Review: Saints Row

Daniel Waite
-
0
Review: Saints Row

There are few franchises that instantly leave an impression. Forza impresses you with its realism and fantastic driving mechanics, while GTA inspires you to be violent and aggressive. Moreover, Saints Row is renowned for its unbelievable craziness, dated style, and rehashed mechanics. In an era where gamers crave more for their money, can another visit to the Saints Row franchise really work? I have my concerns, especially after the madness of the last instalment. Consequently, when Saints Row (2022) landed on my desk, I was understandably reserved.

Developed by Deep Silver Volition and published by Deep Silver, this is an open-world sandbox experience. What’s more, it returns to the roots of this much-loved franchise and avoids the amusing, albeit unnecessarily crude stupidity of its recent predecessor. Consequently, many of the cherished and charismatic players have been put to bed. Accordingly, this allows a new set of protagonists to take centre stage in this violent gang-related crime spree.

Saints Row had fleeting moments of brilliance.
Chill out before you commit more crime.

New location, new gang, new you.

What I adored about the latest instalment was the introduction of a whole new gang. You’re the boss of “The Saints”, and you have Neenah, Kevin, and Eli by your side. This team of 4 criminal masterminds run riot in a dusty metropolis that is filled with crime, drugs, and death. As the new boss, you must stamp your authority on your surroundings. You’ll take on the Los Panteros, The Idols, and the Marshalls as you build your empire and make a name for yourself on the streets of Santo Ileso. With plenty of guns to shoot, vehicles to drive, and locations to visit, it feels like a stereotypical Saints Row title. However, is this enough in a modern market?

Well, if you like cliched and dated mechanics, then you won’t be bothered about its rehashed approach. Thankfully, much of this familiar gameplay plays second fiddle to the insanely massive open world. With 15 enormous districts to infiltrate, explore, and command, you’ll lose your head before you get bored. Every area comprises unique points of interest as well as quests to undertake, side hustles to complete, and many collectables to locate. In short, it uses the classic open-world tropes but injects them with steroids and demands you take them all down.

This aside, as the boss, you must be in control of your gang. What better way to do this than using your mobile phone? This simple mechanic acts as the central hub for every element of the gameplay. Here you can take photos, access skills, customise your character (more on this later), look at the world map, and more. This was one of the better choices from the developer and I wish they made the rest of the action feel as modern.

Play alone or join some friends.

With so much madness to tackle, it would have been insane for the developers to overlook multiplayer action. Thankfully, they have incorporated both cooperative and competitive elements into the gameplay. Once you invite your friends into your world, you can tackle any of the missions, side hustles, or simply lark about. However, if your friends have other ideas, they can unleash hell and cause all sorts of mayhem.

This is exactly what I expected from a Saints Row title. There is always an element of the structure that can be pushed to the very limits. If you attempt to do this alone, it is fun but somewhat lacking. Yet, with friends by your side, it’s great fun to race down the freeway shooting like maniacs and creating a scene. Furthermore, you are free to traverse the world as you wish. Do you want to run and gun, mow everyone down in a truck, or soar through the sky with your wingsuit? Whatever you choose, you’ll laugh until your sides hurt as unexpected shenanigans will always occur.

The combat mechanics lacked oomph and drama.
Grab your gun and protect yourself.

Expand your empire and know your enemy.

The freedom to choose your approach was phenomenal. Subsequently, if you wanted to waste hours on side hustles and criminal ventures, it was up to you. Both these elements earn you money while enhancing your reputation amongst the seedier members of society. You can, of course, overlook these opportunities, but where is the fun in that? Instead, I recommend you waste many hours planning heists, stealing cars, and performing an array of other shady tasks.

Moving up the ladder is all well and good, but if you don’t study your opponents, then you are bound to get your ass handed to you. Each of the factions you face has a unique style and strengths and weaknesses that must be overcome. By using the dated and familiar Saints Row 2 shooting mechanics, you must attempt to take them down. However, if this fails, you can turn to melee combat and some killer moves to regain your health.

As there is no cover mechanic, you must rely on dodging and this “Matrix-esque” approach to staying alive, no matter the cost. This is made somewhat worse as every enemy is a “bullet sponge”. Accordingly, this leads to some frustrating experiences and a lack of fluidity. Now, this can be overcome if you simply drive through your enemies, but this isn’t always possible, nor is it the most fun solution. Consequently, the developers have missed the mark and this will disappoint many players.

Saints Row looks dated and janky.

I’ve heard mixed reviews about the graphical fidelity. Some gamers are happy to reduce the quality to achieve something that is barely playable. I, on the other hand, expect a modern title on a next-gen machine to handle a high resolution and smooth frame rate. Sadly, Saints Row failed on both grounds, and the end result is an appalling game that looks and feels horrible. It was such a shame as the cinematic gives the impression of a well-polished and smooth experience. Instead, it is nauseating, dated, and harks back to the Xbox 360 era.

If you are familiar with the open-world genre, then you’ll know how the audio plays out. With an array of radio stations to choose from, you enjoy an eclectic and often unfamiliar lineup of songs. Yet, they have been specifically chosen to match the theme while adding energy and drama to the proceedings. What doesn’t always work, however, are the sound effects. Luckily, Saints Row nails its wonderful blend of explosives, gunfire, and vehicle sounds. Subsequently, there is a nice blend of realistic and whacky audio that adds a fun layer to the gameplay.

Saints Row maintains its eclectic roster of characters.
Meet the team.

It plays like its peers.

The developers have stuck with a tried and tested control system. As such, it is easy to pick up if you love the genre. With a blend of submenus and responsive inputs, it overcomes many of the aforementioned combat issues. Furthermore, the inclusion of the mobile phone mechanic makes it easier, still. On top of this, the use of the d-pad for additional powers ensured it was simple to play without confusing the matter.

Now, if you enjoy exploring massive open-world locations while hunting for collectables, then Saints Row will get you salivating. It is awash with a mind-blowing amount of content, and it’ll keep you busy for days. Alongside this, the customisation options have to be some of the best I’ve witnessed. With plenty of insane options available, this harks back to the stupidity of its predecessor. I, of course, made my hero look as ridiculous as possible. Why? Well, why not?

Saints Row falls short.

I’m glad the game moved away from the madness of the previous iteration. However, I was disheartened by its terrible graphics, awful combat, and spongey bullets. There was so much potential, yet the developers have fallen way short of the mark. Every encounter with an enemy gang feels repetitive, arduous, and limp. Consequently, if it wasn’t for the multiplayer action, you’d be disappointed almost immediately. Now, I adored the open world and the side hustles. But it doesn’t make up for the many shortcomings. As such, I’m not going to recommend that you buy this title. More information can be found here, though! Can you rule the roost and take over Santo Ileso? Grab your friends, run some jobs, and wipe out the opposition.

Review: Betrayal at Club Low

Jonah Ehlers
-
0
Review: Betrayal at Club Low

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

Betrayal at Club Low… Man, what an oddball of a game. Under normal circumstances, this could have been considered an insult. But right now it’s more than a compliment. It’s one of the big reasons you should play it.

From the first few minutes in the game, it becomes clear that this won’t be your run-of-the-mill experience. Your protagonist has got grey/blue skin, glowing eyes and is disguised as a pizza delivery guy. Turns out you work for a spy agency called “The Circus”. Your mission is to extract an undercover agent in the nearby Club Low. You need to figure out a way in, a way to reach your target without raising too many eyebrows and make your escape. 

This may all sound relatively simple but Club Low has an absurd amount of security and cautious patrons. This isn’t a stealth game. You won’t be avoiding prying eyes, but rather interacting with any and everything that may help you accomplish your goal. Along the way, you’ll uncover some side objectives, helpful items, and pizza recipes (more on that later).

Adult Swim, The Game

The game is unapologetically weird and I love it. You can intimidate the queue outside the club with wild dancing. You can fight or give in to the urge to drink from an alley puddle. You’ll take the role of chef to appease a man in your way. Buy the club a round of drinks so they won’t judge your dance moves. Convince a DJ they need a full night’s rest and that they should go home mid-set. Only for you to take over and blow the crowd’s collective minds with your pizza decks. All to make money, and gain some permanent buffs to increase the chance of success. 

I love the way this game presents itself. It was like playing through an episode of some obscure Adult Swim show. In fact, the overall style of the title reminded me of the show: Xavier: Renegade Angel.

So you’ve got your mission: Find the agent. Get him out. How exactly do you go about completing the task though? Simply roll some dice. Almost every action you take is tied to a skill, and each skill is tied to a die. This dictates whether anything you do is a great success, or an embarrassing failure. 

A Roll of the Dice

However, it’s not a straightforward game of chance with a 1-6 value die. You have seven skills: Cooking, deception, music, observation, physique, wisdom, and wit. Each skill has a 6-sided die. These start with values of 0,0,0,1,1,1. Quite low I know. Try to do most things and you’ll just fall flat on your face. However, as in any game with skills/attributes, Betrayal at Club Low is centred around upgrading these values all the way up to 10. Upgrades are bought with Cash, either won through a successful roll, or through your pizza dice (more on that now).

You may be dressed as a pizza delivery dude, but that’s not enough to sell the performance. You actually need some pizza. It’s more than just a front though. Your pizza can make you money, or it can be the deciding factor for victory. Lucky for you there are some inexplicable, yet highly convenient pizza ovens scattered around the environment. As well as ingredients for your pizza. 

New ovens found reward you with a new recipe for a total of three. These recipes are your pizza dice. The faces of the die are blank at first. However, each ingredient found can be added to the recipe. These ingredients include $2/$4/$8 faces, or multipliers for money. There are faces that increase your nerve and health. These are values lost to specific opponent dice, reach 0 on either and it’s game over. There are also strategic ingredients such as a pepper that allows you to reroll an opponent’s die. Or a pineapple that swaps your cast skill die with your enemy’s. Which can take a weak 3 from your side, and turn it into a strong 8, for example. Thus, these pizza dice are ultra important to making the money needed for upgrades, and turning the tables in a dire situation. 

No Stone Unturned

In Betrayal at Club Low, interacting with everything is a key part of success. You never know when a jacket you talked your way into getting could come in handy. Aside from this, interacting with people multiple times is also encouraged. You can often soften them up with a keen observation or a witty joke. Successful attempts at this can add modifier conditions. These conditions can often decrease their dice values, or increase your own. Some conditions also have the opposite effect. Adding debuff dice that lower values, or take away points of your health or nerve. 

These conditions are quite interesting and full of character themselves. Fail at telling a joke, and you’re hit with an “awkward” condition that can make you lose nerve. Succeed at pickpocketing, and your character feels guilty, which can potentially add a X0 modifier to cash dice.

It’s Weird, and It Knows It

As I mentioned before, the art style reminds me a lot of an Adult Swim show called Xavier: Renegade Angel. It’s got this low-res, gritty, and dare I say ugly design with pretty clunky animations. And yet, I view it as adding to the character and appeal of the game. 

The style doesn’t come across as a cobbling together of assets, but rather a conscious decision. Part of this is how it dives headfirst into its weird aesthetic, and low-quality models. It places all kinds of wild items throughout the club, like a security room with a tennis ball pit or a desk with a huge face. Or even how NPCs will exit a scene with unexplained rocket boots. It knows exactly what it is, and what vibe it’s going for and it just works. I’d hardly call it easy on the eyes, but I could definitely call it wonderfully unique.

Seeing as our playground is a club, music is obviously a factor I can’t overlook. Thankfully the music works a treat. It’s a soundtrack chockful of electronic beats that never lose their lustre. Each track feels like you could find it in some underground or niche bar or club. And the quality of production surprised me; even the sound design. Outside the club, music is muffled and bass-heavy, with sounds sharpening as you pass through its doors, eventually crisping up as you reach the dancefloor. Unless you have some real disdain for electronic dance music, I’d be willing to bet your head is moving before long.

This game took my expectations and flipped them all upside down with ease. From the music to the characters, the gameplay, the design of the world, and its wonderfully weird aesthetic. I really did not expect to enjoy the game as much as I did, and I can easily recommend it. 

Review: Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space

Alex Chessun
-
0
Review: Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space

Dialing up the weirdness to eleven, Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space (a remaster of a ports of Sam & Max Season 2, originally released on PC in 2008) takes the concept of the prior entries in the series and provides an even more bizarre spin on it, with cultural references galore that looks for more situational irony than it does traditional laughs.

It might just be a consequence of trying to keep the comedy adventure series from becoming stale, but by making the game so bizarre, the game’s point-and-click mechanics make far less logical sense, frustrating the player as you feel you the need to combine every possible object just to find the correct solution. As a result, the joy of solving the puzzles is not the same as it was in Sam & Max: Save the World, and is further compounded by a lacklustre cast of new characters, leaving the two protagonists to carry the load.

Figured out which point of interest is the relevant one yet? Errrrr……

This isn’t to say that the story falls flat, but the cultural grabs feel like cheap pops that are either overly-cliched or outdated, and even similar banter between Sam and Max can feel repetitive from the 15+ hour adventures, especially if you play the remasters back-to-back.

It results in chapters 1-5 being as inconsistent as they are weird, and is almost as if the game wants to parody every single culturally-significant fictional character known to the western world, but most of the jokes surrounding them are surface-level and are more about subverting your expectation of the characters in their immediate introductions, and anything amusing that comes from the scenario seems to arise despite their inclusion.  

Santa, Satan and Dracula as well as dated cultural references like an 80s lyric-spewing robot, Jimmy Hoffa and D.B. Cooper feature for momentary laughs, and the occasional intriguing puzzle, but mostly leaves a gaping hole for character depth. 

When they are given enough time to develop, said cliches can become a decent member of the cast – such as the Frankenstein robot – but for the most part, the new characters aren’t given enough depth to connect with the oversized Dog and Rabbit, and due to that, those particular chapters don’t feel anything more than a grand set-up for the puzzles.  

This isn’t true of all the chapters, however, as chapter 4 uses time travel and connects an interwoven story from previous chapters, unveiling reasons for seemingly unimportant actions, giving existing characters some backstory and making the overall plot richer.  

A time travelling elevator that will take you to many places unknown, and some known.

Although difficult to solve, the puzzles are often well-constructed – both individually and as a concept for the entire chapter. Whether it is timing the firing of a cannon, to load up a toy plane that you then must drop appropriately on an enemy’s head or changing the body part of a Frankenstein robot in order to answer questions correctly in a dating contest, there is always an amusing mix, keeping you on toes throughout.  

He’s alive alright.

Essentially, this is the same gameplay format from Save the World, and while it is a good blueprint to work from, there are very few changes from its predecessor – limited to providing clues when you are stuck and better mechanics for minigames – and the gameplay itself is largely the same, wasting opportunities to extend amusing mechanics such as controlling building-high robots and a boxing minigame. Furthemore, the remaster – much like its predecessor – offers little that previous ports haven’t already, but despite this, it doesn’t lessen my appetite for a remastered version of Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse.

Sam & Max: Beyond Space and Time tries to be too clever for its own good, expecting the player to follow long-winded and sometimes-incomprehensible logic of its puzzles, and with its dated references and cliched characters, although this entry might still be enjoyable, it is one of the less memorable Sam and Max entries.

Review: NeverAwake

Lee Fairweather
-
0
Review: NeverAwake

Constructing an intriguing concept is one thing. But to also have the wherewithal to execute it is an entirely different set of expertise. NeverAwake is a title that successfully manages to fulfil both of these quotas, and it’s absolutely awesome.

Developer Neotro Inc won’t be a stranger to fans of the shoot ‘em up genre. They previously released GRAND CROSS: ReNOVATION and VRITRA. Having played those two after already completing NeverAwake, I can comfortably say that this one is my favourite of the three. Thus, my aim by the end of this review is to hopefully persuade you to not sleep on NeverAwake… pun not intended.

Sympathetic story telling.

The narrative of NeverAwake is utterly heart wrenching. It portrays a young girl named Rem in a perpetual state of sleep. Whilst sleeping, she has reoccurring nightmares based on ideas or notions that she hates. This includes concepts like eating her vegetables, interacting with her school peers, and, expectedly, visiting the dentist.

Mercifully, an unknown entity, seemingly attempting to aid Rem, consistently appears in each one of her dreams. This is where we as the player come into action. It’s our job to try and help Rem overcome her fears and concerns, by fighting off the monsters that torment her.

I’m not ashamed to admit that the story hit a little close to home. I’ve had times in my life where qualms and uncertainties have plagued my mind, especially during my teenage years. NeverAwake captures those emotions, and portrays them in a rather elegant way.

There are also a couple of endings to discover here. Which one you get depends on how you played throughout the course of the game. Regardless of the ending you receive, the atmospheric plot is worth the cost of admission by itself.

Whacky and imaginative levels.

The nightmares Rem experience function as NeverAwake’s various worlds and levels. For example, her hatred of vegetables places her in the centre of a broccoli ridden forest. Subsequently, this directly impacts the level design, altering the foes and obstacles you encounter throughout that world’s zones.

To clear any given level, you must collect a specific amount of souls. This is achieved by destroying the ghoulish monsters that fly around the screen. Once the progress bar has reached 100%, the level immediately ends. Boss levels operate in the same way. You don’t actually have to defeat any of them, but instead, simply have to deal enough damage to fill your progress bar.

Interestingly, each level has an end point. Once you reach this zone, the level resets. You’ll retain all of the soul progress you’ve made, but the enemies and objects will reinitialise back to their starting positions. Effectively, the stages infinitely loop until you either die, or reach 100% souls.

An increasingly difficult experience.

A word to the wise, the more the stages loop, the harder they become. Additionally, some of the later levels can get exceedingly challenging, even for veteran players. Thankfully, there are a few mechanics put into place should you feel like the game is proving to be too difficult.

Firstly, you can turn on the auto aim setting found in the options menu. As the name implies, this will allow you to focus on movement while the computer handles the shooting aspects. Secondly, you can use the oversoul feature upon dying to give yourself a power boost on your next attempt. Lastly, should you die repeatedly, the game will also unlock new items for you to purchase in the shop. – I’ll touch more on those in a minute. –

Outside of the campaign, you’ll also have challenges you can compete in. These serve as a way to break the regular gameplay loop, and are fun activities to get involved with. In total, there are over 80 levels to playthrough, giving you a lot of bang for your buck.

By the book combat and dynamic upgrades.

When it comes to NeverAwake’s combat, it is a responsive, but predictable system. Dealing with oncoming threats involves firing your main weapon, using special abilities, and dashing out of the way of oncoming attacks. Even for its reserved disposition, these actions feel incredibly fluid to perform. I did have some problems relating to Rem’s hitboxes and invincible enemy projectiles. Admittedly, this wasn’t a super common occurrence, but it did happen enough that I feel it’s worth mentioning.

Improving your character primarily comes in the form of accessories. Essentially, these are passives which modify Rem in some capacity, ranging from taking an extra hit, increasing the alternate ammo recharge rate, or absorbing nearby souls. All playstyles have been covered, so it’s likely you’ll find something to vibe with.

Besides accessories, you also have an array of special weapons at your disposal. Abilities like high calibre shotgun blasts, screen wide AoE bombs, and protective circles, can all change the battle dynamic in a heartbeat. Exactly how you go around kitting out your build is left completely up to you. You’ll progressively unlock new weapons, accessories, and upgrades as you work your way through the game.

Impactful and memorable visuals.

Although it’s completely subjective, in my opinion, NeverAwake has an ominously beautiful art style. The striking blend of realism, mixed with grotesque cartoon imagery, fosters a strangely captivating impression. Of course, this coincides tremendously well with the game’s narrative. After all, dreams are often disjointed and abstract by nature.

As previously stated, the different stages act as the embodiment of Rem’s anxieties. This is masterfully depicted through other worldly illustrations. The best example of this can be found in the dog park zones. It morphs the entire neighbourhood into a Dr. Seuss x Tim Burton style hallucination. It’s ridiculously imaginative, and a great example of background detailing.

In a similar vein to the backdrops, the monster designs, and their corresponding animations, are, appropriately, nightmare inducing. The manner in which the creatures contort and bend out of shape is eery to say the least. However, for a horror themed game, that is exactly what you want to see.

Touhou style sound design.

NeverAwake’s SFX can best be described as bizarre, yet crunchy. It’s purposefully curated in this way to harmonise with the games overarching subject matter, and it does so marveousuly. Everything from the monsters’ cries to Rem’s abilities are oddly alien, but implemented with decisive precision. My fellow Danmaku and shoot ‘em fans can rest easy knowing that Neotro Inc got this area down pat.

Running somewhat parallel to this is the OST. Composer, Fumihito Uekusa, utilises numerous tropes from the horror genre. Still, he remains careful to not crossover into clichéd territory, allowing the music to stay energetic and catchy, all while showcasing some slightly menacing undertones. It’s clear after playing this game that Uekusa is a talented individual, and I look forward to hearing more of his material in future games.

Conclusion

Simply put, NeverAwake is a smooth, responsive, and entertaining shoot ‘em up. The gameplay is both fast-paced and increasingly challenging, offering a lot of replayability. Artistically, the unique blend of realism and abstract imagery perfectly illustrates the nightmarish aesthetic. Likewise, the sound design and original OST accompany the games conceptual thematic phenomenally well. Most of all though, the emotionally charged narrative is portrayed in such a way that almost anyone can relate to it. I sincerely hope that NeverAwake gets the attention it deserves. And at £15, I cannot recommend this game enough.

Fast Travel Games – Interview and Showcase

James Refelian
-
0
Fast Travel Games – Interview and Showcase

One of the most fun areas at EGX 2022 this year was the VR Zone where the awesome Fast Travel Games had several of their upcoming titles being showcased. If you wanted to get hands-on with VR gaming and check out some of these titles, then this was the place to be!

I sat down with Andreas Juliusson, the Chief Marketing Officer at Fast Travel Games, to geek out over the titles they brought with them and talk all things VR gaming.

The Interview

[Edited for clarity and length]

How did you find the transition between development and publishing?

It’s amazing to see how many smaller developers are out there with great games and ideas in development. We can use our experience to help them get the content out there. Many developers, for example, do not have much experience with marketing and PR strategy, or advertising and working with influencers so we can use our experiences to help them with that.  We had over thirty games pitched to us at Gamescom alone this year and had to turn many of them away because it was too many.

Do you take pitches often?

We do, we get pitches almost daily. When we look at them, we specifically must curate and look at what we think will be a success and what the audience will want.

What are your criteria when deciding what to publish?

We look for heart and passion in the product – it sounds cliché but it’s so crucial. Working with developers who really care for the product. We also want diversity in the games we take on and really expand our portfolio making sure we have plenty of variety. Quality is also important. A lot of people consider the games we publish to be ours, so they must meet our standards for attention to detail.

What’s it like developing for VR over flat-screen games?

Flat screen games have been developed for how many years? Slowly and surely there has been a standardisation in genres and control mechanics for them. Nothing is that surprising anymore. In VR, there is so much innovation in controllers and haptics and so we must innovate. We can’t just make one controller setup as it must feel like you’re doing the action, which is different in every game. The second thing we have to ask is why VR – why make this game for VR and not flat-screen? Per game, the answer differs, we want to take the player into a different world – to fast travel there.

That’s actually how the company got its name. The fastest way to travel to a new world is to put a headset on. Immersion is so important to that. If we make a space game, for example, like we are now with Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game, it’s about taking the player into that universe.

What has Fast Travel Games announced?

We’ve announced two games. The first one is our own, Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game, and then there’s one we’re publishing, Guardians Frontline.

(See further down for more details on these games!)

So, with games you’re publishing your role is to take it from where it is now, like Guardians Frontline being on AppLab, and pushing to full release. Can you tell me more about that process?

So, part of that is to secure an optimal launch window so we work closely with Meta and Valve to secure that. We also help the developers make decisions on features and content that we feel are suited for the market audience. We can use our experience to guide them and help them pick the best features, you can’t do it all and include every idea! One of the other things we do is help with marketing and PR so more people become aware of these games. Finally, we make trailers in collaboration with developers, update key assets and deal with social media advertising. Some developers want to hand it over totally, often there’s a lot of collaboration though.

So, what’s next in the VR landscape?

Even though VR has piqued a lot in the last few years, especially with the Quest 1 and now 2 hitting the market which has broadened the audience, I think next year it’s going to be massive. Sony is coming back in the game with PSVR2. While PSVR1 was a massive success when it came out it died after a few years because the headset was good, but the controllers weren’t. It lacked support from Sony. Now they’re seriously developing to be the console leader in VR.

Secondly, we’re seeing competition in the untethered space. Meta has had the monopoly for a while but it’s great to see companies like PICO who have announced a headset. HTC is likely working on something new. It’s also rumoured Valve is working on a standalone too. This competition is really healthy and with companies also looking to Asia it’s opening a whole new market. In the past, Asia hasn’t been considered, PSVR didn’t really take off there, and Quest 2 only just launched in some places. It’s going to be amazing to work with Asian companies on VR projects.

We know we’ll be releasing on PSVR2 and as a studio, we try and aim for multiplatform. We all come from different backgrounds and want as many people as possible to play so try not to be console exclusive.

Is converting content from one platform to another difficult to do?

To most people, it’s seamless. PSVR2, for example, will feel different and will take a lot of time because of the haptics and graphical power possibilities. It will be a challenge, and we probably won’t see simultaneous releases as a result. We must be sure that each version works for its platform, otherwise, you’ll have compromises that won’t make gameplay fun because it won’t quite align with say the controllers.

So, for someone just getting into VR – what’s the headset to buy today?

Now, today I think the one to get is the Quest 2. It’s affordable. It’s also all you need. You get the headset and controllers. Next year will be interesting – if you have a PS5 you’ll probably be interested in the PSVR2.

(We then talked about the games detailed further down)

So, what drew you to VR?

Fast Travel Games started for the founders as it did for me, we were at another company and tried out VR for the first time. It was an Occulus development kit and in our IT Department, I got to try out a mech game. Just being inside the mech was cool and I was told to do something and then suddenly, I was flying. I got goosebumps and knew I needed to work in VR. The founders felt the same – they had to work in VR and had a dream of a start-up. That dream plus trying VR for the first time led to Fast Travel Games being formed back in 2016.

Do you think VR is the next evolution of gaming?

I’m not sure because people talk about VR being the next big thing to replace standard gaming, but I don’t agree. It has its place among gamers but sits alongside flat-screen and even mobile gaming. I think we’re going to see a lot of different ways to play games. VR is a very unique system, and I will wait for certain titles in VR, so I don’t ruin the experience. It might not be the next big thing, but VR is definitely a big thing. The constant innovation, affordability, ease of use, and accessibility are all factors in this.

Do you think augmented reality is something Fast Travel Games will dabble in or develop for?

We’re always exploring technical innovations and new ways of engaging gamers. As of today, we are 100% focused on VR but we wouldn’t close any doors. The team is always keen to explore so I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we did something.

What’s your favourite kind of VR game?

It’s all about immersion for me, so I only really play first-person games at a slow pace. With a focus on exploration. I want to be taken somewhere and actually believe I’m somewhere else. When I was playing Resident Evil 4, I was in the headset for an hour, just beaten 50 odd zombies, and was going to take a breather in a shed. I got in there and there was one big monster, and I grabbed a grenade from my chest and threw it. What had actually happened was I’d thrown my controller across the room and heard it smash on the floor! I was so happy because I was so immersed! I had to throw the grenade in my hand.

The Games from Fast Travel Games

EVERSLAUGHT Invasion

Developed by MobX Games and published by Fast Travel Games comes a fast-paced fantasy action game. EverSlaught Invasion is built from the ground up for VR and features both single-player and co-op modes.

As a hero for the secretive Cleric, you are tasked with defeating evil and stopping the evil Corrupted faction. You can pick one of three unique classes: Warrior, Rogue, and Vanguard, each with their own unique playstyle and gear.

The game features a deep progression system that fans of ‘flat screen’ action-adventure games will appreciate, with a lot of loot that can be gathered, and skill unlocks in the game’s deep progression system. Inspired by classics like DOOM, EVERSLAUGHT Invasion is incredible, fast-paced fun.

One of the absolute standout features is the hookshot! You can use it to traverse the impressive world, or even in combat. This feature worked well and was incredibly fun! The game also features randomly generated dungeons ensuring gameplay is always fresh and exciting.

EVERSLAUGHT Invasion is coming out in early 2023 on Meta Quest 2 and is available on SteamVR in early access.

Broken Edge

What do you get if you take detailed research into sword combat and pair it with a beautifully hand-painted art style? Broken Edge. Developed by Trebuchet and published by Fast Travel Games, Broken Edge is a 1v1 sword-fighting brawler.

What really impressed me with Broken Edge is that the development team really did their research on sword combat. Working out the physics of each sword type and how they would be used. As a fencer, I totally geeked out that the moves I would use in real life translated to the game.

In the game, you embody a historical swordfighter and can use their unique techniques and powers to claim victory against your opponents. All the weapons are unique, and you’ll need to master each one if you are to be able to dominate your foes. Timing and tactics are crucial. Honestly, if you’ve ever swung a sword or stick or lightsaber around wanting to duel, this is the game for you.

The game also features an online global contest to be the best swordfighter… in the world.

Broken Edge is coming to SteamVR and Meta Quest 2 in November 2022.

We Are One

We Are One from Flat Head Studio and published by Fast Travel Games is a unique puzzle shooter. In this game, you are fighting for the cause of Mother Nature and all living things against evil mechanical enemies in the game’s story mode. 

Featuring a mix of gunplay and clever environmental puzzles spread across more than 50 levels. What makes this game unique, however, is the use of timeloops and allies. Except your allies are your clones. It will be mastery of the clones and timeloops that allow you to succeed – whether that’s in battle or to solve the puzzles. For example, you can throw grenades to yourself to blow up that hard-to-reach enemy!

The art style for We Are One is distinctive, vibrant, and unique and one that’s a real joy to experience.

We Are One is set for release in 2023 on multiple VR platforms. It is available in demo mode on App Labs and SteamVR.

Guardians Frontline

Guardians Frontline is an epic sci-fi shooter with plenty of strategy elements. Developed by VirtualAge and published by Fast Travel Games.

In the game, you wield various weapons and vehicles to complete your objectives. From gravity guns to mechs and spaceships this game offers you it all! Blending the gameplay of high-action FPS games like HALO with RTS elements of beloved classics like StarCraft, Guardians Frontline is an experience like nothing I’ve seen. It’s everything I wanted in a VR Starship Troopers game, but with a unique and original IP. 

Building turrets, structures, and units before jumping straight into the action on the front lines. The game features a single-player campaign to protect the Federation that can also be played by up to four players in co-op mode. Finally, up to 8 players can battle it out in a tense, strategic PvP battle. With the addition of an in-game level editor that can share maps with the community, there is infinite replayability value and new tactics to learn.

One of the coolest features about Guardians Frontline is how community-driven the game is and has been through early access playtesting. Specifically, community-built maps, and it’s been confirmed this feature will remain in the final release.

Guardians Frontline will be released in early 2023 on SteamVR and Meta Quest 2.

Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game

From Fast Travel Games comes an exciting new installment in the Stellaris franchise. In this action-rogue-lite game, you play in a god-like mode to captain your ship and battle or befriend a multitude of aliens in your search for the Ghost Signal.

One of the cool features is that outer space is populated by a lot of other players too. While there are no plans for PvP in outer space, you will be able to loot the ships of defeated players you find. This adds some great immersion to the game, and makes it feel more real. Perfect in a VR experience.

Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game allows you to partake in space battles, encounter planet-sized aliens, gather valuable loot, and carry out important research. While the game has a non-linear feel there is very much a core story. As part of the research you can do, you can progress along numerous skill trees to improve your ship and abilities.

Alongside the story, you can also explore randomised maps to make every session feel unique. There will also be Daily Challenges and global and local leaderboards.

During our discussion, Andreas explained how assets were provided by the developers of Stellaris and, while this isn’t the first time Fast Travel Games have jumped into someone else’s universe, it’s still a scary endeavour. Balancing the requirements of a VR game against ensuring that things feel familiar to core Stellaris players. This authenticity to the original is what makes Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game an exciting evolution of a sci-fi classic. There is nothing like this in the VR space right now.

Ghost Signal: A Stellaris Game comes out in 2023 on Meta Quest 2.

Fast Travel Games General Information

You can find Andreas on Twitter and follow Fast Travel Games on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest releases and developments in the world of VR gaming!

For information about Fast Travel Games and everything they develop and publish head to their website.

Special thanks to Andreas and the whole Fast Travel Games team for taking the time to talk to me, and show off the amazing VR games they’ve got coming!

Review: Electrician Simulator

Daniel Waite
-
0
Review: Electrician Simulator

There are certain tasks that only trained individuals should attempt. As such, for many of us, these jobs will always be unobtainable. That is, however, overcome if you love the simulation genre. No longer will you need to waste time and money on learning a new skill. Instead, invest 30 minutes or so to complete a tutorial, and you are good to go. This is pretty much what happens in Electrician Simulator. It is a game that warns you of the dangers of playing with electrical circuits and then lets you run amuck.

Developed by Take IT Studios and published by Ultimate Games S.A, this is a real to life simulation title. What’s more, there are some elements of business management and some minor educational points. But it is mainly a relaxed time sink that allows you to run a business, help out the locals, and get rich at the same time.

Electrician Simulator wasn’t intuitive enough.

My love of simulation games stems from their ultra-realism and intuitive ways. In fact, this was a key highlight of Construction Simulator. However, Electrician Simulator wasn’t as in tune with this element. Consequently, its action felt more clunky and cumbersome. Now, I’m not saying I disliked it because that’s not accurate. Instead, I desired something that flowed better with a more intertwined story and events.

In Electrician Simulator, you play the role of a rookie electrician. Your business is fresh and your client list is small. As such, you must work your way up the ranks and accept whatever jobs you are given. As you become more adept, the jobs become larger, the pay higher, and you’ll be required to juggle more tasks at once.

Work from your garage and get the job done.
The hub of all activities.

One electrician, two businesses.

I admit that my knowledge of an electrician’s role is limited. Yet, I’m pretty sure you’re either a gadget repair person or a fully-fledged electrician. Now, in Electrician Simulator, you must tackle both roles. This is all well and good, and it actually adds some variety to the action, but it is detrimental to realism. The dev team should have focussed on one area to enhance the levels of detail and the complexity of every task.

However, they didn’t, so multi-job Joe you must be. The gadget portion of the game focuses on an array of items that are broken. Armed with a screwdriver, rust spray, multimeter, tweezers, and a soldering iron, you disassemble, inspect, repair, and reassemble every item. Other than the repetitive and fiddly nature of each task, it was quite fun and rewarding to complete. Sadly, though, the pricing system was unrealistic, and this was annoying.

So, the gadget element was flawed, but how about the house electrics? Well, this section fared much better, though the cable running elements were just ridiculous. Every house I wired was a death trap, as I could run cables as I wished. As such, you’d be decapitated, or lose your legs in every house I touched. Now, this isn’t game-breaking, but it also isn’t realistic. Consequently, this is a massive shortcoming that must be addressed.

Electrician Simulator has a ridiculous pricing scheme.
Fix this $20 smoke alarm and charge them $250 for the pleasure.

Stock management and training.

As tasks are completed, you earn XP that levels you up. The higher your level, the more complex the items that you can buy. In turn, this makes your job much trickier, and you must balance cost over profit. Alongside this, you’ll need to brush up on new skills, remember old ones, and learn to repair, replace, and fit new equipment. Therefore, there is no rest for the wicked.

The training for new skills is set bizarrely in a VR world. Here, you’ll learn every technique you’ll need to maximise your potential. However, though this was great, the protagonist owns a flat and it would have made more sense to improve that across the course of the game. As you can tell, there are some weird gameplay choices that seriously impact the realism of the game. It was a shame, as otherwise; it is a fun and methodical title that ticks many of the simulation tropes.

Electrician Simulator looks nice, but it doesn’t run perfectly.

Electrician Simulator isn’t a power-heavy game, nor does it require a particularly modern PC/laptop to play it. However, I ran it on a moderate setting, nonetheless. Yet, even with my scaled-back approach, it looked nice and its style was bright, simple, and to the point. Moreover, there is some variety in the areas you visit and this alleviates some of the tedium. But I stumbled across many performance issues that ruin the gameplay. The frame rate was terrible, and the movement lacked fluidity as a result. This was particularly painful when wiring sockets or moving in tight spaces. Subsequently, you’d crash into walls or connect the wrong cables. Accordingly, it was frustrating, horrible to experience, and unexpected from a modern title.

The audio fared better because of its balanced style. With some high-energy (pun intended) music and realistic tool noises, it sucks you into the action. Sadly, though, it wasn’t enough to smooth over the unforgivable layers of unrealistic action.

The wiring element is easy to understand but poorly implemented.
Welcome to the red light district.

Great controls.

Unlike some sim games, this one is easy to play and quick to master. The excellent sub-menu and responsive controls are easy to navigate and fun to work with. Moreover, a helpful checklist ensures you have the right tools for every job. Thankfully, the mouse and keyboard are accurate, otherwise, the fiddly nature of each job would have been unbearable.

The genre is usually tough to put down, but Electrician Simulator didn’t grab me. No matter how much I tried, I always found a reason to quit. With many repetitive tasks and a smattering of unrealistic actions, it’s not as impressive as its peers.

Electrician Simulator misses the mark.

Maybe I didn’t get it, but for me, Electrician Simulator has missed the mark. It tried to include too many elements and this waters down its quality. Furthermore, a lack of realism holds it back. I found much of it to be interesting, but it didn’t inspire me like other sim titles. Accordingly, I’m on the fence and tentatively recommend that you buy it here! Learn to become a master electrician as you repair, rewire, and help out a bunch of unskilled adults with their electrical mishaps.

Review: Door Kickers 2

Daniel Waite
-
0
Review: Door Kickers 2

War simulation is both worryingly accurate and enthralling to boot. When developers get it right, the experience is absolutely amazing. However, when it goes wrong, it is tedious, awkward, and frankly, shit! Commandos 3 – HD Remaster is a prime example of the latter. Whereas Door Kickers 2 sits firmly in the awesome category.

Developed and published by KillHouse Games, this is a top-down strategy tactical war title. With urban combat at the core of everything it does, you’ll have to think on your feet, adjust to changing situations, and plan to come out on top. Sadly, though, things rarely go to plan and this can lead to frustration. Yet, with a little patience and out-of-the-box thinking, you can overcome every obstacle you face and complete every mission in front of you.

Plan ahead and complete every mission.
Plan ahead and overcome every problem.

Door Kickers 2 instantly grabs your attention.

Rarely does a game impress me from the off. But Door Kickers 2 did just that with its captivating gameplay. From the first mission, you are chucked in at the deep end. You must control a squad of heroic soldiers who are sent to complete a range of missions. You may be asked to wipe out your enemy, capture intel, or save hostages. Whatever the task, you must command your unit of hardy troops as you blow up walls, hammer through doors, swing through windows and shoot the hell out of anyone that stands in your way. Accordingly, it is an adrenaline-fuelled experience filled with ups and downs.

If the action-packed missions weren’t enough, you also have the chance to download user-made maps and custom missions. Now, this may seem like I’m jumping ahead of myself, but I want to nail home how much content there is. Effectively, the developers have piled on the goods and you could invest hours upon hours playing this game. It amazed me how versatile each map was, and the number of different approaches each scenario has. Subsequently, you can be stealthy and hide in the shadows, or blow the hell out of everything while unleashing a relentless rain of white-hot lead.

Enough about the maps. What about the mechanics?

So, we know there are plenty of maps to explore and the game revolves around squad-based action. But that is merely the tip of the iceberg. Each mission has a set number of soldiers to pick from. You have 4 classes available and they are; Assault, Support, Marksmen, and Grenadier. Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, and it is your job to select the best combination for the task at hand. However, there is more. Like other war games, you are free to select your loadout. Door Kickers 2 has plenty of presets available, but as you earn stars for completing each round, you can unlock new equipment.

This is essential in the later stages, as your enemies become tougher and the missions are more convoluted. However, to help you out, you are free to pause the action at any point. Here, you can adjust your plan, change the direction you are facing or throw/place explosives. Alongside this, you can use spy cameras to look under doors, or claw hammers to break locks. Furthermore, there are special tools to burn through metal, and night vision goggles for after-dark raids.

The night vision mode takes a bit of practice to master.
Night vision mode.

Door Kickers 2 is unlike other strategy games. 

The toughest thing to get your head around is the free-flowing action. Unlike other strategy games that rely on turn-based combat, Door Kickers 2 is different. If you so wish, you can plan your whole mission from the start. Accordingly, you can drag a path for each of your squaddies, and set your explosives, throw your flashbangs, or hide in the shadows as needed. After you are happy with your approach, you simply start the mission and hope you’ve got it right. If you haven’t got it right or want to adjust your plan, simply restart the mission, select the affected soldier, and adjust things accordingly.

This was such an unusual mechanic that I was fascinated by it. Even when I had completed a stage, I found myself returning to try a different approach. I would arm myself with explosives and blow my enemies to pieces, or creep around using my marksmen to take out unwitting victims. Consequently, it was the ultimate strategy game where anything goes. 

Furthermore, I was amazed by the sheer volume of levels to overcome, and the brilliance of the randomly generated missions. As such, I never tired of any scenario I faced, as I didn’t know what to expect. Alongside this, the fog of war ensured that every mission was filled with thrilling and suspenseful action. Yes, you could use special tools to uncover hidden troops, but there wasn’t always time. As such, you’d adjust your plan repeatedly, as minor mistakes were guaranteed to be made. 

Door Kickers 2 looks great. 

Whenever I consider top-down strategy games, I always think of the Commandos series or Command and Conquer. Accordingly, neither inspires you to think of incredible graphics or unique landscapes. Fortunately, Dead Kickers 2 has a wonderfully polished finish that enhances its unnerving atmosphere. I loved the shadowy landscape and the limited field of view. This clever design choice keeps you thinking while adding to the realistic style.

Talking of realistic elements, the sound effects are fantastic. With deep booming explosions and shrill and piercing gunfire, you’ll adore every combat encounter. On top of this, the sound bites for each soldier are delivered perfectly. Unlike some of its peers, Door Kickers 2 doesn’t go over the top. Fortunately, there isn’t the normal clichéd gruff hero screaming one-liners. Instead, you get action-specific commands that work wonderfully with the action and theme.

I loved the variety of missions on offer.
The variety of missions is fantastic.

Superb controls. 

I read complaints about the tutorial and the lack of guidance. Now, without casting aspersions, this is nonsense. The developers have worked extremely hard to create a thorough tutorial that doesn’t disrupt the flow of the game. I adored the mini guides that punctuate the beginning of many missions. Alongside this, a well-mapped keyboard and mouse layout ensure that the game is simple to play and responsive as well.

I’ve touched upon some of the fantastic elements that make this moreish. However, I’ve failed to mention the XP system and the cooperative multiplayer action. The latter mode ensures you can enjoy this with up to 3 friends. Take on any of the main missions, or undertake custom tasks. It retains the brilliance of the solo mode but adds a whole new way of thinking. The XP and character levelling ensure you stick with the same team. As you complete each mission, your soldiers will rank up. In turn, this improves their stats and makes them a better fighting unit. Consequently, you’ll be distraught when your men die, as you’ll lose a key asset and a member of your elite fighting force.

Door Kickers 2 is incredible. 

I adore this genre, and Door Kickers 2 makes it so much better. It is undeniably difficult and unbelievably moreish. I cherished the unique challenge of each task and the freedom to tackle each mission, how I wished. It is for these reasons that I recommend you buy it here! Can you keep your men alive no matter the outcome? Pick your team, choose your weapons, and overcome every obstacle. 

A Closer Look at Something Wild! Spider-Man

Andrew Edney
-
0
A Closer Look at Something Wild! Spider-Man

With Christmas only a few months away, we take a closer look at Something Wild! Spider-Man from Funko Games.

A new line of card games featuring beloved characters and collectible Pop! pocket figures. Play numbered and colored character cards to make sets and runs. Score a set to snag the character figure’s special power that helps you win! The first player to score three powers wins the game. Combine multiple games to add more character cards, more Pop! figures, and more powers to your game!

  • One Pocket Pop! Spider-Man mover that lets you use Powers.
  • Nine exciting Spider-Man characters in full color card art.
  • Use new Powers to swap cards, score points, and even take the Spider-Man mover away from your opponents!

Something Wild! Spider-Man from Funko Games is available now priced around £8.00 and is suitable for ages 6 and over.

Disclosure: This product was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

What To Look For When Choosing Non-UK Online Casinos

Andrew Edney
-
0
What To Look For When Choosing Non-UK Online Casinos

Online casino games are a fun way to test your brain and take small risks without having to leave your home.

While online casinos might seem like they’re international, they’re based somewhere, and that country is where they are governed and managed.

If you’re based in the UK, then it is possible to play on non-UK casinos online, but you need to make sure that you find the right ones and understand the rules.

There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing an online casino, especially an international one.

In this article, we explore the factors you need to consider when searching for the best non-UK online casinos to suit your needs.

Look For Sites You Can Trust

Finding a non-UK online casino that is reliable and can be trusted with your money and personal information is vital. You’ll be giving the site your personal details, including your date of birth, credit card details and full name, so you need to make sure that you find trusted sites. These sites should be using every cybersecurity technique possible to ensure the safety of their users and their data. Review this list of the non-UK casinos that can be trusted to find a selection to test out. Online casinos around the world are regulated by various governing bodies, so lists like this will help you save time when doing your research and ensure you find the right site that’s safe and fun for players like you.

Read The Rules Carefully

Casinos from different countries around the world might be subject to different rules and will have their own regulations that they expect customers to abide by. When you’re looking for an online casino that’s not based in the UK, you should make sure you understand the rules and that you’re happy with them. If you’re not happy with the stated rules, then avoid that casino and find one that you’re comfortable playing on. You’ll then be able to ensure that you are able to comply with the relevant rules on any casino you use.

Choose Sites In A Language You Can Speak

International online casinos might not be originally written in a language you can understand, but many have versions in different languages, particularly if they welcome players from all over the world. If a site doesn’t have multiple languages, then you might struggle to understand it, especially if you have to use digital translation software. It’s vital that you understand the rules of each site you use, so you need to make sure that you have a site that you can understand when choosing an international casino. Also, playing on a site you don’t understand could lead you to lose money, so be careful and make sure that you learn how to change the language on each site to one that you speak.

Explore The Games Each Site Offers

Every online casino site offers different games. Some will specialise in a specific type of casino games, such as slot or card games. Other online casinos might offer a more varied range of games. Some casinos might only offer games from one specific casino game developer, while others have a wider selection and work with many different developers, each with their own styles. If you have a specific type of casino game that you favour, then make sure that your chosen international casino sites have them available before you sign up.

Check Out Any Promotions And Bonuses

Many online casinos offer promotions and bonuses to help you make the most of your money. So, when you’re comparing online casinos from around the world, you should explore the welcome bonuses and regular promotions they offer so that you can find a cost-effective option. Make sure that you choose the right currency and take the exchange rate into consideration when making your decision. Some bonuses and promotions might seem affordable but might actually work out as lower in value than others when you consider how much you’re going to be spending on the online casino. So, make sure you calculate how much the bonus will save you and if it’s worth more or less than other casinos before you sign up.

Think About The User Experience

Appearances can be deceiving, but you should take them into account when you’re checking out online casinos from across the globe. How the site looks and how you use it can affect your user experience, so when you’re navigating around the platform, consider if you find it easy to use or if it’s complicated to use. If you find it hard to make the most of the platform, then you might not enjoy playing on it, especially if you want to play several games. So, explore a range of international online casinos to find ones that give you the user experience you want and will make gameplay engaging.

Make Sure The Site Has Mobile Capability

Playing casino games on your mobile phone can be a great way to have fun on the go. When you’re travelling on public transport or waiting in a queue, then you can make the most of your time by playing fun mobile casino games. Many people might think that playing mobile games isn’t the same as real gaming, but as many respected gaming platforms make their games mobile, it’s becoming more acceptable. Mobile gaming is becoming more accepted in the gaming community, so more and more online casinos are offering mobile games, so look out for these where possible.

Conclusion: Do Your Research

Overall, while it is possible for UK residents to play international online casino games, you need to make sure that you do so safely. That means doing your research to find the right sites that will give you a safe and fun online casino gaming experience. This article shares the main factors that you need to consider when looking for a non-UK online casino. Once you’ve found some that you like, you can sign up for an account and start having fun.

Review: One by WACOM

Daniel Waite
-
0
Review: One by WACOM

I’d love to lie and say I’m some sort of master digital artist, but I’m not. As such, I don’t need a top-of-the-range drawing tablet. However, I do enjoy sketching, and so do my children. Accordingly, I’ve been looking at something that is hard-wearing, easy to set up, and won’t break the bank. I’ve looked at the Remarkable writing tablet, and this device is phenomenal. Yet, it doesn’t tick the artistry boxes. Instead, that accessory is focused on note-taking, writing, and many other business tasks. So, I continued to search for an alternative, and this is when the One by Wacom drawing tablet landed on my desk.

This excellent accessory comes in multiple sizes and I have the medium one to review. Its battery-free approach ensures that you have little to worry about as it is also a plug-and-play device. As such, the setup is extremely simple and it’ll complement many programs you already use. However, there are a handful of free trials included if you want to experience some educational apps alongside any creative programs. Upon plugging it in, I was amazed by its responsive nature and the accuracy of the pen. Furthermore, this lightweight plastic device has two integrated buttons to enhance usability. In short, if you lack patience or technical know-how, this device will probably tick many boxes.

The One by Wacom is striking with its red and black design.
The One by Wacom in all its glory.

What’s in the box of the One by Wacom?

  • The packaging is sturdy and ensures its contents are protected. Moreover, there is a colourful outer sleeve that highlights key selling points.
  • The One by Wacom tablet. This beautifully simple device comes in a choice of two colours. There is an all-black version or a black and red version like the one I’m reviewing. On the front screen, there is a small LED light that shows when it is powered, and a micro USB port for powering the device.
  • Micro USB cable. This small rubberised cable powers the device from any PC or laptop.
  • Writing pen. This blackened plastic pen is lightweight and simply designed. The two tactile buttons are found by the nib and it feels comfortable in your hands.
  • The user guide. Though it is easy to set up, I’d still recommend a quick read of this user guide.
Simple packaging.
The front of the One by Wacom.
One by Wacom has a vivid red back.
Connect to your PC with this USB cable.
Accessories for your pen.
The lightweight but robust pen.
A simple user manual.
The complete package.

Technical aspects.

Active Area6.0 x 3.7 in, 8.3 x 5.7in
Pen Pressure2048
Buttons on Pen2
Buttons on TabletNone
Tablet Resolution2540 lpi
Report Rate133 pps
ColoursBlack, Red

If you are familiar with Wacom products, then you’ll know all about the Wacom Intuos. This powerful drawing tablet is the bigger brother to the One by Wacom. Now, this may seem irrelevant, but its fans raved about the excellent drawing surface and responsive touch. Fortunately, this device has stolen that technology but delivers it at a fraction of the cost. This is amazing, as beginner and intermediate digital artists get the best of both worlds.

Whenever you are using a drawing tablet, you don’t want the design to be cumbersome and heavy, and luckily, this one isn’t. The screen is stretched to the very limits and the bevel on the edge is as small as can be. Consequently, you have an enormous area to work with and this was fantastic. Furthermore, it’s pinpoint accurate once you get used to using it. At first, I struggled with the feel and flow of the pen on the screen. Yet, with minimal time and some playing around, it quickly became second nature.

Accordingly, it was easy to focus on the pictures I was creating without worrying that the technology would fail me. This was particularly noticeable when using the buttons on the pen. These tactile inputs allow you to scroll through images and other minor tasks. Furthermore, you can alter the pressure of the device, change your dominant hand, and other settings. As such, you can customise the pen to work exactly how you wish. Once you have it set up, it’ll remember your settings and you are good to go.

Take a closer look at the tablet.

More than just a digital canvas.

I’ve alluded to my love of the ReMarkable writing tablet. However, the One by Wacom is different as it allows you to turn your PC, Chromebook, or laptop into a giant notepad. Thanks to its responsive nature, and smooth strokes, you can, if you wish, make notes and write with this wonderful tablet. Now, I’m not saying it’s as advanced, but if I needed to sign a document, the One by Wacom will suffice.

Understandably, though, many people will buy this for its cost-effective approach and its intuitive ways. Thanks to its low latency connection, every stroke of the pen reacts beautifully. As such, it feels like you are painting on a canvas or drawing on a piece of paper. Talking of paper, the surface of the tablet has a nice resistance that captures that pen-on-paper experience. Furthermore, there is an undeniably scratchy sound when you are scribbling away. This is oddly reassuring, and it beautifully combines the digital world with real life. This was an incredible design choice from Wacom, especially when you consider the remarkably low price point.

A simple but effective design.

Is the One by Wacom worth it?

There is an argument that any of these tablets are a bit of a niche product. However, if you specialise in journalism or you are an artist, then they are invaluable. Yes, there are apps on mainstream tablets that allow you to draw and design, but they cost a bomb and they need to be charged and connected to the internet. The One by Wacom, however, lets you get on with your art in a quick and easy way.

With no technical experience necessary, you can get to work immediately. By plugging it into your PC, Chromebook, or laptop, you can soon become a digital artist. Moreover, the included apps are handy if you are stuck for ideas or you simply want to try something new. On top of this, the simple know-how guide talks you through the finer points so you never feel out of your depth. If you are into your art, or simply want to try some digital note-taking, then I recommend you to buy it here!

(More information on Wacom can be found here!)

A Closer Look at ET The Extra Terrestrial: Light Years From Home

Andrew Edney
-
0
A Closer Look at ET The Extra Terrestrial: Light Years From Home

With Christmas only a few months away, we take a closer look at ET The Extra Terrestrial: Light Years From Home from Funko Games.

He’s 3 million light years from home …and needs your help getting back!

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was left behind, and now, federal agents are coming for him! In this cooperative adventure game, play as Elliott, Gertie, Michael, and Greg as you work as one to send E.T. home.

Bike through the neighbourhood, using shortcuts and ramps to avoid the agents. Collect items that E.T. can use to build a communication device and call his ship. Then get E.T. to the clearing before his heart light fades!

ET The Extra Terrestrial: Light Years From Home from Funko Games is available now priced around £24.99 and is aimed at ages 10 and above.

Disclosure: This product was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Best FPS Games That We Can Expect in 2023

Andrew Edney
-
0
Best FPS Games That We Can Expect in 2023

 

Let’s be honest. Even though there is time left this year, we are already planning the 2023 games. There are bound to be more release date casualties before December, including some of the major releases we had been looking forward to this year that was edge-guarded into the following.

One of the most popular gaming genres is the first-person shooter (FPS) genre. What does the future hold for these popular games that include exciting firefights and a ton of adventure? 

We examine the 10 most anticipated 2023 first-person shooter games and advise you to check the FPS Champion website for the latest FPS news, guides and reviews.

Unsplash

Starfield

Even though this first-person shooter style differs from others, it still has components like starfield, making the game even more exciting. In truth, Bethesda hasn’t been quite clear about what starfield is or what gamers may anticipate from it. 

We know that it will have FPS and RPG components, that you will visit several worlds while traveling through space, and that the experience should be legendary.

RoboCop: Rogue City

You take on the role of the legendary Alex Murphy in this game and defend the citizens of Detroit against those who seek to corrupt the city from within. 

You must take whatever actions are necessary to carry out the Prime Directives and save Detroit using your illustrious arsenal. But heed the warning: you will face strong opposition. It is up to you to determine how far you are willing to go for peace.

Payday 3

Payday has produced a variety of fantastic gameplay moments. Payday 2 was renowned for its DLC material and made advantage of it to ensure that the heists were grander, and the story was developed further. Nothing should change in Payday 3. 

In this game, you are put in a “live city” and are required to pull out the riskiest heists ever. Therefore, be sure that you, your team, and your allies are prepared since only cooperation can do this.

XDefiant

A squad of gunslingers battle for dominance in XDefiant, a game that initially looks to be another in a long series of arena combat games but is really described as a combination of fierce gunplay, customized gear, and specialized factions.

You’ll have your job cut out for you persuading your squad to listen to you and cooperating to overcome the obstacles in this really original game. 

Nightingale

Many stories have a protagonist who isn’t very knowledgeable but has a good heart and strives to return to their roots or start their own thing in the aftermath of all that has occurred to them.

Nightingale’s things are a little different since the game places you in a setting with others with unique powers. Your main objectives are to save lives and identify Nightengale. Find out in this brand-new 2023 game if you can get out of the maze of difficulties and terror that is waiting for you.

ROBOBEAT

Numerous video games have attempted to capture music in novel and engaging ways. We’re eager for the release of Robobeat, a game that aims to achieve precisely that. The rhythm shooter Robobeat aims to maximize your damage by firing in time with the music.

The artificial creature Frazzer is holding your world prisoner in this game. For a better rating and to do more harm, you must battle him to the beat of the music. Because the game has a roguelike component, it never becomes monotonous.

Anger Foot

If you’re creating a game that is solely focused on spades, you need to have a solid foundation. Anger Foot excels at doing that. In the game, a city is where you are. One that calls for someone to take the initiative and stomp a boot in the faces of evildoers.

As a novel approach to save the day, you can roam the city kicking in people’s doors and faces. There’s more to this game than you may realize, and gunfights also appear to be important.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

What would the new gaming year be without at least one Warhammer game? Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a title that appears to be fully booked. As a lone space marine, you must fire down anything that stands in your path as you navigate various obstacles and secrets.

Be careful since the adversaries you encounter won’t be interested in getting along with you, so you shouldn’t either. Make the trip into the shadows with a companion if you can.

Marauders

Marauders are your opportunity if you’d want to see an alternative Earth once more. In this game, the Great War never came to a conclusion, and by the 1990s, the planet was on the verge of collapse under the weight of industrialization. 

The main objective is to go from ship to ship and rescue them for components that you can utilize to live. You can play by yourself or with other people. In any case, a difficult task lies ahead.

Unsplash

Better Games in 2023

One of the numerous purposes of video games is to relieve tension. Shooter games are popular among players looking for thoughtless entertainment, and the genre is expanding yearly. 

More high-profile game developers are ready to delay their release dates to gain a little extra development time and make their games top-notch for us players. There are many new games to add to your wishlist for the coming year, regardless of your preferred platform.

Review: Dungeon Munchies

James Refelian
-
0
Review: Dungeon Munchies

In the world of 2D platformers, the last thing I expected to come across was a zombie cooking action game thrown in. That’s exactly what Dungeon Munchies is. Released on PC and Nintendo Switch this fun indie title has a lot to offer but could do with a little longer in the oven.

Dungeon Munchies Premise

The game’s basic premise is that you die… and get reanimated as a zombie minion of Simmer, the undead necro-chef who wants to escape this underworld. All is not as it seems and the more you begin your ascent upwards, the more the strange lives of the creatures inhabiting this place unravel before you. The game’s story plays out with a lot more depth the more you get into it. You learn more about Simmer, her friends, and the enemies along the way. The comedy is actually pretty funny, if not a little gross in places!

Gameplay

The game feels familiar with its side-scrolling navigation through the world below as you slowly make your ascent upwards to escape.

The RPG element of the game centers around gear and abilities. Abilities are learned through the game’s central mechanic. Cooking food! Well, less food and more literally any bits that fall off the creatures and monsters you kill. These ingredients make all sorts of weird and wonderful “foods and drinks”. Consuming them grants you specific powers or buffs. Higher jumping, different effects on weapons like poisons or lightning, and increases in resistance and health.

In addition, with materials and some of these ingredients, you can craft a variety of weapons like bows, swords, staffs, and axes and off-hand items like shields and magic dealing objects. Deciding what to eat and abilities to use along with what items you use will aid you on your quest.

The controls for the game are interesting on the Switch. The game was originally released on PC, and it feels like the controls were designed with that in mind. The aim mechanics feel a little slippery with a joystick so it can be hard to line up attacks properly. This is especially true in the bigger battles with many enemies on the screen.

This unfortunately doesn’t translate well to jumping. The game uses precision platforming systems, but because the controls feel slightly off, it can be challenging and annoying to perform properly executed jumps.

The other aspect that was a bit of a let-down during the playthrough is that combat felt a little easy… as did traversing the world. I was more going through the motions than having to be tactically minded. I presume this wouldn’t be the case on higher difficulty settings, but I never felt much in peril as I played.

Visuals and Audio

Visually, this game is fun to look at. Featuring a unique set of characters and monsters with macabre overtones it’s never boring as you explore further. The cartoon art style is paired with anime art cutscenes. The effects of the monsters’ attacks also look great and feel varied – from wasps shooting laser beams to sludge monsters throwing out slime. Then, of course, you get boss battles which offer up even more visual delights, my favourite being the one that fires bullet-hell style projectiles.

The game boasts over 40 original tracks which feel unique and varied enough as you travel from area to area. The general game sound effects aren’t too bad either. Sadly, the dialogue portions aren’t voice acted which would have been a nice touch… but I could have done without the ‘old-style’ RPG clicks as letters appear on the screen.

So, is Dungeon Munchies worth it?

Dungeon Munchies is an interesting concept and I always want to support indies where I can. However, Dungeon Munchies feels like it’s a game that needs a bit of work before it’s worth picking up. I will say it is fun in its food and crafting mechanics and the plot is great. If they can patch the control mechanisms to make them better, then this would be a solid platforming experience.

Review: Lemon Cake

Daniel Waite
-
0
Review: Lemon Cake

Running a business is a tough job. There are many things to do and so many pitfalls stand in your way. On top of this, you have disgruntled customers to appease and a constant stream of orders to get right. How about if you then add a ruined building to the mix? Well, this is exactly what happens in Lemon Cake. This cute game is hauntingly good and it’ll push you to your limits.

Developed by Cozy Bee Games and published by SOEDESCO, this is a business management title. What’s more, on the surface it appears a simple endeavour. However, once you look a little deeper, you soon realise it has some wonderfully challenging mechanics that’ll keep you on your toes. Sadly, though, this is only a solo experience. Consequently, you can’t run your business with friends, and I think this is a missed opportunity.

Lemon Cake demands you water your plants and keep your animals happy.
Look after the animals and water the plants.

Lemon Cake is a cute business game. 

The words cute and business game rarely combine. Mostly, this genre is hardcore and time-consuming. Now, Lemon Cake is both of those things, but its story and protagonists are heartwarmingly cute. As such, you’ll lose yourself in this small but hectic world of cafe management and cake baking. 

As the hero, you stumble into a dilapidated bakery. As the dust settles, you are faced with a ghost. Instead of running, you stay and listen to this spirit’s tale of woe. Accordingly, you feel equally inspired and sorry for the supernatural being, so you decide to help out. However, you didn’t realise how big the task would be. Unfortunately, every element of this bakery/cafe is ruined, and it’ll take time and money to put things right. Luckily, though, your customers are willing to help turn this business around.

Like a cake, this has many layers. 

At first glance, I thought this would be a straightforward affair. Instead, I soon discovered that the gameplay mechanics are a rich tapestry of minor elements. Consequently, you must balance cooking times, delivery speed, recipes, and cleaning if you wish to succeed. On top of this, there is a mustached ghost who is obsessed with bugs. He will visit you periodically and you’ll complete a small mini-game. This is probably the weakest portion of the game as it’s neither interesting nor is it challenging. Its only saving grace is that it lasts less than a minute.

This aside, the rest of the action is brilliant and has a strategic edge to it. Subsequently, if you are methodically minded, much of the action will appeal to you. Every day comprises the same routine. You prepare your shopfront, water your plants, clean your animals, and stoke your fires. Once you are ready, you open the doors and deal with every customer. However, things are rarely as simple as they seem, and Lemon Cake is no different. With limited seats and a few window displays, you must balance speed over profit as you try to appease everyone.

Lemon Cake has a nice selection of helpful upgrades on offer.
What will you upgrade next?

Demanding customers. 

Like other cooking games, your customers have limited patience. As such, once they place their order, you must work quickly. In the kitchen, you’ll combine an array of ingredients from sugar, flour, milk, eggs, or fruit. These will then be mixed together and either cooked, frozen, or served as they are. Understandably, the easier the recipe, the quicker the turnaround. However, this impacts profit margin and slows down your progress. Accordingly, it is a fine balance between complex bakes and a simple sugary treat.

The cooking and serving of goods are great, but I enjoyed the business expansion mechanics more. As your character levels up, new recipes are unlocked. You may select between 3 options and these add variety to your menu. Furthermore, you must purchase new ovens, buy chickens and cows, and plant berry bushes and trees. As you expand your ingredients, your recipes become more varied and complex. At this point, you begin earning the big bucks. In turn, you can then improve the cafe area by adding new seating, encouraging cats to visit and more. 

Whatever way you wish to tackle the action is up to you. However, you must balance an awful lot of elements to succeed. Accordingly, you must consider what areas to improve and then stick to your plan. 

Lemon Cake is indie gaming personified. 

Indie gaming has come on leaps and bounds. Yet, they rarely compete with their visually superior triple-A cousins. Now, this may seem like a stupid statement but bear with me. What I’m getting at is that Lemon Cake personifies everything that is great about indie gaming. Its animation isn’t perfect, but it works. The backdrops are varied but lack detail, and the colours are rich, warm, and welcoming. In short, it’s nothing spectacular, but it looks amazing nonetheless. With 4 tiny rooms to explore and a range of similar customers to look at, it could have failed. However, I loved the refined approach.

What was also great was the calm and folksy soundtrack. The mellow music was relaxing and suited the game’s core concept. Alongside this, the basic sound effects added depth and realism to each task. Sadly, though, it isn’t a game with memorable audio, but it’s pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.

Plenty of ingredients and lots of recipes to master.
Keep on cooking and make every customer happy.

Occasionally wayward controls. 

Mostly, Lemon Cake performs perfectly. The responsive controls and excellent layout make it easy to play. However, occasionally, the controls are clumsy and a little wayward. When this happens, it is really frustrating as it breaks the rhythm of your approach. Fortunately, though, it doesn’t happen often enough to be detrimental to the overall experience. 

On paper, Lemon Cake is pretty repetitive. You follow the same routine day in, day out, and this could become tedious. However, with so many recipes to unlock, plenty of upgrades to install, and many ingredients to use, there is no rest for the wicked. Alongside this, there is a tough and demanding achievement list that requires hours of gaming. Subsequently, it has both replay value and longevity. 

Lemon Cake is wonderfully relaxing and mentally demanding. 

Cooking simulation games are rarely relaxing. Yet, somehow Lemon Cake gets the balance just right. With a beautiful setting and a fun story, you’ll fall for its charms. But you’ll also be tested mentally, as you must be methodical and calm if you wish to succeed. I adored its simplicity, fun characters, and casually addictive nature. Consequently, I recommend you buy it here! Can you repair the bakery and run a successful cafe? Plan your menu, harvest the ingredients, and keep everyone happy. 

1...247248249...1,615Page 248 of 1,615