Best of 2014: Video Games

Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised  us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.

Click on the link to take you to the “Best of 2014” homepage.

This year’s nominations are…

Best Console Game

• Far Cry 4
• LEGO Batman 3
• Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes
• Shadow of Mordor
• Watch Dogs

Results here.

Best DLC/Network Game

• inFamous: First Light
• PixelJunk Shooters
• Strider
• TMNT: Out of the Shadows (PS3)
• Watch Dogs: Bad Blood

Results here.

Onto: Best of 2014 – Collectibles

Best of 2014: Video Games – Best Console Game

Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised  us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.

Click on the link to take you to the “Best of 2014” homepage.

Best Console Game

• Far Cry 4
• LEGO Batman 3
• Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes
• Shadow of Mordor
• Watch Dogs

WINNER – Watch Dogs

There are a few things you need to know about me.  Let’s start with the fact that I rarely play video games (other than Diablo) because I get dizzy from the graphics, I’m no good with the vast amounts of controls, and in general, the content doesn’t interest me. Another fact is my slight obsession with being nosy about other people.  Ok, saying I’m nosy was an understatement; I am an internet stalker.  Chances are, I can stay up until 3 in the morning “researching” someone who has piqued my interest, even if I have never met them.  The types of things that pique my interest can range from sex offenders in my neighborhood to some chick who had a cool hairstyle idea on Pinterest.  Lastly, if it weren’t for the fact that I have never had money, I would be in Gambler’s Anonymous.  I find gambling, and particularly poker, exhilarating.  Plus, I’m good at it.  But, alas, I don’t have money to gamble, so I don’t.  What does any of this have to do with the video game of the year?  Everything.  Watch Dogs gives people like me a certain kind of high.  You get to butt into people’s lives via their phone.  And the added perk?  You can silently judge them.  I love silently judging people.  But the best part of Watchdogs is the side games.  There are different poker games going on around the city of Chicago, ranging from low stakes to super stakes.  And who doesn’t love to gamble fake money for the chance to win big in a super stakes game while you sit in your underwear and have your mom order you a pizza?  Everyone loves that shit.  The games are literally all over the city, so you have to find a way there.  Most gamers drive, I’m sure, but remember how I don’t play games or understand the controls?  Let’s be honest, I run to poker.  It’s laughable sure, but I work hard for my fake money. – Adrian

Second Place – Shadows of Mordor

Finally, a Lord of the Rings game done right. Mix Assassins Creed with Arkham City and you get Mordor. It is infinitely bloodier than both and if you like the LOTR lore, then this will only expand on that. The great thing about this game is that even though it is firmly rooted in that lore, you don’t need to know any of it to enjoy the game or story. Even a basic knowledge of the ring itself and Smeagol will help to enhance the story. This game also looks great on the newer systems, so you finally have an excuse to break out the PS4 or X-Box One. – Robert

Third Place – LEGO Batman 3

I honestly can’t see how you would dislike LEGO Batman 3 as it tries to cater to everyone and most of the time succeeds. It has such a massive cast of characters that is still expanding via DLC. The game has a lot of the same game play as past LEGO games, but adds the aspect of the Lantern Planets where it is one globe you usually fly around and do missions outside of the main plot. This game offers up such gems as Polka Dot Man, Green Loontern (Daffy Duck as Green Lantern) and Conan O’Brien even guides you through the game. As far as replayability, this game has a lot; LEGO games always offer a lot to fans of whatever they are covering as they throw in little jokes only comic fans will get but new fans will enjoy on top of little references like Weeping Angels from Doctor Who. LEGO Batman 3 made me nerd out so much every single time a new level came up or I would unlock a new character. – Jacob

RUNNER UP – Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Solid Snake is back with a new numbered sequel, at least the intro to a new numbered. But even if it’s not the true Metal Gear Solid V, which comes out in 2015, it’s still a strong game with the usual unique and creative story and unmatched game play mechanics. MGS5 is surprisingly like another game in the past, like Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. You take over as Big Boss again but in another surprising variation this first part of a numbered sequel is more of a sequel to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, originally released on the PSP. For the first time in the series, David Hayter isn’t the voice Solid Snake; instead Kojima Productions went after a big name and picked up Keifer Sutherland to voice the iconic character. Sutherland does more than an adequate job brings some different life to Snake. Ground Zeroes isn’t as lengthy as the other games in the series, but it’s used primarily has an introduction to the full fledged MGS5: The Phantom Pain. The stealth gameplay is what we know and love and the graphics are more outstanding than any previous entry. Kojima took an interesting turn by adding in a little more action than previous titles also. Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is a great mix of stealth and action with fun side missions for a little extra flavor. Maybe shorten the name though. – Scott

RUNNER UP – Far Cry 4

Think about the best open-world FPS game you’ve ever played. Now, imagine yourself in that game, riding an elephant into battle while shooting enemies in with flaming (or exploding, whatever floats your boat) arrows. Ladies and gentlemen, Far Cry 4. Expanding upon the formula of Far Cry 3, this installment has more dangerous wildlife and more deadly enemies. To boot, the co-op campaign is lots of fun, as are the quick matches and user-created Map Browser ensure hours of fun. Liberate a country? Suuure. Save the people? Whatever. Just give me a freaking flamethrower and point me in the direction of the nearest rhino. – Sherif

 

Next Category: Best Network Game/DLC

So Far This Week…May 28, 2014

Oh my stars and garters, Hushsters! We’ve skipped an entire week of news. In our defense, we were a little busy. We took a trip to Houston to visit Taylor Lowe, where we went to Comicpalooza. Not only was it a great time, but it was also kind of a milestone moment for us. We went as press for the first time, interviewed Batman artist Greg Capullo (also a first), met Stan “The Man” Lee, geeked out at the Buffy panel, and lots more. Check back on the site, or here for more of our Comicpalooza stuff, including a James Marsters panel and an in-depth synopsis of the weekend.

 

LeVar Burton is Kickstarting to relaunch Reading Rainbow. Will it work? Hell yeah it will; the campaign is “flying twice as high,” already shattering it’s $1,000,000 goal in less than 24 hours. “Take a look; it’s in a book. Reading Raaaainbow!”

X-Men: Days of Future Past was released this past weekend. It was “cool,” but we weren’t really that impressed. Here is my full review (SPOILER FREE) of the movie. On the bright side, they’ve released what the special edition Blu-Ray set will look like (August release?) and we will definitely be picking that up.

Sad times, as we lost one of the world’s greatest poets and civil rights’ activists in Maya Angelou.

A bunch of peeps are being cast for Season 5 of Game of Thrones. If you’re a book noob like me, then you probably don’t know who any of these guys are.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are better at acting than you are.

The Hateful Eight will start filming in November. The Quentin Tarantino film was canned previously when the script was leaked, but the director has since had a change of heart.

There goes more of that #SixSeasonsAndAMovie Community talk, with Hulu being the newest candidate to pick up the freshly canceled show.

Don’t say Denzel is an too old to kick ass… speaking of, when did Hit-Girl start looking like that?

My most anticipated game of the summer came out yesterday. Watch Dogs promises to be an open world adventure of hacking goodness – the game has already broken the company’s record for single-day sales (the same company that owns Assassin’s Creed, mind you). The release hasn’t been smooth sailing, though, as bomb threats and crippling glitches have slowed it down. Hopefully we can sit down and murder this game to have a review to you in the next couple weeks.

If you’re already over hacking, then check out this extended trailer for Arkham Knight, complete with gameplay.

We like to think our Game of Thrones reviews are decent, but let’s be honest: if we could watch Seth Rogan and Snoop Dogg get high and then review GoT every week, we probably wouldn’t write them anymore.

Boardwalk Empire alumnus Charlie Cox will be playing lead Matt Murdock in the Netflix original Marvel series, Daredevil. I loved his work on Boardwalk, so I think this is a great pick-up.

DC Comics has gone through quite the transformation since they launched 52 new books in 2011… but here we are in 2014, and they’re close to canceling 52 books in three years. Yikes.

The guy who played Barry Allen in the 1991 series has been cast as Barry Allen’s father in the new Flash TV Series.

Comic book legend Alan Moore is launching a mobile app called Electricomics, designed to help self-publish independent creators. This could be the answer to what creators do after ComiXology was acquired by Amazon earlier in the year.

Ben Templesmith is releasing his Kickstarter-backed The Squidder, a four issue series post-apocalyptic tale.

Here are this year’s Television Critics Award nominations. Orange is the New Black getting a nomination is HUGE. Could online streaming television really be the future of how we watch shows?

Marvel is looking to do something superhero-ey, but not what you’d expect. Grab your 3D printer and get ready to recharge your imagination with Big Hero 6.

Ooh! That reminds me, ComiXology is giving away a free comic book each day for 20 days. We are currently on day three, where you can pick up My Little Pony: Pony Tales Vol. 1. Check back each day; they occasionally have cool stuff, too (if My Little Pony isn’t your thang).

That Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist webseries we were talking about a while ago? Yeah, well it’s out. And it’s the shit. Devour it all right now.

Here’s Johnny! Depp plays Whitey in next month’s documentary, WHITEY: America vs. James Bulgar.

Jaden Smith wore a Batman costume to Kim K.’s wedding. And it was white. Who wears white on the brides day? Really?

The Mad Men mid-season finale involved a very odd musical number.

The Batman vs. Superman film finally got a full title, Dawn of Justice.

BATMAN… IN SPACE!!! LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham was announced. We’re just add that to the list of things we’re going to go broke for.

 

Written by Sherif Elkhatib and Adrian Puryear

 

So Far this Week… February 5, 2014

With the expansion of Hush Comics, we have decided to give bi-weekly news updates.  Anything we find news-worthy will be posted here bi-weekly.  Have anything to add?  Post it in the comments!

This week, we’re excited about several new books out, but none moreso than Ms. Marvel, which has been rebooted and features a young Muslim girl as the superhero. Read this article by The Washington Post to see why this is a BFD.

The Lex Luthor story line in the new Batman vs. Superman movie is going to be similar to something we’ve seen before.

The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman still had a vital scene to film to complete the Mockingjay – Part II film. So what are they to do? Three words: C.G.I.

Kick-Ass news! John Romita Jr. will be coming to DC Comics to do Superman with Geoff Johns this summer. The team-up could give the Man of Steel a much-needed boost.

Voting for the 2014 Comic Alliance Readers’ Choice Awards ends soon! Go vote and feel validated!

Can anybody smell what The Rock is cooking? You can’t just Tweet out #JohnStewartCanStillWhupSupermansAss without people thinking that you will be playing the Green Lantern John Stewart in an upcoming movie.

The fairy-tale world is on fire right now – figuratively, of course. Zooey Deschanel will be producing an animated sitcom called Queen of Everything to FOX.

Long-running show Psych has been cancelled just a couple months into their eight season; the last episode airs March 26th.

Try to keep up here. The Flash’s new spin-off series, which begins filming in March, has found an actress to play Iris West, who is the love interest of Barry Allen, who is the Flash (shhhh!); her name is Candice Patton and she was in a show called The Game they also chose Broadway actor Carlos Valdez, who will play Vibe, a young and inexperienced hero who can emit powerful vibrations from his arms. He must be a hit with the ladies… Whoo, that was fast.

The next-gen release of Disney Infinity 2 will feature both Marvel and Star Wars characters. If you were looking for an excuse to buy the game, there it is!

Speaking of Star Wars, Disney has already announced that they will introduce the brand-new Star Wars Rebels series by way of original Disney Channel movie this Summer.

Sunny Day, Sweepin’ the clouds aw-Kahhhhn!!! Benedict Cumberbatch stopped by to join the cast of Sesame Street.

Bill Nye, who is like, the Guy, when it comes to science, had a debate with best-selling Christian author Ken Ham to discuss Evolutionism vs Creationism. It’s a lengthy and intelligent debate held by NPR, so get some sleep, get your grand-dad’s pipe out and watch the debate here.

It might be the news about how crappy Sochi is doing, I was just thinking the other day that there haven’t been any good movies about an Olympic tragedy in a while. Enter Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill,  who will both co-star in a film about the 1996 Atlanta bomber.

Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry will be its own $15 downloadable game, meaning you won’t have to buy AC4 to get in on the action. I hope they do this with every game’s DLC going forward. Arrrrrr.

FX’s Archer is about to dead a whole lot better, as The Walking Dead‘s Lauren Cohan (Maggie) will be joining the show for multiple episodes. She describes her character as “a wealthy corrupt President’s wife who is vaguely European.” SOLD.

If you’ve read our “Shut Up and Take My Money” article on RetroFit gaming systems, then you will geek out when the RetroFit TRIO comes out in the next couple months.

So… who is going to beat the living f*** out of George Zimmerman? There were apparently 15,000 people who applied to fight Zimmerman. What a scumbag… Details of the fight will be announced in a week.

Ubisoft had a little debacle with the trademark name of their high-profile game Watch Dogs when somebody had fraudulently filed to dissolve the trademark name of the upcoming game. Ubisoft is trying to correct the issue and it should not impede the game’s release.

They’re talking about another Duke Nukem game. Oh God, Why?? Just let it die!

Written by Sherif Elkhatib and Adrian Puryear