Review: Crypt of the Serpent King

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Crypt of the Serpent King

Growing up, I loved Dungeon Master. Its simple artistry, the large array of monsters, and claustrophobic levels got the juices flowing. However, these days, everyone wants a vast open-world to explore. Sadly, this ensures that the classic dungeon crawling games rarely get a look in. Yet, Crypt of the Serpent King aims to rectify that with its 4k remastered edition.

Developed by Rendercode Games and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a creepy dungeon crawler. Utilising a simple style, this won’t wow or test you. However, it is great fun to play and has a nice retro charm. Furthermore, there are 3 difficulty settings, some skills to upgrade, and a small arsenal of weapons. Consequently, there is enough about it to pique your interest.

Hack and slash your way to victory.
What you going to do about it… Skeleton?

Crypt of the Serpent King is mindless and trivial. 

Unlike the masterful Dungeon Master, Crypt of the Serpent King requires minimal brain power. Effectively, you are asked to scour 7 unique and randomly generated stages. Accordingly, you’ll never know what to expect and this keeps the action fresh. Sadly, though, the core mechanics are repetitive and this undermines the experience long-term. What’s more, once you unlock everything and max out your skills, it is far too easy.

The simplicity extends to the plot. By this, I mean that it has no story. Subsequently, you are left wondering why you exist in these claustrophobic tombs. Without an explanation, you mindlessly walk around, open some chests, and kill everything in sight. Further to this, you must find keys to unlock a final gate. Once this happens, you’ll face an end-of-stage boss and progress. Unfortunately, this was a bit of a damp squib. The battle was usually underwhelming and far too easy. Even when the difficulty was ramped up, it offered little to no challenge. This can be said for every foe you face. Annoyingly, they are so easy to kill that it reduces the enjoyment.

The 4k remastered edition looks fantastic.
Damn, you are ugly.

Mediocre and repetitive action!

Any joy is well and truly sucked out of this because of its lack of challenge. Every monster has a set of attacks that are easily dodged and countered. This reduces the risk and makes this a run-of-the-mill title. What’s more, once you’ve maximised your skills, you simply avoid every enemy as you hunt for keys. Further to this, once you have the most powerful weapons, you are unstoppable.

What was most disappointing was that the potential was plain to see. With a wonderful range of creatures to slay and the opportunity to create labyrinthine stages, it could have been phenomenal. However, the lack of magic, a nonexistent story, and no unique layers will leave you wanting.

Crypt of the Serpent King looks polished. 

Contradictory statement alert… this dated title looks gloomy, pixelated, but well polished. I adore the work the developers have put into Crypt of the Serpent King. Fortunately, it retains its old-school charm, while the uplift in resolution makes the details pop. Accordingly, the monsters look great, the lava traps are vivid and fierce, and the movement and animation are smooth. Yes, it is aimed at a niche market, but this small group of players will love its appearance. 

The creepy atmosphere is complemented by the eerie audio. Footsteps echo, water drips, and creature’s snarl. Then there is the haunting music to top things off. Being hunted by your foes was terrifying thanks to the daunting soundbites. Consequently, the developers got this spot on, as it was rarely relaxing.

Crypt of the Serpent King has an array of horrendous monsters.
Such naughty snakes.

Move, hit, move, hit. 

From the sublime aesthetics to the underwhelming control setup. If you can remember, move, hit, move, hit, you’ll be victorious in no time. Sadly, this is the extent of the button layout, and subsequently, it won’t test you. Thankfully, though, they are responsive and this helps when it is occasionally hectic. 

With 3 difficulty settings, there is potential for replay value. Yet, for me, one playthrough was enough. Completing Crypt of the Serpent King takes around 2 hours and is the perfect title for completionists. During this time, you’ll be creeped out, witness some weird foes, and you’ll have found a million chests and plenty of keys.

Crypt of the Serpent King should have been incredible. 

Because of its remastered status, I was hopeful that Crypt of the Serpent King would be incredible. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case, as there are too many shortcomings. However, if you are a completionist, this is quick and worthwhile. Yet, for everyone one else, it’s just not good enough and is seriously lacking. I can’t recommend it, but more information can be found here! Hack your way through every dungeon, find the keys, and complete your journey. 

Review: Horizon Chase Turbo

Lee Fairweather
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1
Review: Horizon Chase Turbo

In today’s gaming landscape, the majority of racing titles are comprised of hyper detailed and realistic simulators. While they are awesome in their own right, I sometimes miss the old school retro style of the 16-bit era. Thankfully, Horizon Chase Turbo is here to solve that problem for me.

Horizon Chase Turbo is an arcade racing game inspired by the classic titles of the early 90s. It was developed and published by Brazilian indie studio AQUIRIS, who are primarily known as a mobile developer. In fact, this game marks their first foray into the home console and PC markets. Taking that into consideration, what they’ve made here is nothing short of incredible.

Gameplay

Horizon Chase Turbo is easy to learn, play and enjoy. This is due to the way in which the games driving mechanics operate. As you may expect, accelerating your car will cause you to move forward. However, unlike modern racing games, it also causes you to partially stick to the threshold of the course. It’s hard to explain without playing it for yourself, but just imagine your car is loosely placed on rails.

The only major inputs you have to worry about is dodging your opponents, and manoeuvring your car around the track’s bends. Failing to do either of these will cause you to crash and lose momentum, something you don’t want to do when you’re trying to win a race. You’ll also have to keep an eye out for fuel canisters, as running out of gas will cause you to get a DNF.

The game has over 100 tracks, all of which vary from simplistic to incredibly challenging. The games difficulty comes from learning the courses layout. You’ll find yourself trying to remember where the difficult turns are, where you can find gas cans, and when the best time to initiate a boost is. It’s mixture of fast paced action with spontaneous decision making. This together makes for a massive amount of fun.

Modes

There are a total of 4 game modes in Horizon Chase Turbo, all of which cover different styles of gameplay. The campaigns are the main mode in which you’ll visit different areas of the world, and tackle their local tracks. Each location averages 3-4 courses, with an additional special course allowing you to gain upgrades for your vehicles. These impact things like your cars speed, handling and so on.

In the Playground mode are timed exclusive courses. They are updated every week or so, and usually aimed to be on the more challenging side. Tournaments are similar to the standard play mode seen in Mario Kart. You’ll compete in 4 races back-to-back, with the highest scoring player being declared the victor. Lastly, the Endurance mode is where you will go through a gauntlet of races which exponentially get more demanding.

Progressing through any of the game modes will unlock different cars to use. All of the cars in the game are based on real life models. The Nano for example being this games version of a Mini. You’ll also occasionally be given challenge courses to complete, which is yet another way to unlock new vehicles.

The game can be enjoyed in either a single player fashion, or through the use of local split screen. I had a couple of buddies come over to replicate the Mega Drive days, and it was an all around great time.

Art

The art direction of Horizon Chase Turbo manages to take inspiration from the 16-bit era of racing games, whilst also converting the aesthetic into a modernized style. It achieves this by blending low and high-poly themes together, which create a retro but contemporary feel.

The game features a wide array of environments, with are based on the various locations that you visit in the game. These range from deserts to snowy mountains, cities to costal rides, and even some mock racetracks. The incredibly colourful pallet really helps bring this game to life, and, once again, creates a parallel to the old SNES/Mega Drive era.

Additionally, the cars look absolutely stunning. The higher poly count used on these models allow the finite details, such as the rims and grills, to be brought to the forefront. It also doubles down as smart gameplay design, as it keeps the cars as the focal point for the players.

Audio

The music in Horizon Chase Turbo was created by the legendary Barry Leitch. For those unfamiliar, he created the soundtracks for Lotus Turbo Challenge and the Gauntlet games. Almost 20 years on, his enigmatic style shines through once again. He encompasses different genres into the OST with influences from rock, trance and house all being very prevalent.

My favourite track, which was hard to narrow down, is a headbanging masterpiece called Vyper. Honestly, take a listen to this song below and tell me you don’t want to start pumping your fist in the air. That’s just one example though, every track in the game is a certified banger.

The sound design for the SFX is also a notable addition. Each one of the cars engines have their own unique sounds, once again acting similar to their real-life counterparts. For example, jeeps have a lot of bass when revving, and the sports orientated cars sound monstrous when in full throttle.

Conclusion

Horizon Chase Turbo is a fantastic throwback to the arcade racing games of the 90s. The gameplay is a great mixture of easy to learn but hard to master, and the different game modes provide you with enough variation to keep you entertained for hours. The graphical presentation of the game captures the retro aesthetic immensely, with OST matching its themes magnificently. If you are looking for a racing game you can sit back and enjoy, then this is one worth picking up.

Review: Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

Natosha M
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0
Review: Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

Do you have some time to go down memory lane? Well, get ready to go back in time, around the years 1997 and 2001 when the release of two nostalgic Japanese-style games was released. They both were once known to be played on the Playstation one and two consoles. The two games that I’m referring to, which are included in this one fantastic game are Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil.

Klonoa is an anthropomorphic creature, just like many cartoon-designed characters having both a mix of animal and human abilities. There really isn’t one animal or creature to describe what Klonoa might be. However, to me, I would think he was a cute little dog, but it could appear to others as a rabbit or cat in some of the facial and body features. Nevertheless, this cute little hero wearing his cute little Pac-Man design on a blue hat is on a mission to save the day in both games.

His main goals for these two games are a little different. One relies on him in a dream world where he must help Lunatea, while the second game is him saving and discovering many new mysteries in Phantomile. He might be a little naive at times, but who isn’t? Klonoa is possibly a big-hearted character who wants to set out to do good and help save the day by overcoming many difficult obstacles coming his way. This may include defeating giant bosses, helping and meeting new friends, and discovering some new mysteries to aid in the game. So if you have what it takes to be Klonoa and defeat these demonic foes and save the day, then you should give these two games a try! Especially if you are a collector and love classic games, you’ll love these improved graphics, classical Japan-style music, and art as you play this game.

How Was The Game

To be honest, I can’t lie. This is going to be a whole new experience explained by myself, as I’ve never had the chance to try any Klonoa games in the past. I wanted to, don’t get me wrong, but even when I had a PlayStation console, my TV never had any one of them playing. Yet, it did look quite interesting when growing up and I honestly would have loved to play them as I’m a big platformer gamer. Especially, with this adorable character, that to me appeared as a black and white dog with ears that possibly allowed you to fly or glide just like Dumbo from Disney. Maybe even a game that was a little magical too! So to my surprise, here is how I felt about the two games.

  • Klonoa: Door to Phantomile

The first thought was how unique the characters, not the hero, but the foes were in this game and how his ring, which he holds on to, encapsulates his friend Huepow. In some way, the ring friend is actually an invisible sidekick cause he’s stuck in the ring that Klonoa wears. Plus, the ring is the primary weapon used to defeat enemies of all types. Each little movement and action includes such a cute sound Klonoa or the defeated enemy will create. It’s kind of cute and different. I do want to point out that, since it’s a Japan-based game, the sound effects sort of fit perfectly.

Additionally, the game’s map where we can travel too is very old-fashioned, so the classic appearance is something that really will stick in your mind, even if you remember Playstation games. It actually could look like one of the old games like Gex in how the characters look and move. On top of that, the 3D appearance back then didn’t really need help with the player to control any cameras. As you move, it goes along with you. So going around something or into, it doesn’t require any other movements with the controller’s buttons to move the camera. I sort of always enjoyed that, saves you from being confused to do too much at one time, and just simplifies the gameplay.

The main thing about the game is finding items to refuel our little hero, collecting gems, and even completing a puzzle by collecting pieces. I’ve noticed that these are all over the level. In addition to that, the ring that Kolona holds on to but doesn’t wear is his way to defeat the enemies, His friend or sidekick is inside the ring, and it allows Kolona to pick them up and throw them or even get a little lift into the air.

I think there was one downfall with Kolona’s abilities, if it wasn’t for the enemies his fluttering ability wouldn’t help him in this game. I had sometimes a little difficultly with the fluttering or flying with Kolona’s ears. It’s like he lowers down and then goes up a little just to begin falling down again. It’s not a consistent glide or flight and so the game may just not play as great as it would if there wasn’t the ability to use the enemies to give us flight. Also, if you make a mistake, at least the enemies seem to always reappear in a few seconds. It’s like a neverending line of the same enemies appearing even after you defeat them. So there is always a chance to reach gems and so many other things to complete the level fully.

As in Mario, I’ve also noticed there are 5 major locations in this game. The many places you’ll get to see are the wind, water, tree, sun, and moon kingdoms. Each with unique enemies and bosses to defeat at the end. Even for an older game, it’s not as easy as to play through quickly, there will be challenges and plenty to overcome in each separate level of those worlds. However, it’s nothing but joyful and something quite entertaining. This classic game does provide such a better appearance in graphics. No more blurry vision, everything looks clearer and still plays exactly like it would have in the past, as I would think since I haven’t played it before.

  • Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil

I think right away when realizing it’s about dreaming. Well, the title Lunatea a world in the dreamland is close to the word luna like another word for the moon, so it sort of makes total sense. However, back to the game. Now this one feels a bit more high-spirited with the music! My twin actually told me right away, that when she saw the game it reminded her of Sonic, and honestly, how it plays it does!

It’s got Klonoa as this outgoing character who loves to move in all different ways. He is snowboarding in the snow, running fast through levels, jumping, fluttering, and just keeping up with defeating any foe in his way till you get to the final location. Of course, so many obstacles will be stopping you, but with great fighting tactics, it’s a piece of cake to get you through the level.

I don’t know why, but this game is maybe a bit more interesting to me. It’s entertaining, with a lot of music playing loud in the background as you move quickly around as in the other game, but so much more things to do and utilize. Regardless, I still just adore the design of Klonoa, and what he can do as a character. He makes the game so much fun being this animal with so many different abilities and much more things that he can do in this game. Plus, how he has to go about defeating these large bosses and enemies in each level. In some way, I just feel it’s even more eventful than the first one, but they both are both still really nice games.

Lastly, I wanted to add in some extra bonus content that is available for all players who buy the special edition of the game. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is not just for playing, but you can decide on purchasing the bundled collection set and play the games as well as enjoy the beautiful artwork, full of color and dynamic images. Additionally, you’ll also be able to play through the beautiful soundtracks and check out the fun and cute clothing you want to dress Klonoa up in during his adventure. This again is all an optional purchase choice, but if you don’t need these extras, the game is still a blast on its own and always a good reason to add to your classic game collections.

Final Thoughts

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is a great game that I’m so grateful to have a chance to play and will continue to play as I don’t want to ever remove it from my console. It’s one of those platformers that keeps me engaged for hours and cheerful as the entire environment in the game and background sounds all make me feel happy and joyful inside. Even if I’m taking down these enemies of all sizes. It’s a game that has everything I would want in a platformer.

From being the hero, Klonoa saves and meets new friends, playing through bright and original levels full of obstacles to overcome, defeating many foes, plenty of items to discover, and all-size bosses that are tough but that is what makes the game so much more entertaining. Of course, always winning the game, stopping them, and finally, you can call victory when completing the game, that is what makes this a game so worth playing and playing over again and again!

Review: PowerWash Simulator

Daniel Waite
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4
Review: PowerWash Simulator

If you can do something in real life, you can be darn sure you’ll be able to simulate it in a video game. Whether it is sex, violence, work, fishing, or sports, it matters not. This genre is increasingly popular, as it allows gamers to escape reality while becoming something or someone completely different from themselves. PowerWash Simulator is the latest in a long list of work-related games that splashes onto console and PC. Will it be squeaky clean and perfect, or does it need to be thrown out with the dirty water? Let’s put on our overalls and take a look.

Developed by Futurelabs and published by Square Enix, this is a real-to-life simulation title. It can be enjoyed solo or online with up to 5 friends. What’s more, it utilises Cross-Play to make online action that bit easier. Like its peers, it is simple to understand, oddly addictive, and deeply satisfying. Consequently, you’ll lose hours of your life as you clean everything in sight.

PowerWash Simulator is full of interesting items and strange stage designs.
Ohhhh that’s a dirty snake.

PowerWash Simulator has no story!

I’m not sure that it matters, but PowerWash Simulator has no story. Now, I know it would have been clichéd and shallow, but a bit of friendly rivalry with an NPC would have spiced things up nicely. Instead, you are treated to a selection of game modes, upgradeable equipment, and some cosmetic items. I understand that you may think this lacks depth. However, with so many tasks to complete, it doesn’t.

Each location you visit has an array of complex buildings, dirty toys, and all sorts of filthy surfaces. Accordingly, you must select the right tool to remove the dirt in a timely and efficient manner. You’ll pick which nozzle you want, the cleaning spray, lance, and pressure washer you wish to use. As you progress, you’ll earn stars and cash which unlocks improved goods and buys every upgrade. Having the best gear is essential as the jobs become convoluted and the stains more stubborn. Subsequently, terrible equipment makes this game a horrible slog to play.

Which mode will you select?

As already mentioned, there are an array of modes to pick from; career, special, challenge, and free play. You’ll spend much of your time in career mode. Here you’ll earn your money, be awarded stars, and work through an array of tasks. Furthermore, this can be played solo or with another player. The special mode, on the other hand, is crazy! The tasks are literally out of this world (I’m looking at you Mars rover), and time-consuming. As such, you can speed things up by inviting up to 5 friends to join you.

Challenge mode is effectively a time trial. Select any stage, clean it as quickly as possible, and then boast to your friends. They can then try to better your effort. Accordingly, it’s a friendly competition to prove who is the quickest and best pressure washer operative. Finally, PowerWash Simulator has free mode. Here you can visit any stage and clean to your heart’s content.

The fiddly small items will drive you mad while playing PowerWash Simulator.
The smaller the item, the harder it is to clean.

No story = repetitive action. 

Most simulation titles are guilty of being repetitive. Sadly, PowerWash Simulator falls into this trap. With no story to fall back on and increasingly complex stages to clean, it soon becomes repetitive. Think of Groundhog Day, but with a lot more cleaning.

If the developers had introduced timed tasks or damage to goods, it would have made you think. On top of this, it would have increased the difficulty and would have made the jobs much harder. Something else that should have been considered was a limited water supply. No matter how trigger-happy you are, you never run out of H2O. Now, if this was limited, the game would have been exponentially tougher.

PowerWash Simulator looks tidy. 

Simulation titles and poor graphics are a market standard. However, PowerWash Simulator bucks that trend. I’m not saying it looks incredible. No, instead it’s well polished, colourful, and pleasant to the eye. Further to this, seeking out the dirt is easy thanks to your magical dirt seeing tool. With the press of a button, you can see how filthy the area is and get to work cleaning it.

If you love the noise of cascading water, then PowerWash Simulator will be music to your ears. For everyone else, though, the constant drone is torturous. Disappointingly, there is little you can do about it as there is no background music to drown it out (pun not intended).

Take your time to clean everything perfectly.
This carousel needs some TLC.

Comfortable and responsive controls. 

Occasionally, this genre is a pig to play on a console. Most are ported from PC and they are simply too complex for a controller. Luckily, though, this game isn’t afflicted by these problems. The setup is easy to understand, and the controls are comfortable to master and responsive at all times. 

Now, there is no logical reason why you’d want to play a virtual cleaning game. Yet, once you start, you won’t be able to stop. It is so bloody addictive that I’m itching to play it again. As a consequence; it has both replay value and longevity. Alongside this, it is rewarding and oddly satisfying to play.

PowerWash Simulator sparkles and shines. 

Though the gameplay is repetitive and has some shortcomings, it is still extremely good. Its action is undeniably addictive, and the stages are interesting and inventive. Moreover, it is great to play with friends and it is free on Game Pass. If the developers introduce some fresh material and complex tasks, it will improve it further still. However, I still loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Become a cleaning champion and remove the grime and dirt from everything you see. 

Review: Mago

Devrim Kurt
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0
Review: Mago

Introduction

Mago is a retro 2D platformer where you play as a sorcerer. It is developed by Dream Potion Games and published by HypeTrain Digital. This game does a good job of capturing the old school feel of classic 2D platformers like Mario. It offers a variety of gameplay mechanics as well as the basic 2D platforming.

Gameplay

Mago is very simple, you play as a sorcerer in a pixelated 2D platformer. Your basic abilities consist of moving, jumping, and casting a small distance projectile. The main character has that “floaty” Mario feeling when moving around. I personally am not a big fan of “floaty” platformers, but that is a personal preference. The game starts of simple enough that you never feel overwhelmed with the mechanics thrown at you. While the first levels are easy to complete, if you want to collect all the orbs, they get a little more difficult. The difficulty starts to ramp up once you finish world 1.

In the overall map, there are couple of different gameplay sections. First one is the mandatory levels you complete to progress. And then there are sections where you play as a bird and race through the levels. Some bonus challenges are also available to be played in exchange for in game blue orbs. These bonus challenges were definitely not easy since there is a time limit and you only have one life. You may also encounter some random enemies on the overworld map, and these enemies take you into either a mini boss battle or a small randomly generated level.

I enjoyed the variety Mago offered while being quite a simple game. There were a good number of different boss fights and challenges. Some boss fights were easier than others. My least favorite boss fight was the end boss of world 1. In which I felt the game didn’t explain the win condition clearly enough. However, since that could be a fault of my own, I won’t be too hard on the game for it.

Story

The overall story is quite basic. Your girlfriend or princess or whatever you want to call it, gets abducted at the start of the game. You continue the game chasing after her. There isn’t any written dialogue in the game. The characters communicate through expressions and symbols. However the animations of these expressions and the simple nature of the narrative makes it so that nothing feels unexplained.

Technical Side

The graphics are pixelated. I personally really liked the art style of Mago, but I can see how some people wouldn’t appreciate pixel art. I suppose this part is for you to decide. As for the animations, they are quite good, especially on boss fights. Even though it is pixel art, the artists did a good job of creating animated characters.

Sound effects and music is pretty fitting to the overall theme of the game. However the music that plays during the levels got boring for me after a while. The sound effects are good and clear. And the overall sound design of the game is above average.

Conclusion

Mago captures the retro 2D platformer feeling perfectly. The pixel art is beautiful, and the gameplay offers a good amount of variety. I would recommend this game to anyone looking to scratch that itch.

Review: Disgaea 6 Complete

Alex Chessun
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1
Review: Disgaea 6 Complete

With its quirky humour, isometric Strategy RPG Disgaea is a niche series that has always kept its fans loyal by remaining true to itself, but after 7 mainline games and numerous spin-offs, has the light-hearted and anime trope character-filled narrative with an outlandish levelling-up gameplay and deep customization systems finally hit the big time, or has it run its course? 

Well, the answer to that is neither, as the middling title excels in places and disappoints in others.

It is apparently the ‘Complete’ version, however, this release includes all the game’s DLC in addition to the 2021 base release. This extends to items to make leveling up even easier – if that was even possible – plus past characters and popular talent from a Vtuber agency. ‘Complete’ might be more of a hollow promise then, as nothing has improved apart from the game’s performance due to the improved hardware it’s now hosted on. 

Never known for having a genre-defining story, the 6th entry grabs its characters from the bottom draw, with cookie-cutter personalities and paper-thin depth who constantly repeat the same thing – jokes, motivations, or otherwise – in every single scene ad nauseum. It’s supposed to be light-hearted and somewhat silly, of course, but the joke is on the player here, as although there is an attempt to build each character a somewhat meaningful and emotional character arc, it’s only fleeting, flashing in front of your eyes momentarily, before it returns to the dry well of gags that have long since worn out its welcome.

One of the few ‘not so bad’ jokes….

To give you a brief rundown, you play as a Zombie by the name of Zed, and are dead set on killing the game’s antagonist – the god of destruction – but happen to be far too weak, falling at every attempt. Death is no obstacle for our undead protagonist, though, as a reincarnation spell brings him back to life stronger in an unknown world, only to also be granted the rotten luck of being followed by the grunting god – and the cycle repeats. 

Reincarnating via ‘super reincarnation’ is actually the entire hook of the game here and is encouraged (though done in-menu rather than dying) as it resets your character level and makes your base stats stronger. The higher your base stats, the quicker you can build up your character level again and in turn, the stronger you become. It’s just one of the many clever ways Disgaea adds extra layers of customization to the character system, making you feel more in control of your team.

This isn’t limited to just the protagonist’s base stats though as nearly every item or aspect of your character has its own stat system and is often paired with its own method of leveling up. Whether it’s a ‘farm’ that levels up item enhancements called ‘innocents’, a dungeon system that you send characters to upgrade items in an updating text-based minigame, or numerous battle dungeons, there are countless ways to itch that numerical scratch.

For newcomers, all these options might be slightly overwhelming at the start as the awfully designed base map or ‘Netherworld’, a dimension between worlds, crowds all the features together like a glorified main menu without adding anything else to a universe bereft of detail and depth. 

The best characters by a mile are the prinnies, condemned souls forced to live in penguin costumes who must say dood at the end of every sentence.

While these do amount to plenty of things to do in preparation for battle, clearing the small isometric grid maps and watching your levels spin like dollar signs in the eyes of a cartoon character in Las Vegas is all the game really has to offer. 

You could argue that developer Nippon Ichi Software has done this intentionally, but there are absolutely zero stakes to your battles or any real meaning behind them, and by the time the story gives you something to grab onto, I long stopped caring for the one-dimensional characters. I wasn’t expecting a Fire Emblem-esque relationship system or gut-wrenching permadeath, but something to give the action some meaning would have been nice. Sadly, even the most important battles story-wise – your fights with the god of destruction – are pointless, simple slogfests and further devalue the importance of the story.

Aware of its limitations, Disgaea 6 instead provides a full range of customizable battle gameplay options for a highly accessible experience. You can skip and speed up in-battle animation and even automate the entire thing with an auto-battle button, one that is either controlled by the AI or alternatively follows your own pre-programmed actions. 

No longer beholden to long gaming sessions just grinding away – a complaint of Disgaea 5 – you can now improve your characters in no time at all. While tremendously accessible, this is a double-edged sword, as while it’s great for item dungeons and levels played specifically to bump up your figures (with individual characters able to reach levels of up to 99,999,999, and land up to 10 quadrillion in damage in a single attack), you can fall into the habit of auto-battling every single fight which can see the action boiled down to very brief confrontations, narrowing the main gameplay even further.

While it is possible to have 10 characters from your team join the fray, its actually far more fun to have a few at max, to increase the challenge and to level up the characters you actually like.

The character design is another change from the previous entry in the series and went from detailed and emotive 2D sprites to what I’d consider average at best 3D models in comparison. You can understand why the developer would move in this direction – giving it a more modern feel – but it not only slows down the performance of the game, it also removes a certain charm and richness to the animation and makes it feel cheap – which certainly isn’t reflected in the game’s price. 

In addition, special moves also now have 3D cutscenes but they contrast with the average quality of the normal actions taken on the 3D map, making me wish for explosive 2D action on a 2.5D background where the camera remains fixed to the map. 

The only real effect that you have on the world is the senator voting system, where you can bribe the voters, which is genius.

This isn’t to say that the action is poor by any means, but it’s not as feature-filled as the elements preparing for battle nor is it as addictive as other SRPG games in the genre. This is partly due to the fact that the fights themselves rarely require a great deal of strategy or thought and that despite having many different character types, they do not inject as much variety into the gameplay as you might think. 

There are two main mechanics that mix up the gameplay map-to-map, with ‘Geo Panels’ that change the stats of sections of the map – such as receiving 50% damage to your total health – and areas of elevation that requires teamwork to throw your characters up or across to said ledges, but otherwise, that’s it, and unless you are incredibly underpowered, you can easily clear the maps by ganging up on enemies.

Geo panels are one of the few interesting in-battle mechanics but are rarely used to this extent.

Despite providing an impressive number of ways to adjust countless character stats, Disgaea 6‘s repetitive story and basic visual design fail to conjure up a personality outside of the menus, and with the 3D action a passenger to the all-consuming and overpowered leveling-up system, it feels like one of the more forgettable entries in the series. 

Review: Krut: The Mythic Wings

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Krut: The Mythic Wings

Consoles such as the NES, SNES, Master System, and Mega Drive excelled with certain genres. Because of their lack of processing power, simplicity was the name of the game. Consequently, basic side-scrolling beat ’em-ups were much-loved. Games like Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, and more were lapped up by every fan. Sadly, unless you are after a hit of nostalgia, this genre has died off. Therefore, when I was offered Krut: The Mythic Wings to review, I was a little dubious. Would the dated mechanics and well-trodden gameplay work for a modern audience? Let’s jump right in and see what the answer is.

Developed by Good Job Multimedia and published by Blowfish Studios, this is a short but tough side-scrolling beat ’em-up. Unlike its retro peers, this one focuses on mythology and an unusual story. Subsequently, you experience a nice layer of lore and a unique blend of environments to explore. Furthermore, there is a good roster of monsters to defeat, plenty of bosses to overcome, and a bunch of abilities to unlock. On top of this, there are some Metroidvania elements and an array of chests to find and pillage.

Krut: The Mythic Wings tells a desperate story. 

What I love about mythology is the blend of absurdity and emotion. There is a sense of romance, heroism, sacrifice, and more, as each tale is told. Luckily, Krut: The Mythic Wings uses each of these elements as it tells its desperate story. Annoyingly, though, the fantastic plot plays second fiddle to the fast-paced action. This was disappointing as the plot is excellent. Consequently, I wish the developers did more to tie in key moments with the fascinating story.

You control a Garuda warrior who is proud of his ancestry and his home. After a great battle, the ogres destroyed the Garuda army and the capital city. The one remaining warrior is banished from his home and lands mortally wounded on the island of Himmaphan. Here, a strange man listens to his plight and offers his assistance. After the warrior’s wounds are healed, he is given a mystic and powerful artefact called the Mythic Wings. These are the key to his success and the only way this warrior can overcome the ogre army. 

A dramatic tale, I know, but what more would you expect? As I say, this would have been phenomenal if it was more poignant. As it is, you are left wondering what could have been. If the developers had incorporated more victims of the atrocities, it would have been touching and relevant.

Defeating every boss will give you special powers.
Kill the serpent and gain their power.

It could have been a Mega Drive game. 

Because of its old-school influences and dated mechanics, Krut: The Mythic Wings could have been a Mega Drive game. The action focuses heavily on the side-scrolling movement and the simple combat encounters. However, there is some depth thanks to an upgrade system, combo attacks, and some special powers. This small idea prevents the game from stagnating early on and keeps you interested throughout. 

Each level you tackle has a theme and specific enemies. Whether it is a lush forest or dusty tomb, you’ll hack n slash your way to victory. Every foe you face and every stage you explore has unique strengths and obstacles to overcome. Accordingly, you must study your opponents and strike when they are weak.

Killing every monster is essential, as it rewards you with health, mana, and gold. The first is necessary to survive. The second allows you to fly and use special abilities. Finally, the gold lets you buy upgrades. These improve your combos, strength, and agility and are a game-changer. Interestingly, they can only be purchased at relics and this makes the gameplay harder. You must decide whether to renew your health, buy more lives, or improve your character. Whatever you decide, the relics are essential if you wish to survive.

You must study every boss and identify their weaknesses.
Be patient and study their weakness.

6 bosses and their underlings. 

Every great beat ’em-up is jam-packed with gargantuan bosses. Luckily, Krut: The Mythic Wings is no different. With an array of theme-specific bosses, you have your work cut out for you. However, before you clap your eyes on these hardcore killing machines, you must destroy their underlings. These powerful and annoying enemies test your patience and skills as you attempt to exploit their weaknesses. 

Once you’ve brushed them aside, you must prepare to kill each boss. If you are successful, you’ll be awarded a special power that progresses the story. Like their counterparts, these enormous beasts have a weakness and follow a set pattern. Therefore, victory is achieved by finding their Achilles’ heel.

Disappointingly, this repetitive approach soon becomes tedious. After you’ve finished a couple of stages, you are desperate for something new, but this never materialises. 

Krut: The Mythic Wings is beautifully polished and performs admirably. 

Though I’ve made much of its dated influences, Krut: The Mythic Wings looks incredible. Thanks to its varied backdrops, polished sprites, and vivid colour palette, it has a modern finish. What’s more, no matter how hectic it becomes, it performs admirably. Whether you were being attacked from the sky, or hit from the ground, the gameplay never stuttered.

Alongside this, the action was full of drama because of the fantastic audio. The hard-hitting soundtrack worked perfectly with the brutal combat encounters. Then there were the euphoric moments when your enemies were slain. These upbeat elements helped to overcome some of the mundane repetition. This was great, as it could have easily plateaued and become disinteresting. 

Krut: The Mythic Wings is full of gargantuan bosses.
Use your special powers to defeat each boss.

Easy to pick up controls. 

Like its peers, Krut: The Mythic Wings is easy to play. Thanks to its responsive controls and simple button layout, you’ll master it in no time. Furthermore, the combos are easy to understand and memorise. Moreover, they were a cinch to execute and look sublime and all-powerful. I adored this approach, as it allows you to focus on the fighting while becoming a hero. 

Though the gameplay was repetitive, there was replay value and longevity. With 3 difficulty settings and a grading system, there are plenty of reasons to return. 

Krut: The Mythic Wings will divide its audience. 

There are many reasons to enjoy this title. First, it is a polished and interesting mythological tale. Second, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of mindless violence? Finally, the bosses are interesting and the conclusion is fulfilling. Yes, it has its shortcomings that will divide its audience. However, there are more positives than negatives. All things considered, I liked it and I recommend you to buy it here! You may have fallen from grace, but with a little help and a strong will, you can rescue your people and become a hero. 

Review: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

Kara Phillips
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0
Review: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

In March of 2021, we fell into the world of Kamura to take on the challenge of facing off with towering terrors. From learning the ins and outs of an intricate Wirebug system, to befriending adorable pooches to aid us in battle, and meeting some of the most intimidating critters the franchise has presented yet, Monster Hunter Rise had me glued to my TV for weeks at a time. 

Sure, we had our gripes when we first swung into action. It had been a while since weapons were dusted off, and frankly the world we knew made Kamura seem insignificant almost. However, once the adrenaline of facing a Magnamalo set in we were more than happy to sing the game’s praises. As someone who had previously experienced the Monster Hunter franchise through backseat gaming, taking the reigns within this title reinforced a love for all things MH without the intimidation from the sheer size of the game. 

But, alongside a lot of fans, the release seemed reliant on future updates rather than being a finished title packaged up and ready to go. So when Monster Hunter Rise’s expansion ‘Sunbreak,’ was announced, my heart sang, and I was ready to spend more hours than I like to admit sitting in front of my TV again. 

If you’re like me, and you took a break from Monster Hunter Rise once you’d completed the main quest, then expect to re-learn a lot of what you thought you knew. Picking up my controller to dash back into Sunbreak felt like I never knew how to play the game in the first place. Which I think was the case for a lot of players. Luckily, the expansion introduced a new technical element called ‘Skill Swap’. 

A spotlight on Skill Swap

During combat, a few far-from-invasive buttons appear at the bottom of the screen. These guide you through a couple of attacks and movements which are hugely beneficial to gameplay. This feature saved my hunter on numerous occasions, be it with a tactical dodge or a well-timed heavy hit, which I would’ve easily forgotten about when running for my life. Additionally, the ‘Swap’ element to the new ability allows you to switch out which moves you incorporate into battle. It’s a fantastic addition, but it’s introduced very quickly and is easy to forget when you’re mid-battle. 

Additionally, with a realm of new skills comes a whole roster of things to learn. Your Palicos and Palamutes have new skills to master. There is new armor to forge. And there are new moves for all the weapons which have come as a welcomed change. Although I wouldn’t describe the gameplay of Monster Hunter Rise as stagnant, there is certainly a heavy emphasis on repetition while climbing the ranks. At least now in Sunbreak there is a chance to visualize your hunters’ growth. 

New monsters and realms and skills galore

But with a new set of skills comes an increased difficulty, and I fell a victim of being reminded of just how tough Monster Hunter is the hard way. Facing off with the initial terrors’ feels like a walk in the park compared to those which fall into Elgado. The new set of monsters take a while to appear in the expansion, but they are incredibly impressive when they do. 

The story of Sunbreak is as simple as the base game. The main monster, the Malzeno, is making the other monsters annoyed, which has put the main port at risk of destruction. You’ve definitely heard that one before. But luckily Sunbreak takes it fairly easy on you at the start. We are quickly introduced to Master Ranks, and as we begin to progress through them, the difficulty is really ramped up. I don’t think you can go into any fight and be prepared enough to not faint at least twice. No amount of dango can save you now. 

Additionally, the newly implemented ‘Jungle’ map was fun to explore. I had become painfully familiar with the previous lands that I felt had lost their charms. But exploring the cavernous jungle and jumping from cliff to cliff reignited the excitement I felt for coming across a monster in its natural habitat. You get to experience old foes with new moves in a new place. So while you’re getting to grips with the controls again you’ll feel some familiarity while doing so. 

You don’t have to fight alone (and you’ll probably benefit from not)

Aside from being able to join hunt requests from players online, another wonderful feature Sunbreak introduces is battling alongside NPCs. Which can be hugely beneficial for anyone struggling. I love this feature, because not only does it make monsters a crumb easier to face, but it really brings the cast of Sunbreak to life. Fighting alongside them adds to the immersive nature of the game. And like I said – will have you glued to your console. 

Inviting NPCs will drive the story in places. But after a few repeated hunts you’ll be so grateful for the assistance. Whether you use the assistance to distract a monster while you heal or you just need some company. I loved feeling like a team of hunters rather than just a solo player. It doesn’t feel as tedious to face the same creature time and time again when there’s a crew behind you. 

Additionally these encounters will unlock rewards you might miss should you continue to battle solo. Some of these rewards can help you forge new weapons and armor which will have been overlooked otherwise. So even if you’re a lone wolf, let someone give you a hand once in a while. 

Summary

As a whole, Sunbreak is a wonderful addition to Monster Hunter Rise. I can’t turn my nose up at the game, and I’ll continue to indulge in future updates without a doubt. Even though I spend more time clenching my controller and gritting my teeth in frustration than I’d expect from a game I enjoy, it all feeds into what makes this franchise so wonderful. 

If you’re debating getting back on the hype for Monster Hunter Rise, then the Sunbreak expansion is exactly what will sway your decision. Facing a challenge has never been so enchanting, and I cannot recommend the experience enough.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak was reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

Review: As Far as the Eye

Xavier Berry
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0
Review: As Far as the Eye

As far as the eye was developed by Unexpected Studio and is a top-down puzzle game that puts players in charge of guiding little creatures known as Pupils along a journey to find the center of the world. Managing both resources and the environment around them is an important step to ensure they escape the flood that is coming their way.

With both a beautiful soundtrack as well as a wonderful art style, As far as the eye is a treat for those looking to pick it up. The OST consists of melodic sounds that are accompanied by wind chimes and the occasional animal in the background. Each song is as peaceful and relaxing as the next so it is recommended that players use headphones so they don’t miss out. Pairing this with the simplistic art style gives players a game they can relax to. The Pupils, which are the creatures the players control, move across hexagon shaped tiles and as they enter unknown territory, the transition feels smooth and gives players something to look forward to on the journey without giving too much information away. Time will shift between night and day during each turn cycle without removing players from the current screen so they can still see what’s going on. As Pupils take on different tasks, they change into different appearances for each job so players can identify what each one is doing. The Pupils have an adorable look to each of their designs and I mean who doesn’t want to help save cute little creatures from tragedy?

From a gameplay perspective, each task is carried out in turns and requires players to guide the tribe along tiles to help build a base before the flood reaches the tribe. A bar on the bottom of the screen indicates when threats are coming and how long players have until the flood reaches them. Pairing this with random events that may hinder progress means that players are constantly on the move as well as looking out for resources to continue building their temporary homes. Once the requirements to move on to the next stop are met, players are sometimes given branching options for where to go next. Each map presents different challenges and provides different resources so players must decide which path will ensure the tribes survival.

The game does feature different modes to use and even rewards players with other tribes and regions to experiment with. Since each map is procedurally generated, every journey will have different obstacles to overcome with its own set of challenges. There is a campaign mode that will let players take control of different tribes with their own mini stories, acting as a tutorial to get players accustomed to how the mechanic’s work. After the five chapters are completed, Players can take their knowledge and apply it to either a custom game or have a quick game if they just want to get started. Selecting Quick Game lets players select a tribe and start on a journey right away. Custom game allows players to adjust things such as the number of Pupils there are as well as the rations provided. There are sliders to even adjust the instances of random positive and negative events happening. This allows players to have a little more control of their adventure.

As Far as the eye is an adorable little adventure that doesn’t present players with a complicated story or hectic mechanics but instead allows players to take part in a journey to ensure the survival of a small tribe. After each map was completed, I felt a sense of joy and accomplishment knowing that a small little tribe survived because of my guidance and choices. Pairing this with the calming soundtrack game me something to look forward to each time I sat down and loaded up another quick game.

Review: Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump

Having recently reviewed Tour de France 2022, you all know I love to cycle. As a consequence, I’m always in the market for some excellent technology to make my life easier. Whether it is a sports watch, new trainers, or high-powered lights, I always want to give them a go. However, today’s review focuses on maintenance and tyres. I am, of course, talking about the Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump. Now, you may not be excited about the sound of it. Yet, by the end of this review, you’ll want one as well.

With fantastic build quality, excellent battery life, an array of adapters, and an inexpensive price point, this blows “normal” pumps out of the water. Moreover, it has a handy light, an LED display screen, looks amazing, and has a double pressure gauge. In short, it is an excellent accessory that makes maintaining your bicycle or car that much easier. Furthermore, it can be used to pump up balls and inflatables in a matter of minutes.

What’s in the box of the Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump?

  • The compact packaging is simple but pleasant to the eye. It is sturdy, strong, and protects the contents from getting damaged. What’s more, it is 100% recyclable, and that’s fantastic.
  • The Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump. I’m reviewing the red version of this device. You may also purchase a black version that is slightly different (more on this later). The sleek aluminium case has a rich red finish. This houses 2*1200 mAh Lithium batteries that are charged by a USB-C cable. Moreover, there is a clear LED display and a button cluster to change the settings.
  • An array of adapters. The Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump can be used on many items. Consequently, a range of adapters is included. There is a flexible hose, Presta and Schrader valve adapter, swimming ring nozzle, and a ball needle.
  • Carry bag. You are provided with a handy black fabric bag to store every item. It is well constructed and built to last. 
  • USB-C charging cable. A small rubberised cable to charge the Lithium batteries.
  • User manual. A simple, quick start guide that explains the fundamentals. 
Compact and stylish packaging.
The Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump.
The USB-C charging cable.
Adapters to inflate an array of items
Store the accessories in this helpful pouch.
A simple user guide
The full package.

Technical aspects.

No one wants to over-inflate or under-inflate their tyres, balls, or beach toys. Therefore, an accurate LED display is essential. Luckily, the clutter-free screen highlights key information without confusing the matter. It shows your current pressure and your desired level. What’s more, it displays this in 4 formats; PSI, Bar, KPA, and Kg/cm. This is extremely helpful, easy to switch between, and simple to understand.

Alongside this, there are 3 preset modes, a custom option, and an auto shut-off facility. The preset levels are helpful, but I rarely used them. They are designed for a market average and you should consult each item to ensure the correct levels. You can flit between motorbike, push bike, and ball mode. As I said, I didn’t find them so useful, as my needs differed considerably. Subsequently, I spent my time working with the custom option. This was fantastic, as I could adjust the pressure to my liking. Thankfully, this was achieved with the push of a couple of buttons and was extremely user-friendly.

What was also key was the auto shut-off feature. Whenever the pressure reaches the desired level, the device shuts off. Consequently, overinflation is a thing of the past. Accordingly, it is safe to work with and ensures that every item is perfectly inflated.

Is the Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump worth it?

With two options to choose from, you may be confused. However, let me clear that up for you. The black version is limited to 120 PSI. Subsequently, this has limited uses and may not appeal to road bike cyclists. The red version, on the other hand, stretches its levels to 150 PSI and, therefore, is more appealing.

With that cleared up, let’s look at what makes the Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump worth the money. First, it is exceptionally easy to use. The clear LED display makes it simple to understand your levels. Further to this, a vast list of adapters ensures a multi-faceted approach. Second, a clear battery indicator highlights how much charge the device has. This was an excellent inclusion that makes sure you rarely run short on charge. Finally, the simplicity of switching between modes and pressure readings makes this a winner. Within seconds, you’ll know how to use it, and it will become an essential part of your gear. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here! Alternatively, you can purchase it from Amazon UK here!

Summary. 

If you are in the market for a phenomenal bike pump, then look no further. The Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump is an excellent addition to your cycling equipment. Furthermore, it is accurate, well built, and looks great. On top of this, the battery life is awesome, the LED display is clear and uncluttered, and there is a helpful light if needed. Accordingly, why carry around an archaic hand pump when this product does all the work for you?

(More information on Woowind can be found here!)

The Woowind BP188 Mini Bike Pump has received the Movies Games and Tech Gold award.

Review: Keplerth

Lee Fairweather
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2
Review: Keplerth

The survival crafting genre has exploded in popularity over the course of the last decade. The market has gotten so oversaturated that it can be difficult for developers to gain any sort of traction. Keplerth is a game that comfortably fits into this category, though strangely, it might be through a lack of trying.

Keplerth was created by a developer named TARO, who, despite my best efforts, remains a bit of an enigma. The reason for this is TARO has had next to no online presence for close to 4 years. This is why you’ve likely never heard of this title prior to this review. Which beckons the question. What is Keplerth?

At its core, Keplerth is a 2D sandbox RPG that focuses on exploration, progression and survival elements. It can be enjoyed as both a single player or multiplayer experience. It recently received its 1.0 update, which I felt was the perfect opportunity to jump in and try it out.

Story

The game starts off with your character emerging from a hibernation capsule on the planet Keplerth. Wondering around, you quickly discover a robot called WM-69. They inform you that two masked individuals captured their companion named Danny, and took her to an undisclosed location. WM-69, upon assessing your abilities, asks you for your help to find her.

Your newly found friend also tells you about a man called Dr Mathew Schip. The Doctor is currently in the process of building a spacecraft to get any stragglers back to Earth. Before being kidnapped, Danny was helping Schip out by gathering resources in exchange for useful items. Upon agreeing to taking over her vacant position, your exploratory journey beings in proper.

I found the story to be rather dull. It’s not because it’s poorly written or overly simple, but more due to the way that it’s portrayed. Anytime that information about a character or event is given, the game provides it to you in the form of an exposition dump. This made it rather difficult to get invested on what was happening, and it ultimately left me uninterested and bored. Thankfully, the insane amount of complexity and depth in the gameplay make up for this in bounds.

Gameplay

Building

Like with all games in this genre, creating a base is mandatory to store all your excess gear, crafting stations, and to simply have a place to call your own. You’ll be able to decorate your new home with various objects, and in an incredibly similar way to Terraria, you’ll house various NPCs in their own rooms. The NPCs aren’t as important in this game, but they are certainly nice addition to have roaming around your base.

One massive positive about Keplerth is gathering materials is very easy. Things like maintaining your farm, which is fairly important to do to keep your hunger levels in check, is incredibly streamlined. This is due to the sci-fi setting which, basically, manages everything for you once you reach a certain point in the game.

Combat

The combat in Keplerth may be fairly straight forward, but it is a heck of a lot of fun. You have a fairly sizeable array of weapons to craft, each of them varying in the ways that they operate. You’ll start off with the standard array of swords, axes and clubs, before eventually reaching futuristic gear like laser cannons and Gatling guns.

On top of this, you’ll also gain skills by clearing trials inside the dungeon segments. The skills fit into the standard offensive, defensive and support categories, and are segmented into a specific theme. You are limited to equipping two skills at any given time, though each skill can be upgraded.

My personal favourite skill setup was the Sentry Robot and Fiery Dance. The latter emits flames around you which burn any enemies that get to close. The Sentry Robot, no surprises, allows you to throw out a turret which automatically attacks nearby enemies. There are 16 skills in total, so you’re bound to find a combo setup that you’ll enjoy.

The combat can get a little bit repetitive towards the end of the game, though this is to be expected. If you’ve played V Rising then you’ll be familiar with this combat style. It’s not quite on the same level in terms of fluidity, but it is very enjoyable to say the least.

Traits and Gene System

Levels aren’t something that exist inside Keplerth. Instead, you’ll improve your character through the use of traits. These will enhance things like your chance to critical strike, or allowing you to reflect damage back towards your enemies. You also have knowledge nodes which impact the more passive parts of the game. These include extended building range, and reducing your hunger depletion levels.   

You gain traits and knowledge through defeating enemies in the wild. They have a small percentage chance to drop a special item, which, in turn, can then be used to gain a new trait. This creates a system in which you only become more powerful as you explore new areas.

Art

Although it won’t blow you away, the Keplerth art direction does have a good sense of practicality to it. The sprite-work is drawn in a simplistic cartoony aesthetic, and, rather shamelessly, bears an uncanny resemblance to RimWorld. Fortunately, this works to Keplerth’s advantage.

Characters, monsters and other objects are all easily recognisable. You’ll never be confused as to what you’re looking at on screen, even when it comes to the alien themed environments. In addition to this, the different biomes, regions and landmarks all blend in exceedingly well together, and often have no signs of awkward stitching. This effectively means that the random world generation works as intended, so props for that.

The UI design is also impeccable. Areas such as the character HUD and inventory are simple and straight to the point. The more complex RPG screens are lacking tutorials to explain things, but for the most part, they are intuitively designed.

Audio

The flash game aesthetics are very prominent in the sound effect department. That isn’t to say it’s a detriment to the game, on the contrary, it enhances the games overall stylistic design. The otherworldly creatures are a great example of this, as they all have convincing interpretations. The only issue here is that the SFX are used sparingly, and the game can sometimes be obscenely quiet.

The musical arrangements in Keplerth range from spaciously ethereal piano pieces, to adrenaline inducing battle themes. The OST is interjected sporadically throughout the game. It’s very similar in its execution to how Mojang utilised their soundtrack in Minecraft. Though admittedly, the quality of music isn’t quite on the same level.

Conclusion

Keplerth is an overall enjoyable survival crafting game. The gameplay mechanics are incredibly fun, albeit rather simple and repetitive. The RPG systems are surprisingly complex, but feel as though they are still waiting to be developed into something more substantial. While the art style is a clear rip off of RimWorld, it has been executed well to suit the game’s needs. As of this review, Keplerth is being sold for a little under £12. At this price, I’d recommend that you give it a shot if you are a fan of games like Terraria or Don’t Starve.

Review: Matchpoint Tennis Championships

Natosha M
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0
Review: Matchpoint Tennis Championships

Ready to serve the ball and get the game started? Maybe you want to try some awesome moves like working on your forehand, backhand, volley, half-volley, overhead smash, drop shot, and lob. Well here is a sports game that will allow you to use those moves cause it’s all about tennis, and you get the chance to be the player you want to create and take all the different shots you like to outsmart your opponents.

The game gives you complete freedom to feel like you are playing on a real court through the career mode or just a normal practice close to like playing free-play mode. It’s an excellent game that will help you build skills if you’re starting out and get better with each game you play in any mode. So you can one time or more often be the champion player. So get ready to serve up, you’re in total control and all these different moves you perform will be the ones that may aid or break you in each game. So it just leaves me with one question and that is do you think you have what it takes to be a champion tennis player?

🎾How Was The Game🎾

Matchpoint Tennis Championships is something that I was expecting to be a bit better visually, but it did fall short in the type of characters you can create to suit your appearance, so that might be lacking. Slightly, reminded me of creating your very own Sims character, just not so many choices. However, its quality in animation is really nice and shows such close-up action with controllable cameras that I’m very impressed to be able to get a view that is easier for me to play along with.

The game has a ranking, which is something that would allow anyone who wants to play a bit more competitive than just for fun to see where you land and how well you are getting against others. It actually makes the game so much more challenging and fun, even because you can play against those online or just a multiplayer with someone in the same room. Of course, AI is always an option too!

However, practicing is key, and taking on the tutorial is a great way to learn the controller’s mappings so you know what to do or how to move and hit the ball or just serve it. There aren’t many tricky combinations and it is very smooth when you actually play. If this was a real game, I doubt you’ll break a sweat reaching the ball. It almost feels as if the character lines up perfectly each time you play to hit the ball, just moving to the right side is all it takes. Honestly, I like that! I don’t have to be an expert tennis gamer to win a game when playing this game.

Therefore, I’m not upset with the gameplay, it’s perfect! That also includes the design of the field, the timing, and the effects that occur each time you hit the ball. There is no glitching, stalling, or some strange pauses and loading that block you as you play. Everything just plays smoothly and loads up quickly!

I do have so many, and I mean mainly all positive aspects of this game. Well for one, no more need to stand up and play. Just sit back and let the controller be the only guided tool you need. Unlike a Wii or a device that uses a camera, you can sit back and play tennis on the couch or anywhere you feel comfortable. I just love that! Another is that the music is quite engaging and a bit more motivating right from when the game begins to play. It’s not a laidback and slow tune, but something more pumping and interesting, which I do adore for the second thing. Also, the real sound effects help to make the game even more realistic, not only from the hitting of the ball, but the players and the audience watching.

The last thing that I must admit to being so grateful about this game is that if you have no time to play, cause for some reason. Well choose the quick match game, it’s an option and allows you to get in some tennis play, while not wasting too much time and completing it quickly. This is just a game that makes everything about playing tennis a piece of cake and I love it, just sometimes I wish playing real tennis was as easy as this!

🎾Final Thoughts🎾

I am a fan of tennis. I don’t care too much about watching competitions on the television or in person, but I love to play myself. Ok, I may not be the best in person, but in a game, I feel like a star⭐championship player. This game, Matchpoint Tennis Championships is something that allows me to express the one sport that I have the most interest in. I do hope I’m not the only one who rather play sports through a game console because it’s just easier and so much more fun to learn and get better than in a real arena, court, or field to play the sport, especially in the heat outdoors?

No matter, this game is awesome! The one thing I thought that might be a problem was using a controller to play the game and if it would be easy to move around and hit the ball on time. However, with what you learn through the tutorial and how smooth everything moves within the game, there is no struggle or problem it all can be done and done by sitting down! So for me, there is just so much to love with a simple or competitive game of tennis, whichever the player prefers.

That’s why it leaves me to say that this is a sports game like all others, but it’s so fun, and honestly, I don’t feel they make so many games on tennis, this easy. I just love the sport in the form of a game and find it so much easier to become a champion with all the ways I can practice and take on challenges with other players whenever I’m ready too! So if tennis is a game you’re searching for, and want to really play with ease and not break a sweat? Then Matchpoint Tennis Championships is a game you should give a shot!

Review: Lumberjack’s Dynasty

Daniel Waite
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2
Review: Lumberjack’s Dynasty

The great outdoors is an attractive prospect for many. Whether it is the excitement of the unknown or the joy of working with your hands, it fascinates us. Gaming companies prey on these desires with an array of earthy simulation titles. There is a plethora of fishing, farming and walking experiences to be had. However, today, I’m going to grab an axe, put on a plaid shirt, and become a woodsman in Lumberjack’s Dynasty.

Developed by UMEO Studios and published by Toplitz Productions, this is a heartwarming simulation title. Set in a tiny rugged community, you must complete many jobs, cut down masses of trees, find love, buy equipment, and more. Consequently, it is a full-on game that can be as in-depth or as simple as you like. It was this concept that drew me to play it, but sadly, bugs and glitches undermine many of its positives.

Lumberjack’s Dynasty is still a buggy mess.

I was fortunate enough to review Lumberjack’s Dynasty for PC in 2021. During my time with it, I found it to be moreish, cutesy, emotive, but flawed in so many ways. The long list of problems was gut-wrenching and tarnished an addictive and well-considered real-to-life simulation. Disappointingly, roll on 18 months, and nothing has changed! The textures are all over the place. You clip through the scenery, bushes regrow in seconds, trees hover in midair, and so forth. Luckily, though, many of these problems can simply be ignored. However, we’ll cover the game-breaking moments a bit later on.

Issues to one side, let’s look at the rest of the package. The story uses a familiar approach that’s seen in any farming title. You are the nephew of some ageing relatives who run a failing farm. With limited time on their hands, they wish to sell up and retire quietly. However, your arrival ensures a different path is taken. With your help, the business can be restored, the buildings will be repaired, and the town will thrive. On top of this, you can make friends, find a wife, raise a family, and make money through plenty of side hustles. 

As I said, the story is well-trodden, but this matters not. It is delivered at a comfortable pace and has an open-world approach. Subsequently, you are free to do as you wish, with no negative connotations.

Lumberjack's Dynasty has plenty of large and useful machinery.
Chop down the trees and load them up for the sawmill.

Big machines, plenty of tasks, and basic character progression. 

If you love tractors, loggers, and other diesel-powered machines, then you’ll adore Lumberjack’s Dynasty. There is a plethora of game-changing equipment for you to buy. You can upgrade to a faster car, a larger tractor, or an all-in-one hauling and cutting machine. Yet, purchasing these gargantuan vehicles isn’t that simple. No, instead, you must complete a series of inane tasks before you even consider flying solo.

Now, this may seem annoying, but it isn’t. It was the perfect way to keep the story going while allowing you the freedom to explore. Consequently, you’ll travel the whole map to complete small and often arduous jobs. Annoyingly, most of the quests are repetitive and this was disheartening. You’ll be asked to clear bushes, fell trees, and store the logs. In theory, this should be a breeze, but in reality, it is thwarted with problems.

The protagonist is often scuppered by his hunger and tiredness meters. If either of these falls too low, you must eat or return home to rest. Now, this shouldn’t be a problem, but when a job is 2000+ metres away and your tractor maxes out at 20mph, it becomes a little tedious. However, I shouldn’t really complain, as, after all, I chose the slow-paced country life that I’m now experiencing.

Your chainsaw is your best friend.
Grab your chainsaw and get to work.

Repairs and making money. 

This is the section of the review that dissects the unfortunate issues that tarnish Lumberjack’s Dynasty. However, keep in mind that the developers are actively working on their project. 

I’m no DIY aficionado, but even I know a nail gun won’t repair every problem you face. Yet, this is the only tool you have to fix windows, ceramics, walls, toys, seats, and fences. It was quite frankly ridiculous that this was the only piece of equipment on offer. I know a simplified approach is more welcoming, but this breaks the immersion and reduces the realism, considerably.

This can also be seen in the poorly scaled wildlife and a glitch that undoes all your repair work. I’m not sure I’ve seen a stag double the size of a tractor before playing this game. However, I have now and it was both mesmerising and terrifying in equal measure. Furthermore, this freak of nature withstands the hardest of hits from any vehicle. As a consequence, I’m not sure whether to be impressed or petrified by these all-powerful Cervidae.

The issue regarding glitched repairs is depressing and disheartening. You invest hours to progress the game and it’s undone in a matter of seconds. This problem is unforgivable and will put off many would-be woodsmen.

Finally, the action stagnates as learning to sell goods is confusing and poorly explained. Subsequently, the incredible shiny machines, new forests, and other upgrades feel out of reach. Had the solution been more obvious, the gameplay would have been vastly improved. 

Lumberjack’s Dynasty is no oil painting.

Simulator games and poor graphics go hand-in-hand. Yes, they are never terrible, but most developers focus on every other aspect. That is exactly what has happened in Lumberjack’s Dynasty, as it is no oil painting. The render distances are awful, you clip through the world, plants and trees regrow out of nowhere, and the characters look terrible. In short, it is a dated mess. However, you quickly forget this as each element of the cinematic will have you in fits of laughter. Amusingly, the lip-syncing is so poor that most people appear to be gasping for air. Yet, once you finish giggling, you realise it’s a poorly finished title that could and should have been done much better.

Alongside the flawed visuals are some confusing audio elements. First, the balance between upbeat and relaxing songs is off. For unknown reasons, aggressive and daunting music will play. These poorly executed moments leave you confused. Second, the sound effects are flat, repetitive, and dull. I expected much more realistic noises, but it never happened. Consequently, the realism is reduced, and you are left wanting. Finally, the acting is atrocious! With poorly delivered lines and a wooden undertone, it’s worse than your kids’ school play.

Cut down the trees and send them to the sawmill to make money.
This is where the magic happens.

A nice port from PC. 

It’s rare that a game ports from PC and subsequently handles better on console. Lumberjack’s Dynasty does just that with its fantastic controller layout and responsive controls. Alongside this, a helpful UI highlights tasks that need doing. This was an excellent choice as it improved the experience without dumbing down the difficulty too much. 

If the problems can get resolved, this would be an amazing and addictive title. With so much to do, many vehicles to buy, properties to repair and forests to fell you are spoilt for choice. What’s more, the story is rich with heartwarming moments. Sadly, though, the bugs and glitches do their best to ruin such great potential. 

Lumberjack’s Dynasty should have been great.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. I desperately wanted to love Lumberjack’s Dynasty, but I can’t. No matter how much I try, I can’t get over its shortcomings. I care not about glitches and bugs, and frankly, the poor acting made me laugh throughout. However, game-breaking issues are unforgivable. If these problems weren’t present, it would receive a respectable 7 out of 10. Instead, my 5 out of 10 is at best, generous. All things considered, I can’t recommend you to buy this game. Yet, if you are interested, more information can be found here. I’m sure the developers will fix the problems. But, until then, give this a miss.

Review: Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

Natosha M
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0
Review: Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is just marvelous, especially if you are a fan of the many other Fire Emblem games. There is plenty of action-packed battles with weapons that give such remarkable destruction to each foe, and in this game, there is even the ability to join either of three different teams. So deciding the way the story will unfold, depends on you as the player and the group of team members you want to join.

There are a total of three teams, they go under the names the Blue Lions, Black Eagles, and the Golden Deer. Each of them provides a special method for how they fight. The strengths of each member and the important detailed data are also able to be seen beforehand. Every time you restart and want to play again, you can choose a new team, leaving you with a new story and outcome to enjoy. To top it off, the settings and changing how hard or easy you want the game to be will also make a big difference in the game and give you a few more alterations to make the game original than the one you’ve played or completed before.

🛡️How Was The Game ⚔️

At first, I expected the game to be a choice of choice before beginning. Decide on the team and set the mission and other goals. However, I was mistaken! The game brought more action right from the start and it doesn’t lead to a team until you are learning the battle moves and continuing to defeat so many other foes before the true game begins. Oh yes, and not such a long narrative, which if you want to, can be skipped.

So when starting up the game, it’s practically simple enough. You first choose the difficulty and the type of game you want to play before moving forward. So right at the start, the game can be played in so many ways depending on what you prefer. Most of the features can’t be adjusted during the game, so once it’s chosen, it is going to stick throughout the game. However, what you get right from the start is a solution made perfect for every type of player, like beginners or experts.

Next, it’s time to decide on who you want to play, either a female or male and the same goes for the demon who you’ll want to defeat. Now when you finally move from the little narrative beginning, naming the characters and ready to begin. The game moves quite smoothly, not like a strategic board game. Instead, you are just free to move around and attack without restriction. At first, I would think you’d need to take turns, but it’s not a strategy game that requires taking turns, but instead planning where to set off your team members to attack from the map.

In the beginning, the movements are very easy to see and simple to understand. Therefore, it won’t cause anyone to get caught being defeated so easily. Especially with the large damage, one slash and move can create. Each time you defeat the main leader or the mission requirement, a new one will pop up and you just go along with the flow. No pausing or loading time is needed. It just continues to move and fight. That I sort of like, just go out there and give it all you have no stopping or restrictions to what you do, and how well you do it!

The main mission is all that matters, the rest of the enemies, which there are quite a lot of them. However, they don’t make a difference it’s the main leader that does, then you can just move on to the next. So completely defeating everyone isn’t a necessary step, which is pretty nice. So I’m always heading towards the one that matters the most, only if the other part of the foe’s team is making it hard for me, to pass. Then again, the way the weapon we use takes action can really put a dent of damage into the way so many get defeated quickly.

Honestly, the main battles against the demon, and of course the other foes that are helping the major demon we are trying to defeat. Well, it’s just a story and an eventful game that really keeps you engaged. Even with the three different teams, like the Golden Deer, Black Eagles, and Blue Lions they add a bit more interest to the game as well. I didn’t really mind whose team to join, but to be honest the Black Eagles were quite interesting because, in the beginning, I loved the way they fought. Plus they use magic as a source of power. Something I am more suited with, yet the rest are just as great!

I also find a quarter portion of the game where strategic planning is gonna needs to be taken place. When using the map at the pause menu, you’ll be able to set out where you want your team members to go, for the next enemy you want to be defeated, which actually is very useful. As they will get the work done for you and you can slowly arrive or not worry to have to do all the work by yourself. Plus, within each resting period before the next battle you can set up new equipment, new members to replace others if needed, and just venture out ready and to fight.

From start to finish, the game is a blast! It’s got nothing but plenty to be enjoyed and so much action to endure. The mapping portion is a bit much, which I don’t mind dealing with when planning where my members go next. However, I do find the rest of the game, getting to defeat and use these killer combinations to attack is remarkable. That also goes for the graphics, the music in the background, and the story. It’s nothing I found myself skipping too much as it really kept my eyes captivated and interested.

The game has it all and is perfect for those who love to fight without pause. Don’t want a long narrative, just skip it or let it play, it’s up to you. If you can’t take difficult and want t to reduce the battles then do so, but it’s all up to you and your choices in this entire game to play it the way you like. Each time and each change will make the game different, but honestly, either way, it’s played is great!

🛡️ Final Thoughts ⚔️

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes was more than just a normal or simple one-story path that doesn’t lead to the same exact results. There are three storylines to go on playing and each is adjusted by the choices you make during the game. Therefore, each change and choice is all part of the outcome and so is the way the game plays. We as the players have the ability to make things possible.

So I can totally say that this game is something that has kept me busy for hours. It’s endless action and plenty of battles to fight through. The best part is the most enormous and cataclysmic defeats that you can give with the weapons you are given. It’s a sight that really opens one’s eyes wide enough in joy, especially if you love to fight and watch a full crowd of enemies; opponents being taken down with a few moves. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will not only bring you the most action-packed game, full of excitement, nonstop defeats especially when you are given out over 500 hits at a time, and challenging new missions always popping up. Oh yes, as well as a great story that follows with the game, but even if you skip through it to just get to the fighting, well it is all good cause the game no matter how you read or fight is fully enjoyable especially with you guiding your own story in the game.

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