So, I know... I'm pretty late with this review. In my defense, this is a blog about gaming with children, specifically young children. Also, I didn't get my PS4 until February of this year.
This game is fun. Really, really fun.
Part of these blogs will be to talk about how friendly this game is for children, particularly in my son's age bracket. Obviously, in terms of gore and violence, probably not a child-friendly game.
However, in terms of pick-up-and-play quickly type of game, with good gameplay and story. This game rocks! In the 10 - 20 minute intervals I usually have with my son playing with one of his toys, I can easily pick this game up and kill a few orcs, maybe take out a warchief or two, free some slaves.
This game has all the playability of Assassin's Creed series, but has improved upon it! The combos are really entertaining and as you upgrade yourself and unlock more finishing moves, your orc slaying gets somewhat easier. However, I have a tendency to get the higher level orcs as my enemy and some of them like to travel in groups. What's great is the challenge that this presents!
As a girl, I'm glad that my game of the year edition comes with a female skin. I'm happy to report that she has a very deep manly voice and completely cross-dresses for cutscenes! She's skilled!
Yes, it would've been nice to play a game in the Assassin's Creed style with a fully fledged female character right off the bat. But I do appreciate the skin!
My one complaint about this game is what I hear about the ending being anti-climatic (haven't finished yet) and also, the pauses in the game where the captain you're fighting is all "oh I'm here, gonna kill you" and then the retreat speeches. At first, that was super fun, but when you're right about to slice their head off and you're getting someone else's entrance speech or the orc you're about to kill gives a retreat scene, it breaks the immersion!
Gameplay: Fantastic, really like it! Improves upon Assassin's Creed style.
Child-Friendly: Lots of gore, so probably not when children are aware. I'm looking at you orc-head rolling down hill.
Playability with a baby: Able to get some gametime in with smaller chunks of time. Very friendly towards parent's.
Playing while breastfeeding: Haven't pulled this off yet, but my son is bigger and likes to wiggle. Maybe with longer sessions of feeding.
