BigBadBob's Blog

The Low-Down on Munchkin

June 16, 2013 BigBadBob Board & Card Games One comment

I’ve mentioned Munchkin a few times here on the blog. I was first introduced to it at PAX East 2013 when I played Munchkin Zombies and really enjoyed it. I then purchased the initial game and have played a number of times with Shell. But I haven’t gone into detail on what it is, and I realized this when I was talking to my mom the other night and she wanted to know why Shell and I were constantly eating Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. So I’ve decided to write up a recap to differentiate between the card game and the deliciously sweet snack.

Munchkin is a humorous non-collectible card game, in that all the cards you need to play come in the box. This in itself is a welcome change, especially for a guy like me who used to play tons of CCGs (customizable card games) back in high school. Munchkin is a ridiculously popular card game that has probably over twenty expansions and add-ons, ranging from the standard version to unique ones that incorporate zombies or science fiction. The expansions are not mandatory and are unnecessary unless you’ve played through the initial game many times and want to try something new.

I Chose the PS4 Over the Xbox One

June 11, 2013 BigBadBob Video Games No comments

Since I first started playing videos games, I was a fanboy…but a fickle one. I jumped from one company to the next for awhile. My first home console was an NES, and my first handheld was that giant brick called the Gameboy. Then I sold my NES and got rid of the Gameboy in favor of a Sega Genesis and Game Gear. I then left Sega and joined up with Sony’s PlayStation. I loved my PS1, and when the next generation came out I stuck with it and upgraded to the PS2. Then I was in a pickle, as both the PS3 and 360 were tempting to me. In the end I went with the PS3, and only got a 360 because I was lucky enough to win one in a contest. Don’t get me wrong, by this point I wanted both, but with my limited budget it was either have two consoles and a couple of games or one console and a bunch of games. I opted for the single console, though I did enjoy having the 360 eventually, as it opened up a few new gaming experiences that were pretty excellent.

Flash forward to today. The consoles of tomorrow were showcased last night at E3 in LA. The PS4 and Xbox One have both been revealed in most of their entirety. We know what both consoles will look like, how much they will cost, some of the exclusives and, what has become an important issue, how each will treat the used game market. After taking in what both companies had to offer, I made my decision and placed my pre-order. I had already sold off my Wii U to prepare for this moment monetarily, and I plan on trading in my other consoles in the future to make up the difference. In the end, I went with the PS4. Sony simply outdid the Microsoft in pretty much every way.

HoboWars: Battling my Hobophobia One Bum at a Time

May 27, 2013 BigBadBob Video Games No comments

Steve and I were growing tired of Tour of Generals, due to the dwindling online community and wonky battle rules. We were craving a new kind of browser-based game that we could play casually by logging in once a day or so and doing whatever there is to do. Steve stumbled across HoboWars, and it quickly grew on us. I was a bit reluctant to check it out from the get-go due to it’s focus on…hobos, bums and other vagrant types, but I put aside my fear for the sake of a game. I’m really glad I did.

HoboWars is a surprisingly indepth browser-based game focusing on the hobo life style. You play as a hobo who you can customize with different clothing (purely for visual purposes) and equipment (to boost combat stats) and wander around doing what hobos do best. The main focus of the game is on combat, where you battle other hobos to gain xp, cash and respect. Combat is figured out pretty simply, with each player having a set attack, defense and speed value which is used to determine the order of attack and how much damage you deal.

Wii Will Miss U (Slightly)

May 13, 2013 BigBadBob Video Games 2 comments

I liked the Wii U. It is definitely the successor to the first Wii by utilizing HD visuals with a controller that is not only more comfortable to classic gamers, but also doubles as a nifty gadget/tablet that does a number of interesting extras. The main draw to any new Nintendo console is the exclusive games, and unfortunately that is wear the Wii U failed. Even now, almost six months after release, there are just a few of these titles available, the strongest being New Super Mario Bros. U. The bottom line is that the current absence of the likes of The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Metroid, Donkey Kong and more all led to my swift boredom with the Wii U. Yes, most of those games have been announced and are coming out at some point, but they are not here now. With no new games that piqued my interest in the five months since I bought the Wii U, I figured it was time to send it off to greener pastures, where it could perhaps be enjoyed more by someone else.

Though my lack of interest with the Wii U in the initial reason I’m selling it off (I was sick of looking at the dust-covered console that was only booted up once a month to purchase a 30 cent classic game), there is another that is almost as important. This is the year of the next-gen consoles, and both Sony and Microsoft’s new systems will be launching this Fall. As much as I like Nintendo and their exclusive games, it would pain me more to not be able to play the newest inFamous then the most recent Mario game. The Wii U just can’t compete with the PlayStation and Xbox when it comes to more “conventional” gaming, and I would rather have a PS4 then a Wii U. Problem is that the next consoles will cost a pretty penny, so if I could get about $250 now for my Deluxe Wii U and Super Mario Bros and put that cash aside for the PS4, I’ll do it.

FUSE Demo Didn’t Fizzle, Looking Forward to the Real Deal

May 9, 2013 BigBadBob Video Games No comments

When it comes to the PS3, one game stands out as the top co-op title…Resistance 2. I sunk a bazillion hours into the R2 co-op mode and it was always a blast. It was also one of the first games I started playing online regularly, and I solidified quite a few friendships on there with people I met through Co-Optimus. Now Insomniac has jumped ship on the Resistance franchise and are back with their new one…FUSE. The demo came out this week and I joined up with my Co-Optimus buddy Mac to see how their new game is. I’m happy to say that we both walked away pleased, and it will be a day-one rental for me (and possible a pre-order for him.)

The demo throws you right into the midst of the campaign, so it’s hard to say what’s exactly going on. The basic gist seems to be that scientists found this new power source called FUSE, which has been weaponized by terrorist scumbags, and you have to get it back. Up to four players can play online (AI fills in when you can’t find extra buds or don’t want to deal with random strangers), choosing one of four unique characters. Each member of the team (Overstrike 9) carries a different FUSE-powered gun and a separate ability that can be used to lay waste to enemy forces.