Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Review (PC)

  This game was such a surprise for so many people, including myself, back in 2012 when it was launched from developer United Front Games and publisher Square Enix. This open world action game puts you in the shoes of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer tasked with infiltrating the Chinese triad in hopes of bringing their whole operation down. We've seen this concept before in movies and even other games, but no game even comes close to pulling it off the way Sleeping Dogs has. With the definitive edition having just released, I decided to delve back into the open world of Honk Kong and see if the game still holds up in a post Grand Theft Auto 5 world. My answer in short is yes, it totally does.

  There has been a lot of controversy lately surrounding games getting the definitive edition treatment. Games like Tomb Raider, The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto 5, and of course Sleeping Dogs. A lot of gamers are unhappy that developers are treading old territory when they should be developing new and interesting games that make the purchase of a PS4 or Xbox One worth it. All of the games that are getting the remastered treatment are still great games on last gen and not to mention pretty cheap by now. The only reason I support all of these next gen versions, is simply because of the exposure. Let's face it, a lot of people traded in or sold their old consoles last year when they picked up either the Xbox One or PS4. I know I did. Having a PC let's me go back and play mostly any last gen game, but unfortunately a lot of people don't have that option, and they're looking for a reason to play their new consoles. I think these new versions are a great way for these games to get more exposure especially if they didn't receive enough when they initially released. If you're not on board with these games, then don't play them. It's as simple as that. With the fall roster of games being so huge this year, you'll have plenty of new titles to pick from.

  Sleeping Dogs is a game that looked great back in 2012, and it's held up pretty well visually. It's not astonishing in any way, but sometimes it does look downright gorgeous. Racing through the streets of Honk Kong during a storm still looks great, and the handful of graphical improvements the definitive edition brings are very welcome. The character models are detailed and crisp and the "in engine" cutscenes are animated well and excellently acted by the cast. The definitive edition adds denser traffic and pedestrians that really bring the city to life. The virtual Honk Kong you explore is even more engrossing this time around and feels oddly unique to any other open world you'll explore in games. The presentation is handled well throughout the game and I was able to run the game maxed out with AA turned down to high, and I got a smooth experience nearly all the time. I have not played the PS4 or Xbox One versions, but from what I saw, they look just as good as the PC experience I had. Sleeping Dogs is a great looking game through and through.

  The gameplay is where Sleeping Dogs shines. There are tons of things to do around Honk Kong and the definitive edition brings even more activities to keep you occupied. The combat is focused around hand to hand encounters and it's one of the best parts of the experience. The combat is fast and brutal and easy to become accustomed to. Similar to the Batman Arkham games, the fighting focuses on pulling off awesome combos while countering enemies who attack you. I think it's executed just as well as the Arkham games while bringing depth in the form of unlockable moves and even the inclusion of melee weapons such as meat cleavers and tire irons. I found myself walking around the city just so I could come face to face with a rival gang. Once they see you, they immediately attack and the carnage ensues. The developers wanted to focus on martial arts so much that I didn't even fire a gun until about 7 hours into my playthrough. The fighting works so well though, that I didn't mind the wait. When the time came for me to finally pull the trigger, I wasn't disappointed. The shooting mechanics are solid enough to hold up to other third person cover based shooters, but they're nothing spectacular. In fact, I prefer the deep hand to hand combat system over the gunplay. The exciting thing about this edition of the game is that it comes with all the DLC previously released for Sleeping Dogs including Nightmare in North Point and The Year of the Snake. Along with those two expansions, you get all the guns, cars, outfits and bonuses you could want. For someone new to Sleeping Dogs, the 60 dollar asking price is a good deal for all the content you get in return. If you've played the game before, well then it depends on how much you enjoyed it the first time around, and if you're ready to give the game another shot. 

  The aspect that surprised me the most about Sleeping Dogs was how absolutely engaging the narrative is. Going into the game for the first time I didn't think that I would be so into the characters and the events that unfold around them. The story kept me hooked from beginning to end and I loved it. Recently, I've really been reminded of how important a good story is, and that it really does make everything feel more worthwhile. Sleeping Dogs is proof of that. No, the game isn't the masterpiece Grand Theft Auto 5 is, not even by a long shot, but what it does, it does extremely well. Having said that there are some minor problems that hold the game back. Most notably the wonky camera that almost always works against you while driving or even while fighting. It works well most of the time, but gets in the way enough to create some frustrating moments. I also encountered some minor clipping and audio glitches. A good example would be when I was driving my car through a crowd, using my horn to scare away pedestrians from my path and all of a sudden I stopped using my horn but the sound effect kept blaring. Even when I got out of the car it just kept going and it was so loud that  had to run 3 blocks away to escape the terrible sound. Other than those very minor issues, Sleeping Dogs is a great video game achievement that's a must play for anyone who's a fan of open world action games. Don't go into this game expecting a Chinese GTA 5 because that's not what's delivered here. The beautiful thing about this game is that it's not GTA 5. It's another open world game that's fully capable of standing on its own and making a name for itself. This game is worth your time and your money. You're bound to find something you like within the definitive edition of Sleeping Dogs.


+Great Open World
+Solid Gameplay All Around
+Engaging Narrative

-Disobedient Camera
-Some Minor Glitches


9 out of 10

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor Review (PS4)

  What's up guys? Just a quick thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day to read this review. I have a lot of opinions on all sorts of entertainment and it means a lot that you're interested in what I think, and that you view my opinion as credible. That being said, let's talk about Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

  I'll start off by saying that this is the Lord of the Rings video game I've always wanted. Although the game doesn't share any title with the books or the films, the game takes place in between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and is set in the very same Middle Earth. So, for me, this is a Lord of the Rings video game. Albeit, a very different one from what we're all used to playing. This game doesn't follow the events of the films or books at all, but is an entirely new story brought to us by developer Monolith Productions. The same people who made one of my favorite shooters of all time: FEAR. They were also responsible for both Condemned games that came out in 05' and 08'. Needless to say, they've made some great games and Shadow of Mordor is no exception.

  The game looks absolutely incredible and the aesthetic does a great job of creating a gritty, believable Mordor. The character models of Talion, the main character, and the Uruks you fight throughout the game all look spectacular. All rendered in a crisp 1080p on PS4. The games framerate is also surprisingly stable, whether you're fighting three enemies or thirty enemies at once, you'll get a smooth experience all of the time. Whenever you're roaming Mordor the weather system does a good job of making you feel the harsh reality of the place you're in. Rain and sometimes even hail will fall down on you in spectacular fashion soaking your clothes and dropping visibility significantly, especially during the night. All of these things, coupled with the dynamic lighting, awesome animations and high quality voice work make Mordor really come to life in a way I thought it wouldn't.

  My motto when it comes to video games is simply this "Gameplay is King." You can have all the flashy visuals and best writing money can buy, but if you're game isn't fun to play, it's failed. Luckily, Shadow of Mordor does not fail in this category. This is a game that doesn't reinvent the wheel by any means. It uses mechanics that have been used in other games, almost to controversial effect, and it won't blow you away with it's narrative, but this title contains some of the best fun I've had in a game in a long time. It's simply fun to play. You can pick it up, learn it's simple control scheme in no time, and start your own onslaught through Mordor with devastating effect. The combat is brutal and visceral and truly makes you feel empowered as you level up abilities and upgrade your weapons. It's so fun to simply run around Mordor engaging in skirmishes with Uruks, while freeing human slaves kept captive, and taking out high targets within the Uruk society. I lost hours to exploration of the surprisingly big (but not too big) game world, finding artifacts and other collectibles. The world seemed to be just the right size. Not too small to where it seemed limited in possibilities, and not too big to where it appeared to be lifeless and underpopulated. Next to the vibrant world, another gameplay system caught my attention. The Nemesis System. This system makes every encounter have a sense of weight to it, and a sort of unpredictability. Every enemy you face in the world has the potential to kill you and move up within the Uruk hierarchy, getting promoted and remembering your encounters. They're all given a random set of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, which allows you to really created your own memorable villains and showdowns. Since every foe you face has the potential to become a War Chief, the highest rank in the Uruk society, every kill you earn is satisfying and rewarding. The game has a very addictive nature to it, and you have to get your hands on it to truly experience it. All the videos and articles about it simply don't do it justice, including this one. This game is completely successful in creating a fun gameplay experience that is rewarding and keeps you coming back for hours on end.

  I really enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, and this stands as one of the best licensed titles in a long time next to Arkham City. If I have any gripes with the game it's that the story wasn't all that interesting. I would often ignore the story and opt to run around and cause more chaos within the well crafted world. I had many more memorable experiences doing that than I did with the story, even though it's well acted and has it's high points. If you enjoy a solid single player experience that is consistently fun and rewarding check this game out immediately.


+ Great Visuals and Performance
+ Brutal and Rewarding Combat
+ The Nemesis System

-Story Couldn't Keep Me Engaged


9 out of 10