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Thursday, May 25, 2017
05:05 PM - May 25, 2017. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
A genre once close to drawing its last breath has enjoyed a grand resurgence over the last few years. Amazing racing titles such as F1 2016, Forza Horizon 3 and Dirt Rally have helped push console racing forward, and some would argue the genre is as strong right now as it was during the days of the PS2. To compound the rebirth, titles such as NASCAR Heat, Need for Speed, F1, Dirt, Project Cars, among others, all have sequels that will be appearing on a console in 2017. The depth and quality of some of these titles will still need to be fully absorbed before we can quantify them as excellent (or even great), but the good news is 2017 should be an exciting year for racing fans.
So let’s take a look at some of the more popular and anticipated titles coming out in 2017 and what they could bring to the table.
Read More - Rubber Meets the Road: 2017's Racing Titles
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
06:25 PM - September 21, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Pack your bags and make sure to include a lot of sunscreen because we are heading down under folks. Australia is the location for developer Playground's newest Forza title, and it’s the studio's best yet. Forza Horizon 3 is back, and it slowly rolls by its competition while taking off its sunglasses to say, “We both know I'm better than you.”
Whether blazing down a highway of Australia’s Pacific Coast, or taking on the natural elements of the Aussie Outback, FH3 puts you behind the wheel of some of the world’s most exotic and not so exotic vehicles, and every single one of them is a new adventure in waiting.
Read More - Forza Horizon 3 Review (XB1)
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
04:39 PM - September 14, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
It’s not an exaggeration to say NASCAR fans have been waiting for over a decade for the next great stock car simulation, and while patience is a virtue, it also has its limitations. So, fair or not, the amount of pressure that has been thrust upon the newest licensed NASCAR video game and its developer is already incredibly high because of the years of disappointment that fans of the sport have been forced to endure.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the developer that has taken on the somewhat monumental feat of creating the next great NASCAR game has been here before. Monster Games, the former developer of NASCAR Heat and NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona has thrown its hat into the ring again, this time with NASCAR Heat Evolution. Do they succeed in capturing the authenticity and excitement that their previous attempts did? Read on to find out.
Read More - NASCAR Heat Evolution Review
Saturday, August 20, 2016
11:43 AM - August 20, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
F1 2016 is one of the best simulation racing titles of all time. I know that’s a bold statement, but the gameplay is there to support the claim, as well as so much more. The job of simulating the sport of F1 racing for the masses is always going to be a tough one, but I firmly believe Codemasters has walked the fine line of accessibility, simulation and fun, and wrapped it all into one deep package.
While the sport is revered and beloved in other parts of the world, here in the US it is still a bit of an enigma, and while slowly gaining popularity, it has a long way to go before it matches the popularity of the American-based NASCAR series. So does that make F1 2016 a hard sell here in the US? It may for some, but those who choose to pass, they will be missing out on an exceptionally well made racing simulation that has the ability to draw in even the most casual of fan -- if given the chance.
Read More - F1 2016 Review (PS4)
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
11:47 AM - August 2, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Gone are the days when NASCAR fans had multiple choices on a console to get their fix in for their favorite sport -- this much we know. Now, because of massive licensing costs and limited return on investment, NASCAR fans have had to take what they could get over the last decade, or continue to play titles that were released years ago. What they need, and to be quite honest, deserve, is a development group and publisher that possesses the same amount of passion for the sport as they do.
A sport that claims to have over 50 million fans should not have its best-selling NASCAR licensed title selling just a mere 1.2 million copies. Based off that number, you can see why previous developers and others looking for a new IP would have some reluctance to pursue and partner with such a volatile and risky license. The question we have to ask ourselves is this: Is it the sport and license, or the effort and attention to detail from developers that has caused such stagnation in the development of NASCAR titles recently?
Read More - NASCAR Heat Evolution Preview
Thursday, April 7, 2016
03:09 PM - April 7, 2016. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Although many consider the racing genre to be a niche genre in the video game industry, it definitely has produced some incredible titles over the years. If you take that mindset one step further, then rally racing would be considered the ultimate niche sport. While not nearly as popular as some of the other circuit racers like F1 and NASCAR, rally racing’s fan base is smaller but definitely not any less loyal or supportive.
Codemasters, the developers of Dirt Rally, have often been described as a champion of dirt racing with its previous Dirt titles, and seems to have created something special again with Dirt Rally. While it may not overtake 1998’s Colin McRae Rally for some, it just might for others.
Read More - DiRT Rally Review (PS4)
Thursday, December 17, 2015
11:23 AM - December 17, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Has there been a more polarizing sports game this year than EA’s most recent basketball title? Either people have really enjoyed the game or simply hated it, but very few have fallen in the middle. When Ben Vollmer initially reviewed NBA Live 16 here at Operation Sports, he gave the title a 6.0 out of 10, meaning the game was above average but far from a classic.
Some of the game's initial downfalls were no customization, average gameplay and poor commentary. While any review is subjective and only one person’s opinion, our review fell into line with what most thought. In addition to the shortcomings listed already, the game lacked proper animations, and many of the incoming rookies and lesser known players had generic created faces.
Read More - NBA Live 16 Makes Its Move Up the Ladder
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
05:37 PM - December 16, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
When Rory McIlroy PGA Golf was released, it was met with a lot of criticism, and rightfully so. Although the gameplay was solid, once you hit the clubhouse the game felt shallow and left many feeling they had purchased an incomplete title. The career mode felt like an afterthought, and the online offerings were depleted if you compared them to previous EA golf titles.
Read More - Rory McIlroy PGA Tour: Still Thin, But Not As Bare As At Launch
Friday, December 11, 2015
11:41 AM - December 11, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
I want to talk about attributes, And the importance of what they mean in regards to EA’s Madden franchise. In years past, Madden fans wanted speed, and why? Because you can’t coach speed, and inevitably it would counterbalance the lack of skill and talent in regards to lower-rated players. Thankfully, while speed is still important in Madden 16, it’s not the only attribute that matters.
Read More - The Importance of Madden's Attributes
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
03:44 PM - November 24, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
If you’re an older gamer like myself, then you remember the reason(s) that got you into playing video games in the first place. Sure, there are a handful of auxiliary reasons, but for me it was the insane amount of fun and excitement they provided. As the gaming demographics have changed over the years, so have the expectations from the gaming community.
Now, not only do we ask the games be fun, but also incredibly realistic, both in look and play -- especially in regards to sports games. Fair or not, that’s the world each developer lives in these days, and any misstep (or four) can set your franchise back for years.
Read More - Why I Love to Play NBA Live 16
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
12:51 PM - November 11, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Most modes in the world of sports video games have seemingly gravitated towards being online, and in most cases, rightfully so. The days of getting together and playing cards until the wee hours of the morning is slowly fading away. It's now being replaced by people hanging in an online party playing games together until those same late hours. The reasons are simple, and honestly, not that hard to understand. It’s much easier for us as gamers to connect to friends that are spread across the country rather than trying to get together all in one place, at the same time.
Read More - Why I love Madden NFL 16's Connected Franchise
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
12:26 PM - November 4, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Ghost Games, developers of NFS: Rivals, is back at it with a suedo-reboot of the popular EA franchise, Need for Speed. While it may be considered a reboot, traces of familiarity are prevalent throughout the new title, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it only works if incorporated correctly. As with most NFS games its fan base is looking for fast cars, customization, top-end speed and mayhem on the highway, but does the new offering from Ghost Games deliver what fans have been asking for?
Read More - Need for Speed Review (PS4/XB1)
Monday, November 2, 2015
11:27 AM - November 2, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Some may feel that the single-player experience is all but dead in the sports video game genre, and if you’re being honest with yourself, there is actually a decent argument to support that narrative. For myself though, I feel like the single-player landscape is not vanishing, but merely evolving with the times. Proof of that can be found in the popularity of the of the Be A Pro, MyPlayer and Road to the Show modes that allow the user to create a player, and play only as that individual through all of his or her career.
EA’s NBA Live franchise offers just such a mode, and while not nearly as robust and fun as some of the other offerings out there, it still provides some interesting moments. With that in mind, I wanted to take a look at areas Rising Star gets right and wrong
Read More - NBA Live 16: The Highs and Lows of Rising Star Mode
Monday, October 26, 2015
01:45 PM - October 26, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
Unless you haven’t picked up a recent copy of Madden Football, then you are well aware that EA has combined all of their “career” modes into one package under one heading titled Connected Franchise. You can choose to be an owner, a coach, or a player, and while each option is similar, each choice brings its own set of goals and choices. For now though, I want to focus purely on the single player’s career mode option. With the selection of this option, it allows the user to create an individual or pick an existing player, and play out a full 15 years of your career. While this mode should be full of opportunities to live the hectic and exciting life of an NFL player, it fails miserably in almost every way possible at doing so. I want to take a look at five different areas within the player career mode in which the Madden developers could add some much needed depth and realism, and give users a reason to actually explore this mode.
Read More - Madden: How To Bring Superstar Mode Back
Monday, October 19, 2015
12:36 PM - October 19, 2015. Posted by RaychelSnr. Written by Robert Kollars
If you’re a fan of Madden's franchise mode, then more than likely you have a list of items you would like to see added or tweaked -- most of us do. That list of items will obviously differ and vary widely depending on whom you ask because we all have different perspectives, likes and wants when it comes to our gaming utopia. For myself though, I have a pretty specific set of changes and additions that I feel would dramatically expand the Madden CFM experience, and add much needed depth and longevity.
Read More - Five New Additions For Madden NFL's Franchise Mode We'd Like to See
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