Death Road To Canada [Video Game Review]

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Video Game Review: Death Road To Canada | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | Video Games | Gaming | DoublexJump.com

Title: Death Road To Canada
Developer: Rocketcat Games / Madgarden
Publisher: Ukiyo Publishing
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Category: Action, Adventure
Release Date: May 8, 2018
How we got the game: I bought it on the Nintendo Switch eShop

 

 

 

Death Road To Canada is a game that will always hold a special place in my heart. Kris and I reviewed this game when it was on Steam back in 2017. We got it for the Switch shortly after it was released for the console. I played it again recently and thought of doing an updated review for it.

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In Death Road To Canada, you can create whoever you want. I tend to make myself and go on the journey with Kris. We can create other people or run into NPCs the game has already created. The point is to make it to Canada during the zombie apocalypse. Each character has a personality trait and skill trait. Depending on what they have, they may have an advantage in something. All characters have skills, though only some are revealed off the bat. You need to do something pertaining to that skill in order for it to reveal itself as really good, good, neutral, bad, or very bad.

What I love about this game is that no two playthroughs are alike. The story, even though you have 11 days left to arrive in Canada, is random. Anything can happen. You can run into anyone or anything. What you find is a crapshoot as well. You can have a run where you have great weapons but find barely any medical supplies. You may run out of gas super fast depending on your car and you may be starving most of the run.

The game is sassy and witty which makes it all the more fun. This game is fun to play when you’re by yourself or if you have a few friends with you. Which I love most about the Nintendo Switch version is that there’s four-player local co-op whereas on PC it was only two-player.

In Death Road To Canada, you head to various places like pet stores, grocery stores, trading camps, and more. Each place you look for food, weapons, gas, and medical supplies. You can also find other people and help them out or use them as bait in case you get in a jam. All the while you’re fighting zombies, which can be fast or slow depending on the time of day and their current temperament.

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For a zombie game, the music is fun and upbeat. You can tell the game doesn’t take itself seriously and that’s part of the fun. The graphics are charming. They’re not realistic at all, which is what I like best about it – otherwise, I probably wouldn’t give this game a shot. Zombie games aren’t my cup of coffee, but everything about the aesthetics of this game is awesome.

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There’s never a dull moment in this game. As I said before, no two play-throughs are alike. There’s always room to play more as you encounter different scenarios and use various characters with different traits. I still have yet to beat the game, though I’ve seen it done before. After you win so many times, you can unlock a hard mode. You also earn Zombo Points while playing, which allows you to unlock new traits, characters, and game modes. The ways to play this game are endless.

Death Road To Canada gets…
5 out of 5 lives.

Have you played this game? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! 

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Special Attacks Versus Physical Attacks [Debate]

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Debate: Physical Attacks Versus Special Attacks | Video Games | Gaming | RPG | Magic Attacks | DoublexJump.com

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When it comes to RPGs, my preferred method of fighting is more on the physical side. My favorite classes tend to be thieves, archers, warriors, characters with fantastic and strong weapons. Magic attacks are fun and all as well, but I always found it more satisfying to vanquish opponents up close with blades.

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Those characters are fun and all, but I’ve always preferred the magic-based characters. I love wizards, sorcerers, and mages of any kind. I think elemental attacks are cool and attacking from afar is better than getting up close and personal.

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I feel as if attacking from afar sometimes is a cop-out. For instance, when you play as Zelda and I play as Sheik in Smash Bros., it can get annoying quickly when you decide to spam Din’s Fire from across the stage. In most RPGs, as well, magic attacks are limited with magic points. Physical attacks and weapons can be used whenever you want however many times you want.

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Fight or flight and I think it’s always better to fly. If you can attack from afar, I say it’s a fair game no matter how “annoying” it may be. You just have to get good at dodging and figure out a counter-attack. I like being farther away because then your sword can’t reach me. Plus, you need to get to me which allows me to immediately counter if you get too close.

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Once I do get close enough, a flurry of kicks or punches can keep you immobile enough for me to send you off the stage. In the event we’re not playing Smash Bros., what do you do when your mage’s spells run out of magic points? Swords and daggers, in most games, are always reliable and deal out great damage. Magic attacks tend to have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to them being effective against certain enemies.

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I try my best to keep magic potions and such on hand. Honestly, most games these days make it all too easy to make sure you don’t run out of magic points or so. Depending on the game, physical weapons such as swords and daggers have weaknesses as well. Take Octopath Traveler, for example. Sometimes you can’t use any of your physical weapons and only need your magic.

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If we’re using Octopath Traveler as an example, the opposite is true as well. Not only that, the majority of enemies’ weaknesses were regular weapons as opposed to the magical attacks. Physical attacks and weapons tend to be more versatile as well, whereas you can only have so many magical and elemental attacks. There’s only so many fire and wind attacks games can come up with.

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That may be true, but… magic attacks at just cooler. Enough said.

Which side do you prefer? Let us know about them in the comments below! If you like this post, please share it around.

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Top Tuesday: Favorite Unova Pokemon

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Rachel Mii | DoubleJump.comHappy Tuesday!

Kris and I completed our Pokemon Trio-Type Challenge not too long ago. I ended up playing Pokemon White 2 and it’s been a while since I’ve played the Unova region that I decided to talk about my favorite Unova Pokemon.

Top Tuesday: Favorite Unova Pokemon | Pokemon | Nintendo | Pokemon White | Pokemon Black | Unova Region | Video Games | Gaming | DoublexJump.com

Emboar

Emboar is the final evolution form of Tepig, the fire starter for the Unova region. I always go for the fire starters and Emboar is a bulky guy. I love his design and his moves.

Audino

I don’t normally have normal type Pokemon on my team, but Audino is pretty sturdy. While its attack isn’t all that great, it has a great defense. I think Audino is a pretty Pokemon too and I like how it’s associated with the Pokemon Center.

Stoutland

I raised a Stoutland for the first time recently for our challenge and I loved every moment of it. Stoutland is a great companion and has awesome defense and attack. Plus, who doesn’t want a pupper on their team?

Zebstrika

Zebstrika was the first electric type Pokemon I chose when White and Black first came out. He was on my team and he has a wonderful move set. I think he’s one of my favorite electric types of all time.

Unfezant

Unfezant is the final evolution of Pidove and is the “Pidgey” of the Unova region. I absolutely love this Pokemon though. The bird Pokemon, especially found in the beginning of the games, are always great. I enjoy Unfezant’s design and the move set overall is awesome.

What are some of your favorite Unova Pokemon? Let us know in the comments below! If you like this post, please share it around.

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Monday Memories: Ace Up My Sleeve

Kris P. Home, Kristen, Monday Memories, PC Games, Visual Novels , , , , , , , , ,

Double Jump Kris MiiHappy Monday everyone!

Technically, this memory is only about three years old. This post is a bit more personal and it took me a little too long to write and decide to share it. However, I believe it’s an important topic and it is certainly something that has shaped who I am today. 

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I am passionate about representation in media, obviously including video games. Gender, race, and especially sexuality need to be represented so they are normalized as much in media as they are in the real world.

The success of movies like Wonder Woman, Black Panther, and Captain Marvel testify to the need of representation. The same goes for the later Pokemon and Harvest Moon games that allow female and darker skinned avatars. One of Stardew Valley’s biggest selling points was that your avatar could marry any love interest despite their gender.

It was due to a video game that I realized my sexuality.

Three years ago, a visual novel dating sim featuring the popular YouTubers from the groups Normal Boots and Hidden Block was released. Considering that the two groups were some of our favorite content creators — and the ones who inspired us to talk and share more of our love of gaming — we were excited about the game, and really enjoyed its the writing, art, and music.

One of the characters in the game is gay. He states it after the female avatar asks him to go to a festival with her. Literally, he says, “You do know that I’m gay, right?” complete with the music cutting out with a record scratch sound effect. The character is a fan favorite and was prominent in the fandom through art and stories.

It was through this fandom that I found out about asexuality, the absence of feeling sexual attraction.

I was in my mid-twenties and had never heard of this sexuality. Throughout high school, I’ve had friends and acquaintances who had come out as lesbian or bisexual, and we were always supportive of each other. I had believed I was completely straight, but as I got older, I realized I wasn’t looking at men the same way my friends were. They had… interesting stories from their college campuses about being with another and I couldn’t for the life of me see what the appeal was. I had fallen for a couple of men throughout my lifetime, ones that were easy on the eyes and made me laugh, but I had no interest in any more physical acts.

Then Asagao Academy came out, I met some fellow fans online, specifically Tumblr, and the representation of a positive LGBT+ character helped so many teenagers and young adults, people who had grown up without seeing much of anything other than the “default” straight way to be. Including me.

One day, someone I followed mentioned that she believed she was asexual. I was surprised at how relieved I was from the epiphany I had that the word asexuality fit me. It was closure that I never knew I needed.

I am a heteromantic asexual.

Asexuality is still a fairly new concept — rather, new in the sense that it is being talked more about — but it has gained rapid support within the past couple of decades. Despite this, asexuals still get flak both from the LGBT+ community — for wishing to be “special” or, especially in a heteromantic ace’s case, “basically straight” — and straights who are not allies. We’re only about one percent of the population, and it wasn’t until 2013 that asexuality was excluded as a mental illness in the DSM.

I spend my time advocating for representation in media and by being available and open to those who may need the support of a friend. I’ve connected with a handful of others online, ones who have reached out because they took a chance from seeing my LBGT+ positivity posts. I’ve spoken to fellow aces, transgender people trying to figure themselves out, and those who merely needed a stranger to listen as they navigated through their own labels. Most, if not all, of them are teens, and I hope that I can help just a little.

Because, while my memories of going through puberty consist of feeling like I was missing a puzzle piece, we should be moving forward with representation. There is no default hero, and all media — video games included — should showcase that. Strides are being taken, but it will still be a while before we’re all on equal footing. No one should have to grow up without being represented as the hero.

(Besides, think of all the years I spent unable to make asexual puns. All of those times I could have told people that I have an ace up my sleeve… because it’s me. I am the ace.)

Are there any video games that caused you have a revelation about yourself? Anything in particular that you would like to collect? Let me know in the comments below! If you liked this post, please share it around.

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Lord of the Rings: Quest to Mount Doom [Board Game Review]

Kris P. Board Games, Home, Kris & Rachel , , , ,

Board Game Review: The Lord of The Rings Quest To Mount Doom | Gaming | Board Games | Game Review | Blogging | Gaming Blog | DoublexJump.com

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This game has been on our radar ever since we first saw it at our local Barnes and Noble. Supposedly it’s a Barnes and Noble exclusive, but there are similar-looking games on Amazon. Being fans of the Lord of the Rings franchise, we eventually splurged on the large board game and finally got around to playing it.

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This game, at the time we bought it, was about $50. While the game was fun, I don’t think it was worth $50.

 

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The board itself is rather big, which was fine. It consisted of all the locations that are mentioned in the movies (and probably some from the books) with pathways connecting them. Each pathway had a number of move values that it would take to travel and you could move up to the number you rolled or less than your roll value.

Rachel Mii Double Jump
So, for example, if you rolled a two and had two branching paths – one that had a two and one that had a three, you could only go on the number-two path. Moving around the board was pretty simple and it was a fun way to do it rather than going through one linear path. Plus, there are events cards so that you can move anywhere on the board or move someone else anywhere. Then, of course, you have the cards that tell you a specific place to go.

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The point of visiting as many locations as you can is due to the item cards that can be found. At the start of the game, each location has an item card randomly assigned to it, items that no one knows about because one of the items is the One Ring itself. The object of the game is to obtain the One Ring and deliver it to the Mount Doom location.

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Of course, you need to keep the ring secret from the other players. There are ways to find out if someone has the ring. There’s a Gollum event card that forces whoever has the ring to announce it to everyone. You can also lose the ring if the Eye of Sauron and you land on the same space. It forces to go back to one of the starting points of the game and you have to drop the ring in that location.

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While we imagine that the game can get a little chaotic the more people you play with — as you’ll have more opportunities to sabotage each other, use more event cards, and crash into each other on the board — we were getting a little tired of getting similar event cards and our turns going so quickly. The little character tokens weren’t the greatest quality, either. In fact, I accidentally broke a couple’s feet while trying to snap them out of their grid when first opening the box.

Rachel Mii Double Jump
Hence, my point earlier when I don’t think this game is worth the $50. The character tokens were cheap plastic – Kris actually sliced her thumb open trying to get one out – and the event and item cards were repetitive. I don’t think they had enough ideas. Not to mention the fact that the event and item cards had the same backing. So, when we were supposed to put the item cards around the board at each place, we accidentally put the event cards down first.

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I think they had the same backing on purpose, though, considering the creators of the game probably expected the players to be sitting at a table with their hands of cards held up and hidden from the other players. If the character tokens were similar to the tokens in Monopoly — better quality, a little weighted — and the events were much more varied, we probably would have had a better time with the game. Of course, we still had fun and may try the game out with a few friends, but we probably won’t break the game out again too soon.

Rachel Mii Double Jump
Overall, the game was pretty good and we did have fun. I think this is one of those games that need more people for it to be more “chaotic” and really have a good time.

Lord of the Rings: Quest to Mount Doom gets a rating of…
Skip It | Try It | Buy It

Have you played this game? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

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Butterfly from Dance Dance Revolution — Claire Anne Carr

Kris P. Home, Kris & Rachel, Music , , , , ,

Music_Butterfly

Remember Dance Dance Revolution? It was a game we personally never had, but I remember playing it years ago at a good friend’s house. One of the best songs we enjoyed playing was Butterfly.

Recently we discovered a channel on YouTube called Claire Anne Carr who does some “crazy piano” mixes covering various types of songs, including ones from video games. It was nostalgic to hear Butterfly again, even as a remix, and it was fun to watch the video with all the notes that were used during the remix. We thought you guys would enjoy it too!

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Friday Favorites: Ace Attorney Characters Part Two

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Double Jump Kris MiiHappy Friday everyone!

The original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney trilogy came out for the Nintendo Switch this week! Way back in October 2016, I did a Friday Favorites for favorite characters in the series, and this week I thought I would continue it, adding a few characters that have joined the franchise since then and other awesome mentions.

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Larry Butz

Larry is a dork. He gets caught in some unfortunate circumstances, but he’s endearing in that he is very loyal to his good friend Phoenix. He also just never gives up, no matter what life throws at him. He’s flighty but he does, somehow, improve throughout the games in the series.

Wendy Oldbag

This lady just amuses the hell out of me. Hearing her ramble against the “whippersnappers” of the game makes me laugh. And you got to give the old lady props for always having a job in security. She’s the kind of old lady I want to be when I grow up.

Dahlia Hawthorne

We were instantly suspicious of this woman when we first met her as she seemed too sweet, and we were horrified when proven correct. Still, she was a worthy — and batshit crazy — adversary for the games, and she is a villain that will always stick out in my mind for that.

Gregory Edgeworth

Okay, so he wasn’t a playable character, but Gregory Edgeworth as a background character heavily influenced Miles Edgeworth’s personality and development. I also enjoy the fact that Gregory seems to be a nod to Atticus Finch, the defense attorney from To Kill a Mockingbird whom was portrayed by the actor Gregory Peck.

Are you replaying (or playing for the first time) Ace Attorney on the Nintendo Switch? Let me know in the comments below! If you liked this post, please share it around.

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