Riders Republic Video Game Review #UbiSoft #PS5 #UbiStars #Gamer

 *We are UbiStars game reviews and sent a digital copy of this game for review* 

Are you looking for a gift for a gamer on your Holiday List? Trying to find fun ways to connect with family and friends online? I highly recommend the new UbiSoft game Riders Republic. We reviewed it on the PS5. It is also available on the XBOX systems.

Join a massive multiplayer community and participate in an avalanche of diverse activities as you shred the snow, mud and dirt in real time with others! Squad up with your friends and take on downhill races, dominate maps in team vs team competitions, or challenge yourself in PvP modes and Events. If you're up for some insane action, throw yourself into mass races and be the first to cross the finish line.

Join more than 50 PLAYERS SIMULTANEOUSLY live on screen and witness other's biggest wins and worst fails in a living, breathing world! Gather in vibrant social hubs and meet with a wild community of fellow riders.

My husband and son both played and reviewed this game. We had 2 copies so we could fully utilize the online game play. It is a big factor for our family to buy a game if it has online multi player. We are able to game with family and friends. A great way to stay connected and have fun!

My husband's review:

-Very good visual graphics

- Fluid gameplay tricks 

- Innovative multi sport races 

- Online multi player races 

- Populated world environment 

- Popular land marks 

- Fun and silly story lines 

- Daily item shop is nice feature but lacking content 

- Able to earn points towards item shop purchases 

- Fun soundtrack music playlists 

- Character customization nice feature but lacking depth and detail, somewhat basic 

 -Ability to compete in one vs one matches online with friends very fun 

- Level up and reward system helps with replay 

- Realistic environment with random animals wildlife and scale recreation of US national landmarks

My son loves Giraffes so he definitely had to buy the Gigi the Bouncer outfit. The item shop had some good options. He is hoping to buy more in the future and maybe even some crossovers.

He loved how you could ride a bike in a grassy area with jumps and then switch to snowboarding down a mountain. So much game play there is no way to be bored! The replay value on this game is well worth the cost of the game. (I have spotted it on sale at many retailers and the UbiSoft website). His favorite is the hang glider with motor mode.

Mass Race is one of my favorite modes in the game. You have 3 parts of a big race that have different game modes. You can be snowboarding down a mountain then hang gliding over cliffs and end with mountain biking on a course, all while seeing and competing with people in real time. We are a competitive family when it comes to gaming so we had a blast trying to come in first place.

I have always been a fan of games with bike riding, skiing, snowboarding and hang gliding. They are relaxing and casual fun to have gaming. Riders Republic has aced that but then added beautiful true to life scenery and an online community to play with. This game gets a A+ from my family!

Immortals Fenyx Rising Video Game Review #Gamer #UbiStars

 *We are UbiStars game reviews and sent a digital copy of this game for review*

Immortals Fenyx Rising is an uplifting and witty take on the open world action-adventure genre and is full of rewarding exploration through dynamic traversal. Sprint across open fields, climb enormous mountains and glide through the skies to discover all the secrets of each region inspired by the Greek gods across the Golden Isle. Immortals Fenyx Rising by Ubisoft is rate T for Teen. 

My son played this game the most out of all of us! He wrote a great review. He has been learning about writing opinion papers in school. A game review was the perfect opportunity to blend school and entertainment. An added bonus was he wanted to learn more about the history behind some of the gods. Games and schooling for a win!!!

Review by my son:

Immortals Fenyx Rising is a very good game! I love how there is a dialogue between parts of the game play story that goes on as you play. I feel like the game could have more Gods like Artemis the Goddess of the hunt or Cerberus the warden of the underworld. If the game had more DLC content like the recently released Chinese Mythology that would be awesome. I like that the game play is a similar in this DLC but has different Chinese legends like NuWa. I feel there is a need to keep adding DLC content to keep the game interesting with replay value.

The game has fantastic features like the wings that allow you to soar through the skies and it lets you double jump. The climbing is great and reminds me of BOTW (Breath of the Wild, Legend of Zelda). The game feels somewhat like a Assassins' Creed for the younger gamers. It even has Gods you can interact with. In the beginning of the story you talk to Hermes where he begs you to help him through the temple of Gods. In the end of the story everybody is turned from good to bad by the final boss. It is similar to Gannon in the BOTW game. 

The combat is AMAZING! I love that there is light and heavy attacks but more weapon options are needed. Also you should be able to breed, groom and customize your own horse but I am not sure how to actually get a horse in the game! I bought the Adventure Time bundle that came with a hat, armor, Phosphor skin and a horse that is a Unicorn. The fact that there is crossover bundles is awesome, I hope more are coming soon.

The customization for Fenyx is wonderful. I can get it to look just like me, but it would be great if they had more hairstyles. 

Last but not least the godly powers are great! For example, Hercules strength allows you to pick up nearly anything in the game and throw it. Apollo's arrow allows you to control the flight path of the arrow therefore you can see from a camera on the arrow. More godly powers would be cool too. Like Mercury's speed or something within Greek mythology. 

I want you guys at Ubisoft to take your time, make it the best game possible because I love Ubisoft as a company. Why? because you guys gave us great titles like Rayman, Trails, Assassins' Creed and the greatest of all Brawlhalla, which I still play to this day! I am sorry for how long it took me to write my review. I have school and well I really had to do a playthrough to learn how great of a game Immortals Fenyx Rising is.

P.S. Thank you for choosing us for UbiStars!

Sincerely, 

GG

(You can download a free demo for the game HERE)

Frugal Fun Golfland Roseville Arcade Mania Wednesdays #FrugalFriday #Roseville

As a Frugal Mom I am always trying to find ways for my family to have fun without paying full price! I am not cheap I just love the thrill of a good deal or discounted savings lol.

I have found a super fun and frugal place to take the kids and even myself to have some fun at Golfland Sunsplash Roseville. Now that it is Fall and the water park area of this facility is closed the crowds have lessened and the deals are awesome.

We recently visited Golfland Roseville on Arcade Mania Wednesdays and my son had hours of fun. You pay $7.99 for unlimited game play of non ticket games. This includes the racing games which he loves like motorcycles, jet skis, race cars, Mario Cart and battle games like Star Wars, Ninja Turtles and more. He was issued a wristband and a card to swipe at the games. The game hours are from 6 pm to 10 pm so its definitely an after dinner with all homework must be done activity.

This wristband also gave us discounts to mini golf, lazer tag and go cart racing. My son and husband loved playing mini golf. I love the themes of the holes and the castle feel to Golfland. It is a great place to visit for the whole family to have fun and be on a budget.

GOLFLAND SPECIALS

CASTLE FUN PACK $21.99
A $31 Value! Includes the following Golfland attractions: 18 holes of mini golf, one go-kart race, one laser tag session and 20 Credits on a Game card. Some height restrictions apply. Cannot be purchased online, please purchase at the Golf counter. (Item stops selling 2 and a half hours before closing.)

KINGS FUN PACK $32.99
A $55 Value! Includes the following Golfland attractions (For one person): 36 holes of mini golf, two races on the go-karts, two laser tag sessions and 40 Credits on a Game card. Some height restrictions apply. Cannot be purchased online, please purchase at the Golf counter. (Item stops selling 4 and a half hours before closing.)

ARCADE MANIA (WEDNESDAYS) $7.99
Get unlimited video games for one low price! Add golf, cars, or a game a lazer tag at half price. Wednesdays from 6pm - 10 pm. *Excluding Redemption Games*

ARCADE MANIA (FRIDAYS) $13.99
Get unlimited video games for one low price! Add golf, cars, or a game a lazer tag at half price. Fridays from 6:00PM - Midnight. *Excluding Redemption Games*

TRIPLE PLAY (SATURDAYS) $14.99
Every Saturday from 9am-12noon. Get unlimited video games, Unlimited Golf, 2 Rides on Fastcars, and 2 games of Lazer Tag *Excludes redemption games ** Must be at least 58" to drive Race Cars

ARCADE MANIA (SATURDAYS) $7.99
Get unlimited video games for one low price! Add golf, cars, or a game a lazer tag at half price. Saturdays morning 9:00am-Noon. *Excluding Redemption Games*

MONDAY NIGHT GOLF $5.99
Valid from 5:00pm to close. Last sale 1 hour before close.

LAZER TAG SPECIAL $10.00
Valid Tuesdays and Thursdays after 5pm. Includes one game of Lazer Tag and a 30 minute Arcade Card. *Excluding Ticket/Prize Games* Must be purchased with first crusade and cannot be shared, transferred or split

The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure Video Game by Activision #PeanutsMovie

I have always been a Snoopy and Peanuts fan. I grew up watching the movies and have loved sharing the movies with my own child. With the release of the new The Peanuts Movie I have even gotten my reluctant husband into being a Snoopy fan! When we read on a happy meal box that there was a video game Snoopy's Grand Adventure being released I knew it would be a must have for our holiday list.

We have 2 gaming systems in my house, the Wii U and Playstation 4. I was able to review the game on both systems and both have pros and cons. The PS4 has a higher resolution making the game more crisp looking but the Wii U has the ability to be played in the mini game controller screen. My son was able to play the Snoopy game on Wii U while my husband and I watched a movie on the tv. I found that to be convenient since we did not want him to be alone in the other room playing video games but still in the room with us enjoying his game. To save time you don't even need to buy the game at the store, you can download the full version on your system from the Playstation Network or Nintendo Network.

My son has loved the game and has already beat the main story line but needs to go back in to collect certain items in the game to unlock all the special items. I enjoyed watching him play since it was all the Peanuts characters I love! Often times I find other things to do while he plays games but this one brought the whole family together to watch and play.

My son's favorite part of the game was the level where he was flying and chasing the Red Baron! I really liked the first level, the game is so colorful and the game play is smooth. We have enjoyed the game and movie so much it inspired us to take a trip to Southern CA to Knott's Berry Farm to celebrate our son's birthday. Having played the game first the theme park was that much cooler to him. When he rode the Red Baron ride he yelled I am just like Snoopy in the video game! Too cute!

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES THE PEANUTS MOVIE:
SNOOPY’S GRAND ADVENTURE VIDEO GAME FOR CONSOLES

The Imaginative World of The Peanuts Movie Also Comes Alive in
Peanuts: Snoopy’s Town Tale, Coming to Select Apple Devices Nov. 5

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Nov. 3, 2015 – Activision Publishing, Inc. has released The PeanutsMovie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure, a new console game, as a part of its deal with PeanutsWorldwide. The game is inspired by the classic comic strip from Charles M. Schulz, which just recently celebrated its 65^th anniversary. This side-scrolling exploration platformer features simple, pick-up-and-play controls and the classic characters and humor of Peanuts, delivering a great experience for fans of all ages.

When Charlie Brown and the gang run off to play hide-and-seek, Snoopy hits the trail to track them down. As players dive into the wild worlds of Snoopy’s imagination, they’ll traverse a multitude of different environments, from the deep jungle to the moon itself, each teeming with surprises and dangers. Snoopy can reach new places with unique hidden costumes that give the beagle new abilities based on his many infamous alter egos, including Joe Cool and the Flying Ace, which unlocks special flight stages. A second player can partner up as Woodstock to help Snoopy get past dangerous creatures and obstacles, or find secret paths and collectibles such as jelly beans and the trusty Beagle Scouts.

The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure draws from the distinctive style and playful charm of The Peanuts Movie, coming to theaters on Nov. 6 from 20^th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios. The varied worlds of Snoopy’s daydreams are painted in gorgeously colorful 3D detail, and the film’s vocal cast is showcased throughout the game.

The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure is out today in North America on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One for $49.99 MSRP, Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system for $39.99 MSRP, and the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system for $29.99 MSRP. It is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB.

In addition, Activision Publishing, Inc. will be launching Peanuts: Snoopy’s Town Tale, a free-to-play mobile game for select iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, on Nov. 5 via the App Store. Players can join Snoopy and other fan-favorite PEANUTS characters to build, explore, and go on quests through the iconic locations from the comic strip. Peanuts: Snoopy’s Town Talewill be available in December for select Android devices through Google Play and Kindle Fire via the Amazon Appstore.

If you are a Peanuts and Snoopy fan I highly recommend getting this game for the children in your life. You can find Snoopy's Grand Adventure at most stores that sell toys and games, I saw a great deal at Target for the game.

Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con is Coming! Ticket Giveaway #conlife #wizardworld

I must admit I have never attended a Comic Con, YIKES! Sad I know but this year things are different. We have wanted to attend one for years and I feel like my son being 5 this is the perfect time to go. He loves super heroes, Nintendo, Disney and more. His Dad and I have been gamers and cartoon fans for years and love sharing those interest with our son. What can be more fun then attending an event where we can all dress up, meet cool celebrities and buy stuff for our collections. If you are new to attending Wizard World Comic Con shows like us you can watch this video to see more of what it is about.

The Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con will be at the Sacramento Convention Center June 19 thru 21st. Each day has different speakers and activities so be sure to check the schedule and get your tickets here to plan your experience at Sac Comic Con.

Here are a few of the celebrities I am looking forward to meeting, Patrick Warburton who plays Joe Swanson on Family Guy and was David Puddy on Seinfeld ( I want to ask him if he does the voice on the Skylanders Swap Force game because it sure does sound like him), Danny Trejo was in Spy Kids movies and Muppets Most Wanted says he loves to play the bad guy in movies so the youth can see bad guys never win, The Blue and Green Rangers from the TV show Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and WWE Superstars Dave Batista and Diva Eva Marie.

photo by: Wizard World

Being the HUGE Simpsons fans we are I am also looking forward to meeting animator Phil Ortiz, he also has worked on Smurfs and He-Man. I want my son to see the variety of artists that work to make his cool characters he knows and loves.

GIVEAWAY

To kick off the 36 Day countdown till Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con arrives I am hosting a giveaway for a 4 pack of tickets to attend Sunday June 21st. Sunday the event is from 11 am to 5 pm with the Kid's Costume Contest that day too. The tickets are for adults and kids over 10, children 10 and under get in FREE when accompanied by a paid adult (Limit 2 kids Per Paid Adult Admission)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Giveaway limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 14, 2015 and ends on June 15, 2015 at 12:01 am PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I will be provided tickets to event for this post.

Ice Age Contential Drift Arctic Games Wii Video Game Review

We enjoy playing the Wii. Its easy for my son to do and I like easy games too. The new Ice Age movie coming to theaters had us excited for the new game. We have not seen the movie yet but playing the game was fun.

Game Story:

Team up with your favorite Ice Age characters in a continental competition of glacial proportions!  Battle for treasure with the Herd and the Pirates in their craziest adventure yet!

Hop, Smash and Dash in 10 wild arctic events including Glacier Hopping, the Prehistoric Plumber, Bob-Smashing and Coconut Slingshot!
Battle for Prehistoric Plunder and win gold, silver and bronze acorns!
Climb to the top of the leaderboard as you challenge your friends in fast-paced multi-player action!
Test your skills in multiple modes including Story Mode and Free Play designed to test even the most skilled arctic athletes!

Ice Age Continental Drift™ & © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. ©2012 Activision Publishing

 My son was really excited to see the characters from the Ice Age movies on the game. We have been watching all of the Ice Age movies this month to lead up to seeing the new one in theaters.

The game was fun. Its based on a clash between the Ice Age characters and the "bad guy" Pirates. Sid finds a huge acorn full of food just as the pirates find it too. They declare a battle of games to see who will win the treasure of food. The games are easy enough for my son to play and have a fun story line to them. The game play was ideal for kids. This will be a fun game for your kids who are fans of the Ice Age movies.

You can watch the Ice Age Confidential Drift Arctic Games Video Game Trailer on Activision Game site.

My son testing out the game:

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a copy for my review.

Father's Day Gift Idea Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Video Game Review

For Father's Day my husband has a few wants. Video games, a new grill and to relax.  I can get two of the three in one by getting him video games. We are big gamers in my house. We spend the evenings after our son has gone to bed to play the big kid (aka my husband) games. We dont often play shooter gun play games so we were curious to review the game play and story line of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Future Solider game. We have several game consoles and this game we reviewed on our XBOX 360.

Game Info from Ubisoft:

"In the escalating political climate of the near future—where strategies on the battlefield must be delicately balanced with maneuvers at the negotiating table—a new breed of soldier has arisen. Trained to be better than the best and outfitted with the most comprehensive array of high-tech gear ever assembled, the future soldier stands apart by his ability to remain undetected. He slips unseen behind enemy lines. He uses the perfect combination of diplomacy and force to achieve his objectives while remaining politically invisible. He is a Ghost."

Soldier games can be fun for adults to play. Remember this is NOT a kids game. Its rated M for Mature. Perfect for my husband to be able to have fun playing by himself or with friends. There is great team work game play and the missions are exciting. He liked that the game is a 3rd person shooter. It makes it easier to play than a 1st person shooter game. Missions often involve taking down a strategical target or rescuing a VIP. What makes this game a bit different than a typical shoot and rescue game is the open environments give you the freedom to achieve the objectives how you want but of course are best played stealthy.

Screenshot from Ubisoft

 Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a very tactical 3rd person shooter game. The game is all about using cover, tactics like smokes, flashes to surprise and ambush enemies and take objectives. Simply running and shooting everything will result in your fellow players not making it but its great to be able to try it either way. My husband realized quickly its best to be stealthy in this game. My husband said the story line was a little long to follow but thats just because we dont have as much time as we use to for Mature games. It is a game that you can pick up and play then put down without much loss of the feel of the game. Some games we have played you feel like you have to get the hang of it again each time you play. 

Screenshot from Ubisoft

The AI in the game is a better than some of the games he has played. He said your team helps you with intel, cover and play as a team according to what your doing. Overall its a fun military style game for men to play. Not one for the kids to see but thats what the rating system is made for.

A great gift for the Dad in your life that enjoys shooter military style games.

You can find the game on sale at Best Buy , Walmart and other game retailers.

* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was provided for free the toy mentioned in this post for my review by the Company/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.