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Thursday, August 4, 2016
10:53 AM - August 4, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
Like many of you, I've been delving extensively into the NHL 17 beta over the past couple days. Amidst the excitement of the brand-new EASHL customization features and Ultimate Team Synergy system, online versus has gone relatively untouched. Let's be honest: It didn't need a whole lot of work. Nevertheless, there's also plenty to talk about from an on-ice perspective, so let's pick out some highlights.
Read More - NHL 17 Beta: Online Versus and Gameplay Impressions
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
09:40 AM - July 27, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
I’ve never been opposed to the idea of Ultimate Team. In my mind, it’s an engaging mode that I’m more than happy to spend time with, even if I don’t take it as seriously as some fans do. That said, obtaining the "best" players never appealed. I'm more invested in lower league soccer, where the quality isn’t quite as good, but there’s still a lot of heart, determination and aspirations of glory.
So, when Iceland did the unthinkable and eliminated my home country from Euro 2016 this summer, I didn’t know how to feel. Naturally, I was disappointed in my team’s efforts, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of immense joy for those Icelandic underdogs. During one particular moment of madness, I booted up FIFA 16, quick-sold ALL of my Ultimate Team players, and replaced them with Icelandic hopefuls. Yep, I’m insane.
I had a goal in mind: destroy the vastly superior online competition. So, I enlisted in the "Champions Shield" -- an online knockout competition in which I could put my team to the test. Initially, I struggled. However, it wasn't long before my fortunes changed and success was in the cards.
Read More - How To Guide An Icelandic Ultimate Team To Glory In FIFA 16
Read More - How To Guide An Icelandic Ultimate Team To Glory In FIFA 16
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Videoball is truly unique, and you wouldn't be blamed for failing to grasp the idea after laying eyes on it for the first time. However, the control scheme is ingeniously basic, meaning anyone can pick up a controller and get involved.
The objective is simple: send balls into the opponent’s goal. This is achieved by maneuvering your player with the analog stick, while any other button on the controller allows you to unleash mini-triangle attacks. If a triangle comes into contact with the ball, the ball will move. It might not sound like it, but there’s a lot of depth to this system. You can hold the button longer to unleash more powerful triangular strikes, or set up blocks in front of your goal. You can also attack other players and unleash deadly rebounds all with the same button.
Read More - VideoBall Review (PC)
Friday, July 8, 2016
02:12 PM - July 8, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
I don't know about you, but I love the post-E3 phase leading up to the release of a future sports title. After waiting for the smallest bit of information, we're swamped with details that we analyze extensively over the following months. Interviews, pre-order bonuses and betas all contribute to the ever-rising levels of anticipation before the finished product finally arrives in our hands, and hopefully, it lives up to the hype. Yeah, it's all an elaborate marketing technique, but it's a lot of fun all the same.
The frustrating part about a situation like this is not being able to get hands-on for ourselves, and that's why many of us channel that anticipation into something creative. When it comes to the NHL series, everyone has an opinion. Our NHL 17 wishlist articles and forum entries have been swamped with comments about what you'd like to see in this year's iteration, and the same thing happens on a yearly basis. Usually, these ideas are formed based on inaccuracies in the previous title's gameplay and game modes. There's a group of people who request the same things year-on-year, though, and the All-Star Weekend often falls into that category.
Read More - Will We Ever See All-Star Weekend in EA Sports NHL?
Friday, July 1, 2016
11:18 AM - July 1, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
The hype train for 2K Games' WWE 2K17 got underway after Monday's announcement that 'The Beast Incarnate' Brock Lesnar would be gracing the cover of this year's game. As an added bonus, we were also presented with an October 11 release date on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
So, as we look forward to the release of the game later this year, it's time to start questioning how it might improve upon last year's effort. At a guess, we might be treated to further expansion of the game's substantial roster and suite of creative tools. The series' recent transition to more of an ultra-realistic representation of the action inside the squared-circle will surely evolve for the third year running, too. All of that is good stuff, and it would be enough to convince the hardcore fans like me to invest for another year. That said, if 2K wants to generate an even bigger user base for the series, it needs to work on captivating those current non-believers.
Read More - Unlocking WWE 2K's Online Potential May Be the Key to Its Long Term Success
Thursday, June 23, 2016
01:02 PM - June 23, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
E3 2016 is over, and what a hectic week it was. For those of us who eat, sleep and breathe soccer, we were treated to all sorts of entertainment. Euro 2016 and Copa América continued to provide plenty of memorable moments, and a whole host of new info was unveiled for this year's FIFA and PES releases. I love this time of year
We already knew some information about PES 2017 before E3 rolled around due to an announcement back on May 25. It was via this announcement that we were informed of a number of gameplay changes that we'd be seeing this year, including Adaptive AI, Real Touch and Precise Pass features. Shortly after, the first hands-on previews started to surface, and the majority of feedback was very positive. Not a bad start.
Read More - PES 2017: What Do We Know About the Game After E3?
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
10:26 AM - June 7, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
Despite all that goodness, there hasn't been enough variety for us sports gamers at E3 in recent years. We'd all love to see a major company come out with a brand-new (or revitalized) sports series, so here are a few things for the wishlist heading into this year's show.
Read More - Five Game Announcements We'd Love to See At E3 2016...
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
02:14 PM - May 24, 2016. Posted by Steve_OS. Written by Fraser Gilbert
For the past few months, I’ve been playing Rocket League on an almost exclusively 1v1 basis. It isn’t something that many other players choose to do, and most would argue the game isn’t meant to be played that way. I agree with that sentiment to an extent, but there’s a certain quality to duel competition, and I’ve enjoyed my time with it so far.
Despite my fairly extensive experience with Rocket League in the past, I was awful at 1v1 gameplay in the initial stages. A lot of the skills you pick up in multiplayer competition don’t translate all that well to the 1v1 game, and you need to adapt the rest of your skill set to suit the situation. Due to the nature of it, everything you do in 1v1 has potentially severe consequences if you make a mistake. As a result, skill and finesse arguably shine through even more than usual.
Read More - One on One Rocket League Is A Whole Different Ball Game (Written by: Fraser Gilbert)
Monday, May 16, 2016
09:51 AM - May 16, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
Right around 2010, EA Sports’ FIFA series finally began to gain steam after years of, what some might call, mediocrity. It was during this time EA stumbled upon a gold mine of a feature. It was implemented as a simple add-on midway through the lifespan of FIFA 09, and it transformed the way we would consume sports games in the years to come. That add-on was, of course, Ultimate Team.
It has since been incorporated into most of EA Sports’ properties, generating vast profits for the company in the process. The FIFA series is where it all began, and where it arguably still thrives the most. There’s a vast number of players who buy FIFA on a yearly basis and play nothing but Ultimate Team, spending countless sums of money or in-game cash to acquire the best players.
Yet, as engulfing and addictive an experience as Ultimate Team continues to be, the mode could benefit from improvements. People will continue to spend big money and devote themselves to the mode regardless, but minor changes could make it even more intriguing for those who don't currently believe the hype.
Read More - FIFA Ultimate Team: How to Make a Great Mode Even Better
Monday, May 2, 2016
10:53 AM - May 2, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
EA recently treated us to our first look at NHL 17 with the unveiling of a brand-new “Vision” trailer. Throughout the course of the video, numerous new features were hinted at, such as a World Cup Of Hockey mode and seemingly major improvements to Be A GM mode.
We’re going to have to wait a little longer to see what EA has in store for us, but in the meantime, I've drawn up a wishlist of the some of the most commonly requested features ahead of the game's release later this year.
Read More - NHL 17 Wishlist: Features We'd Love to See
Monday, March 28, 2016
11:34 AM - March 28, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
R.B.I. Baseball 16.
It has been over two years since the Xbox One first hit the market, and the console has sported a disappointingly low number of baseball games in that time.
In fact, there has only been two notable series to mention so far. Firstly, the resurgence of RBI Baseball has been in effect for almost three years now, offering a casual take on the sport with real MLB licensing. Unfortunately, it has been met with a mediocre reception throughout the majority of its lifespan. The third iteration is set to release on March 29, and MLB's Advanced Media division will be hopeful it fares better this time around.
Read More - Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One
Monday, March 14, 2016
02:51 PM - March 14, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
Almost twenty years ago, I was introduced to the sport of hockey after my father received a copy of NHL 98 as a gift. We installed it on our PC and were presented with the classic EA SPORTS slogan as the game booted up.
Suddenly, the opening video kicked into gear. As a low-pitched voice-over engulfed the speakers, questioning whether I was “afraid of the masked man”, the sport of hockey launched into my life with a two-minute long compilation of some of the preceding years' NHL season highlights. The heavy soundtrack and skillfully edited video imprinted itself on my mind instantly. A similar thing happened with numerous EA SPORTS titles from that time period. Since then, I've had a particular appreciation for these introductory packages.
Read More - Whatever Happened to the Sports Game Intro Video?
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
11:55 AM - March 8, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
There are 25 different formations to choose from in FIFA 16 Ultimate Team. While your skill with a controller and the quality of players on your team will largely determine your success, picking the right formation could ultimately be the difference between winning and losing.
Before We Begin
I've had my fair share of Division 1 titles over the years, and I've never used more than one or two formations on a regular basis to get them. The most important aspect of picking a formation is choosing one that complements your overall play style. Once you've figured this out, combining it with tactic and mentality commands can also prove beneficial, and I’ll list some examples of this as we go along.
Another key factor is understanding when to change your formation on the fly. If the opposition is overwhelming you with attacking flair, you could switch to a defensive strategy and work the counter-attack. Alternatively, if they’re finding too much success down the wings, try altering your setup by bringing in some wing backs to cover those areas. When you're struggling to gain the upper hand, it's all about spotting the danger signs and implementing an effective strategy to counteract any weaknesses.
So, on to the list. We’ll start with some of the most basic formations and go from there.
Red More - FIFA 16 Ultimate Team: All 25 Formations (A Guide)
Friday, February 26, 2016
10:01 AM - February 26, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
I have a confession: I’m not a Madden "noob" in the purest sense of the term. Actually, I’ve been dipping in and out of this series since '99, but I never really took the time to learn the game -- or even the sport -- aside from its fundamentals.
I’m a UK citizen, so I naturally gravitated towards sports such as soccer throughout my childhood. In recent years, I’ve had a renewed interest in American football, a sport that continues to rise in popularity throughout this part of the world.
With the advent of new subscription-based services such as EA Access, I'm now able to get my hands on the latest incarnation of EA’s long-running series without dropping full price on it. So, as someone who is far from a skilled Madden player, here’s my perspective on a game I know very little about.
Read More - Madden NFL 16: A Noob's Perspective
Thursday, February 18, 2016
10:39 AM - February 18, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Fraser Gilbert
Managing your lines effectively is something that's often overlooked by some of the more casual NHL gamers out there, but it can be the difference between a win and a loss against skilled opposition. It also helps to go through your team strategy options before you dive into some of the more advanced tactics in this game, but that’s a topic for another day. For now, here are some entry-level ways you can improve your line management in NHL 16.
Read More - Managing Lines in NHL 16
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