Heroes of the Storm officially launching in four South East Asia countries

Blizzard's upcoming MOBA Heroes of the Storm is officially coming to South East Asia. Asiasoft in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, Inc will be in charge of operating and marketing the game in Thailand and Singapore while Asiasoft's subsidiaries, CiB Net Station, will handle the game in Malaysia. For the Philippines, well, we have Level Up! in charge of the game's operations...great. 

So what does that mean? Nothing is clear at this point, we have yet to hear the details on what makes it different from  officially launching the game in respected countries rather than simply logging in through Battle.net through their Asian servers once the game goes live. But official releases in South East Asia for highly anticipated games are always welcomed.

As of this posting, distribution of Heroes of the Storm is still download-only. We'll have to wait to see what are the launch plans for each country.

"Heroes of the Storm will bring together many of the most popular heroes and villains from more than 20 years of Blizzard games," said Paul Sams, COO of Blizzard Entertainment. "Our focus on team combat and map-based objectives make the game accessible to new players, while offering depth for competitive gamers as well. We believe gamers in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines will love playing Heroes of the Storm."

With the sudden rise of the MOBA(Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre, it's only fitting to have Blizzard finally entering the fray. It's currently crowded thanks to games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Smite, but from what we see in the early stages of the game's beta, their sole aim is to retain the team-play aspect while providing something completely new.

Heroes of the Storm is currently on Alpha testing and no release date has been given. For the mean time, watch Raynor battle Diablo, while Kerrigan dog fights Tyrael in the air in this trailer. God those cinematics...

Review: Strider [PC]

It took awhile, but Strider was brought back to the spotlight thanks to studio Double Helix (Killer Instinct) and oh, did they do a great job at staying true to the original content. A fast-paced download only game that keeps you hooked with non-stop action and level design that we think should be used more often in future platformers. Flailing a sword around at blazing speeds never felt this satisfying.

Quick - that is the best way to describe this action-adventure platformer. You play as the famous Strider Hiryu, a ninja with one simple task -- take down the evil Grandmaster Meio in the heavily fortified metropolis of Kazakh City. Right off the bat, with not much of an introduction about anything, you find Hiryu gliding into the city along with the first wave of enemies ready to warm your blade. There’s never a dull moment in Strider. Every room is filled with enemies to engage, and based on the level of your performance, you may clear even the most challenging areas in just seconds. The better you understand your enemies, the faster the game gets. Strider is all about the action; it doesn’t bother giving much explanation or character progression at all. No backstory of Strider Hiryu’s past or why he wants to take down Grandmaster Meio. That’s just how it is, and this game works well that way. The cheesy lines are already bad enough, but once the short dialogue in between boss fights and new locations end, the fun continues.

The most appealing part of the game is its level design. It greatly reminded me of the old Metroid games on SNES, as well as the best Castlevania game in history – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (well, that’s my opinion). It’s played as an open world side-scroller with upgrades and unlockables tucked away around this huge map waiting to be explored. Every locale in Kazakh City has its own unique visual and technical appeal. From the sewers to the military compound, each area you come across has its own personality, providing different ways to tackle the area. Some might be heavier on enemies, while some require you to watch where you jump. From combat to platforming, this game keeps on changing gears, preventing any repetitive tension.

Objectives are given to move forward in the game, but thanks to its Metroid style of level design, you get that feeling of wanting to just explore. As you progress, new weapons and skills are unlocked, which also serve as keys to certain locations in the city. You will find doors requiring a specific upgrade, and once you get it, you can’t help but backtrack to see what’s behind that door you couldn’t access. Controls are easy to grasp from the get-go, but they soon evolve as you get more abilities to use. There are some enemies that can only be defeated with specific abilities, but this doesn’t hinder the freedom of play, only adding to the fun and creative methods with which you can dispose of Grandmaster Meio’s henchmen.

You will eventually come across different flavors for Strider Hiryu’s preferred weapon – the plasma sword Cypher – which provide different properties depending which one you equip. One gives you the ability to deflect incoming projectiles, while another freezes enemies with a single touch. These are color-coded and can be switched anytime during play via the directional pad. This gives more depth to the combat, and at the end you’ll find yourself constantly switching Cyphers based on the current situation. From summoning mechanical animals to throwing kunai to extra movements like the addicting dash, gameplay evolves constantly throughout this 4-6 hour experience, keeping the combat from ever going dull.

Sadly, the game isn’t so difficult. So don’t come in expecting a challenge, even on its hardest difficulty.  Every enemy has a pattern and once you learn how to exploit these patterns, you find yourself going through them, no sweat. This also applies to the bosses in the game, which have great mechanics I haven’t seen in a long time. Every boss I’ve experienced in Strider is memorable, especially that last fight which doesn’t make any sense at all (you’ll understand once you get there). You’re always left at the edge of your seat after every fight. Yes, it’s easy, but the combat is so satisfying that the lack of challenge didn’t rear itself as a problem for me. I find enjoyment in disposing of enemies in the fastest possible ways. Oh, and let’s not forget the soundtrack, which not only gives you a bit of nostalgia, but supports the gameplay very well in keeping you invested.

In between all the slashing, this is also a platforming game, with Strider Hiryu jumping, dashing, and climbing walls and roofs to reach the next area. Hiryu still moves just like he did back in the classic games. I consider it a big plus that Double Helix kept our hero true to the original. The classic cartwheel jump returns, as well as the upward slash you might see in previous games as well as in Marvel VS Capcom 2 or 3. Animations aside, the platforming elements aren’t a tedious feat thanks to the solid controls. You won’t find yourself fighting against how Strider moves, making the platforming aspect of the game a fun break from all the combat. You are always in control, so when things go the wrong way, it’s hard to fault the game’s design.

I’ve already mentioned that exploration is greatly encouraged, but the rewards you receive once you find new areas are very underwhelming. Some do give you upgrades like increased kunai range or increased life, but don’t quite give a good boost in the overall gameplay, making them something that can be ignored. You can also find a variety of concept art (which I believe should not be a reward for exploring), challenge maps, and trial maps that you can access in the main menu. Don’t be surprised with these maps though, since they provide little meat to the game. It’s a decent 5-minute experience of you either taking down waves of enemies or you reaching a certain spot in the world map the fastest way possible. You can also find new costumes for Strider Hiryu, which isn’t much of a plus, since they’re just different colors of the same outfit.

These additions may add to the replay value, but there’s no option to explore further once you enter the last part of the game. Once you finish it, you can’t reload and revisit places you haven’t explored. Instead, you lose your save, and you’ll have to replay the whole experience again. So, before entering the last part, make sure you’ve explored everything that interests you.

For a $15 download-only title, it’s definitely worth diving into a series we haven’t seen in years. The combat is satisfying, even if it tends to hurt the fingers with the constant need to swing your sword for hours. The visuals are colorful and look amazing in 60 FPS. Specific design touches like Strider Hiryu’s scarf and the returning bosses from previous games are well appreciated, making Strider a nice benchmark for developers looking to reboot a franchise. It stays true to the original content and exports it to a more modern look and feel. Whether you’re a fan of the series or have never tried Strider, you’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll have as Strider Hiryu.

SCORE: 9/10

Reviewer: Carlos Hernandez Strider was reviewed on the Windows PC platform Game completion was at 64% Recorded game time was at 6:25:00

PROS

-       Quick combat

-       Vast world map to explore

-       Stays true to original content

-       Memorable boss fights

CONS

-       No option to revisit your playthrough after the last part of the game

After 3 Long Years...

 

Finally! After 3 long hellish years of outdated PC specs I've finally had enough cash to update it, it's now safe to say to all Too Much Gaming fans, "Hello boys! I'm back!" -quoted from Independence Day by the guy that was probed by aliens.

Here is the before and after specs of my PC:

	Before	After
Motherboard	Intel Desktop Board D946BZAB	MSI Z87-G45 Gaming
Processor	Intel Dual Core E6500 3.0Ghz	Intel Core i5 4670 3.4Ghz
Video Card	HIS ATi Radeon HD 4670 512MB GDDR3	Sapphire ATi HD 6850 1GB GDDR5
Memory	Corsair Value Select 2x1GB DDR2	Corsair Vengence 2x4GB DDR3
Storage	Seagate Barracuda (320GB & 80GB)	Seagate Barracuda(1TB & 320GB)
Audio	SB Creative Audigy Value2	Realtek ALC1150
CPU Cooler	Deep Cool Alpha 200 plus	Cooler Master TPC 812
Casing	Cooler Master HAF 922	Cooler Master HAF 922
Power Supply	Ion2 600watts	Ion2 600watts

Side by side picture of the before and after, notice the enormous amount of dust that was piled up, it’s evidence of how long the previous system and I have been together.

Before

 

After

Here’s a small description of the new parts that I placed, hope it could help those who want to do an upgrade.

Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming *features and specifications are from the MSI website.

Features

• Intel® Z87 Express Chipset
• Supports 4th Gen Intel® Core™ / Pentium® / Celeron® processors for LGA 1150 socket
• Supports DDR3-3000(OC) Memory
• USB 3.0 + SATA 6Gb/s
• Audio Boost: Reward Your Ears with True Quality
• Killer Ethernet: Kill Your Lag
• Military Class 4: Top Quality & Stability
• OC Genie 4: Overclock in 1 Second
• Click BIOS 4: Easily Fine-tune Your System
• PCI Express Gen 3: World's 1st PCI Express Gen 3 Motherboard Brand
• Multi-GPU: NVIDIA SLI & AMD CrossFire Support
• Sound Blaster Cinema: Realistic Surround Sound Experience
• Gaming Device Port: Optimized with Triple Gold-plating for High Polling Rate Gaming Devices
• Total Fan Control: Optimize All Fan Speed As You Wish

Specifications

• Socket: 4th Generation Intel LGA 1150
• Chipset: Intel® Z87 Express Chipset
• DDR3 Memory: 1066/1333/1600/ up to 3000*(*OC) MHz
• DIMM Slots: 4
• Max Memory (GB): 32
• PCIe 3.0 x16 slots: 3
• PCI-E Gen: Gen3 (16,0,0), (8,8,0), (8,4,4)
• PCIe 2.0 x1 slots: 4
• SATAIII slots: 6
• LAN: 10/100/1000*1
• USB 3.0 ports: 2(Front) & 4(Rear)
• USB 2.0 ports: 6(Front) & 2(Rear)
• Audio: Realtek® ALC1150 Codec
• Video: On-board VGA / DVI / HDMA
• Form Factor: 12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) ATX Form Factor
• SLI / Crossfire: Supports 3-Way AMD CrossFire Technology or Supports 2-Way NVIDIA SLI Technology

“Let the games begin: MSI GAMING motherboards are designed to provide gamers with best-in-class features and technology. Backed by the imposing looks of MSI's Dragon, each motherboard is an engineering masterpiece tailored to gaming perfection.”- quoted from MSI’s website.

First 4 words alone were enough to capture my interest; but, this board wasn’t my first choice. Initially, I considered Gigabyte but due to my lazy ass I opted for a more easily obtainable board on the Philippine market which is MSI and based on the reviews that I’ve read, as well as, my initial impressions, the board is great.

MSI Z87-G45 is neatly organized and properly labelled; it even has instructions on what DIMM slots to use when using two memory sticks. The MSI dragon adds a fierce and serious look to the board; but, it would’ve been nice if the dragon has red LEDs. Another slight disappointment is that the board isn’t black, it’s brownish not that anyone would notice when it’s put in place still would be good if it’s black.

The BIOS is a thing of beauty, the whole interface can be operated via mouse and there’s a nifty feature there called “Explore Board” where you’ll be taken into a visual representation of the board where you can identify which and what part is connected. You can also find the overclock genie in the BIOS for a one click overclock setup, which let me note early on that I’m not a fan of overclocking. Other features also include the Military Class 4 label, means that the board can endure high levels of stress and temperature, and that the components used are of good quality. You can check out the link for the tests made: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/msi_certifies_military_class_components_claims. Another is the “Killer Ethernet” which can be set to prioritize the games to use the LAN connection, will try that out in the future. Last but certainly not the least is the gold plated USB ports which ensure good communications between your gaming devices and the board.

Audio: Realtek ALC1150 (On-board) *features and specifications are from the MSI website.

Features

• Studio level Integrated 600Ω Headphone amplifier
• Golden audio jacks for pure audio signals
• EMI shielded audio codec
• High quality audio capacitors

Good bye to my very old SB Creative Audigy, the card has served me for a long time give or take 10 years; it’s still operational but the hardware is severely out-dated that you can no longer buy this type of card anywhere. Using an on-board audio is a first for me so during my initial sound testing of rock n’ roll music, I was pleased that it came out great. I expect that games with roaring sounds will come of crystal clear.

Based on the website of MSI, the RealTek ALC1150 runs on a different circuitry which would mean that you should encounter less interference, like the website says. Just like the USB and PS/2 ports, the audio ports are gold plated for better conductibility of the jacks –I may need to buy another speakers to fully appreciate the sound. However, even when the audio jack is not gold plated you can still hear the clear and full sound of any game or music.

The only problem I had is installing the drivers, the ones in the installation CD is obsolete that whenever I install the driver, the driver crashes and no more audio. I was able to fix the problem by completely removing the driver and then installing the latest one from MSI website, after doing that it was all smooth sailing.

Notice that it glows, too bad the MSI dragon doesn’t

Video: Sapphire ATi HD 6850 1GB DDR5 *features and specifications are from the Sapphire website.

Features

• HDMI (with 3D) Support for Deep Color, 7.1 High Bitrate Audio, and 3D Stereoscopic
• AMD Eyefinity Technology
• AMD CrossFireX Multi-GPU Technology
• AMD HD3D Technology
• Accelerated Video Transcoding
• Dolby TrueHD and DTSHD Master Audio Support
• Physics processing support
• AMD Advanced Parallel Processing technology
• TriXX UtilityAMD
• PowerPlay

Specifications

• Display Support: 4 x Maximum Display Monitor(s) support
• Output: 1 x HDMI (with 3D) & 1 x DisplayPort & 1 x Dual-Link DVI-I, 1 x Single-Link DVI-D
• GPU: 775 MHz Core Clock
• Video Memory: 1024 MB Size GDDR5

First of I’d like to give a shout out to Daniel Marco Cabral for without him I wouldn’t have this video card. He gave it to me as a present before resigning, that’s right you heard it correct, “as a present” –translation: FREE!

Just like my audio card, the current video card in my build is way above the specifications of its predecessor. I tried playing Skyrim on my old video card, it such an atrocity to the game that I immediately stopped and removed. Now, I can run Skyrim on a high level setting, I can still push it to ultra high if I want. Safe to say, PC Gaming I’m back!

Processor: Intel Core i5 4670 3.4 GHz *specifications are from the Intel website.

Specifications:

• Sockets Supported: LGA1150
• Number of Cores: 4
• Number of Threads: 4
• Clock Speed: 3.4 GHz
• Max Turbo Frequency: 3.8 GHz
• Cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache
• Max Memory Size: 32 GB
• Memory Types: DDR3-1333/1600
• Number of Memory Channels: 2
• Intel 64bit: Yes

I had two options for the processor, first one was 4670k and the second one 4670. Both exactly the same in terms of specifications, the only difference is the locking of the processor. I was about to buy the 4670k but then I figured since I won’t overclock my machine might as well go for the locked version cause it’s cheaper.

Installation of the processor is a breeze; it’s just like any CPU installation. Place the processor over the motherboard pins, take note of the orientation then carefully drop the processor over the pins, after lock the processor in place and you’re done. I didn’t use the stock CPU cooler, I know it’s over kill but my experience with stuff over heating is notable. The experience has taught me to go for a good cooler rather than breaking it early, and considering that the Core i5 cost me money, I’d like to keep it safe for a long time.

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3 *features and specifications are from the Corsair website.

Features

• Maximize your system memory capacity for ultimate performance
• Specially selected RAMs for overclocked performance
• Includes XMP performance profile

Specifications

• Heat Spreader: Vengeance
• Memory Configuration: Dual Channel
• Package Memory Format: DIMM
• Memory Size: 8GB Kit (2 x 4GB)
• SPD Latency: 9-9-9-24
• SPD Speed: 1333MHz
• Tested Latency: 9-9-9-24
• Tested Speed: 1600Mhz

Corsair Vengeance is one mean looking memory stick. The fins give it a mean look, and unlike the Corsair Dominator where the fins are all slim and straight wards, the Vengeance have wide fins curved at an angle giving it a more sophisticated look. The fins are about an inch long, which is common for high profile memory modules, are a nuisance when I installed my cooler because I had to adjust the fan, I’ll get into the details for that fiasco in a bit.

Performance wise, all memories are somewhat the same; there are very little performance difference between using a regular memory and a high profile one. Only difference is how it’s cooled, a regular is dependent on air cooling and a high profile one has a heat spreaders in order to withstand higher temperatures when overclocking. I choose Corsair because since I got into PC gaming, Corsair has always been my go to memory and I’m not about to change that.

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master TPC 812 *features and specifications are from the Corsair website.

Features

• Uses 2 separate cooling technologies to transfer heat – heat pipes and Vertical Vapor Chambers.
• The first-ever CPU heatsink to use Vertical Vapor Chamber technology.
• 100% pure polished copper base – combined with improved soldering technologies for the best thermal transfer.
• Special fin design – heatsink receives concentrated cold airflow.
• Improved air pressure design and fan mounting system.

Specifications

• Intel Socket: LGA 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 1150 / 775
• AMD Socket: FM2 / FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2
• Dimension: 138 x 103 x 163mm (5.4 x 4.1 x 6.4 in)
• Heat Sink Dimensions: 134 x 74 x 158 mm (5.3 x 2.9 x 6.2 in)
• Heat Sink Material: Copper Base / 2 Vapor Chambers & 6 Heatpipes / Aluminum Fins
• Heat Sink Weight: 826g (1.83 lb)
• Fan Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25mm (4.7 x 4.7 x 1 in)
• Fan Speed: 600 – 2,400 RPM (PWM) ± 10%

The first thing that I thought when I saw this cooler is it’s huge, I mean seriously huge, it’s like an engine radiator is popping out of my case. Setting it up is also a little bit tricky since it’s compatible with all known processor socket, meaning a lot of parts, there was a time when I was so stumped that I just stopped and procrastinated. Eventually I was able to fit it in and it looks absolutely awesome. The polished finish, the fin design, and the mere height of it –awesome, combine it with the HAF922 it was an absolute marvel.

I bought this cooler out of a whim, due to the very hot summer here in the Philippines I opted for a third party cooler instead of the stock one; I asked what was available and he gave me a cooler master TPC 812. First I was hesitant because I don’t know anything about the cooler but then again what the heck I’ll be able to use this when I make another upgrade so I went with it. Upon installing the back panel I figured that it’s the same as with all CPU coolers, you just need to adjust the lock and screw mechanism to fit the socket then it’s all good.

The only setback I had is the TPC 812 makes it impossible for you to place high profile memory sticks on the first 2 slots, options are you can place the CPU fan on the other side or elevate it to couple of inches. I opted for the later (result is seen in the picture below), but I’m still thinking of ditching 1 of the Corsair Vengeance and replace it with a regular one, for the mean time elevating the fan works.

Corsair Vengeance + Cooler Master TPC 812	Result: Fan is elevated up to an inch; thankfully I haven’t encountered any problem yet.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading my PC has been one of my dreams and the parts I chose didn’t disappoint. I’m now able to play games without sacrificing visual effects and without experiencing lags. I’d definitely recommend the MSI Z87-G45 and the Cooler Master TPC 812 for the enthusiast, but if you’ll go for a TPC 812 better make sure to get a low profile memory or remove the fins. I would eventually try out overclocking but only after the warranty is gone so that’s approximately a year from now. However, since I’m still under warranty I’ll continue on playing and catching up to the greatest games of 2011. I can't wait to start making reviews and sharing my game escapades here at Too Much Gaming, maybe I'll make a review for Shogun 2 Total War as a start. ^_^

Here’s a couple of links for a detailed benchmark of the highlighted hardware:

1. MSI Z87-G45 Gaming: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/Z87-G45_GAMING/
2. Intel Core i5 4670 3.4Ghz: http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/506/Intel_Core_i5_i5-4670_vs_Intel_Core_i5_i5-4670K.html
3. Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-299-CS
4. Sapphire ATi HD 6850 1GB DDR5: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/sapphire-radeon-hd-6850-962568/review
5. Cooler Master TPC-812: http://www.legitreviews.com/cooler-master-tpc-812-cpu-cooler-review_1913

Dragon War Thor Gaming Mouse

We here at TMG have tried a few Dragon War products and for the most part have had good experiences with them. I saw the Dragon War Thor Gaming Mouse and thought that design wise it looked pretty neat, came with a mouse pad, and had a very reasonable price.

My previous mouse was just a simple A4Tech optical mouse. It still works fine but I didn't have a mouse for my laptop and using the touchpad is kind of a pain in the ass. So after getting the Dragon War Thor mouse, I gave the old A4Tech mouse to my laptop and the desktop got the new one. Glad to say that the Dragon War Thor mouse works pretty damn well. It's more sensitive and much more responsive than any other mouse that I've used before.

I believe the mouse was priced at 795php which is around $17-$18. Definitely not a bad price. The mouse cycles through 6 different colors and can be set to have either a breathing light or a rapidly blinking light. You can also set the light to glow in one of the six colors that you can choose from if you don't like the Christmas-y light show.

The buttons are pretty simple, aside from your usual left, right and middle clicks and your mouse wheel, there are two programmable buttons on the left side of the mouse near where your thumb would be and a rapid fire left click button which is the green button near the left click. There is also a button that lets your cycle through 4 DPI settings. The wire is threaded like a shoe lace so no worries about it getting tangled. The USB is also gold plated for maximum contact and extra points for being fancy.

Dragon War packaging has also been pretty good for all their products. It's stored in a long vertical box. You get a good view of the mouse itself via a clear window on the top of the box and another window for the mouse pad on the bottom. Included in the box is the Dragon War Thor gaming mouse, a pretty wide mouse pad, a small manual, and a mini software disc. The software lets you control the light feature, program the macro buttons and change profiles if you have multiple settings.

Here is the product description from the Dragon War site:

DRAGON WAR ELE-G9 THOR BLUE SENSOR GAMING MOUSE

Product Code: ELE-G9

Features:

Ergonomic design for professional gamer Gaming mouse with 7 control buttons Assign your choice of key gaming action to programmable buttons to create your own customs profiles 512k in-store memory which macro function can use in difference computers Mouse cable length 1.8 meters LED Light Suitable for almost every surface Gold-plated USB Connector for a Reliable Transmission Integrity

Resolution: 800/ 1600/ 2400/ 3200 dpi

Interface: USB

Package Contents:

Dragon War Thor Mouse Mouse Mat (340 x 250 x 3 mm) User Manual Software CD

Here's a quick video overview of the Dragon War Thor Blue Sensor Gaming Mouse (ELE-9)

And here's a video on how to change the colors settings

Review: Gone Home

Indies have been getting a lot of buzz in 2013, with many games bringing a good amount of fresh experiences you hardly see in big titles priced at $60. Gone Home is one example of such freshness. It's a game that tells a story from your character simply interacting with objects found in this eerie mansion. That may not sound exciting for some players, but believe me when I say I had the same reaction. But once the game was over, I was at the edge of my seat; I've never experienced a game like this. I'm glad I took the risk of purchasing this rare gem and hopefully by the end of this review, you will understand why Gone Home is one of the best games to come out in 2013.

Let's get this out of the way - it's not horror alongside the likes of Amnesia. The amazing sounds and lighting just creates a scary atmosphere. It's the feeling of the unknown, and in this case, the feeling of having no idea what to expect within this empty mansion. You play as Katie, the older sibling that just returned from a long vacation trip. You arrive home to find your house completely empty. The weather is horrible. What happened? Where's the rest of the family? Those are questions that will be raised inside your head, and you are given the freedom to find the answers by simply interacting with the objects found in the house.

That's the gameplay: exploring the house, reading notes, uncovering what happened, and getting a sense of the people that lived in this abandoned dwelling. Putting it this bluntly does sound dull to some, but how it was presented made me curious and constantly looking for more things to help solve the mystery of what happened to this family. As you go through various closets, notes, bills, and diary logs of your little sister (which are presented as a commentary), you get to uncover the state of each family member. It's an interactive story done so well that it made me appreciate the simple gameplay Gone Home has. You can pick up objects, examine them, crouch, and zoom in, and even that's enough to keep you hooked from start to finish.

This is a title that I found hard to explain to people that have not a single clue about it. The best way to understand the game is by simply giving it a chance, but it's hard to do with its surprisingly high price point of $20. But once you find the courage (and the money!) to give Gone Home a try, the overall experience will linger in your head for days, and only great stories can do that. That strong after effect of satisfaction once the credits roll is a rare feat, hardly even seen in acclaimed movies.

With a game that's all about exploration and discovery, visual detail is key. What's amazing is that every bit of the house is detailed. Almost everything in the house can be picked up, and objects like bars of soap or tissue boxes have a product name - some even have tags, making me think that they could be information that might support the overall story. This resulted in me checking every crack or corner in each room. They intentionally hide specific notes or objects that, if found, help the player to understand more about the residents of the house and their relationships with one another.

There's no real difficulty. How curious you are determines how much you get out of this experience. You could focus on the main path that leads to the end of the game, but doing so ruins the point of Gone Home. Everything gets answered: all you have to do is find the trail of breadcrumbs. Once I finished the game, there was one unanswered question I had about a specific character. My curiosity pushed me to backtrack. I went through a couple of rooms, and finally found it. It was hidden nicely and I was thrilled to have my question answered. I could have lived without that knowledge, but the story was so engaging that I had to find out. Everything was still fresh and I wanted the complete experience. The fact that I missed a part of it and made myself go back for the reveal helped me realize how effective this approach is in video game storytelling.

It's an experiment. A  different game on how to present a story to the player. During the start of the game I was curious of what happened. By the last few minutes of the game, I rushed to the last room hoping I had a run button to get there faster. I was anxious about how it will all end, and when it ended, I was satisfied.

If you aren't looking for a great story, then this game isn't for you. The story is the whole meat of this game. But if you are open and interested in trying something completely different with regards to the way a game can tell a story, then I urge you to try this amazing independent title. I understand the praise the game was getting during 2013 and it deserves every bit. Bravo.

Score: 9/10

Pros:

- A unique way to present a story. -  Each interactable object is well-detailed . - Great atmosphere. - Story hooks you in, keeping you interested and curious.

Cons

- A very short experience. Left wanting more.