Guncraft review: more like Guncrap

Guncraft is a bit of a mess. It's not at all original--though, probably the best unoriginal mashing of Call of Duty and Minecraft--and bugs out on a regular basis--every server will disappear without warning, with no idea when they will return--and most matches suffer from lag at some point. On top of all that, the game just isn't particularly fun and, once you get past all the issues, that's all that matters.

Take Minecraft, add guns and competitive multiplayer and you have Guncraft. As stated previously, it's not an original idea, but Guncraft takes much more advantages from its Minecraft inspiration than other similar games--like Ace of Spades--with a lot of customizable options--such as map building and even weapon building. But there's a problem: there are no tutorials or guides of any sense. Want to build a gun? Go right ahead, but the game won't give you any tips; all you get is a warning that you'll be banned if you don't follow a list of rules before submitting designs for approval. It's nice that the options are there, but without any guidance, all the weight is placed upon your shoulders to get invested in it.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #035: The Music of Liam Campbell

This here episode goes out to my brother because this here day is his birthday. He's a great musician and I think y'all should give him a listen. If you like what you hear, links to his music and all that jazz can be found below. Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #034: What's the Point of the Xbox One Anymore?

This here episode is a shorty and mostly about the latest switcheroo pulled by Microsoft--a.k.a., the Xbox One no longer requiring Kinect. I also take the time to thank and threaten boothdom for his generousity. Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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Charlie Murder review: it's a lot of fun murdering with Charlie

Charlie Murder is a beat 'em up in the same vein as River City Ransom and, more recently, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, mixed with RPG elements, from Ska Studios--the studio behind such games as I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1 and both Dishwasher games. It's important to know the studio behind Charlie Murder and their past games because their stamp is all over Charlie Murder and if you didn't like any of Ska Studios's past games--specifically because of the art and music--you probably won't be interested in Charlie Murder. All that said, Charlie Murder is a very fun game and, in many ways, the best game Ska Studios had ever made.

You start off the game in hell, fighting demon after demon as one of five characters who all have distinct powers but play quite similar to one another on a base level. There's a reason you're in hell, but that doesn't come up until later in the game and, what really surprised me most about Charlie Murder, was just how good the story was; I can't remember a single thing about any of Ska Studios' past games's stories, but Charlie Murder has a very well-implemented story about friendship, betrayal, and revenge, told through short, occasional flashbacks. The story is never shoved in your face and it's easy to gloss over, but if you pay attention, you'll be rewarded with a story that isn't just a bunch of nonsense thrown together out of a feeling of necessity. I also liked that Charlie, the character, is not painted as the good guy even though he's one of the characters you can play as and, you know, in the game's title.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #033: Charlie Can Murder Me Any Day of the Week

This here episode is pretty much all about Charlie Murder, a great little brawler coming out later this week as part of XBLA's Summer of Arcade; though, I somehow couldn't stop myself from talking about Dragon's Crown again (and Ibb and Obb too). Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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Ibb and Obb review: great with friends, not so great without

Ibb and Obb is an interesting and clever puzzle-platformer; it also sucks if you want to play it by yourself. Ibb and Obb was designed with cooperative play in mind and, while you can play the entire game solo, doing so will leave you bald after you rip out every strand of hair due to frustration--it's not too difficult controlling both characters at the start, but the difficulty ramps up real fast and, unless you're a masochist or have magical fingers, I don't recommend trying to play Ibb and Obb solo for more than just the first few levels.

So, yeah, Ibb and Obb may suck at single-player, but it is great at co-op and demands both players work together in a way that makes solving puzzles rewarding for both people involved. Both characters are always on screen--guess their names--and can maneuver between two parts of the world where gravity is reversed. Puzzles start off simple--one player jumps on the other and then both jump so one player can reach high places--and then get complicated soon after--you'll find yourself dropping from great heights, propelling each other through portals, interacting with the environment and performing acts of precision that may just leave you saying, "I can't believe we just did that." There's a great feeling that comes with figuring out a puzzle and executing the solution--Ibb and Obb reminds me a lot of Portal 2's co-op, which is a good thing because Portal 2's co-op was great--but the requirement of precision is also somewhat problematic; playing with strangers is hit or miss in terms of cooperation.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #032: Where I Talk About Dragon's Crown for the Last Time

I just posted my review of Dragon's Crown today and, well, I just couldn't help but talk about it, once again, on this here episode of the Pixelated Sausage Podcast. Did I love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between? Listen to the show or read the review (or both) to find out. Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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Dragon's Crown review: not quite worthy of the crown

Dragon's Crown is, in many ways, a spiritual successor to Golden Axe more than any other beat 'em up--there are occasional beasts you can mount and, every now and again, a thief will steal your treasure and you will have to whoop him good to get your treasure back. I was a fan of Golden Axe and Dragon's Crown does add a lot to the basic formula that is Golden Axe and other classic beat 'em ups, but, sadly, Dragon's Crown doesn't advance the genre in every aspect and ends up as a pretty good--and very pretty--game that falls just short of greatness.

Now, before I delve into the actual game, I feel obliged to comment on the visuals and, more specifically, the artistic design because it has been the most prominent and controversial aspect of Dragon's Crown both pre- and post-launch.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #031: More Crowning Dragons and the Greatest iOS Game for Free

OK everyone, stop what you're doing and follow this link to get yourself a free copy of both the iPhone/iPod and iPad versions of Fairway Solitaire. Why do you want this game for free? Because it was only the greatest game of 2012 and the best iOS game to date, so, um, yeah, it's pretty good. In addition to an awesome free game, I talk about Dragon's Crown some more and illustrate why I should never say ads for anyone. Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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The Pixelated Sausage Podcast #030: 2 Guns and a Side of Crazy

This episode started off on a linear track and, not surprisingly, it detoured down a side-road of complete nonsense; I talk about a bunch of movies--including 2 Guns, Fruitvale Station, and The Sapphires--and then I, once again, lose my mind. Anyway, if you're feeling extra generous, donate a little money or subscribe to show your support for the site and show(s), it's not free to host the site, the show; to make and record videos, and everything in between. Thanks regardless.

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