Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts
BioShock Infinite Review 2013
There's a bit near the very start of BioShock Infinite where a travelling barbershop quartet rock up to a sunny promenade and serenade a young couple with a few verses from God Only Knows, torturing pleasant, extended harmonies out of every word before floating away on their own personal sky-barge to some other part of this giant, opulent city in the clouds. You can stand there and watch the scene for a few minutes in stunned disbelief: God Only Knows wasn't released until 1966.
But that's probably the point. The 1912 setting of BioShock Infinite is shot through with deliberate anachronisms, some subtle like a Beach Boys cameo, and some that will make no qualms about time-slapping your dumb jaw to the floor. There's a dreamy weirdness that permeates the city of Columbia that isn't explained in the few hours of playtime we had with BioShock Infinite. It riffs on chance, choice, fate, determinism and quantum physics. Coin tosses give improbable results, raffle tickets are called before they're drawn with Derren Brown levels of impunity. Something's very slightly wrong with how reality works in this universe, but nobody seems to notice.
It makes sense, however, that protagonist Booker Dewitt is happy to ignore this crease in reality and just carry on with things: his objective is uncomplicated and singular: he is to infiltrate Columbia, retrieve Elizabeth and hand her over to some debtors who shout at him in his flashbacks.
He'll do this by recreating BioShock's introduction in reverse: Infinite begins with Booker at sea, removing a gun and his instructions from a metal lunchbox before entering a storm-battered lighthouse. Here he collects his ticket to Columbia, activating a rocket-powered launch-pod that propels him above the cloud layer and reveals for the first time the scale and majesty of the impossible city. Columbia is a chunk of turn-of-the-century America, a statue-infested, puritanical town around which airships buzz, clouds creep and flags flutter. It's ruled by the unhinged, hyper-religious and self-appointed prophet Comstock, who promises salvation to Columbia's citizens by shouting at them through loudspeakers every day.
It makes sense, however, that protagonist Booker Dewitt is happy to ignore this crease in reality and just carry on with things: his objective is uncomplicated and singular: he is to infiltrate Columbia, retrieve Elizabeth and hand her over to some debtors who shout at him in his flashbacks.
He'll do this by recreating BioShock's introduction in reverse: Infinite begins with Booker at sea, removing a gun and his instructions from a metal lunchbox before entering a storm-battered lighthouse. Here he collects his ticket to Columbia, activating a rocket-powered launch-pod that propels him above the cloud layer and reveals for the first time the scale and majesty of the impossible city. Columbia is a chunk of turn-of-the-century America, a statue-infested, puritanical town around which airships buzz, clouds creep and flags flutter. It's ruled by the unhinged, hyper-religious and self-appointed prophet Comstock, who promises salvation to Columbia's citizens by shouting at them through loudspeakers every day.
It seems to work, Columbia has as much of a dark cultist mindset as Rapture ever had, and you're seen as just as much a disruptive and unwelcome agent, a unruly first-person cat bouncing around next to a meticulously constructed house of cards. It's Comstock who, having somehow been tipped off as to your identity, orders your immediate death without trial. Meanwhile a rebel group, the Vox Populi, forms the opposing slice of bread in the political sandwich Booker is desperately trying to avoid putting in his mouth during his mission to liberate Elizabeth.
Though caught in the middle of this conflict, Columbia is a resolutely civilised place to explore. More so than in BioShock, more so than in games likes Deus Ex and Dishonored, levels are filled with regular people going about their business, having conversations within earshot, being animated and human as best they can. Columbia isn't abandoned or ruined, it's thriving and you enter it during its heyday, where markets and fairs fill the boardwalks, promenades and gardens with well-attired and excited gentlemen and ladies.
It's a colourful, vibrant and interactive place: you can take part in games at the carnival, which are beautifully disguised tutorials for the game's shooting and magic-casting abilities. You can peer into what you'd expect to be a coin-operated peep show, but turn out to be mini-documentaries showing the foundation of the city. You can wander and absorb as much as the fiction as you care to, like a narrative ghost wandering a storybook graveyard. And you can listen to The Beach Boys. BioShock Infinite is proper virtual escapism, like the kind you hear about in the first line of news reports, when they try to snappily explain what videogames are.
I didn't like the shooting in BioShock, there was a pane of cognitive mind-glass somewhere between my mouse hand and the game's lazily clunking controls that made me feel removed from an otherwise welcoming world. It probably had something to do with mouse acceleration, it nearly always does, but BioShock Infinite doesn't suffer from this sluggishness. It's fast and snappy, your weapons crack loudly and headshots are fatal, movement is swift and sharp, enemy AI is clever enough to force you to move through combat arenas. Those rollercoaster rails that wind and arc between platforms are remarkably easy to use and, thankfully, it's either impossible or suitably difficult to murder yourself while grinding along them. Similarly, Irrational have recognised precisely how irritating it would be if falling into the clouds resulted in anything other resetting you at the position where you fell off. So don't worry about that either.
Your Vigor powers are partly carried over from the previous BioShock. You can summon flocks of crows to pester enemies, which is a lot like that time you summoned swarms of bees to pester enemies. The new Bucking Bronco Vigor jolts enemies skywards, another launches firebombs from your fist, while a more tactical minded Vigor can possess mechanical turrets, temporarily turning them friendly. Certain Vigors can also be placed as traps that activate as enemies walk over them, increasing your options and allowing you to play defensively when the odds are stacked against you.
Elizabeth follows you around too. On your instruction, she's able to open up 'tears' in space and 'pull through' objects from parallel dimensions. In practical terms that means she can make useful things appear at certain pre-defined positions in the game: she could conjure up a turret placement, or an ammo cache, or a sky-hook that you could latch on to in order to access a higher platform. She can only open up one of these tears at a time however, so choosing which ones to utilise can transform the course of a firefight.
Shawn Elliott told us about how these encounters play out later in the game, as the arenas become multi-tiered battlefields pocked with strategic strong points and populated by warring factions. Though it's Elizabeth who's opening and closing these tears, she's never unavailable in a gameplay sense: that is to say, if you give the order for a trans-dimensional turret to be pulled through a tear, it will happen instantly, no matter her position on the map, as if you'd just done it yourself. Your ally in Infinite is entirely helpful, not even an occasional liability. She even throws you ammo and health when you need it most.
You can now also find apparel to wear in a limited number of slots, with each item of clothing offering a new ability. There's a hat that makes you more accurate when shooting from skylines. There are some trousers that let you, erm, hurt people more. The early items were tame enough, but rare. I expect increasingly powerful trousers will be found later in the game.
This sine wave of violent, explosive peaks and peaceful, exploratory troughs are mutually complementary. After rescuing Elizabeth from her tower, you're hounded by the terrifying, mechanical songbird, a twenty-foot tall clockwork avian horror bound in leather skin and powered by arcane motors set behind glowing, staring eyes. It shrieks and trashes as it tries and fails to keep Elizabeth inside the tower: a pitiful monster, a dumb, misunderstood metal giant doing what it must to protect something it cares about. In its tick-tock brain, you're the bad guy. You're the worst guy.
The songbird is Infinite's Big Daddy, minus humanity, plus canary. In a frantic huff it destroys Elizabeth's tower (a monolithic, hollowed-out angel that dominates Columbia's skyline) as you escape, sending you both plunging into the water below. You wash up on an artificial beach, still aboard the floating city (which you only now realise boasts its own miniature seafront, a sandy shore whose fake ocean tumbles over a precipice and falls away into the vast blue sky beneath).
The pace of the game slows here. Elizabeth is missing, but not for long. Infinite bucks the "oh no I lost the person I'm looking for when I fell into the ocean" trope, and she can be found dancing on the nearby pier with fellow beach revellers. Her first experience of music outside of her prison perfectly frames both her childish naivety and Booker's grimly sober-faced approach to his task. That is to say, Booker don't dance. He does, if you want, explore the beach and poke around some bins while the heat's died down. Elizabeth excitedly scoots about, fascinated by the world around her and pelting the oddly stoic Booker with questions.
The locations you then travel to in pursuit of a means to escape Columbia are hugely varied: the city has room enough for sun-bleached gardens, churches with vast interiors, dark museums and foreboding catacombs. Some of the set-pieces feel recycled however: there's a sense of deja vu as you wander through a historical battle re-enactment while a disembodied voice monologues over loudspeaker. And whether deliberate or not, that Booker's backstory is a mystery to the player leads you to question his motives at certain points, creating a sort of cognitive dissonance between your actions as a player and his dialogue as a character. Again, like with the time-weirdness, and knowing how Irrational works, that's probably partially the point.
Also, while I'm thinking about it, looting cash registers and bins and listening to audio diaries isn't fun, it's weird and creepy and antiquated. Nobody has ever kept an audio diary at any point in history, they are the least believable part of your magical flying, crow-obsessed city.
Everything else is fantastic. Without wanting to slip into meaningless hyperbole, BioShock Infinite could easily be the best game Irrational's ever created: an intelligent collaboration of weird Jules Verne futurism, steampunk science-fiction, time-travelling soundtracks, magic hands and clockwork birds. It's a truly fascinating and original setting around which Irrational has built a vastly improved set of shooter mechanics and an ideal vehicle for a clever and intriguing story.
BioShock is out March 26.
Top 10 Gaming Mouse 2013
True gamers know the importance of investing in a durable mouse. These gaming mice contribute significantly to user control and accuracy during gaming sessions. Leave it as an afterthought, and expect to perform poorly.
Some gaming mice are extremely high-end while others are more simplistic in design and cost; but many behave in the same manner. So, which mouse is the best?
To find out, we have compiled a list of the top 10 gaming mice based on Amazon user ratings. The countdown begins in descending order, with #1 being the most recommended product.
This Mad Catz R.A.T. mouse is all about fast and smooth accuracy. It features a precision control button that slows down the cursor to execute sniping, as well as a speed control button. With two scroll wheels and a metal foot users can expect smooth and reliable performance for extended use. It even comes with a built in hand tool, that can widen the thumb rest, for a more personalized and comfortable experience.
This wireless, USB receiver mouse is designed for comfort for extended web browsing and gaming. It features a DPI button that offers two pointing speeds; and has 4 metallic weights allowing users to set their preferred weight for personalized speed and performance. Running on AAA batteries this mouse is also portable for on the go use.
Its comfortable design with soft rubber grips, contoured ergonomically to shape your palm, means the most comfort for extended gaming sessions. And its super-smooth feet roll across nearly every surface. Its dual lens means advanced precision for fluid use. And with 1600 dpi high-definition optical technology, that delivers 2-4 times the sensitivity of standard optical mice, means more smooth and precise tracking.
Expect reliable performance with this Corsair mouse designed for comfort and maximum gaming experience, that even comes with a dedicated sniper button. Users can instantly adjust the DPI for precise control when switching between different sensitivity settings. This mouse even had lift detection for accurate tracking and cursor placement – making this a smooth, reliable mouse experience.
This Logitech mouse puts your personalized comfort in mind with its sculpted shape and tuned buttons. It includes a 12-button thumb panel for users to navigate quickly without having to look away from the screen. This panel can also be color customized and set to personal DPI levels or button assignments. And with a G-shift ring-finger button users can double the number of actions while gaming.
Released on June 14, 2012, this PC gaming mouse is compatible with Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
This Razer mouse has reliability in mind with its seven foot light-weighted, braided fiber cable, and gold-plated USB connector. It also had a scroll wheel with 24 individual click positions, and mouse buttons with anti-slip rubber coating; giving users the perfect combination of comfort and precision while gaming.
Considering this mouse was released on September 22, 2009, it is impressive that it’s still currently ranked #19 in the Gaming Mice category on Amazon.com.
Never run out of power with this USB recharging mouse that keeps your extended gaming sessions in best interest. It also has a high-precision laser tracker and on-board memory that stores up to five game profiles. And powering at 1,000 reports per second, this full speed wireless Logitech responds quickly without being tied down. Curved to fit the palm of your hand, it also had gliding feet for total control.
Released on July 6, 2010, it is ranked #2 in the Gaming Mice category on Amazon.com.
Recently released on November 21, 2012, this Anker mouse features 8000 DPI high-precision laser for better cursor control, made specifically for gaming. It stores up to two gaming profiles and has nine programmable buttons for a personalized experience. And with no-slip buttons and protective, smooth-gliding underside users can expect total control and accuracy while gaming. A six-foot braided fiber cable and gold plated USB connector also makes this mouse every reliable.
No matter what hand speed, this Logitech mouse delivers precision targeting, and pinpoint accuracy with its 3600 DPI optical engine. It also has in-game sensitivity switching, allowing users to choose between four DPI levels for either precise targeting, or extremely fast maneuvering. It also has sculpted grips, low-friction feet, and long-life buttons for marathon gaming.
This PC made mouse is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It released on June 9, 2011.
The USB 2.0 interface Cobra E-3blue mouse functions on 3 DPI levels – 400/800/and 1600dpi, which means more user sensitivity control for an accurate gaming experience. It also has six buttons with a scroll wheel, and a frame rate of 4000 frames per second. Comfortable for all hand sizes, this light as a feather mouse is designed for durability at a great average price of $15.
Top 10 Best Male Singers in 2013
Music is one of the most ancient of all arts and has been known for introducing romance and love into the lives of many. Music not only lends an element of entertainment to our sometimes boring and monotonous lives but it also boosts our level of enthusiasm and enjoyment. When it comes to the music industry, both male and female artists and performers have continued to enthrall audiences worldwide but in order to maintain some homogeneity, we have compiled the Top Ten Best Male Singers – 2013 in the Male category this time. Be sure to stay tuned in for our Female Category Top Ten List next week. Male Singers have always enjoyed command and respect for having a huge impact on the emotional intensification and mental counseling of people. Often, in public places and restaurants you will hear music that is designed to create a cheerful and jolly atmosphere. Our Top Ten Best Singers list for 2013 is based on the popularity that these people enjoy with their number of fans and audiences globally.
10. Justin Bieber
You might love him or you might hate him but there is no way you can keep him out of the Top Ten Best Singers for 2013 list because of the huge popularity he enjoys all over the world. Bieber is the youngest singer in our Top Ten List. Hailing from Canada and born in 1994, Bieber started coming to the limelight in around 2008 and quickly captured the hearts and minds of the public becoming one of the best-selling singers in the entire world. Most of his fans though are young girls.
9. David Guetta
The impact that David Guetta has had on the Music Industry can never be denied. His hit single’s along with the songs he has performed in collaboration with different artists worldwide has netted him a lot of fame and fortune. Most music critics argue that Guetta is the best modern day singer alive.
8. Pitbull
Armando Cristian Perez – or more commonly known as Pitbull continues to enjoy tremendous popularity with the public because of the unique style of music he brings. Blending his lyrics with modern day musical instruments, Pitbull released songs like “Give me everything” and “Rain over me” which still continues to be a part of every dance club, discos and private parties.
7. Jason Derulo
Making his way into our number seven spot is Jason Derulo. Derulo has been earmarked to be one of the most popular singers of 2013 having made his debut in 2009. His item song “Don’t Wanna Go Home” has been one of his best-selling songs. Derulo is also known for his song-writer talents and is expected to win over millions of fans with his charming lyrics and musical style.
6. Chris Brown
Chris Brown – full name Christopher Brown is known in the music industry as simply Chris. Born and raised in America, Chris Brown continues to charm audiences with his lovely voice as shown by his hit songs, With You Forever and She isn’t You. He also worked on the release of his recent album F.A.M.E and Fortune which made a lot of impact on worldwide audiences. Having started his singing career from his childhood days, Chris Brown is tipped to be one of the most popular and hottest singing sensations for the year 2013.
5. Taio Cruz
Taio Cruz is well-known all over the world for being a song writer, record producer and an up-coming singer. Cruz is of British origin and has worked with a number of other popular stars in the music industry that includes names like David Guetta and Usher. He worked closely with Guetta in releasing his album nothing but the Beat. Cruz has managed to enthrall audiences worldwide with his unique music style and taste which is most evident from the release of his latest album, Departure.
4. Adam Levine
Adam Levine shot to fame with his role in the band Maroon 5 and makes his way into the number four spot of our Top Ten Best Singers for 2013. Adam Levine has a huge fan following and is particularly popular amongst the ladies for his looks and charm. He is one of the best rated signer, composer, artist, and performer and not to forget guitarist. It was from the Guitar where his career basically took off as the exposure he got from performing in the band Maroon 5 inspired him to take up his passion for singing seriously.
3. Drake
Drake or Aubrey Drake Graham has been placed on the third spot of our Top Ten Best Singers list of 2013. Drake enjoys a significant position with the masses and has released a number of best-selling albums. Born and raised in Canada, this immensely talented songwriter, artist, performer and singer is tipped to set new records in the coming year. Nominated thrice for Juno and BET awards, his album Take Care released July 2012 brought him huge success.
2. Usher
You didn’t think we would keep Usher out of our Top Ten Best Singers list, did you? Usher is a name that you cannot keep out of any list. Better known around the United States of America for being the King of Pop Music, Usher has enjoyed a significant amount of success over the past decade or so and continues to come up with hit singles and albums every year. His music talents landed him the R&B Artist award in 2011. His unique music style, eccentric but charming personality continues to win him fans from all over the world.
1. Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars lands the number one spot for our Top Ten Best Singers list for 2013. Although some people might argue with this ranking, but we feel that he deserves the number one ranking for the number of fans and followers he has in the United States as well as European countries. Bruno Mars has been the recipient of many Grammy award nominations. His real name is Peter Gene Hernande and belongs to a musical family.
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