Sharpen your sword as we take a look into the 2018 release from WarpFrog, Blade and Sorcery. This VR title moves to combine sword combat with magic and more, now as the game has reached its full-release stage. A title for almost every VR gamer to enjoy or at least peer into, Blade and Sorcery encourages its players to modify the game as they see fit, changing the environments from a Mediaeval sword fighting game to much more with mods that include Star Wars, Anime, even going as far as to introduce modern day weaponry such as firearms.

Story and Environment

As of the 1.0 update of June 2024 (for PC), the game mode “Crystal Hunt” has been released. This mode follows a new inclusion of lore, bringing in new factions to the game who will combat the lone player in their quest to unlock the world’s secrets, acquire new skills, abilities, weapons, and armour along their run of Crystal Hunt. From shirtless and armorless enemies from the Wildfolk, to the mysterious cult called “The Eye”, the experience will continue to change as the player progresses through the story including the difficulty. This even includes the use of boss battles.

Along with the new update, new environments have been added to the player experience. As the dungeons are set in a seed system, players will almost always get a different labyrinth and experience when attacking a faction outpost.

Gameplay

Players are allowed to choose between a plethora of different ways to play and progress through their story or fight in the limitless sandbox mode. Blade and Sorcery centres itself around a gorey and bloody combat system, making the game an advisory against younger audiences as dismemberment and extensive violence resides in this title.

The choice of weapons are nearly limitless including the encouraged process of modding the game through Modio or Nexus Mods. From bows, spears, shields, swords, daggers, and magic, it is truly up to the player’s imagination on choosing their way of progression through their playthrough.

Sandbox

The base and once-only game mode of Blade and Sorcery is the Sandbox mode. This mode includes the player’s choice of maps, weapons, gear, and abilities without the need of level progression or experiencing the story. Players can still experience Outpost missions and boss battles within Sandbox mode, even allowing the use of cheats to the player’s content such as godmode, no fall damage, or infinite mana.

Mods

With the vast selection of Mods and the highly inclusive and engaging modding community of Blade and Sorcery, the sky's the limit in terms of experiences. Blade and Sorcery encourages the player to mod the game, adding iconic weapons such as blasters and lightsabers from star wars, weapons from history such as katanas, wild west revolvers, or even modern-era firearms. There are even inclusions of mods that implement weapons, armour, and enemies from the Halo franchise, allowing the choice of jumping into the boots of a Spartan or Marine.

Mods include others as well that are passive, such as increased gore mods, AI improvement mods, or immersive overhaul mods that can make the game more challenging for the player experience.

Players can also implement custom maps, many of which can be directly from familiar environments or completely different yet impressive locations such as cyberpunk-esque cities and movie locations.

Summary

Blade and Sorcery is a very immersive game that most would describe as an essential experience for any mature Virtual Reality gamer. The gameplay is almost never-ending with the use of mods. As versatile as Blade and Sorcery is, it’s not without its own real-world limitations such as processing power. But, on a vanilla playthrough, the game feels immersive, delivering more to the player in terms of lore, combat, and diversity. Truly, as a VR game, Blade and Sorcery is by far one of the best VR fighting games on the market today.

Pros

• Quality immersive experience

• Modding support directly in-game and easy modding capabilities via Nexus mods

• Diverse way to play to fit the styles of all players

Cons

• Requires a decent computer to run base game with mods

• Can be repetitive in some aspects, meaning more reliance on mods

• The 1.0 Release update for Crystal hunt was not without its faults, having broken the already-limited enemy AI for a short term 

KGK Dragon’s Reviews:

Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja STORM, the 2023 release from CyberConnect2, BNE LLC, and Namco Bandai Games America Inc. Jump into the 19th installment of the “Naruto: Ultimate Ninja” fighting game series and play as a multitude of different ninja. From fan favorites like the 7th Hokage, Naruto Uzamaki himself, to others such as the notorious Madara Uchiha. Select from a vast collection of costumes for each character that mark specific eras of your choosing. From Naruto’s original attire from “Naruto Shippuden” to his 7th Hokage attire as seen in “Boruto: Next Generation.” Revisit many memorable places in the form of fighting stages such as the different Chunin Exam locations or even Orochimaru’s hideout. For any fan of Naruto, this multi-platformed fighting game is worth a look.

Take initiative and play through Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja STORM Connections’ story mode and even partake in memorable battles as seen in the series. Fight as Naruto Uzamaki and Sasuke Uchiha and take on Obito Uchiha in an effort to halt Madara Uchiha’s ultimate plan or take a dive into the early stages of the series as Naruto and Sakura as they square off against Kakashi. Utilize your chakra and perform familiar jutsu, ninja items such as the kunai, or attack using a character’s unique attack animations.

But with another note, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja STORM Connections has been acclaimed by many to be a “filler game” after the 2014 fan favorite “Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4.” Some have even gone as far as to call the game a “glorified DLC” in comparison to its previous predecessor within the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja STORM series, highlighting the changes to gameplay mechanics and “dumbed down” controls for a much faster pace match. Many have also pointed out the lack of control in terms of defense, players often complaining about the easily combo hitlock mechanic.While the game has received quite the mixed set of reviews, maintaining a whopping 51% on steam reception. 

Summary: Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja STORM Connections, brings back a vast array of familiar characters from the Naruto universe and fight in even more familiar locations. While holding its own criticisms, shows itself as a well-rounded installment to the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series with a new-player friendly control scheme for the average casual gamer and Naruto fan. 

Pros:

• Over 100+ characters to choose from

• Easy to use controls

• New player friendly mechanics

Cons:

• Lacking in Story Mode content in comparison to Ultimate Ninja predecessor games

• Very negative receptions to the game from returning Ultimate Ninja series gamers

• History battles and Story battles seem rushed

Warhammer fans are buzzing with excitement and controversy over a revelation that's shaking up the lore of the game. In the latest edition of Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop, the creators of Warhammer, dropped a bombshell: the Adeptus Custodes, those legendary warriors sworn to protect the Imperium, aren't just a boys' club after all. Nope, turns out they've got women fighting alongside the men.

The news hit social media like a warp storm, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where fans are split down the middle. On one side, you've got folks cheering for the inclusion of female Custodians, thrilled to see more diversity in their favorite game. On the other side, there are those who are flipping out, accusing Games Workshop of bowing to "woke" culture and ruining the game's lore.

But let's dig deeper into the drama. Some fans are pointing fingers, saying this move breaks the established canon of Warhammer. They argue that for decades, it's been crystal clear that the Custodes were all male. Now, with this bombshell revelation, it feels like the whole universe is being rewritten.

On the flip side, there are voices saying, "Chill out, it's just a game." They argue that adding female Custodians doesn't mess with the existing story lines or ruin anyone's fun. Plus, they say, it's about time Warhammer caught up with the times and embraced inclusivity.

Underneath all the arguments, though, there's this nagging feeling that some fans just don't want women in their clubhouse. It's like they're putting up a big "No Girls Allowed" sign on the gates of the Imperium.

So, what's the big deal, anyway? Well, beyond the world of Warhammer, this debate touches on bigger issues in the gaming community. It's about representation, inclusivity, and who gets to decide what's "canon" in our favorite fantasy worlds.

As the dust settles on this controversy, one thing's for sure: Warhammer fans won't be putting down their swords anytime soon. Whether you're Team Inclusivity or Team Lore Purist, one thing's certain – the battle for the soul of Warhammer is far from over.

As players dive into the action-packed chaos of Black Ops 6, Activision has been busy fine-tuning weapons, perks, and scorestreaks in response to player feedback. Recent updates bring significant changes to popular weapons, perks, and gameplay mechanics:

Weapon Adjustments

• Assault Rifles (ARs):

  • XM4: Range increased (0-7m to 0-16.5m) but slight damage decrease (22 to 21).

  • AK-74: Range dramatically extended (0-5.7m to 0-38.1m) with minor damage reduction.

  • AMES 85 & Model L: Both ARs now reach targets at over 50 meters for expanded versatility, with Model L maxing out at 44.5m.

  • Headshot Multipliers: Reduced for close-range AR balance.

• Submachine Guns (SMGs):

  • C9 & KSV: Ranges slightly boosted, improving mid-range power.

  • Jackal PDW & Kompakt 92: Enhanced for medium-range battles, making them more competitive.

  
  

• Shotguns:

  • Marine SP & ASG-89: Max damage reduced from 106 to 92, curbing the power of one-shot slugs.

Equipment and Combat Specialities

• Nuketown 24/7 is now live, catering to fan-favorite chaos.

• Flashbangs: Effect duration reduced by 20%, making blind attacks riskier.

• XP Gains: Removed from Decoys to limit easy points farming.

• Recon Specialty: Previously allowing players to see through walls after respawn, has been nerfed. Enemy visibility reduced from 2 seconds to 1.5 seconds, with another adjustment expected before Season One on November 14.

• Dispatcher Perk: Calling in non-lethal scorestreaks now costs more, with the UAV cost increased from 500 to 550 and Counter UAV from 550 to 600.

Scorestreak Adjustments

• UAVs and Counter UAVs: Buffed health for longer-lasting impact.

• Napalm Strike & Strategic Bomber: Explosion radius and fly-in speed increased for more intense results.

• Interceptors: Core cost lowered from 1,250 to 1,150, making it easier to deploy.

Bug Fixes and Gameplay Enhancements

• Spawn Protection: New sessions now begin in spectator mode, giving you time to choose your loadout.

• Map Exploits: Glitches on Babylon, Red Card, and Lowtown have been patched, preventing players from exploiting out-of-bounds areas.

• XP and Weapon XP Boosts: Earn rates increased across several multiplayer modes, letting players level up and customize faster.

These tweaks bring more balance, strategy, and fairness to Black Ops 6. Have a favorite or least favorite change? Let us know in the comments! Keep an eye out for further updates as Season One launches on November 14!

#BlackOps6 #CODUpdates #GamingNews #KGK #KustomGaming #CODCommunity #PatchNotes #SeasonOne

#BlackOps6 #CODUpdates #GamingNews #KGK #KustomGaming #CODCommunity #PatchNotes #SeasonOne

The world within “The Walking Dead” franchise holds many stories. From Rick Grimes to Clementine to Lee, there are others that exist, such as “The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners.” a 2020 Skydance Interactive and Skybound Entertainment release. Playable exclusively in VR, see firsthand the world where the dead roam the earth and the living trudge their way through the undead world just to survive… “Fight the dead. Fear the living.

Story and Environment

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners follows the story of the unnamed player character who simply goes by the title of “The Tourist.” The difference of the Tourist being Masculine or Feminine is up to the player, relaying the implication of allowing players to integrate themselves into the shoes of the Tourist. Travelling into the overrun and flooded city of New Orleans, Louisiana, the player must locate “The Reserve.” A military bunker full of supplies, weapons, and medicine that would surely give an edge to the player in times of the apocalypse. Travel amongst 9 different locations, scavenging, looting, sneaking, and fighting in places across New Orleans, while not completely accurate, are depictions of real world locations.

The player may make decisions that pertain to how the story unfolds as they go, such as choosing which characters live or die. To add to the already harrowing hostile environment, the game follows a time and day-based system where time management is crucial. As each day passes, supplies and survivors dwindle, but the number of dead increases. Upon sundown, players may experience the “Tower bell” that chimes, drawing the dead in multiple numbers if the player fails to leave before nightfall. This either forces the player to manoeuvre their way to the exfil boat, or stay and fight the hordes to their content.

Although, it should be mentioned that after both, the story, and the “Aftershock” content is completed, the game leaves a large void of direction other than simply looting buildings that the player would have already looted, shooting hostile human NPCs, or fending off the undead.

Gameplay

The overall feel of The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners really immerses the player, giving them a multitude of factors to consider when surviving. Hunger, thirst, health, and stamina play a vital role in maintaining one’s odds of surviving an expedition. Food and drinks found whilst on an outing retain a “dirty” debuff, making the player “sick” by decreasing the health bar. It isn’t until the player uses medicine that returns the health bar back to its natural state. Weapons, including firearms and two handed melee weapons, have a simulated weight, making them feel clunky and heavy. This is extremely evident when the player attempts to use a firearm, simulating the “tourist’s” inexperience of handling one. 

The combat in The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is definitely noteworthy. Gunfights draw zombies, essentially creating a three-way, sometimes four-way, battle between the living and dead. Weapons each have a durability metre, making the implication of choosing one’s battles all the more crucial. Ammo is limited, the dead are vast in number, and most good weapons and gear are tucked away and safeguarded by rivalling humans. Another thing of note is the stamina mechanic. While a player might have all the strength in the world to fight to their heart’s content, the game invokes a stamina metre, limiting the player’s abilities of combat and movement.

Visuals, Graphics, & Immersion

Running off of Unreal Engine 4, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners delivers a great experience in Virtual Reality. The already haunted setting of New Orleans pushes an even more dreadfully spooky environment by invoking overwhelming darkness, zombies that can seemingly appear out of nowhere, and even more dangerous locations such as claustrophobic schools or houses that have long since been abandoned that now remain infested. In many cases, the player will be forced to use a flashlight that must remain tended to. To keep the player on their toes, the developers implemented a timer system on the flashlight which requires the player to grab and shake the device to keep it activated for long periods of time. While the zombies have been masterfully done, humans can seem very “dumb” or unresponsive to situations. This can break immersion regularly as in many cases, entire groups of humans can be overrun by a measly one to two walkers. But beyond that, other immersive aspects include the use of zombie camouflage, lower quality firearms jamming often, and the even the simplicity of applying bandages by having the player manually wrap it around their arm.

Summary

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is quite possibly one of the best VR zombie survival games to this day. With well-rounded mechanics that simulate the stressful and difficult nature of surviving in post-apocalyptic New Orleans. Not for the faint of heart, Saints and Sinners is, within itself, a good zombie survival title, even for those who do not take interest in the story of “The Walking Dead.” While post-main story and Aftershock content, the game may seem repetitive, it does not lack in terms of immersion, even going as far as catching even the most experienced of survivalists off guard at times.

Pros

• 10-20 hours worth of content to explore and enjoy

• Multiple choice route for the main story, each with different outcomes that may affect the player positively or negatively

• Immersive and spooky environment with well done mechanics and controls

• A better title than the sequel by leagues

Cons

• Post-Story and Aftershock content makes the game lacklustre 

• Human NPCs can mostly feel inhuman with their actions and reactions to situations which can sometimes break immersion

• While gunplay can be immersive due to weight, it can, at times, seem to be too much, making weapons seem heavier than they should