Evolve - XBOX ONE - Can the big monster still pack the punch?

Online games are something I tend to stay away from. Not just because of an internet connection worse than a poverty stricken 3rd world continent but due to their lack of diversity and story. However, there are a few games that have worked solely on an online experience such as Titanfall which stands as one of the best online experiences I have had in many years and one of my favourite games to play on the Xbox One when I get bored. You also have the Plants Vs Zombies third person shooter that sits firmly as a fun and creative experience that has very little Cod or Battlefield mentality lurking among their community yet both lack a campaign to engage me into the world even more. As for Evolve, if you watched our EGX trip vlog, you may have picked up on my love and excitement for Evolve. As it stands, I got a hands on with the Kraken and whaled on the 4 hunters. Once the Big Alpha appeared, I got another chance to try all of the hunters which you can also see on the Youtube channel.

Evolve works on a 4V1 system online FPS. If players aren't found, AI's will fill in the gaps. Now 4V1 in any situation is bad, however, if that 1 is a hulking monster with an insatiable thirst for power and a passion for killing things and using your spine to scratch that spot you can't quite reach, its a heart pounding experience. From the alpha and beta demos, I experienced a good build, minor glitches at times and a few full on game breaking bugs. Its only now that we find out if Evolve and 2K studios can stand up and create a game that doesn't have its fans seething with rage.

Given some time to play around everything else, Evolve is remarkably easy to progress through. With very little time and motivation, it didn't take me long to to plough through character skills with very little progress through the levelling system. Not that the game needs a prestige system and an overdose of levels to gratify playing it for extended periods but its this length that reduces that games life with little potential for prolonged play without paid DLC. Alongside very few game modes, you get little variation to reduce modes becoming thin and rather lacklustre with little potential to move further. Considering my excitement, maybe I expected a little too much from a game that was an online exclusive like Titanfall but Titanfall came out with a lot to offer from the offset with a lot of fresh ideas. Evolve skipped that and dropped in a horde mode, right at release that with improvement, could have stood as a free inclusion to draw players back. Speaking of DLC, its seems to have taken a huge grasp in recent years and the DLC apocalypse within Evolve is just one example of why these guys need to rethink their plans. Sure, make money, that's cool by me but clasping for money from tiny extras like a weapon skin pack really isn't on in any situation. Alongside releasing 44 DLC pieces on release, being greeted by a massive day one patch that is bigger than most of the PC games I download and play and finding that the season pass doesn't give you all of the content leaves a sour taste in the mouths of those who have paid the extra.

Ignoring the blatant money grabbing and the length, Evolve can be extremely fun. As the monster is a preferred character of mine, I was going solo and that often leads to some extremely tense moments that had me shaking from adrenaline pumping through me at a rate of knots when posed against a team that are well choreographed. Its these hairy situations that make Evolve fun. The same can go for for the Hunters but often enough, you play with people who simply want to run off and kill the monster on their own and surprisingly, it is almost always the medic. Given that they are given free reign of the map, they will not partner with anyone and the lack of a medic means those who are actually in the fight are left constantly being battered. As for the support class, they fell very inefficient. Their role doesn't change the course of a game unless you are trying to run away from the monster. Back to the monster, have to look at the support you get when you start the game. You have

to choose how you want to advance from the get-go, go loud and run or stick low and not leave footprints? Its erratic when almost instantly you can be tracked because you've drawn or scared the local bird population no matter how you've started and its this that means the monsters can often be caught in a matter of minutes giving all the edge to the hunters. If the hunters are sufficient players, you won't see stage 2. If they split and go solo, you will be looking at an easy win. From here we have to talk about the match making process that comes into play. Is it fair to drop someone in as a monster with no support against a team who are far superior giving an incredibly unbalanced match? No not really. Dropped into lobbies with level 15+ while I'm only 8 was daunting enough adding that I was only a Goliath against a squad of second+ tier hunters ended with me being killed in a matter of 3 minutes flat. Apart from the obvious team balancing issues, the AI is very well programmed. Sometimes they can be a little hard but it has been calmed down since the Big Alpha which means fighting AI's isn't impossible. The creatures of the land are unforgiving and generate enough distractions that can be used tactically depending on your situation.

Finally we have the visual aspects of the game. As a next gen game, they are up to standard. I'm not in awe of the work they have done, simply as I haven't been still long enough to focus on the vegetation of the landscapes. Although there was never a scene that captured me even when I was moving about. In Dragon Age Inquisition, I was caught by the composition and lighting effects within a jail cell while Evolve was more of, "Oh, that looks cool...". Their character designs are where Evolve stands out. Although the monsters are somewhat generic, the hunters run on irony and stereotypes for certain nationalities that are rather amusing and once decked out, look pretty badass. Although a story mode might enable this guys to flourish, they are funny amoungst themselves.

If you are looking for a bit of fun, something to kill a few hours, Evolve is perfect for that. As a long term commitment, it lacks. Eventually the games multiplayer will become sparse and the newcomers later down the line will find it hard to get a decent start into the world without suffering continuous losses until they level up and gain some perks. Visually it is good, I still have sound issues that make the game sound like a robot, whether that is something to do with latency, I don't think I'll ever work it out, but my experience on other online games says otherwise. Pick it up for a little fun, make sure its price is a reasonable £20 or so to get your value for money. All in all, the game is probably a 7/10. I certainly got caught up in all the hype from EGX but the overall outcome was still good and enjoyable except from its large flaws which in some cases, put money ahead of the consumers.

Film Review: Predestination

A Man Walks Into A Bar...

Time-travel movies always seem to have a fundamental, and crucial, element of attempting to  prevent the audience from asking too many questions in regards to the sciencey-wiency, timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly (Yes, Doctor Who is amazing) stuff that happens during the course of the film. Thankfully in the case of Predestination, such a crucial element is adhered to, with it being a rather enjoyable, and slightly confusing, 90 minutes of science fiction which gripped me from start to finish.

Ethan Hawke, fresh from his role in the wonderful Boyhood, plays an un-named time agent who seeks to bring down the one target that has eluded him throughout his life, the Fizzle Bomber, yet during his undercover operation in the 1970's, he comes across the transgender John, who begins to tell the tale of his life and, most importantly, the one man that has eluded him, prompting Hawke's character to make the most of his time-travelling capabilities and help John understand the nature of his mysterious saboteur. The film has echoes of previous sci-fi films such as Looper and Jumper, yet Predestination stands strongly on its own two feet by having a brilliant script, albeit one that asks a range of questions, particularly in regards to paradoxes and fundamental time-travel problems, and some solid acting, particularly from Australian actress Sarah Snook, whose portrayal as the transgender Jane/John being a particular highlight.

Although Predestination may have slightly sunk under the UK film radar, it is definitely worth seeking out and watching, with it being the on par with the other stand out sci-fi film so far this year; Ex Machina. It is also good to hear that Sarah Snook has been recognised for her role in the film, with her winning "Best Actress" at this years' AACTA Awards and it is her performance, and the film's rather strange script that makes Predestination a reel sci-fi winner.

Overall Score: 8/10

Film Review: Coherence

A Dirty Snowball

On a week where Jupiter Ascending is the most hyped sci-fi film in cinemas, James Ward Byrkit's Coherence will no doubt be overlooked by the general public. This will be particularly due to a limited UK release, as well as a complete lack of promotion, with not even a trailer being released in any cinema that I can think of, something of which is rather rare in today's society, but also something that, in my opinion, is beneficial for both the viewer and the film itself, with a lack of hype and expectation usually resulting in a better cinematic experience. Another contrast with Jupiter Ascending is that Coherence is rather brilliant whereas, if you have read my review, Jupiter Ascending is definitely not. 

 The films' setup is very reminiscent of the brilliant You're Next, with both films beginning with a group of friends and family meeting up and then the evening suddenly going rather downhill, yet where You're Next was a slasher/horror movie, Coherence delves into the realm of sci-fi/thriller/horror, whilst having an overwhelming scent of the mind-boggling Primer residing over it. The acting is all pretty much top-notch, yet the claustrophobic feel of the film gives it a powerful holding effect, particularly in scenes where the ambiguity and creepiness is rife, yet thankfully, the ambiguity is not so full on that you lose track of what is, or might be, going on.

Overall, Coherence is a thought-provoking, clever and pretty eerie sci-fi film, whilst evoking a natural response to watch the film again as soon as possible once the credits start rolling, something of which is always a good sign. 

Overall Score: 8/10

Film Review: Jupiter Acending

The Day My Mind Stood Still

Oh Wachowski siblings. Your once promising career has all but ended thanks to this latest offering to the people of this much loved Earth. Such an unwelcome gift comes in the form of Jupiter Ascending, a film that can only be described as being this decades' Battlefield Earth, a statement that does not come lightly, whilst being a complete shame when remembering how brilliant The Matrix was when I first watched it. Now, in 2015, instead of The Matrix, we have a film with no soul, no depth, and seemingly not a care in the world, aside from one that has a massive bank note wrapped around it, with its' lead characters being almost as soul-crushingly dull as the film itself. Rant mode activated. 

I would attempt to give a brief synopsis of Jupiter Ascending, but the truth is, I really cannot be bothered. The plot is so ridiculously uninspiring and sleep-inducing that it's making me yawn even as I think about it now, whilst simultaneously making me cringe so hard, I feel like I am looking at early photos of my dress sense in the 1990's. So plot done with, what's next I hear you ask! Characters. Okay. Firstly, I have a fundamental problem with Mila Kunis as a bog cleaner. It just wouldn't happen. Also, being cursed with a name such as Jupiter Jones, surely she would have legally changed it by now? No sane human being would walk around 21st century society with a name so laughable being called Ben Dover is a step up. Unless that's the actual underlying point of the film, that she is actually so insane that she dreams of meeting a topless, roller skating, wonky eared, Channing Tatum and flying off to badly CGI'd planets, because whoever pitched the idea of Jupiter Ascending was clearly mad and needs to be heavily sedated and sectioned ASAP.

As for Channing Tatum, his reputation as a "serious actor" has been dealt a crippling blow. Why would he, after doing so well in Foxcatcher, want to be in this turkey of a movie? Surely he must have read the script? The same goes for Sean Bean, who throughout the entirety of his scenes in the film looks as bored as I did watching him, yet acting bored in a movie is better than acting as a humanised wooden plank, a feat which Ms. Kunis passes with flying colours. And now on to Eddie Redmayne. Oh Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. Your Oscar win is not as clear-cut as it might once have been. His portrayal as the villainous I-don't-care-what-his-name-is is exceedingly laughable and can only be described as the dull second-cousin of  Gary Oldman's, Zorg, in The Fifth Element. His constant need to quietly whisper instructions to badly designed flying reptile things was bad enough, but when juxtaposed with sudden belts of screaming, it was like watching my 13 year old brother having a hissy-fit after not being allowed on the PlayStation. Sorry Eddie, but you were utter pants. 

In conclusion, Jupiter Ascending, is complete tripe. The attempts at acting are terrible. The plot is ludicrous. Okay, it might look good and fancy, but fanciness cannot save Jupiter Ascending from being one of the most boring and pain-inducing sci-fi films I think I have ever sat through. I think it's time to watch The Matrix again. 

Overall Score: 3/10

Place Beyond The Pines REVIEW -SPOILERS-

Much like the last review, I shall write my current idea of the plot without digging deeper into IMDB or spoilers!

From what I can tell, the plot behind this is very similar to Drive (another Ryan Gosling film), in which he is a stunt driver who then commits crimes to get money. Very simple, yet this time, Gosling finds out he has a baby with Eva Mendes and uses the money to support her. With a few bank robberies, detective Cooper is chasing Gosling down and this is as much as I know!

It is safe to say that after watching this movie, my perception of the story was extremely far off. This film has 3 or 4 different stories which all follow neatly and compile together to become a much larger story. At the start, we find that Gosling's character (Luke) is a member of a travelling circus in which he is part of a daredevil motorcycle group that does the ring of death in the steel cage (This does help to explain all of the crazy tattoos). Upon returning to the location for the movie, Gosling meets Eva Mendes, who he had a fling with a year ago. After finding out that he knocked her up and now has a son, Luke drops out from the circus and finds himself a minimum wage job to try and provide for his family. Living below the line, he follows the advice of a new friend and uses his talent of motorcycle riding to rob banks and exit the scene quickly. This plot continues for a while until he cocks up and ends up being killed by the Avery (Bradley Cooper). So an hour in, we have lost the main character and follow the struggle that Avery goes through after suffering a gun shot wound from Luke. This section is where the story could have ended quite evenly however we continue following our next protagonist. Avery's story was plagued with troubles, even before returning to the police when he unfolds corruption and institutional racism within his force. After fighting all of this off, 15 years pass and we follow the paths of Luke's and Avery's children who become friends in high school and end up getting busted for drugs. This section of the story is where we follow the pressure from Avery's son on Luke's child (Jason), and the deeper understanding by Jason on finding out who is true father is and find out the connection between Avery and Luke.

As I stated, the story could have ended at the death of Luke, but we were kept in for much longer to see the effects this had on Avery. However, the addition of an extra story of their children made things a little difficult and I felt myself looking at my watch a few times throughout this section. For a role which demands aggression and compassion in one person is difficult to find and can be even harder to perfectly balance. Ryan Gosling's portrayal of this was very good, however his voice doesn't infuse anger. It's very squeaky and can seem comical in sections. Gosling's background in romantic movies allows him to show a compassionate side and is believable, especially when he breaks down on seeing his son being christened. Bradley Cooper is also very compelling throughout, his good cop routine and his desire to do good and better the police is admirable and he portrays Avery and the stress of a police career on his wife and family with dignity. If you haven't noticed, Ryan and Bradley are juxtaposed against each other. They are the reflection of what a father at home can do to affect the outcome of a child's life. You notice many morals and issues like this, like police bribery and stereotyping to providing for a child.

For the rest of the cast, we had a lot of B list celebs alongside some other recognisable faces but they fade into the background. The teens that appear are actors which I have never really liked and their performances made me dislike both of them. This could simply have been very good acting to be like douches, yet from what I remember from other films; they lacked much importance and integrity.

The filming and framing of this film is absolutely gorgeous. The first robbery scene and ensuing chase scene was filmed in one take in a fashion that appeared like it was either a documentary or first person. The chase filming is bouncy and shudders a lot but isn't to aggressive to make you nauseous. Upon the death of Ryan Gosling's character, we see some of the best cinematography of the whole movie. As Ryan peers out of the window, looking down on the body of Luke, we look directly up at Avery and watch his sweat drip down onto the lens of the camera with jump cuts to the body of Luke and a few frames of police running up to he body which has been rotated 90 degrees anticlockwise. This level of detail balanced with the precision of the background music builds huge amounts of tension which get your blood pumping and makes you want to scream at the screen not to do something.

At the end of the film, I felt that the movie was very good, but also a very depressing watch, which leaves you with a feeling that clings on for an hour or so after the film. With a length of 2 hours 40 minutes, it is worth the ticket price and certainly has a brilliant story to back it up. However, I wasn't sure on the genre that the movie wanted to fall into, I personally felt it was more of a thriller than a crime drama. With a brilliant soundtrack and stunning cinematography I shall give the movie an 8/10.