2014

at 9:44 PM 0

Here we are, another year, another Call of Duty. I'm sure you have heard all the great reviews like IGN's "exo-llent" and others proclaiming this to be the best entry in the series, which is just plain uncalled for over hype. The honest truth is that Advanced Warfare is not bad, but it's not good either. I'm going to start with the campaign since it was the game's finer point. If I'm truthful here, this game had a impressive and immersive campaign that had a cinematic effect when playing. There is nothing like seeing hundreds of soldiers running around, giant spider mechs, aircraft flying overhead and gunfire everywhere. This is the first Call of Duty where I actually felt like I was in a real war and not just some repetitive boring urban scrap. The game finds a balance between open warfare and special ops missions, these stealth based special ops missions are fun and strategic and are one of the highlights of the campaign. But with all this interesting futuristic tech and immersive battles the story comes up a bit short. The reason being is they used, what I call the three plot rules for Call of Duty, which are, insane leader causing global problems, a traitor within the good guys, and you coming in to save the day.
Not only does the story follow the basic route for past COD's it also has large time jumps in the story, this can leave you a bit scrambled and is a bad story telling mechanic. The game tries to cover up these time jumps with the fact that you work for a corporation/nation for higher that has the best tech in the world, and for the right price will come in and fight your war or mission. The only reason the campaign is worthy of your attention besides the the ops missions and the great battles, is the fact that Kevin Spacey, Troy Baker and Gideon Emery absolutely dominate their roles. Every line they say is delivered perfectly and gets you involved in the characters. One of the main characters and partners of the protagonist, Jack Mitchell, is Gideon who is ironically voiced by Gideon Emery. This is Call of Duty's best character ever, I actually got involved in my partners decisions and cared about whether he was going to die or not. Jack and Gideon become good friends because of all the missions they do together, and the game does a good job of portraying this.


Ah, now we get to talk about graphics. Now I usually don't bring up graphics unless they are absolutely amazing or absolutely dreadful, because graphics don't make a game, gameplay does. In this case the graphics are five times better then previous titles in the series, but the game's graphics waver compared to the current games out and games coming out. I do have to admit the cinematic clips were impressive, but when it transitioned to gameplay it was quite noticeable.

Now we get into the multiplayer. The biggest question everyone wants to know is, how much the new Exo-Suits effect online gameplay? Well, it is a fresh mechanic to a very repetitive franchise. Now lets not make this a comparison game to other titles with jet pack mechanics like Titanfall and Halo. It isn't Call of Duty ripping off this idea/mechanic as much as it is Call of Duty catching up to the industry that it has fallen so far behind in. The Exo-Suit gameplay is more of a dodging bullets and speeding through doors maybe jumping up to escape an attacker. I find the suits to match Call of Duty's gameplay style, and fits into the world they have created well.

The game has some very unique and fresh kill streaks like System hack which disables radar, HUD, and enemy equipment including exo suits. My favorite kill streak is XS1 Goliath which is a mech suit that kicks ass. The game is sort of  lacking in weapons, which is definitely odd coming from a series so well known for its large selection of weaponry. The reason being is that the games weapons are actually well balanced, its better to have a balanced selection of guns then have a arsenal of over powered weapons for players to use, that just ruins every players experience. They aren't just balanced, they have a lot of unique new guns that match the current era that the game takes place in. These weapons are a breath of fresh air from the guns that are repetitively put in the game such as the M16 and a host of other generic modern weapons are not present like they usually are. All in all the multiplayer experience can get a bit dull and repetitive after awhile, it is indeed fun but nothing next gen. It is a step in the right direction and it will be interesting to see how this new three year development cycle improves the game. We have already seen some effort given to improve the game in this entry but their is lots of room for changes and advancements.

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at 6:17 PM 0


When I first heard that Shadow of Mordor would be an open-world game, I was interested to see how it would be. I expected a fairly small world, and indeed the game world is fairly small compared to some other games. But when it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter that much, the world is still decently large. This game is the first step into the brave new next gen world (current gen now), and it is not just a good first step, it is a golden line that has just been set. Any RPG coming out is going to have to battle to compete against this unique masterpiece.


What makes this game so special? Well besides the fact that the story is one of the most moving, extensive, intense and engaging narratives in a video game that has been scarcely seen in the gaming industry for a long time. The game's combat system is one of the most fluid, similar to Batman Arkham City. Each battle is intense and timing oriented; combat is fast and executing enemies is extremely enjoyable, there is nothing like seeing fear in your enemy's eyes when he knows he is about to die, which gives you a sense of enormous satisfaction.
 Combat animations are lifelike and smooth, they are probably some of the best I have seen so far, besides games not yet released such as The Witcher 3. The game also features a unique system of enemy progression, other wise called "Sauron's Army". How it works is you can gain Intel on captains and warchiefs, you gain this Intel by infiltrating camps and forts and stealing info or just before killing a captain or warcheif you can use your wraith powers to force knowledge and or info from them before killing them. When you gain the info, it reveals the warchief and you can mark that specific leader to kill. If you kill any chief, they will show up as dead, if a enemy orc kills you they can be promoted to take the spots of past chiefs you have killed. Warlords/Warchiefs can also fight with each other to gain power and rise in rank. This makes for a constantly changing world for you to play in and is an impressive mechanic to the game.


The game is also a visual splendor to behold! The clothing and armor textures are detailed in the most intricate fashion. Cloth is the game's most realistic texture and is the most appealing to the eye, it stands out enough that I just had to mention it. I did find that some ground textures were boring and repetitive without the slightest hint of effort to make rock and dirt variants. Its just the same texture repeated over large areas, making some of the landscapes dull, now I understand that the atmosphere of the game and the land/area is a darker pallet. That does not give the developers an excuse to repeat a texture so blatantly obvious. I also noticed that human faces were odd and a bit lame, especially the protagonist "Talion's" was a bit weak. It seems like they tried to hard to make his face unique, that it ended up looking odd.  Now these are just a small issues and don't really take away that the story and gameplay are truly something special and when it comes down to it, those are the two
things that matter most.


   

                
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at 9:18 PM 0

With the Mario Kart franchise having a very successful and celebrated past will Mario Kart 8 live up to the standard of past games and come in first or will hit get hit will a blue shell to fall in to last place?

Nintendo has always done a really good job of breathing life in to a franchise so that it seems new and exciting from each new console of that generation. Mario Kart 8 is no exception and in fact in may be one of the best Mario Kart games in the entire franchise. The Wii U is not the most powerful console on the market but Nintendo makes up for the lack of power with the stylized graphics and exciting game-play.

The graphics in Mario Kart 8 cannot be fully appreciated until you see side-by-side comparisons of levels from previous consoles. I understand that you expect that the levels look better from each console year, that is logical but Nintendo paid attention to all the little things. When you drive in snow or sand, it sticks to your tires. When you go through water it is clear and splashes on your screen when you exit the water. Nintendo really impressed me with the graphics boost and it was a pleasant and welcome upgrade.


The gameplay of Mario Kart 8 is a solid upgrade as well. They added the ability to fly and and glide which adds a new level of fun to the game. Nintendo is also making DLCs that will add more tracks as well as more characters. This is great to see and will greatly expand the amount of time you will spend playing the game. Mario Kart 8 will keep you coming back for more because the experience is so unique and entertaining you will want to enjoy all that the game offers.



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at 8:53 AM 0

When I first heard of this game I wasn't excited at all. From the cinematic trailer it looked good, but it didn't make my list of games I was excited to play. Games like The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition were being shown at E3 and this game just didn't show anything that impressed me. Well my opinion has been greatly altered! With the release of some recent  trailers and gameplay, I am intrigued and amazed by this title. I was really blown away by how smooth the animations were, even the simplest things such as falling down and dying are done so realistically. How the creatures and demons move and fight is nothing short of almost perfect.
       
         

Combat actually has a lot of strategy and you can't really go in button mashing. Charging up attacks, dodging, and striking at the right moment all make combat fun and fluid. All the different classes and armor look great, especially the armor. There is a large amount of time and fine detail put into the armor sets, which is very impressive. This game is shaping up nicely and I am eagerly awaiting to jump into its world and kill some demons!

        
  1. 31st October
  2. Lords of the Fallen will be released 31st October on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. This is the role-playing action game developed by CI Games in Poland and Deck 13 in Germany.

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at 8:18 AM 0

The Wolf Among Us had a hard act to follow, since it released after the acclaimed The Walking Dead series created by Tell Tale Games. Does The Wolf Among Us bring the same great story with a unique playing experience or does it just end up bitting?

The first episode of The Wolf Among Us set the tone for the entire series. You open with the main character, Bigby, breaking up a fight. The fight goes from an apartment to the street and lets you know that you will be in for a wild ride when playing this game. The plot has plenty of twists and unexpected turns. To avoid spoilers I will not go in to a lot of detail but I will that the story does a good job of taking you from one guess to another without giving anything away.

The graphics for the The Wolf Among Us were improved from The Walking Dead but the visual style is still very eye catching and creative. You find yourself immersed in the visuals and you are aways looking at the attention to detail that Tell Tale put in to the entire game. The graphics help tell the story because you are able to understand the settings and body language of the characters. The graphics will appeal to all audiences and make for an enjoyable time while playing through the game.

The game overall is an experience that is unforgettable and entertaining. The story keeps you interested and craving more and more. Tell Tale did a great job and they finish it all up with a twist that will keep your craving unsatisfied.

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at 9:48 AM 0

Mortal Kombat is looking more brutal then ever! We were shown some astounding gameplay at E3, but lets face the facts, most fighting games have been weak lately. Nothing really new or next gen, but now we finally have something new and innovative in the genre. I have never seen smoother animation in a fighting game, instead of the usual jumping around like idiotic monkeys, characters actually look like they are making advances towards there opponent. This makes for a more immersive fighting experience and now you can actually feel like you are in a brutal fight for your life. Mortal Kombat X also features a very interactive environment (Stages) which allow you to grab objects around you and use them against your opponents, you can even through bystanders.

The game also has a few new additions such as the ability to now "Sprint" to opponents so you are not required to jump everywhere. Now this ability is limited by the newly added stamina bar, so you will have to choose your opportunities wisely. Now what would Mortal Kombat be without gore?! This entry has one of the best gore systems I've seen. It even has small cut scenes where it shows the inside damage to the muscle and bones which is truly brutal. It also has the usual death scenes "Fatality's" which are always a great end to a all out bloody fight. Moving on from the games superb blood and gore is the fact that anyone can jump into Mortal Kombat X. One of the problems with other fighting games is that they are designed mostly for experienced players, but Mortal Kombat X is the ideal game for the saying "Have your cake and eat it too". This game is very easy to get into and have a good time with your friends, now that doesn't mean that the game has nothing to offer experienced players. It still has the usual advanced combos and all that good stuff for those who are up to the challenge. After everything I have seen, i have come to the conclusion that Mortal Kombat X is the golden line for future fighting games.
         
             
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at 6:55 PM 0

About: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a story-driven, next-generation open world role-playing game, set in a graphically stunning fantasy universe, full of meaningful choices and impactful consequences. In The Witcher, you play as Geralt of Rivia, one of a dying caste of monster hunters, and embark on an epic journey in a war-ravaged world that will inevitably lead you to confront a foe darker than anything humanity has faced so far—the Wild Hunt.

Thoughts/Views: A stunningly visual upset in gaming, The Witcher III game has a beautifully designed open-world on a massive scale. The first intriguing quality I found is the tracking of creatures. You can use your senses to see the tracks on the ground and follow them to your prey, though that is an interesting concept and quality to the game it has been done before, yet I still found it interesting and unique. I also found animations, movement, and combat to be the smoothest and most realistic I have ever seen in a RPG. Not only do the combat animations look smooth but combat is bloody awesome, no literally it's bloody!  Decapitations and dismemberment make combat just that much more satisfying. Combat is a highly responsive well oiled machine and has a tactical edge unlike any other RPG. The Witcher III boasts 100 hours of gameplay, which is a extremely high stat that I hope it lives up to. The game looks amazing all around from extremely detailed cities to insanely realistic animations. I'll be hastily waiting for the release of this title.

Release Date: February, 24th, 2015
Platform: PS4, PC, XB1

              
                                          
                                 Dragon Age Inquisition
Dragon Age Inquisition is a sight to behold as well as technological marvel. Inquisition is priding itself in tactical gameplay from switching characters in a fight to slowing and resuming time, gameplay is faster and more responsive, you can cast spells quickly, and you are able to get right into the middle of the fight. The game also features a unique world master, which dynamically repopulates space and space time by what you have been doing, so if two groups/factions are fighting you will see their battles and can join in if you choose. Now that we have been talking about the gameplay features, lets talk about graphics, the game is built on the Frostbite engine, and it looks incredible. This games world just sucks you into it, everything about it just screams fantasy world perfection. When I play a single player RPG I love the worlds and this one particularly, I love the most out of the RPG's coming out. This stunning RPG I have my heart set on picking up on release, and I recommend it to all of you.

Release Date: October, 7th, 2014
Platform: PS4, PS3, PC, XB1, X360

             
                                               
                             The Legend of Zelda
Not much is known of this new Zelda game aside from a trailer and the fact that it will be the first open world Zelda game. Its been awhile since Nintendo has captured our attention, but finally they provide us with a title worth of looking forward too. As a long time Zelda fan I am inrguied by the prospect of this game and i can't wait till more is released on the game. When more news is released I will be sure to write a article about for you guys! Until then stay tuned and go have fun!

Release Date: TBA
Platform: Wii U
     
           
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at 12:49 PM 0
With E3 happening this week there has been a lot of news, releases, and surprises. I have many games that I am looking forward to and there are, what seems like, too many games to count releases at the fall season. All the buzz about new games, I thought I would bring to the forefront the games that stood out the most to me.

Alien Isolation
This is by far the most intriguing and exciting title for me and I cannot wait for it's release. The game focuses around Ripley's daughter and her search for her mother. You will be trying to find out the story of what happened on the space station and during that search for the truth you will be stalked and hunted by the alien. I have such high expectations of this game after seeing the level of detail put in to every scene. The audio, level design, and production value of this game has been done with a level of attention to detail that I have not seen in a long time. The team behind this game really tried to capture the original feel you had when watching Alien for the first time and from the trailer alone, I feel that they are really close to accomplishing that. With the release of this game, I am hoping to have the same feeling I had when I played Outlast. The fear and anticipation of what will happen next I had with playing Outlast has never been accomplished since and Alien: Isolation is the game that I hope delivers the same feeling.

Release Date: October 7th, 2014
Platform: PS4, PS3, PC, XB1, XB360


Evolve
What can I say about Evolve other than wow! Evolve is a multiplayer tactical shooter, that places you in the woods hunting a player controlled monster. You are able to choose from 4 classes or you can be the monster. The idea for this game is one that will change multiplayer experiences. There are so many possibilities as to how you can approach hunting the monster and if you're the monster you can have numerous options as to how you will attack the hunters. It is so encouraging to see how developers now are starting to venture from the same formats we have seen for years and they are coming up with excellent ideas like Evolve. This game looks to be a breathe of fresh air in the shooter genre saturated with the same old ideas. Evolve, with its unique gameplay experience should really standout and allow for new possibilities in the genre. I wish that October would only come sooner.

Release Date: October 21st, 2014
Platform: PS4, PC, XB1


Rainbow Six: Siege
Ubisoft has had a strong showing this year and they didn’t disappoint with the debut of Rainbow Six: Siege. The game is a multiplier shooter with a few new ideas that look to spice up the gameplay. The idea is to save or hold the hostage, depending on what team you are on. The game allows for destructible environments, creative gameplay, and so much more. The graphics look stunning but what game hasn’t this year at E3? There was not as much revealed about Siege but what was show is something for the eyes to see. With what I have seen, the future looks bright for gamers.

Release Date: TBD
Platform: PS4, PC, XB1

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at 7:19 PM 0

As a huge Assassin's Creed fan I am so excited about the gameplay and trailers shown at E3. The next entry in the series looks visually stunning, a graphic level of detail that is unparalleled. I was amazed by the cinematic trailer, but I assumed that gameplay wouldn't look nearly as marvelous as the graphic detail put into the trailer. Once I saw actual gameplay, my mind was blown away! There is little to no difference from trailer to gameplay! Not only does the game have stunning visuals, but also some new and unique gameplay concepts from an improved fighting and stealth system, to an addition of four protagonists which lets you handle each situation differently. That gives the game a lot of replay value. The overall setting is that the game will be set in Paris on the eve of the French Revolution and follow Arno Dorian and his fellow assassins.

         


         


         


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at 12:58 PM 0

Here it is, the yearly release of Call of Duty. Is it another one set for failure like Ghosts? With all the hype and the awesome trailer but no result? Well maybe, I'm not getting my hopes up, I can say without a doubt the possibility that this game will be complete rubbish like Ghosts and MW3 is very high. Even though it will most likely be another horrible Call of Duty it does perk some interest, and one of those things is that it has been in development for 3 years by Sledgehammer games, which is a company founded by some of the creators Dead Space. Now Sledgehammer games did work on Modern Warfare 3, which lets be honest was pretty bad, but I'm starting to think that Modern Warfare 3 was decent now that I have seen and played  Ghosts. So what will it take for this game to be successful? Here is my personal four things for Call of Duty Advanced Warfare to be a success.


First thing they need to do to make this game a success is to use a new engine, not just small updates to the old engine. Lets face it destructible and interactive environments is a must have now, its expected by players and playing in Call of Duty's non interactive worlds makes it seem dull and boring. The Second thing is that the Exo Suits have to be truly unique and not just a rip off of Titanfalls system. So far we know that the Exo Suits can wall climb, jump large distances, punch through things, and let you drop kick, which could be awesome! If it actually turns out they play like they are portrayed.


Third thing is that the trailer shows vehicles such as hover tanks, hover bikes and spider mechs. Now if these are in multiplayer and not just campaign then this could change the way that Call of Duty plays forever and give some much needed innovation the the franchise.  Fourth and one of the most important is that multiplayer needs to change, spawns need to be fixed for starters, but what I really want is innovations to gameplay! Exo suits is a good start if it can be capitalized on. One thing they could do is remove quick scoping, they could also give us interactive environments, vehicles, unique guns, well designed maps, more players, and creative game modes.

So there it is, those are the changes that I believe need to happen for Advanced Warfare to be a success, and one that new and old players can enjoy. Lets see some creativity and not just a bunch of copy and past for the money. So to all the gamers out there I say keep playing and keep having fun!


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at 11:52 AM 0
In a move almost everyone saw coming, the Xbox One drops the Kinect June 9th taking the Xbox One price down to 399.99$. This move was made just to compete with the Playstation 4s 400$ price, now the 100$ gap between the two has been closed. Credit to Microsoft that they have listened and changed almost everything consumers have asked for, and slowly but surely the respect of their fans and of the gaming community returns. Most fans didn't even use the Kinect, even though the device is a cool innovative way to use the console, and without the device all the cool features shown at E3 are mostly useless. Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer said "We’ve also heard from people they just like to play games with a controller in their hands," "We’ll continue to innovate on Kinect, I think it’s an important differentiator for us, but I also know there are people out there that want to make the choice when they want to make it." The $499 model with Kinect will continue to be sold, but Microsoft will also introduce a standalone Kinect sensor for Xbox One "later this fall." Most people didn't want a home entertainment system they just wanted a gaming console. I think Microsoft had the right idea and a good one but I believe it was a bit ahead of its time.
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at 11:43 AM 0

Opening 
Well I finally got into the Strife closed beta, and I'm here to share my thoughts. First of all I have to say I was strongly annoyed by the forced tutorial! Even though the two tutorial missions were not very long, it still should not have been forced. For players who have played MOBA games before it's annoying thing to be forced to sit through all the things you already know. Nevertheless, I have to say Strife is quite addicting. I found myself just playing again and again and again! I actually played Strife one day instead of League of Legends. Now I'm not saying Strife is better the League or Dota but it definitely has its finer quality's.


Is Strife a copy of Dota 2 and League of Legends?
Well, you could say that every MOBA is a copy of League of Legends and Dota because those were the first MOBA games, and all MOBA games are similar. So in a way, yes, Strife is sort of a copy of Dota and League of Legends, but Strife makes itself stand out. One of the things that makes Strife stand out is that for people who are not familiar with MOBA games, they will be able to jump into Strife fairly easily.


What is different about Strife from other MOBA's?
As I said earlier, the main thing is that new players to MOBAs can get into Strife easily. The second thing that I found to be a very nice game mechanic is the use of a buff  like creature that the whole team attacks, and if you defeat it you get a giant gorilla like creature that pushes a lane like a siege engine. The game also has a crafting feature where people can choose what items build into a main item which is a very interesting idea. The game also gives you pets which basically are just spells. they have spell like abilities like removing CC (Crowd Control) effects, Heals, or Mana regen etc...


Can Strife Last or Compete in the MOBA Genre?
Actually, yes I believe it can! Strife sets a bar for MOBA games in the fact that it it fairly easy to jump into, so for people who want to get into the genre and want to play games like Dota, League of Legends, or Smite but are afraid of the complexity of these other MOBA games, they can play Strife for awhile and get a feel for the MOBA genre.

Closing Thoughts
All in all Strife is a fun and fairly easy to play MOBA, and its one of the first new MOBA's that has kept my interest, with great map design and decently balanced gameplay even in beta. Strife shows promise, so go ahead and sign up for the closed beta and give it a go!





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at 11:07 AM 0

Daylight is a horror survival game that will try to take you one a psychological thrill ride but does it deliver? I was doing all I could to try not to compare this game to Outlast, but it is so hard to forget the gold standard of a horror game that was set by Red Barrels studio.

The game starts you off right in the building you will be spending most of the game in. There is no real story build up or explanation of why you are even there. Upon exploring the first room is where I found my first problem with the game. While you are in the room there is a book bag that has glow sticks in it that you can use to see... A never ending supply of glow sticks. There is nothing scary about always being able to see, in fact it made it so I could just run around with glow sticks, not worrying about whether or not they would wear out because I knew where the bag was that had my unlimited supply. On top of searching and wondering around the rooms and hallways, using only the light of your phone and glow stick, you have someone that continues to buzz your phone giving you information about where to go or what to do. He is so hard to understand and he doesn't really tell you enough to help, so he becomes just white noise.
During my play through I had begun to get so frustrated about playing because there was no clear objective and the level design was so poor that I couldn't tell one room from another. I would try to use the map on my phone to navigate but it was as confusing as the guy talking on the phone. All of this just added to my frustrations. Once I was able to find a new avenue through the generic hallways, I stumbled upon another wealth of light, flares. The flares are used to scare the ghosts away but as with the glow sticks, there is an unlimited supply of flares. To add to that, in my play through, there was not one ghost that appeared. Not one! I understand that is procedurally generated but there should be at least one ghost. I found that I had begun to hope and ask for ghosts to appear to make the game scarier and more challenging.
To summarize, I found myself frustrated and upset that I spent most of my time wondering around trying to get scared. The game left me feeling like something was missing and lacking from the game. Zombie Studios seems to have rushed on bringing this game out because there is money to be made in horror survival genre again thanks to Outlast.


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at 8:36 AM 0

Recently I picked up an iPhone 5s case hoping that it lived up to what it claims to do. Now I read plenty of reviews before I got it and honestly I'm disappointed with what I read. A lot of the reviews said it was flimsy, breaks easy, bulky, lop sided, and not worth the $80. We'll let me tell you this case is amazing. I beat this case up to the point were I thought my phone was done for sure. 
       Since I'm going through the fire academy, I thought It would be the perfect place to test my case. As nervous as I was to try it on my new iPhone 5s, I went through it anyway and couldn't be any happier with how well it worked. Leaving my phone with the Lifeproof Fire case in my outer pocket of my protective clothing it went through high heat from a car fire, extreme water pressure from commercial sprinkler heads, banging off the ground doing hose line advancements and crawling through a pitch black maze, and there isn't a single nick scratch or dent on my iPhone or the Lifeproof case. Yes, it is flimsy but it is thin for getting it in and out of your pocket and it's built to be punished. The $80 spent on this case blew the old Otter Box I had out of the water. It's super durable, thin, and the colors are great. I got the blue one. This is a great purchase 10 out of 10.

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at 5:55 PM 0

                             Braum, The Heart of the Freljord
Welcome to League of Legends news! We will start with the announce of Braum, a new support/tank champion. Bot lane sorely needed a change up, we always see Leona, Thresh or Morgana as bot lane supports. Though there is nothing wrong with these champions,and they are actually quite good, it just makes for uninteresting bot lane combinations and boring strategies.


Lets hope that with the release of a new support, we will see some new energy in bot lane. I hope this new support is well balanced but is also a strong pick so that he doesn't end up being a rarely used support like Zilean, Lulu and Janna. 

Braum's abilities. 

Passive: Concussive Blows
Braum’s basic attacks apply Concussive Blows. Once the first stack is applied, all basic attacks from Braum and his allies apply further stacks. Targets that sustain four stacks are stunned and suffer bonus magic damage. After being stunned, Braum cannot apply Concussive Blows to his target again for a moderate duration.

Q: Winter's Bite
Braum propels freezing ice from his shield in a straight line skillshot, dealing magic damage (based on Braum’s max health), slowing and applying a stack of Concussive Blows to the first target hit.

W: Stand By Me
Braum leaps to the aid of a nearby ally, positioning himself between his target and their nearest enemy champion, and granting both Braum and his target bonus armor and magic resist based on his total armor and magic resist.

E: Unbreakable 
Braum raises his shield in a target direction, negating the damage from the first attack from the shield’s direction and reducing the damage of all subsequent attacks as long as the shield is raised. Braum intercepts projectiles with Unbreakable, causing them to hit him and then be destroyed. He also gains a minor speed boost until he lowers his shield.

R: Glacial Fissure 
Braum slams his shield into the ground, sending out a huge long-range skillshot that knocks up and damages all enemies caught before leaving behind a strong slow field.


Riot's About/Insights on Braum
As with all champions, we designed Braum to fill a specific gap in the League of Legends champion pool. Specifically, he’s the first true tank support that we've created, a champion who takes the hits for their team. We’ve had plenty of defensive supports – champions like Nami, Soraka, Janna etc – who negate damage through heals or shields, along with fighter supports like Leona and Alistar, who are generally great at initiating teamfights before diving deep into the enemy team and disrupting as much as possible. Braum’s something different: he’s a tanky support who literally takes the hits for his team, and as such requires a new mindset, position and playstyle to most conventional supports.
 The key to Braum’s unique playstyle is Unbreakable, his E. It’s an active defense, similar to Yasuo’s Wind Wall, but while Yasuo’s ability was created so that he’d have the means to protect himself (the team utility is considered a secondary bonus), we specifically designed Unbreakable so that Braum could protect his team. It makes Braum different because he – more than any other champion - creates zones of safety behind him. He defends throughout the game, first by protecting his marksman during laning, then by protecting his entire team and tanking during late game. While other supports focus on buffing, heals or disruption, Braum fills a unique role between the two teams, taking the brunt of the damage for his team and letting his damage dealers do their thing.


 This positions him literally between the two teams, and gave us some interesting design questions to answer. Specifically, how else does a defensive melee support contribute in fights when he has limited damage and can only land basic attacks on the enemy’s beefy frontline? This is where we brought in his passive, Concussive Blows, and Q, Winter’s Bite. Braum can harass while protecting, not necessarily through his own strength, but by applying Concussive Blows to enemy targets. This greatly amplifies his team’s power while keeping Braum’s positioning consistent throughout teamfights. And while Braum can’t easily harass the enemy backline (Winter’s Bite only affects the first enemy it strikes, and Braum’s basic attacks are melee), when his allies get jumped by enemy fighters and tanks, he can quickly reposition with Stand Behind Me before peeling multiple targets with Concussive Blows. We’re excited to see what you guys make of Braum. If you’re interested in testing him before his live release, get into the PBE and give him a whirl. We’d love to get your feedback!

Well that's what Riot had to say about their latest champion, lets just hope its not another rushed un-blanced champion release, and that we get some diversity bot lane. Well that's all, good luck league players!




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