XBLA Archives - koru-cottage.com

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021 Gerard Campbell 1093 Views anti-virus software, cyber nasties, dark web monitoring, Norton anti-virus, PC protection

Norton 360 for Gamers

Norton 360 for Gamers, you say? In this day and age, anti-virus is a vital necessity when it comes to online protection from data and identity thieves.

I’ve had warnings in the past of accounts being potentially compromised but they never seemed to come to anything. At least I don’t think they did. But I’ve always used some form of anti-virus, both free and subscription (Kaspersky, AVG, Avast, even Windows Defender), and it’s certainly true that you get what you pay for.

Norton is one of the industry’s big players and I’ve been a fan of the company’s anti-virus solutions for a few years, offering a pretty consistent product that provides solid online protection combined with an easy-to-use interface.

(Previously posted at www.gamejunkie.net.nz)

Gaming Game Pass Hardware Hardware Reviews Microsoft XBLA Xbox One Xbox Series X xbox360

November 7, 2020November 21, 2020 Richard Armitt 2185 Views @XBOXANZ, Backwards Compatible, Crackdown, Dirt 5, Gamepass, Gears of War, Microsoft, Minecraft, Too Human, XBOX, XBOX ONE S, XBOX SERIES S, XBOX SERIES X, xbox360

XBOX SERIES X, Impressions

I’ll come straight out with this, Microsoft and Xbox ANZ very kindly supplied us with an XBOX SERIES X in their review window. That means we’ve had it for about a week and a half. What follows are my thoughts after unboxing and those first steps with the next generation of gaming.

Don’t judge an Xbox Series X by its cover.

At least until you’ve read a bit.

Byte Size Review Gaming PS3 PS4 PSNetwork XBLA Xbox One xbox360

September 28, 2020 Guy 1361 Views Crysis, FPS, Power Suit, Remaster, Sabre Interactive

Crysis: Remastered, PS4 Byte Size Review

Crysis (Remastered) is one of those touchstone titles that most gamers have heard about, being released on PC back in 2007 to rave reviews. It was the “Ultimate Test” of a PCs graphical prowess.

Later in 2011 Crysis landed on Console, which is where I experienced it on the Xbox 360. Even in the paired down console version, I loved it, its was beautiful, unique and I even got 1000/1000 achievement points!

13 years have passed since its initial release. Which is a long time in game design terms. Unfortunately, even though Crysis has had the “Remaster treatment” to make it all pretty, the titles old bones are showing their age.

Gaming Byte Size Review Nintendo Switch Console XBLA

February 19, 2020 Gerard Campbell 868 Views HD, Nintendo Switch, Oddworld

Stranger’s Wrath HD. An old Oddworld favourite with a new lick of paint

When the esteemed editor of this fine online publication asked if I was keen to look at Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD on Nintendo’s Switch, I didn’t hesitate saying yes.

You see, dear readers. I had just finished watching a fascinating documentary from Ars Technica on the Oddworld series creator Lorne Lanning. Who regaled viewers about his journey from poor kid in New England (near New York) to concept artists in a US military company to co-founder of development studio Oddworld Inhabitants. (The documentary is well worth a watch (there is also a two-hour plus extended interview with Lanning), as are the remainder of Ars’ War Stories documentaries.)

Released on the original Xbox 15 years ago. Stranger’s Wrath HD is a mix of third-person and first-person action that doesn’t feature downtrodden Abe. The hero of previous Oddworld games. In his stead, a mysterious brooding stranger who must bounty hunt his way through the game world to earn enough Moolah (the in-game currency) to pay for a life-saving operation.

Gaming Game Reviews PC / Mac PS4 PSNetwork XBLA Xbox One

February 7, 2020February 8, 2020 Richard Armitt 1292 Views Rebellion, Rogue Trooper, Shooter, Strange Brigade, Third Person, Zombie Army

Zombie Army 4: Dead War, PS4 Review

The Zombie Army franchise is one I’ve not picked up before, which is strange to me as Zombie Army 4 ticks so many boxes. The zombie genre is evergreen and whether you are a hardcore horror zombie fan, or kitsch, tongue through cheek zombie fan there is always something to sate your appetite.

From the Sniper stalwart slow-motion x-ray camera that crops up and shows your nut busting shot in all its glory. To the environmental hazards, topped only by the zombified Great White, that you wake and watch as it munches happily on the braindead.

Zombie Army 4 has everything I want in a great title, there is no overwrought narrative that pushes me away, it has drive to be completed and replayed. I’m sure there will be plenty of like minded Nazi Zombie killers online to team up with for a long time. It might be the setting, it’s more likely the gameplay.

It’s a game and fun one at that, if you want to play something alone or in a crowd with a big dumb grin on your chops. This is for you.

Gaming Game Reviews PS4 PSNetwork XBLA Xbox One

November 12, 2019November 9, 2019 Richard Armitt 1401 Views 2k, Borderlands, Cel Shaded, Loot Shooter

Borderlands 3, PS4 review

It’s been over a month since Borderlands 3 landed.

It feels much longer because we were incessantly hounded by it during the build-up to launch. It took me that long to plough through the game, so it was appropriate to scale down the review. I mean, what don’t you already know from your Influencer Overlords?

Historians will note that being alive in 2019 inevitably meant unavoidable exposure to Borderlands 3. There were campaigns on all fronts, it was a war fought globally. Including watching from the sidelines as special people were flown around for international previews. Even having their ego stroked by being sent roses to crow about the launch of a trailer. Yes, a trailer.

At the end of the day, whether you were ‘influenced’ or not – how did it play?

Gaming Feature Article PS4 PSNetwork XBLA Xbox One

September 15, 2019September 15, 2019 Guy 1056 Views Beta, CoD, Modern Warfare, Multiplayer

CoD: Modern Warfare 2019 – M/P Beta

Over this weekend I got all hot and sweaty. I immersed myself back into the Multi-Player world of Call of Duty.

Something I haven’t done in many years, as the ridiculous, bombastic, sci-fi direction CoD has taken in the last 10 years has not grabbed me. Well, CoD: Modern Warfare 2019 is going to change all that.

The prospect of a contemporary, realistic shooter peaked my interest when I saw the Campaign trailer earlier this year. It seriously looks like my cup of tea. So when a code for the M/P Beta hit my emails I couldn’t help but go for a look.

Feature Article Gaming PC / Mac PS4 PSNetwork Video Content XBLA Xbox One

August 1, 2019 Guy 1006 Views Activision, Call of Duty, Infinity Ward, Modern Warfare

Call of Duty: ‘Realistic’ Warfare.

Another meaty article from Gamer-Girl Guest contributor, Nina. This time sharing some thoughts on games, the media and how they deal with limits being pushed.

For as long as anyone can remember, the relationship between the video games industry and mainstream media has been riddled with misapprehension. Whenever games are involved in News stories, they’re often antagonistic or misrepresent the medium, usually said ‘articles’ come in conjunction with a Rockstar Games release, when we get the obligatory claims that violent video games make kids violent.

Today, I wanted to focus on the a recent example of a game/media clash that involves a specific game that is rumored to feature very realistic depictions of war.

That game is, of course, the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019).

A reboot of the original Modern Warfare game, the new COD is set to release on the 25th of October, but Infinity Ward has already treated fans and the media to trailers that show off the game’s new graphic engine and direction. And it’s that last part, the new direction, that has people excited, including me.

Byte Size Review XBLA Xbox One xbox360

July 21, 2019August 12, 2019 Richard Armitt 1713 Views Grooming, Influencer, Lynx, Smelly, XBOX

Xbox – Lynx (for gamers)

I’m not sure how it came about, probably one marketing person talking to another, maybe they wanted to do something about influencers smelling of Bullshit, maybe it was because Gamers alledgely smell of teenage stockpiles stashed under their beds.

Also, it’s been around for well over a month, but sometimes when the PR guys decide not to send you something to review, you have to buy it yourself if you really want to try it out. This is just as true for games and hardware as it is for grooming products.

So here we are, a week after I spent $12 in Coles to try out the Xbox flavour Lynx and to see if it really did lift my game.

Overall, it has been a neat little spike for exposure on both brands, has it won over consumers? Probably not. Has it won over the Influencers, streamers and gang that gushed over their care packages? Well, let’s file that under Anthem shall we.

Game Reviews Gaming PS4 PSNetwork XBLA Xbox One

April 24, 2019 Barrie Clarke 1036 Views Left 4 Dead, Swarm, Zombies

World War Z Review – Xbox One X

World War Z, the game is based on the 2013 movie which is based on the 2006 book by Max Brooks. But I’ll add a word to that last sentence, LOOSELY, as the movie is loosely based on the book, the game is loosely based on both source materials, very loosely based.

What makes World War Z stand out in the crowded herd of zombie books, movies, and games is pretty obvious for anyone who has seen the movie is the speed and swarm-like behaviour of the zombies. Whether it is stacking up against barriers to use combined weight to bring it down or making a massive pile of zombies to scale over walls, the World War Z zeds are fast, big in numbers, and have an incredibly dangerous herd mentality. For me it is the one thing that saves the game from disappearing into the pile of slain zombie games.

But with its cheaper price point and swarming zombies World War Z is a blast, so check out World War Z or be left 4 dead…

Byte Size Review Gaming PS3 PS4 PSNetwork PSVR XBLA Xbox One xbox360

April 20, 2019April 22, 2019 Richard Armitt 859 Views 2k, Borderlands, Loot Shooter

Byte Size – Borderlands Game of the Year Edition, PS4

Borderlands, a franchise and a genre flag bearer.

Now we get to go back to where it all began – with all DLC and shiny new graphics along with a few tweaks here and there.

As a warm up to Borderlands 3 this is the perfect introduction for players that weren’t around ten years ago. Fire up the Hype Train there’s a new ‘Old Loot Shooter’ in town.

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