game itself within a few months as a phenomenon outside the norm, with record hearings on the internet and tens of millions of followers.

             ‘Fortnite’ game of survival in a wacky universe made of parachute bus, grenades disco and humorous costumes. EPIC

Xbox One owners will have access to TellTale Game’s episodic The Wolf Among Us (regularly $24.99 USD) from April 1 until the 30. On April 16, Sunset Overdrive (normally $29.99 USD) will become free of charge and remain that way until May 15.

For Xbox 360 owners, or Xbox One owners looking to take advantage of some backwards compatibility, the two free titles are not nearly as new, but are both fantastic titles. The first, free from April 1 until the 15, is Dead Space (regularly $14.99 USD). As Dead Space returns to its typical digital price, Saints Row IV (normally $34.99 USD) will take its place from April 16 through the 30.

Are you planning on downloading any of these free titles? Are there some which leave you feeling underwhelmed? Are you excited to play some of these games? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s thoughts: While Dead Space is roughly 8 years old at this point, anyone who has yet to play the title absolutely needs to take advantage of this offering. The other three games being offered were all released within the last three years, making this a more recent batch of free titles than recent months. The genres of these games also vary pretty significantly, meaning that everyone should see some appeal in at least one of the four titles. The Games With Gold program isn’t perfect, nor will it likely offer brand new AAA titles like many people unrealistically desire, but it continues to evolve and fine tune itself, offering wider ranges of titles and more recent ones as well.

Platforms Playstation 4/Xbox One/PC

Developer Nadeo  Publisher Ubisoft

Genre Racing  Platform Played Xbox One

With a visual style that screams “arcade racer,” Trackmania Turbo will shock everyone as they discover the gameplay does not match this first impression whatsoever. Demanding precise, subtle movements, the game is unforgiving and forces countless race restarts if a player is looking to do anything more than merely complete the track.

Due to the large disconnect between appearance and actual gameplay style, the early minutes playing Trackmania Turbo are likely to be incredibly frustrating. Beyond these initial moments, it becomes more apparent what the game expects of you, although knowing how picky the game’s physics are will not necessarily help you as there are many times when you will find yourself scratching your head wondering why something just happened the way it did. Taking the exact same jump in the same way ten times will generally result in your car turning or twisting in ten different ways. Things such as last minute adjustments to your steering will inevitably change how your car behaves, but even without modifying my trajectory, I witnessed my car rolling to the side, rotating horizontally, and even starting to flip on occasion. The game has a feature called “air control” which requires you to press the brake button while soaring through the sky in order to stop your vehicle from spinning midair, but for a game that claims “you can’t cheat physics,” (yes, that is an actual quote found frequently in the game), physics are cheated around every corner. The best comparison to be made is Trackmania Turbo handling similarly to the Trials titles. They both require very specific, precise movements, both get to be relentlessly difficult if you want gold medals on all the courses, and yet both have very unique definitions of physics at times. Unfortunately, Trackmania Turbo does not fare nearly as well as the Trials games do simply because the physics found in frequent occurrences such as jumps or grazing a wall are so ludicrous.

Delving beyond the finicky physics of the game, there are several different game modes offered to players. The solo campaign is precisely what the name suggests, letting players race for the best time possible against ghosts representing the various times needed for gold, silver, or bronze medals, but without the distraction of other actual players. Double driver campaign is identical to its solo counterpart except the car is controlled simultaneously by two players, each using a different controller. This is one of the most unique modes ever seen in a racing title, but has little more purpose than causing some laughs. That is perfectly fine, except that the game gives you specific time targets to hit for various medals in this mode as well. Given how infuriating it is trying to obtain gold medals on many solo tracks, why on Earth would you wish to have two people attempt to overcome the fickle physics at the same time while trying to beat a certain time? The mode still holds a great deal of merit for amusement’s sake, though, so its inclusion cannot be written off, as at the very least, it provides some laughs or true challenge for anyone not demoralized enough from the single player venture.

To the game’s credit, there are several features built into the tracks which help offset the cruel difficulty. If the player fails to best the time required to earn a gold medal, they can earn a “joker” allowing them to earn the gold medal simply by meeting the silver standard enough times. This is also possible for the other two medals, although including a feature like this makes it feel as if the developers knew they were making an unnecessarily fickle game and wanted to include a workaround to ensure nobody would be unable to progress past the first 40 races in the campaign (at which point you need to have a certain number of bronze medals to unlock the next 10 races). Throughout the courses, there are also signs which help you assess how to proceed such as “Drift Here,” or “Chicane.” The game could simply expect you to memorize each course in your bid to earn the best time possible, but by providing the occasional hint, it becomes slightly less frustrating.

Online multiplayer is also included in Trackmania Turbo, allowing players to create their own playlists using any of the tracks within the game, or their own custom tracks, and opening up rooms for anyone to join. You are not always guaranteed to play directly against others, as I had several games with absolutely nobody else on the track despite Trackmania telling me there was someone else there. If you do play against others, the course becomes absolute mayhem simply due to the perfection in steering the game demands of you combined with the number of individuals looking to speed past each other. The final mode found in the game is the Trackbuilder, which grants players the ability to construct their own levels using any of the four environments found in the game and any number of obstacles, roads, turns, or general scenery. To ensure no incomplete levels are published, each created track must be test driven by the creator before it can be completed and shared. This safeguard is a small but appreciated inclusion as the number of impossible or incomplete levels which may have been published otherwise could outnumber complete tracks. As is increasingly popular, this also places a large amount of responsibility on the community to extend the game’s life cycle long beyond the 200 tracks found in the campaign. The tools and props available in the track creator have a phenomenal amount of variety and navigating the system is relatively intuitive and streamlined. For these reasons, the Trackbuilder mode is easily the strongest feature found in Trackmania Turbo. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a streamlined way to try out other peoples’ creations other than going to the website in a browser, logging in to your Uplay account, and tagging it as a favourite for you to later find in an in-game menu.

Coming in as a close second for strongest feature of the title, local competitive multiplayer is present. With a plethora of different game modes to choose from, the game can even provide you with options if you only have one controller to share. Hot Seat is a fantastic example of a creative multiplayer mode, as it pits several players against one another to get the best time possible on a single track. Everyone makes their initial run, and the individual with the highest time is forced to run the track again until they beat someone else’s time. As you are racing to beat other times, your gas gauge is constantly decreasing and once you run out of gas, you are eliminated from the game. This is one of the modes which can be played with multiple controllers or just one, making it not only immensely enjoyable, but also versatile.

The Trackmania series has an incredibly devoted fanbase, and fans of the franchise will undoubtedly love the familiar formula found in Trackmania Turbo. However, those who have not played the series before should be warned that it feels like an awkward cross between Forza Motorsport and Trials, with the physics being notably picky and seemingly random a large portion of the times. The game seems to adhere to certain laws of physics but completely ignore them at other more convenient times, resulting in a confusing experience. This does not stop the title from demanding near perfection from you, although the definition of “perfection” in this instance is whatever Nadeo considers its definition to be. There is still enjoyment to be had, particularly in the variety of multiplayer game modes and creating custom tracks. Between these two modes, there are hours upon hours of amusement, although finding created tracks to play needs to be made more accessible to individuals playing on consoles by including some sort of search tool in a menu. Trackmania Turbo presents an awkward combination of simulation and arcade racing while challenging players to “perfect” their driving. The title will continuously push you to improve and chasing ghosts along tracks certainly helps motivate, but many will find their desire to keep playing wanes long before they finish the 200 campaign tracks.

The Good

• Incredible track creation mode
• Both local and multiplayer mode, with local supporting single-controller play
• Campaign tracks have creative designs

The Bad

• Physics are incredibly punishing but not realistic as the title claims
• Any mistake generally results in failure and restarting a race
• No in-game method to search for and play tracks created by other players

The Score: 6.3

There’s no other way I can say it: if you have not been playing Batman – The Telltale Series, you should do so immediately. Following the revelation at the end of Episode One, the success of Episode Two: Children of Arkham hinged on how much Telltale was willing to differ from the established canon. That revelation is expanded in Episode Two, and allows Telltale to do what it does best: fantastic writing, unexpected plot twists and difficult moral decisions.

Children of Arkham demonstrates Telltale Games’ willingness to tell its own story rather than getting stuck in the trap of retelling familiar comic book stories. There were twists I didn’t see coming, and familiar Bat-Lore was turned upside down. Children of Arkham is a story about family and how our personal connection may distort our view of their actions. Following Falcone’s shock reveal at the end of the previous episode, Bruce Wayne is questioning everything he knew about his family and their legacy. Is Falcone telling the truth or is it just a ploy to point the blame elsewhere?

Troy Baker delivers a fantastic performance as Bruce Wayne and Batman, drawing the player into Bruce’s confused emotional state and drawing on that to fuel Batman’s determination. In fact, all of the voice acting in Batman – The Telltale Series has been superbly captivating so far, complemented by entertaining writing.

Telltale laid the foundation of the series last episode when it questioned how far Batman was willing to go to get justice. In Episode Two, the focus shifts to Bruce Wayne’s moral compass and how he should solve issues. Should he rely on the Batman persona, or would Bruce be more suitable? Who do you trust as Bruce Wayne, and who should you be weary of? This are questions I was constantly forced to consider. Telltale is doing the character’s justice, while also allowing players to experiment with the personalities of Bruce and Batman. At times I find myself asking, what would Bruce/ Batman do, but at other times I’m able to branch away and continue to craft my own versions of them.

Children of Arkham is also about choosing how Bruce and Batman will develop relationships with key characters. It’s great to be able to decide how Bruce develops his relationships with franchise mainstays such as Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Dent, Vicki Vale and Selina Kyle. It makes me want to start a new save and to see how they will react to me should I choose a different dialogue response. The mysterious relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle was a highlight for me this episode, in part thanks to the chemistry between Baker and Bailey.

As with Episode One, the few actions sequences mostly do a great job of controlling the pacing and breaking up the dialogue. The bar fight with Selena Kyle and Bruce Wayne fending off a bunch of henchmen while an acoustic guitar jukebox track plays in the background was a standout. Telltale has mastered the quick time event sequence, and that’s especially evident in this extended sequence.

Children of Arkham feels shorter than other Telltale episodes, and is about 30 minutes shorter than Episode One clocking in at around 90 minutes. As a result, the final act feels rushed and chaotic with too many narrative elements surrounding the action sequence. In the space of what feels like five minutes, a hostage situation takes place, another huge anti-lore plot point is revealed, the titular Children of Arkham make an appearance, and a major decision has to be made (of which I regret my choice). On the one hand, it’s a great depiction of the poise Batman has to have during encounters, but it largely left me flustered.

I have no idea where Batman – The Telltale Series is heading, but I’m excited to find out what other areas of the Batman mythos Telltale is willing to alter and how certain relationships will evolve over the course of the story.

Telltale Games has developed a track record of creating excellent interactive stories, and that’s looking no different with Batman – The Telltale Series. Where Episode One laid the foundation for a unique take on the Batman universe, Episode Two demonstrates Telltale’s willingness to go through with it. Whether you’re a fan of Batman or just a fan of Telltale games, Batman – The Telltale Series is establishing itself as a must play.

The Good

• Narrative that alters well known Batman-lore
• The bar QTE sequence
• Chemistry between characters
• Telltale is allowing the player to craft their own Bruce Wayne/Batman

The Bad

• The conclusion feels rushed

The Score: 9.0

And yes, the trailer is every bit as insane as it makes the game out to be.

With 10 minutes to spare in the demo I played at Capcom’s E3 booth, I was given one simple objective: kill as many zombies as I could with insane weapons.

Within a minute of the demo, I could tell Dead Rising 4 isn’t much different from its predecessors, especially Dead Rising 3, but it’s far from a bad thing. You will spend much of your time clearing scores of zombies with the most ludicrous arsenal. I mainly used a crossbow with projectiles that shot firework rounds, which would then explode with a sizable blast radius, but I had other items such as a huge ax with electrifying results — literally — and a traditional Molotov cocktail.

‘Cause baby you’re a …

Switching weapons is now a breezier process. Instead of having a limited inventory space and switching through each weapon one at a time, there are now three categories of weaponry used via three buttons: melee, shooting and throwing items. Pressing X will swing whichever melee weapon you have equipped; right trigger will shoot projectiles such as rifles, or the bow I used — though the left trigger can still be used to bring up a targeting reticle and shoot the traditional way; and throw-able items like a plunger with explosives strapped around it are tossed into crowds with the left bumper.

Each weapon type can host up to eight objects, meaning Frank’s maximum inventory can reach up to 24 items once the player has leveled up enough. While I never found switching weapons to be a nuisance in Dead Rising, this implementation certainly makes things more streamlined in combat.

I drove one vehicle, a dune buggy of sorts with, basically, military weaponry mounted on the top. It had machine guns and missile launchers that easily destroyed clusters of zombies. The most interesting component of this over-the-top vehicle was the machine gun that fired its rounds while spinning 360 degrees.

I also discovered the exo suit — clearly used by yet another new pernicious military branch — featured in the trailer, and while I couldn’t find abilities other than punching zombies, it was still a knockout item. While it is powerful, it can only be used for a limited time. The lights on the suit indicate its power level, and mine started running low within a mere few minutes, though I’m positive it can be upgraded to some capacity in the final game.

The photography elements found in the original game also make a return. Using Frank’s camera, players can attempt to capture insane pictures to gain extra experience points, or PP.

Outside the demo, an Xbox representative shared further details about the game. The story takes place 16 years after the events from the first game. Like Dead Rising 3’s aptly named Super Ultra Dead Rising 3′ Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX + α content, Dead Rising 4 will feature four-player co-op, but it will also feature a separate story from the single-player component. The rep couldn’t comment on whether or not the co-op would be lengthier than solo play, but it’s nice to see it will be available from the start rather than via extra content.

Dead Rising 4 is exactly what I expected: the kind of dumb fun and zaniness you would find in a B-movie. Fans of the series will feel right at home at Willamette Mall and beyond when the game releases on Dec. 6, and those looking for a simply entertaining title — despite it being 42, 176th zombie game on the market — need to look no further than Dead Rising 4.

Platform Played PlayStation 4

   Developer/Publisher Milestone S.r.l

Earlier this year I reviewed Ride, which was a motorcycle racing game developed by Milestone S.r.l. Ride was overall a disappointing experience and I believed motorcycle enthusiasts deserved something better, fortunately this is where MotoGP 15 comes in. Though MotoGP 15 is also developed by Milestone, it delivers a significant step up from the aforementioned release.

One of MotoGP 15‘s most impressive aspects is the amount of options it gives to the player. MotoGP 15 contains the full roster of official 2015 Moto GP Championship riders and bikes, but it also contains all the riders from Moto2, Moto3, and Moto GP 2 Stroke Champions. The roster is downright impressive and each bike category feels significantly different from the last. Moto3 offers a subdued experience due to the lack of power, while the Moto GP delivers a powerful roar as they rocket down the pit straight. The significant difference in each bike category offers plenty of options when choosing your perfect ride, but there are also plenty of options on the track.

MotoGP 15 allows players to alter almost every single aspect of a race, allowing you to create your perfect competition. Want to ease your way into MotoGP 15 to learn the ropes? Allow for auto braking. Want to re-enact an entire championship? Choose to experience the entire weekend at full race length. I loved having complete power over each race, and the astounding amount of options given to create that experience is greatly appreciated. The vast customisation options truly shine when playing online, but I shall get into that a little bit later.

MotoGP 15 begins with the creation of your custom rider, but sadly the options are limited. One of the biggest downsides of the custom creation is the lack of the ability to alter your riders face. Instead players must choose from a range of preset photographs. It’s certainly an odd procedure and it explains why your rider never takes off his helmet in pre-race celebrations. Aside from this the options are very thin. Almost everything you do in MotoGP 15 is awarded with experience, which will unlock new wearable items; though these items are merely colour swaps. Unless you truly want your rider’s personal items to match the team you’re riding for, there is almost no reason to alter these options once they are chosen.

Your created rider will mostly be used in Career Mode. This mode begins in the Moto3 category, as you win races and gain fans you will start to move to better teams and ultimately become Moto GP World Champion. As with most racing based Career Modes players will increase in popularity after each race, as well as being given the option to acquire sponsors and change teams. Though your overall popularity doesn’t seem to factor into anything at all, this makes the number simply a pointless figure. It would have been nice if there was something tying into your popularity, perhaps bonus cash from merchandise sales that could have culminated towards your GP credits total. GP credits are earned after each race and can be used to purchase bikes, though the selection is steeply priced and after three seasons I’ve barely been able to purchase six rides.

Moving through each racing category in Career Mode is greatly rewarding, as your victories and success determine how fast your rise to the pinnacle of racing will take. Each victory feels like another step to proving yourself worthy of the Moto GP category. Career Mode also allows improvements to each bike, in the form of data packs. These packs are earned from each race you complete and testing sessions. I loved the idea of earning more data packs from these testing sessions, which does a great job at replicating the process teams take to improve their bikes throughout the season. If you want to turn up the difficulty and continue your journey after becoming World Champion, you can, as Career Mode seems to have no end in sight.

MotoGP 15 delivers where it matters most, on the track. As I mentioned earlier each bike feels significantly different and the racing conditions will also alter the feel of each ride. I loved the feeling of your bike struggling as you power through a corner at breakneck speeds, and the audible grunt of the engine stressing as you push it to the very limit. Altering the physics of your ride will also alter the feel and sound of your bike. Unfortunately once again Milestone has implicated a sub par version of the Rewind system found in most racers. Like Ride the timer in-between use isn’t shown and if you don’t fix your mistake after one rewind, you must then suffer the consequences. Of course you don’t need to implicate the Rewind system at all, but the fact that Milestone once again has provided an odd version of the system is frustrating. Especially when facing AI of higher difficulty, these racers will push and shove in order to get to the top. Those able to master the lower difficulty will certainly have their metal challenged in these highly difficult settings.

Aside from Career Mode MotoGP 15 also offers the standard Grand Prix, Time Attack and single race modes. But the additional Beat the Time, MotoGP2 Stroke Events and Real Events 2014 modes add a considerable amount of challenge and gameplay. Beat the Time challenges players to use lower powered bikes in order to beat specific lap times, while 2 Stroke Events has players race as well known riders in fictional challenges. Real Events 2014 has players re-enact moments from the 2014 season, or alter the events. Real Events introduces each race with a small video from the actual real life race, but there is no voice over, or any form of further explanation. I think Real Events would have benefited from some form of voice over work introducing the challenge, or perhaps even throughout each challenge itself. This instead makes these modes feel like an afterthought, rather than an in-depth extra.

One of my small gripes with MotoGP 15 is the lack of commentary. Though there are lines of dialogue delivered after each race, these are repeated frequently and makes me wonder why so few lines were recorded. Like Ride the actual race itself is pure silence. There are no commentators giving their thoughts on the race and no pit crew voices. This may not matter to some, but as someone who loved officially lisenced racing games in the past for the excellent commentary track, MotoGP 15 refuses to go to the extra effort needed to provide it.

This goes double for the average visuals within MotoGP 15. Even at its visual best, MotoGP 15 looks like a crisp version of a last generation game, and even barely manages to visually outwit Ride. This doesn’t mean MotoGP 15 is horrible to look at, but it certainly doesn’t seem willing to go that extra mile to truly provide a beautiful looking racing game that bike fans deserve. Even post-race celebrations are hampered by the horrible character models Milestone has created. Sure your rider will never remove their helmet, but your pit crew will surround your rider in celebration. There was even a time when the entire pit crew consisted of one singular character model. It’s disappointing that MotoGP 15 is happy to rest on its laurels visually, instead of setting the bar, or at least gaining traction on the visuals delivered by its four wheeled counterparts.

As previously mentioned the customisable race options truly shine online. The options when creating your own lobby online are extensive, from choosing AI difficulty, race length, bike physics and more. If none of the lobbies online (which can be found with a simple search) tickle your fancy, simply create your perfect race and await your opponents. MotoGP 15‘s online component is impressively strong, which is mainly due to the great connection. This was easily one of the most stable online components I have experienced in a long while and it makes all the difference. Aside from the occasional frame rate dip, the experience is mostly perfect and it allows for some intense racing action against other players.

Whether you’re competing in single races, online championships that carry over between races, or competing in the new modes Sprint Season and Split Times, there is a lot to choose from. Sprint Season is basically MotoGP 15‘s version of FIFA‘s online championship mode. Players will have a certain amount of races to earn enough points to be promoted to the next tie, if you do not fulfill the requirements then you will be relegated. This mode adds bonus incentive to perform well against opponents, without directly making your opponents matter to your personal progress. Split Times on the other hands cuts each track into eight sectors, after an amount of time the player with the most won sectors is the winner. Though not many are currently playing this mode, Split Times added a new found level of intensity to each race, as you frantically push your bike to its maximum potential to split a few seconds off the clock.

MotoGP 15 isn’t without its flaws, from the thin rider customisation options, lacking visuals and the absence of any substantial commentary. MotoGP 15 is a substantial improvement from Ride and that is a great positive for two wheeled racing fans.

Racing is enjoyable and as difficult as you decide to make it due to the large racing customisation options, alongside the sturdy and genuinely intense online component. Milestone has delivered a serviceable two wheeled racer, despite some modes and options clearly lacking the extra effort needed to make them truly impressive.

If you are going to buy one two wheeled racer this year, do yourself a favour and avoid Ride, and instead enjoy MotoGP 15.

The Good

• Large selection of bikes that feel significantly different on the track.
• Customisable race options.
• Endless Career Mode.
• Stable and enjoyable multiplayer component.

The Bad

• Thin rider customisation.
• Average visual display.
• Modes lacking options and features.

The Score: 7.6

Sam Flynn and Quorra are available as exclusive digital characters for Disney Infinity 2.0 via the Disney Infinity: Toy Box 2.0 iOS app, and can be purchased for $3.79 AUD each; both characters will be available for PC in March.

“The iOS version of Disney Infinity has always attracted our largest audience, so we wanted to do something special to celebrate its launch. I can’t think of a more appropriate digital exclusive than Sam Flynn and Quorra from Tron,” said John Vignocchi, Vice President of Production, Disney Infinity.

Like all Disney Infinity characters each will have a unique set of maneuvers. Sam Flynn will utilise fast Lightcycle moves, while wielding his Identity Disc, while Quorra will wield her Katana and her own Identity Disc weapon.

Analog Addiction reviewed Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes last year, with our full Analog Addiction’s full impressions available here.

Though some hate the huge number of remastered titles being released, some absolutely adore them for many reasons.

Now what exactly determines whether or not a game deserves a remaster? How long it has been released? How critically acclaimed it was? How adored is it by the fans? How much the fans are asking for it? It seems these days these questions don’t need to be answered, with titles being released in remastered forms less than 6 months after the initial release.

The latest remaster to be announced was Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which bundles Borderlands 2 – a beloved title acclaimed critically, commercially and by the fans from 2012 – alongside Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, which originally released in October 2014. One is a few years old, while one is barely six months of age. Does this bundle constitute as an acceptable remaster? We are for a fact experiencing a game from a few years ago that seems to answer most of the questions previously mentioned, but on the other hand, we have a title that doesn’t answer any of those questions being released alongside it.

So is this a good remaster? Maybe, maybe not. But this can be said with a majority of the remasters that have been released over the last 12 months, and those that will be released in the next 12 months.

Personally, I believe the remaster has many strong reasons for existing, and many of those justify its existence.

What is old is new again.

Experiencing a classic is an amazing feeling, whether it’s for those who want to relive something memorable or those too young to have ever experienced such masterful work. Though, as we have established, not every remastered title seems to adhere to the classic motif, or even to the longevity between original releases, but some provide an excellent way to look into the past.

I had never experienced DuckTales before, but in 2013 with DuckTales Remastered, I was able to experience a memorable title for the first time. The idea of a remaster bringing new life to a property, franchise, or even a single release, is a bright one, and allowing the past to once again be reborn as something new is excellent.

Later this year, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask will be released for the 3DS, which has garnered a lot of excitement from veteran fans to gamers who never experienced the original. Giving players the option to experience the past once again is only a good thing.

Two years ago, I played Tomb Raider, which in itself was a reboot of the original series, and I loved it to death. It was one of my most beloved titles in recent memory. Last year it was remastered for next generation consoles. Was I upset that this game was remastered? No, even though it was less than 12 months since it was originally released, I loved having an excuse to replay a masterpiece. Though the time-frame from original release certainly wouldn’t constitute a remaster, the fact it existed could be attributed to Rise of the Tomb Raider’s existence.

Helping fund future titles.

Originally, Square Enix announced the Tomb Raider reboot didn’t reach the intended sales targets. Although I don’t have any inside information or background in where percentages of gaming sales go, the fact a remaster was made seems likely to be a way to increase those targets. In fact, the sales from the remaster could have showcased this is a series worth exploring further – even if it didn’t reach the (obscene) numbers Square originally had intended.

In this way, a remaster is a great way for fans to showcase with their wallet what they want to see more of in the future. Could the sales of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D have helped provide a strong indication that remakes of this nature will sell? Perhaps even proving fans want these titles available on their 3DS, and in turn helping Majora’s Mask come to the handheld?

It seems remasters have transitioned into a way for developers and publishers to see if a franchise can find new blood, providing a new way for old fans to enjoy something they love, but also inviting new players to play the “entire collection in one package” as many remasters continue to emphasise.

Support developers you choose to support.

Further exploring this theory, Square Enix also helped release a Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for next generation consoles, but that’s not all. Not only did Sleeping Dogs have an opportunity to increase its sales, but Ninja Theory will be bringing DmC: Definitive Edition to next generation consoles to do just that, alongside the recent announced of the Borderlands: Handsome Collection.

Not only are developers looking to showcase IP’s that may not have sold enough to warrant a sequel, but they are also reintroducing fans to previous titles in large properties such as Halo and Kingdom Hearts. Even the hugely successful The Last of Us received a remastered edition 12 months after its original release.

Whether increasing awareness in new IP’s (Sleeping Dogs), trying to improve sales that may not have reached the intended targets (Tomb Raider), or perhaps wanting to extend an already large reach before an upcoming installment (Halo), remastered games are being strategically placed to increase sales, awareness and the overall reach a franchise is capable of producing.

Is this a bad thing?

I don’t think so. Sure, some titles may not particularly warrant a remastered experience, but that’s why we have control of our wallet. Personally, I choose to purchase remastered titles because I either want to experience something I missed out, something I want to experience again, or for the case of Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition, I see it as a new way to support a game I love in hopes of getting an eventual sequel.

Developers love the industry, but with any product, they need to earn enough profits to allow them to continue their dream. Remastered titles allow for fans to support developers, publishers and franchises in new and profitable ways. We have all seen how tough the industry can be with one poor title costing an entire team of employees their livelihood. Even financially successful studios have dealt with large layoffs in the past.

In the end, the remaster is there as a choice. We don’t have to purchase them if we feel the release isn’t warranted or if we feel the remaster isn’t up to scratch. We can vote with our wallets. But even if there is a title remastered you believe isn’t worthy, there is someone else reading the announcement in excitement to experience something new, to experience something amazing once more or to simply support something they truly love.

Though I may not be 100% behind every remaster that has ever been made, or will be developed in the future. I am fine seeing their existence, knowing that each one I disagree with, there will be one that excites me in the near future.

What are your thoughts on Far Cry 4’s story and characters? Are they better than those found in previous instalments?

Vlad – Overall, I think Far Cry 4 presents us a better, more personal story, although the characters have remained the same. And when I say the same, I mean I wasn’t really attached to anyone. Sure, Ajay is a somewhat better fleshed-out protagonist than Jason, but just like the rest of the cast, because I only interact with them during cut-scenes, the game’s overall narration still feels stiff. A perfect example would be the gun-totting “priest” Longinus, which is fun at first, but his citing of biblical verses gets boring after one or two missions. On the other hand, I have found Sabal and Amita to be much more interesting characters, simply because they each have a different future planned for Kyrat. The fact that one of them gets to rule the country in the end is a satisfying conclusion directly influenced by whom you chose to support.

George – I find the characters in Far Cry 4 to be an odd mix. Characters like Amita I can find relatable and very human, whereas characters like Yuma and De Pleure – characters built up to be these horribly evil people – get almost no screen time, and it just renders them rather pointless. I found Far Cry 3 to have much better characters across the board. More believable, more entertaining, and more relatable.

Ever since the third entry, it seems like every game in the Far Cry series now needs to have a “mentally-unstable” villain. Looking at Pagan Min – is he a better villain than Far Cry 3’s notorious Vaas?

Vlad – Pagan Min is certainly more stylish than Vaas. Although he clearly has more class but he’s still just as insane as the infamous pirate of Far Cry 3, what’s really annoying is the fact that he barely shows up during the entire campaign. You get to see him in the beginning of the game, one or two times after several hours, and then in the end. Yes, those moments in-between when he calls you a “naughty little sh*t” and whatnot over the radio are fun, but – just like Vaas – Ubisoft barely expands on his character. I definitely let him live in the end, though.

George – In my review of Far Cry 3, I stated how stupidly underused Vaas was as a villain. With Pagan Min, it seems as if they’re trying to recreate Vaas, while at the same time giving him his own identity. The result works in a sense; I like him, and he’s a good character; but, ultimately, he’s a capitalisation on Vaas.

Many have stated Far Cry 4 is more of an updated Far Cry 3, rather than a full-blown sequel. What are your thoughts on that?

Vlad – Far Cry 4 is definitely “Far Cry 3.5.” Don’t get me wrong – while I don’t consider this latest entry a full-blown sequel, Far Cry 4 is without a doubt worthy of your time and money, especially if you enjoyed its prequel. The reason I’m saying it’s more of an enhanced Far Cry 3 is because Ubisoft’s tried and tested formula is covering almost the entire gameplay. One of these formulas is the whole “climb a tower, ‘synchronise’, – or in this case, hijack a radio – thus revealing a part of the map and more side-activities to partake in” affair. On the other hand, improvements like climbing various ledges using ropes, the eagles’ attacks or the usage of the wing-suit almost from the get-go are nice incentives for veterans of the franchise to come back. Additionally, I am loving the game’s arena. It makes me feel like I’m part of The Hunger Games, as I continue to receive medicine from my fans above me.

George – Absolutely. Far Cry 4 is really good; quite a bit better than any of Ubisoft’s releases this year, but still it feels like this could be another Assassin’s Creed type of gig here. Far Cry 4 is so similar to Far Cry 3 that it borrows almost everything from animations to animals. It’s good, but Far Cry 3 was just so fresh. Like many of Ubisoft’s games, this one bears too many similar features of it’s predecessor to make it really stand out.

What platforms have you played on, and how was your experience?

Vlad – While I plan on experiencing as a “PC Master Race,” as well, my initial play-through of Far Cry 4 was on the PlayStation 3. While nothing on the scale of the current generation consoles or the PC, the last-gen. versions look decent; in some cases, even good. Alas – as I feared – the frame-rate can get annoyingly low during more hectic moments. Another low point which is quite noticeable is the rendering distance, which makes the foliage suddenly pop-up as you get closer.

George – I’ve been playing the game on PS4, and it looks really, really good, in addition to running a lot better than I thought it might, even when the game gets crazy. There’s great attention to detail in things like scuff marks on your weapons, and the fur on animals.

If Ubisoft were to create another Far Cry game, where would you like it to take place, and what enhancement would you expect?

Vlad – I actually wish Ubisoft would return to Africa. While I’m a huge fan of snowy-themed games, I also loved Far Cry 2‘s African theme. As for the enhancements – a possible next entry in the series really needs a better story, and if the studio plans yet another fun but psychotic villain, I really wish we’ll see him/her more than a few times across a 20 or so hours campaign. Maybe even add air-planes besides the recently-introduced in Far Cry 4 helicopter. Outposts should make a comeback – obviously – and if we’re talking immersion, let’s see those protagonists and maybe even villains outside of main missions and cut-scenes. Can you imagine meeting with Pagan Min out of the blue during free-roam? Maybe he’ll outright kill you. Maybe he’ll ask you to join him on a village-raid. Or maybe he’ll just call you naughty for skipping lunch and be on his way.

George – I’d like to see the use of a South American rainforest setting with really dense forests, Mayan ruins, and that kind of thing. They made Far Cry 3 look great with it’s South Pacific setting, so I’d be very much interested in seeing what they could do with it. But I would like to see a bit more time put into it, as I don’t think Far Cry is the type of game that’s a yearly franchise, which I get the feeling Ubisoft is going to do with it.

That’s it, folks. Let us know your thoughts on Far Cry 4 in the comments below, and don’t forget to tell us where you would like the next entry to be set. Until then, for all your latest news on psychotic villains or otherwise, keep it locked to Analog Addiction.

Today we showcase the other modes that are available in NBA 2K15, these range from the online features of MyPark, the All-Star Team-Up and much more. Hosted by PlayStation Editor, Jamie Briggs, Analog Addiction showcase some of the finer modes that players can enjoy, alongside the problems with the online modes available.

If there are any aspects of NBA 2K15 you’d like to see, simply comment below and we will cover them as soon as possible. Stay tuned over the next few days for more NBA 2K15 gameplay.