Let me take you on a little journey.

It is the late 90s and a young Connor McLay is as dumb as a sack of hammers.

But he’s also excited because he sweet talked his teachers into a good report at school and as a reward, he’s borrowed his uncle’s PS1 and his dad just finished hooking it up to the main TV.

In a week or so he’ll go to the video store and rent Spyro 2 for the hundredth time, but for now he’s limited to the disks his uncle forked over for along with the console.

There’s a few to choose from.

His dad is a fan of Quake 2, Ace Combat and Medal of Honour.

Connor is partial to G-Police himself… but before that is another strange game that would go on to inform his tastes for decades to come.

Populous – The Beginning is a real time strategy game by Bullfrog, the OG gaming brainchild of Peter Molyneux that was swallowed whole by EA at a time when the average demographic reader of this website was likely still figuring out what number comes after five.

It was the third entry into a series, not that I would figure that out until I was an adult looking back, and it remains one of the games I think about even now, over twenty years after putting it into the PS1 for the first time.

I can recite the words of the intro cutscene from memory. I still remember the commanding voice of Janet McTeer telling me about how she alone possessed the second sight and was destined to become the godly shaman. That the other tribes moving through the heavens were a plague and only with faith and courage could we destroy our enemies.

Thus my naive young self was introduced at once to the concepts of racism and the girl-boss.

It was also my first introduction to the RTS genre and I didn’t really get it. Dumb as a bag of hammers remember?

You are the shaman. The leader of one of four tribes vying for dominance over a solar system. How these primitive tribes are managing to teleport between planets and how all twenty five worlds manage to occupy the Goldilocks zone of this one star is not explained, but those were questions which didn’t occur to me back then.

Your shaman returns to life if she dies. Unless she has no loyal villagers left, then you lose. There are a few missions with more specific goals and win conditions, but for the most part, it’s a race of extermination.

Populous started out its life as a god sim and that influence carries over into this aspect.

The shaman, by far your most powerful piece, is not a god… yet… but she’s getting there. Her powers are already impressive and they will be the keystone of your victory.

She is capable of casting spells that can modify the environment, summon tornadoes and lightning strikes, turn patches of ground into deadly poison swamps and all kinds of other fancy war crimes you can commit on your enemies.

As for villagers, you have the basic braves who build things, warriors who have high health and melee damage, preachers who can convert enemy units and fire warriors that can attack at range.

There is also a spy.

You won’t use the spy.

There’s no resources to keep track of in Populous, not unless you count the mana that charges your spells which happens faster when you have idle braves resting in huts.

Put down a building plan and your braves will start work automatically, cutting down nearby trees and levelling out the terrain.

There’s no research, no upgrades, and no ticking numbers to count until you can unlock your big guns.

This is why, to this day, I count Populous – The Beginning amongst my favourite RTS games ever.

Because rote memorisation of a build and resource collection order will not save you here.

There is no accounting in Populous, only strategy.

The first few levels are a breeze, but it’s not long before you are routinely fighting all three enemy villages on one map, all of whom are fighting each other as much as you.

From there, the tactical game becomes a push and pull of armies swarming into areas, establishing holds and securing the valuable stone heads and totems around the map that empower your shaman.

So… flaws.

This is a game made in the late 90s… it shows.

The 3D work is impressive for its time, but don’t come here expecting Balder’s Gate 3. Sprites are still 2D and rotate in choppy 45 degree blips.

Pathfinding is surprisingly competent for a game of its time but can still run into issues with hills and getting around them.

Controls on the other hand will drive you insane until you get used to them.

The second RTS I played after Populous was Supreme Commander; it was only then, when two quick scrolls of the mouse wheel could bring your view from any part of the map to any other, that I realised how much of a mess I had been dealing with.

Sound design is impressively evocative.

Braves speak a strange tribal language and you will come to recognise the single word grunts of acknowledgement when you select them.

Even dumb as I was, it wasn’t long playing this game before I knew which spell sounded like what, and that if I heard a female voice casting a spell I don’t have yet, I’m probably under attack.

Music is a soft and mournful tune of trilling pipes until the moment a fight begins, then the drums kick in. The entire set up well establishes the feeling of being a tribal chief in a brutal era where survival means murder and you aim to be the last woman standing.

If you want to play Populous – The Beginning today, your best bet is Good Old Games. It’s cheap and you will know pretty quickly if you like it or not.

Me, I’m off to cause more natural disasters.

The post Populous – The Beginning (Retro) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust, the deeply personal lo-fi 2D and 3D adventure game from developer Analgesic Productions and publisher Ratalaika Games S.L., begins a dreamy journey today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Nano Dust distorts the emotions and desires of the dreamy denizens of New Theland.

To help save those afflicted, The Center creates people called Nano Cleaners, capable of shrinking down, entering beings, and removing the Nano Dust. One such Cleaner named Nova awakens, ready to scrub minds and win hearts.

Traverse a fantastical lo-fi 3D overworld that feels like a half-remembered dream rendered on a PlayStation 1. Drift across genres and tones, feeling whimsical one moment and tragic the next. Roam by foot or transform into a car to find those suffering from Dust, then shrink down to enter their mindscapes. Once inside, wield Nova’s Nano Vacuum to solve puzzles and battle bosses in top-down 2D dungeons inspired by SNES games to remove the Dust.

Deposit Dust to further expand the world and find new citizens to assist. Meet new characters who question the ways of Nova’s creators at The Center. What exactly is Nano Dust? How does it really affect everyone in New Theland? Nova’s curiosity just might lead her to a whole new perspective if she listens to her heart.

With only two creators behind Anodyne 2, each aspect of New Theland feels lovingly crafted. Unravel late-game secrets to explore cut levels and better understand the oft-understood world of game development with commentary straight from the devs. Wander through Marina Kittaka’s surreal dreamscapes accompanied by Melos Han-Tani’s eclectic, emotional soundtrack.

“Anodyne 2 is a unique sequel, accessible to newcomers and fans alike, filled with Marina and I’s peculiarities and design sensibilities,” said Melos Han-Tani, co-founder of Analgesic Productions. “Games as groundbreaking as Anodyne 2 rarely come along, and I guarantee you’ll find yourself affected by its emotional narrative and surprising mixture of 3D and 2D gameplay!”

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Cross-Buy and Smart Delivery ensure that PlayStation and Xbox purchases respectively have access to both current and next-gen versions of Anodyne 2.

Anodyne 2 is also available on PC via Steam.

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The post PS1 Inspired Anodyne 2 Released appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix are celebrating 20 years of Lara Croft, star of the award-winning TOMB RAIDER franchise this year, beginning with festivities for this major milestone at PAX East 2016. The developers of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend, the critically acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot in 2013, last year’s hit Rise of the Tomb Raider and more will celebrate the achievements of the Tomb Raider series and its protagonist, with special activities and events planned throughout 2016.

“Since its introduction, Tomb Raider has held a significant place in video game history, and further cements that with this milestone,” said Ron Rosenberg, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “We look forward to celebrating with fans, and honouring the iconic Lara Croft with special events, retrospectives, giveaways and other surprises throughout this year of Tomb Raider.”

First making her debut in 1996 with the original Tomb Raider from Core Design, famous archaeologist Lara Croft is a powerful force within the gaming industry, and has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment. From being named an ambassador for scientific excellence to appearing live on tour with U2, Lara Croft reaches millions of people around the world.

With over 30 video game titles released and hundreds of awards, the heroine has been a cultural icon for 20 years on gaming screens and Hollywood silver screens, battling T-Rexes and the undead and adventuring around the globe. Lara has had adventures in over 25 countries, explored the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Andaman Seas, ventured to Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, and rediscovered Atlantis and the lost island of Yamatai.

“Tomb Raider has become a cultural phenomenon over the last 20 years, selling millions of copies worldwide, sparking one of the most successful video game film adaptations in history, and inspiring our amazing fans of all ages,” said Scot Amos, Co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “It’s incredible to be part of this legend and to see how much the series has evolved over time, and think about what’s yet to come. Here’s to 20 more years of adventure together.”

As part of the 20-year celebration, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have partnered with GameChanger Charity to provide a free digital copy of Tomb Raider 2013 for every donation made to the charity of at least $1.

Eligible contributors who donate at least $20 will be entered into a drawing where prizes include a special Crystal Dynamics swag bag including a collector’s edition of Rise of The Tomb Raider, along with special items related to the series and its famed globetrotting explorer (see official rules for details). GameChanger is a non-profit focused on improving the lives of children suffering from life-threatening diseases. GameChanger delivers video game gifts to hospitals, and provides financial support to deserving families.

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics today also released the third Rise of The Tomb Raider content pack titled Cold Darkness Awakened for PC on Steam and The Windows Store. Players who have purchased the Season Pass or have downloaded the additional content separately will be able to continue the journey as Lara Croft takes on nightmarish predators in an abandoned Cold War base.

Cold Darkness Awakened will also be available that same day for Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Along with the award-winning Tomb Raider Definitive Edition and Rise of the Tomb Raider, the series spans PC, console, mobile and handheld, with other hit titles such as Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Lara Croft: Relic Run and Lara Croft GO.

You can DONATE to GameChanger HERE.

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On the 10th of December, 2015 PlayStation Australia held a press conference and a lavish evening party to celebrate 20 years of PlayStation. Shane the Gamer’s Darren Price was there.

Sitting unassuming in the middle of the world’s most famous harbour, Sydney Harbour, is Cockatoo Island. The site of a former Gaol and shipyard, the island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and events centre.  It was among this bit of Australian history that Sony chose to celebrate a very special part of video gaming history: The PlayStation.

Hosted by PlayStation ANZ Managing Director, Michael Ephraim, select media were treated to a montage of classic adverts and game footage highlighting just how far, over the four generations of the machine, the PlayStation had come since its launch in 1995.

In the mid-nineties Sony’s PlayStation revolutionised the video game console market dragging a niche hobby from the bedrooms of enthusiasts and children into the front rooms of twenty-somethings. The PlayStation brand became the definition of cool and something that it has retained for two decades.

As well as upping the ante when it comes to incredible games the PlayStation 2 also introduced many households to DVD movies with its integrated DVD player, something that the PS3 would also do with Blu-ray movies.

The PlayStation 4 continues the legacy of its forebears in host some of the best video-gaming experiences available today. And just around the corner PlayStation VR promises to bring us the future of total immersion gameplay.

Michael Ephraim, Managing Director Sony Computer Entertainment Australia told the audience: “I’ve had the pleasure of being part of the PlayStation journey here in Australia for the last two decades and I am proud of what we have achieved to date.

I am even more excited about the future. Innovation is in our DNA, and this, combined with a fierce drive to continuously expand the boundaries of play will mean PS4 is the number one console for the entire family.”

Whilst it was a celebration of PlayStation’s 20th Anniversary, the event was a much about PlayStation’s future as it was the past and offered me the opportunity for a sneak peek at what Sony has in store for us over the next year.

The Uncharted 4 multiplayer mode promises to provide players with the pinnacle of the Uncharted series’ unique vertical gameplay. I had the chance to play a bit of the multiplayer beta that was made available to fans that purchased Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, which features the first three games remastered for PS4.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End harnesses the power of PS4, allowing more than double the number of polygons per character than in the previous console generation. Launching next year, it concludes the story of Nathan Drake and is exclusive to PlayStation 4.

Next year Street Fighter V comes exclusively on console to PlayStation 4. The PS4 brings state-of-the-art graphics to the veteran fighting game franchise. It looks fantastic and runs silky-smooth. Definitely one to watch out for next year.

Media Molecule Studio Director, Siobhan Reddy, is considered Australia’s most successful woman in gaming, with accomplishments including Qantas Australian Woman of the Year, being listed as one of Britain’s 100 most powerful women by BBC’s Woman’s Hour and named in Fortune’s 10 most powerful women in gaming.

Her upcoming game, Dreams, promises to deliver more of the unique gameplay that Media Molecule is famous for. Straight off a jet from the US PlayStation Experience, Siobhan was on hand to show us a little of what the game was about.

The ambitious PS4 masterpiece is a place to create anything imaginable, whether it’s games, films, music, or something in-between. The showcase explained how players can go on unique journeys to travel between Dreams as well as construct and use their own custom-made assets along with pre-existing ones. Experiences are limited only by players’ imaginations.

Siobhan said: “I always love coming home to Australia and what better way this December than to celebrate 20 years of PlayStation and reveal Dreams. We are really looking forward to people experiencing Dreams and immersing themselves in its the ever-evolving worlds. We hope both gamers and non-gamers will fall in love with it.”

Next year sees PlayStation embark on an adventure that could change the way we play games and interact with one another, forever. PlayStation VR will allow players to realise their dream of being 100% immersed in their games.

Seeing, of course is believing. Whilst I’ve had a number of VR experiences over the years, from the old arcade cabinets in the 90’s to the Oculus Rift, nothing could have prepared me for the PlayStation VR.

For my PlayStation VR demo I got to try a reimagined version of the classic Battlezone tank simulator. With the VR headset in place, even over my glasses, it felt weightless and very comfortable. My glasses were able to sit naturally and nothing felt like it was pressing against my head. I was immediately transported into the cockpit of an extremely mobile tank looking out through a glass canopy onto a landscape that looked straight out of Tron. Looking around me the control equipment inside the tank looked so real it was as if I could touch it, looking down I could even see pedals real enough to push.

It’s difficult to explain an experience that felt so real. I was there in that tank. Whizzing about a virtual battleground as if it was all real. It was incredible.

I was also glad that even with the tank zipping about and pirouetting around, as I shot at the targets, I never once felt ill – I can’t say the same thing about my last Oculus Rift experience. If this is the quality of experience that you can have with a product still in development, I can’t wait to get my hands on the retail version.

At the recent PlayStation Experience in San Francisco, games including a version of classic rhythm game Rez, Eagle Flight, 100 Ft Robot Golf, Ace Combat 7, Zombie Taxi Game, Eclipse, Distance, Classroom Aquatic and Job Simulator were announced to join Tekken 7, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, Battlezone and Robinson: The Journey on PlayStation VR.

“PlayStation VR is the single biggest step in innovation I have seen in my career of over 20 years at PlayStation,” said ANZ PlayStation boss, Michael Ephraim.

“It’s a game changer for the industry and is a clear sign of what’s in the store for both the gaming and the wider home-entertainment offering. The one thing I can tell you is you have to try it to believe it. Everyone I’ve seen use PlayStation VR has been blown away and the experience exceeded their expectations.”

There’s never been a more exciting time to be a PlayStation 4 owner, with many exciting things to look forward to. But right now, with the recent inclusion of Presto, the PlayStation 4 provides gamers with access to all of Australia’s streaming video-on-demand services. Presto joins Stan, Netflix, Spotify, Quickflix, and Foxtel Play making the console an essential part of your living room entertainment centre.

Shaun James, Presto TV CEO had this to say, “We’re thrilled to be involved in Sony PlayStation’s 20th anniversary and congratulate them on bringing Australia fantastic interactive gaming entertainment for two decades; and today we’re equally excited to help them elevate their entertainment offering to new heights with the launch of Presto on PlayStation 3 and 4 consoles offering their community access to Presto’s unbelievable premium TV and movies on demand.”

To celebrate their launch on PS4, Presto has curated a special collection of its hit programs, created with PlayStation users in mind and available on devices now. Programs include all seven seasons of The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, The Walking Dead, Entourage, Parks and Recreation, Flight of the Conchords, The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

It’s certainly been an exciting twenty years for PlayStation and, from what I’ve seen, it’s not over yet. Happy Birthday PlayStation! I’m looking forward to see what you bring us over the next twenty years!

The post Sydney Wishes PlayStation a Happy 20th Birthday appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

December 2015 marks 20 years since the Sony PlayStation (“PlayStation”) first launched and in true celebratory fashion, the team at PlayStation New Zealand threw together an epic night of tasty treats, slick beats, psychedelic lighting, fantastic gaming stations and loads of room to fully experience just how far PlayStation has come since the debut of the original PlayStation console in 1994.

As a long-time fan of the PlayStation consoles and having attended their media mingling event earlier this year, as well as, the Auckland Armageddon Expo, in which PlayStation made a huge impact, I had no doubt that PlayStation would put together a memorable night to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. As I write this now, the happenings of last night is still fresh in my mind and brings a smile to my face as I recollect all the times that PlayStation impacted my life, from childhood through to adulthood.

Now, I’m not a serious gamer. I play games for the fun of it and the bulk of the time, I play alone in singleplayer mode due simply to the fact that I’m not very competitive and, well, I’m technically still considered a ‘noob’. I’m quite happy to shoot at monsters alone, fight or race against the ‘computer’ and solve puzzles without any distractions. In saying that, I don’t feel that my being a noob hinders me from fully enjoying the vast experiences on offer by PlayStation; though I’ve been told that playing multiplayer online will only broaden my horizons.

The team at PlayStation were quite crafty with this event, sending out exclusive invites only to a select few, with no access for the wider public. This gave the event a very special feel and kept the size of attendees down, which made for more breathing room in the surprise location that was picked to host the event.

Because this was my first proper PlayStation event I didn’t quite understand what to expect and went in blind, hoping, very simply, for a good, fun night. Upon getting my invite, I was surprised to find that the address provided led me to some industrial warehouse-like buildings. Surely this wasn’t where a party, the kind PlayStation would throw, would be held? How wrong I was. Arriving at my destination, which was in fact a huge warehouse (if you’ve seen Arrow, it’s one similar to the warehouse used as Oliver Queen’s club, Verdant), I saw a huge line of people waiting to get in and security was tight, not to mention the line of snazzily dressed people waiting to get in.

As soon as the ‘doors opened’, so to speak, we were invited to write down our memories of PlayStation on a beautiful black board, which ended up looking rather eye-catching with everyone’s memories written in a variety of colours. There was also a fantastic display of the PlayStation consoles through the ages, with the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition PS4 console elegantly placed to capture all our attention.

The entire warehouse was kitted out with amazing lighting, from the vibrant electric blue, a colour most gamers associate with PlayStation, to a myriad of other striking colours. A notable mention would be the amazing four-controller button lights spectacularly displayed on the wall behind the stage. What better way to accompany something so visually stunning than with a DJ mixing together some cool sounds to generate a buzz and create that light-hearted and fun atmosphere?

Throughout the entire space were TV screens loaded with some of our favourite video games, from Crash Bandicoot to Uncharted, along with huge gaming stations for Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Star Wars Battlefront, Street Fighter V and a preview section for a game that I’m desperate to get my hands on, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Of course, an Anniversary celebration is not complete without important pieces of history on display. On one side of the space were old television sets atop amazing bookcase like cabinets filled with various PlayStation memorabilia throughout the 20 years. It almost felt as if I was back in my uncle’s lounge, finger bashing the buttons of the old PS One controller as I attempted to defeat him in the X-Men: Mutant Academy game.

What I found really awesome was that the night was MC’ed by radio broadcaster, Jay Reeve, who really made an impact. I was also a little bit excited, particularly for my mother who is a bit of a fan, to see Pua Magasiva (Shortland Street) and Ben Boyce (Jono and Ben) at the event, trying out the PlayStation VR (did I mention that PlayStation had an area purely for guests to have a go on their highly anticipated Virtual Reality Headset?) and competing in the Street Fighter V tournament that was on that night.

If all that was not epic in itself, PlayStation ran competitions on the night and ended up giving away their very, very, very gorgeous 20th Anniversary PS4 console, their striking Star Wars Battlefront PS4 console and Guitar Hero for PS4. I must say, I’m a little disappointed that my raffle ticket wasn’t called out for either of the consoles but, boy, just waiting for the announcement of the winner was nail-bitingly exciting.

All in all, it was a fantastic night and PlayStation really outdid themselves in throwing one memorable bash.

*For more pop culture and anime rantings and reviews, check out my blog, The Vanguard.

The post PlayStation Turns 20! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The 20th Anniversary Edition will be limited to 12,300 units worldwide, a number that reflects the launch date of the original PlayStation. The limited edition PS4 and included accessories come in “Original Gray” color, all packaged in a special commemorative box.

The original PlayStation system was praised for its cutting-edge technology, including its ability to process high resolution real-time 3D computer graphics that was never before seen on home consoles, as well as its rich and exciting games portfolio.

PlayStation revolutionized the industry and became the first home console in video game history to reach a milestone of over 100 million units in cumulative worldwide shipments.

As a state-of-the-art computer entertainment system, the original PS delivered breakthrough gaming experiences to users around the world, and that concept has been inherited by every PlayStation platform ever since.

“The ‘PlayStation 4 20th Anniversary Edition’ is a very special model that is reminiscent of the original PlayStation, which has inspired every other PlayStation platform launched in the past two decades.  This limited edition PS4 offers a great sense of nostalgia to long-time PlayStation fans, while also providing a fresh experience to those who never picked up the original console,” said Andrew House, president and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.

“The ‘PlayStation®4 20^th Anniversary Edition’ embodies our appreciation and gratitude to all our fans, publishers, and business partners that have provided us with tremendous support for the past 20 years, and we look forward to their support as we continue to imagine and build the future of PlayStation together for years to come.  We remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver the best gaming experiences and to offer the best place to play for gamers around the world.”

Tune in to PlayStation NZ on Facebook and follow @PlayStationNZ on Twitter to find our how you can enter to win.

Join the conversation on Twitter and share your PlayStation memories with #20YearsOfPlay!

* shanethegamer.com gives one huge salute to PlayStation and our local PSNZ  & PSAU Teams – 20 years of gaming, one hell of an achievement!

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