Pixelrater

Every pixel, rated.  |  www.pixelrater.com

[tonezone87]

Know Your Timeline by tonezone

Hey fellow gamers! I have a new design up! Please share and I hope you like it! :)

[tonezone87]

Paper flower shop by Erica Worrall.

If you love #paperflowers and #paperornaments please check out and share my wife’s new site. You’ll find contact info, #instagram, and #etsy shop. :) <3

[gameandcook]

Time for Change

Hello to all my followers and fans! It's been a while. I'm dissolving Game & Cook and all of the gaming related content is on my new website—Pixelrater! (a recipe site offshoot is in the works) A few friends of mine are writing as well and I'm really excited. I've spent countless hours making the site and launching everything. I even posted my first YouTube game review. There will be more to come. I'm very excited to share new content with all of you and look forward to the future. Please like our Facebook page and don't be afraid to talk to us. :)

[gameandcook]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze Review

My review of TMNT Danger of the Ooze for 3DS, PS3, and Xbox 360

[tonezone87]

Lunch time. #Mario #Mario64 #3DS

[gameandcook]

Gotcha you little bugger!!!!

[gameandcook]

He's down.....for now.....

[gameandcook]

Axiom Verge Review

Where the did this game come from? From the mind of one man—Tom Happ. That's right, over the course of five years one guy created everything you'll experience in Axiom Verge from the gorgeous pixel art to the thumping soundtrack . This game was a labor of love and it shows. You play as a scientist named Trace who was working on some kind of experiment that fails resulting in is his death. He awakens on a bio-mechanical planet unbeknownst to him called Sudra with no recollection of what happened or why he’s there. Through events that unfold he learns of a dying alien race known as Rushalki and the rise and fall of their planet and why he was chosen to help free them and restore power once more. To be honest I didn’t find Trace all that interesting and I must admit the game has a bit of a slow pace in the beginning but it eventually picks up. In the first couple of hours you start out with one gun and aquire a few more along with a drill. The drill is neat because it lets you get through weak blocks and can help you discover hidden rooms and other areas while also functioning as a short range weapon against enemies. It isn’t until you obtain what is called the Address Disruptor that the game really picks up. Throughout your journey you will see flashing pixelated areas that are throwbacks to kill screens of the 8 and 16 bit eras of gaming. These are barriers that cannot be crossed unless you can figure out how to….and that’s part of what helps to make Axiom Verge such a stellar game. You’ll aquire new tools and abilities and not know their true potential until you experiment with them. For example I wondered what would happen if I used the Disruptor on an enemy and to my surprise it glitched them and made them far less dangerous and easier to kill. I then used it on another enemy that was shooting a red laser beam at me and glitched them making them shoot a harmless blue laser that destroyed part of a wall opening up a hidden area. Beware though, as some enemies actually become more dangerous if hit with the Disruptor. It’s a very fun risk reward system to see how you can exploit new enemies and progress further. I was also able to make hidden platforms appear making a boss battle just a little bit easier. All the weapons you find also have their own upgrades making them stronger or changing their abilities in another significant way. The best example that comes to mind is the remote drone, a small spider-like robot that can squeeze through tight passages and obtain items for you. Eventually you find an upgrade that allows you to teleport to the spider bot’s location, allowing you to progress to a previously unaccessable area. Before I found the bot it was driving me crazy wondering how I was supposed to get to those areas but I pushed on. And that’s what Metroidvania style games are all about. FInding new abliities and exploring, exploring, exploring, including backtracking to areas that you couldn’t get to previously. The boss battles are fantastic and seeing them explode in all their pixelated glory never got old. The bosses really standout too as they are ugly but beautiful at the same time. There is so much to see, experiment with, and explore that it may seem a little overwhelming. But that’s okay because the game has a generous save system and even if you die you still respawn with whatever ability or upgrade you discovered before you could save manually. It isn’t hard to draw similarities between the Metroid series and Axiom Verge but it does so much to set itself apart with dozens of weapons and abilities as well as the Address Disruptor that it’s able to stand on it’s own. I feel like it will be an instant classic and will be seen as the Metroid of it’s generation. If PlayStation isn’t your gaming platform of choice the game will be making it’s way to PC soon with an announcement in the near future. If you’re like me and PlayStation is your platform of choice and you also own a PlayStaiton Vita then you will be happy to know Axiom Vergewill be releasing as a cross-buy title within the next few months, so even if you buy it on PS4 now you’ll automatically get it on PS Vita for free. Axiom Verge is available on the PlayStation 4 online store in America for a steal at $19.99 with 10% off for PlayStation Plus members and will be available tomorrow in Europe. 4.5/5 NY Strip: Great but contains some gristle that holds it back just a bit. Widely lovable and rarely a letdown.

[gameandcook]

LEGO Jurassic World Screens & Trailer Revealed

If you know me then you know I love everything Jurassic Park (even the third one to a small degree). It's been over a decade since we got to feast our eyes on badass dinosaurs tearing shit up and since that time special effects in cinema have come a long way which should help make dinosaurs that much more believable. I've also been dying to play another game set in the Jurassic Park universe, especially with the power of current generation consoles. With that in mind you might think I'm disappointed that the next game will be a LEGO one but you couldn't be more wrong. Just look at these fresh screens and the humor in the trailer. Have a laugh at the trailer below. I. Can't. Wait.

[gameandcook]

Life is Strange: Episode 1 - Chrysalis Review

If you haven’t played Life is Strange yet you really should. But don’t expect to see the story through to the end—at least not yet. The game isn’t presented to you all at once and instead is broken up into five episodes. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I like the anticipation of the next episode coming out to continue the story but on the other it’s nice when you can just marathon a game to the credits. The price is definitely wallet friendly with the each episode priced at $4.99 and the season pass going for $19.99. I sprang for the season pass but you can always buy the first spisode and purchase the season pass at a later date. Life is Strange is a homage to the old point-and-click adventure games of yore but with a modern take akin to Telltale’s The Walking Dead game series. You play as 18 year old Maxine Caulfield aka Max who is very passionate about photography. She was uprooted from her hometown and friends by her parents and moved to Seattle where she remained throughout high school. A few years later Max finds herself back in her hometown for college after being accepted at a prestigious art school with a well known and respected photographer as her teacher. The game starts with Max at a lighthouse in an intense dark storm with roaring winds and heavy rain. Out in the distance she sees a tornado about to destroy the town she lives in when suddenly a boat is picked up and hurled at the lighthouse causing it to almost tumble down on her. All of a sudden she jolts awake in her photography class. When class dismisses you make your way to the ladie’s room and photograph a blue butterfly, which is a clever way to kick off the butterfly effect theme game is based on. Before you can leave a boy enters and starts arguing with a girl about drugs and money ending in him shooting her. You cry out but it’s too late and then something extrodinary happens—you rewind time back to when you were sitting in class which freaks you the hell out. Everything is as it was before and once class dismisses again you hastily make your way to the bathroom hoping to save the girl. You do everything you did before except this time when the argument flares up you pull the fire alarm in the bathroom in order to prevent her from being shot. You’re an everyday hero. It is at this point you’re introduced to the main gameplay mechanic in Life is Strange that you’ll use to solve puzzles throughout the game. Most of the puzzles you’ll encounter aren’t that difficult since you can rewind time and try again if you fail while others require you to fail in order to succeed….hint hint….You’ll encounter situations throughout the story where you have to make a choice that has ramifications along the freedom to rewind time and switch your decision to see what happens. This almost feels like cheating as you’re able to see both outcomes if you wish, however, you can only see the short term effects and not how your decision affects things down the road. Knowing this I found myself winding time back to see the different ways situations played out. I’m not sure how my choices will alter the story down the road, but it’s fun to experiment in each situation to see both outcomes. The campus is plastered with missing person’s posters for a girl named Rachal Amber who has mysteriously gone missing. Through a turn of events you end up discovering the girl you saved in the bathroom is your childhood friend Chloe and that her and Amber were close when you moved away. Chloe tells you that your abscense was very tough on her and you can see she’s been dealt a shit hand ever since. I like how relatable these characters are. I understand Max’s quirkiness and what it’s like to have a handful of friends while existing on the outskirts of the social scene. I also know how weird it can be moving from a small town to a big city and how much people you grew up with can change. Like Max and Chloe, I didn’t talk to one of my best friends for quite some time but once we reunited it was like time never passed. This story is about a strong reunited friendship. I only have a few nitpicks with the game overall. My main issue is that the facial animation, specifically with spoken diolague, is poor and doesn’t sync well with the audio. My other gripe is that some of the personalites of the people you run in to can come off a little over exxagerated. Specifically Chloe with her overuse of the word “hella”. With that said these are my only two issues. Those minor annoyances aside I love everything about this game. I love the little things like how at the beginning you can choose to read through Max’s journal while she is in class. Doing so rewards you with a deeper understanding of Max and her relationship with her friends and everyone you meet. I liked being able to see her views on life situations. It helped make her that much more relatable to me which brings me to my next point. These characters, while sometimes cliche, are grounded and believable. Life is Strange doesn’t raise the bar for graphics but has a beautiful style all it’s own. Overall Episode One has been a joy to play and I can’t wait to dive in to explore the environment and document it through the lens of Max’s camera. 4.5/5 Filet Minion: A cut above the rest. Sets the standard. Enjoyable every time. 

[gameandcook]

Kielbasa Hash With Sweet Glaze

What you need 3 large potatoes 1 kielbasa 1/2 large onion 1 bell pepper vegetable oil 4 tbsp brown sugar 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp mustard 1 tsp dried thyme

How you make it 1.In dutch oven, brown potatoes, kielbasa, onion and bell pepper in oil. 2. Deglaze with water and add vinegar, thyme, brown sugar, and mustard. Bring to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to low and cook until glaze thickens, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. 4. Add cheese on top and simmer until melted.

[gameandcook]

The Order: 1886 Review

First off The Order: 1886 doesn't deserve the vitriol it has seen before it released. There is so much hate and scorn for games and between gamers lately and it saddens me. Not every game is going to be a perfect ten or five or whatever fucking rating system is used. If a game scores close to ten like a six or seven it's still good but not great. I'm not a fan of this trend of shitting on a game if it doesn't do something innovative or have a twenty plus hour campaign, but that's for another post I suppose.

So what is The Order: 1886? Well in my opinion it's a good game overall that has some issues holding it back from being better. The atmosphere the talented folks at Ready at Dawn have created is breathtaking. Visually this is hands down the most impressive game I've see on a console to date. The entire package feels authentic from the voice acting to the attire. Even the slick sci-fi weapons feel like they belong in the alternate history that has been created. Without giving too much away you play as a knight named Sir Galahad who is a part of The Order, a group sworn to protect the world from what are referred to as half-breeds also known as Lycans or werewolves. These beasts and man fought for centuries and although the half-breeds were outnumbered, their strength led them to victory. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table continued to lose miserably but then discovered a mystical liquid called Blackwater that has immense healing powers and can significantly extend life. Yet even with this newfound advantage humanity continues to succumb to the half-breeds. It's not until the Industrial Revolution with the help of Nikolai Tesla that the Knights are able to turn the tides of war in their favor with advanced weaponry. That's as much as I'm going to give away but it was fun playing along side historic figures such as Nikola. I enjoyed the story and characters overall but honestly didn't find myself attached to any of them. To be fair not many games have gotten me attached to a character the way The Last of Us did with Ellie. Throughout the campaign you'll come across some scientific weapons that are varied and make you feel like a badass which was another strength the game has.

So what is holding it back? Is it the campaign length? Nope, not for me. I clocked in about seven or so hours from start to finish with moderate exploration and I didn't manage to find all the collectables or read every newspaper and I don’t think I will go back to try to any time soon. I know everyone hated the QTE's (quick time events) but they didn't bother me until they found their way into boss battles. Talk about being ripped from any sense of desperation. There is no tension and the battles don't feel like life or death situations because you don't feel the struggle. You merely dodge and either counter with a quick or strong attack.—that's it. The enemies you encounter throughout The Order consist of humans known as The Rebels, guards, and sadly only a handful of half-breeds. Enemy AI feels like it could have been ripped from GoldenEye back in the Nintendo 64 era. They rarely present any challenge as they simply pop in and out of cover occasionally tossing a grenade and rarely flanking. The basic formula is walk through a hallway or alley to a room and clear out a few waves of enemies and proceed with the story. There is a single stealth mission that offered a nice change of pace and I appreciated it's slight spike in difficulty. Another disappointment is that you'll obtain fun sci-fi weapons but won't have them for very long and have to resort to the generic shotguns or pistols that we've seen in every other shooter.

Even with my criticisms aside I had an enjoyable time with The Order and don't mind that I paid full price. In all honestly after I platinum the game I'm probably going to trade it in because I see no reason to revisit the story. The groundwork has been laid for Ready at Dawn to take this IP from a good game to a great franchise. I look forward to a sequel with more weapon and enemy variety, more action, and boss battles that make my heart race. I want to feel fear when I run across a half-breed and don't want this to be my last trip to London.

3/5 Skirt: Solid for the price. Not a fan favorite but can still be impressive at times and not at others. 

[gameandcook]

new 3DS XL Review

I’ve had my new 3DS XL for about a week now and man am I happy I don’t have to go back. What makes the new 3DS XL “new” compared to the old one? Well you can read my geekier more involved breakdown here but the overall gist is the new system is much snappier doing everything from downloading games to navigating menus and switching between apps. Perhaps the biggest upgrade in my opinion is the vastly improved 3D that really changes the overall experience and is what Nintendo should have been aiming for when the original 3DS launched. Now, if the system is moved out of the sweet spot with 3D mode enabled the picture doesn't blur and break like it did previously. This is made possible because of a faster processor coupled with a front facing camera that tracks your head movement and is able to adjust the 3D viewing angle on the fly. To my surprise this not only made playing during my commute on the doable but enjoyable. There are also two new added shoulder buttons and a c-stick commonly referred to as “the nub”. If you want to future proof your purchase I recommend buying the new XL as some upcoming games will only be playable on the new 3DS such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D while others like Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and Majora’s Mask control much better thanks to the c-stick but are still playable with both previous 3DS models.

Let me start out with what I really like about the new 3DS XL. I am obviously a fan of the aforementioned speed and 3D improvements along with a lot of other things like the color which in black is sexy. I just can't get on board with the red unit. I mean it’s a really nice color black. It reminds me of a gunmetal grey with a carbon fiber style pattern on the outside. I’m also a fan of the SNES colored letters on the buttons even though I love the SNES buttons every other territory gets on the smaller new 3DS. Another subtle refinement is the display's outer shell is flat instead of being slightly bubbled like before. Because of this I find it easier to slide in and out of my pocket than my old XL. I’m not sure if the speakers have been upgraded but they sound clearer and louder compared to the previous models. Also from what I’ve read Nintendo claims they haven’t upgraded the top display but for some reason it looks better than my previous XL’s display. This may be due to the fact that the overall picture is consistently sharper since the 3D rarely breaks because of the Super Stable 3D feature. Moving the headphone jack from the front left edge to the center is also a welcome tweak as well as the quieter display hinge. Gone are my fears of waking my lady laying next to me in bed because of he thunderous cracks from opening or closing the lid. During my playthroughs with Majora’s Mask the c-stick was responsive and got the job done without any issues. Some people are comparing it to the nub that IBM ThinkPad computers used to have, but I find it much more comfortable than that. Contrary to what others have said I feel like it was the right choice over a second circle pad as it looks like an additional full joystick would shift the X, A, B, Y buttons lower and would create an awkward reach and balance issue while holding the system.

It isn't all roses as there are a few things about the newest 3DS incarnation I don't like. Unfortunately the Super Stable 3D doesn’t do a good job of tracking my eyes while I'm laying in bed in the dark with my glasses on, but I didn’t expect it too. While I think the new finish is really nice I’m afraid that it might be easier to scratch or scuff if I drop it. If you keep the wireless off like I do you won't find a physical button/slider because the toggle now resides within a software menu a few taps away. Another annoying addition to me is the auto-brightness which can thankfully be disabled in the settings menu. I had to disable it because my 3DS would lower the brightness while I was sitting in the same area without my lighting conditions changing. My only other minor complaint is the movement of the stylus from the right side of the unit to the bottom. To me it was easier to quickly pull the stylus out from the side rather than have to fumble pulling it out from the bottom edge while playing a game.

Overall the above list of complaints are minor and the pros outweigh the cons considerably. If you haven’t taken the plunge into the 3DS family now’s the perfect time with a faster system, vastly improved 3D, and an excellent library of AAA and indie titles to play through. It’s also a hell of an improvement from the original 3DS or a 2DS. You may be wondering if it’s worth upgrading if you currently have a 3DX XL and my answer is it depends. If you primarily play games in 2D, a slower system doesn't bother you, improved c-stick and shoulder button controls don't entice you ,and you don't care that some future games will only support the new 3DS XL, then stick with your current system. For me it was money well spent after selling my original XL on eBay and I would never go back.

4.5/5 NY Strip: Great but contains some gristle that hlds it back. Not the best but still widely lovable. 

[gameandcook]

new 3DS XL Review

I’ve had my new 3DS XL for about a week now and man am I happy I don’t have to go back. What makes the new 3DS XL “new” compared to the old one? Well you can read my geekier more involved breakdown here but the overall gist is the new system is much snappier doing everything from downloading games to navigating menus and switching between apps. Perhaps the biggest upgrade in my opinion is the vastly improved 3D that really changes the overall experience and is what Nintendo should have been aiming for when the original 3DS launched. Now, if the system is moved out of the sweet spot with 3D mode enabled the picture doesn't blur and break like it did previously. This is made possible because of a faster processor coupled with a front facing camera that tracks your head movement and is able to adjust the 3D viewing angle on the fly. To my surprise this not only made playing during my commute on the doable but enjoyable. There are also two new added shoulder buttons and a c-stick commonly referred to as “the nub”. If you want to future proof your purchase I recommend buying the new XL as some upcoming games will only be playable on the new 3DS such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D while others like Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and Majora’s Mask control much better thanks to the c-stick but are still playable with both previous 3DS models.

Let me start out with what I really like about the new 3DS XL. I am obviously a fan of the aforementioned speed and 3D improvements along with a lot of other things like the color which in black is sexy. I just can't get on board with the red unit. I mean it’s a really nice color black. It reminds me of a gunmetal grey with a carbon fiber style pattern on the outside. I’m also a fan of the SNES colored letters on the buttons even though I love the SNES buttons every other territory gets on the smaller new 3DS. Another subtle refinement is the display's outer shell is flat instead of being slightly bubbled like before. Because of this I find it easier to slide in and out of my pocket than my old XL. I’m not sure if the speakers have been upgraded but they sound clearer and louder compared to the previous models. Also from what I’ve read Nintendo claims they haven’t upgraded the top display but for some reason it looks better than my previous XL’s display. This may be due to the fact that the overall picture is consistently sharper since the 3D rarely breaks because of the Super Stable 3D feature. Moving the headphone jack from the front left edge to the center is also a welcome tweak as well as the quieter display hinge. Gone are my fears of waking my lady laying next to me in bed because of he thunderous cracks from opening or closing the lid. During my playthroughs with Majora’s Mask the c-stick was responsive and got the job done without any issues. Some people are comparing it to the nub that IBM ThinkPad computers used to have, but I find it much more comfortable than that. Contrary to what others have said I feel like it was the right choice over a second circle pad as it looks like an additional full joystick would shift the X, A, B, Y buttons lower and would create an awkward reach and balance issue while holding the system.

It isn't all roses as there are a few things about the newest 3DS incarnation I don't like. Unfortunately the Super Stable 3D doesn’t do a good job of tracking my eyes while I'm laying in bed in the dark with my glasses on, but I didn’t expect it too. While I think the new finish is really nice I’m afraid that it might be easier to scratch or scuff if I drop it. If you keep the wireless off like I do you won't find a physical button/slider because the toggle now resides within a software menu a few taps away. Another annoying addition to me is the auto-brightness which can thankfully be disabled in the settings menu. I had to disable it because my 3DS would lower the brightness while I was sitting in the same area without my lighting conditions changing. My only other minor complaint is the movement of the stylus from the right side of the unit to the bottom. To me it was easier to quickly pull the stylus out from the side rather than have to fumble pulling it out from the bottom edge while playing a game.

Overall the above list of complaints are minor and the pros outweigh the cons considerably. If you haven’t taken the plunge into the 3DS family now’s the perfect time with a faster system, vastly improved 3D, and an excellent library of AAA and indie titles to play through. It’s also a hell of an improvement from the original 3DS or a 2DS. You may be wondering if it’s worth upgrading if you currently have a 3DX XL and my answer is it depends. If you primarily play games in 2D, a slower system doesn't bother you, improved c-stick and shoulder button controls don't entice you ,and you don't care that some future games will only support the new 3DS XL, then stick with your current system. For me it was money well spent after selling my original XL on eBay and I would never go back.

4.5/5 NY Strip: Great but contains some gristle that hlds it back. Not the best but still widely lovable. 

[gameandcook]

new 3DS XL Review

I’ve had my new 3DS XL for about a week now and man am I happy I don’t have to go back. What makes the new 3DS XL “new” compared to the old one? Well you can read my geekier more involved breakdown here but the overall gist is the new system is much snappier doing everything from downloading games to navigating menus and switching between apps. Perhaps the biggest upgrade in my opinion is the vastly improved 3D that really changes the overall experience and is what Nintendo should have been aiming for when the original 3DS launched. Now, if the system is moved out of the sweet spot with 3D mode enabled the picture doesn't blur and break like it did previously. This is made possible because of a faster processor coupled with a front facing camera that tracks your head movement and is able to adjust the 3D viewing angle on the fly. To my surprise this not only made playing during my commute on the doable but enjoyable. There are also two new added shoulder buttons and a c-stick commonly referred to as “the nub”. If you want to future proof your purchase I recommend buying the new XL as some upcoming games will only be playable on the new 3DS such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D while others like Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and Majora’s Mask control much better thanks to the c-stick but are still playable with both previous 3DS models.

Let me start out with what I really like about the new 3DS XL. I am obviously a fan of the aforementioned speed and 3D improvements along with a lot of other things like the color which in black is sexy. I just can't get on board with the red unit. I mean it’s a really nice color black. It reminds me of a gunmetal grey with a carbon fiber style pattern on the outside. I’m also a fan of the SNES colored letters on the buttons even though I love the SNES buttons every other territory gets on the smaller new 3DS. Another subtle refinement is the display's outer shell is flat instead of being slightly bubbled like before. Because of this I find it easier to slide in and out of my pocket than my old XL. I’m not sure if the speakers have been upgraded but they sound clearer and louder compared to the previous models. Also from what I’ve read Nintendo claims they haven’t upgraded the top display but for some reason it looks better than my previous XL’s display. This may be due to the fact that the overall picture is consistently sharper since the 3D rarely breaks because of the Super Stable 3D feature. Moving the headphone jack from the front left edge to the center is also a welcome tweak as well as the quieter display hinge. Gone are my fears of waking my lady laying next to me in bed because of he thunderous cracks from opening or closing the lid. During my playthroughs with Majora’s Mask the c-stick was responsive and got the job done without any issues. Some people are comparing it to the nub that IBM ThinkPad computers used to have, but I find it much more comfortable than that. Contrary to what others have said I feel like it was the right choice over a second circle pad as it looks like an additional full joystick would shift the X, A, B, Y buttons lower and would create an awkward reach and balance issue while holding the system.

It isn't all roses as there are a few things about the newest 3DS incarnation I don't like. Unfortunately the Super Stable 3D doesn’t do a good job of tracking my eyes while I'm laying in bed in the dark with my glasses on, but I didn’t expect it too. While I think the new finish is really nice I’m afraid that it might be easier to scratch or scuff if I drop it. If you keep the wireless off like I do you won't find a physical button/slider because the toggle now resides within a software menu a few taps away. Another annoying addition to me is the auto-brightness which can thankfully be disabled in the settings menu. I had to disable it because my 3DS would lower the brightness while I was sitting in the same area without my lighting conditions changing. My only other minor complaint is the movement of the stylus from the right side of the unit to the bottom. To me it was easier to quickly pull the stylus out from the side rather than have to fumble pulling it out from the bottom edge while playing a game.

Overall the above list of complaints are minor and the pros outweigh the cons considerably. If you haven’t taken the plunge into the 3DS family now’s the perfect time with a faster system, vastly improved 3D, and an excellent library of AAA and indie titles to play through. It’s also a hell of an improvement from the original 3DS or a 2DS. You may be wondering if it’s worth upgrading if you currently have a 3DX XL and my answer is it depends. If you primarily play games in 2D, a slower system doesn't bother you, improved c-stick and shoulder button controls don't entice you ,and you don't care that some future games will only support the new 3DS XL, then stick with your current system. For me it was money well spent after selling my original XL on eBay and I would never go back.

4.5/5 NY Strip: Great but contains some gristle that hlds it back. Not the best but still widely lovable. 

[gameandcook]

Never Alone Review

There's a heartwarming story in this frigid tale.

[gameandcook]

Xeodrifter Review

It doesn't look like the Metroid series is going to get another official entry any time soon. I say official because there are many Metroid style games out there and Xeodrifter is one of them. That's not to say it's a bad thing but I have to point out the obvious inspiration.

Xeodrifter has some clever mechanics and much like Renegade Kid's previous title Mutant Mudds it takes advantage of the 3D on Nintendo's handheld not just for the visuals but as a gameplay mechanic as well. You start out journeying through space when all of a sudden you collide with an asteroid scattering your ship's power core between four worlds. As you probably guessed it's up to you to scour every inch of each world to find all your power core pieces to head back on your way. You start out with basic movement, jumping, and shooting with no ammo limit, so feel free to shoot until your pixelated heart is content.

Four worlds doesn't sound like a lot but you'll be revisiting each one multiple times as you play. From the start of the game you can travel between all of the worlds although you won't be able to get very far. The majority of each world is locked off to you and will only open up as you gain new abilities by beating bosses. Each boss grants you a new skill like teleporting between the foreground and background and being able to turn into a submarine to explore the watery depths. You won't find much variety in the bosses you encounter since it's the same boss each time but with different abilities and attack patterns. Luckily Renegade Kid managed to switch it up just enough to make the repetitive encounters not feel dull and cheap and I found myself really wanting to beat him again and again. With each encounter the boss progressively gains more HP and forces you to use your abilities in tandem together to guarantee success which may take a few attempts. To help ease your defeat there is a checkpoint and HP replenishing system before each battle so losing doesn't mean starting the entire level over. I like the weapon upgrade system in Xeodrifter. Instead of gaining new weapons tied to one or two abilities you find upgrade units for your sole gun scattered throughout each world and you use these to upgrade five different properties whichever way you like. This style system enables you to mix and match and find a weapon style that suits you at any time. I favor spreading my upgrade units between "rapid fire" and "higher damage" but you may find a combination that works for you.

So do I think you should get this game? Sure! Especially if you're into Metroid style gameplay and if you've never played a Metroid title but want a fun action/adventure platformer you can't go wrong with Xeodrifter. The overall campaign length is on the short side, about a few hours, but there is a lot to love and a lot more hidden passages to discover and upgrade units to find and equip. You'll likely find yourself revisiting these four planets time and time again. It's a game that reminds me why I fell in love with games and that shines through in each pixel and chiptune sound effect. Xeodrifter is available for Steam and Nintendo 3DS on the eShop.

SCORE: 5/5 Well Done