Don't Revive Your Friends

Dead Island 2, the HIGHLY anticipated sequel to the popular open-world zombie survival game series, has finally arrived. I was one of the few who actually liked the first game. So naturally, I couldn't wait to dive into zombie-infested California.. However, after spending several hours (about 10-15 at the time of this writing) with the game, I have mixed feelings about it. So hey. A positive. The graphics and overall visual design of Dead Island 2 are impressive. This game looks AWESOME. I have been playing on PS5 and have said "whoa" many times thus far. Great character models, creepy skin-tearing effects, and lush landscapes, the visuals are great. Detail is in almost every place you look. From hitting enemies in specific spots and watching that area degrade or rip off is stunning to watch. Of course, since it is detail oriented, you will notice things that are repeated throughout the game. There is a certain DVD series and photos in frames that pop up in many houses. T...

Virtual Reality (VR) has been a buzzword (bzzzzz) for quite some time now, promising to revolutionize how we experience and interact with technology. With the growing availability of affordable VR (sort of) headsets and advancements in VR technology, many enthusiasts and industry experts have painted a rosy picture of a future where VR dominates various aspects of our lives. However, despite the hype, there are reasons to be skeptical about the future of virtual reality. I'm not just looking at you, Horizon Call of the Mountain. One of the main concerns with VR is its adoption rater (the number of people snagging these things up). While VR has gained some traction in the gaming and entertainment industries as of late with the likes of Beat Saber and VR Chat, it has yet to become mainstream. The cost of entry for high-quality VR experiences, including the price of VR headsets and compatible hardware, remains a barrier for many consumers. The PSVR2 is $549.99 for example. Additionall...

As a lifelong fan of the Harry Potter books, I was thrilled to dive into the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy on my Xbox Series S, and boy, did it deliver! This game truly captures the essence of the books I read as a kid and offers an immersive and enchanting experience that left me spellbound. And yes, there will be a few of those "magic" puns in this short review. One of the first things that struck me was the colorful graphics! Everything looked pretty darn good on my Xbox Series S. Even though this is less powerful than the X or the Playstation 5, the detailed and intricately designed environments of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were brought to life with breathtaking visuals and vibrant colors. From the corridors of Hogwarts Castle to the hidden passages and secret rooms, every nook and cranny was filled with magic and wonder. There were times when stuttering framerates or some weird pop-in did happen but it wasn't super glaring enough to be a nuisanc...

When Outriders was first announced back in 2019 I was skeptical. That is how I am with most games that are announced nowadays but still. The reasoning here was because it looked awesome. Whenever something in the video game space LOOKS awesome, watch out. **cough cough ANTHEM** Once the game finally came out in 2021, I took my chances. What is $60 to most humans anyway? Chump change?............... Going into the game with trained minimal expectations I was shocked. This game is FUN. Yep. Fun. I have a love in my heart for looter shooters (Borderlands, Destiny, etc) and Outriders delivers that love right back to me. "Go here, shoot these baddies, and then go here and shoot THESE baddies and then shoot this boss" is the formula and it feels great. Now Outriders does mix it up with its awesome skill and ability progression. You can choose between 4 classes that each offer their own gameplay styles and options. They range in style from your typical Tank class to your Assassin an...

HANGTIME'S PICKS When coming up with this list I asked myself a pretty simple question. Out of all the games I’ve ever played, which games could I pick up today and have the most fun with? There are some amazing single player games that I have played over the years that have memorable stories, great gameplay and immersive world building. However, at the end of the day I play video games to have fun. There are definitely objectively better games I’ve played that are not on this list, but these are games that I still would pick and play today and have a blast. Let’s take a look at my favorite games of all time! NBA Hangtime If you couldn’t tell by name, I love this game. One of the biggest reasons why I love this game is due its timeless gameplay. NBA Hangtime stays true to the NBA Jam formula. It’s fast paced, over the top, 2 v 2 basketball, with high flying dunks, flagrant fouls, and lights out shooting. Not only did this game get me into the sport of Basketball, it was one of the ...

In the last two years I’ve gained 40 lbs. You know what, I'm going to blame it on my relocation to the Midwest. During the winter it's cold and you've got that wind chill that makes your bones shake. When it is that cold, all you want to eat! Plus, when you’ve got Butterburgers, Italian Beef and Deep Dish Pizza within a 5 mile radius can you blame me for putting on the weight? You know what’s even better than Midwest fast food chains though? Half Price Books. They’ve got well... books of course. But, there’s also vinyl, CDs, DVDs and video games. If you’re lucky you can find some cool games. Recently, I've picked up Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for Wii and Street Fighter Alpha 3 for PSP. I really wanted to pick up Persona 4 Golden for Vita but there is no way I'm paying two hundred fifty bucks. Sometimes the prices are absurd, but it's still fun to stop by Half Price every so often to check out the games section.  Where I grew up, the only places where we cou...