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Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an Adventure Worth Taking
Saving Craftworld from the Evil Vex | Sackboy: A Big Adventure Gameplay [PS5]
Watch this video on YouTube.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a title that fulfills its promise: providing a multi-world adventure stuffed to the gills with creativity.
Everything feels alive and handmade, from the enemies to every level, it is a true joy to play through.
Sackboy has a ton of customization options that allow your imagination to go into overdrive, providing you the power to customize him however you like.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an incredible platformer to launch alongside the PlayStation 5.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure Time Stamps
Let’s not waste any more time and dive into Craftworld to help stop the evil Vex!
Welcome to the Imagisphere
We’re just jazzed you’re here!
I was a big fan of all the Little Big Planet games but it always felt like the story modes were lacking.
The idea was for the players to create the game, levels, and worlds which helped the games to become something special.
But this brings it back to the developers over at Sumo Digital to let their creativity shine through.
There’s a lot to this adventure, so let’s see what makes it all come together for a fun collectathon.
Highs and Glows
Starting on the right foot, there’s a lot here
Taking a moment to pick Sackboy’s outfit, we dive right into High and Glows for some undersea fun.
Playing Sackboy: A Big Adventure feels great with the DualSense and you notice the handcrafted feel of the game right from the get-go.
We grab the boomerang for this level and throw it at some papercrafted jellyfish to light the way forward.
When you hit the jellyfish the level begins to show itself, it’s cool!
When you hit the jellyfish the ground shows up so we can safely get to the other side.
The main goal for each level is to get to to get a gold trophy for your efforts.
The other goals are Ace and finding all the presents. The presents are costumes you can equip and Ace requires you to get through the level without dying.
We move forward and find our first shine hidden in a diving helmet.
There’s so much charm throughout every level of Sackboy, from little crabs popping up to the fish swimming in the background.
With the crabs all waving at Sackboy, I felt left out
These little details add up to create levels that feel alive as they brim with creativity.
We grab a jellyfish of our own so we can create a traversable path into the dark trenches. I even use it to get another hidden shine.
It’s stuff like this that makes you smile
Taking a moment to show off the many emotions of Sackboy, we make him happy, sad, and even angry to show his range as an actor.
I was surprised to discover that Sackboy: A Big Adventure is much longer of a game than I anticipated.
There’s a big adventure here and it’s going to take a whole lot to get through it, but you’ll have a smile plastered to your face throughout.
Finding the first present of the level unlocks a new piece of a costume.
One odd thing I feel is lacking is that Sackboy can not change his outfit mid-level. I feel like this is a missed opportunity to have some fun and equip everything you collect on the fly.
If I find something awesome to wear I want to immediately wear it and not have to go all the way to Zom Zoms to go through a few menus and dig out the new outfit. I wish it were set in a style of something like Animal Crossing where you can switch outfits straight from an inventory at any point.
After that explanation, I blow the Ace reward as I jump right to my doom. Oops.
Taking the express, we run into some enemies that need to lose their armor. Using the jellyfish and finding the Knitted Knight Trial cube unlocks a fun speedrun.
A hidden room is revealed and we take on a fun puzzle to solve. It requires the boomerang and some solid platforming skills.
There’s a lot of these and they’re all unique!
The DualSense is showcased when pulling a bobble out of the ground. It’s cool and you can feel Sackboy struggle thanks to the enhanced rumble.
We find a new emotion for Sackboy to equip and then jump up through some clouds to get to the final stretch of High and Glows.
We are taken to some very odd parts of the ocean, including a crab taking a shower, to collect the final shine.
Sorry to bother you, Mam
There’s so much packed into every level. This is throughout the entire adventure which is very impressive.
Opening the vault we get to the end of the level and receive a total score. I failed to get the silver trophy but Sackboy’s still pumped!
Sackboy says to like all his Instagram posts!
Even though we didn’t get silver, we still managed to get a lot of Instagram likes from our photoshoot!
One issue I do have is that the level reward screen is a bit slow, taking a while to rally your accomplishments. I feel that it slows the overall flow of an otherwise fast-paced game.
The Kingdom of Crablantis
Moving back into the open world, we go through a bit of the overworld to discuss its multitude of hidden secrets.
Taking a small path of fish, we find a dish that opens a transport to another section of a different world with its unique level.
The Soaring Summit
This is like a little piece of the much bigger level that you can hop over with its unique levels to take on.
After a little debate, I decided to jump into the Between the Lines level.
Between the Lines
I discover almost immediately that this may be the hardest level in the game yet.
It is a highly demanding level that needs full concentration. Something I realize I cannot provide when recording myself.
From the highwires to the spinning circles, it has a lot to focus on.
Taking a minute, I appreciate the music in the game. This is a feature that can make-or-break any video game and I’m glad that Sackboy doesn’t let us down with its tunes. The music adds so much to every level to make it feel alive.
The soundtrack changes to match the player’s actions on-screen while also adhering to the overall mood of the level.
Taking in some high wire antics, I narrowly avoid all the enemies as we jump along the tightest of tightropes.
The urge to get the mini shines is too great and I take a hit and die a few times.
Using the momentum of the spinning wheels is surprisingly difficult and takes some platforming skills that I, unfortunately, do not possess.
Words… they elude me in my hour of need
Taking a zip line, we get to some more tightropes. The level gets the better of me and I run out of lines forcing me to throw in the towel and move forward.
Next up is some speed running action involving the Knitted Knight Trials.
Knitted Knight Trials
I like the Knitted Knight Trials, from the music to the challenge, they’re a ton of fun!
Things get tilted for this speedrun
For this section, I decide to take on the trial we unlocked earlier: Trial 6: Tilty Pleasures.
We don a sweatband and get running to the amazing music. We have to go fast to get through the time-limited run, going for the gold.
The key is to constantly run forward and never stop if you want the gold.
The sweatband is key when going for the gold trophy!
Dodging all the tilt and grabbing the clocks is how we manage to get gold time on the third attempt.
With the music amping us up, we get the gold and call this a victory!
Sackboy says to like all his Twitter posts!
Taking a moment to reflect and enjoy the gold, we rack up a bunch of Twitter likes and move onto Bubble Jeopardy.
Bubble Jeopardy
Jumping right in and… have to keep jumping! This level’s unique trick is all about jumping in and out of giant bubbles.
You can use the bubbles to gain height and jump all over the place.
Just don’t drown, please
We find a new costume piece and take the bubbles up and over to continue onward.
Jumping and swinging our way onwards, we dodge enemies while finding the hidden moons to collect the final shine.
Taking the bubble trial, I fail at platforming and die via spikes. This causes me to lose the Ace reward, which at this point I’m used to.
Next up we have to dive through some bubbles to get the enemies out and open the way forward.
A pro tip is to always go the wrong way on every level in Sackboy: A Big Adventure since you’ll almost always find a hidden secret.
Taking the advice, we find a hidden door and meet a recurring character, Gerald Strudleguff. He gives some neat background and some shines along the way.
He’s here to help and drop knowledge
Collecting his shine, we take a swig of water and continue into the bubble madness.
We make it to the end of the level after another death of course after some high bubble craziness.
Sackboy and I are super thrilled for our next photoshoot because we managed to get a gold trophy!
Sackboy says to like all of his Youtube videos!
After amassing a ton of Youtube likes, it is time to go visit the merchant Zom Zom and see what’s for sale.
Zom Zom is the Best Salesman
Diving headfirst into the bonus stage brings us to meet Zom Zom and one of his wacky trials.
The idea is to break everything as fast as you can. I fail to realize I can roll through everything.
Took me way too long to just roll through everything
With a ton of new collectibles in tow, we make our way to Zom Zom’s shop to start spending everything.
Everything has a price in this shop but it’s cool that you buy things in pieces rather than full outfits. This means even more ways to customize uniquely.
If you can think of it, there’s probably an outfit for it
Outfits come in all shapes and sizes, from Little Red Riding Hood, Tigers, and even some modern choices like headphones and VR headsets.
It’s really fun and you can customize your Sackboy however you want as long as you have the collectibles to purchase it.
But even then, every level has so many clothing pieces to collect that you’ll be able to find something fun to wear and uniquely put together.
Sackboy NOOOOOOOOOOO
With some new emotions thrown on, it’s time to gear up for the final level of the episode… as well as a big boss fight!
Thar She Blows Up
Ending this on a boss fight is the right call as the level is somewhat open-world and on the shorter side.
It’s cool that there are shorter levels like this where you can decide if you want to go after the collectibles or just run straight to the ending. It makes it feel like you can handle the level however you want, rather than being forced on a set path.
Especially when exploring is this much fun!
Taking the zipline dives us right in to grab the grappler. This allows us to throw explosives at the obstacles and move throughout to collect all the shines.
I discover that I am missing a shine and use one of the coolest features on the PlayStation 5 to help find it.
The PlayStation 5 has a feature if you’re a PlayStation Plus Subscriber called Activity Cards.
These are helpful cards you can pop up using the DualSense controller to help you throughout any level.
The PlayStation 5 knows what level of the game you’re in and will default to that helpful guide.
So you just have to load the card and watch a quick video to find all the collectibles within Sackboy: A Big Adventure. This is so much more efficient than something like Navi screaming “HEY! Listen!” and then giving you mundane clues that confuse the player even more.
However, the issue is that I missed this first Shine right at the start. Unfortunately, this means my only choice is to move onto the boss fight.
He has green sticky hands and that’s the coolest part of the game, don’t @ me.
The Ruffled Ruffian is an imposing boss but Sackboy has the grappler to help take him down.
The basic part of the fight is to run around and dodge his slime hands.
You pick up the explosives around the arena and throw them at him while jumping and rolling around.
After a few bomb tosses, we take the ruffian down and secure a gold trophy!
Sackboy says to like EVERYTHING!
After amassing a ton of Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram likes, we are ready to wrap things up on this big adventure.
Is Sackboy: A Big Adventure Amazing?
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a hell of a PlayStation 5 Launch Game
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a solid PlayStation 5 launch game.
Filled with charm, fun challenges and so much jam-packed action to keep you entertained for hours.
It’s nice to have a platformer at the start to exemplify the fast loading and the difference in graphics that can be achieved.
The fact that the game plays nicely and is a great showcase of the PlayStation Activity Cards is a welcome experience to help you get ready for what is down the road.
I enjoyed my time with Sackboy: A Big Adventure and I can’t recommend it enough!
Check Out if Other Games Are Amazing!
December 29, 2020
It’s About Time Crash 4 Existed
It’s About Time I got to Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time – Gameplay [PS4]
Watch this video on YouTube.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is taking all the older Crash games and ramping them up to a whole new level.
From the difficult platforming to breaking a ton of boxes, there is a ton of old and new content to keep fans happy.
When the game was first announced, I was surprised because I didn’t think they would make an entirely new game. I did think that the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy would be the last game we would see featuring this whacky hero.
Thankfully I was wrong.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time Time Stamps
- Tawna The Grappling Hook Hero (0:00)
- Stumbling My Way Through the Level as Crash (4:20)
- Dr. Nitrus Brio Trouble Brewing Boss Fight (10:58)
- Unlocking New Gameplay Stuff (15:50)
- Off Beat (16:42)
- Crash Gets N.Verted (29:50)
- VHS Flashback Tapes from 1996 (28:32)
- Coco Gets N.Verted (40:30)
- Is Crash 4: It’s About Time Amazing? (47:20)
Grab an Aku Aku Mask and let’s run through some baddies in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time gameplay!
Tawna The Grappling Hook Hero
It’s a pretty hard name to say, in my defense…
We start off playing as Tawna–Crashes girlfriend from the older games.
She is the most interesting character in the game; she has an awesome grappling hook that allows you to traverse the levels in fun ways.
Tawna also talks a lot like CoCo so she can add her flair to any situation.
Man, the N-Sane Trilogy was a great game
After playing the N-Sane Trilogy, I realized that I am just not good at Crash-style platformers.
I tend to just play through the main levels to beat them. I am not one to get all the boxes or colored gems.
But this early on the game is giving me trouble, so I decided to kick it into overdrive and go Super Sayian to get through this.
Sometimes you gotta kick it into Super Saiyan mode to get through the hard parts
Channeling my inner Saiyan, I can get through the part that was causing me trouble only to immediately die… twice.
The goal of each level is to break all the boxes, collect a ton of wumpa fruit, and not die more than 3 times in a run.
Crash 4 makes it easy to keep track of your level progress
This is easier said than done in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. You can tell that the game ramps the difficulty up.
No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, the game makes it hard to get things done in one run.
Each of these adds up to getting 6 crystals at the end of the level, which in turn allows you to get skins. But we will touch more on that detail in a bit.
Stumbling My Way Through the Level as Crash
One of the coolest parts of the game is that when you play as Tawna you get to see the level from a different perspective.
So in Crash’s version of the level, a door explodes open and he doesn’t know why. Well, thanks to the other levels, we learn it was Tawna.
They’re enemies but they both know how to have a good time
Now we go into playing as Crash and are introduced to one of the masks that players can attach for new powers.
The mask is Akano which allows you to spin attack at super-fast speeds in a flurry of purple. You can even jump higher as well as longer.
I like this game because there are modern or classic options; the difference is that the modern option gives you infinite lives.
So for someone like me–who is self-admittedly bad at this game–, this is a great addition. I like this feature for that very reason and I think it is one of the best add-ins I have seen in a while.
Another cool addition is that there is now a yellow circle at Crash’s feet every time he jumps, this can help you traverse the tricky levels much easier.
This Yellow Circle is going to be your best friend in this game
The game is filled with so many helpful gameplay options that feel organic and baked in so you can enjoy the game at any skill level. I believe this is an important feature for many games to adopt because everyone deserves to be able to have fun at their own pace.
After using Akano we float over some water and lose the mask to traverse some lily pads.
Another cool aspect is that the core villains of the levels you’re playing will taunt you throughout, keeping it fun and engaging.
Grabbing Akano again, I fail some simple platforming and die several times before finally reaching the end of the level. I told you that I struggle!
I only manage to get 1 out of the 6 gems, but that’s fine! I was just happy to survive. I also miss a ton of boxes and Wumpa, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over it.
It’s fine, no really it’s fine
Dr. Nitrus Brio Trouble Brewing Boss Fight
Moving right into a boss fight with Dr. Nitrus Brio, we get to see some of the amazing bosses’ that the game goes above and beyond to create fight rounds for.
From the voice acting to the Saturday morning cartoon vibe, the game fires on all cylinders to make everything feel bouncy and alive.
N. Brio is a pretty simple boss fight just run around dodging his potions and then hit the baddie creations back at him to do damage.
That is until the screen gets N. Verted and the fight gets a crazy amount of life in it.
Yeah, I was pretty blown away by how awesome the N. Verted sections were
To be honest, all this involves is a color swap but it is a cool play on visuals. I can just enjoy the look and continue the fight.
When you do enough damage, N. Brio drinks one of his potions and becomes a big monster.
Even the game has no idea what N Brio just turned into
Despite the size upgrade, taking him down is pretty easy, just grab the Akano mask and knock him off the stage.
After a pretty humorous cutscene, we open up the next world and move on to some Marde Grade action. But first, let’s take a look around the gameplay.
Unlocking New Gameplay Stuff
First, we unlock the N.Verted mode in which we replay a level in that cool color swap style.
Crash 4 has a ton of skins but the Classic Skin has to be my favorite
You unlock the skins by collecting the gems from beating the levels. It is a nice little addition that adds some replay value to an already content-overstuffed game.
But enough of that, let’s get to the festival in Off Beat!
Off Beat
Just look at everything going on and it still has a rock-solid frame-rate
This level is incredible from the music to the overall drive as you go through.
The enemies attack you in time with the music, the background is filled with fireworks, floats, and just so much eye candy any player would want to stop and stare.
It is levels like this that make me think that a new Sly Cooper has to be in the works. Cartoony games are coming across better and better; that one would be a perfect homage.
We push forward through a side-scrolling section and manage to pass a lot of pit-falls, TNT crates, and colored death vents.
After this we get thrown into the background and onto the floats, forcing us to platform our way through the float parade.
Crash is that you?
It’s pretty cool that you can play music by interacting with the level, from a trumpet to drums and even a keyboard you get to walk on. I can already hear my sister saying, “It’s just like Toon Town!”.
It all adds up to a lot of fun music being created through gameplay; a small touch to keep players entertained and immersed.
After a while, we get to a bonus section and are introduced to another new mask: Lani-Loli. They have the power to bring things in and out of existence.
It adds a lot of dynamic gameplay and pushes your dexterity to the limit.
After barely surviving the bonus stage, we continue forward on the path of death, but we have super fun music!
We grab the hidden Gem in the level and take a cannon to the final stretch of Off-Beats.
This involves some more musical platforming which ends on a nice rail grind section. This reminds me of a lot of Ratchet and Clank.
Ratchet and Clank are a long way from home!
We manage to get 4 gems this time around and call this level.
Crash Gets N.Verted
Now let’s take a step back and jump into an older level using the N. Verted take on it.
I decided to choose Hit the Road since it has a nice case sequence and is all around a really fun level.
If Crash changes the color scheme then I think it’s only fair I do to
To be honest, the N. Verted take on the level is only a colored skin over the existing level. From what I could tell the only thing that changes is the box placement and the level’s color scheme.
After some bad jokes and several deaths, I manage to claw my way to a bonus stage where I barely get through, but I do manage to get all the boxes, which is a great feeling.
Back onto the level, it goes just about how it went originally, just platforming through the fire, swinging death balls, jumping on ropes, and so forth.
CRASH RUN
The fun comes in when Crash runs in front of a giant truck looking to squash him, thankfully there is a rollerball to get us to safety.
After some sick jumps and blindly running away on a road, we can call this a level and move onward to 1996!
VHS Flashback Tapes from 1996
Taking a step back in time allows us to dive into some retro fun.
The Flashback tapes in Crash 4: It’s About Time are small trials to complete. A Flashback tape is rewarded for getting far enough into certain levels and not dying once.
They can be extremely challenging to get but I jump into “Bandicoot VS WOMBAT EVAL” to give it a try.
The Timestamp is a nice touch and it just looks so 90s
The puzzle aspect of the level makes it very challenging and after several failures, I decided to jump out and into a different level to end the episode with.
Coco Gets N.Verted
I decide to change to Coco to finish out the episode and jump into one final N. Verted level.
The black and white mixed with the spinning paint just looks amazing
In this level, the N Verted aspect is that everything is black and white until you spin or break boxes. It is a pretty cool take on adding visual interest to the level. Plus, you don’t get stuck in a completely monotone world.
Again, it doesn’t change the build of the level, just the box placement. But, man… it looks so good and plays so well you can overlook it to just experience the colors.
The music is the highlight of this level; it has a nice pirate vibe which coincides nicely with the atmosphere.
Combine that with the color palette, great controls, smooth gameplay and you’ve got something truly special.
By getting to the end, I manage to get a new skin and decide to call this an episode!
Is Crash 4: It’s About Time Amazing?
Crash 4 is a solid platformer that has a lot of content and is so much fun
Crash 4: It’s About Time is a game that I never thought would exist but I’m so glad it does.
It is a mix of all the previous Crash games rolled up into a creation that equals each game’s strengths.
Ramping up the platforming, the presentation, and the cartoony style is what it is all about.
Crash got the love and care he deserved. I would say that it is definitely worth your time, as it is the complete Bandicoot package. I highly recommend Crash 4: It’s About Time. It’s fun, fast, and frantic enough to keep you entertained for hours.
Check Out if Other Games Are Amazing!
December 22, 2020
Bugsnax Is Weird, Plain, and Simple (Bunger? Bunger!)
AHHHHHH (Bunger Bunger Bunger) | Bugsnax Gameplay [PS5]
Watch this video on YouTube.
Bugsnax is a weird game, no point in sugar-coating it, but that is what makes it such a special game.
There’s no combat due to Bugsnax being a puzzle game… a truly bizarre one at that.
You run around an island and collect the many creatures that inhabit it while also feeding the residents.
I mentioned that the game is a weird one and here is where that comes into play. But I’ll dig deep into that explanation later.
Bugsnax Time Stamps
- 0:00 Welcome to Bugsnaxs
- 1:25 Interviewing Gramble
- 4:27 Exploring the Town of Snaxburg
- 6:52 It gets Weird in Scorched Gorge
- 24:40 Is Bugsnaxs Amazing?
Let’s gather our nets and run into the great unknown as we catch some Bugsnaxs!
Welcome to Bugsnaxs
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Welcome to Bugsnax! Please take a seat, relax, and get comfortable. It’s a big world out there.
This game is weird, like really weird, like so weird that you have to play it to fully understand.
But otherwise, it’s a good solid puzzle game wrapped up tight in a time loop.
You run around a big island, make friends and capture the wildlife to feed it to people.
On paper this sounds pretty standard, but… the residents are a little too eager to start eating.
This is just the start, let’s dive right in by interviewing the residents and see if we can get to the bottom of this place.
Interviewing Gramble
When you interview residents it’s time to get serious
The interviewing aspect of the game is pretty straight forward; you just go down a checklist of interview questions.
It boils down to just picking an option and exhausting the rest of the list. Certain questions open up new dialog options, but it’s all linear.
The real fun comes from the interview! The character’s answers reveal insight into who they are and their various thoughts on the world.
The key draw is that each person has likes and dislikes about everyone else within Bugsnax.
After each interview, you usually get an item to move the story forward but I couldn’t figure out where to use the key that Gramble gave me.
Exploring the Town of Snaxburg
After the interview process, I take a bit to explore the town of Snaxburg.
It is a fairly big town that expands as you progress through the game. This happens as you bring back residents and various bugsnaxs.
It’s a big town for you to fill with your friends!
You can scan all the people within the world to see what their interests are and even the nature of their relationships with other characters.
The world runs off a day and night system which entails a live clock. With this, certain bugsnaxs come out only at specific times.
This book will keep track of your adventure
You can keep track of all the Bugsnax you collected, a map of the world, every character, your items, and even all your tools in a handy-dandy notebook.
It’s nice to have everything available all in one place to help keep you on track towards your goal in the Bugsnax world.
We run over to Gramble to get a side quest where you can donate Bugsnax to help expand your carrying space.
With that, let’s run into the Scorched Gorge and start catching some Bugsnax!
It Gets Weird in Scorched Gorge
This isn’t the weird part but keeps reading cause it’s coming
Here we run into our first Bugsnax as well as our first puzzle! This involves a scorpion and… popcorn kernels? Yes, you read that right.
The idea is that you can’t catch popcorn kernels because they’re too small for your trap.
What do you do with popcorn kernels and a scorpion made out of the fire? Well, you anger the scorpion who will shoot fireballs to light you on fire.
When on fire, you run over the kernels to make them pop. Once popped, they can be caught.
I wasn’t joking when I said you have to be lit on fire to solve this puzzle
I know that was a lot but that’s just the start of this insanity trip.
Next up is Spuddy, which is a rock and a baked potato. I fail to catch it, but man do I piss it off.
I run into Triffany (Yes, that is her name) and try to get her back to Snaxburg; the problem is that she needs help with her skeletons.
Before we move on, this is a good showcase of the 3D Pulse Headset that you can read more about by clicking here!
The audio is so well done and everything sounds amazing for every aspect of the game. This feature truly adds to the immersion in a great way!
I can’t find what she wants in this video but I’m working on it in my playthrough.
Pressing onward, we meet Cromdo the shifty salesman to get a new tool to help catch Bugsnax with the lunchpad (Puns, so many puns).
After a few failed attempts, I discover that you have to mix it with the buggy ball, and soon after it is all mine.
Cromdo wants 3 cheepoofs for payment for the lunchpad.
Bunger Bunger Bunger Bunger
I run into (my favorite Bugsnax) Bunger as I am catching the cheepoofs!
I love Bunger. He is the best part of the entire game and I won’t hear otherwise.
After a bunch of fails, I eventually get all 3 and we move onward to the weirdest part of the entire game.
This warning is here for a reason, I’m not joking
So this is the part I’ve been avoiding this entire time, the main draw of the game.
The critters you collect are all food which you then feed to the residents on the island.
Sounds reasonable enough until you start the feeding frenzy.
Depending on the Bugsnax you choose, the resident’s chosen body part will change to that animal in question.
Feeding Cromdo three Cheepoofs turns him into the picture below… I can’t make this up.
I said I wasn’t joking
Next up he wants a Fryder so off we go to toss the Snax Trap over to catch it and return to Cromdo.
I don’t even know what’s happening anymore
So, as you can see, Cromdo is becoming a carb combo as he sports cheese puff and fry limbs.
After we finish up the payment to the salesman we learn that he wants to change his feet into icicles so he can walk in the desert safely.
I don’t manage to get to the snowy area in this episode but I’m still working on it in my own time.
We end our tour of Scorched Gorge by finding a nice Desert Ruin Mural for a little backstory, the game is good at telling you the plot with the world.
I like that the world-building is part of the world
After taking a little nap, it is time to return to Snaxburg and wrap up this episode!
Is Bugsnax’s Amazing?
Bugsnax is weird, like really weird but damn if it isn’t a solid puzzle game
Bugsnax is a game that I didn’t put any thought into until it became free with PlayStation Plus.
But I’m so glad I gave it a shot to experience the world and try to figure out just what the heck is going on.
It is a solid puzzle game without too much flair and it doesn’t use anything with the PlayStation 5.
It looks great, plays satisfyingly smooth, and is challenging without being overbearing.
I’ve enjoyed my time with it, and if you give it a shot, I think you will too!
Bugsnax is weird, like really weird but damn if it isn’t a solid puzzle game
Check Out if Other Games Are Amazing!
December 15, 2020
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a PlayStation 5 Launch Game Masterpiece
Swinging Through the Spider-Verse | Spider-Man: Miles Morales Gameplay [PS5]
Watch this video on YouTube.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is what every launch game should strive to be, a showcase of everything the new console brings to the table.
From the quick loading to the rock-solid 30 FPS with Ray-Tracing, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a crazy impressive PlayStation 5 (PS5) title.
I spend way too much time swinging around the city and just having an absolute blast. As one does with any Spider-Man game!
Spider-Man: Miles Morales may not innovatively use the DualSense but everything else is so impressive that we can just let that slide.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Time Stamps
Having a lot to live up to with the first Spider-Man game back in 2018, let’s swing into action and don the mask!
Swinging Around as Miles Morales
Swinging around the city as Miles is easily the best part of the entire game
The first thing to do is spend some time swinging around the city as Miles.
Doing some sweet tricks in the Crimson Cowl Suit, I gear up for what is to come.
I take a moment to hype up the 3D audio via the Sony Pulse Headsets. If you’re interested, you can read all about them by clicking here!
It’s pretty crazy that the 3D audio adds an extra layer to the gameplay that I have never experienced before. It’s immersion on a whole new level. I recommend wearing the Sony headphones while playing any game on the PlayStation 5. That way you do not miss out on the experience as a whole.
After some more swinging and giving the Venom attack a shot, we stop a small crime in progress.
Taking out the bad guys is easy enough… even if I do let one getaway. But it is so fast that I’ll award myself a small victory!
I like the crimes in Miles a lot better than the original, they feel more organic and don’t play a part in 100% of the game. This is a big improvement from just waiting around in an area until the game decides to trigger a crime.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the ray-tracing! Running up to a window, you can see Miles’s reflection in real-time.
He’s in the window, this is crazy
This is a cool and big graphic upgrade from the older consoles. I am extremely impressed because it adds an intense layer to the gameplay that allows the world to feel more alive to the player.
Let’s go take on Roxxon and do a story mission with no loading to hold us back (can you tell that I love this feature?)!
Infiltrating the Roxxon Building
First things first, we have to get into the building. This requires us to take out 3 guards and start up a junction box to gain entrance.
Using Venom we can enter the building and go through a vent to gain deeper access.
If the loading is done via crawling through vents then that works for me, it’s so cool!
Coming out the other end introduces us to some bad guys. This gives us a chance to use Miles’ camouflage technique to stay off their radar.
Miles isn’t the only one who can use Camouflage
Taking out the guards we run into an unexpected face: The Prowler.
I didn’t know about the Prowler until “Into the Spider-Verse”, but it looks like Spider-Man: Miles Morales takes him in a whole different direction.
After a brief interaction, we decide to work together to grab a lost cell phone.
He gives us Remote Mines to use which are extremely helpful in the upcoming stealth section.
Using them in the next room, we take down a bunch of Roxxon villains and move onto a brief cutscene.
Just look at that insane level of detail
Crawling through another vent drops us into a new room of baddies to take down.
I screw up the stealth and go full combat mode utilizing all my tools like holograms, takedowns, and many-a-combo until they’re all beaten down.
From here we unlock some more things to do in the open-world side of the game. We get to the massive room with the cell phone at the bottom. It has a gigantic fan that needs to be shut down before progressing further.
Making my way down, I take out all the guards without being detected until we get to the phone. Another cutscene happens but I refuse to spoil it here. You’ll have to watch the video! (Or… you know… play the game).
Asking the Prowler to open the giant fan’s reactor, Miles uses his Venom powers to shut it down.
Miles isn’t the only one who can harness Venom!
Miles takes all the juice from the reactor and we get a cool cutscene that walks us through an exploding hallway.
In the midst of it all, we lose the phone we worked so hard for. Now the name of the game is to escape the Roxxon building in one piece.
Getting to the top, we face a new type of bad guy with a shield; all you need to do is hold the web attack to pull it away and then throw it back.
After a short combat encounter, the Prowler joins in for a bit but eventually, we get overwhelmed and have to escape to a subway tunnel.
Another quick cutscene graces our scenes before we reach the exit to the city’s open-world. Now it is time to swing around in the Spider-Verse!
Swinging Around in the Spider-Verse
Easily the coolest–if not the best part–of this game is swinging around the city. Insomniac additions are beyond awesome and make the experience a great one.
You can equip an option to make Miles move around in a slower frame-rate to match the Spider-Verses movie framerate style.
You feel like you’re in the movie when you have everything equipped
Swinging through the city reveals just how the city moves at a solid 30 FPS while Miles moves in a different universe.
I didn’t want Miles to have all the low frame-rate fun so I decided to lower my frame-rate to be on even footing.
Pro tip: if you listen to the Spider-Verse soundtrack while swinging around like this you feel so cool.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
The app is a great addition that allows you to choose what you want to do next easily
After a bit of swinging, I pull up the Quest App Miles has access to and decide where we go next.
I choose to save a man stuck on a skyscraper and zip over to save the day.
The side mission isn’t anything crazy or super in-depth, just simply chat for a bit, take down some bad guys, and restore power to save the worker.
After that’s completed, we remove the lower frame-rate and go back to the Crimson Cowl Suit.
A Look Through the Upgrade Menu
Let’s take a look at what kind of upgrades Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers.
You can upgrade equipment, change out suits, and equip whatever additional powers you want.
I’m a big fan of the fact that the suit powers aren’t forcibly tied to the suit so you can pick how you want Miles to look but are not restricted to a specific upgrade based solely on the clothing.
Next, we have the upgrade tree which looks kind of small but has a lot of offer in terms of making Miles stronger.
This in turn just makes the game more fun and easier to tackle bad guys.
There isn’t a lot of upgrades but what’s here is very useful
Spider Cache, Spider Cache, Does Whatever a Spider Cache Does
We take a quick detour to go grab an Underground Cache that gives you a Tech Part.
I nearly got run over by a massive tank, which surprised me as it’s the first time the game did something like that. Gotta keep us on our spidey-toes!
Well worth the effort
Tech Parts can be used to purchase new abilities, acquire new suits, and upgrade your gadgets.
A Look Through the Menus
I don’t have enough Tech Parts at the moment
So the menu is where you do everything from upgrading to suit changes.
You can wear suits and powers on the fly at any point during the game.
There’s no restarting a mission or jumping back to another menu; it’s all real-time.
This way you can be the Spider-Man you want to be!
There are also Time-Capsules to collect as well as podcasts to listen to.
One of the best parts is that the map is already fully unlocked, unlike the original Spider-Man where you have to bring it into focus. The map is fully visible and everything is laid out so you can play at your own pace.
Stopping a Store Robbery
We’ll send out the episode on a high note by stopping a store robbery.
Taking a quick swing through the city, we end up outside a small convenience store and begin to hurl trash cans at the robbers.
This makes quick work of them after some solid venom attacks and the city is made safer.
The big takeaway here is that the crimes are organic and not a key part of the open-world anymore.
In the original Spider-Man, you could spend hours swinging around one location just waiting for that final crime to take place.
Now they just show up as you swing around and are not tethered to the game’s overall completion which is nice.
Is Spider-Man: Miles Morales Amazing?
Spider-Man Miles Morales is a very impressive PlayStation 5 launch game
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an impressive launch game where you won’t have anything less than a good time playing it.
It shows off the true power of the PlayStation 5 with the speed of the loading to the ray-tracing graphics.
We saw the combat, stealth, and some story beats that all combine to make something truly memorable.
It is nothing short of impressive and that makes me excited to see what Spider-Man 2 could hold for the future.
This is a stunning first look at what we have to look forward to in the future.
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December 8, 2020
Astro’s Playroom is the Love Letter Playstation Deserves
FEELING THE DUALSENSE | Astro's Playroom – SSD Speedway Gameplay [PS5]
Watch this video on YouTube.
Astro’s Playroom is a game that comes installed on all PlayStation 5 (PS5) consoles.
There is no excuse for you not to immediately dive in while other games install. How could you not? With a fresh new system, no one wants to wait. It’s great that Sony gave us something to immediately try out.
Astro’s Playroom is a showcase of the PS5 and DualSense controller that showcases everything you can look forward to.
Whether it be the DualSenses haptic feedback or simply the 3D audio, Astro’s Playroom is here to give you a full course meal.
On top of all that, it can be viewed as a love letter to all things PlayStation, any number of games are thrown in and it’s a true joy to discover them all.
Astro’s Playroom – SSD Speedway Gameplay Time Stamps
Let’s grab our DualSense and fling into just what the heck makes Astro’s Playroom such a remarkable PlayStation 5 launch game.
Astro’s Playroom and the DualSense Controller
Words alone do not do this controller justice, you have to experience it for yourself
Seven years, five consoles, some handhelds in the mix, and we are finally here: the PlayStation 5.
Astro’s Playroom is a game that comes installed on every console and is an amazing showcase for the brand new console.
I could not believe that this free title would be the most impressive thing in the entire console package.
The breakout star of the show is the DualSense controller. It is insanely impressive and feels like it was brought to us from the future.
Starting at the CPU PLAZA–the hub world–we move straight to SSD SpeedWay to play through an entire level.
SSD SpeedWay Turbo Trail
Jumping right into the level we put up a nice stop clock to showcase just how fast levels load.
How games can load in 3 seconds is beyond me and extremely impressive
We can load the level in roughly 3 seconds by jumping into the level option from the hub world.
This is unreal and a true testament to just how far we have come from the days of buffering loading screens.
Honestly, faster loading is one of the best parts of this new set of consoles. It is just such a nice quality of life improvement.
SSD Speedway is all about the DualSenses touchpad as we use it to slingshot around. Then we use the motion built into it to fly around.
We dodge some flying cars and land on a little island where we see Kat from Gravity Rush floating on the side of a wall.
Controlling Gravity has never looked so good
Moving forward we do another slingshot through some future traffic and run into the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy.
The remake was phenomenal and seeing the buster sword was awesome
One more slingshot, a spin attack, and we move onto the final section of this first part of the level.

Taking a little downward detour, we run into Pyramid Head from Silent Hill and try not to get dragged away.
I’m glad they weren’t afraid to put in M rated games into Astro
It is a cool collaboration and an amazing trip down memory lane to have every PlayStation game here, at least in some form even if they are not represented outright.
You will be starstruck and enjoy all of the throwbacks.
Moving forward, we have Ratchet and Clank show up holding a ton of bolts.
I feel bad hitting Ratchet to make him drop the bolts
The soldiers from Killzone make an appearance while holding the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter.
That’s a lot of soldiers, I wonder what they are up to…
We even get the soldier from Resistance: Fall of Man; a nice touch!
Fitting
Moving back behind some boxes, we uncover our first Artifact: the DualShock 2 Controller, which I mistake for the DualShock 3.
It is awesome that there is so much detail packed into something our eyes skim over so fast.
The detail of the controller is on another level and the ray-tracing helps bring it to life.
It even mirrors your button presses on the DualSense. Truly a well-done feature; you can’t help but smile.
The amount of detail is just unmatched
We send it off to the PlayStation Labo and continue up to the rocket.
As I continue through the level I take a moment to talk about the DualSense.
You can feel Astro walking on the ground and on different terrain. The specific vibrations in the control make it so grass feels different than steel in your palms. Every coin you pick up has a little vibration attached to the command, letting you know that you picked up a specific object.
I am also utilizing the 3D Pulse Headset, which I did an unboxing of which you can check out by clicking here.
The 3D audio is no joke, it’s wildly impressive and adds a new layer of immersion to Astro’s Playroom that I have never experienced during gameplay before.
The duo of the DualSense and the 3D Pulse Headset adds up to be a new sensory experience for gameplay. I truly am so hyped for more.
As I’m getting hyped for the headphones, I fail to pay attention and face my first death of the video, but the loading is so fast it doesn’t matter.
I also unboxed the PlayStation 5 which you can read all about by clicking here.
We climb the rocket and get ready to cache some caves.
SSD SpeedWay Caching Caves
The game suddenly shifts into a fun space flight game where you have to use the controller’s triggers to fly around.
To get in the air we have to use the controller to zip up and launch into space.
Seriously something as simple as playing with a zipper is crazy fun
Using the controllers triggers to full speed the thrusters we move onward and upwards.

We run into a really old PS1 game called Vib-Ribbon; an awesome callback to a classic of the brand.
They dug deep for some true PlayStation gems
We get to light some fireworks and grab a new Artifact: the PS2 Multitap.
I’ll be honest… I completely forgot this existed
We come across some spider webs where you need to push the triggers in harder to break through and discover the next Artifact of the level.
The PS2 Memory card is incredibly detailed and gives me those nostalgic feelings that all gamers enjoy every once in a while.
8MB of storage used to be a lot
We land, get out of the spaceship, and move into Deep Space.
SSD Speedway Deep Space
After a small trek in, we run into Dante from Devil May Cry shooting a clown with Ebony and Ivory, then if you hit him he does a little sword attack.
Dante doing what he does best, shooting clowns
We get to pull a PlayStation Move Controller and blast away to make a cool looking fireworks show.
Rolling around, we discover the ball from Katamari Damacy and do some sweet rolls.
It’s filled with PlayStation pins, which is super fun
Next up is Wipeout, a sweet racing game that I hope comes to the PlayStation 5.
So much fun, so little time
We jump up some bouncy floors and get to a section where you need to blow into the controller to spin a cool windmill. This brings me back to the 3DS days… but the mechanic works so much better now.
Getting hit by a meteor doesn’t stop us from grabbing the next artifact, which is a PS2 Game Disk showing a nod to Ico.
The Ray-Tracing helps bring the disk to life
Onto the next part, we get a sweet little minigun where you can just shoot all the enemies away which is extremely fun.
Next, we run into the ship from Resogun which was a PS4 launch game.
For a PS4 launch game Resogun was surprisingly rad
A little more traversing allows us to move into the final part of the level which involves the ship again.
SSD Speedway Orbital Obstacles
Using the touchpad to zip up, we take to space once again to fly through, collect coins, dodge bad guys poorly, and make a beeline towards the end.
A couple of deaths won’t stop me from getting the next artifact: the PlayStation 2 Slim (rendered beautifully, might I add).
You can even open the disk tray
Moving onward, we hit a cold underground ice palace where we find the SingStar Mic.
The DualSense Mic works just as well as the real deal
The thing that caught me off guard was the surprise boss fight in the level, which wasn’t hard, just a good showcase of how much value this game has.
We take him down and move onto the final part of the level, which is the PlayStation 2 start-up screen.
Which yes, I was crazy nostalgic for this portion because it was so freaking cool.
You get to walk around the start-up screen and see the city building around you as you gaze into the cosmos.
We finish it up and get the final artifact which is the PlayStation 2 in all of its nostalgic glory!
Ahhh Memories
PlayStation Labo
After you finish a level in Astro’s Playroom, you get to go to the PlayStation Labo which is your PlayStation memorabilia hub.
Everything you collect gets stored here for you to view and play with.
The one-stop-shop for everything and anything PlayStation
They all have their little animations and everything feels alive, it’s just so fun.
There’s a claw game you can play to get more collectibles and spend the coins you’ve gathered throughout your journey. It reminds me of the trophy-buying in Smash Bros.
We open some captchas and move onto the final part of the video, a quick speedrun via the Space Walk level!
Space Run Network Speed Run
I decided to take on the Space Walk Speed Run challenge and desperately try my best to get a good time.
I falter early on but this is a good chance to show off just how fast you can restart a run in seconds, so I don’t lose too much time.
Some challenging platforming, a quick run later, I complete the task, and we can close out the video!
Is Astro’s Playroom Amazing?
Astro’s Playroom is amazing, hands down, no contest.
Astro’s Playroom is a jaw-dropping masterpiece for the PS5 launch title.
For a game that didn’t have much going for it and not too big of a presence, it truly delivers.
It’s a great platformer that doesn’t overstay its welcome, is a grand time, and shows you why you should be excited to own a PlayStation 5.
I love every second I’m playing it and I could not be more impressed with the DualSense.
From the controller, the graphics, the music, and everything else, Astro’s Playroom is a great pack-in that everyone should play the first thing on their shiny new console.
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December 1, 2020
Halo 3 ODST on PC is the Ultimate Halo Gameplay Experience
Becoming the Rookie | Halo 3 ODST PC Remastered (Gameplay)
Watch this video on YouTube.
Halo 3 ODST is a game that sets a precedent for future games.
It’s the harbinger of Halo Infinite–that game that got delayed and couldn’t make it to the Xbox Series X launch? Yup, that one.
I talk about it in my Xbox Series X Unboxing video. You can check it out by clicking here to get caught up!
It is a shame that it wasn’t ready for prime time but at least we have Halo 3 ODST gameplay to keep us entertained!
Halo 3 ODST is my favorite Halo game. It took a chance and did things that other games just weren’t doing back in 2009.
Halo 3 ODST Time Stamps
Let’s orbital drop into some Halo 3 ODST gameplay and see why Halo Infinite has got a lot to live up to.
When Master Chief Calls, You Answer
I got John 117 on speed dial via my Razor Flip Phone, yeah I know I’m pretty cool
But before we get to the gameplay let’s review some background information on Halo 3 ODST as a whole.
You take on the role of the Rookie, a recruit in the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) ranks whose first mission was to drop into New Mombasa.
The covenant comes to glass the planet as you drop in and you get separated from your crew.
So basically the Rookie has three jobs to accomplish throughout the game.
- Find what happened to your crew?
- Discover what happened to the city?
- And piece together what the hell is going on?
All of this and more is answered throughout the game.
The Orbital Elevator Falls on New Mombasa
Starting as Dutch we jump right into blasting through some covenant on the beach and tear through some wraiths.
We’ve got brute choppers and everything trying to stop our warthog from making it to the orbital space elevator.
The important thing to note is that I do have the I Would Have Been Your Daddy (IWHBYD) skull turned on.
So we do get some humorous language throughout the episode that you would never hear otherwise.
I was really glad to see that the game just came with all the skulls unlocked from the start rather than having to unlock them all manually.
The game is all about the player trying to piece together the mystery of what happened to the Rookie and his ODST crew.
The Rookie is the strong silent type, basically the opposite of me
You are not a Spartan, you are an ODST, a difference that should not be taken lightly.
Spartans are giant, hulking, super-soldiers while the ODST is more like the universal soldier that goes in and gets things done.
Both have their places in the Halo Universe but I think the ODSTs are way cooler than any Spartan could hope to be.
After a few firefights, we move onto the space elevator, which is sadly taken down by the covenant, and make a mad dash for the level exit.
We roll the warthog through the battlefield and fall off a cliff to end the level. This brings us back to the present to see what the Rookie is up to.
The thing to take note of is that this sequence was in the past and the Rookie is in the present. A conundrum that I can explain…
The Rookie Verses New Mombasa
We join the Rookie as the world gets a little brighter but we still need our night vision.
The first thing to note is that this game has a map, which is an insane asset for a Halo game.
It’s been done before Halo Infinite made it cool
If you thought Halo Infinite’s map was crazy… well, it’s been done before.
Now we can choose our next mission from a few different options and then move around the open-world city to get there.
The game is linear, but you can choose how you want to piece the story together and what missions to do in what order.
New Mombasa is big and there’s a lot to do and discover while fighting the covenant and brutes throughout.
So, we set a waypoint and move out.
The city was designed with little mechanics where the game tells you how to get around. These can be anything from car horns to phone booths helping to navigate you.
This was insane to think about back when Halo 3 ODST came out; games today do this kind of world-building all the time. But back when this launched it was jaw-droppingly cool.
We find a phone ringing and gather an audio log we can listen to on our way to the objective.
Pressing forward through some covenant, we end up at the ONI building to see that it is on fire.
Time to see what happened to this building as well as the bridge
Defending the ONI Building
We once again play as Dutch and start by arming some bombs on the bridge.
The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are cool and here’s what they got:
- Humor
- Class
- Style
- And an incomparable badass-ness
Arming the bombs and getting a safe distance away, I learn that the AI that runs the city is named Vergil.
We run up a ladder and make the bombs go BOOM to help stop the covenant advance.
That’s a good explosion right there
After taking out the bridge, we retreat into the front yard of the ONI building and fight wave after wave of the covenant before we have to hunker down inside.
From here we take control of a turret and decimate everything that comes our way.
Once the stragglers are taken care of we take a very unsafe elevator ride to the top of the building to hold out until a pelican can come to the rescue.
It’s just a few more enemies to take out before we’re at a safe distance and destroy the building the covenant was so keen on taking control of.
Vergil is not a fan of property damage
Once More Unto the Rookie
Going back to the Rookie, we get a notification that a supply cache is now available. Time to make a beeline right to it!
Grabbing a few good weapons–like a sniper rifle–we are now fully prepped to continue through the city and onward to the final mission.
Some brutes and grunts try to stop us but they are no match against our new arsenal, as we now can tear through everything in our path with ease.
We get to a creepy building filled with dead bodies and we make our way to the last mission. Time to try to figure out just what’s going on.
Tank You, Tank You Very Much
We move onto the final part of the episode where we take control of Mickey 90 minutes after the start of the game. We also get to drive some Scorpion tanks.
This mission is pretty straightforward: just fight your way forward and kill everything with a tank.
It’s a ton of fun–and oddly difficult considering the tank handicap–but it’s easy mode.
You go through the city in daylight so you can see the city has some life rather than pitch-black darkness.
It allows you to appreciate the city in a way one cannot do at night. Even while everything is exploding.
Once we get to the end of the mission we just need to defeat a few wraiths and meet up with our squad to call it.
Is Halo 3 ODST Amazing?
Halo 3 ODST is a superb game and easily my favorite in the Halo lineup
Halo 3 ODST is a game that impressed back when it first came out. It still impresses to this day.
It is hands down my favorite Halo game. It has such a unique take on the series that it is nothing less than memorable.
Halo Infinite has a lot to live up to with Halo 3 ODST casting a shadow.
It feels like the first steps towards Halo Infinite and Bungie took a risk that paid off.
I think the game is amazing, a true classic. If you have Game Pass don’t miss out on this incredible Halo game.
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November 24, 2020