Hotshot Racing PS4 Review

 

Hotshot Racing is a Arcade-style Racing game for PS4, XBONE, Switch, and PC, which was developed by Lucky Mountain Games and Sumo Digital, and published by Curve Digital. 

This is a throwback arcade racing games of 90's era inspired by the likes of SEGA's Virtua Racing and Namco's Ridge Racer with low-polygonal visuals and simple driving mechanics which brings the reminiscent of old-school classics of racing genres from the past.

Back in my old days of 90's, I grew up playing some of the greatest racing games that I got really into with driving through the racing track, so I remember playing SEGA Rally Championship is one of my very first racing title, when my brother bought SEGA Saturn for first time came bundled with steering wheel controller, which blew me away to see how impressive the 3D racing game played on the system.

I also had fun playing the arcade cabinets of SEGA's Daytona USA and Namco's Ridge Racer at the amusement park where I sat on the driver seat filled with steering wheels, foot pedals, and gear shifts is the reason to like the arcade racing games.

Never forget about the drifting mechanics of Ridge Racer, the visual environments and co-driver voice of SEGA Rally Championship, and catchy tunes of Daytona USA is what made racing game so entertaining back then.

Going back to this today's gaming where arcade-racing genres are likely declined for awhile due to most of the people are heavily focusing on more realistic approach sim-racing games like SONY's Gran Turismo, Codemaster's series like Grid and Dirt, and Microsoft's Forza had gained many mainstream recognition for modern day gaming meaning that we will never see stuff like Burnout, Ridge Racer, SEGA Rally, F-Zero, and Motorstorm for future sequel in a light of the day.

However, I did see some of the indie game received an arcade-style racing like Trackmania Turbo, Inertial Drift, Redout, GRIP, and Horizon Chase Turbo are great alternatives to classic-racing games from the past especially with this game had caught my attention to pick up a copy for my PS4 to see how they able to capture this game's vision into an full arcade-style racing experience or is it not a game what we been expected?

It's depending on gameplay's driving mechanics, the visual's environment design choices, and the game's own content is what we gonna take a look and see in this review.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

As you can see the visual presentation is quite identical to early SEGA's arcade racing games starting off from Virtua Racing is one of the SEGA's first title running on their Model 1 arcade system boards rendering a 3D polygonal graphics that display 180,000 polygons per second and running on 60 fps.

I like the feel of the visual design that appeals to those grew up back in early 90's with flat-shaded environments, color depth, and texture mapping vehicles is rather look impressive back then, so Hotshot Racing is one of the game that captures the 90's visual magic adding a colourful design and simplistic details of each locations.

You have coast filled with summer-like settings such as beach, windmills, cruise boat, volcano, palm-trees, blue sky, and ocean tubes with sea animals swimming around. The desert has ferris-wheel, city buildings, canyon, airplanes, underground, and casino room.

The jungle has wild animals, man-made sculptures, waterfall, and temple, and lastly the mountain has huge snowy hills, big huge castle, and foggy cave which adds the ambitious appealing to the fans of the early racing games of 90's era will be fully impressed to see this game visually.

Each of the drivers has different types of vehicles such as mostly standard stock-cars and prototype sport-cars, while one of them has formula-kart which I got to say I really liked what the design of the cars looked like in the game with cool logos, nice color palates, stylish wheel-design, and objects like bumpers, lights, and mirrors which is fully customisable on race shop that you can change the looks and style of each cars whatever you want that suits you the best.

This really captures the nostalgia of the old-school racing games that I am happy to see the game turned out to be looking great for the indie's game standards.    

Overall, it has amazing presentation design and cool fully customisable vehicles.

Gameplay

The game has each of the game modes to play such as the grand prix has 4 championship cup with 16 tracks comes with 3 difficulties settings, while single-race has arcade, cop and robbers, and drive or explode which you can play these alone in solo or play with friends on ether local split-screen or online match, and lastly you can also practice your driving skill throughout the time trial. 

You will select any of playable drivers with their 4 different vehicles which each of them has different attributes such as all balance, speed, acceleration, and drift.

The acceleration is used for increasing the rate of mph, the speed is showing how faster your car goes, the drift is used as driving techniques works for oversteers cars, and all balance is just the regular car  balancing all threes attributes for beginners. 

You are racing through the course with 7 racing opponents been participating on the race match, so your goal is to win the race by reaching to the goal line after reaching many laps as possible in 1st place position.

You will have an HUD display on the screen which shows mph indicator for the rate of acceleration, the lap that counts an complete full track per lap, the position shows if you or opponent have been placed on 1st or 8th, the time record shows how faster can you beat the latest record, the race map navigates the racing track with small dots representing player or opponent icon, the time limit appears on top which indicating the remaining time, and slipstream bar are used as boost speed capacity.   

The left stick are used for steering which controls your vehicle, while holding right trigger to accelerate that made car go forward and the left trigger are used as brake or reverse that stops or slow down your vehicle as well as reversing your car backwards. 

Depending which are two transmissions you have selected, the automatic is a self-shifting system that automatically changes the gear shift itself, while manual lets you change any gear shifting by clicking on two of the shoulder buttons, so these are the gear shift mechanics are used for changing the rate of speed during the gameplay.

Your car has ability to maneuver drift mechanics by simply clicking the brake button while holding left or right on the left stick makes your car sliding across the track while maintaining the control and driving the car though the corner, so drifting your car can increase your slipstream bar which allows you to boost the speed of your vehicle. 

You can also change the perspective view during the race such as chase view which pans behind the car from distance, dashboard view shows the inside of car filled with steering wheel, back mirror and front windshield, and lastly the first-person view which gives you an option to choose any of these perspective that suits your playstyle preference.

I got to say each of the game modes on this game is absolutely fantastic that the game does deliver a stuff that I have wanted from any of racing game's genres. The grand prix mode is where you need to beat the championship race by earning many points as possible to become a 1st place tier which requires winning the race at 1st place position, so I also liked how the game sets with 3 difficulties options such as normal are designed for casual player, while hard has aggressive A.I level making it difficult to traverse opponent which I got to say it's plays fine for most part, but the issue with the A.I opponent is that they tended to bash you into the corners as well as making your car losing control during the race which felt kinda bit overdone, so I wish they should have balance out the A.I aggressive behaviour a bit that I didn't want end up keep crashing into the corners or out of the track when being attacked by 1 or 2 drivers. 

Anyway I did manage to enjoy the grand prix mode on all 4 cups with no issue with the race track, so I'm glad that this mode is just like playing a good old retro days of SEGA's arcade racing, and I also enjoyed these single-race filled with 3 great modes such as arcade that is basically head to head match are perfect for ether solos or play with friends through split-screen or online, the cop and robbers is kinda like EA's Need for Speed series where you need to race through the tracks while evading the police cars as possible is surprisingly fun to play, and drive or explode puts you in challenge where you need to race through the tracks without slowing down your speed or else it will explode are also pretty fun too. 

The best part of the game is that they added the free DLC content called big boss bundle which adds new championship cup for grand prix, 4 new tracks to play, and introducing barrel barrage which is a new game mode where you can attack opponent with the exploding barrel during the race is an nice addition to the game.

The gameplay plays butter smooth with easy to control driving mechanics which I didn't had an issue with the game itself. The vehicles controls fine with the left stick with no signs of sensitivity, the acceleration and brake feels responding with no input delays whatsoever, and I got to be honest with the drifting mechanics is somewhat plays better than the earlier arcade racing games which I believe the team must have implementing the precision of drifting control pretty well making it easier for newcomers to drive smoothly without off-balancing the vehicle, as well as being able to stay intact on the right track, so I am glad that they have reduced the annoying collisions from the earlier racing games in all thanks to wider track design.  

Sadly the game does not have an option to re-mapping the buttons on the control menu because some people may not prefer the default controls as much, but still I'm fine with it as it should be which I'm pretty sure they will still get used with it.

The racing tracks design are looking great with straight-lines, curved, and twisty shaped roads which really adds the learning carves of driving skills delivering an overall racing experience with bigger challenge that makes the racing game so amazingly fun to play.  

Overall, it has fantastic game modes, smooth driving controls, and great track design.

Graphics

The graphics in the game is quite solid for an old-school indie racing title with flat-shaded environments and objects, the texture mapping of roads and vehicles, and blocky-figured character design is drew much closer to SEGA's own racing games of 90's with colourful details, simplistic design of racing tracks, the use of lighting and shade effects, and visuals appealing of big environmental objects with larger stuff around that been added to the course is what captures the old-school nostalgia of 90's 3D arcade racing.

The game itself ran on 60 fps with no sign of slow-downs which played perfectly on single-player solo and local 4-player split-screen that anyone can able to properly enjoy their fast-paced racing game experience with the smoother frame-rate.  

Overall, it has an impressive flat-shaded environments and objects, bold looking texture mapping of roads and vehicles, decent blocky-figured character, and ran on 60 fps of game's frame rate.

Music and Sounds

The soundtrack in the game is pretty solid, so it's more of a mix of SEGA's Super Monkey Ball and Namco's Ridge Racer thrown together in this game which was originally composed by Ross Tregenza, while the rest of the OST are completely been redone or made new ones by Jason Heine (A.K.A TheHeineHouse) and Waterflame did a splendid job of making an awesome 90's retro throwback OST.

I like the sound engine of vehicles and the sounds effects of environmental tracks is sounds absolutely stunning throughout the game, and I got to say that I didn't mind the driver's voice on the character's selection menu and in-game race match, but I got to say the voice announcer is sounds spectacular giving a classic racing game vibes to it.

Overall, it has solid soundtrack, stunning sound effects, and spectacular voice announcer.

Special Features

The game contains free DLC content such as Big Boss Bundle that I've mentioned before like new grand prix cup, 4 new race course, and new game mode barrel barrage been added to this game. 

The game also has unlockable customisation parts for vehicle such as logo, bumpers, wheels, lights, and etc. It also has unlockable driver's suits as well in the game.

Overall, a cracking content.

Advantages

Amazing presentation design

Fully customisable vehicles parts

Fantastic game modes

Smooth driving controls

Great track design

Old-school visuals

Solid soundtrack

Free DLC content 

Disadvantages

Lack of button re-mapping configurations

Overdone A.I aggressiveness 

Final Verdict

Presentation 8/10 - amazing presentation design and cool fully customisable vehicles.

Gameplay 8.5/10 - fantastic game modes, smooth driving controls, and great track design.

Graphics 8/10 - impressive flat-shaded environments and objects, bold looking texture mapping of roads and vehicles, decent blocky-figured character, and ran on 60 fps of game's frame rate.

Music and Sounds 8/10 - solid soundtrack, stunning sound effects, and spectacular voice announcer.

Special Features 8.5/10 - new grand prix cup, 4 new race course, new game mode barrel barrage, and unlockable customisation parts.

Overall 8.5/10 - Hotshot Racing is an splendid early 90's throwback of classic arcade racing which I am glad this game turns out to be a surprisingly great racing title packed with fast-paced gameplay, retro-style visuals, a fun game modes with local split-screen and online match, giving you a choice of customising your cars, and has free content added to this game with new grand prix cup, 4 tracks, and new game mode that made the game worth picking up and play. 

It does look and plays better than you could say Horizon Chase Turbo in terms of gameplay and graphics, and it bundles with free content adding extras into the game is an fantastic bonus for both physical and digital copies for all available platforms (also on Xbox Game Pass as well).  

If you're into with the early style of old-retro racing classics like SEGA's Virtua Racing and Namco's Ridge Racer, then give this game worth a try and you will sure love this particular style of the arcade racing genres from the yesteryear. 

     

                                                

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Top 5 3rd Party Games of 6th Generation Consoles

 

We all know that each of the games consoles had faired shares with many libraries of 3rd party games, so unlike the 1st party games that are made for full console exclusivity which was published and developed by the development team of the console manufacturers like Nintendo, Microsoft, and SONY, while the 2nd party games are referred as one of the semi-development team are also making games for a first-party company, the 3rd party games are made for all PCs and Console platforms which can be all published and developed by the big company like EA, Activision, Capcom, and others without being tied to any single platform.

We know the company like SEGA are no longer manufacturing the console after the unsuccessful of SEGA Dreamcast been declined in 2001, which leads the company went on focusing with the software titles for all PCs and Consoles platforms instead.     

The 6th generation era shares the best libraries of 3rd party games on Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, and Dreamcast, hell even on PCs starting from Open-World sandbox mayhem to wreckless driving action or addicting local multiplayer to epic single-player campaign.

We are taking look at my 5 favourite titles, created by 3rd party developers themselves, that defines my gaming nostalgia of early 2000s, so I love my old days of playing over an hours fun on Gamecube and Xbox with old-fashioned CRT-TV, yeah good times.

I want to pick out the games that brings my childhood moments showing how amazing these titles back then in all thanks to gameplay innovation, story campaign, visuals design, and fun multiplayer with tons of replayabilities. 

So here is the Top 5 3rd Party Games of 6th Generation Consoles.

5 - TimeSplitters 2 

    

   

I remember my old days of mid-90s when Rare bought Goldeneye 007 was released for N64 which is highly regarded as one of the greatest N64 game and also most influential FPS game ever created thanks to atmospheric single-player action, innovative gameplay design and elements, and addictive 4-player split-screen matches had pushed the FPS genres forward, and they bought the follow-up title for N64 such as Perfect Dark adds the additional features in the game such as high-res graphics, A.I bots for Multiplayer, challenge mode, and co-op, while it requires expansion pak to play the whole single-player campaign.

The team behind these game had left the company in 1999 to form their own company called Free Radical Design, as well as creating the spiritual successor to previous two FPS title called TimeSplitters for PS2 which was released in same year as Perfect Dark for N64 in 2000. 

Then it was followed up by TimeSplitters 2 in 2 years later making the first title being released on other platforms such as Xbox and GC. 

While it retains the same multiplayer modes and features from the first game, it's one of the first game to feature a dynamic story mode has divided into 10 mission levels where you take control of one of two space marines as they attempt to stop the alien race of TimeSplitters from ruining history by collecting the time crystals in various time periods, ranging from the Wild West to the 25th century.

The story mode can be played alone or cooperatively with another player which they must complete curtain of the objectives from deactivating communication dish to burning filing cabinets in Serbia, following hacker to research area to uploading to server in Neo Tokyo, and activating reactor to defusing bomb in China. 

What makes TimeSplitters 2 so addicting is the various of multiplayer modes and challenge modes. You have 4-player local split-screen for all console versions, as well as system link capability up to 16 players for PS2 and Xbox (via system links cable on 8 PS2s or 4 Xboxs) which sadly was not included with the GC version unfortunately. The game also has up to 10 computer A.I bots in multiplayer.

There are 16 game modes in total such as free-for-all, team deathmatch, capture the bag, bagtag, virus, flame tag, zones, elimination, and many more to play. 

The challenge modes gives you a scenario where you must complete it within certain requirements from collecting bananas to shooting heads off zombies and there are a league mode in which one player is placed in an arcade match with pre-set bots and weapons.

A biggest highlight of the game is the MapMaker that let you create and design your own playable maps for custom gameplay featuring tile settings, story-related object, lighting effects, enemy set, weapon items, and briefing which adds the new kinds of ways of playing the game. 

The game itself is a stepping forward from the original game thanks to dynamic single-player action filled with many amazing objectives, level design, and co-op play. It has the best FPS multiplayer for 6th generation era with over-the-top matches including deathmatches, capture the bag, and elimination which adds the replayability of the game.  The game plays flawlessly for its smooth gameplay design runs on full 60 FPS, great weapon system, and fully customisable controls feels more responsive and accurate to play.      

The graphics is fully well designed with nicely made textures and detailed environmental design did hold up to its today standards in terms of graphics design, and it has the coolest soundtrack for any FPS games to date from old-gothic medieval style to more futuristic styled sounding or from old-jazzy sounds to more atmospheric jungle-themed style which fits the game's personality.

TimeSplitters 2 is one of the better FPS title for 6th generation era that has aged remarkably well over the decade which outperforms N64's FPS games in terms of design and performance, so I was hoping for the game should deserve a full remaster release with adding online play and some content would be nicer for newcomers to get a hands on with the game in near future.

There are a fun easter egg being featured in Homefront: The Revolution created by Deep Sliver Dambuster which lets you play 2 playable levels from TimeSplitters 2 via an arcade cabinet located in one of the main game's locations, so does that mean it will eventually gonna release the classic FPS title in near future? we will shall wait and see how it goes. 

4 - Soul Calibur 2 

            

Back in my childhood days of 2000s, My cousin and I had a blast of playing a first Soul Calibur on SEGA Dreamcast which was heavily regarded as being one of the Namco's biggest masterpiece for 3D fighting game genres for innovation, as well as being an massive improvement over the arcade counterpart featuring additional new features and improved graphics overhaul making it one of the most acclaimed fighting games ever created with numerous of game of the year awards.

The success of the game had spawned with the follow-up sequel such as Soul Calibur 2 was released for the arcade in 2002, while the console port was later in 2003 such as PS2, Xbox, and GC.

Like the first game, it retains the same modes as the original such as Arcade, Versus Battle, Team Battle, Versus Team Battle, Time Attack, Survival and Practice, as well as weapon master mode. 

There are also extra versions of these modes which intended to allow the use of extra weapons and unlockable stages.

While the game retains all the original base characters from the first game, it also introduces some of the new playable roster such as Cassandra, Raphael, Talim, Yunsung, Charade, and Necrid. 

Each of the console platforms has one of their own exclusive characters such as Heihachi Mishima from Tekken series on PS2, Spawn from the comic book series of the same name by Todd McFarlane on Xbox and of course Link from The Legend of Zelda series on GC.

What makes the sequel so great is that you have weapon master mode, a extended version of arcade's conquest mode which introduces a story set in an alternate world. The player moves in a map divided into regions and fights enemies to gain experience points which raises the ranking system of the character and money which can be used to buy weapons, art, costumes and videos. The mode has 10 normal chapters, 4 sub-chapters and 2 extra-chapters, as well as extra-missions.

This benefits the overall fun of the game thanks to numerous of chapters, missions, and challenges which makes the single-player mode an finest experience of Soul Calibur series. 

Aside with the weapon master mode, the arcade is just as good as the first game and versus mode is spectacularly fun for any of fighting game fans could get a hands on with stuff like 1 on 1 solo and team battle up to 3 on 3. There are time attack mode and survival mode put you on the test to get best new records as possible, and train with your fighting moves through practice mode to become an experienced fighter.

The fighting system controls perfectly to pull off many fighting techniques and moves resulting a smooth and responsive combo attacks that makes the whole game played really well with no signs of delays. 

The graphics is looking fantastic for its crispy animation, in-depth environments, rich lighting effects, being able to ran on 60 FPS, and has widescreen support especially Xbox version has boosted up to 720p resulting improved textures and overall resolution compared with PS2 and GC has 480p support delivering the most impressive visuals in any fighting games.

The sound design in the game is very well done was first to include dolby digital 5.1 surround for all console version delivering more cleaner sound quality and dynamic sound effects making it sounds more cinematic, and it clearly has the epic soundtrack that fits the action of weapon-based fighting game.

The best version of Soul Calibur 2 has to go for the Gamecube version for the inclusion of Link from The Legend of Zelda series as the playable roster is the main reason for me to own the Gamecube copy of the game.               

Soul Calibur 2 is a most refreshing 3D fighting game on the system which also received a HD port titled as Soul Calibur II HD Online for the PS3 and X360 in 2013 adding support for online-only gameplay via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, but it's a shame that there are no release for Wii U which could have been nice if Bandai Namco Entertainment did just a same as like they did with the PS3 and X360 releases, so maybe the Switch port will eventually get a chance in the future.

3 - Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time

     

First of all, I've enjoyed playing the original 1989 Prince of Persia which is a very first 2D cinematic platformer title created by Jordan Mechner. It was released for various of platforms such as Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, GB, TG-16, SEGA Genesis/MD, SEGA CD, SNES, NES, and others.

It was highly praised for its innovative gameplay controls, challenging design choices of levels, and cinematic presentation to make use of rotoscoping for fluid and realistic animation has influenced some later games in this subgenre such as Another World and Flashbacks: Quest for Identity, as well as the 3D action-adventure games such as Tomb Raider.

The success led to release of final two sequels of the original such as Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow of the Flame and Prince of Persia 3D.

After Ubisoft has acquired the rights of the franchise in around 2001, they began to work on the reboot called Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time which is action-adventure title was released for GBA, PS2, Xbox, GC, and PC in 2003. 

The story focuses on nameless prince who obtains an artefact called the dagger of time while his father's army captures an hourglass containing the mysterious sands of time, as he took it to his father Vizier at the palace of the Sultan of Azad, he was being tricked into releasing the sands which transforming people into sand monsters under his father's control.

While partnering with the young princess Farah, the prince finds the way of correcting his mistake and stopping his father's evil plans.

You take control of the prince in Tomb Raider style 3D approach which makes a huge departure of original's 2D cinematic platformer, so it's involves platforming, combat, and ability to use rewind time mechanics.

Then you have companion Farah will help you throughout the combat where she welds bow and arrow to shoot enemies as assisting attack, as well as working together as team in the puzzle-solving areas. 

The prince has ability to perform his contextual moves such as wall-running, climbing across the ledges, walking along beams, swinging on and jumping from poles, jumping onto pillars, and swinging on ropes which is used for platforming actions.

He equips two different weapons such as sword for basic attacking while the dagger are used for defeating sand enemies, and he can also pull off his special moves such as somersault attack and bouncing off walls into enemies.

He can collect sands from the enemies and the environment are tied to his magical abilities connected to his dagger which allows him to use rewind time mechanics by up to 10 seconds if he makes a mistake in platforming or dies. He can also slow time around him, freezes single enemy, and freeze time to increase his attacking speed.

The game also involves puzzle-solving where he needs to complete the certain of large puzzles to open up the new area, as well as evading the areas filled with traps include spike pits, arrow traps, wall-mounted blades and saws, and spinning spiked stakes.

                  

Like I've enjoyed the original 1989's game, I kinda liked the new changes of the whole game because it's so much different from the original.

The story is well-written that are easy to get into with strong storyline and cool protagonist that keeps you more interested with the franchise's reboot, and I also liked the presentation filled with ancient and old-medieval style of Persia with bunch of empires of army fighting a war in a foreign land.

I liked the style of the rich-looking palace mixed with caves, fountains, and towers that kept the environmental design of levels looks much appealing.

The graphics is stunning for all console platforms thanks to realistic character's animation, rich-looking visuals effects, and large-detailed open areas.

The combat and puzzles are well executed throughout the game that plays absolutely amazing for the use of exploration, battle segment, and of course the time mechanics are the main highlight of the  whole game makes Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time being a great 2D to 3D transitions of the franchise.

It is also available for PS3 as part of the HD trilogy collection which also includes other two like Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, while this game is also backward compatible for Xbox platforms as well (via Xbox original version can be played on X360, XBONE, and possibly XSX).      

I was hoping for Ubisoft to do well on the remake which was in the development, so lets just wait and see how it goes at the end in terms of faithfulness to the original source material.                 

2 - Max Payne 

In my old days of early 2000s at the time when my brother had Xbox original, there's one of the game that one of my classmate from my school had recommend me to play a crime-shooting action that got really interested me, so that is Max Payne created by Remedy Entertainment. 

It is a neo-noir third-person shooter was released for PC, PS2, Xbox, and GBA in between 2001 and 2003.

Before the game's actual release, there were plans for a Dreamcast version, but sadly they were cancelled due to discontinuation of the console in 2001 had led the developer team focused onto other console platforms such as PS2 and Xbox instead.

The game borrows the influence from the Hong Kong action cinema film such as John Woo's Hard Boiled, and was one of the first game to feature bullet-time effect popularised by The Matrix.

The story focuses on former NYPD police detective Max Payne went on his attempt to solve the murder of his wife and daughter in connection to a drug trafficking case involving a mysterious new designer drug under Valkyr.

You take control of Max Payne in third-person perspective, as your mission is to take down bunch of mafia's mobsters, as well as uncovering the truth of drug trafficking case.

He armed with a 9mm pistol as a basic weapon, but as the game progresses, other weapons including shotgun, sub-machine gun, baseball bat, grenade, and rocket launcher become accessible with some weapons such as twin sub-machine guns and two dual-pistol able to be dual-welded for an increase firepower.

The bullet-time mechanic will allow to slowed down the time that the speed of the bullets and other projectiles moves very slowly while Max is being able to move and react in real-time during the shootout.

I was blown away when I first played the game on my brother's Xbox original. The game filled with crime-drama storyline with the element of neo-noir styled graphic novel panels of cutscenes used as narration starting off an deep despair opening scenes of former detective had the worst event of losing his family that led him becoming badass undercover operative in 3 years later adding a significant revenge storyline throughout the game, and it has the best voice work for the narration as well as the cast of characters.

What makes the game special is that the game is jammed packed with shooting sprees showered enemies with the bullets, set them on fire with molotov cocktails, wacked them to death with baseball bat, and tons of explosion with grenades and rockets making the game feel destructible and over-the-top shootout action.

The bullet-time mechanics is absolutely fantastic that adds the innovation of the genres giving the title a huge game changer at the time.

The Xbox version is clearly one of the best version of all console platforms thanks to smooth framerate, quality graphics design, and it plays better, while PS2 had suffered with less detailed graphics and occasional slowdowns that won't fit into PS2's 32MB of RAM forcing the levels were broken up into smaller parts. GBA is differs from the PCs and Consoles, so instead of 3D perspective it uses the isometric perspective and sprite graphics while still remained the same story and novel presentation.      

Max Payne is a outstanding third-person shooter that I highly recommend you all playing this action-packed awesomeness. 

You can get inferior PS2 version digitally for PS3 and PS4 (via PS Store) or if any of you wanted to pick the best version of the game then go for PC and Xbox as an default especially it's also backward compatibility on X360 as well, so I was hoping for the game's compatibility will soon able to fully functioned for XBONE and XSX in later future if the Rockstar Games has a chance to do it someday.

1 - Resident Evil 4

As a big fan of Capcom's horror franchise, one of the game that caught my eye was Resident Evil 4 for GC and PS2 in 2005, which is a third-person horror game as a sequel to the previous installiment of the franchise.

Before the actual release, the early development began in 1999 when the director Hideki Kamiya wanted to create more stylish action game with the mix of gothic and action, but it was disapproved by the producer Shinji Mikami felt that the idea would not fit into the series concept for lacking horror elements of the game convincing the development team to make an independent game which became a new Capcom franchise called Devil May Cry was released in 2001.

This leads into restarting the whole development of Resident Evil 4 build up from the scratch with Shinji Mikami as a main director to take over the game's development had finally finished the final version in 2005.

After the game's release, it received universally acclaim by gaming press calling it the best video game of all time winning many game of the year awards 2005 and being ranked as number 1 in a top 10s list. It is also becoming a most influential games of 2000s that redefining the third-person shooter genre which was credited for introducing over-the-shoulder viewpoint and standard precision aim was later became main standard of the third-person shooter games such as Gears of War, Dead Space, and Uncharted.

Going back to this game, it sets in rural village in Spain where U.S agent Leon S Kennedy was sent by government on his mission is to rescue president's daughter Ashley Graham who has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult members Los iluminados was also responsible for infecting many villagers with mind-controlling parasite known as Las Plagas.

You take control of Leon in third-person perspective which focuses on action and shootouts with fewer survival horror elements.

The biggest changes in Resident Evil 4 are the camera is placed behind the player and zooms in for an over-the-shoulder view when aiming weapon which is a huge departure of fixed camera angles from the previous installiment making it easier to control and navigating stuff like being able to aim freely with laser pointer as crosshair, picking up items what's front of you, and interacting objects. 

You have the selection of weapons such as starting out with pistol as a main basic weapon while the combat knife uses as close melee attacks or breaking objects. 

The shotgun works as a close range with powerful shot, the sub-machine guns and assault rifles used as long range with moderate shot, the magnum pistols are much stronger to kill off enemies, and snipers has deadly one shot kill in long range attack.

Leon also has ability to shot enemy's projectiles down like thrown axes or scythes, kicking down ladder, jumping out of window, dodging an attack, and executing a finishing move on weakened enemies.

It also involves the QTE in which the player must correctly hitting the buttons which indicated on-screen to execute actions such as evading from boulder and wrestling an enemy to stay alive.

The inventory system gives you an option to use, examine, and combine items, and then you have merchant that appears in various locations which sells first aid spray to heal health, upgradable weapons to improve weapon accuracy, and buys various treasures that Leon finds.

I got to say this game is definitely one of my favourite title in whole franchise which I did not regret playing on my GC because I like how the game went with the new direction of the franchise's horror elements.

The presentation is dark and terrifying of abandoned villages with bunch of infected villagers welds with gardening tools suddenly came after you especially a big bulky dude with bag on the head tries to decapitate you with the chainsaw in gruesome ways and you see these creepy cult members performing their demonic rituals which adds a ambitious scare factor of the game.

The story is outstanding that keeps the game more interesting, and the characters such as Leon S Kennedy is one badass protagonist that kicks every villagers assess, and the most surprising part in the game made the return is Ada Wong, who first appeared from Resident Evil 2, went undercover on her mission in scenarios such as Separate Ways and Assignment Ada.

Don't let that obnoxious blond girl ruin your good time with the game, yes I'm looking at you Ashley Graham because I can't stand with your DAMN VOICE OF YOURS!!!! ("LEON HELPPPP!!!!" in every part in the game).

The game does have the insane boss villain are big-tall bearded Bitores Mendez (A.K.A Big Cheese) tries to crush your skull with his big palm of hand, a sick-minded henchmen Ramon Salazar challenged you with his deadly traps, a badass former comrade Jack Krauser has armed himself with superhuman arm-blade, and the cult leader Osmund Saddler is indeed powerful cultist uses his mind-controls power are clearly the best part in the game that made Resident Evil 4 quite entertaining to play. 

The design of the gameplay and graphics did hold up to today standards in all thanks to re-release variants such as Wii edition in 2007 that utillzes the pointing and motion-sensing abilities of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller allowing to aim and shoot anywhere on the screen, and the HD re-releases of PC in 2014, and PS4 and XBONE in 2016 features improved graphics and updated controls which is a great addition for the newcomer can able to get a hands on with the game well. 

Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece that I consider not just being the best in the whole series, but as one of the Shinji Mikami's best work he ever created that brings the survival horror genre into next-gen level of gaming industries.

This is must play for all horror fans which you can get it on every PCs and Consoles including PC, GC, PS2, Wii, X360, PS3, PS4, XBONE, and Switch available to both physical and digital platform. 

Honorable Mention: 

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3

Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike 

Viewtiful Joe 

The Simpsons: Hit and Run

GTA: Vice City 

Burnout 3: Takedowns

Quake 3 Arena 

Unreal Tournament

MDK 2

Metal Slug 3

WWE Day of Reckoning 

Red Faction 2

NHL Hitz 2002

SEGA Soccer Slam

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Dead or Alive 2

Ikaruga 

Grandia II

Tomb Raider: Legends

Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

Beyond Good and Evil

Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader

Tales of Symphonia

Super Monkey Ball

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My Gaming Memories - Nintendo 64

 

Back in mid-80's to early 90's where Nintendo had dominated the gaming industries with the success of their home system as well as the handheld portable. 

The consoles such as NES, SNES, and GB had gained so much popularity at worldwide thanks to numerous of killer libraries, innovation, price launch, and fanbases that made Nintendo became one of the top dog of gaming company until the new rivalry such as SONY had finally kills off the competition with the Playstation in mid-90s.

At the times before the Playstation, Sony and Nintendo had agreed working together to develop the CD add-ons for SNES to compete with their rivalry such as SEGA's own CD add-ons for SEGA Genesis/MD which is SEGA CD (A.K.A Mega CD in EU and JP), but until Nintendo had changed it mind by making an partnership with Philips, who is a main competitor to SONY, to produce their game titles for the console such as Philips CD-i which led the betrayal on SONY weren't happy with the decision from Nintendo which is the reason why SONY had left the production of SNES's CD based add-ons as cancellation to create their own video game system which is a Playstation leaving Nintendo in panic mode that struggles to create their own CD based console, unlike their competitor such as SONY Playstation and SEGA Saturn which is a 32-bit consoles heavily focuses on the CD-ROM based format as well as 3D based titles including various of arcade ports and AAA exclusive titles. 

While on the development of the Nintendo's own 64-bit system which is a Nintendo 64, their decision is to stick with the cartridge based system as opposed to CD-ROM based, and it is one of the first home console being produced by Silicon Graphics, Inc for its software development kit rendering the 3D technology being developed for the system. 

It is also added some features on the system such as 4 controller ports as opposed to 2 for bigger and wider multiplayer modes, and the expansion pak, a RAM memory add-ons which produces 8MB of console's RAM give the system the advantage of greater visuals and higher resolution.

The N64 had introduced their own unique controller fully designed for the 3D titles such as mostly 3D platformers, First-Person Shooters, and Action-Adventures that utilizes the 3D analog stick resulting the smoother and response 360 degrees controls as opposed to fixed-traditional Digital Pad.

It had shared with their own accessories designed for N64 controllers such as Memory Pak which is save function slot, Rumble Pak is a feedback vibration designed for some games, and Transfer Pak  which give ability to transfer data between N64 games and Game Boy games.

Nintendo 64 was widely positive upon the release for sharing with many acclaimed titles such as Banjo-Kazooie, Mario Kart 64, F-Zero X, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark, Starfox 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 which made Nintendo 64 being the second most recognised video game consoles of 5th generation era behind SONY Playstation still remains as number 1 top-selling system. 

I decided to share my gaming nostalgia to discuss my experiences on games console that I've still own as today such as the games that I remember playing back then as a child and does it defines my childhood memories, so these are the stuff that I like to talk about my history of owning the video game system as well as collecting many libraries of games.

So without go further do here is my gaming memories on Nintendo 64. 

My Gaming Memories - Nintendo 64:

In around year 1997 when I had SEGA Saturn at the time as a child, I remember being into the electronic shop with my brother, so I've discovered the new Nintendo system that had me attention where I saw one of the N64's kiosk previewing a 3D platformer game such as Super Mario 64 which is highly one of the most popular N64 title of launch release at the time. 

I was begging my brother to get me a new Nintendo console, but the issue is that he cannot afford the console yet due to his shortages of money savings till he secretly decides to trade my SEGA Saturn with the Nintendo 64 around in winter holiday without my knowing while I'm at school.   

After I came back from school around 6 hours later, I went straight into the front room and discovered that my SEGA Saturn had missing and asked my brother what has happened while I'm in school? so he said everything to me what has happened the day he took my Saturn away and I got really upset after hearing from him just to tease me on purpose, but he also give me a good news that he bought a N64 as my Christmas gift bundled with Super Mario 64 which is the reason why he did that for me.

As my brother and sister watches me playing a new 64-bit system, I had a go with the Super Mario 64 as one of my very first N64 game to experience a new adventures of Mario in free-roaming 3D platformer. You play as a plumber hero named Mario sets his quest to save his damsel in distress Princess Peach again from Koopa King himself Bowser, so your goal is to collect many stars as possible by completing several of tasks to gain access to the next locations as well as defeating King Bowser at very end.

It is one of the first Mario game being played on the 3D perspective, making it a departure of traditional 2D side-scrolling from previous game. 

Mario has ability to perform many manoeuvring that requires to use these moves to reach a higher up areas like triple jump, dash jump, and wall jumps which is very useful for some bigger variety levels, thanks to N64's analog controller making the full use of 3D stick is really shows that it plays so flawlessly for 3D games like this on N64.

What makes the game quite recognisable are a lot of fun gameplay segments such as battling with bosses, race against koopa, saving baby blue penguin, puzzle solving, reaching higher up castle, collecting all 8 red coins, and discovering hidden secrets which is the reason why it labelled the game as not just being the N64's highly acclaimed and best-seller title ever upon the release, but also being the most influential video games that defines the 3D platform experience.

I really enjoyed playing Super Mario 64 entirely which my siblings and I had spent playing for hours of fun wondering around the levels and searching for stars is quite straightforward and easy to get into with this kind of game that I fell in love with the 3D platform genres.

A week after I had the N64, my cousin came to visit my house as I introduced him with the Nintendo's new console, but as my cousin at the time was an hardcore SEGA fan he doesn't mind trying out with the newer Nintendo consoles as he previously enjoys my SNES as much I've enjoyed his SEGA Genesis/MD, so me and my cousin began to play Super Mario 64 and he was amazed to see a Mario game being in 3D platforming adventure.

In about 6 months later after owning the N64, my brother and I went to local rental store to rent the game that he gonna choose the game for me to try out on N64. 

I had a go with the Blast Corps which is a strange over-the-top action game developed by a same team behind their successful titles such as Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct on SNES, and Goldeneye 007 on N64.

You take control of player uses the destructible vehicles to take down buildings to prevent nuclear missile carrier from destroying the entire city. 

It has over 50 mission levels in single-player action and 8 demolition vehicles to demolish things such as bulldozer, rams, dump truck drifts, buggy, robot mechs and others.

It's a solid experience that is so different from any of action games on N64, so it focuses on mostly a puzzle-style campaign than focusing on the action-combat as a core gameplay which is quite an interesting concept to make the game look more original, but it gets quite repetitive very quickly due to repeated mission objectives and the controls takes sometime to get used with it which requires practice, but overall it's a fun blasting title that I actually had fun playing for hours.

He also rented the copy of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter for N64 which is one of the groundbreaking title that had caught my attention. It's the FPS game with dinosaurs mixes with run-n-gun action and open-world exploration where you take control of Native American warrior named Turok set his quest to stop the evil campaigner from conquering the universe with an ancient and powerful weapon.

It is so different from any of FPS games like Doom and Quake which is more of the traditional FPS game, so unlike Turok which is more non-linear approach which is reason why the gaming magazines labelled the game as one of the greatest FPS title which was credited for its open environment graphics and the evolution of the genre, as well as being praised for its combat gameplay, open-world level design, and focusing on the exploration which led into being one of the most popular games for the Nintendo console on the release.

 

In around between summer and autumn season of year 1998, my brother bought me a copy of Yoshi's Story which is a 2D platformer game for N64. As my sister and I previously enjoyed Yoshi's Island on SNES, we are looking forward playing another Yoshi's title stars your favourite cuddly dinosaur himself set his adventure along with his friends to retain a happy fruit tree back from that little brat himself Bowser. Jr who has taken their happy stuff away, so your goal is to beat the stage by eating all the missing fruits as opposed to reach at the finishing goal line. 

It's one of the Yoshi's first title on N64 still retains the 2D perspective similar to previous Yoshi's title on SNES rather than the 3D perspective like Super Mario 64, but however it's more heavily focuses on puzzle-oriented which is different from being the traditional 2D platforming style.

This game really puts a smile on my face as a child when it's comes with the cuteness of lovable characters, crafty art-style design, and sound designs is what I find the game appeals to me the most, but I don't understand the disapproval from gaming press finding the game disappointing for its lower difficulty, short-length play, and lack of originally compared with the predecessor for SNES, so to me the game aren't bad as many think which I had the reason to like this type of game that is appeals to younger players.

After I had a ton of fun playing Yoshi's Story over 3 weeks, my brother had secretly trade my game with the copy of Goldeneye 007 while I'm at in school without knowing what my brother been up to again, so after I came back to school I head straight through to front room to play N64, but I've notice that the copy of Yoshi's Story wasn't on the TV cabinet which took me awhile to find the game till my brother came in the front room and said to me that he purposely swapped it with the Goldeneye 007, so I got really upset big time that he did it just to tease me again especially I know nothing about the game based off the film he bought it for N64 because I've never watched any of James Bond films before.

He said that he wanted me to give the game a go on the N64, so I did play the game for an hour which took me a week to get used with the game.

It is a Rareware's FPS game based on the film in same name where you take control of British agent James Bond set out his mission to prevent a criminal syndicate from using satellite weapon against London to cause a global financial meltdown.       

The game has received critical reception from the gaming magazines labelled it as the greatest console-only FPS game of all-time and had commercial success worldwide has sold over 8 million copies making it N64's 3rd best-selling game, as well as being credited for pioneering features such as atmospheric single-player missions, stealth elements, innovative gameplay depth and variety, and console's multiplayer mode making it a huge departure of traditional Doom-like approach to more realistic style of FPS genres. 

I had a blast of playing Goldeneye 007 especially with my brother and cousins during the deathmatch mode which is addicting and over-the-top arena-style multiplayer that we couldn't stop shooting at each other for hours of laugh and joy. 

While the local split-screen multiplayer is addictive and fun to play, I also enjoyed the single-player campaign that is so different from any of shooters, so instead of collecting keys and head to the exit like Id's Software Doom and Quake, you had to follow the to-do's list objectives to complete the mission which in fact I like the idea of having a different playstyle of FPS game from bungee jump to destroying gas tanks and escaping from archives to rode on military tank is what made Goldeneye 007 so recognisable.

It is becoming one of my favourite shooters of N64 library as well as being my all-time top favourite FPS games that has inspired many game developers to create their later own successful FPS franchises such as Bungie's Halo, EA's Medal of Honor and Battlefield, and Activision's Call of Duty which is the reason why many had labelled Goldeneye 007 as one of the most important game for FPS genre. 

In the year 1999, my brother had bought something different for N64. As I never actually watched any of the wrestling program at the time before year later, but one of the game that caught my attention was WCW vs NWO: Revenge which is a 3D wrestling game exclusively on N64 based from TV program called World Championship Wrestling.

I overheard the game was being popular on the N64 which they labelled it as one of the best wrestling games on the system by gaming press as well as being a best-selling wresting game for the N64 console.                          

It's one of the game made various of improvement from the predecessor's WCW vs NWO: World Tour which adds wrestler ring entrances, customisable outfits, new gameplay mechanics with combo system and more grappling moves, actual arenas such as Monday Night Nitro and Starrcade, new championship mode, and added new rosters such as Bret Hitman Hart, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Brian Adams, Chris Jericho, and Fit Finlay, while retaining the previous roster such as Hollywood Hogan (A.K.A Hulk Hogan), Kevin Nash, Chris Benoit, The Giant (currently known as Big Show for later WWF/WWE era), and Dimond Dallas Page. 

It took me awhile to get used with the fighting controls such as figuring out how to pull off grappling moves and striking, as well as picking up objects, entering ring, sprinting, and pinning and submitting opponent is what wrestling game is all about. 

I remember the day when my brother and cousins had their moment playing this kinds of game which has the awesome local matches such as single match, handicap match, tag-team match, and of course 40-mens battle royale is what kept us playing all day which proves WCW vs NWO Revenge on the N64 is by far one of my favourite wrestling game of all-time.

In month later, my brother and I headed to local rental store to rent the N64 game that many people had considered the title as the most revolutionary game that defines not only the genre itself, but changed gaming industries which is the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, an Open-World Action-Adventure by Nintendo themselves where you take control of the Hylian's favourite hero named Link set his quest to save his homeland and rescuing Princess Zelda from the wicked villain Ganondorf.

Unlike any of previous Zelda games which is top-down 2D perspective, this game is a 3D open-world perspective that has a large environmental areas to explore and visit places, so your main goal is to complete the tasks throughout the game such as the dungeon levels and bosses. What really adds the game that is so new to the series is that Link has ability to travel freely between the two time periods of light and dark, he can acquire to ride on horse named Epona that allows him to travel faster as well as attacking while riding is restricted to bow and arrows, and using the musical item known as the ocarina which requires to learn the melodies that allow him to solve music-based puzzles and teleport to previously visited locations.

The game itself has critically praised for its many side-quests, large open-world environments, cinematic design, combat system, puzzles and action, and epic bosses which became one of the most acclaimed video game title ever made had gained many awards by gaming press and had commercial performance worldwide.

I actually liked this type of game that given me a freedom to wonder around the levels, fighting off those foes, collecting rupees, entering dungeons, obtaining new items, and discovering hidden secrets had captured my gaming nostalgia.

In the year 2001 at the time when I still had the SEGA Dreamcast for months, there are a last two games that I ever rented from the local rental store which was released before the end of the N64's lifecycle, so I played Paper Mario which is a colourful-RPGs title where you take control of Mario yet again to rescue Princess Peach from Evil Bowser, who has imprisoned the 7 stars spirits causing the castle to float up in sky and steals the star rod from star haven making himself invincible. 

I have never seen any of Mario game receive an RPGs title as a kid which is entirely a new thing for the franchise, so it involves Mario and number of partners to solve the puzzles in the game's overworld and defeat enemies in a turn-based battle system.

I got to say the game is pretty straightforward RPGs with simplistic battle gameplay are easier to navigate commands and the graphics are made of papers with cartoony visuals and colourful environments adding the game's appeals.

Then I also played Conker's Bad Fur Day which is a 3D platformer created by a same developers who previously worked on N64 titles like Banjo-Kazooie, Goldeneye 007, and Perfect Dark. 

As a kid at the time, it's kinda strange when I looked at the age rating system on front of the game's cartridge which are aimed for mature audiences, so how can a cute and adorable squirrel turned into a foul-mouthed character since his first appearance in Diddy Kong Racing for N64 as well as Conker's Pocket Tales for GBC. 

I began to play the game on my N64 to see how the game went, so it started out quite normal at the beginning of the game where you take control of hard-drinking red squirrel Conker finding his way to return home to his girlfriend Berri, but until the rest of the whole game went full on edgier content such as the use of explicit language, toilet humour, and graphical violence which I did not expect this was being included on the Nintendo console which is meant for younger children, but not anymore because I have seen games like South Park did a same thing on N64 way ahead before this title.

To be honest that didn't bother me as a child because I finding the game quite entertaining for comedic sense of humour and funny-ass characters that really builds up the story development and I also enjoyed really cool segments in the game such as evading wasps while carrying beehive, force feeding stinky-ass rat with alive cheese, bull fight scene, throwing a toilet roll into a big opera-singing pile of shit called great mighty poo, and it has an awesome pop-culture parodies from the likes of The Matrix, A Clockwork Orange, Aliens, and Monty Python's series that really adds the game's appeal to those who enjoys TV show like South Park will appreciate this type of game.

To conclude my story, the Nintendo 64 is a remarkable gaming system that brings my moment of my nostalgia hood from 3D platforming adventures to over-the-top FPS action, then from wrestling brawling fighting game to open-world action-adventures is what made my childhood so great back then.

Despite my loss of SEGA Saturn been taken away at the time before I finally retained it back in long years later, I did not regret having N64 as a replacement from Saturn which kinda makes sense that the library on N64 is doing somewhat better for its the varieties of 3rd party games and plenty AAA exclusives which is the reason why N64 had sold slightly better than SEGA could do with the Saturn for lacking AAA Sonic games and limited 3rd party support, but don't get me wrong I still loved the Saturn for its great arcade ports and some decent exclusives that are introduced for SEGA's 32-bit console.        

Going back to Nintendo 64, the games are very known for pushing the single-player and local multiplayer into boundaries like Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark, WCW vs NWO Revenge, International Superstar Soccer 64, Mario Party, Mario Kart 64, F-Zero X, Super Smash Bros, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda; Ocarina of Time, Banjo-Kazooie, Starfox 64, and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter that defines the N64 legacy.

N64 has fair shares with interesting video game accessories such as memory pak which stores save data as opposed to built-in save battery, rumble pak is designed for types of game that uses vibration feedback for gameplay purposes, transfer pak that allow you to transfer data from GBC to N64 for extra features, and expansion pak that allow N64 runs on hi-res screen or the game that are required to run such as Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora Mask which adds the innovation for the system at the time.  

I do really love the controller which introduces the additional C-buttons, Z digital-trigger, and 3D analog stick which brings the new ways of playstyle for several of the games that has 360-degrees movement, camera system, and other commands which many gaming media labelled it as one of the most influential video game controller at the time until the PS1's Dualshock controller does it better job than the N64 controller itself thanks to dual-stick controls.

While it is not as good compared with SONY's own machine PS1 when it comes with better libraries of JRPGs, Survival Horror, Sports, Fighting Games, Racing, and Stealth-Action that led PS1 still remains a top-selling system of 5th generation era.

What SONY did a right with their PS1 is focusing on CD-based system which is easier for developers to fit a chunks of game data on whole disk as opposed to N64 cartridge being restricted with limited amount of memory which is expensive to produce whereas the CD-ROM is much cheaper to produce with 700MB which is the reason why most developer teams had preferred the PS1 over the N64 for the game's development cycle.   

The N64 really missed out the features such as FMV cutscenes and MP3 format music that likely gonna affect some game's overall for N64 like having a small libraries of licensed soundtrack on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, relying on MIDI music format and in-game slide presentation on Mortal Kombat Trilogy, and altered content on Spider-Man which replaces pre-rendered cutscenes with captioned freeze-frames comic book style and fewer voice clips which proves that the PS1 version has the advantages than the N64 version had to offer.

It's a shame that the N64 had missed out the bigger title like Final Fantasy VII was previously in development for the Nintendo console, but due to N64's restricted storage size which led Square decided to transfer the game into the PS1 instead which makes the first Final Fantasy game ever released on Playstation console, since their previous titles being on SNES and NES, gaining a worldwide commercial success as system best-seller and received critical praise as the landmark game of RPGs genres which the Playstation has beaten their competition against Nintendo who has already lost the support from one of the best 3rd party developers behind their RPGs titles since the SNES and NES era.  

Look how well Capcom had bought Resident Evil 2 to N64 proves that they managed to cram 700MB of data from PS1 Disk into the 64MB of N64 cartridge with compressed FMV cutscenes and audios, running on hi-res as opposed to PS1, and packed of content which is a faithful port of the original game making it the most technically impressive title for Nintendo console that is harder to develop.

The interesting history about Nintendo's own 64-bit system is that they had additional system's addons called Nintendo 64DD which was only released at Japan in holiday 1999, so it is basically a disk drive system that plugs into the N64's system extension port adding more data storage, persistent game design, and audio library for further storage efficiency which allows game developer to create movies, characters, and animations for new genres of games and applications, as well as online services based on Randnet network for online gaming and media sharing. 

Unfortunately it went commercially failure at the release which sold 15,000 units in Japan leading into a system's discontinuation in 2001 causing many 64DD games to be released on traditional N64 cartridges, some being ported to other consoles, or it's likely being cancelled during development due to poor sales of add-on hardware.

It's one of the system's add-ons that never officially released at worldwide leaving the 64DD hardware being stuck in Japan with only 10 official games, so it's a shame that I will never being able to see a system's add-on for N64 at light of the day because it did had the potential to innovate a new technology for gaming consoles.               

Nintendo 64 is a great video game system that I had experienced playing a numerous of N64 libraries which has fun and addicting multiplayer matches, adventurous single-player campaign, and tons of replay values that are worth playing again to revisit my gaming nostalgia.    

In nowadays, I began starting to collect more N64 games on my collection such as Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Blast Corps, and Perfect Dark that are worth revisiting my childhood games again since my old days and I am very glad that I still own the copy of Yoshi's Story back in my teen days which proves that I've been missing the game so much as a child back then.        

Then I finally grab a copy of games like Operation Winback, Hybrid Heaven, and Mischief Makers are the N64's hidden gems titles that are worth checking it out.

I will never forget my childhood moments of remembering the days when me, my siblings and cousins had our good times of playing Goldeneye 007, Quake 2, Snowboard Kids, and WCW vs NWO: Revenge which is the reason why N64 had the best multiplayer titles on the system.                          

I'm kinda feel annoyed when N64 games are becoming valuable especially Conker's Bad Fur Day is one of the game that I wanted to add on my collection, but it's difficult to find it cheaper online which cost more than £100 making it the rarest game of N64 library, unless you can find the cheap reproduction copy through Ebay and Aliexpress site, or get it physically or digitally for the XBONE under the Rare Replay, a video game compilation that has 30 original classic games by Rare.

That being said, I love the system as much as the SNES, so that is Nintendo 64 everyone, now you're playing with the ultra 64 power.   

 

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Ratchet and Clank PS4 (Digital) Review

 

Ratchet and Clank is a mix of 3D action-platformer and third-person shooter only for PS4, which was developed by Insomniac Games, and published by SONY Interactive Entertainment. It is a re-imaging of the first game in the series, as well as being based on the 2016 film of the same name by Rainmaker Entertainment (now Mainframe Studios) and Blockade Entertainment. 

To keep you in mind before reviewing this game, I had a difficulties to get into with this series since I've played R&C Tools of Destruction on PS3 and R&C Size Matters on PS Vita as digital PSP copy (via PS Store) which are these two games that I never being able to complete it, but that doesn't mean it's anything bad because I heard this series are overwhelmingly positive for its clever-puzzle solving, various of engaging weapons upgrades, fun platforming sections, exploration, and has great single-player action that made the series so recognisable on SONY platforms.

I decided to give this series a second try with the Ratchet and Clank for PS4 which I had this digital copy for free from PS Store thanks to Playstation's Play at Home Initiative program who has previously given a two giveaways games like Uncharted: Nathan Drake Collection and Journey last year.

So I've finally beaten this game for a week and I got to say I kinda liked it so far because it's one of my first Ratchet and Clank title that I have completed it.

This game does have a positive parts that made this game worth playing, while I will discuss some of the negative things in further review.

So without go further do, let's start the review.

Presentation

While the game was based on the 2016's movie, the game sets in planet Veldin as it focuses on young Lombax named Ratchet, who works at the mechanic, had his dreams of joining the Galactic Rangers, but unfortunately after he passes the test he was then quickly being rejected by Captain Qwark due to his criminal past.

Then Ratchet had discovered the crashed ship and rescued a defective warbot named Clank, who managed to escape from factory on planet Quartu, as he explains to Ratchet that he needs to warn the Galactic Rangers of dangerous plans made by Alonzo Drek, a chairman who works at the construction factory of a mechanical army built by an evil scientist Dr. Nefarious.

So Ratchet had agreed to join Clank as a new partner throughout the adventure to stop the Drek from destroying the planets.

To be quite honest with the story in the game which is based on the film, I finding it quite below the average which I got to say that it's not fully terrible but it's just not sounds great in my opinion. 

The only good part in the game is that it did had a sense of humour lines which is entertaining for young viewers, but I find the rest of the story dialogue throughout the game is somewhat a bit under-developed when it's comes with the story-written plot which doesn't do anything to impress me, but like I said it's fine with the younger audience may seem to like this stuff. 

Aside with the story, I really liked the cast of characters in the game such as Ratchet is just the lombax welding with the wrenches and kicking all robots asses which made him quite memorable, and you have little robot friend Clank who is intelligent and clever with the puzzle-investigation as well as helping with the partner throughout missions which I quite liked him a lot. 

Then you had one silly side-character like Captain Qwark which kinda looks like Mr Incredible from Pixar's film The Incredibles wore Daffy Duck's Duck Dodgers costumes from Looney Tunes, yeah judging with his bulky design.

He one of the dumbasses who pretending to be like a superhero just for attracting attention to people in order to gain money and publicity which sounds like a jerk moves, but he's not always being a horrible person as he seems much nicer with Ratchet.

There are some support characters like Agnogg Buckwash, Plumber, Skidd McMarx, Cora Veralux and rest others are just the people who needed their help from Ratchet and Clank throughout the story missions.

The game also shared with great villains such as Chairman Alonzo Drek is more of being the dictator than just the chairman who are aiming to create his new homeworld by creating his space station that could destroy planets with deadly powerful laser as well as sending his forces to gather pieces from other planets and use them for his new homeplanet known as New Quartu.

Then you have big bulky robot lieutenant Victor Von Ion who is a chairman's bodyguard and served as Clank's archenemy when Clank had becoming one of the defect of all warbots which led Drek instructed Victor to destroy him before he escapes the planet.

Lastly Dr Nefarious is one of the series's original villain who is vile and evil big headed robot-scientist has a distinct hatred against humanity and plotting to rule the galaxy which you will see able to see him quite soon sometime throughout the game.  

I honestly to say that I liked their production values for its aesthetics cinematic design which is almost like watching Pixar's films during the cutscenes seems to be quite look amazing for the Playstation platform. The CGIs and animations throughout the sequences is pretty gorgeous which I'm quite surprised the animation team behind the 2016's film did a tremendous job of capturing these cinematic assets in both film and video games.

The presentation looks fantastic in each planets such as Veldin which is rocky-like wasteland full of scrapyard and garage, Novalis is a spring forrest places with cave tunnels filled with neon-light and waterfall, Kerwan is sorta city like centre with many tall buildings and flying transport, Rilgar is the place where the racing event took place, Gaspar is a tiny islands filled with lakes of lava and stations, Batalia takes place in icy battle fort, and others locations which is colourful and sharp looking details the game has to offer making it the most appealing designs they ever produced for the whole series.

Overall, it suffers with the average storylines, but has lovable characters, aesthetics cinematic design, and fantastic presentation settings.

Gameplay

You take control of Ratchet in third-person perspective with the mix of open-world platforming and shooting action elements, so you will have the list of the story missions as well as optional side-mission on the map menu where your goal is to complete all missions throughout the game which leads you to the next planet.

Using the left stick to move Ratchet while right stick is to move camera system around, so you use wrench as a basic melee weapon to attack on enemies by thrown or swung at them as well as destroying boxes packs with bolts and it is also serves as tool to turning bolt cranks and picking up objects. 

You will gain a new weapon are made available by completing missions or buying them through a weapon vendor which requires numerous of bolts as a currency to spend.

You will start off with combuster which is a balanced blaster weapon, fusion grenade works effectively with impact damage and area of effect by throwing at the enemies, pyrocitor is a flamethrower had short range but high rate of fire works better for smaller enemies, predator launcher is a homing weapon with multi-lock on system allowing you to release 4 missiles, proton drum is a orb launcher which launches metallic ball on grounds or wall creates large portion area of shockwaves damaging enemies, plasma striker is a sniper works better effectively in long-range shots provides critical hit damage, pixelizer is a 8-bit shotgun are short-ranged but deals heavy damage turns enemies into 8-bit pixelated, warmonger is a rocket launcher which fires 2 rockets per shot, groovitron is a disco ball that plays disco music that makes enemies dance along for distraction till it expires, Mr. Zurkon is just the assisting attack drone that zaps his laser, sheepinator is a laser weapon that zaps enemies turned into sheeps, buzz blades shoots out with multiple sharp-blade disc, bouncer fires with large bomb with smaller bomblets, glove of doom acts as kamikaze explosives allowing you to run towards an enemy, and R.Y.N.O fires up to a 9 powerful missiles per launch.

The game also has several of gadgets that can be used for platforming segments such as grind boots which allows you to ride on rails, heli-pack that can be used for glide and jump high to reach inaccessible areas, hydro-pack allows you to dive under the water but be vary to keep an eye with the oxygen level, hydrodisplacer is a water draining equipment that drains and fills pools of water, magneboots allows you to walk across the traverse magnetic surfaces, swingbot allows you to latch and swing as grapple hook to reach across gaps, jetpack allows you to fly around the area which requires fuel from fuelling stations, and trespasser are used for hacking devices to unlock blocked doors.      

You also get to play as Clank which is more puzzle-based focused as oppose to combat and platforming segment like Ratchet. 

He has ability to punch at enemies, but rather than defeating enemies he must solve the puzzle aspects in the game such as using gadget bots to create bridges which allowing him to get across the gap, spring makes him jump high to reach higher platform, and using power to activate generators.    

Aside with these weapons and gadgets, the missions has the list of objectives that you will need to complete which can be marked on the map screen. It involves stuff like destroying the battleships, disable the security system, escaping the sewers, finding someone to help you repair your ship, get to the HQ, investigating the factory, locating the gadget, meeting up with the rangers, trade 20 brains for an infobot, and defeating bosses, while it also has optional side-missions like collecting all holocards, winning the hoverboard race cup, and searching for hidden treasure. 

Once you've completed some of the objectives which leads you to unlocking a new planet for newer objectives so you can able to travel there with the ship to select any of these planet to visit.                  

I got to say the combat in the game are pretty good for its range and firing rates so my favourite weapon to use mostly is pixelizer that turns enemies into chunk of pixels which is fantastic, the predator launcher did had a great lock-on system which is easier to target at the enemies but I much preferred with warmonger which benefits a heavy impact damage, and the buzz blade which shoots multiple sharp discs which kinda worked pretty well.

There are couple of the weapons that I find it hilarious which is groovitron and sheepinator are the funniest part of the game.

I wasn't the fan with the Mr. Zurkon as a drone assistant which is slow and doesn't do any of damage are by far the weakest of all combat weapons.  

The rest of the gadgets such as jetpack, heli-pack, grind boots, and swingbot in the game are actually pretty cool for most part which is great for platforming segments so I really like stuff like riding on the rails, gliding in the air, swinging forward and backwards, and jumping up high.

My favourite part on the Ratchet's mission is riding on the warship similar to Nintendo's Starfox or Factor 5's Star Wars: Rogue Squadron where you need to take down many of the enemies ship as possible which I finding it quite entertaining to play and I also liked the stealth segment where you need to use device to disguise as Captain Qwark to avoid getting contact by securities. 

I got to say that I've enjoyed the hoverboard race competition throughout the 3 cup race which is really fun to play these kinds of mini-games.  

I also enjoyed the Clank's puzzle-investigation which I liked the ideas of using these gadgets bots that allow me to get across the gaps with bridges, activating power generators, and reaching up high platforms with spring jump that encouraging me to find the way of unlocking the blocked doors. 

The game does have an amazing boss battles where you need to fight off against the boss which requires tactics such as memorising their attacking patterns before you had a chance to attacking them in right timing which adds the fun factor of the game.

While everything is positive so far, I do find the game kinda lacked innovation which is too similar to the previous Ratchet and Clank titles so I fully acknowledge the PS2 games like Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal has already introduced new mechanics like weapon upgrades and new control system in the past, but I don't see this game add anything new to this installiment besides it uses the similar assets as the R&C's PS3 titles for its controls and combat, but honestly its more playable than the first original PS2 title when it comes with making an decent remakes.                  

Overall, it has good combat system, cool gadgets, and enjoyable single-player mission.

Graphics

The graphics is looking excellent on the PS4 hardware. I was so impressed to see the developers had managed to make one of the top-quality design of all Ratchet and Clank series featuring bright lighting effects, polish details of foregrounds and backgrounds environments, colourful surfaces, and smooth character animation are looking so amazing on both in-game cutscenes and open-world areas.

Speaking of open-worlds areas, the game itself has large portion of areas which resulting an ambitious exploration of big cities, massive junkyards, inside cave tunnels, outside stations, and factory that you can roam around the levels is so much beautiful to look at in the game.

I see no signs of screen tearing and major drawbacks on these particular design that they made the game look and feel astonishing for the Playstation platform, and the game has locked on 30 fps which I don't see the severe slowdowns during the gameplay which is good so far. 

Overall, it has bright lighting effects, polish details of foregrounds and backgrounds environments, colourful surfaces, and smooth character animation.

Music and Sounds

The game does have an solid original soundtrack is more like a movie-like orchestral with Pixar style vibes feel to it which really fits nicely to the game itself increasing the game's atmospheres. Rather than re-arranging the 2002's soundtrack from the PS2 which has more cartoony sounds, the composer Michael Bross wanted to create his music feels more cinematic which I kinda liked it a lot, yeah that just my opinion. 

The sound design is pretty good for its environmental noise and ambient effects in some areas and the voice cast did a decent job on their role in the game delivers their character's personality and humour throughout the game. 

Overall, it has solid soundtrack, good sound design, and decent voice roles.

Special Features

The game does have an unlockable modes called challenge mode which is more of new game plus featuring most items including all weapons are carried through, but it also raises the game's difficulty making it more tougher than ever.

There are several collectibles are present in the game such as holocards which provide information about the world, and gold bolts which unlock aesthetical extras such as cheats and misc.

Overall, a cool content.

Advantages

Fantastic presentation settings

Aesthetics cinematic design

Good combat system and cool gadgets 

Enjoyable single-player mission 

Excellent graphics design

Solid soundtrack

                        

Disadvantages

Average storylines

Lack of innovation 

Final Verdict

Presentation 7.5/10 - average storylines, but has lovable characters, aesthetics cinematic design, and fantastic presentation settings.

Gameplay 8/10 - good combat system, cool gadgets, and enjoyable single-player mission.

Graphics 9/10 - bright lighting effects, polish details of foregrounds and backgrounds environments, colourful surfaces, and smooth character animation.

Music and Sounds 8/10 - solid soundtrack, good sound design, and decent voice roles.

Special Features 7.5/10 - unlockable contents and collectables cards.

Overall 8/10 - It took me awhile to get used with the Ratchet and Clank series, this game is definitely a solid overall experience that I never regret playing it on my PS4. The game filed with great single-player campaign, clever use of combat and gadgets, has the mix of action and puzzles segments, memorable duos, and entertaining boss battles is what made me enjoy the game itself.

Although it could have been done it a bit better when its comes with the mediocrity of storyplot and has not enough innovative doesn't mean it drags out the fun factor of the game itself does has the charm to appeal younger audiences. 

I say this game is pretty good especially I've claimed this game for free (via PS Store) thanks to Playstation's Play at Home Initiative program, so grab it while you can till it expires on next month, but incase it's expired the original price is not that expensive to pick up and play which is worth getting it for less than £12.

I say this is must play for all casuals and the fans of the series, so I'm hoping for the another sequel in sometime future such as R&C Rift Apart for PS5. 

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