Foxcatcher Review

 
  Foxcatcher was a film that I was anxiously awaiting. Channing Tatum and Steve Carell in a dramatic role together!? Take my money. I'm a fan of both of these actors, and I could not wait to see them take on a script that's so serious and grounded. The first twenty minutes of this movie had me enthralled. I was sucked in by the nuanced performances of both Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo who plays Tatum's brother. The tone of the movie was set right from the start with hard hitting audio, a lack of any score, and well composed shots. The action was filmed extremely well, and I have to give it to all the actors for performing nearly all of their own stunts. There wasn't one second where I could spot a double, and for how physical these roles were, that's a big accomplishment.

  However, as the movie continued, I started to lose interest. The introduction of John Du Pont, played by Steve Carell, was shockingly underwhelming, and the dialogue didn't carry as much tension as I was hoping for. Having said that, there were scenes of genuine discomfort, but as the movie carries on, that feeling is lost and replaced with a sense of boring reluctance. Before I delve too deeply into why I don't recommend this movie, let me say this; everything about this movie from a technical standpoint is astounding, and nothing short of Oscar worthy. As aforementioned, the movie is shot extremely well, and every blow is felt due to fantastic audio design coupled with gritty atmosphere. The performances are to be applauded as well. Channing Tatum does give a very solid performance, however, it was Mark Ruffalo's performance that resonated the most with me. His portrayal of Mark Schultz's older brother Dave, was absolutely heart- wrenching at times. My favorite moments of this film were the exchanges between those two characters. To be completely honest though, I'm not sure I would have cast Carell as John Du Pont. He does a fine job in portraying the many layers of the character, but when he's on screen, I found him flatout boring. Perhaps that wasn't totally his fault, and more a result of the direction. Either way, his performance was serviceable at best.

  That brings up my biggest flaw with Foxcatcher. For how technically sound the movie is, it completely fails in creating something compelling the watcher can grab onto. I was constantly thinking "Come on, give me something to connect with!" Don't get me wrong, there are riveting moments throughout this film, but it mostly boils down to predictable plot elements and characters you want to care about, but just don't. This is no discredit to the real life people or events this movie bases itself around, and it's remains a very interesting story for a film adaptation. Although, the film fails to be something memorable outside of the sound cinematography and decent performances. Perhaps in the hands of a different director, this would have been a drama that compelled me from scene to scene, instead of leaving me wholly disappointed.

Dragon Age: Inquisition Impressions

Dragon Age: Inquisition can be described in one word; daunting. This is a very special game. Not in terms of originality or revolutionary gameplay, but how all the elements of this game come together to form something very unique and fresh for the franchise. This game feels like a next gen Bioware title. Using the Frosbite 3 engine, the folks at Bioware have created a game world that is truly vast and feels just as alive as any other fantasy world I've set foot in. The animations are leagues above anything that we've seen in previous Bioware titles and the audio and overall aesthetic is handled with masterful precision. 

This game is absolutely massive in every single sense of the word. I've logged around twenty hours and I'm still exploring the first region I've come across; The Hinterlands. It's an absolutely beautiful place that's enthralling atmosphere has kept me exploring for around eighteen of my twenty total hours. I love the sense of discovery this game carries with it. The game map starts out completely darkened, but as you explore, your progress sheds light across the map and the many quests and battles that come with it. This is a game that will suck away your time, and you really have to be committed to it's devices if you want to see it through to it's conclusion. As I said before, I've spent nearly my entire playthrough explicitly exploring the Hinterlands; which I've heard is bigger than the entirety of Dragon Age: Origins. Here's the kicker though; There are 9 other regions to explore as well. I'm not sure if they're all as big as the Hinterlands, but the fact that there are 10 "large" open world locations to get lost in is extremely intimidating yet immensely exciting. The scope of this game is the reason why it takes most players seventy to ninety hours to complete the game, while still missing a majority of the side content. 

The game's story may be Bioware's version of Oblivion, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, this game does follow some familiar tropes that hold it back from being something different in regards to narrative, but I do feel like this game does handle storytelling differently to some extent. It's a Bioware title, so choice is there from the beginning. Creating the exact character you want, and choosing what to say and how to act is what drives the narrative forward. Without spoiling the game for those who have yet to give it a chance, you as the player character are quickly thrust into the role of savior. Your character carries a mark that could bring an end to the evil forces invading the realm of Thedas. Basically, you are the key to everyone's salvation, and even though the transition from suspect to savior is a quick one, I do think it makes sense within the world and story. Too often do these "save the world" type of games take place in a completely oblivious universe, where the average person has no clue of what you're doing to save them or of the imminent threat that persists. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a game that breaks this mold. The threat is very real, and very apparent to everyone you meet. All of the NPC's know what's going on and they thank you for risking your life and the lives of your companions to bring peace to Thedas. This type of recognition is gratifying, and as you build up the inquisition, it really feels like your building up an army of supporters who will stand by you until the end. 

I'm currently playing on PS4, and the game looks gorgeous; it also plays relatively smooth considering how much can be on screen at once. The combat is brutal, tactical, and satisfying. There are encounters that can truly test your tactical prowess, and others that can be conquered easily. There can even be moments when you stumble across fights that you have no right taking part in. Higher level enemies can be numerous in certain areas, and you'll quickly find out that those are areas best left to a more experienced you, ten hours down the road. All in all, this a great achievement on PS4 and I'm happy with the optimization effort that Bioware put forward. That being said, this game can be a little too ambitious for it's own good at times. Some weird framerate drops during dialogue and cutscenes often took me out of the experience, and there's often quite a bit of pop in, especially in regards to the NPC's. However, when you take into consideration the scope of the game and all that it does right, it's easy to forgive minor issues such as those. 

This game totally get's my recommendation and it's no secret that critics and consumers alike adore this game. It demands your time, and that might be a turn of for some of you. That being said, give it a shot. It's been awhile since we've had a good Bioware RPG, and this might be just what you're looking for. If you like huge fantasy worlds, the freedom to explore at your own leisure, and enough content to keep you coming back until The Witcher 3 arrives; This game's for you. 

Insurgency Impressions

  Insurgency is a game that caught me completely off guard. I can't really give you guys a review on the game seeing as how I haven't played every single mode, on every map. However, I have played a lot of it recently with some friends, in both PvP, and cooperative environments. The game had a relatively quiet release from what I can remember, and it scored fairly well. Although when I played it, it grabbed me in such a unique way, that it stands out among the other military "simulations" available. 

  The presentation isn't anything that will blow your mind, but the graphics are solid, using the same engine that powers Counter Strike: GO. The stand out feature to me is the audio. There are few games that make me feel like I'm in a firefight as successfully as Insurgency. Bullets hitting the ground in front of you, kicking up dirt, and the whizzing sound of shots flying right past your head never fails to get the heart pumping. All the weapons sound authentic and pack a punch, making every kill feel satisfying yet somewhat real. Combine the incredible audio, with other realistic elements such as: manual reloading, no health regeneration, and tough enemy A.I. - You have a game that is truly intense during combat, and that carries tension during the quiet moments as well. 

  I've spent the most time playing cooperatively with a buddy of mine, and the experience has been pure fun. We team up at the main menu, thanks to an easy to use, clean interface that most shooters are lacking nowadays. We head into one of the many modes, Survival, and see how long we can hold out. The premise of Survival is simple. The team of players has to make it from objective to objective while holding off ever increasing numbers of enemy A.I. At first, they drop easily, even with a well-placed chest shot. Then about ten levels in, they start wearing body armor and becoming more and more accurate. They can be truly ruthless, and sometimes cheap. I'd often find myself getting shot within micro-seconds of being seen, and I'd also get shot through walls, or from across the map. So, the A.I. can be a bit ridiculous, but this does make for a heavy challenge that heightens the feeling of successfully making it to the next objective. The A.I. can be so tough, that the transition over to PvP can often be an easy one. The few matches I've played against other real opponents have been fun, however I find myself going back to the cooperative gauntlet that is the survival mode. 

  The game also utilizes a "weight" system to organize what you're carrying and how you unlock new gear. You start off with a small amount of weight that can be spent like currency to determine what weapons you carry, and if you're equipped with body armor or not. You can also buy accessories like night vision goggles for darker areas, or a vest that houses more ammunition. Your weapons can also be equipped with various sights, a flashlight, and even a foregrip. All of which have obvious effects on your weapons performance and efficiency. The system is handled well, however these weapons are not something you carry from match to match. Much like Counter Strike, at the start of every match you have nearly nothing, and you must work to unlock more weight to carry more equipment. If you do well, you get more weight to spend. If you die, some game modes don't give you anything. So, it really puts the emphasis on teamwork and strategy to stay alive and conquer your objectives. In my time with Insurgency, the community has been pretty awesome. Playing with randoms can sometimes be as rewarding as coordinating a victory with friends, and again, I can't say that of many shooters out there. 

  Insurgency isn't an entirely new concept. Games like Red Orchestra have been on top of the genre for a long time, and this game won't change that. However, I was pleasantly surprised with Insurgency and the game has become something I play almost everyday. I was able to grab it on Steam for 4.99 during a sale, but even it's 14.99 full price isn't a bad deal for this underrated title. It doesn't take much to run Insurgency so even if your PC is a bit older, give this game a shot. I highly recommend it to those gamers looking for an intense, realistic take on modern first person combat.  

  

Halo 5: Guardians Beta Impressions

  

  The disastrous launch of Halo: The Master Chief Collection completely killed the momentum of the Halo multiplayer juggernaut for my friends and I. I was so excited that Halo was back, and in a huge way. I couldn't wait to relive some of the fondest memories I had while gaming as a kid. However, I and millions of other fans were met with weeks of connection issues and bugs. It was so frustrating that my friends and I still haven't given the multiplayer another shot, although, the issues have "mostly" been resolved. Given those issues, I wasn't all that excited to play the Halo 5: Guardians beta. After the over 10 gigabyte download was completed, I gave it a shot. I went into the experience with an open mind, and afterwards, put down the controller satisfied and excited for what the full game has in store.

  I said I went into the beta with an open mind, because that's the mentality you need to enjoy and adapt to the fast paced, intense combat. Halo 5 feels familiar but fresh. There are some new abilities to learn and new weapons to dominate with. It took me a couple of matches to get used to the abilities and the overall feel of combat, but once I got accustomed to all the new assets, I was having a great time. The game looks and plays great for a beta. The audio hits hard, and the new spartan chatter is a cool and helpful addition. The weapons feel powerful and I'm so happy the Assault Rifle is back to being a weapon that can stand on it's own. When I first saw gameplay of Halo 5, I was skeptical. I saw use of the new aim down sights feature which 343 is calling "Smart Link" and to be honest I was upset. However, after learning more about it and getting the chance to use it, I'm not upset in the slightest. The accuracy of your weapons doesn't change if your in Smart Link. You're just as accurate when firing from the hip, which is the essence of Halo. Not to mention if you're in Smart Link and you get hit, you get de-scoped immediately. That's a smart design choice that helps keep the fundamentals of Halo multiplayer intact. The biggest thing that stood out to me, though, was how level the playing field is. There are new abilities to master, but every player has access to them. Every player starts with the same weaponry and must find weapons in the field in order to change up their arsenal. There's also a much bigger emphasis on power weapons such as the sniper rifle, and the prophets bane. That's essentially the new name for the energy sword. These weapons will spawn into the map periodically throughout the match and that makes for some really intense gunfights and tension during gameplay. 

  The beta gives you two maps to play on and the only game mode available is team slayer. These intimate 4v4 matches are a great introduction to Halo 5's new mechanics. One of the new maps, Empire, is an interesting map with cool aesthetics, but it doesn't stand up to it's counterpart. Truth is essentially Midship 2.0 and I've had the most fun in this arena. The new visuals really bring Truth to life and the encounters are  always intense no matter where you are on this map. After seeing two arena style maps in this beta, I'm really excited to see the maps they're making for other game modes like big team slayer and capture the flag. I loved Exile in Halo 4, so if we get anything like that, I'll be happy. 

  Will you enjoy the Halo 5: Guardians beta? It really comes down to how willing you are to adapt to new mechanics. I don't fault the game for adding new features or abilities or whatever else. The game has to evolve with the times, and as long as the combat still feels like Halo at it's core, I'm on board for anything 343 wants to attempt. If you're one of the people still upset that you can sprint in Halo, this may not be for you. However, this is the most grounded, and fair Halo has been in awhile. 343's attempting to go back to the roots while also moving forward, and so far, I think they're successful. We've never had a beta for Halo this far from the games release, so even if you're not a fan of where Halo is going, give it a shot. Voice your likes and dislikes to 343, and we'll most certainly see the tweaks in the final product. If I have any concerns moving forward, it's concern for the connectivity and server stability. The first day of the beta I had no problems, but today I struggled to stay connected even for one match. These problems have already hurt MCC gravely and I hope that, since this is only a beta, these kinks will get worked out and we'll have a smooth launch. I know that nothing ever goes off without a hitch, but I can hope can't I? If you've played the beta, what're your thoughts? Let 343 Industries know so that we can have a Halo game that we all love, and that will hopefully, stand the test of time.