If You Love The Walking Dead, Play This Game (Mature Content)

If You Love The Walking Dead, Play This Game (Mature Content)

With the anticipated return of The Walking Dead for the mid-season premiere, Pop and I decided to sink our teeth, so to speak, into one of the newest games for next-gen, Dying Light. I have mentioned before that I, Mom, generally do not play any type of scary games, including anything with zombies. Zombies intrigue me for sure, which is why I enjoy watching and reading The Walking Dead. Yet for some reason, I just can't grasp the concept of confronting walkers in video game format.

I frighten easily.

After watching Pop work through the first bit of Dying Light, we have come to the conclusion that this is the game that Dead Island should have been. To read NGP's full review by Demo Destroyer click here.

It really is a perfect mixture of Mirror's Edge, Dead Island, and Skyrim (only because of the lock picking). Just so you know, in future episodes, I do take the reigns and kill some zombies. Man is it satisfying! 

Please don't miss out on this rare opportunity to watch an amazing game with funny commentary. We work hard to show you the game without the fluff and plenty of adult humor. If you haven't liked us on Facebook please do! The links are below. Without further ado, I give you Dying Light with Mom 'N Pop Co-Op.

Social Media Pages:

Facebook

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitter

Pinterest

Read More

We Love FREE Games! Don't You?

We Love FREE Games! Don't You?

If you aren't following us on Facebook, then perhaps you haven't read up on our most recent situation in the Mom 'N Pop Co-Op household. Let me, Mom, fill you in on the lovely episode that happened...

Our son, not even two years old yet, somehow managed to delete and reformat our entire Wii U system.He was only alone for a few minutes and by some evil miracle worked his way through multiple confirmation screens to wreak havoc on our day and life. 

Good bye Zelda progress.

Goodbye happiness.

It's okay though because Mom 'N Pop have plenty of other things to play in the meantime while we catch up with our Wii U titles. 

So we decided to play a game that will be free for Playstation Plus members this month called Transistor. To start, since we can't download it for free yet, we decided to play our PC copy. Let me tell you, this game is amazing. It is by the creators of Bastion, which is known for its artistic and musical prowess. 

Transistor is no different when it comes to a beautifully crafted game. Mixing strategy with hack & slash, it is no wonder why this game is so attractive.

Check out our first video in the series and if you want to see us play more once we get it through Plus, subscribe to our channel and like us on Facebook!

Social Media Pages:

Facebook

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitter

Pinterest

Read More

The Reset Button - First-Person GTA? It's coming. And it's glorious.

First-Person GTA? It's coming. And it's glorious.

First and foremost, I apologize for the consecutive GTA-related posts. But this is my time and I'll write about what I want, dang it. GTA is honestly the cash-cow of the video game industry not named Call of Duty, so it's only fitting I write about it more than 3 times every other month.

Coming out on November 18th for PS4 and Xbox One and January 27th for PC, GTA V is going to rule yet another holiday season. And if you weren't excited about the technical tweaks and upgrades, this week Rockstar revealed a new feature never see in a console release of GTA.

A first-person perspective.

Thanks to the PC modding community, this feature has been featured in past GTA titles. The success of it on PC made Rockstar finally include it on the "remaster" for PS4 and Xbox One. Unfortunately for those last-generation console users, this feature is not going to be released for PS3 and Xbox 360. No patch, no upgrade, no nothing.

It's the price you pay for not getting with the times, I suppose. Or they just don't want to waste their time working on a patch for a game they've already sold. Yeah, that's probably it.

Want to see more about this awesome feature that has me super-hyped for a game I've already beaten? Check out the video below.



Yeah, that video pretty much sums up how awesome a first-person view can be in a game like Grand Theft Auto. Not only has Rockstar added full cockpit views to the vehicles, boats, and aircraft, all the gauges function. It's insanity, folks. Pure, unadulterated insanity.

So there you have it. By just adding another camera view, Rockstar has added even more hype to a GTA game that's already been on the market for over a year on other systems. There is no question this game is going to dominate the holiday for a second consecutive year. I've already preordered my digital copy for PS4 so it's all loaded and ready to go on November 18th without having to stop at a store.

Are you picking up GTA V on Xbox One or PS4? Going to wait for the PC version? If not, what's wrong with you? Go out and get this game November 18th. Experience one of the best games ever made. If you don't, your friends will all laugh at you and your family will "forget" to invite you to Thanksgiving because you're "lame". Their words, not mine.

Los Santos is calling, amigos. And 11/18 can't pick up the phone fast enough.

In some non-gaming news, the next edition of The Reset Button will be in a few weeks, as I once again have to travel for business. Don't miss me too much, Internet friends. While I'm away, do yourself a solid and check out the work of the other awesome contributors on New Geek Protocol while I'm gone. These guys (and gal) are awesome.

Until next time. Lock and load.

And, of course, game on.

-ML

Read More

Preparing for a return to Los Santos.

Back in the saddle again.

Sorry for the lack of content on my side of the fence, folks. Things tended to get a tad bit out of hand the last few weeks. Lapses in memory, traveling for work, and a Thursday Night Football game featuring my Atlanta Falcons took me out of my element and my posts suffered.

For that, I apologize.

But allow me to right the ship now and get back into the blogging spirit. I haven't touched many retro games lately, so I'm going to post about something I've very excited about. A return to Los Santos.

Los Santos.

If you're a gamer, you know Los Santos is the fictional representation of Los Angeles in the Grand Theft Auto universe. On the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, gamers worldwide ventured the rough streets, vast countryside, rugged mountains, and ocean depths of this enormous city. The game was Grand Theft Auto V and it was good.

Very good.

Good enough to become one of the, if not THE, best selling games of all time in a quick fashion. Gamers everywhere were hoping Rockstar Games would bring the sandbox king to the Playstation 4 and Xbox One consoles. A PC release was even petitioned for with a massive amount of signatures acquired. Ask and you shall receive, folks. This November, Michael, Trevor, and Franklin bring the chaos and mayhem of Los Santos to next-generation consoles. A PC release is set for early 2015.

Now, I put extensive time into GTA V on Xbox 360. But even in the amount of time I put into the game, I barely scratched the surface of everything it has to offer. GTA Online, probably one of the multiplayer modes I've wanted for a long time, was something I dabbled in but never fully embraced. And I left a lot of side-missions and events on the cutting room floor. Regretful, as anyone who knows me is fully aware that GTA and Splinter Cell are my favorite gaming franchises. So leaving a bunch of content behind when I made my transition to next-gen wasn't something I was pleased with.

November 18th changes all of those things. If you preorder the game, you'll be awarded $1,000,000 in currency to use in-game. Buy those cars you want. New weaponry. A few garages to store all your vehicles. New digs for Michael, Trevor, and Franklin. Whatever you want, really. Additionally, the game will feature updated visuals and other technical enhancements. Bundle this in with new weapons, vehicles, and activities and you have a recipe for all last-gen players to dive in again.

PS4 vs. PS3 screenshot. Massive difference.

In something I was surprised to learn, gamers who upgraded from Xbox 360 to Playstation 4 will be able to transfer their game save over from last gen to current gen. Yes, from Xbox 360 to Playstation 4. Obviously a PS3 to PS4 save transfer is also possible. This is a big deal for me, even though I wouldn't mind starting fresh. I'm not entirely sure if my GTA Online character will transfer, as well, but it would come as a pleasant surprise if so.

Another last vs. current gen shot. More massive difference.

I was greatly considering going digital for this, as I did so for The Last of Us and Destiny, but figured I'd do a physical copy instead. Not that I have any intention of ever trading the game in. I always find something to do in GTA, regardless if I've finished everything or not. And GTA Online will definitely keep me engaged for, I'm guessing, a decent amount of time. Especially if some of my online or real-life friends decide to grab it on PS4. Remote Play on my Vita also influenced my decision for PS4 vs. Xbox One. Being able to play from my living room instead of in the basement is a big one. If you own a PS4, a Vita is almost a necessary accessory for the system.

Overall, I'm ready for my return to Los Santos. It's been too long and there is a lot of chaos left to engage. Another work trip is going to prevent me from diving in day one, but it'll be there when I return. Trevor Phillips better get ready to burn things.

GTA. The best franchise in gaming today.

Thanks for coming back for my return to the blog. I'll be back next week.

Game on.

-ML

Read More

Trophies and Achievements: Why I love them and why I hate them.

Thursday. Almost Friday, but not quite. Also, it's the day I post a new edition of "The Reset Button". Lately, I've been putting more time into my PS4 and Xbox One games. Last weekend, I finally completed Watch_Dogs 100% on PlayStation 4. In doing this, I ended up earning the illustrious "Platinum Trophy". After I was finished, something sparked in my mind.

Why do I care about Trophies and Achievements? Should I let these hold me back from moving on to another game when I haven't earn them all? Are they ruining gaming?

The answer isn't as simple as I was hoping it would be.

Trophies and Achievements, for those not on a last-gen or current-gen system, are virtual accomplishments earned for completing specific challenges in a game. These can range anywhere from completing a story-line mission, collections X amount of items, killing X amount of enemies, or doing a specific activity in a game. The really hold no value and just go towards your gamer profile, showing what you've accomplished over the years you've been gaming on a specific system.

But they tend to be addicting.

Which brings me to my article. Why I love and why I hate Trophies and Achievements.

Why I love them as a gamer.

As a gamer, I strive to get the biggest bang for my buck out of a game purchase. Games like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Grand Theft Auto reside high on my list of favorites because they provide almost endless hours of gameplay possibilities. I have grown accustomed to grouping Trophies and Achievements into the "content" category of games I buy. If I can complete a game and go after the remaining Trophies/Achievements in a reasonable amount of time before I list the game on 99gamers, I'll do it. 

Take Watch_Dogs, for example. I had just about all Trophies completed by the time the credits rolled. I took some time off, played something else, then went back and wrapped up the last 2 Trophies I needed for the "Platinum" to pop. Once that happened, I listed it on 99gamers to send out to a new gamer. Once that 100% completion was hit, there was nothing left for me to accomplish. Story is wrapped up 100%, all Trophies are unlocked, and there is no real "multiplayer" mode worth holding onto it for. So away it goes.

Trophies and Achievements can add another dynamic to boring games that don't hold your interest in regards to story or multiplayer. You can spend your time hunting Trophies instead of dreading the game you're playing. You're probably saying, "But I can just go trade it in and get something I like," which is true. You could. But you'd also be wasting at least half of what you spent on the game when you take it to your local gaming store. I'm looking for value, as you've read in my previous articles. Personally, I can stomach the worst of the worst in regards to games, so hunting Trophies and Achievements help me get my money's worth out of a game instead of trading it in and having to spend more money.

The illustrious Platinum Trophy. Gold, Silver, and Bronze also featured.

I'm also a fan of Trophies and Achievements because of the thought that can go into them. The first Achievement that made me laugh was in the shooter "Army of Two". If you performed 50 melee kills, you'd unlock an Achievement named "Flip You. Flip You For Real." If you've seen "The Usual Suspects", you'd understand what this was in reference to. I remember laughing at the creativity and thought that went into this. Afterwards, funny Trophies and Achievements kept popping up. There is even one titled "Money Launderer" that I need to unlock in honor of my gamer tag.

Things like this, along with the bragging rights that come from having a higher Trophy count or gamer score than your friends, keep me coming back to hunting Trophies and Achievements. But it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There are some things I hate about them.

Why I hate them as a gamer.

One thing I hate about hunting Trophies and Achievements is the amount of that can go into completing some of them. Specifically the online/multiplayer types. Many of these require countless hours of death-match or other game modes, which is something I normally won't do. I tend to lean more towards the single player experience, as online games not played with friends tend to feature the underbelly of gaming more often than not. And it's something I look to avoid. So instead of fully completing a game and feeling satisfied, I end up listing the game online after a few hours of multiplayer when I realize I don't have the time to dedicate to it.

Achievements can also keep you coming back to a game that should have been sent out to pasture long ago. This may conflict with my value-drive statement, but hear me out. Some games are meant to be played, beaten, and traded. But sometimes, you find yourself chasing one last Achievement that you just can't unlocked. It slowly drives you insane until you find yourself only playing this one game to unlock the last Achievement. 

Congrats! You've unlocked an Achievement!

In the PS2 and before days, this problem was non-existent. You'd buy a game, beat it, and move on. You grind to 100% a game because it was fun, not because you unlocked a virtual trophy. They can add content, sure, but they can also strip a good game of it's fun factor if you get caught up in hunting just the Achievements without spending time to enjoy the game. But this is only for the hard-core hunters, which I do not consider myself to be. I'm more of a recreational Trophy Whore. 

Some would argue that Achievements and Trophies add nothing of value to a game and strip them of their fun. While I agree to an extent, I get a feeling of satisfaction when I 100% a game and unlock everything. If there are online Trophies/Achievements, I move on. Easy solution. I'd rather skip those instead of destroying the fun a game provides.

My favorite part of Trophies/Achievements: Tracking.

The number one thing I like about unlocking more Trophies and Achievements are the tracking websites. Websites like TrueTrophies and TrueAchievements are dedicated to tracking your Trophy/Achievement progress across your gaming profile. You can see how many days in a row you've unlocked a Trophy/Achievement, how many you have compared to friends, your most valuable Trophy/Achievement, and many more statistics. It's pretty cool to go back and see the very first Trophy/Achievement you unlocked and how many you've unlocked over your entire gaming career on a system.

Go sign up for these free sites and start keeping track of your progress. You may find it's as fun as I think it is. You can even have competitions with your friends.

Think you can unlock more Trophies or Achievements than me? Extend the challenge.

Beating me would be the ultimate Achievement.

Until next week...

Game On.

-ML

Read More

Review: Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4/Xbox One/360/PS3/PC)

Welcome, welcome, readers and subscribers. You know what day it is! Thursday. Allow us to venture forth into a gaming paradise, filled with 8-bit cartridges, black PlayStation discs, and Dreamcast VMUs. But today, we're going to focus on a new game. A game that surprisingly has brought me back to the online multiplayer fold with a bang, not a whimper. To no surprise, it's a shooter. But it isn't your typical Call of Duty or Battlefield.

It's Plant vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare.

Plants vs. Zombies in all out Garden Wafare

Many of you may have played the original Plants vs. Zombies game for various handheld or home gaming consoles. This takes that same premise and expands it across the board. For those of you who have played Gears of War's "Horde" mode, think of that but with Pea-shooters, Cacti, Army Zombies, Potato Mines, and Sunflowers.

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? It is. But it's damn fun.

PvZ:GW features a cooperative mode and various multiplayer modes. Garden Ops, the co-op mode, pits you and 3 other friends against waves of Zombies who are hell bent on destroying your garden. There are ten waves of zombies to battle, with boss battles coming at the fifth and tenth wave. This was the first mode I played and it hooked me. I was skeptical at first, just going off what what the game looked like. But once I got in, I had more fun in 10 minutes than I had playing the last Call of Duty online.

Garden Ops.

After getting my feet wet with Garden Ops, I ventured into online battle with FrostForged and TropicoDoc. The online side has team deathmatch, domination, bomb-the-base, and conquest/rush modes. These are called Team Vanquish, Surburbination, Gardens and Graveyards, and Gnome Bomb. Obviously many of these modes pay homage to modes from Battlefield and Call of Duty. But the way they are executed sets them apart from the rest. There is also a Welcome Mat option if you're a newcomer to the game. This mode features only one map and no customization. I haven't played this one, as I prefer Gardens and Graveyards.

Gardens and Graveyards.

Gardens and Graveyards has you on the plants or zombies side. 12 vs. 12. As plants, you're defending your base from the zombies. As zombies, you're trying to take over the plant bases. There are 6 gardens to hold/assault. If the zombies reach the final base, they have to complete an objective to win. To win as plants, you need to hold a base until time expires. If one base falls, you move onto the next. This is by far the best game mode, in my opinion. It's also the best way to level up your character and buy card packs.

Card Packs: the latest craze in gaming.

Yes, there are card packs. By earning coins in Garden Ops or the multiplayer matches, you can buy card packs. These are purchased in the Sticker Shop. In each of these packs are character customization items like weird hats, glasses, and tattoos, and consumable item like self-revives and plant/zombie spawns. The more expensive packs have the possibility of unlocking weapon attachments and character skins. TropicoDoc unlocked a goalie skin for one of the zombies the other night, which brought hilarity along with it.

Normally, character skins are unlocked by collecting five stickers from the cheaper packs. But if you save 40,000 coins, you can buy the "Spectacular Character Pack", which guarantees a full character skin. The cheapest pack, the Reinforcements Pack, costs 1,000 coins and provides 5 consumables. There are zombie and plant specific packs, as well, which contain items/weapons/skins for their respective faction.

The amount of content in this game is vast, providing fun for single and multiplayer experiences. I've found myself playing for 30 minute one night and 2 hours the next. And each time, I'm not worried about my kill/death ratio or how many kills I get. I just want to collect coins, unlock wacky outfits, and get revenge on that bastard Don Lonley for eating my character 10 times with the Chomper plant. I hope I run into him online again...

My recommendation? Run to the store or sign into the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or EA Origin and buy this game. It's a solid 8/10 in my book. With a price tag of $40 for PS4 and Xbox One, $35 on PC, and $30 for PS3 and Xbox 360, Plants vs. Zombies shouldn't be missed. You get a full online experience in addition to a fun, yet challenging single-player mode with Garden Ops. I traded EA Sports UFC for this game and couldn't be more pleased with that decision. 

Oh yeah, there's a Disco Zombie boss.

I have to say, it's nice to have a fresh take on something done over and over and over again. This game is a unique take on a shooter. For the price, you are buying endless shooter fun in a gaming world over-saturated with military shooters. Plus, if you don't buy it, you'll have to deal with Disco Zombie. And trust me when I say you don't want to boogie-oogie-oogie with him. OW!

Oh...I hear the zombies at my door. It's time to head back to the Garden.

Game On.

-ML

Read More