Grey from Helghast Solders.

The story in the game is kinda okay for some dialogue and the main plot of the game, but it doesn't sound good as the story from previous Killzone games. The presentation does have some great cinematic feel at the part before the mission starts. The characters in the game are still weak just like the rest of the ISA members, but the helghast solders are still looked better than the rest of the ISA solders because they are aggressive and more sinister looking that made the villain looked badass in the game.

Overall, it's not that bad for storyplot, but they could have done better job than that. The presentation does have some nice cinematic cutscenes and of course I perfer the helghast solders more better as villain characters. I say it's quite bit of mixed bag overall.


Gameplay

The single-player campaign has 9 levels to complete. You get to play as Danner to complete the objectives in the game. The gameplay is very playable for PSVita system. The controls feels much smoother and precised for chraracter's movement and the aiming controls is easier to target at the enemies without any sluggish sensitivity because it keeps the movement and the aiming of the dual stick a steady balanced which makes the game becoming playable during the gameplay. The motion sensor is also used for aiming as well, but I find the motion sensor control quite stiff to move around, but you can also turn off the motion sensor on the option menu if you prefer to control the aim with right stick is more easier to aim at the enemies instead. The touchscreen is very responsive for using grenades throw, changing weapons, using plant bomb by rotating on touchscreen, and using melee attack for QTE is kinda cool for FPS handheld game. The rear touch-pad is also used for sprinting, but you can also press the crouch button while pushing left stick forward and you can also zoom in/out by using rear touch-pad feels which feels bit harder to get used too, but that's okay for the PSVita game once you get hang with the touch controls.
The weapons has really good selection of the choices. You have machine guns for mid-range attack, shotgun for close combat, sniper rifles for long-distances, pistols for secondary attack, and rocket and grenades launcher for explosives attack. You also can use different gadgets, such as protective shield, remote control drones and camouflage devices are very useful for the players. You can purchase the weapons and items from Blackjack's dealer which gives you choice to choose any weapons, armours, equipments, and devices to select from.
This game has quite challenging missions, great combat systems, smoother controls and impressive weapons choices to choose from.
I also enjoy battling with the players on online multiplayer with decent matches and levels, but it wasn't just big as the Killzone 2 and 3, but still quite a fun multiplayer game and you get to battling with computer players on botzone mode as well are quite sounds cool to enjoy the game, but you need to download botzone training DLC from PS Store in order to play botzone mode is sounds quite unfair compared with Killzone 2, 3, and Shadow Fall on the home consoles that you don't have to download DLC in order to play botzone mode because it's already been featured in the game.

Overall, this game has great campaign, decent botzones and online multiplayer, and impressive gameplay aspects.


Graphics

The graphics is look outstanding for PSVita titles. It is one of the best graphics overall ever made that shows what the PSVita is capable of using superb animation, realistic looking character models, impressive visual effects with nicely dynamic lighting, and the whole game design is absolutely far perfect to the next-gen gaming that made the game looked beautiful and amazing to see how much the effort that the developers team have putted in the game system. The game runs really well without any slow downs and it has no graphical issues at all. I also loved the bit of blood and gore in the game where the enemies gets head blowned up with shotgun or sniper rifle and getting stabbed and sliced with the knife does have some amazing blood effects in the game.

Overall, the graphics has superb animation, realistic looking character models, impressive visual effects, some blood and gore effects, and the perfect game design.


Music and Sounds

Killzone always have the best epic orchestral soundtrack in whole series that made the game more like the war theme movie that really fits to the game. The sound effects on the PSVita is very high quality indeed. It has great background noise, louder gun shooting effects, very atmospheric sound work, and the voice acting sounds not that bad at all for characters in the game.

Overall, I like the epic music and high quality sound effects in the game.


Special Features   

The game does have some DLC content to download from PS Store, it has trophy support, collecting valor cards, and unlocking more perks, such as weapons, armour, items, and equipments for multiplayer.



Advantages

Impressive gameplay

Touchscreen controls

Outstanding graphics

Epic music and sounds

Great single-player campaign

Decent online multiplayer/botzones battles

Helghast solders are awesome villains

Collecting valor cards in multiplayer battles


Disadvantages

Story aren't good as the previous Killzone games

ISA solders are quite weak in the game

Motion sensor control feels stiff for aiming

Botzones are required to download from PS Store in order to play


Final Verdict


Presentation 6.2/10 - An okay storyplot and nice cinematic cutscenes, but bit of mixed bag characters.

Gameplay 8/10 -  Great campaign, decent botzones and online multiplayer, and impressive gameplay aspects.

Graphics 10/10 - superb animation, realistic looking character models, impressive visual effects, some blood and gore effects, and the perfect game design.

Music and Sounds 9/10 - Epic music and high quality sound effects in the game.

Special Features 7/10 - DLC Content, trophy support, collecting valor cards, and unlocking more perks.


Overall 8.5/10 - Killzone: Mercenary is a proper high quality FPS game for PSVita titles. I'm glad that the Guerrilla Cambridge knows how to handle the PSVita's hardware system, which allowing the game's overall to step up in the right direction. The gameplay is playable, the graphics is looked amazing, and both of the campaign and multiplayer is fun and addictive. This is how you make a really good FPS game for handheld consoles which will satisfying the FPS fans to enjoy the game's overall. It is shame that the other FPS games titles for PSVita are absolute disaster that fails to impress the PSVita owners, but if you want to get a high quality FPS game like this game for PSVita, get this game and it will surprise you because Killzone: Mercenaries is such an awesome game.

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My 10 Christmas Wish List

Okay, it's nearly the day of Christmas. It is the wonderful winter season holidays that everyone celebrating during the Christmas day. We have Santa Claus giving a nice presents that the people deserve to have the best gifts, everyone started to decorates some Christmas themes around the houses and trees, building a snowman outside of the house, and getting the whole family together with lovely Christmas dinner is what the Christmas is about.

Okay then, today I'm going to make my 10 Christmas Wish List that I'm considered to get it for Christmas holiday, but it is not my top 10 because these are the Wish List that gives me a choice to choose which ones that I'm going to get it for this Christmas. 

So lets start with the first ones:-

1 - Shovel Knight 

I love playing classic 8-bit video games. Shovel Knight is the 2D platformer game that you're playing as the blue knight with shovel. The game is pretty similar with classics like Megaman, Castlevania and Ducktales for NES. This game does have really interesting levels, cool main quest, awesome 8-bit graphics, kick ass 8-bit soundtrack and it feels like old school 8-bit classics that made me getting this game for PS4. It is also Available on 3DS, Wii U, PC and the various of available console platforms.

2 - Killzone: Mercenary

Killzone is an awesome FPS series by Guerrilla Games. I had a fun time playing Killzone 2 and 3 for PS3 and I also did enjoy Killzone: Shadow Fall for PS4. It has really great gameplay, fantastic graphics and epic online multiplayer battle that keeps the series so intense and refreshing. I decided to get this game for PS Vita is because I haven't played the PS Vita for long time since 3 years ago just right before my brother stopped playing PS Vita anymore because he got bored of getting used with playing handheld console, so he decided to give his PS Vita to me instead. I hopefully I'm able to get a games for this handheld console, so I can enjoy any PS Vita game titles.   

3 - Fallout 4 

Before I'm going to talk about this game, I haven't played any of the previous Fallout games before I've started to watch the trailer footage of Fallout 4 that got me really attention, especially all the gamers and fans got really hyped to look forward to see a sequel. I know the Fallout is one of the Bethesda's biggest Strategy to Action RPG series that has bigger open-world depth, story presentation, free to explore, interesting gameplay mechanics, whole soundtrack and character creation that the game was known for. This is my third choice of the game that I'm considered to get it on Christmas.

4 - Project Zero 2: Wii Edition

This is the horror game for Nintendo Wii. It is the most wanted games that I wanted to play on Wii. Project Zero 2: Wii Edition is a japanese psychological horror game that involves young girls visiting at the lost village before one person got lost in the forest. This game has really different horror elements, such as ghost, sacrifices and rituals. It is remade from Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly (AKA Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly in US) originally for PS2 and Xbox which the Wii version have ability to use Wii motion controller for gameplay purposes. I've never played the Project Zero games, so this is why I want to give a try with this game for Nintendo Wii.     

5 - Blast Corps

I remember playing this game back in old school days where my brother had Nintendo 64. I had a fun playing Blast Corps on My Nintendo 64 just right before my brother had to return the game back to the game store to get another N64 game Yoshi's Story. The reason why I want to get this game back is because I really missed this game a lot, so it would have been awesome to keep this game as my N64 games collection. I really enjoying breaking buildings with vehicles and mechs, and it has very challenging missions with puzzle elements that made the game so much fun to play.   

6 - Starfox 64 (AKA Lylatwars)

Starfox is a excellent rail shooter series by Nintendo. Starfox (AKA Starwing) for SNES is one of the awesome 3D rail shooter on 16 bit era and I also enjoyed Starfox Adventures for Gamecube, so this is why I want to give this game a try on my Nintendo 64. It has memorable characters like Fox Mccloud, Falco Lombardi and Peppy Hare except the retarded ass frog named Slippy Toad, god I hate this dumbass frog. By the way, the gameplay is just like the first game, but adding more better features of the game, such as adding more control scheme, 2 new vehicles, rumble pak feature, and 4-player multiplayer.  

This would be worth for my N64 games collection, if I had a chance to get this game from online store or physical retail store.

7 - Super Bomberman

I'm a huge fan of bomberman series. It is one of the memorable Hudson Soft games in 90's where bunch of bomberman love blowing up each other. It is definitely has the best multiplayer battles in history and it is very addicting and fun to play it on SNES. I remember back in days where my brother rent this game from the rental store and then me and my sister had a fun playing this game with great multiplayer battle mode. The power ups are awesome, the character in the game are cool, and it does have single player story mode as well. I also enjoyed other bomberman games like Bomberman blast, Saturn Bomberman and Mega Bomberman are also kick ass, so this game might be awesome for my SNES collection.  

8 - Puyo Puyo Tetris 

I have played two of the Puyo Puyo games like Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machines (Puyo Puyo games based on Sonic Franchise) and Puyo Pop Fever. They are decent puzzle game by former developer Compile from 90's and currently now developed by Sonic Team. It is like other puzzle games, such as Tetris and Columns, but Puyo Puyo are very unique puzzle game where you have to match 4 beans in right color. I think having crossover game would be an excellent idea to have both Puyo Puyo and Tetris in the game sounds really interesting indeed. This game only released in Japan, but you can get PS Vita, PS4, PS3 and XBONE version from online store, such as Amazon and Ebay, because these version are region free which can be played on UK and US consoles except the Wii U and 3DS are region locked unfortunately.  

9 - Eternal Darkness

    

Eternal Darkness is the psychological horror game exclusivity for Nintendo Gamecube. This game have received universal acclaim reviews upon its release calling it the greatest horror game on the Nintendo console, but the game haven't sold well in 2002, but this game still remains the horror classics. This game has the darkest storyline, scariest atmosphere and unique gameplay. I'm considered to get this game for my Gamecube games collection.     

10 - Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit

I had a hard time to find the decent fighting games based on popular Anime shows that I've grew up watching since my old days. I like Dragon Ball Z as the Anime series with badass characters like Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, Cell and other bunch of characters, and it does have really awesome fight scenes where they starts beating and shooting dragon ball each other. For video game series, I need to find which Dragon Ball Z games are quite good till I did give a try with the demo version of this game, so I did like the gameplay mechanics on demo version a lot better than other Dragon Ball Z games. I definitely gonna add to my wish list for Christmas.

If you like my recent blog, please hit like and comment below for further questions. 

This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

   

              

Alien Isolation PS4 Review

Alien Isolation is a Sci-Fi Horror game for PS4, PS3, XBONE, X360 and PC, which developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA. 

I've enjoyed watching both Sci-Fi movies like the original Alien from 1979 and the sequel called Aliens from 1986 is because it has fantastic atmosphere, scary looking creatures, memorable characters, and superb film set of the movie that made the Alien movies so amazing to watch and it is the best Sci-Fi Horror movies in history. Alien franchises is not just have only the film series, it also has comics, novels, and Video Games. 

For video game series, I have played Alien 3 for SNES and the Alien Trilogy for SEGA Saturn back in my olden days, but I've never played other Alien games until now of days, I'll give Alien Isolation a shot for my PS4 because this game got me attention after I've watched the game trailer which is looking good for Sci-Fi Horror genres which mixed with Stealth and Survival Horror. 

I've heard the game called Aliens Colonial Marines had becoming the worst game on the series due to unfinished project which causes faulty gameplay, poorly made graphics, bad co-op mode, and it doesn't feel close to the film series which the game have lacked horror elements and the presentation didn't match to canon of the film series. Despite with the disappointment, SEGA decided to get Creative Assembly to develop better Alien game to stick with the original root of the film series with original horror elements and better overall presentation. 

What do I think about the Alien Isolation? I say this game are fantastic is because the gameplay mechanics feels much smoother to control and the difficulty of the game gives the player higher challenge and goals. It has brilliant story and characters, outstanding graphics design, and it has the best atmospheric sounds in horror gaming that makes the game worth playing on modern consoles.

Okay then, let's start the review.

Presentation

The game starts with 15 years after the events of the original film from 1979. The story is about Amanda Ripley (daughter of Ellen Ripley of the original 1979 Alien), who works at the Wayland-Yutani as Engineer, was informed by Christopher Samuels have told her about her mother's whereabouts and it is believed that the flight recorder of Nostromo had been discovered by salvage ship. Amanda have accept the offer to work with the teams, so she and her teams attempt spacewalk heading over to station to investigate the disappearance of her mother.

The story in the game is absolutely sounds just like the Ridley Scott's movie. It has excellent plot of the game between the characters and it has the history audio logs to hear someone's lectures during their past events to hear what was going on before the bad thing going to happen. This game concepts has more 70's Sci-Fi atmosphere feels to keep the game original form to Alien film franchise that made the game look perfect with nicely designed buildings and inside the stations. The cutscenes in the game has really nice style of techniques to keep it look more intense and scary as hell. 

The character Amanda Ripley are quite good as the Signorney Weaver's character from the original 1979 Alien. She has decent personalty and her great character's development to make the main protagonist a excellent successor to Ellen Ripley. Amanda is also mention in the 1986 sequel film Aliens the part where Ellen wanted know what happened to Amanda since her 42 years disappearance.

I say like the types of the enemies, such as Alien is because it is one of the most memorable Sci-Fi monsters in film series. It always gives a players lot of jumpscares due to Alien reacts too fast on humans when Alien hears the sounds of human running steps, gun noises, and caught human in eye are the scariest part of the game. Android robots is also scary as well especially with their eyes glowing red and has hugely disturbing voices in the game.

Overall, the whole presentation has brilliant storyplot, decent characters and it has 70's Sci-Fi feels to Alien franchise.

Gameplay

This game has single player campaign and survival mode. In campaign, you must take control of Amanda Ripley to explore the space station and complete the mission objectives without having to get caught and attacked by the enemies nearby. 

The gameplay has really responsive controls because the character movements moves really smooth during the stealth mechanics, it has nice camera control while looking around the level, and the aiming control feels much accurate for weapon attack. 

For stealth mechanics, you have to move slowly by walking or crouching quietly without disturbing at the enemies nearby. You can able to hide on hiding places where the enemies can't see you somewhere in the levels does help the players to not get killed in action. The weapons are useful in the game where you can attack your enemies with variety of weapons, such as Revolver, Shotgun, Bolt Gun, Flamethrower, Molotov and Pipe Bomb works very well in the game, but try not to do it too much or else Alien will react very quickly if it's nearby to your area, but you can also use motion tracker are very handy for players to know where the Alien's whereabouts in the area. The melee attack is quite handy for stealth gameplay which you can attack the enemy behind with your tool weapon or stun weapon, but the android robot can instantly block your melee attack, unless you can kill them with other weapons instead. You can also use touch or flare in the dark area are much useful in the game. You can also craft items, such as medkit, Molotov, EMP's, Pipe Bomb, and Noisemaker are very useful to craft things that are very handy for players to use items. 

The puzzle solving are really outstanding is because it's gives the player a higher challenge with curtain goals and objectives which keeps the game more fun to play. I like hacking the locked doors, finding key pass or codes, regenerates the power electricity, finding alternative routes, using tools to open the path, and using computer terminal that made the game puts so much efforts to Survival Horror genres. 

It has survival mode which is fun, but way harder to beat the challenge, but it is enjoyable to play with.

Overall, it has well made gameplay controls, superb stealth mechanics, great variety of weapons, crafting items, and outstanding puzzle solving.

Graphics

The graphics in the game is far beyond perfect with the excellent use of graphics engine. The character design looked very real with greater detail of facial expression and balanced body figures to keep the character model looked more realistic. The building design of the levels are much like the 70's Sci-Fi movies settings to make it look more originally to original 1979 film. It has fantastic texture surface around the layouts without any blurred effects and the backgrounds looks more professionally well made, and the special effects of the game is absolutely look gorgeous with visuals and the use of animation that made the game so close to modern days consoles. It is far the best graphics ever made by developers who can able to push so much limits to hardware systems.

Overall, it has realistic character design, original looking level design, fantastic texture, professional looking backgrounds, and gorgeous special effects.

Music and Sounds

It has the most outstanding music and sounds in gaming. The music has well made Sci-Fi ambient noises that fits the mood of the game and it has the best use of atmospheric sounds effects that puts really efforts on creepy background noises, space station sound sequences, and the original Alien roar from 1979 film. I love the sound of motion tracker on my PS4 controller which is cool. The voice acting did a great job on the characters with fitting voices and great plot dialogue in the cutscenes.

Overall, this game has well made ambient sounds, atmospheric sound effects, and great voice acting.

Special Features

This game has 2 DLC chapters, such as Crew Expendable and Last Survivor which you can play as Ellen Ripley and her crew. You can also collect ID tags, playing audio logs, and storing information to your archives. 

Advantages

Fantastic Gameplay

Perfect Graphics

Outstanding Music and sounds

Brilliant Presentation

2 DLC chapters 

Jumpscares

Disadvantages

Enemies can be very dodgy and frustrating in the game

Save points turns red after you save the game, which means you have to wait 1 or 2 mins to turn green.

30 second load times

Final Verdict

Gameplay 9/10 - Well made gameplay controls, superb stealth mechanics, great variety of weapons, crafting items, and outstanding puzzle solving.

Graphics 10/10 - Realistic character design, original looking level design, fantastic texture, professional looking backgrounds, and gorgeous special effects.

Music and Sounds 10/10 - Well made ambient sounds, atmospheric sound effects, and great voice acting.

Special Features 8.9/10 - It has 2 DLC Levels, collecting ID tags, playing audio logs, and storing information to your archives.

Overall 9.1/10 - Alien Isolation is the art of Sci-Fi Horror game. SEGA made a great move of having Creative Assembly to develop a better Alien game than what Gearbox Software did with Aliens Colonial Marines have received badly in 2013. It sticks to original root of the series that made the presentation so outstanding, the gameplay is somewhat very playable and enjoying the single player experiences. The graphics is far superior for modern days consoles and it has the best sounds of the game overall.  

It is the best game in the series in my opinion and I highly recommended for all Alien's fans and Survival Horror gaming's fans should must play this game.     

    

   

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