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Monday Gaming Diary: Games I wish I could have played this year

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overcomeoverwhelmI really hope that games publishers don’t do this every year, where they keep so many months dearth and then cram everything into late October and early November. I really want to have time to play nearly all of the games through completion that are released in the same year, and not have the mad rush where I realize that things just ain’t gonna get done. It affects not only what I vote on for Game of the Year for work, but I hate not getting all of the strategy guides reviewed that I wanted to get done either.

There are two games I have purchased but have not been able to touch at all, and both make me extremely sad (and you can’t blame my obsession on Diablo 3 for either, as I haven’t touched that game in weeks). Nope, Dragon Age Inquisition isn’t on that list of regrets, because I knew by July I couldn’t get that game in.

However, I did think I could play and finish both Call of Duty Advanced Warfare and LEGO Batman 3 by the end of the year. I most likely couldn’t platinum in LEGO Batman 3 as I am wont to do with LEGO games, but I could at least finish the story and the freeplay mode. And maybe have a strategy guide review for the game of all the crazy things.

At least I’m not traveling for the Christmas holidays this year, so I should be able to get some gaming time in, possibly for one or both. Yet I know I have other games I’ve already started and I need to finish for strategy guide review reasons. It’s such a #firstworldproblem, having too many games to play, and I’m well aware of that. I want to be able to do it all and remain sane. IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH?

Any games you wish you could have played or finished this year? Help me out, I can’t be alone in this.

Assassin’s Creed Unity Strategy Guide Review

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Assassin's Creed Unity strategy guide reviewIt’s ridiculous how far behind I am in my reviewing of strategy guides, but what better way to start getting caught up than with a review of the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide from Prima Games? I am still using this strategy guide, because my overall conquest of Revolutionary Paris is far from complete. It’s not the strategy guide’s fault by any stretch of the means; it’s strictly my own because I want every single little thing out of this game. And I mean everything. Those looking to get that 100% completion in the game, with the main campaign, co-op missions, and all those darn collectibles, the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide will save you countless hours and desynchronizations.

The main campaign is fairly straight forward, and it is incredibly lenient on the never-getting-spotted stipulation that previous AC games were notorious for. Occasionally, remaining in the shadows is a requirement to avoid desynchronization, but it’s often a bonus objective to achieve 100% synchronization. Each mission has at least one bonus objective for 100% synch, and the strategy guide will walk you through the most efficient way to accomplish these goals.

The strategy guide was especially helpful for the final fight, as that was one boss fight that was hardly intuitive. I have no idea how many times I would have died trying to take care of the head Templar in the battle leading up to the final fight as well as the final fight. Thanks to the guide’s heads up and tips, I was able to defeat the final Templar rather quickly (only died once during the final battle, which was mostly my fault and Arno’s fault for running up a wall instead of hiding).

Assassin's Creed Unity strategy guide

See? No one has time for this.

But the real reason to pick up the strategy guide is for all of the side questing, especially the Nostradamus Enigmas. I was patient with the first couple I came across, and after that, the guide has stayed open in my lap as I “cheat” my way through solving the rest. I have zero patience for such riddles. I applaud them for being so clever, but ugh, I don’t have time for that. I didn’t use the guide for the murder mysteries as much, as I do love those and I have patience for those. For the occasional moment when I really was stuck, the guide was a life saver. Same goes for the Paris Stories, that I had a lot of difficulty with. The strategy guide pointed out all of the abilities I should have unlocked before attempting each of these side quests, which alleviated most of my frustration instantly.

For me, the best reason for the strategy guide, other than looking up the answers to the Nostradamus riddles, was getting help with the Heist missions. These co-op missions are 100% stealth only, and I’m not stealthy and my co-op partners are less stealthy than I am. I’ll try to pan out a strategy for breaking into a building, and my partners have already dropped down into the courtyard trying to stab everyone at once. Heist missions fully embrace and enforce the “not-getting-seen” requirement, so having a plan from the get-go is vital unless you enjoy desynchronizing over and over through trial and error.

The back sections of the strategy guide serve as additional tips and story analysis. The “Optimal Progression” page provides invaluable advice on making money fast, when to attempt side quests, and when it’s best to go collectible hunting. The pages explaining what the little Companion App is for also relieved quite a headache.

The last section is for diehard Assassin’s Creed fans only, and should only be looked at after completing the game. This section analyzes the entire story of ACU, including why certain Templars were killed, what other side characters were up to, info on the sages, and the present day characters as well as the First Civilization. This section is perfect for hardcore fans looking for deeper analysis or brand new fans who are wondering what in the world is going on.

If I have one complaint about the strategy guide, it’s that not all of the Achievements/Trophies have tips on how to complete them. Many of them do, such as referencing where to look for more information or straight out saying exactly how to accomplish it. And then a few others say nothing, such as the “Guillotined” Achievement/Trophy. I honestly have no idea how to kill an enemy with a counterweight. How is this possible and where is the easiest spot to nab this virtual reward?

Considering how much I loathed the Assassin’s Creed II strategy guide, I’m so pleased to see Prima Games and Piggyback greatly improving their AC products. I’m extremely happy with the Assassin’s Creed Unity strategy guide, and I can definitively say it’s the perfect companion for that 100% synchronization in Assassin’s Creed Unity. Don’t go stabbing things in Paris without it.

SGR Rating: 4.5/5

Author: James Price
Publisher: Piggyback
Distributor: Prima Games
Editions Available: Paperback, Collector’s Edition, and Initiate’s Edition
Acquired via Distributor

Monday Gaming Diary: Getting back to reviewing strategy guides

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I don't have to do all of these markers...AUGH OKAY YES I DO.

I don’t have to do all of these markers…AUGH OKAY YES I DO.

You know that thing I’m supposed to do here? Review strategy guides or something? Yeah, I’ve been severely slacking to say the least. I definitely couldn’t have survived without all of Chris’s help, from reviewing his strategy guide load, to his new column, to kicking off our podcast.

Now that I have turned in my second-to-last review of the year for work, it’s time for me to kick my own ass and get in gear with review my stack of strategy guides. I’d love to say that I’m going to get all of these done by the end of the year, and that may happen, but I’m doubtful. It’s a great goal, though!

My first priorities are going to be Assassin’s Creed Unity, Skylanders Trap Team, Sunset Overdrive, and Far Cry 4. I hope to squeeze in Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, but I’ve already started/finished those other games, so they take precedence. Sad thing is, I can’t stop playing Assassin’s Creed Unity even though I have finished the main campaign. I have so many side quests to tackle! And the co-op is still an absolute blast to play. I WILL clear out all of those side quests and hopefully play enough co-op to buy all of the skills so I can unlock all of the chests. Yes, I have a problem, but it’s not a problem. Really, it’s not.

And you know, with all of these guides I still have to review, I’m kind of glad that a strategy guide for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix didn’t release, because I definitely wouldn’t have time for that. Even though…my strategy guide bookshelf is quite lopsided without the 2.5 partner to my 1.5 HD ReMix strategy guide. It looks so incomplete and lonely.

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