Get Equipped With: GoPro HERO 6 Black

 

My first action camera, I was looking for good mixture between picture/video camera quality, and I think that I have found a nice balance. Despite that HERO 7 was announced about a week later after buying it last summer, the specifications are really about the same.

It's a very small device that can work with plenty of additional communication technologies to keep your experience smooth, such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and using a dedicated mobile app to manage close and remote.

There are plenty of accessoires available which are called mounts which let you mount the camera on numerous objects, such as an helmet, your wrist or a tripod. They are rather expensive, and using a semi selfie stick is enough for me, although mine is missing a handy button at the bottom letting me snap shots easier as I do with my Galaxy S8.

I got hooked when I learned that this little camera can film in 4K resolution, while having 60 frames per second at the same time. Learning also that the width of the camera's viewpoint is 170 degrees, I could capture more in higher overall quality.

The only downside is that the battery drains fast, filming constantly would let me do about an hour, but snapping pictures drains it quite fast too as long as it's on, so I had to buy a second external battery.

I used it in small manners briefly during my trip to Serbia in september, but I am planning to use it more, and the first opportunity is when I will be taking another brief trip to another country next month. I expect for next year to realize it's full potential, as I will tackle on large journeys then.

The GoPro Hero 6 Black is primarily used for sport enthousiasts such as surfing, bicycling and climbing, but it can also easily be used during vacations, festivals and parties. It won't beat the best of the photo and videocamera's, but it's a damn good versatile product.

Get Equipped With: LG C8

After having a meager Samsung HD television of 40 inch for the last 6 years and having enjoyed it, I discovered that one of my friends had a much larger TV, which blew my mind. As I was flabbergasted by it, my mind started roaming.

I started researching the current television market and read the numerous reviews available as to what terminology such as QLED, OLED, 4K and Dolby Vision meant. For a while, I was confounded and stressed about which upgrade would blew me away simultaneously.

I was sold by the review of LG C8 on Rtings.com, and since this summer, I have enjoyed it immensely. After a few days, it was like common nature, and I'm used to it, but the reactions I get from friends and family are still enjoyable.

This is my first OLED 4K based TV with a whopping form of 65 inch, which is tremendous for most of us, but funny enough, you can even buy 75 and 85 inch consumer levels of TV's nowadays, if you are even more insane and have more money than me!

As they advertise, with OLED, black pixels are really black, and the level of detail is immersive, especially when I am watching videos on Netflix or YouTube with 4K resolution. The very low input lag and the fact that the image remains great to view when watching from an angle really make this a luxury product.

It's a great TV for films, series, streaming and especially gaming, as I can spoil that I also bought a PlayStation 4 Pro this summer, and recently a Nintendo Switch too. Both of those systems will be reviewed next month.

The width of the LG C8's panel is also smaller than even my pink fingers, and a fun fact is that I with insanity lifted up it on my furniture by my own, as I could not wait longer. The LG WebOS software running is also very user friendly and the smart technology includes well known apps, bluetooth, Miracast, Ethernet, Dolby Vision and support for 5GHz.

Earlier this year, I also spoiled myself with a monster of a PC. That was meant for my 30th birthday. I'd like to think that this TV is meant for my 1st anniversary of having my own home. This year has surely been a crazy ride in several ways.

The LG C8 is a TV I will be very happily using for years to come!

But wait, there's more, check the next blog article...!

Spider-Man(2018)

Insomniac Games has developed and delivered something special here.

Marvel's Spider-Man has seen numerous kinds of video game adaptations over the last decades, and the objective opinion has been that Spider-Man 2 on the PS2 was considered the best. I think it's safe to say that that position has been succeeded by this PS4 incarnation.

The origins story of Peter Parker and his morph into Spider-Man is skipped, and instead, we follow the super hero with experience and knowledge. The plot is from what I understand an original narration, but it could be based on certain comics arcs, as I haven't read Spider-Man comics yet.

As Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May are doing their role in their normal lives and jobs, the Kingpin is creating trouble and is used as the introduction foe. Afterwards, the mystery of the Demon army is a large development during the missions.

Eventually, the whole "party" is assembled, the super villains escape, and the six assemble together in order to team up, destroy, have revenge, profit and defeat Spider-Man, roughly. The rogue gallery seen here is a good cast of showcasing the antagonists, with fan-favorite Doctor Octopus leading.

The others include Mister Negative, Shocker, Electro and Rhino, each of them offering a different adversary and boss battle towards Spider-Man. Other than seeing these spotlights, the game is filled with side-mission of which most of them included fetching stuff up.

Seeing New York City so beautifully and accurately in this way, thanks to all of the landmarks which can be snapped by a camera, has left me excited, because I am considering returning to the United States next year and see this world capital for the first time.

The graphics in this large sandbox game are impressive, especially if you are high atop the skyscrapers and you are viewing the panorama's. The soundtrack is heroic and thrilling, and cute details such as NPC's getting excited by Spider-Man, or when they talk with him inside metro's, the fast travel system, make this game a bit more special.

The gameplay features can be roughly split up between 2 forms, although there is a third minor one involving stealth missions with other playable characters. The combat is without a doubt inspired by the incredible Batman Arkham Games, which offers combo's, dodging, special moves, web based gadgets and skill trees.

The main feature, and Spider-Man's most iconic moment, is whenever he is web sliding across the urban buildings of New York. It is also the game's most fun interaction if you ask me, and the controls and camera surrounding this have been done very well.

Spider-Man for the PS4 is an amazing and marvelous achievement for Sony's platform, the gamers themselves and Spider-Man fans around the world, and I can't wait to return to it and most likely finish the campaign with a 100% once all of the DLC is available.

Rating: 8.5

(R.I.P. Stan Lee, Excelsior!)

Better Call Saul

Spin-off and prequel of the very famous Breaking Bad TV series, Better Call Saul concentrates on the life of James McGill as a small time lawyer before he would later be known as Saul Goodman.

With him and newcomer Kim Wexler played by Rhea Seehorn leading the episodes, the trials and tribulations are shown of the criminal lawyer, as events and circumstances eventually graduate him towards fraudulent practices.

James's brother Chuck is polarizing as his brother in regards to career and moral compass, but they do love each other. Their relationship adds plenty of character development for Jimmy(James/Saul's other nickname), and I enjoyed the quirky and intelligent nature of the matter.

Eventually, other characters from the associated Breaking Bad series make their debut/return here, such as the highly skilled Mike Ehrmantraut, the intimidating Don Hector and his lapdog Nacho Varga, and my personal favorite villain, Gustavo Fring, who is also leading a double life much akin to a certain Heisenberg.

Better Call Saul is a crime drama series with manipulative plots unfolding regarding playing with the law system, and black comedy is also involved. Also directed by Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul is a very welcome addition to the overall story.

A feature film has recently been announced which will take place after this and Breaking Bad, where we will follow Jesse Pinkman's narration played by Aaron Paul next. I will definitely look forward to that as well.

It's all good, man!

Rating: 8.0

God of War (2018)

 

The God of War returns towards mysterious new lands in the north, and the direction is simply epic.

Kratos and his son Atreus from his second wife are on a lengthy quest to scatter her ashes on the highest peak of all of the realms to be found. In order to do this, they will have to overcome numerous challenges.

God of War, or basically GoW 4 if you would ask me, introduces a new formula and perspective for the series, as this game is no longer a hack and slash platform jumping game, but instead a way more cinematic and involved third person action game.

Similar to Resident Evil 4, it takes giant bold steps by refusing Kratos to jump freely, and although the action might be less chaotic, it still can be hectic and challenging, and perhaps even more emotionally, as Atreus acts as your assisting partner in battle.

Going from Greek mythology towards Norse mythology in this new entry is a brilliant move, because almost all of the major figures with the former had been featured already, and now, Kratos is introduced to many new kinds of Gods and creatures including Giants, although only a handful of important figures actually are encountered.

About halfway through, Kratos and Atreus will get insightful advice and lore narration from a talking head called Mimir, who enriches the background stories of tales who have gone, and tales which might still happen, as it's implied that a sequel would still take place in this world connected by Yggdrasil.

Most of the Norse realms are available to explore, such as Midgard, Helheim and Jotunheim. Others are locked in place by the fatherly god Odin, again, implying a sequel is possible, not to mention that after the game's ending, Ragnarok is coming.

Kratos will first combat and fight throughout the adventure with the Leviathan Axe, a mighty weapon which is icy and can also act like a boomerang. As Atreus becomes handy with a bow and arrows, two dwarven brothers assist them by crafting and upgrading their equipment.

Skill trees are also available, and when their main weapons get a temporary boost as you progress through the chapters, more skills unlock. The battles are fun to go through, and optional ones can be quite challenging, especially if you go for the Corrupted Valkyries, or venture through Muspelheim.

Eventually, Kratos's past comes back to haunt him, but as a counter measure, he returns towards his home, and then he recovers his trusty Blades of Chaos in order to take on his enemies, of which the main one is Baldur, a very cocky and annoying guy.

God of War is a magnificent strong video game, with some of the prettiest graphics around of this current generation. Santa Monica Studio can be proud of themselves, and perhaps the other heavy benefit of this is simply the father and son relationship between Kratos and Atreus.

Rating: 8.4

God of War Franchise

A hack and slash with a Greek mythology setting, similar to Devil May Cry in gameplay, but in general better developed, God of War is another brand new series for me. I started a marathon of the games using PlayStation Now.

You play as Kratos who is on a quest to avenge his dead family and take revenge upon Ares, the God of War who saved him.

With a modest game length, enough attack moves and special moves including Medusa’s Head and Zeus’s Lightning, it’s a fun game in general, until I reached the later stages, which had some painful puzzles, one of which the timing almost needs to be perfect involving pushing a crate.

Rating: 7.3

A better sequel with more refined controls, gameplay and a more epic plot happening, Kratos is betrayed by his own father Zeus and will through the guidance and assistance of the Titans act his revenge upon the Gods as he searches for the Sisters of Fate to turn back time.

God of War II is a more fun time and better paced, and features such as parrying, slowing down time and riding Pegasus make it more memorable too. Back in 2007, this was getting plenty of awards from the industry, and I can see why.

Rating: 7.6

Kratos’s vengeance is finally at hand, as the scale of epic ness is grand in part 3, where he will defeat the most famous Olympus figures in order to finish his revenge onto Ares, Olympia and Zeus.

God of War III is an impressive looking game, with even more hectic combat, more play styles and grand scenery especially when you are moving on the Titans for instance, or some of the bosses are a sight to behold.

As a trilogy, this would had been a great final part 3, as almost every major Greek mythological figure is featured, and Kratos finishes his godly crusade.

Rating: 8.2

A more straightforward prequel with more focus on action and less on plot.

It also has the most climbing moments yet, reminding me of Infamous and Uncharted. God of War: Ascension is chronologically the first, and lets us see Kratos combat the Furies of Ares. New features including destroying or restoring certain objects, or creating a clone to help you out.

It’s probably the most refined in terms of gameplay and it has some creative puzzles, but the plot is said, rather thin.

Rating: 7.8

And with these 4 beaten, I have been accustomed to God of War. There are also 2 PSP games available with side stories, but I was kind of fatigued by the formula. That is, until a new generation of godly measures stood before me...