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Review: Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Davide Roriz

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Jun 10, 2022

When playing a game, I often wonder what it would be like to play as an ordinary character in that game’s universe. I find myself wondering about this extensively and quite often, but I’m not sure why this idea is so appealing to me, I guess it’s just that I’d like to experience the game’s world through another perspective.

In that sense, Hardspace: Shipbreaker definitely falls within that category, so if you ever wondered about what happens to those spaceships that end up getting decommissioned, or if the mere idea of dismantling spaceships sounds interesting, then you’ll probably have a good time with this game.

In case it wasn’t obvious, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a space game about breaking spaceships apart. You play as a newly appointed shipbreaker, whose job is to take apart spaceships of all sizes and salvage as much of them as you can. When I first heard about Hardspace: Shipbreaker, this sounded like a great idea, but, now that I’ve played it, I can safely say that it ended up being more fun and engaging than I could’ve possibly imagined.

Moving around in space is exactly as you’d expect, if you fire up your thrusters just for a bit, you’ll gain some momentum, but you can move even faster if you use your grapple gun to pull yourself to something that’s far away from you. Likewise, you can also pull light objects towards you, which makes the task of moving ship parts around a lot easier.

In that aspect, the game plays phenomenally well. The way that things move around in space in zero gravity and how you can move any way that you want, roll, or whatever, adds a ton of freedom to the whole experience. This is only exacerbated by how your tools help you do your job, the cutter, the grapple, the demo charges, and your helmet’s scanner that lets you find weak spots in each ship. You don’t have that big of an arsenal, but the developers have definitely made sure that what you have has a very specific purpose and feels great to use.

While the gameplay is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Hardspace: Shipbreaker, another key part of the game is not only its story and characters, but also its worldbuilding. In some aspects, I think that the worldbuilding here is superb and pulled me in right from the very start.

As a new worker for LYNX Corporation, you’ve pretty much signed your own eternal death sentence when you signed up to be a shipbreaker. Hardspace: Shipbreaker spares no expenses in portraying a grim and depressing future where the working class finds itself at the mercy of its corporate overlords. With Humanity having finally expanded towards the rest of the solar system, it’s corporations like LYNX that keep the constant flow of traffic and goods circulating throughout the solar system.

These entities promise a new beginning and a promising future if you join their ranks, but as soon as you’re in and the papers are signed, you quickly see yourself drowning in a ludicrous amount of debt. It’s all from processing fees and other shenanigans associated with your hiring process, and you’re supposed to quickly chip away at it, but that clearly is far from being easy. The daily work life of a shipbreaker is no easy task, not only because it’s tough manual labour, but also because death is always lurking around the corner waiting for you if you end up being careless with your work.

The gameplay loop of Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a pretty tight one, and you’ll find yourself doing a lot of the same over and over. Each shift starts when you select which ship you want to salvage ext. Then, once you’re out in space, you have to use your suit’s thrusters to manoeuvre around and use your tools to slowly cut through each ship. At the same time, and depending on the difficulty you’re playing at, you also need to manage your oxygen levels and your thrusters’ fuel.

Whether you’re using the laser cutter to cut through each part of the ship, or whether you’re using a grapple gun capable of tethering ship parts together, it’s important to take your time and avoid thrashing any salvageable part of the ship as much as possible. If you mess up and ruin a lot of things, you might find that you’re not making that much progress and you’ll eventually be out of money once it comes the time for your next debt payment. You also have to send different types of materials and parts to specific processing areas, and failure to do so will result in a payment penalty at the end of the day.

Up until this point, everything should sound pretty simple, but the game keeps getting more complicated as you level up and unlock access to more complex spaceships. These spaceships not only get increasingly bigger, but they also come with new and challenging hazards, such as fuel tanks and electrical components which can quickly ruin a good portion of a ship if you don’t remove them carefully.

Salvaging each ship is almost like solving its own puzzle, because one small bad cut can cause a series of explosions or push some debris your way and you can quickly find yourself on your way to an early grave. Slow and steady wins the race here. You’ll gain experience as you complete your work on each ship, which will let you increase your rank as a shipbreaker and gain access to new tools’ upgrades and new ships. The bigger and more complex the ship, the more money you’ll get out of its salvage, at least that will remain true as long as you don’t damage it too much.

Visually, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is stunning. It doesn’t have groundbreaking graphics or what some might call “next-gen”, but its aesthetic is deliberate and striking. The Homeworld influence here is obvious, and it’s expected due to the developers, Blackbird Interactive, having made Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak and they’re currently working on Homeworld 3. However, the game still has its own distinct look that gives it a space frontier kind of vibe.

At the end of the day, Hardspace: Shipbreaker can be as much of a repetitive slog as it can be an extremely relaxing and soothing experience. It sure won’t please everyone, but for those that it does, it will most likely be carved in their memory. It’s a remarkable and unique experience unlike anything else out there, and if not for anything else, then I think that it deserves to be played at least for being so unique.

The campaign is worth playing through at least once, but if you just want to play the game for the music, the visuals, and the gameplay, then you can also just chill in the Freeplay mode for eternity. Whatever might be your case, if you’ve read this far, I’m sure that you’ll deeply enjoy it. If you’re not really sure if it’s your thing, you can always try the game out through the PC Game Pass and buy it later if you want to support the developers, and I believe that they definitely deserve that support. Safe shipbreaking cutters!

Review: Freshly Frosted

Daniel Waite

-

Jun 10, 2022

0

Puzzle games come in all shapes and sizes. No matter what the style or theme, they usually start off easy and then break you. Freshly Frosted does just this thanks to its cute theme, colourful levels, and gentle learning curve.

Developed and published by The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild, this is a testing puzzle title. It has doughnuts at its core, but it’s anything but sweet. Thanks to the conveyor belt mechanics, you must be patient and methodical in your approach.

Freshly Frosted is a game I previewed in June 2021 as part of the Steam Fest. Needless to say, I was impressed and was desperate to try the full game. Now this time has come. Am I still in for a treat, or will it make me sick?

Every box of doughnuts must be completely frosted. — Pick a doughnut and complete the puzzle.

Freshly Frosted: an interesting conveyor belt sim.

There are plenty of strategy conveyor belt games, but the puzzle genre is seriously lacking. Thankfully, Freshly Frosted blasts onto the scene with some interesting and unique ideas. Consequently, you experience a challenging and moreish title from the off.

The idea is simple! You must deliver doughnuts from points A, B, C, or D to an end goal. The amount of starting points vary, as does the aim of each stage. You must place conveyor belts to pass frosting machines to top each treat. However, you must add toppings in a specific order to be victorious. Therefore, you must plan your paths, produce the correct doughnuts, and move to the next level.

Connect the conveyor belts in Freshly Frosted. — Join the belts and get the doughnuts to their delivery point.

Hints and mind-boggling levels.

Now, as a concept, it doesn’t sound that challenging, right? Wrong! As you progress through each of the 144 levels, it becomes mind-bogglingly challenging. With an array of toppings to use, delivery hatches that take specific orders, and belts that must be combined, it’s pretty tough.

Luckily, though, the developers aren’t monsters, as you can skip puzzles or use hints. The latter option is perfectly balanced, as it doesn’t undermine the difficulty. Instead, it gives you small clues to get you started. I loved this approach, as too many puzzle games get it wrong. They either give you unlimited tips and it’s too easy, or no help and it’s impossible to play.

Freshly Frosted looks delicious.

Playing out from a top-down perspective, the puzzles are easy to look at. What’s more, each of the 12 chapters has a unique appearance. With different doughnuts to deliver and a specific colour palette, it never gets old. Alongside this, I adored the soft pastel shades that create a serene atmosphere. You’ll love the surreal trip through seasons as the action cycles from winter to autumn. You’ll also experience a day-night cycle and plenty of treats to look at.

The calm experience is enhanced because of the mellow audio. With chilled out music and a softly spoken narrator, you never feel rushed. However, the factory noises and clunky machinery add some grit to the gameplay. The polar opposites wonderfully combine to create a powerful audio experience.

So many doughnuts to ice. — This one takes some thinking.

A brilliant PC to console port.

There is a long list of failed games that don’t work on consoles. For one reason or another, they feel clunky and slow. Fortunately, Freshly Frosted is an excellent port. With responsive controls and a simple but effective UI, it’s a joy to play. You can easily place your belts, adjust their direction, or remove them altogether. It’s brilliantly straightforward and is exactly what is required.

144 stages of increasing difficulty are no mean feat. Consequently, completing this game is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, though, you can tackle it casually and this makes it rewarding. However, if you simply love to unlock achievements, you won’t find it so difficult. I have spent around 6 hours so far and the end isn’t in sight. The sheer amount of puzzles ensures great value for money and that it has longevity.

Alongside this, an array of new mechanics increases the difficulty. Thankfully, this prevents the action from plateauing and this is fantastic. You’ll merge belts, clone doughnuts, play with splitters and more. Though each new element was simple to understand, it made the puzzles much harder, and this keeps you on your toes.

Freshly Frosted is as addictive as sugar.

Everyone loves a sweet treat and to be tested. Subsequently, Freshly Frosted ticks many boxes. Its levels are deceptively difficult and its mechanics are devilishly moreish. I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Use a methodical approach and decorate every doughnut.

Review: Spacelines from the Far Out

Daniel Waite

-

Jun 9, 2022

0

Couch and online cooperative titles are big business. With the likes of Overcooked, Tools Up!, Moving Out, and more making a big splash, I’m never surprised to see new titles. Therefore, when Spacelines from the Far Out hit the market, I couldn’t wait to give it a go. This genre is always maddening, addictive, and wonderful to play with friends. Consequently, it’ll make you laugh, scream, and drive you stir crazy as you try to complete every objective.

Developed by Coffenauts and published by Skystone Games Inc., this is a rogue-lite space simulation title. The gameplay is hectic, challenging, and moreish, and it can be enjoyed solo or with up to 3 friends. What’s more, it is free to play on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, so what’s not to like? On top of this, it’s a fantastic casual title that is easy to pick up, but tough to master.

Spacelines from the Far Out has 60s vibes.

Though much of the action is set around fantasy and futuristic themes, there are distinct 60s vibes! Your spaceship feels and looks like an American diner and this was intriguing and bizarre. With Bakelite-inspired appliances and some whacky flight attendant costumes to wear, this will teleport you back in time. However, the dated appearance is juxtaposed with futuristic madness. You will soar through space while avoiding comets, asteroids, and other debris. Alongside this, you must repair your ship, maintain its fuel levels, and pick up tourists. If you survive, and that is a big if, you will be paid handsomely, and you’ll continue your quest.

Now, you may wonder, what is this quest you are talking about? The aim of the game is to run a factious space airline that transports tourists across a deadly area of space. You must travel many miles to arrive at planet Gambulon V in the vacation sector. In theory, this should be an easy task. However, in reality, you’ll fail repeatedly, lose your ship, and run out of both money and fuel. Like its peers, it is a balancing act where your priorities are forever changing. Subsequently, you must stay on your toes and attempt to keep everyone happy. If you can’t, the rogue-lite elements will bite you in the ass and you’ll lose everything.

Spacelines from the Far Out demands an eye for detail and a methodical mind. — Keep them happy and impress the inspector.

Upgrades and spaceships.

This genre would be nothing if it didn’t drive you insane. Luckily, Spacelines from the Far Out makes you spin many plates at once. You must manage your ship’s systems, please your passengers, upgrade your vessel, and search for new vehicles. This may sound like an easy task, but it isn’t. As a solo player, you will struggle to keep on top of your workload. You’ll have to entertain aliens with a quirky dance while using a laser to cook them a meal. All the while, you’ll steer around asteroids, hone in on fuelling stations, and try to get everyone to the goal on time.

Luckily, the madness eases as you earn cash and you upgrade your spaceship or buy a new one altogether. As you improve your equipment, the action becomes much easier. However, this takes a lot of luck, patience, and money. Sadly, things rarely go to plan and you must expect to lose your progress multiple times.

Thankfully, this is made exponentially easier if you play with friends. For some bizarre reason, the developers didn’t scale the difficulty for the number of players in a room. This oversight makes solo gaming much harder, and it is almost too difficult and overwhelming. Yet, as a team, it is much more enjoyable and accessible.

Upgrade your ship and make your life much easier — Spend those hard-earned bucks on several ship upgrades.

Needy passengers.

There is little you can do to alter your surroundings. But you have complete control of your passengers and the ship’s systems. You can upgrade your engines, radar, gravity, navigation, and more. Every new piece of tech you install makes your life much easier. What’s more, a more efficient ship makes for much happier tourists.

Talking of happier tourists, they are your priority. These moaning turds will complain about anything and will pee and vomit over your faux leather 60s-inspired furniture. Therefore, you must do your utmost to appease them. Whether you take regular toilet breaks, install a WC, hire a cleaner, purchase a TV, perform a dance, or cook a meal, it is your choice. You can, of course, ignore them, but this will cost you dearly. After all, you want to make a profit and happy customers will spend their cash freely.

Spacelines from the Far Out looks familiar.

This genre has a distinct look that appeals to all. Its cartoon style and vivid colours are easy on the eye and look fantastic. Luckily, I never tire of the familiar art style and I enjoyed the quirky touches. What’s more, the variety of obstacles, aliens, and objectives keep things fresh throughout. Alongside this, there is a large array of ships to unlock and many custom options. You can choose your company colours, logo, and name, and this was great. However, I would have preferred more freedom to create everything from scratch rather than using a template.

The 60s vibes continue with the jazzy soundtrack. The upbeat songs work perfectly with the madness while adding urgency and energy to proceedings. This is complemented further thanks to the loud fantasy sound effects. I adored the small touches that made me chuckle throughout. Whether it was the aliens screaming, the systems failing, or the crashing of debris on the hull, it never gets old.

Repairs are a necessary evil. — Repair that hull or lose your ship.

It is so easy that a child could play it.

This genre isn’t renowned for being accessible to younger players. The action is normally overwhelming and the controls are usually complex and tricky to understand. Luckily, though, Spacelines from the Far Out is different. Its simple approach, excellent tutorial, and clever UI make it easy to pick up and play. Yes, the fundamentals are challenging, but the basic concept is extremely user-friendly. Moreover, the controls are responsive and this helps when all hell is breaking loose.

Like its peers, this screams longevity and replay value. Because of its rogue-lite elements, and the multiplayer option, you’ll play this for hours. However, there are still some shortcomings that must be addressed. First, solo gamers will find it particularly hard to defeat. Annoyingly, the NPCs are tough and they vie for blood. Second, dying repeatedly is a very real risk. If you don’t have ship insurance, your progress is lost and you must start from scratch. Now, this certainly adds to the replay value, but boy, it’s tough and annoying.

Spacelines from the Far Out is great, but it needs some balancing.

In short, I adored nearly every element of Spacelines from the Far Out! It is free to play if you subscribe to Game Pass. The graphics and audio are great, and the controls are fantastic. However, the multiplayer is limited to friends, as there are no open lobbies. Furthermore, the gameplay needs balancing. As a solo player, it is simply too difficult, and this is disappointing. If the developers could address this issue, it would be more rounded and much better. All things considered, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will you become the next big thing? Fly your passengers, keep them happy, and arrive at planet Gambulon V in one piece.

Review: SOOT

Devrim Kurt

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Jun 8, 2022

0

SOOT is a terraforming simulation developed by Ceiba Software and Arts and published by Badland Publishing. I should disclaim that I was only able to play soot until the end of the first chapter which was about 2 hours. I got too bored to continue, so this review is based on what I’ve experienced during the first chapter of the game.

Gameplay

SOOT’s progression is split between the comic book style cut scenes and the terraforming missions on different planets. Core gameplay loop consists of going to different planets and constructing buildings on them to mine or create or ship resources. There is a balance you need to keep between the 7 chemical components while building things which is where SOOT turns into more of a puzzle and strategy game.

If I’m being honest, most of my time while playing SOOT was spent looking at numbers. The game gives you objectives to finish levels, some examples of those objectives are; get oxygen numbers above 8000, refine 5000 ore, ship 2000 raw ore, get carbon levels below 5000, etc. During my playtime I would spend about 2-3 minutes setting up the planet to generate the resources needed to complete the quest and then for the remaining 15 minutes, I just waited for numbers to go up or down. While the core systems are quite solid and the levels could have been a lot more fun to play, they aren’t. Objectives are too boring, and every level feels the same regardless of the planet.

There was one specific level which had a time limit. And it was the only level I needed to plan and strategize in, which made the level actually fun. If more levels were centered towards obstacles and time limits which restricted you, the game would have been a lot more enjoyable.

There are also 2 other sections of gameplay that occur during story moments. These are simple puzzles to keep the player engaged between terraforming levels. While one of those puzzle sections felt unintuitive the other felt underdeveloped and just put there to add variety.

Story

The game has a futuristic steampunk setting and environmentalist overtones. I liked both of those things therefore I was more interested in the story parts. Our protagonist Doctor Mackenzie finds Commander Mason’s mission logs and we play through Mason’s missions replaying his memories of them. It was interesting to follow Commander Mason’s logs and progress Doctor Mackenzie’s story at the same time. However, there were a couple of times where I found sentences that just didn’t make any sense. But overall SOOT’s story was engaging enough to keep me playing the game.

Technical Side

The graphics and artwork is pretty good. I liked how characters, buildings and planets looked. My favorite part was planets going from green to brown as I terraformed on them. The animations from the buildings and planets are nothing special, but they don’t look weird even when sped up.

I had no frame rate problems or glitches during my playtime which is always a positive. Soundtrack and sound effects didn’t strike me as anything special but they also didn’t sound out of place or unfit.

Conclusion

The biggest mistake SOOT makes seems to be level design. While it had a nice concept and solid core mechanics, they failed to execute their ideas properly through their levels. But once again I should say that I only played the first chapter, therefore if the game and levels changed significantly during chapter 2 and 3, I wouldn’t know.

Review: Spacewing War

Daniel Waite

-

Jun 8, 2022

0

Home is where the heart is! In the future, this could be any inhabitable planet we find. However, I believe that every human will call Earth their home. Consequently, if an alien race were to try to conquer it, most humans would step up and defend their planet. Sadly, though, the invaders are likely to be too powerful for “normal” people, therefore, a hero must step up and save the day. This is exactly what happens in Spacewing War. It’s a slow-paced shoot ‘em-up that is action-packed with aliens, destruction, and old-school vibes.

Developed by Pneuma Games and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a retro shmup. Its dated style, shrill music, and simple action may be underwhelming for some, but don’t be put off. If you love an easy-to-understand title that is casual to play, then this will tick many boxes. What’s more, there are multiple modes to tackle, many bosses and demi-bosses to defeat, and lots of enemies to slaughter. Subsequently, it’s a basic retro title that looks rough, sounds loud, and is wonderful to play.

Choose your weapon and take down every foe. — What is that supposed to be?

Spacewing War may be too basic.

Now, I love old-school gaming so Spacewing War was always going to interest me. However, I appreciate this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Inspired by classic handheld consoles, this auto side-scrolling affair is understated, easy to play, and is over in a matter of hours. Therefore, you may worry that it lacks value for money and will be tiresome. However, fear not as the extras modes add meat to the bone. Consequently, if you enjoy this genre and love a trip down memory lane, this should be right up your street.

The plot is as old as the hills, but let’s not disregard it just yet! Planet Earth is about to be invaded by aliens from the planet Mavros. These angry beings are controlled by an all-powerful leader who wants to steal the rainbow star and its dangerous powers. With only a small glimmer of hope, Earth defends itself with its Spacewing defence system. This powerful vessel can mow through enemies, destroy bosses, and save the day.

Plenty of secrets, weapons, and enemies.

Like the best shmup games from the past, Spacewing War has plenty of enemies and traps to overcome. You must avoid projectiles, bullets, traps, and walls as you fly through each labyrinthine world. Furthermore, you must complete 7 levels while collecting power-ups and defeating each boss you face. Now, this may sound challenging, but sadly, it isn’t. Unlike its peers, the gameplay is too easy, and the action is too slow. You’ll never struggle to complete a stage and this was tedious and disappointing.

I was desperate for the action to step up a gear, but this never happened. Annoyingly, it plateaus very early and you simply go through the motions. Even the choice of 4 weapons couldn’t break up the monotony. You may select from a machine gun, boomerang, single shot, and a bomb. Now, in theory, each should create a tactical advantage, but that rarely happened. For the most part, I stuck to the single fire or bomb weapons as they mowed down everything in sight! It would have been great if there was more variety and greater difficulty, but this never materialised.

The last chapter recaps the madness you have experienced. — Finish the game in a flurry.

A lack of variety.

Though the action spanned many locations, it felt very repetitive. Most of your foes used the same pattern of movement, and most of the bosses offered little challenge. This then impacts your weapon choices and your tactics. Sadly, much of the gameplay should have been interesting, but it was anything but!

Luckily, though, the additional challenge and story mode adds some depth to the action. What’s more, the addition of a timer adds pressure and this makes it a little more difficult. I wish that the core mode was as interesting and challenging, but disappointingly, it was not.

Spacewing War belongs to another era.

I’m fascinated by retro gaming and consequently, I adore the art style. Where Spacewing War excels is its 40 unique colour palettes for its 4-tone pixel art style. This basic and retro look won’t be for everyone, but if you are old enough, you will love what you see. The blocky imagery, rough landscapes, and rudimentary level design scream old-school gaming, and that was fantastic. On top of this, the gameplay was smooth, there were no bugs, and it never stuttered.

To match the dated approach, the audio uses a shrill synth style. The ear-piercing noises were disgustingly good, and I cherished each painful moment. The guns sound so bad that they are good. What’s more, the high-pitched noise of fallen foes will bring a wry smile to your face.

Spacewing War is full of weird enemies. — It is time to kick some moon ass.

The controls should have been tighter.

Much of the action is so simple that I expected the controls to be tight and responsive. Sadly, this wasn’t always the case, and this causes unnecessary frustrations. You’ll try to move, fail, and hit many walls. This leads to death, loss of progress, and many curse words. However, you soon become familiar with its shortcomings and adjust your style to suit.

Thanks to the additional game modes, there is some longevity and replay value. If you are a completionist, this is a dreamy title, as you’ll have every achievement ticked off in under an hour. Luckily, the additional modes add depth and this ensures it is good value for money.

Spacewing War needs to be harder.

I loved the concept behind Spacewing War, but unfortunately, it is too easy. Subsequently, this lack of difficulty reduces its longevity, while making the action plateaux. This was disappointing, as the potential was plain to see. If you can stomach the main story, you’ll experience some much-improved and harder additional modes. It is for this reason alone that I recommend you to buy it here! Will you stop the invaders of planet Mavros, or is Earth doomed? Jump in your ship, choose your weapons and destroy everything in sight.

Review: Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+

James Refelian

-

Jun 7, 2022

5

Review: Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+

Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ is the latest rhythm game featuring the Vocaloid sensation that is Hatsune Miku. If you don’t know, Hatsune Miku is a virtual pop star, who uses a virtual voicebank to perform songs, to huge worldwide popularity and success. Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ is the latest rhythm game in a franchise that started in 2009.

Gameplay

The concept is simple, press the right button at the right time and get a high score. Then move on to one of the literal hundreds of other levels in the game. they’re conveniently categorised into difficulty levels and next to each one is a further indicator of difficulty with a score. What is interesting, and something I really enjoyed, was that symbols weren’t restricted to one area of the screen. They could fly in from anywhere and go anywhere. This felt unique and meant that no level felt too repetitive. In the background, you get some wonderful anime-style music videos. If I’m honest, it was difficult to spend much time focusing on the visuals when paying so much attention to the flying symbols!

The game has plenty of customisation options and DLC unlocks as well, but I never felt the need to venture down that path to keep my interest, but it’s nice to have something for fans that want to experience everything (and don’t mind the additional costs involved).

Hatsune Miku Music

I came into this game naively expecting to be assaulted by synthetic pop music and expecting to hate it. A lot. I was wrong. The music is pleasantly surprising. Sure, there are a lot of synthetic pop songs, but I didn’t mind them, and then a lot of other music covering pretty much every genre imaginable. There are so many different tracks in Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ that you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy.

Graphics

Visually, Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ is stunning. Beautiful anime-style artwork is blended with impressive backdrops, flashes, light shows, and other fast-paced effects. The character animations are also incredibly well polished. The whole thing is a spectacle, perhaps a little too much, but this excess is the whole point. A visual feast to go with the music that explains why this virtual sensation is a music star.

Controls

I don’t mind rhythm games in general and have played a fair few over the years. I don’t remember one that has four different methods of selecting the direction and displaying that in the tutorial in the most complicated of ways. As an aside, it’s virtually impossible to play this game using a keyboard. You need a controller!

The letters displayed on the screen that you’re supposed to hit don’t correspond to the controller that you’re likely using on a PC, namely an Xbox one immediately. Even though it works well in the tutorial. Originally, I said this was the worst part of the game and it was impossible to change. This is incorrect as had been pointed out in the comments below. I simply failed to find the correct setting. Having reviewed it further, and played around with it you can in fact change the layout in a number of ways to suit the controller you’re using.

Conclusion

This game is a lot of fun, once you’ve configured it properly! The music is varied, the art and animation is top-notch and the challenge is there.

So, is Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ worth it?

If you’re a fan of the phenomenon Hatsune Miku, or you just love rhythm games, then absolutely play Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix+ because it’s addictive and has a lot to offer.

Review: Super Perils of Baking

Daniel Waite

-

Jun 7, 2022

0

Healthy rivalries are a great thing. They push you to achieve phenomenal things and test everyone involved. What’s not so wonderful, however, are super competitive siblings. These sorts of relationships can be toxic and often lead to massive fallouts. This is exactly what happens in Super Perils of Baking.

Developed and published by Lillymo Games, this is a 2D side-scrolling platform adventure title. It is a remake of the 2018 game and consequently; it has improved graphics, more responsive controls, and is polished for a modern audience. Moreover, it has a distinctly retro vibe and reminded me of Super Mario Bros. and other amazing classic platform experiences.

Super Perils of Baking keeps the theme of cooking at its core. — Pancake trampolines, why not?

Super Perils of Baking is wonderfully old-school.

I love when developers create unique titles that push me to my limits. Yet, I’m also a sucker for nostalgia! Therefore, I cherish every old-school game I get my hands on. What makes Super Perils of Baking even better are the modern elements. Unlike its dated peers, the controls are great; the graphics are clean and bright, and the sound won’t destroy your eardrums. Alongside this, you still search for secret levels, hunt for collectables, and discover mountains of monsters to maul. In short, it combines plenty of amazing mechanics to create an enjoyable experience.

The story behind Super Perils of Baking is absurd and silly. Two brothers are talented and can grow up to follow the career of their dreams. However, both love to bake and their desire to be the best chef creates an unhealthy rivalry. Your character is the hardworking, honest lad who always beats his brother. This drives his sibling mad and subsequently, he finds a way to cheat. By stealing the cursed chef’s hat, he brings every meal to life. On top of this, the hat turns him into a monster! This won’t do, so you must kill every foe while trying to save your brother.

Familiar gameplay.

So, the story is a bit audacious and frankly stupid, but who cares! You’ll lose yourself in the madness as you float, swim, and jump through different stages. What’s more, you’ll face off against many monsters, overcome pits and spikes, and collect oodles of items. If you happen to be a platforming aficionado, nothing will surprise you. Many of the mechanics are familiar, and this isn’t a bad thing. After all, if it isn’t broken, why would you fix it?

Alongside the usual action, you’ll hunt down collectables, get help from unusual friends, and discover an array of secret locations. For some players seeking a unique gaming experience, they may wonder if there’s a hidden way to cheat to unlock all the surprises more easily. There is also a speedrun option, the chance to be flawless, and many more surprises. Therefore, it balances an accessible approach with challenging gameplay for veterans. I loved this, as it shows the developers considered mindset. Furthermore, you won’t tire of the action, as there is plenty to see and do.

Super Perils of Baking is polished but dated.

Talking of what you can see, the graphics are nicely polished. Yes, they are dated and offer little in the way of original content, but this matters not. The colour palette is vivid, pleasant, and varied. Consequently, this helps each unique location to stand out. I also enjoyed the clean lines, the cute sprites, and the brilliant stage design. What’s more, the food monsters are amusing, evil, and look great.

I’m a sucker for synth music and 8-Bit sound. Luckily, Super Perils of Baking has a delicious soundtrack that is simple and shrill. Its high-energy songs aren’t too loud or OTT. This was important, as it could have been overbearing and uncomfortable. Furthermore, the sound effects are nicely balanced and complement the action and the music.

Stay alive by shopping for your essentials. — Buy your essentials and stay alive.

Surprisingly easy to play.

I associate old-school platformers with pinpoint precision. Subsequently, the controls have to be tight and easy to understand. This title isn’t as demanding and that was fantastic. The platforms are larger and more forgiving, and the monsters are reasonably lethargic. What’s more, checkpoints are easy to come by. On top of this, the weaponry is simple to use whenever you obtain your chef’s hat. This was a fantastic decision from Lillymo Games, as it made it that much more enjoyable.

Super Perils of Baking oozes replay value and longevity. Thanks to the challenging secret levels, the speedrun option, and collectables, you’ll be kept busy. Then there is the flawless mode which isn’t for the faint of heart. One mistake ruins your attempt and that’ll drive you insane.

Super Perils of Baking is an incredible title.

Indie games go from strength to strength, and this is a prime example of that. Thanks to its great mechanics, simple controls, and polished aesthetics, it’s an incredible title. It is perfect for retro gaming fans or newcomers to the genre. I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you help your brother or is the curse of the chef’s hat too strong?

Review: Sniper Elite 5

Natosha M

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Jun 7, 2022

0

Sniper Elite 5 brings a whole new mission and a stunning environment to immerse the player. There are plenty of weapons to use and customize, locations to visit and explore, objectives to accomplish, and also a few multiplayer modes to change up how you play. One of the best features that this game includes is the enhanced Kill Cam, where you will be able to see the weapons’ powerful blow take a devastating toll on the enemy’s body you are killing through playback!

Before the game fully begins, we learn about a true event that occurred in history which this game’s story involves around, Franch 1944, D-Day. It’s well presented through a cinematic scene at the beginning, using real footage of actual events. Next, it’s your time to shine! Adjusting the gameplay, selecting the mode, the stage, and getting started to take part in this devastating war. Given you the chance to prove your heroic skills to put a stop to the Nazis’ plot to invade Europe.

The main character, who we get to play is known as Karl Fairburne, who is the main hero in all of the series of Sniper. This time he is united with a covert team of US Rangers, working together to accomplish the main objective to fulfill Operation Kraken; taking down the Nazis and stopping their plot to move ahead in the war. There are also plenty of small objectives to accomplish before this goal can be achieved. Making this game is filled with hours of action-packed attacks, new weapons, locations, and items to discover. Plus, with all the customizability with the weapons and plenty to acquire from the target or found in the game, there is no doubt that you will be able to achieve victory and put a stop to the war.

How Was The Game

I honestly can’t say I’ve played any Sniper game before, but I’ve always been a fan of war and combat-style games. So I knew I had to try this one and see what I’d been missing. Especially, with the ability to roam many large locations and use multiple weapons to kill the Nazis who are causing so much damage and grief to this world, well it’s a pleasure!

So when I actually sat down to play Sniper Elite 5 I was automatically hooked! The realistic environment and sounds, all together made me feel like I’m really there. Transported from my living room to 1944 France. Then add in the combat skills with a cool feature, Kill Cam mode, it’s truly phenomenal! I couldn’t help getting myself immersed in the action and the game entirely. The time that the creators have taken to get an accurate design of the locations in this game is outstanding, and to be able to really investigate and roam the many different areas, whether secret or visible to the eye is what really lured me in. I always loved a game with realistic surroundings that aren’t just there for looking at but to be explored.

Now being the heroic Karl Fairburne and using all the equipped weapons to shoot down enemies at a far range is totally awesome! Even more that it plays as expected, without delay when triggering a gun or using another weapon and the response and reaction it brings to the target. Especially for a veteran playing, I just can’t stop enjoying the ability to use a scope and really take down enemies like a true sniper. Reaching targets from all distances and heights. Plus, with the many different weapons and items to use to attack with, it just feels like a realistic battle scene comes to life.

Additionally, the details of each character in the game have been nicely designed, from their clothing to their facial features. They really look and act the part, making the game so much more realistic, including the close-up scenes and views from a distance. Honestly, everything about the game is so realistic and it’s just amazing how much time it must have taken to get the details just right. This includes the moving and sitting vehicles, the buildings, weapons, the body movement of each character in the game, and of course, the objects that you get to pick up and use. I just applaud the game for this beautiful artistry.

So before getting into the game, there is so much to do and see, then it’s time to hit the real objectives. It’s very clearly shown on the screen what is required to move on in the game, but the fun part is that it can be always returned too and there isn’t any set or limited time for the most part. You are free to take your time and slowly catch up to the target, overthrowing them with a surprise attack if you’d like.

When I began, I just was ready to go in like a bulldozer and overthrow the enemies as best as I know-how. Thankfully, the controller mapping is easy to understand and took only seconds to learn. From the beginning, it’s practically teaching you while you play the real game and each time you attack or move to do something else, it will help provide the buttons required to activate or use a specific technique or tool in the game. Afterward, it becomes easy to recall and almost feels as if you were born to play this game.

I also want to point out that I’m proud I allowed the theatrical scenes to play through. It helps to listen to the entire story before moving on. As I normally move to pass the chatter by skipping right to the action, I really was drawn into the game’s narrative and wanted to know what is going on, what I’ll be facing, or what is still to come. Once moving along, the many objectives requiring things to be destroyed, found, and defeated with the many combat scenes are plentiful. When you move on, in different areas of the game new objectives appear and add to the mission. It’s nothing but action and engagement of all types. The many battles that you’ll face are just marvelous, there is just plenty and I wouldn’t even ask for more!

When it finally comes to the end, I felt the game had concluded flawlessly. It didn’t let me down or feel as if the game only starts good, stays constant during the middle, and drops at the end like there was no time to make a perfect ending. Instead, it really heightened my delight just a bit more with this abolishing the launches, taking down so many more targets with hand weapons and guns, and even demolishing objects and vehicles. I truly can’t say that there was one part I loved most because every part of the game had so many great combat scenes and many objectives and assignments to play through pure perfection!

Before I forget, there was one feature that made the kills even more memorable, which I’m so thankful that they included in this game, that was the Kill Cam. This provided an experience to the game that is out-of-this-world exhilarating! It’s giving me the ability to see the weapon I’m using takes a real toll on the enemy’s body. It’s like watching a quick war scene in a movie, where you really see the blood splatter, the skin pulls away from the body revealing the inner tissue, veins and so much more!

It may be gruesome, but it really shows how destructive and powerful the weapon being used, can really make an impact on the human body. Though many who play may find it to be a bit too much at times, so thankfully there is that ability to turn this off. I, on the other hand, played with it for the majority of the game because it was such a cool feature, and I wanted to really enjoy how nice of a shot or the effect my weapon had delivered to each enemy. Well, the ones it would slow down to show the real effect of the hit my bullet caused.

By the way, there were a few issues I felt could have been better. Nothing with how the game plays, but sometimes, I do wish that we could leap a little. Like a small jump or just being able to move over objects like tree trunks that are blocking one’s way. There are locations heading towards the side that seems possible to climb over but instead, our character just won’t budge. Instead, we have to walk all the way around, which during a combat moment may not really be the best chance to survive if they are all attacking and we can’t move anywhere. I just feel in reality, if we can climb over trenches and walls, why can’t we easily climb over a few sturdy tee trunks, small and low to the ground fences, rocks, and many other small objects left piled up on the ground?

One other is that the weapon changing appears a little off. It looks as if you are switching and dropping or like the weapon in our hands before we switch just vanishes. It’s not a flaw that would be horrible to cause someone to stop playing, but just these small things seem to remove the realistic feeling from the game. At least, the speed of loading and saving is quick and there is no stall or that much of a lag in-between.

Of course, even when the game is done and over, there are still other ways to play. Honestly, the game isn’t really over, you can actually try a few other game modes, to make it even a bit more challenging and interesting. For example, you can play with others through the co-op mode. The ability to join someone else’s campaign, help as a team, sharing ammo and other items as needed. Honestly, who doesn’t like to have a team of friends to fight alongside with? I honestly was ecstatic to see my hero help fight alongside another.

However, there is one other mode that can be triggered on or off, Invasion Mode. This can be fun and also frustrating if you are not as well equipped as the other intruder. This mode allows the game to be about stopping and putting an end to the invader before they defeat you! A game more like cat and mouse, as some would say when you have this option turned on.

Final Thoughts

Sniper Elite 5 is one of those games that even after I played it from beginning to end, I’ll still want to play it over and over again! It provided so much that I loved and not much to dislike. The features and the graphics are just perfect. Everything about the weapons the details in the locations, movements, Kill Cam, and so many others really made the game entertaining and well worth playing!

Plus, I couldn’t pull myself away from the game, as it had me captivated for hours. Therefore, it really must be great! So if you are looking for a game that will have you engaged for hours through combat, keeping your attention with new objectives to take on, and plenty of ways to play then you must check this game out! Any Sniper fans who have tried the others in the series will find this game to be just as great or even better. The experience is something, unlike anything else I’ve played before! Truly an amazing game!

Review: Deadcraft

Alex Chessun

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Jun 7, 2022

0

Deciding that the zombie genre that’s been done to death, developer Marvelous Inc. brings the innovative Deadcraft to the table, a Mad Max/Walking Dead story steeped in morbid humor and some interesting mechanics.

With a combination of action, survival, crafting and zombies Deadcraft brings a different spin to the transactional crafting formula – one with lopped-off limbs and rotten corpses – and is a gruesomely good time – for the most part. The one catch is that the game is dead set on clinging to a drawn-out linear structure that drip-feeds the fun a little too slowly, and forces the game into repetition.

That’s not to take away from the hilariously dark tone though, which has a charm that will bring you back for more despite its shortcomings. How can you not want to murder and zombify people to make your own small undead outfit, and then chop them up and mould them into ridiculous weapons all while swearing like a sailor with cartoony visuals? It’s got to be seen to be believed, and it’s a great concept.

As a half-man, half-zombie in a post-apocalyptic world, your zombie-hunter character lives for the sole purpose of revenge on the group responsible for the death of your partner. It’s an ambitious goal as even just surviving is an accomplishment as the need to sustain your desires for the plain and the gruesome is a constant battle.

For example, if you eat too much human food and clean water, your zombie body will suffer and you’ll be without your super zombie powers, but drink too much zombie blood or consume too many zombie body parts and not only will your defense lower, but you’ll also be attacked by the local population. It’s an interesting balancing act that starts off a challenge but eases as you boost your abilities through your skill tree.

The more you grind for items dropped from enemies, the more SP you earn, which instead of leveling you up, goes towards purchasing upgrades on skill trees in physical abilities, melee and ranged weapons, item-creating equipment, zombie/weapon fusions, food recipes and health items. Sadly, the unlocking of these skills/features is also reliant on your passing a certain stage in the story, forcing you to follow the stop/start pacing of the game.

What you’ll soon come to realize during your playthrough though, is that the action – and most else – takes a backseat to the game’s obsession for items, with the new maps and non-story NPCs rather shallowly dedicated to the unlocking and crafting of the next tier of upgrades, instead of adding to the world in any meaningful manner.

Before you say anything, I am fully aware of the irony of this statement – this is a crafting game after all – but there are so many other great ideas that could and should have been expanded. Any momentum gained after defeating each area’s boss and section of story is soon lost as you get stuck in another tiresome fetching/crafting loop, making long playthroughs quite unappealing.

Killing enemies (humans or zombies) is by far and away the most enjoyable method of farming zombie items, with you able to use your zombie powers, weapons, and any zombie-created paraphernalia to mow down the enemy. Individually, those three are not particularly deep, but combined make for a great mixture in battle. You can approach battles with a long-range strategy with guns and allow your zombie assistants to do the dirty work, or choose to go face-to-face with the enemy with swords and your own zombie moves via a long monster arm that obliterates and throw enemies up into the air – it’s a blast.

If that wasn’t enough, the crazy craftable zombie equipment that you can place on the battlefield to add to the flight of the limbs is aided by an amusing and smooth animation.

This Carmeggedon callback is unlocked late in the game and differs to the PC classic in the sense that your car actually has a head on it that eats everything and anything in its path.

Outside of how you kill the enemies though, an underexploited element of the game is choice, as although you have an immense number of upgrades and items to craft, they are often hard-wired into the story and anything else seemingly autonomous of this gameplay loop, such as interactions with the NPCs is largely restricted to side missions.

This essentially means that you can’t experience the world without it having to be attached to very game-like transactions, and this shallowness and lack of consequences are present throughout.

It must be said, though, that it is amusing that you can rob nearly every NPC in the world, but you could actually go as far as to rob or kill off an entire area of people and they’ll either respawn the next day or forget once the game’s 4-star wanted system expires. As you start the game and have no feel for where items spawn you get pretty desperate, so being the bad guy and ‘borrowing’ their items is inevitable at points, it is just a shame your actions aren’t remembered in some way.

This theme of a hollow and artificial world continues with the forced breaks that become more common as the story progresses. It’s one thing to be stopped in your tracks if you need to craft something important to the story, but another when you have to spend a ton of time scavenging for and then crafting huge pieces of equipment just to create a meal for an NPC you will never speak to again.

There’s also a day/night cycle, which while appreciated for its attempt to give the world some believability, is yet another feature full of unrealized potential. Illegal events, dodgy shops, Tower Defense and Arcade Carmaggedon modes – there could have been so much going on during the night or on story ‘off-days’ (when instructed by main characters to return the following day), but as there is a stark load of nothing apart from repetitive side missions, sleeping for a full 24 hours is often the most attractive option.

Unfortunately, the awkwardly implemented features don’t stop there either, with a perfect storm for poor navigation as identical-looking streets and a minimap with scant regard for any direction-reorienting combine, meaning that you often end up lost or heading in the wrong direction for no reason other than badly designed maps.

The best usage of your support zombies are sadly in the few and far between tower defense missions which allow you to properly use fences, zombie bazookas and mines. It’s not just tower defense missions that get the opportunity to feature, but never shine, however, as the game continuously *ignores* its best features.

Ultimately, Deadcraft feels like it’s wasted a lot of its own potential as it so often ignores the stars of the show – the zombies. Story characters might have decent voice acting and their own close-ups during cutscenes, but few have as much personality as the groaning choir who follow you around and do your bidding. Even a small feature like teleportation looks tremendous when it’s animated by zombies pulling you into the ground. I personally think that an interactable and upgradable zombie system, like a mini zombie town or warrior zombies that you can craft for, wouldn’t have deterred from the overall goal and would have allowed the game to focus on its decaying stars.

Creating and gathering a mini zombie army for boss fights is where the game’s best features really come together, the (putrid) meat of the game if you will, but its left to waste away in the desert sun as there aren’t anywhere enough grandstand fights to use your full arsenal which, for me, doesn’t justify the rest of the very bland and long grind.

While there is a decent game and some great ideas in Deadcraft, its ambitious attempt at a big interactive world and long playing time forces the gameplay’s narrow formula into constant repetition, all while leaving the best till last, which dulls the middle of the experience and risks players not finishing the game.

Review: Nacon MG-X controller

Daniel Waite

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Jun 6, 2022

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Recently, I have covered articles for the Gamesir X2 Lightning and Backbone iOS controllers. Consequently, I have to say I was impressed. However, I found it frustrating that my Google Pixel 6 Pro was now defunct. Luckily, though, my recent trip to Northern Ireland was spiced up after the Nacon MG-X controller landed on my desk. This excellent piece of kit is designed for Android, is robust, and looks and feels as expected.

Its compact design, excellent battery life, and user-friendly approach make it extremely desirable. What’s more, it enhances the Xbox Game Pass experience to a whole new level. If you are like me, you won’t read the instructions! Fortunately, this matters not, as it’s so straightforward to use, that a child could set it up. So, shall we see how the Nacon MG-X controller compares to its iOS counterparts?

The Nacon MG-X Controller is well-constructed. — Check out the technical side of the Nacon MG-X controller.

What’s in the box of the Nacon MG-X controller?

The small but sturdy packaging is strong and striking. It’s fully recyclable and has all the key selling points highlighted.
The Nacon MG-X controller. This small, black controller has a nice tactile feel. It looks like an official Microsoft product thanks to its familiar button layout. What’s more, the shell can expand to fit most phones.
USB-C Charging cable. This rubberised cable is used to charge the controller. The battery lasts up to 20 hours and the cable is 80cm long.
User manual. A short but well-constructed guide.

Technical aspects.

Connection	Bluetooth 4.2 low energy
Wireless	Yes
Cable included and length	Yes and 80cm
Software	Yes
Headset Jack	No
Compatible	Android
Battery life	20 hours
Joystick position	Asymmetric
LED player indicator	Yes
Maximum mobile length	6.7 inches

I’ve already stated that the Nacon MG-X controller is user-friendly. However, I was amazed at just how easy it is to use. Simply place your phone in the strong and adjustable jaws and you are good to go. As long as your phone doesn’t exceed 6.7 inches in length, it’ll fit this device. Word of warning, though, the jaws are strong, so make sure your phone is out of a case and positioned correctly.

The 4.2 low energy Bluetooth connection ensures you can game for hours. Connecting the device is as simple as pushing the Xbox button, and that is it. What’s more, if your phone allows two devices to be connected simultaneously, you can connect Bluetooth headphones to have a truly wireless experience.

The battery life is exceptional! Up to 20 hours for a wireless controller is extremely good. However, if this isn’t enough, you can use the USB-C port to keep gaming. Moreover, controllers need to be comfortable and responsive. Fortunately, the Nacon MG-X controller is both. This feels good during lengthy sessions with a familiar button layout, tactile grips, and a nice weight.

Play anywhere you like with the Nacon MG-X controller. — Choose your game and play anywhere.

Is the Nacon MG-X controller worth it?

When I reviewed the Gamesir X2 Lightning and the Backbone, I was blown away by them. The build quality is excellent, the controls are responsive, and they are portable and usable. Fortunately, I feel the same about the Nacon MG-X controller, for the most part. I’ll cover the niggles now and move on to the positives.

Unlike its iOS counterparts, you can’t charge your phone through the charging port. This is a minor thing, but it could prevent you from gaming over long sessions. On top of this, the controller has no external audio point. Now, depending on your phone, this may not be an issue. Luckily, I used Bluetooth headphones to overcome this problem. Yet, if this isn’t available to you, you’ll be restricted to phone audio-only, and that’s not great. This would also impact party or game chat, so this is something to consider.

My final gripe focuses on the triggers and bumper buttons. On a traditional controller, they have a noticeable resistance. Sadly, the Nacon MG-X controller is spongy and not so sharp. Now, this doesn’t undermine the use of the controller, instead, you must adjust to the softer movement.

The Nacon MG-X controller is designed with Game Pass in mind. — Designed with Game Pass in mind.

The positives.

With the issues out of the way, let’s focus on the overwhelming positives. First, the Bluetooth connection is rapid, has no latency, and is great for your battery. Furthermore, it connects to your phone instantaneously and is a pleasure to set up. Alongside this, the lack of a specific connection point reduces the risk of damage to your mobile or the controller. Both the iOS devices use a snap-on technique that is fiddly to get used to. This controller has none of these concerns, and that is a massive plus point!

The button placement and analogue sticks are fantastic to use. They have a nice amount of travel and are both accurate and responsive. It must be noted that they are smaller than a traditional controller, but this is unsurprising. This more compact design is easy to get used to and comfortable to game with.

The fantastic design is matched by the excellent build quality. The sturdy plastic shell is durable and compact enough to take on your travels. What’s more, it caters for most phones. If you want the best experience, I recommend you remove your mobile from its case. By doing this, it’ll fit snugly within the jaws and won’t fall out.

If you’re an Android user and love mobile gaming, the Nacon MG-X controller must be considered. The few highlighted niggles will only impact a minority of people and can mostly be disregarded. On the whole, it’s a phenomenal device that takes mobile gaming to a different level. Consequently, I recommend you to buy it here!

Summary.

Thanks to its excellent build quality, straightforward approach, and great battery life, this is a market leader. What’s more, it is robust enough to chuck in your bag to use whenever you are out and about. There are some excellent alternatives for Android users, but for the money, you won’t get much better.

_{(More information on Nacon can be found here!)}

Review: Demon Turf Neon Splash

Cody May

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Jun 6, 2022

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Demon Turf Neon Splash is a stylish platforming game developed by Fabraz and published by Playtonic Games and it’s a sequel to the original game, Demon Turf. I myself have never played the original Demon Turf game, but was eager to jump into this world simply because of how vibrant it looked. While playing through it, I was thoroughly impressed with the platforming, worlds, and art-style. While it isn’t perfect, I highly recommend anyone who is a fan of platformers to check out this game.

Gameplay

Since this game is a platformer, the main attraction is the gameplay, and I’m happy to say it delivers! It strikes a fun balance while delivering creative levels, challenging platforming, and plenty of collectibles. Each level contains flying lollipops to collect, vinyl’s which unlock remix levels, and for all you speed runners out there, time goals to strive for.

Levels always throw something new at you, one of my favorites being sticky walls and surfaces which allows you to only jump, not run. One of the best features was two checkpoint flags, allowing you to create your own checkpoints, not having the game decide them for you.

I love the visual design of the character, and the animations for doing moves such as dashes, rolls, etc. The game just knows how to have fun, which is something the developers should be proud of. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, it knows what it’s trying to do and it does it very well.

Graphics and Score

I think what most platformers needs are fun worlds to be in and this certainly has that. The graphics are so vibrant, infused with color, inviting the player to explore and enjoy. The contrast of 2-d characters and 3-d worlds work very well, giving the game a unique look. Many of the sounds and visual designs in this game reminded me heavily of Splatoon, including the color trail left behind by the player showing you where you’ve been.

The soundtrack is outstanding as well, the up-beat electronic music fits so well with the style of the game.

Demon Turf neon splash is a platforming tropical paradise!

Closing Remarks

Platforming games can be hit or miss, especially since so many of them have been made. To make a good one, you need style, character, and a world ripe for exploring. Demon Turf Neon Splash nails it, delivering a fun, challenging, and rewarding game, all for an insanely low price!

Fathers Day Ideas – Pants&Socks.com

Family

Andrew Edney

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Jun 6, 2022

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With Fathers Day coming up, you might want to look at a bundle from Pants&Socks.com.

Online retailer PantsandSocks.com is the perfect place to grab your pants and socks. It allows pants and socks to be bought as gifts, one-offs, and on subscription. The subscription model is proving popular with customers ordering pants and socks on repeat every 1,2,3, 6, or 12 months. Each subscriber gets 20% off each order, the equivalent to every 5th pair of pants being free.

BOSS 3 Pack Men’s Trunks

BOSS 3 Pack Men’s Trunks. A three-pack of expertly crafted trunks by BOSS. Made in stretch cotton with a breathable and flexible feel, these signature trunks are topped with an exposed waistband featuring the BOSS logo. The straight fit and regular rise are ideal for building everyday looks.

Calvin Klein 3 Pack Camo Crew Connor Men’s Socks

Calvin Klein 3 Pack Camo Crew Connor Men’s Socks. Camo print combined with stripe and solid make the perfect commercial fun pack/ Combed cotton/ 168 ndl.

The Calvin Klein Socks and Boss Pants the Date Night Gift Set costs £50.40 and has full-on style and class. With 3 pairs of pants and 3 pairs of socks, it will stock up drawers for a few dates.

Check out the other options on Pants&Socks.com too!

Review: Oaken

Jonah Ehlers

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Jun 5, 2022

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The term “Early-Access” gets a bit of a bad rap. There are all sorts of negative connations floating around this section of gaming, and rightly so. Many gamers have had the rug pulled out from under them and been left with the sour taste of broken and unfinished products that will never improve. However, it looks like Oaken just might break that mould.

You Messed With the Wrong Tree

Set in the world of Oaken, you begin as a hero known as the lady, who journeys to save the great oak. This monumental tree is home to all manner of spirits who are linked through the voice of the tree, called the oak song. Looming darkness is causing the loss of this voice, and so you fight the darkness in order to save the great oak.

It’s a by the numbers story that never really went in any kind of a unique direction. If I’m being honest the story might as well not have been present. It may be a tad harsh, but the narrative was quite bland. I didn’t care all that much about the world or its inhabitants. It was simply a matter of moving from battle to battle.

Getting around in Oaken is done by way of a branching and randomly generated world map. You choose which branches you go down, although you won’t know exactly what you’re up against until you’ve made your choice. There are some indicators though. There are seven kinds of situations you can find yourself in. Including regular battles that net your new cards, or refuge spots than can give you new wisps, or heal some of the fatigue you may have racked up along the way. Regardless of choice, there’ll be a reward. The best rewards however, must be fought for.

Watch Your Six

While the story may have been a bit disappointing and forgettable. The actual gameplay was great. Oaken is a strategic turn-based deck builder in which you take control of a hero who has command over spirits. The battlefield is a grid made up of hexagonal cells in which you move and fight. You and each of your spirit troops have six lines around you, with the front three lines being the “frontal arc”.

However, this frontal arc is much more than just an indication of bearing. It’s a field through which you can attack, and defend. If an enemy attacks you head-on, you will automatically counterattack, dealing half of the damage received. This goes both ways though, meaning that if you head into every skirmish guns blazing you’ll always be punished for it. This is where Oaken’s most important mechanic comes into play. Spacing and placement.

If you manage to position yourself appropriately and attack from behind you can deal some damage with no consequences. But this means keeping in mind where enemy troops might be in their next turn. Sometimes going for that opening can leave you more vulnerable than you started out. There are also battles where time is not on your side. When every enemy spirit has been summoned, their spawn point begins to inflict fatigue on you. Removing one point of HP every turn. This keeps you from dragging your feet and maintains some pace.

It’s all about weighing risk and reward. Do I attack head-on, in a race against the clock? Or do I try and out-manoeuvre my opponent to possibly save some HP? This kind of gameplay made it feel like chess, where every move requires some thought or planning to an extent. The moments where I could manage to take out multiple enemies in one move using placement, skills, and spells were extremely satisfying. As things progress, employing strategy becomes so much more vital. Especially in big boss battles against other heroes that can both attack and summon troops of their own.

Bag of Tricks

Spirits form the bulk of your cards, and chief among these spirits are powerful beings known as guardians. Each guardian will provide you with cards suiting a different playstyle. Like the wise Enju whose cards as more defensively inclined. He provides spirits such as the HP-rich wardens that protect their comrades and incite enemy aggro to hit them head-on, dealing counterattack damage. Or like my current favourite, Baralais the poet, who provides a card that pushes adjacent spirits away when summoned. If a wall of another spirit is in the space they would have landed, they take damage. This has so many benefits, including providing you with more space, or pushing a friendly spirit into an ideal position to deal some damage from behind.

Combat doesn’t just rely on spirits though. Spells, skills, wisps and trinkets all help to give you an edge. Spells can shield, inflict damage, or grant you an extra move at the cost of some Lumi (the mana of Oaken). Skills can buff hexagon cells, heal, and even push enemies away from you for just one point of Lumi. Wisps provide a wide range of buffs for spirits, such as boosting strength or locking an enemy in place after hitting them. Lastly, trinkets grant passive benefits. Such as Baralais’ mossy cover that grants HP to any friendly troop that gets pushed. Combine this with the many push based abilities in Baralais’ card set and you can pull off some awesome plays.

It was surprisingly easy to get sucked into an extended session. There’s a really satisfying feel to gameplay, and when you begin to delve into the mechanics it becomes clear that Oaken has a lot more depth than you might initially expect.

Give Me More!

Earlier I mentioned that I felt Oaken could definitely be one of the good Early Access titles. However, there’s still some work to be done before it becomes a fact. While I struggle to find many weak points in its gameplay, it is lacking a bit in terms of content. Especially in the number of different kinds of spirits and spells, which are the two most important aspects.

Even the music suffers from this lack of content. However, to be fair the music is pretty good. Its this lovely selection of jungle themed tracks. The soundtrack is wonderfully generous with the pan flute, and it compliments the aesthetic well. The dense amazon art style can be beautiful when it wants, especially the card and chapter backgrounds. There’s an air of lush spirituality to all aspects of the visuals. And it really works in Oaken’s favour.

I think, at the end of the day this title’s biggest problem is that there’s just not enough of it. However, if future content is up to the same standard as what we’ve got right now, I think Oaken will end up in a very good place

Review: Syberia – The World Before

James Refelian

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Jun 5, 2022

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It’s been five years since the last incarnation and an astonishing twenty years since the first, but Syberia is back. Sokal and the team at Microïds recently released Syberia – The World Before (Syberia 4) and what a return to triumph it is!

Gameplay

Syberia – The World Before is a point-and-click adventure game with stunning visuals. During my playthrough, I didn’t encounter any bugs which already put this a step ahead of the third installment! It is important to note though that if you haven’t played the trilogy that came before you will have no idea what’s going on, or why. The recap the game provides really isn’t enough.

The UI builds upon what was envisaged for Syberia 3 and I can’t help but think this is what they intended for the game’s predecessor. The whole interface is immaculate and intuitive and nothing felt like it got in the way of playing the actual game. In that respect, it’s nice and simple.

Each section of the game will see you flipping between the two central characters as the story unfolds. This allows effectively two stories to be told until the paths entwine. This feels natural and never gets confusing between the different sets of characters.

If I was going to fault this game for anything, it would be the use of fixed camera angles. While this was ok in the first two games due to the 2D nature of the backgrounds, Syberia – The World Before is graphically far more advanced and on more than one occasion I missed something or struggled to get into a building because of the fixed camera making it very difficult to see.

Plot

In Syberia – The World Before the story is told from two perspectives. Firstly, that of Dana Roze, a young musically talented teenager in a fictional European country during the 1930s. Then, of course, Kate Walker returns from the previous three games in the present day.

Our new character offers us as players an interesting insight into, as the title suggests, the world before. Specifically, in the lead-up to the second world war and her family’s persecution for being an ethnic minority.

Meanwhile, in the present-day Kate Walker has been imprisoned in a mine and soon learns of her mother’s death. During the day’s work, she stumbles onto a forgotten wartime train in a side cave and finds a painting of Dana. The woman she’s with can’t help but point out the similarities and, after narrowly escaping Kate goes on a journey to discover more.

What follows is an intriguing tale of love, loss, family, and wartime action and mystery. It’s beautifully written and very well crafted. I really enjoyed seeing a new perspective on the world Sokal has created with his team and a different era.

Puzzles

The puzzles in Syberia – The World Before are by far and away from the most detailed, thought-provoking, and enjoyable in the franchise so far. While in places they can be a little easy, for the most part, they are stimulating and visually pleasing.

Relatively early on, for example, you come across a creation by Hans Voralberg and must open it up. This effectively works as a digital multi-step puzzle box and it’s fantastic.

There’s also a good mix of puzzles and actions that need completing before the next part of the story will take place. Some fans may find them to be too simplistic, but I didn’t once feel like I was missing anything.

Conclusion

Syberia – The World Before is a return to triumph after the disappointing Syberia 3. Visually stunning to look at, engaging puzzles and a sensible control system make this game a joy to play. Combine that with a good storyline and you have probably the best entry in the franchise yet. The perfect swansong for Benoît Sokal who tragically passed away in 2021.