Unreal Life’s ethereal beauty masks a dark undertone that pervades this ‘point and click’ titles gripping and personal narrative.
You assume the role of Hal, a young girl who is suffering from amnesia. Waking up on the side of the road and being greeted by 195 – a talking traffic light of all things – Hal undertakes a deeply personal quest to reunite with Miss Sakura; an individual of presumably quite some importance to her.
The game’s mysterious premise, absurd, yet loveable cast, and excellent art direction had me hooked from the first click.
Pixelated perfection:
The first thing I noticed when starting up Unreal Life for the first time was the beautifully simple art direction that this game utilises. The muted – yet vibrant – colour contrast creates a beautifully eerie atmosphere that reflects the narrative’s much darker subtext.
Each character’s design is wonderfully memorable: a talking traffic light, human-like penguin and actual “working” worker ants. The sprite work is innately charming, and the consistent quality across the art direction helped me buy into the game’s – frankly – absurd characters.
The game’s art direction also lends itself incredibly well to establishing quick changes in mood. A quick palette shift from blue to red helps the players see the shift in Hal’s mood, and when the game “breaks” -as the screen glitches and shows images in disturbingly fast flashes – there is an intensity that kept me hooked throughout the roughly 7 hours of playtime.
The importance of simplicity:
Unreal Life’s ambitious design is complimented by what I’d consider a very “safe” gameplay loop. The point and click system used here doesn’t take many risks, which is okay when the visual design and narrative themes are so interesting.
As Hal looks to figure out what exactly has happened in her past, she discovers she has the ability to view past events through the lens of inanimate objects. When Hal touches certain objects, she can navigate between past and present timelines and this mechanic is what enables the player to move the story forward. Later, Hal discovers the ability to track thoughts, based on what Hal has heard, touched and read. Recalling these thoughts helps solve the game’s many puzzles – which never veer towards complex- but the discoveries often provide enough incentive, despite the lack of challenge.
Hal also collects various items throughout the game which can be used to engage with the world and characters in different ways. The absence of sign-posting or markers when questing is welcome, and made me take the time to appreciate the game’s beautiful world and actually think about solutions to progress.
Thankfully, the game’s puzzles do see a gradual increase in difficulty as the narrative builds towards its crescendo, and finding the best ending was a satisfying challenge.
Ode to memento:
Memento, a neo-noir mystery thriller from the 2000’s, is one of my favourite movies. The film follows Leonard, an amnesiac who tattoos himself to keep track of information he discovers. My love for Memento and the style of non-linear, drip-fed storytelling made Unreal Life’s mysterious and dark narrative instantly appealing to me.
Hal’s quest to find Miss Sakura is dark and full of emotion, but never too hopeless due to the loveable ensemble of characters that join Hal on her journey.
The developing bond between Hal and 195 is touching, and the absurdist ensemble does well to bring light to an otherwise dark and depressing world that Hal occupies.
Where Unreal Life also shares similarities with Memento is in how the narrative isn’t ever directly spelled out to the player in a clear order. Each newly discovered memory points towards another theory about Hal’s past, but the game leaves the onus on the player to piece everything together. I loved this, as I spent the whole game firmly wearing my detective hat and regularly developing my own theories about Hal’s past.
This set-up also allowed for revelatory moments in the narrative to hit me extra hard. Going back after getting my first ending and discovering other endings, based on different branching choices, was incredibly satisfying.
Unreal Life is an absolute triumph when it comes to atmosphere and non-linear storytelling. The game’s impressive pixel design, loveable cast of characters and simple gameplay loop all work in conjunction to provide a thoroughly satisfying experience.
Yes, sometimes the game’s puzzles felt a tad obtuse and the gameplay isn’t anything special, but these minor gripes didn’t take away from the absolute joy I had on this emotional journey with Hal and my new favourite talking traffic light.
We’ve all heard the phrase curiosity killed the cat! Well, why do we never, ever learn? Touching stuff that we don’t understand is only going to end badly. And yet, if we see something shiny, we can’t resist. Accordingly, it’s understandable that messing with cursed items is probably a terrible idea. You have no idea of the powers you’ll unleash or the trouble you’ll rain down on society. However, this is exactly what happens in Marsupilami: Hoobadventure.
Developed by Ocellus and published by Microids, this is an action-adventure platform title. It uses a classic and well-trodden approach and therefore will feel familiar to fans of Crash Bandicoot and its peers.
Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is simple but enjoyable.
Now, the familiar style and approach may disappoint some gamers. Yet, I loved how easy it was to pick up, the blend of levels, and the challenge that was on offer. Subsequently, the straightforward style allows you to jump into the action with little thought. Furthermore, it will be accessible for players of all ages and this was fantastic.
The story is both amusing and nonsensical while playing second fiddle to the action. You control Punch, Twister, and Hope, the 3 Marsupilamis who live a peaceful life in Palombia. These curious creatures open a cursed sarcophagus and they inadvertently release a ghost that curses every animal on the island. Thankfully, the 3 heroes are immune and take it upon themselves to lift the curse and save the island’s inhabitants.
The squirrels appear on every level.
3 heroes, but they are all the same.
Now, when a game offers an array of characters to select, you’d think they’d all have special powers. However, in Marsupilami: Hoobadventure, this isn’t the case! Annoyingly, each of the heroes offers no new abilities or skills and this was disappointing. The developers missed an opportunity, and this undermines the fantastic gameplay. Yet, don’t let this oversight put you off as the core concept and drip-fed mechanics make it fun, nonetheless.
The story spans 3 worlds while comprising over 20 levels. Furthermore, there are oodles of collectables, bonus stages, time trials, and loads of monsters to tackle. Subsequently, every level will test you, while keeping you entertained. On top of this, there are different difficulty settings to push newcomers and veterans alike.
Check out the demonic ghost that you released.
Fruits, feathers, and secrets.
Every stage follows a similar approach. Consequently, you must rush from point A to B while jumping chasms, avoiding traps, and defeating monsters. Each hero can leap off walls, roll through boxes, and whip foes with their tail. As they search each stage, they must look for hidden areas and bonus levels. Within each of these secret zones, you will earn tickets, find fruit, and increase your lives. Sadly, none of these mechanics is unique, but they work well with the theme.
Though the familiar elements won’t shock you, the extra levels and the time trials will test you. Subsequently, it was addictive and will appeal to hardcore players. Furthermore, attempting to better each of the time trials is no mean feat! Consequently, achieving a gold medal in each stage is easier said than done. Therefore, the additional challenge this offers breaks up the repetitive nature of the core gameplay.
Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is wonderfully colourful.
What I adored about Marsupilami: Hoobadventure was its beautifully colourful world and clean-cut imagery. It uses a side-scrolling perspective, and each level is wonderfully vivid. Moreover, every enemy is unique and the obstacles you face look daunting and dangerous. On top of this, I enjoyed exploring each stage when new elements were introduced. Whether it was parrots that shot you out like a cannonball, or a turtle that gave you a lift, it was fantastic.
The graphics were supported by excellent audio. The upbeat and jovial tunes will amuse you thanks to their whimsical and unusual nature. Moreover, its energetic songs add to the fun carnival atmosphere. What’s more, the sound effects are loud, OTT, and just what I hoped for.
Take a ride on a turtle.
Easy-to-understand controls.
Thanks to the excellent tutorial, the controls are easy to understand. Alongside this, the setup is well-considered, and I found it to be extremely responsive. Thankfully, this made the hectic moments easier to manage. The simple to master controls make this a user-friendly title that is great for players of all ages.
Action-adventure titles are always addictive and moreish, and this one is no different. Thanks to its simple approach, you will be sucked into the action while finding it tough to put down. Alongside this, the time trials, collectables, and the hidden areas ensure that it has plenty of replay value. Therefore, completionists will have their work cut out for them as they’ll struggle to finish this. Thankfully, this increases the gameplay while adding to the longevity.
Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is an excellent platform title.
Though much of the action is familiar. Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is still a wonderful game. Thanks to its drip-fed mechanics, a large variety of foes, and an array of collectables, it is an excellent platform title. Subsequently, I recommend you buy it here! Can you remove the curse or are the animals doomed? Roll, leap and swing your way to victory in this colourful island platform adventure game.
Expedition Zero is an indie survival horror that, for the most part, can hold its own against the best in the survival horror genre. The game starts with character you control sharing some inner monologue about being left for dead as you identify your surroundings as some sort of frozen, mostly untouched landscape save for a shelter that you need to enter.
What quickly transpires is that you’re trapped in a walled quarantine zone because of some form of plague and a mysterious person who sells you things will help you get out if you cure it. That, however, is pretty much it as far as the story goes. Sure, you get some additional details in text, but it’s light. For a survival horror game that is quite unusual. What the information from the developer tells us that we’re in the Siberian wilderness and trying to escape a plague that had devastated the area.
You quickly find yourself roaming around this zone, and the environment is well designed. Abandoned military camps, small village areas, a lot of woodland. It’s all creepy and well rendered in the Unreal 4 engine. The main monster roams around, you’ll be given a little bit of a warning and then you need to run! What I like about Expedition Zero is that you can shoot to scare it off rather than just must sneak around it or hope for the best. The whole atmosphere is really well created, the lack of soundtrack just leaving you with sound effects is a great decision to further that feeling. It’s also desolated, adding to the creepy factor. Then you get the darkness. Armed with a small headlamp there’s plenty of opportunity for plagued villagers to jump out at you – and they will!
Objectives can be hard to find, you don’t really get objective markers or a mini-map. While this may frustrate some players it adds to the feeling of isolation and the need to survive. As you wonder around you can search pretty much every container and find items that can be deconstructed and used to craft more useful objects. Much like other RPGs you have a carry weight limit, and a bag space limit that can be increased. You can also improve other parts of your outfit like the battery capacity. Some upgrades come at a cost – for example draining the battery quicker.
As well as a health bar you also must worry about a battery that decreases in charge and a cold meter that will decrease the longer you spend in the wilderness. Both are manageable with recharge stations and the ability to make some fires along the way to get warm. This adds to the overall immersive gameplay and survival mentality.
My favourite aspect? When you get colder you hear your character breathe heavily and the screen starts to freeze over making it more difficult to see. This is a nice graphical touch.
The game is full of puzzles and combat to give you a really varied experience. The main goal being to search for the samples you need to end the plague. Some of these puzzles don’t necessarily make sense; but it adds to the creepy factor. For example, in a church full of ghosts you need to hang paintings to move a pedestal.
All is not great in Expedition Zero though. There are still several bugs, especially with mouse tracking making it frustrating to select some interactable objects. The AI on the monsters is also a little off in places. As the game is being patched frequently, I see this as a plus as it means things can only get better.
Is Expedition Zero good? It’s better than you think. Reasonably priced, offers some unique features and very creepy. Definitely a worthy entry into the survival horror genre and with frequent patching the bugs are being ironed out.
Truly, wireless earbuds are in their technological infancy. They were first released in 2015 and were plagued by connectivity issues, poor sound, and terrible battery life. However, roll on 7 years and the technology has evolved vastly. Subsequently, there is an array of earbuds for all budgets and tastes. With many to choose from, you’d be excused for becoming confused. So, let me try to help you with the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air review.
ROCCAT was formed in 2006 and was brought out by Turtle Beach in 2019. Consequently, its audio accessories benefited from years of experience. Therefore, you can expect the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air to be a top-end product that offers market-leading quality.
The earbuds are comfortable and stylish.
What’s in the box?
The packaging is simple, informative, and robust. It is emblazoned with the company logo and all the key selling points for the device. Inside, an eco-friendly approach has been taken with cardboard protective packaging.
The ROCCAT Syn Buds Air are housed in a sleek and stylish charging unit. The black design has ROCCAT etched into it and there are three white lights to highlight the battery status.
A USB C rubberised charging cable. The wire is regretfully short, but this isn’t too inconvenient. Luckily, the standard connection allows you to replace it with ease if necessary.
A robust but easy-to-understand user manual. It highlights the fundamentals so you can get started with ease.
The simple but informative packaging.The user-friendly manualEverything is well packaged for transit.The USB C cable.The charging case and earbuds.The full package.Everything that you get in the box.
What are the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air like?
I’ve had the joy of using wireless buds for their whole existence. Recently, I’ve been comfortable with my Google Pixel Buds A-Series. However, the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air blows these out of the water. Listening to the two side by side is like night and day. I was amazed by the crisp sound and the range of tones that the ROCCAT product offers. Moreover, these earbuds are more versatile and therefore are more suitable for an array of activities.
Once you’ve synced each earbud to your chosen device, you are set for life. Subsequently, you can play on your PC, grab your Nintendo Switch and seamlessly continue your wireless experience. On top of this, they connect almost instantly to any Android or iOS device. Therefore, they make the perfect companion to alleviate boredom on long train/bus journeys.
An easy-to-use companion app.
Comfort with quality and style.
With 3 high-quality silicone ear tips to pick, a lightweight and sleek design, and responsive touch controls, these are comfortable and well built. What’s more, it has an incredible 20-hour battery life (5 hours earbuds and 15 hours charging case). This makes the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air an extremely long-lasting addition to your audio devices.
Design and appearance aside for one moment, earbuds are all about sound quality. Luckily, these are incredible thanks to the precision-tuned 6mm drivers and 60 ms-low latency mode for gaming. Alongside this, there are built-in dual microphones to improve sound pickup and they work perfectly for in-game and party chat. Moreover, the 5.1 Bluetooth connectivity prevents issues and audio drops, as well as extended range, auto-connect, and improved battery life.
The user-friendly approach is continued for users of Android or iOS. Thanks to the specially designed companion app, you can guarantee that the firmware is always up to date. Furthermore, you can remap the touch-sensitive controls and adjust and create EQs. Consequently, this is the perfect tool to customise your earbuds to your liking.
What are they like to wear?
Whenever I try new earbuds, I’m always concerned about weight and how well they’ll fit. Luckily, these are as close to perfect as can be. Thanks to the 3 different sized silicone tips, you’ll find them to be comfortable and snug. What’s more, the slender design and low weight ensure they won’t fall out of your ears. This is particularly important when using them for exercise. Having used them on a moderate 10-mile run, I can vouch for their ability to remain comfortably within your ears.
If you are a keen athlete, you are going to want your headphones to be durable and weatherproof. Fortunately, the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air has an IPX4 splash resistance rating. This makes them usable in most situations, but I wouldn’t try them in monsoon conditions.
Choose your hobby and use one versatile audio solution.
Are the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air worth it?
Many gamers will be stuck in their ways. They will only use traditional over the ear headphones, and that’s ok. However, if you want a truly versatile experience with exceptional sound and build quality, then look no further. The ROCCAT Syn Buds Air earbuds are phenomenal for the price (£89.99) and will amaze you with their range of tones and crystal clear sound. Subsequently, I recommend you buy them here!
Summary.
Audio technology has improved vastly over the years. Consequently, gamers are spoilt for choice and quality. However, if you want a truly versatile and wireless experience, then look no further than the ROCCAT Syn Buds Air. They are stylish, comfortable, durable, and robust while allowing you to game, listen to music, and chat with friends. What’s more, they are the perfect audio companion because of their excellent battery life, 5.1 Bluetooth connection, and IPX4 splash resistance rating. If you are in the market for new headphones, then I recommend you seriously consider these.
Putting together a badass gaming PC has been a tough ask these past few years. Between the scalpers and the shortages, gamers have had to pay through the nose or put up with what they’ve got. Luckily, peripherals haven’t been so hard to get and a steady stream of top-end accessories has hit the market. The latest of these is the ROCCAT Kone XP mouse. It is a stylish and functional peripheral that is ideal for any serious PC player.
With striking 3 dimensional RGB lighting and 29 button functions, this combines beauty with advanced features. Furthermore, it has a quality braided USB cable that ensures excellent connectivity and no loss of power. Alongside this, it is easy to set up, has an array of programmable settings, and competes well with ROCCAT’s other premium products.
A vivid and striking RGB mouse.
What comes in the box?
The ROCCAT Kone XP mouse is housed in a stylish and clean-cut box. The small but simple package is well-built and informative. Inside, the mouse is encased in a clear plastic container that helps to protect it in transit.
The wired mouse has removable protective covers on the PTFE heat-treaded gliding plates. Its USB cable is braided, strong, and long enough for your average gamer. The USB port has a removable plastic cap that helps to prevent dust and dirt from interfering with the connections.
There is an easy-to-understand user manual that covers the fundamentals in an array of languages.
Spare PTFE heat-treated gliding plates to keep your mouse in top-notch condition.
Simple but striking packaging.The protective plastic sleeve to prevent damage.A simple but easy-to-understand user manual.Spare PTFE gliding pads.The mouse without its vivid colours.The full package.This is what you get in the box.
The ROCCAT Kone XP mouse has many buttons!
Luckily for me, the ROCCAT Kone XP mouse has been designed for right-handed people. Sadly, if you are left-handed, you best look elsewhere, as this doesn’t cater for you. With this in mind, let’s look at what’s on offer. The first thing that catches your eye is the masses of buttons on offer. This hefty looking device has an array of input options and no less than 7 on the left-hand side. These shortcut buttons are located in such a way that they are easy to find without the risk of being pressed in error. There is also an easy-shift paddle that allows you to program up to 29 unique commands. Consequently, this takes a bit of getting used to, but once you master it, it is perfect for command heavy titles.
Now, you may worry that setting up your mouse will be a tough task. However, ROCCAT has this covered with its Swarm software package. This handy program allows you to set up your button layout and adjust the RGB lighting to your liking. Furthermore, there are 5 programmable profiles that allow you to flit between different arrangements. This option is perfect when playing different games or alternating your classes. Subsequently, it makes the ROCCAT Kone XP mouse extremely user-friendly once you understand the fundamentals.
One of the big selling points is the whopping 100 million click life-cycle guarantee! Consequently, ROCCAT is sure that this will withstand a lot of gaming action. In my experience, the buttons responded well and have a great feel for a moderate to high-end accessory. I found there to be few issues, though the left-hand buttons were more responsive than anything else. Now, this wasn’t a problem, but I can see these potentially annoying players who enjoy long gaming sessions.
Oh so bright!
Perfect for pros, but it’s oh so bright!
The aforementioned Swarm program allows you to set up your eye wateringly bright mouse to your liking. Whether you want a simple solid colour palette, a slow or fast light show, or a pulsating rainbow that lights up the room, the choice is yours. What’s more, you can adjust every element so that it matches every other RGB product you own. After all, you don’t want your new mouse to clash with your other vivid accessories, do you?
If you are buying a mouse that has top-end features and an incredible style, then you’ll want to know about the DPI switcher. The handy plus and minus buttons allow you to alter the twitch speed when a game doesn’t have specific settings. Therefore, you can have rapid aiming for your LMGs or assault rifles and you can slow things down on the fly for more accurate encounters.
Stunning in white.The ROCCAT Kone XP mouse in black.The ROCCAT Kone XP mouse in white.So bright it changes your skin colour
Is the ROCCAT Kone XP mouse worth it?
There is a vast array of gaming mice available, but not many offer as great value as the ROCCAT Kone XP mouse. Its lightweight design, excellent braided cable, a large selection of buttons, and Swarm program make it an excellent choice. I loved its vivid style, chunky feel, and excellent tactile Krystal 4D wheel. Furthermore, the heat-treated pads and adjustable DPI make it accurate and smooth to use. Yes, there are some great alternatives and fans of wireless mice, or left-handed gamers will need to look elsewhere. However, I adored how user-friendly it was and how great it looked. Subsequently, I recommend you buy it here!
Summary.
The ROCCAT Kone XP mouse is an excellent lightweight choice for serious gamers. With 29 programmable buttons, smooth gliding plates, a tough braided cable, and vivid colours, it has many plus points. What’s more, the well placed mappable buttons and easy-shift paddle are simple to use and will aid anyone that plays input heavy games. There are alternative mice to pick from, but you won’t find better at this price point.
(More information on ROCCAT devices can be found here.)
Don’t you just hate it when you’ve worked hard and saved the world only for it to bite you in the arse? Moreover, you think you’ve solved the problem, however, some alien bastards have got different ideas. This is the plot behind Elex II, the long-awaited sequel in this classic open-world fantasy franchise.
Developed by Piranha Bites and published by THQ Nordic, this is a sci-fi action RPG. Jax has returned to be crowned the hero of Magalan again. With his gruff ways, familiar heroic style, and badass attitude, he’ll let nothing stand in his way. This sequel borrows heavily from the first instalment while adding extra factions, an overbearing alien species, and many interesting characters. Its environment is beautiful, the audio is atmospheric, but it has so many issues that it undermines every positive moment.
Elex II is a mixed bag.
The story continues years after the first instalment. Jax has defeated the hybrid, and the world goes on spinning. His heroic deeds are but hushed whispers and he is now seen as an outcast. However, this is about to change when the Skyands attack. These alien creatures wish to control Magalan and rid it of its inhabitants. Consequently, the first wave of creatures infects anyone they bite, and this spreads an unknown disease. Death and the fall of humanity are guaranteed unless a hero steps up. Jax must protect Dex, his son, and those he loves by putting his life on the line. Furthermore, he must bring peace to the warring factions before the Skyands go too far.
As expected, Elex II opens with a bang. Subsequently, you are thrust into the action with little chance to think. Therefore, you’d expect the remainder of the game to be just as tense and in your face. Sadly, however, this wasn’t the case! Practically every element of the gameplay is slow, arduous, and horribly drawn out. This is then topped off with some of the worst and clunky combat I’ve had the misfortune to experience. Hitboxes are wildly inaccurate, monster animations are horrible, and your companions are as accurate as a drunk darts player. Consequently, it’s a messy endeavour that doesn’t improve.
Magalan is beautiful.
It’s so slow!
I’m all for a challenging and slow-paced experience, but Elex II is something else. Subsequently, the action is so slow that it brought tears to my eyes! Everything is drawn out, tedious, and mind-numbing. Furthermore, each enemy is unfairly tough, the character levelling is imbalanced, and improving your equipment is almost impossible. Moreover, this badass hero is painfully weak and annoyingly ineffective. Nearly every enemy causes you an issue and there are never enough health potions to see you through. Therefore, expect to die repeatedly as you walk from quest to quest.
Talking of quests, Elex II is overloaded with irrelevant tasks. Yes, you’ll enjoy the main story, which is entertaining, full of lore, and captivating. However, this is dragged down by a vast array of annoying fetch quests and repetitive nonsense. Sure, it’s great fun to blast around the map with your upgradable jetpack. But even this doesn’t detract from the monotony of the constant stream of tosh you must undertake. Whether it’s solving a crime, collecting goods, or killing a monster, the unnecessary back and forth is dull. Unfortunately, this demand to travel from point A to B enhances the slow nature of the gameplay whilst driving you insane.
Poor combat.
We love RPGs because of their wonderful stories and vast worlds. Yet, we also adore the combat elements. There is nothing better than testing your skills against giant foes in strange arenas. Sadly, though, Elex II gets this horribly wrong. Consequently, every encounter is unnecessarily tough and disappointing. Every foe you face has ungodly amounts of health and strength. Therefore, even the most innocuous of creatures can hand your ass to you. This wouldn’t be so bad if the character levelling was easy to achieve.
Unfortunately, this is painful also! Improving Jax is no mean feat, as you have to complete oodles of tedious missions. Alternatively, you can grind away to improve your rank. Either way, it isn’t much fun. Disappointingly, one of the most interesting mechanics is hidden amongst the tedium. To improve skills such as lock picking, crafting, combat, etc, you must find trainers. These specialists allow you to boost your abilities, but it comes at a cost. First, you must have money…oh, the never-ending need for money. Second, you have to have the minimum attribute for each skill. Annoyingly, this makes improving yourself a drawn-out and dull experience.
These negative elements combined undermine much of the action. They also make it unduly harsh and horribly slow. Yes, there are tougher games available, but they balance their approach with timely character upgrades. Elex II, on the other hand, holds you back throughout.
You are about to get your ass handed to you.
Let’s be positive for a moment.
I sound like a despise Elex II, and this isn’t the case. No, I’m disappointed as it has such potential. Magalan is an amazing place to explore thanks to its varied and dramatic landscapes. Furthermore, the plot, lore, and factions are fascinating. The developers have done an incredible job of creating a multi-faceted story. Subsequently, you are free to join any faction, kill who you want, and betray those around you. On top of this, there are some excellent quests once you strip back all the rubbish. What should make this great is plain to see. However, it’s intertwined with so much unnecessary drivel that it’s hard to reach.
The pièce de résistance has to be the upgradable jetpack. This screams futuristic sci-fi while making you feel like a superhero. Yes, it’s a little underwhelming to start with. But, as you progress, you’ll love soaring through the air and over mountains. I wish that every bit of armour and equipment was as good as this. Yet, it wasn’t to be.
Elex II: stunning world but buggy as hell.
The gameplay issues are apparent, but Elex II is also buggy as hell. Visually, it is spectacular and you’ll love the world you explore. Sadly, though, its beauty is ruined because of its awful glitches. Subsequently, you’ll laugh, scream, and shout at the terrible finish. You’ll see limbs clipping ladders, walls, and rocks, animations not working, and poor cinematic. Moreover, it’s a shoddy example of a much-anticipated title being rushed out of production.
Luckily, the audio fares much better. I adored the dramatic soundtrack that matches the vast landscapes. Furthermore, I enjoyed the blend of characters and their hilariously wooden acting. The dialogue, on the other hand, may not be to your liking. It’s awfully dated and cringe-worthy and often doesn’t make sense. Many conversations were disjointed, confusing, and illogical. On top of this, NPCs spoke over the cutscenes and this made it worse. Fortunately, you get the gist of what is happening. It’s simply another example of more rushed elements.
Take to the sky with your jetpack.
Clunky, clunky, clunky.
Though many of the mechanics are poor, they aren’t helped by the clunky controls. As a result, every task or moment is tough to execute. Subsequently, it makes a tedious experience that bit worse. Primarily, the combat is slow and ineffective, movement is clumsy, and nothing feels intuitive. It pains me to say it, but Piranha Bites missed the mark by a country mile. What’s more, the control set-up is badly explained and there is too much trial and error. The developers could and should have done a much better job.
In theory, Elex II screams longevity and replay value. In fact, it has a 40-hour plus game time, which is incredibly in depth. Sadly, though, the problems and issues make it tedious to play. Therefore, I can’t see many people wanting to experience every possible outcome. It’s a shame, as the plot deserves exposure and exploration. However, the negatives far outweigh the potential positives.
Elex II was disappointing.
I had high hopes for Elex II, but the end product falls way short of my expectations. Yes, the plot is great and the characters are interesting, but everything else is mediocre. It needed much more time in the cooker to remove its long list of issues. Everything considered, I can’t recommend you play this title. However, more information can be found here! The world is in danger again and a hero is needed to save it. Step up, align the factions, and save the day.
We all know that person who’s a little kooky! They hide in shadowy corners, discuss conspiracy theories, plan for the worst, and have a basement full of supplies. You wonder, are they insane or do they know something we don’t? In Mr Prepper, you take on the role of this survivalist nutcase as you try to make a better life for yourself.
Developed by Rejected Games and published by Ultimate Games, this is a survival adventure title. It’s a game that wonderfully blends crafting, adventuring, and surviving. Furthermore, it’s full of interesting characters and overbearing officials. It will test your patience and ability to plan as you grind for items and hope for luck.
Just your ordinary suburban house.
Mr Prepper is a slow-burner.
Set in a world under the threat of nuclear war, you must tread carefully. Fresh from a stint at her majesty’s pleasure, the titular hero returns home. Here he is under the watchful eye of the government’s law enforcement agency. This, alongside the many dystopian rules, makes Mr Prepper search for a brighter future. With the help of his strange neighbours, he must break the law, search for prohibited items, and plan to escape.
The gameplay is very simple. Effectively, it’s a massive game of cat and mouse with Mr Prepper, as the cheese-eating vermin. Subsequently, all your illegal activities must be hidden and completed without raising suspicions. However, this is easier said than done when the end goal is to create a giant rocket. Yep, you read that right, a giant rocket! Now, where this will take you is anybody’s guess. But, maybe space is better than the risk of nuclear war?
Grind, lots and lots of grind.
Since your release from jail, you are now on probation. This may not seem like a big deal, but it allows the officials to snoop on you freely. They’ll drop by your house and you must rush around removing and covering illicit activities. If you fail to cover your plans or hide objects, their suspicions will be raised and you’ll potentially get arrested. If this happens, it’s game over, so make sure to cover your tracks. Again, this is a pretty tough ask as your atypical suburban house sits on top of your top-secret underground bunker. Here, you must grow food, build equipment, house illegal goods, and make your rocket. None of this is too challenging, but it requires time and materials.
This is where the grind element comes into play. Every task requires a hefty layer of micromanagement, and this slows everything down. Whether it’s the resources you don’t have, or a lack of energy, food, or preparedness, it’ll hold you back. Now, resources aren’t too troublesome to find as you can go on expeditions to gather food, wood, metal, and more. Furthermore, you can trade with your neighbours for anything essential. This will cost you money, but it also builds up a reputation that enhances your network of traders. Moreover, the better your friendship, the more exotic the items on offer. Consequently, this is essential during the latter game as you try to build your spaceship.
The woods hide plenty of resources.
Stats, oh those darn stats.
Survival games are renowned for their heavy reliance on stats. However, Mr Prepper is just ridiculous. The aforementioned grind is negatively impacted by the awful and unbalanced stat system. With only 3 elements to monitor; energy, preparedness, and food. You’d think it would be simple. Well, think again! The hero is either permanently hungry or always tired. Therefore, this impacts his preparedness and slows the action to a crawl. Annoyingly, every task drains your life force and you spend more time worrying about eating than building your bunker.
This ruins the brilliance of the building aspect while making the gameplay repetitive. Instead of being fun, interesting, and a tactical challenge, it becomes monotonous very quickly. It was such a shame, as it has the right ingredients to be exceptional. Subsequently, I couldn’t stomach playing it for long periods and I was often left frustrated. If the developers had balanced their approach, Mr Prepper would have been exponentially better.
Mr Prepper has a striking but simple style.
The action unfolds using a side-scrolling perspective. Most of the gameplay focuses on your suburban house and the subterranean level. Alongside this, you can visit many areas that have a unique appearance. I thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of the colourful and vivid graphics. Furthermore, I adored the 1950s American feel. Consequently, the action has a distinct cold war feeling that is chilling and uncomfortable.
Where this excels is its dramatic audio. I loved the heavy nature of the music and the blend of loud and obnoxious sound effects. You’ll explore while listening to daunting tunes and this makes it extremely uncomfortable. What’s more, the snarling of wildlife, the bang of guns, and the crashing of building works add to the realism.
How low can you go?
Plenty of guesswork.
Mr Prepper isn’t the easiest of titles to get to grips with. Sadly, its lack of explanation and strange control layout doesn’t help. Yes, you can follow a basic tutorial, but this only explains the fundamentals. Consequently, there is plenty of guesswork if you want to get the most out of it. Therefore, the imbalanced gameplay is tougher to swallow as you consistently fail your tasks.
If you can master the controls and best the imbalanced mechanics, you’ll experience a deep game. It’s laced with interesting layers, complex moments, and fascinating characters. Subsequently, it’ll grab your attention and keep you playing. Moreover, it has the potential to last for hours if you fall for its charms.
Mr Prepper: plenty of potential.
From the opening gambit, I knew this would be an in-depth experience. It combines many great elements and has plenty of potential. Sadly, though, Mr Prepper was imbalanced and frustrating. However, with some minor tweaks, it could be amazing. If you are up for a challenge, I recommend you buy it here! No one wants to live in fear, so create a plan, hide your secrets, and blast off into space.
Gaming is becoming much more user-friendly for people of all ages. Subsequently, we are seeing developers designing titles for an array of ages and skill sets. However, there aren’t too many accessories that are focused on younger players. Therefore, it is refreshing when companies create peripherals designed for mini gaming enthusiasts. The GameSir T4 Mini controller is the latest pad aimed at this audience. It is smaller, lighter, but no less robust, well built, or stylish.
I have covered an array of wired controllers from PowerA. Most recently, I’ve looked at the Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands themed pad. Consequently, I was looking forward to seeing what the GameSir T4 Mini controller offered. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised because of its Bluetooth connectivity, excellent battery life, stylish look, and multi-use functionality.
Oh, it is oh so mini!
What’s in the box of the GameSir T4 Mini controller?
The packaging provided is bright, colourful, and informative. It is made of a lightweight material that coped well in transit. The pad itself is nestled within a cardboard sleeve and it comes in a plastic bag for further protection.
The controller comes charged, but I’d recommend plugging it in before using it. The model I was provided was black with blue LEDs. Other varieties are available, so there is something for most tastes.
USB C charging and connectivity cable. This short cable is sturdy and has a rubberised exterior. It is suitable for charging from a mains charging point or the USB ports on a laptop, PC, or console.
User Manual. This small but handy guide talks you through the fundamentals in a clear and frank manner.
The full package.It’s lit up like a Christmas tree.Handy user manual.USB C cable.Simple packaging.
How does it compare?
Now, I’m a gamer with “normal” size hands. However, I didn’t find the GameSir T4 Mini controller to be uncomfortable to hold. Yet, it is much smaller than a standard Xbox pad. Furthermore, it is much lighter but still feels robust. The build quality is good and the LED light formation is pleasant to look at without being too distracting.
If you are an Xbox exclusive player, then you’ll have to look elsewhere, as this won’t work for that platform. Gamesir has focused on the Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and PC. The latter option relies on a wired connection, so you may find this a little restrictive. Yet, for the other formats, this works exceptionally well over Bluetooth connectivity.
Not just a standard controller.
Alongside the excellent multi-format options, you have some additional buttons to play with. Subsequently, it feels a little more advanced than your standard controller. Moreover, if you love taking screenshots to share on your socials, there is a button for that. Furthermore, you can increase the speed of your inputs with the handy turbo option. This is a fantastic addition that makes beat ’em ups and fighting games incredibly easy to play.
Extra buttons are always nice to have. However, it’s the basics that are important! Therefore, I was relieved when I discovered it was easy to connect to my phone, tablet, PC, or Nintendo Switch. The handy manual talks you through the basics and you’ll be up and playing in no time. On top of the easy setup, the LED lights highlight the state of the battery. With a quick glance, you can tell if you are running out of juice, and this was great. No longer will I be in the middle of a session only to lose all power.
Ohhhh it’s so shiny.
Is the GameSir T4 Mini controller worth it?
With very few alternatives on the market, it is hard not to recommend this stylish controller. It is a perfect size, weight, and design for younger players. Also, it is sturdy and can take a little light punishment from clumsy hands. On top of this, its affordable price won’t break the bank. It also has the advantage of its multi-format connectivity as well as the additional turbo and screenshot buttons. There are many positives to this controller, so I recommend you to buy it here!
Summary.
It is the perfect multi-platform controller that won’t break the bank. It has a nice array of LEDs, a great battery life, extra buttons, low latency, and is easy to connect. Furthermore, it is stylish, feels great in your hands, and is simple to operate. Subsequently, it is a great pad to have in your bag to play mobile games or to enhance your Nintendo Switch experience.
(More information about GameSir can be found here!)
It’s time to get ready, get set, and eat as much as you like with Kirby’s whole new adventure game! Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3D experience through many beautifully designed stages. The game provides the player with plenty of new discoveries, a few familiar and original enemies, and even some ferocious new bosses to defeat. On top of all the actions you’ll be engaging into, there are even many new things to collect, new transformations that are waiting to be tried, and lastly, some new objects you can take control of by using the mouthful mode.
As many may know, Kirby has always been a friendly and welcoming game, similar to Mario. The stages are always bright in color, well lit, and provide such a cute collection of characters to meet. Plus, it’s perfect for everyone; all ages can enjoy and feel welcome to play. Especially, with the mixed amount of difficulty and challenging obstacles, it’s a wild new adventure that is worth trying out!
Clips from the Game
What to Expect in the New Game
What’s New with Kirby
First off, I must start by telling you that the little video introduction was captivating and a perfect start to this new game. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a Kirby game and by the beginning intro, it just reminded me how much I love this little pink guy and how excited I am to start playing! Better yet, everything about Kirby in this game has been made very easy for anyone to understand how to control him and his abilities. Even if you had never played a recent or older Kirby game before, you’ll find him simple enough to move all over these 3D worldly stages and activate his powers with a simple press of a button.
That is actually the first thing I had to try when I got the chance to take control of Kirby. I had to test what he can do and if he still had his well-known abilities just in case something had changed. From my first test run with pressing each button, I’ve noticed nothing new has been added, but for his two abilities, they still remain. The first ability that I had tried, is his ability to take in plenty of air and begin floating. I must say that the change of how to make him stay afloat is way easier, without giving your finger a workout. He actually floats to a certain height without that continuously pressing of a single button and can still be moved while he floats. All one needs to do is just press down on one button and Kirby will flap his little arms to keep floating.
However, if you want to continue to press the button to reduce the height or feel as if you are making him fly, this is still possible too, but not necessary. Either way, this change is one thing I actually enjoy better and also see it as an improvement from older games. Yet, there is a limitation to how long he can stay floating, possibly to make Kirby feel a bit more realistic. Kirby begins to get exhausted after a certain amount of time being in the air, causing him to begin to land nice and light on the ground. So you are still granted enough time to reach a specific location when necessary and not have to see him fall flat onto the ground.
It makes total sense if you think of his intake of air and him holding his breath for some time, which in reality will cause anyone to faint. So it is a bit more realistic and honestly, I’m not unhappy with the change, it makes sense and is suited perfectly with the game and stages you’ll playthrough. The second ability that I was excited to try was the ability to absorb the items that Kirby would encounter on this journey. I’m surprised to say his strength in absorbing anything in his way is extremely powerful, especially when holding the button down for a long amount of time. It’s perfect for finding hidden treasures such as coins, food, other collectible objects from the surroundings in the world as well as devouring enemies. It can also be a great way to obtain something to use for shooting from his mouth, acting like a weapon, perfect for breaking open closed boxes filled with some hidden treasures.
In a way, if I had to tell you what it appears to look like, well it reminds me as if he has a tornado forming in front of him and the power of the suction is as strong as a supreme or superior vacuum. Honestly, with all that power, nothing will be able to escape! Plus, the graphical effects are truly awesome. It really makes for a very believable and intense power that Kirb possesses. Plus, as we all know, or at least some of us do. Kirby will be able to devour the enemies and most will allow him to transform so he can perform that enemy’s skill.
What Can You Transform Into?
Well, it all begins with the enemies you encounter in the game. There are a few familiar faces that you may recall from older games. However, if it’s the first time playing any Kirby game, well this is where you’ll get to learn the awesome ability which Kirby possesses, his transformation ability. Again, some of us may recall these enemies, but they are a little more updated from the older games. Especially cause they are in a 3D form and have a little more detail in their design and even color.
I can’t honestly compare this game to any of the most recent 2017-2020 games since I’ve never tried many of them. However, it’s quite easy to still see the similarities and make out the enemy as they were when they appeared as a 2D pixel back in the 90s. I also want to mention that these abilities which you’ll be able to transform into aren’t so similar as they were in the past or how I recall them to be. Many of them are now a bit more updated and appear more powerful than they use to be. It’s quite a wonderful change and honestly something I find more entertaining and exciting to use as a weapon towards enemies, objects, and other things that may need us to use them on.
Many of these are actually titled exactly as what skill and ability they allow Kirby to perform. The first one I’ve encountered was the Sword. It’s the ability to fight with a sword as a weapon, slicing and dicing enemies up with fantastic sword skills. Additionally, holding the action button down will cause the sword to get even more powerful and cause Kirby to spin for a while till you let off the button. This is nice to use for nearby attacks and hurting more than just one enemy at a time.
Now time for the Bomb ability. This allows Kirby to be able to direct the location of where you as the player want to toss a bomb or many bombs. It isn’t anything too different or unique, but it does have one additional difference. You can make Kirby direct a single bomb to a farther distance. Perfect to avoid the enemy from seeing you and defeating them ahead of time.
Next is the Cutter, which gives Kirby the ability to throw a boomerang. It’s sharp enough to not only defeat enemies but also cut through tall grass to reveal some hidden treasure and open large boxes. It is also a very powerful attack, which can defeat enemies as they come your way. What is different about this attack skill is that it can get larger, more powerful, and stay out as long as you want it to. Just by holding down the same action button used to throw the boomerang out. I honestly find this to be my favorite ability that Kirby can possess as it can reach enemies at a distance and stay there causing them to be defeated faster with fewer chances of getting hurt.
There are a bunch more and each with some really nice graphical effects when in use. The names for these would be Sleep, Fire, Ice, Tornado, Ranger, Drill, Hammer, Crash, and Lastly, the ability to learn is the Needle. Each with a chance to get them evolved even more at the weapon shop back in town, making them even more fantastic! Additionally, with the few I’ve explained fully, these have just as much power and a perfect uniqueness as one another to have in this game. Also, a fun way for defeating enemies at any stage, and to be honest, each of these makes for an awesome ability. Makes it very easy to get through the levels fairly quickly and easily.
Now in this game, there is more than just the ability to transform and use the enemy’s skill as your own. There are also a few objects you don’t really devour completely and transform into, but instead, you take control of them by having a mouthful. The real name for this is called the Mouthful Mode, in which you swallow an object halfway and these are usually glowing so you can tell what is acceptable. Afterward, you have full control of what they can do. It appears as if you are a pink sheet covering the object, taking its shape as your mouth is wrapped on a portion, and with a few the lower part is still hanging out.
A few of these new objects which you will be able to use the Mouthful Mode onto are objects such as the Car Mouth which is used to break through objects and race past enemies, a Vending Machine Mouth which shoots cans out of it, a Light-Bulb Mouth to light the way, Dome Mouth that unlocks something inside after twisting the top off, and the Cone Mouth that is a traffic cone and can break objects with the speed built up and its top point when coming down on the target.
A few of the others that Kirby can use in Mouthful Mode are the Arch Mouth, Cone Mouth, Pipe Mouth, Ring Mouth, Roller Coaster Mouth, Scissor-Lift Mouth, Stairs Mouth, and the Water-Balloon Mouth. These all are necessary parts to the stage, aiding Kirby to get from one location to the next. Plus, discovering friends who need our help like the Waddle Dees, and even finding collectible items that are needed to complete the tasks being requested during each stage. I honestly can say that it is quite an amazing and amusing experience.
The shape you take when doing this Mouthful Mode is adorable as Kirby is naturally, and it’s also powerful with the ways it can be used as a weapon as well as a way to open secret locations. So transforming by devouring enemies or partially transforming from a Mouthful Mode is something new and fun to enjoy in this game.
The Many Stages of Kirby and The Forgotten Land
The stages are broken up into different locations on the main world map, which will have plenty of locations to visit. The first stage will be the Natural Plains and then moves on to Everbay Coast. However, each will be revealed after accomplishing each level from one section and the boss. This gameplay all occurs right after the first part of the game, which again I can say is that it’s an excellent introduction with a tiny video clip and a little gameplay before the real start. Allowing the player the knowledge of how to move and access Kirby’s abilities as well as what to be prepared for, when it comes to the stage design and obstacles. Additionally, it allows you to try the new mouthful mode for the first time, which is quite fun by the way!
This beginning also allows us to understand why Kirby is taking this journey, to rescue his friends the Waddle Dees. Each which have been captured, placed in cages, and is now scattered all over the Natural Plains in many different territories. Putting Kirby on this exploration to rescue each one of them as well as find hidden objects and learn new abilities.
Of course, this game is similar to many others. If you happen to forget something or even missed finding a friend on the stage. However, the only goal of these stages you playthrough is to get to the end and win, which will unlock the next stage. Plus, if you forgot anything, you’ll be able to return to find more coins or hidden treasures if you still need to or just to play around on the stage again. One tip, I found that some of the coins and items you might need are able to be discovered if you check under every rock, behind tall grass, other little objects, and around the edges and corners of the stage.
One good this is that if you get to a difficult area that needs you to restart. The automatic position saving; a checkpoint will allow you to begin closer to different areas in the world since there are a few of them. Therefore you can take your time and even accomplish the tasks requested for you to find during each stage. By the way, not everything in this game will be easy to find on the first run through or easy to destroy each enemy as the game does get difficult. No matter, if this is a problem for you, well then just adjust it to the easier setting, which can be done anytime you like. There is no restarting needed.
Now for the enemies and bosses, they all have a nice, realistic appearance just like the background of every stage and the objects you’ll encounter. The 3D graphics are perfect, even for a cartoon-style game like this. Slightly similar to playing a recent game of Mario or another type of platformer game that has an easy path with a starting and ending location.
Another feature in every Kirby game and even this one that I adore is at the end of the stage. Once you defeat the last enemy or anything you might see before concluding the stage. There is that fun and familiar tune with a dance that Kirby is known for, before hopping on his start to go back to traveling to a new stage. I honestly always loved that dance Kirby performs, really feels like the game has been completed and you’ve accomplished something. Plus, it also makes it obviously different than any other game, making it well known as it’s Kirby’s thing and not a copy from another source; A one-of-a-kind ending!
Now what I didn’t mention is the little friends we are rescuing, each of them is known as Waddle Dees and they are sent back to the main Waddle Dee Town. Plus, when you collect a certain amount, it will help you access the boss stage, so it’s important to find plenty of them at every stage or you won’t be able to move forward till you do. It is where we first started the game. This town is nothing and once we find these friends, rescue them from other locations. The town will evolve and get a bit more populated and built up. The more rescued, the more it gets built up and new locations to visit and checkout. Oh yes, and our new friend we met in town, Elfilin, which also flies in the star at the end when we take off will be there as well.
Lastly, I like to also mention that this game has many perks to be excited about. There are a few that I’ve yet to mention. The first one is that the game doesn’t have to just be played by Kirby alone, but an option to have a friend to play along with you. They can enter the game from the start menu, anytime during the game. They will end up being the character known as Bandana Waddle Dee with his trusty weapon the spear. I haven’t investigated this too much as I’ve played the single-player version of the game at the time of writing this review. Therefore, finding out what the second player is going to be a surprise to find out!
A second perk to this game is that you can play the additional treasure hunt games, which are accessible when you finish a few of the games. These are where you can be a specific transformation and use that ability to speed against time and try to get to the goal; the end. If successful you can score the treasure and of course play as many times as you like.
A third and final one is that you are able to use an amiibo character to play along with this game. It’s something I have yet to try, but it is available to the player. Something more to make an exciting game even more fun! Honestly with these three and what fun the game provides already, well it’s hard to be bored or want to stop playing.
Final Thoughts
What else can I say, except that Kirby is one of those games that never loses my interest, even after completing it! So in comparison to the many others I’ve tried and loved, I would play this game over and over again. Especially when I can play around with the many new transformations that Kirby can possess after absorbing and copying the enemies’ abilities. Oh, and before I forget, the other reason I love is that I can make Kirby float and fly around like a pink cloud, balloon, or bubble any time I want. There aren’t any restrictions when it comes to doing any of these or a time limit till you can perform the action again. Kirby’s abilities make the game so much fun and in all truth, I just love to have those unrestricted use of special abilities that are not found in any other game.
However, if I remove all the love and the attachment that I have for the many Kirby games I’ve tried in the past and only focus on this game. Well then, I honestly can say that Kirby and the Forgotten Land is worth having a try! Despite the fact that Kirby may not speak or appear as strong and fierce as many other heroes when you just glance at the little pink guy. Yet, what you do get with this game is so many exciting features, action-filled battles, plenty of items to collect, and a story that is way more entertaining than many other adventure games I’ve played this year so far! Therefore, if you are searching for a game that gives you the ability to play a bit more freely while adventuring into many beautifully designed, 3D locations with new enemies of all sizes to battle. Well then, this may be a game worth trying, especially since it’s friendly for everyone at any age to enjoy!
The planet’s a mess and everyone who could afford it has fled to Mars. Leaving fauna and flora behind to struggle among mountains of refuse and toxic rivers.
Humans have left a harsher Earth than the one they entered. A product entirely of their own making. But this game isn’t as sad as I made it sound. In No Place Like Home, you embark on a quest to get your new farm thriving again, breathing life back into the world in the process.
Can We Fix It?!
Ellen, our protagonist has come to visit her grandfather one last time before she joins the rest of humanity on Mars. However, he’s nowhere to be found and his Farm is brimming with garbage. She can’t just leave things like this, so using her trusty drill and Vac-Pal she begins cleaning the place up a bit.
What begins as a search for her grandad ends up as a quest to clean up the lands around the farm and village. It’s a monumental task, seeing as you can’t take a step without trash blocking your way. Not to mention the murderous robots leaping at you from behind heaps of rubbish. Yet Ellen’s commitment to finding old gramps is something to behold. Granted, there wouldn’t be a game without that willingness to go further into the world, cleansing it along the way.
It’s a title with great subject matter. Taking a mistreated planet and doing something to help it recover. You may not be enough to heal the entire Earth, but you can make your slice of it a bit better. The gameplay revolves around cleaning up and recycling pollution, as well as establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with the natural world. It’s a fantastic way of reinforcing positive themes, with good deeds and cutesy animals.
Satisfying, But Stale
As you might imagine, this job of making her neck of the woods habitable again takes up the bulk of the gameplay. Vacuum up mountains of junk, and break down the old and hardened garbage with your drill to suck that up too. Along the way slap around a couple of hostile robots. It’s a very straightforward recipe that was surprisingly satisfying. Maybe it was watching all that waste get sucked up into my seemingly infinite vacuum pack. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that my actions were making a tangible difference in the digital world around me.
While it was a satisfying loop, it was also admittedly repetitive. If you’re looking for more action, this may get old a lot faster than for someone seeking a game to relax with. No Place Like Home does take steps at diversifying this section’s gameplay, such as rescuing/befriending animals or fighting robots. The combat was a little lame for me though. It just amounted to running from where their attacks would land, then spamming the attack button till it was over.
This game works best as a casual experience. For when you want a low-stakes, low-pressure time, farming, crafting, and hanging out with animals. And it does this fairly well, these aspects of gameplay also help alleviate the monotony of cleaning. Your farm is not only your base to rest at and decorate as you please. It’s also a good way to quite literally farm the resources you need.
Crops & Crafting
The harvest from your crops, and resources from other craftable structures like beehives, and chicken coops combined with currency is how you upgrade buildings and unlock crafting recipes. In order to harvest though, you need to sow the appropriate seeds. In order to diversify the plants you grow, you need to explore; which is only possible by cleaning up the pollution in the world. In doing so you discover not only more seeds, but also more books on food recipes and decorations, of which there are many.
It makes for a solid cycle of gameplay that has every part synergizing with one another; rewarding the player constantly and keeping them coming back for more. And you probably will, the gameplay loop definitely has the “just one more thing” effect. There’s always something to do. Whether it’s planting and nurturing a new kind of seed you found, or finally building something you’ve been working towards for a while. It’s imperfect, but pretty addictive gameplay overall.
No Place Like Home is nothing awfully special in its art style and visuals. If I’m being honest at times it even felt a bit ugly. However, I will make the counterpoint that some of it felt a bit intentional. The world covered in garbage is in sharp contrast to your farm and other clean areas. By the time you’ve added your personal touch to these spots, they’ll be unrecognisable. Filled with decorations, structures, plants, and an array of critters that add more life and colour to your surroundings. But even then, I could hardly call it a treat for the eyes.
It’s a flawed game that doesn’t always stick the landing. Yet still, there’s something endearing about the experience. Ellen’s core journey may be to find her grandpa. But as things progress the cleaning and healing of the world around her really becomes the star. It’s simple, but quite effective.
The world is under threat from an evil and destructive group. Subsequently, a hero is required to step up and save the day. This clichéd plot could be the theme of many cheesy and outdated movies. However, Agent Intercept is the latest game to utilise this well-trodden, but entertaining, core concept.
Developed and published by PikPok, this is an OTT arcade spy title. With garish colours, fast-paced action, and mindless violence, it has all the right ingredients. However, much of the entertaining plot is ridiculous and unrealistic. Subsequently, it must be taken with a pinch of salt! Therefore, you’ll experience dangerous stunts, massive explosions, and many goons and minions en route. Consequently, it plays out like an 80s spy program and I loved its dated and silly approach.
Agent Intercept is brilliantly stupid.
If you get Agent Intercept with the expectation of an in-depth and serious experience, you’ll be disappointed. Yet, if you want a fun and hectic racer full of missions and twists and turns, then this is for you. You are an elite member of the Agency, a top-secret organisation. Armed with the latest technology, you must protect the world from upcoming threats. CLAW is the latest superpower to hit your radar and you must stop them to save mankind. With your powerful Sceptre car, you must race across an array of landscapes, thwarting every plan that unfolds.
As you can see, it offers a familiar story with tried and tested mechanics. Yet, its characters and the array of weaponry make it stand out. The Sceptre is a transforming vehicle loaded with technology. It can race along roads, fly through the air, or float on water. What’s more, it’s armed with lasers, machine guns, missiles, and an emp. Subsequently, no enemy is too tough and no terrain will hold it back. It was amazing to decimate your foes as you whipped along the tarmac, battled rapids, or dodged mountains. Alongside this, you must contend with powerful foes, nuclear weapons, and satellites that shoot laser beams. The combination of these elements creates a brilliantly stupid affair that is moreish and tough to put down.
Soar through the sky and destroy Loki.
Arcade action at its core.
The missions are fun and exciting, but they play second fiddle to the arcade mechanics. Yes, it was enjoyable to stop another CLAW goon, but completing each objective was more important. Therefore, you spend your time trying to obtain a high score, drifting, jumping, or killing CLAW operatives. Fortunately, none of the tasks was too challenging, so everything feels achievable.
As you race along in each environment, you must pick up tokens, weapons and boosts for the Sceptre. Furthermore, every action you complete adds to your score multiplier. Consequently, you must boost to drift corners, jump to collect points and destroy everything in your path. By doing so, you’ll rack up the points and complete many of the objectives.
As I said, it’s easy enough to do. However, if you want to simplify it further, there are tools available to reduce the difficulty. You can add health, boost power, speed, and so forth. Word of warning though, you can’t compete on the global leaderboard with assists activated. Therefore, you may wish to use them sparingly as you familiarise yourself with each stage.
Use your booster to keep up.
Agent Intercept is dated.
I enjoyed the silly plot and arcade mayhem. Yet, the graphics disappointed me. Unfortunately, Agent Intercept is blocky and dated to look at. As you race across each environment, the details are somewhat lacking and sparse. The developers could have created exciting stages that tested you throughout. However, instead, you experience the same action repeatedly. Luckily, though, the cinematic was much better than the gameplay imagery. These striking cutscenes were vivid, detailed, and appeared like a comic book. I adored the idea and wish PikPok had been more consistent with its approach.
The audio was equally disappointing, as it was all too familiar. Sadly, nothing wowed me, and other than the hammy acting, it was flat and forgettable. Yes, the soundtrack is full of energy and the sound effects are loud, but they weren’t unique. I was desperate for something fresh and new, but it never materialised.
So much intel and only one hero.
It’s easy to play.
The aforementioned aids to the gameplay make this really easy to play. Yet, it’s simpler still as the vehicle is self-propelled. Therefore, you are responsible for steering, speed, shooting, and little else. Consequently, this may be too straightforward for some, but I enjoyed the laid back approach. The control system allows you to focus on collecting points and destroying goons. Furthermore, it works perfectly when taking on the additional modes.
The extra content asks you to complete time trials, shooting games, and side missions. They are fun, challenging, and add another layer to the gameplay. What’s more, they increase both the replay value and longevity as you compete to top the global leaderboard or unlock intel. Alongside this, you’ll be tested by the large achievement list that makes you come back for more.
Agent Intercept is silly but moreish.
With OTT action, interesting characters, hectic missions, and plenty of side quests, this will keep you busy. However, this isn’t a game for serious gamers! Agent Intercept is silly, but moreish while being oddly competitive. Subsequently, I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you stop CLAW while topping the leaderboard? Drift, shoot and jump your way to victory and a high score.
Folklore is a wonderful tool for creative minds around the globe. It allows writers to create surreal, scary, or beautiful worlds with little drawback. Ikai is the latest title to utilise Japanese folklore at its core. Subsequently, it creates a moody and dark game that is suspenseful. Moreover, it’s solely responsible for me soiling many pairs of underwear. (Disclaimer, no underpants were soiled during the reviewing of this game.)
Developed by Endflame and published by PM Studios, this is a psychological horror title. It is set across an array of short chapters that are full of eerie moments and classic jump scares. It will make you jump out of your skin as you are chased by otherworldly beings. What’s more, it’ll test your mind thanks to its array of logic-bending puzzles. In short, it combines many elements to scare you and test you from beginning to end.
Ikai is deliberately confusing.
Now, I’m not normally a fan of confusing titles. I find them to be frustrating and unnecessarily convoluted. However, I enjoyed the layers of intrigue and mystery found within Ikai. The action is set in a Japanese shrine and you view the world through the eyes of Naoko, a young priestess. A rumour of a new demon in the underworld is circulating around the local village. However, you cannot let this story stop you from completing your tasks. You leave the temple to travel to the river, but this was a bad decision. A foul and heavy odour fills the air and you collapse, only to wake and find your once holy sanctuary is now tainted.
The darkness and monsters you face form the key concept of this eerie and creepy story. Subsequently, the action is unnerving as you wait to be scared senseless. Sadly, though, most of the jump scares rely upon clichéd mechanics and well-trodden moments. Whether it’s a ghoul hiding behind a bush or a beast chasing you in the dark, it’s all very familiar. However, this shouldn’t put you off as it’s well constructed and matches both the theme and the story.
What is this creepy thing?
Magical puzzles and horrendous monsters.
When I saw the “magical” elements of the gameplay, I sighed. I thought that it would be boring, OTT, and unnecessary. Yet, I was wrong. The developers have done a great job of balancing the folklore theme with the suspenseful layers and puzzling moments. Subsequently, there were times when panic and fear overtook logical thinking and this was fantastic.
The puzzles rely upon your observational skills and your artistic abilities. You will be asked to listen to clues, scan an environment, and then draw a magical symbol. If you can do all of this while avoiding the rampaging monsters, you’ll reduce the evil presence. However, this is easier said than done as each creature desperately hunts you down. Consequently, I was petrified as floorboards creaked or doors slammed. Moreover, Endflame delivered the perfect blend of fearful action and mind-boggling puzzles to keep you entertained throughout.
I’m a true believer that less is more. Yet, Ikai has other ideas. Yes, the world is sparse and dark, but the demons are anything but small. You’ll be chased by a hideous troll-like creature, an enormous man-eating worm, a deadly spider, and more. Furthermore, there are spiked heads that fall from the trees, mystical birds to chase, and flames to avoid. On top of this, you’ll come face to face with a blind zombie and walls that have eyes. Therefore, it’s fair to say that this is a little weird and bizarre. Though some may find the strange nature of this to be too far fetched, I loved its unusual ways.
I’d suggest running.
Ikai is a bit rough.
I may have adored the story and its mechanics, but its visuals were rough. Sadly, the developers haven’t built a game to test modern consoles or PCs. Subsequently, it’s dated and has some texture issues. Luckily, however, many of the rough edges have been hidden amongst the darkness and foggy scenes. This was a fine decision as it added to the mystery while hiding the unpolished finish.
Though the end product didn’t look fantastic, the stage design was great. I loved the blend of open areas and claustrophobic spaces. These horrible areas added to the suspenseful nature of the gameplay while increasing the fear factor.
Where Ikai truly excels is its audio. The blend of environmental noises and otherworldly beings will send shivers down your spine. Furthermore, the depth perception is tweaked to perfection when you use headphones. Therefore, you’ll hear each monster move as you draw each magical symbol. It was utterly terrifying to scrawl each pattern as you were being chased. Consequently, I equally love and hate the developer’s attention to detail and the fear it creates.
Such classic Japanese surroundings.
Fiddly controls.
Much of Ikai’s action relies upon small movements and finer details. Therefore, the controls are a little fiddly and clumsy. Sadly, this is detrimental to the core elements of the gameplay. With panic and fear being key factors, you’ll make many mistakes as you are hunted. Subsequently, it was increasingly annoying when you were captured because you couldn’t draw quick enough. Other than this issue, I found the buttons to be responsive, easy to understand, and straightforward to master.
Working your way past every demonic force won’t take you too long. You’ll spend around 4 to 5 hours from beginning to end, and this was a little short for my liking. However, the collectables add to the replay value while forcing you to search every level thoroughly. I really enjoyed what I saw and yearned for a deeper story. Had the developers incorporated an NG+ mode, this would have been perfect.
Ikai is short but scary.
Ikai is wonderfully clichéd but woefully short. It walks a well-trodden path and offers few surprises. Yet, it’s still scary and will make you jump repeatedly. Furthermore, I liked the blend of puzzles and the stunning audio. Sadly, it won’t test veteran gamers, but it’s enjoyable, nonetheless. I liked it and I recommend you to buy it here! The world, as you know it is changing and not for the better. Therefore, do you have what it takes to remove the evil from your spiritual home or will it remain forever?
Is Beholder 3 worth it? Very simply. Yes. It’s a rarity when a non-AAA title game feels so polished, detailed, and original that it contends with the best of the best.
Set in a dystopian totalitarian state reminiscent of science fiction TV shows, books like 1984 and sadly some real countries you play Frank. Frank is unfortunate. He was framed for crimes against the state and spared ‘the mines’ or worse by becoming a state informant and spy. Inserted into a regular apartment building Frank now must maintain the building, ensure his tenants are following the laws of the harsh regime and make sure his handler’s enemies are taken care of. You spend time in the apartment building and in the Ministry Offices.
Gameplay
As Frank you can move around the apartment building and offices, but much like in real life there are places you aren’t supposed to go. As Frank is a reluctant spy, however, he can peep through keyholes, break into to offices and apartments and plant hidden cameras just about in every room. Most objects are searchable and will reveal mundane items, items that help you build profiles or contraband that you can use, or plant, to get those dissidents arrested. The story driven narrative takes you on a journey as you complete perilous tasks for money.
That money gets used for paying building bills, fines and buying items that you need. You also must balance this alongside a job at the Ministry that unlocks early on, and family issues. Outside you can find a vendor and a black-market seller. Useful in your quest to control the narrative. Of course, as the game develops you can turn from simply surviving to full out thriving as you take advantage of what you can get access to. For the most part, this is a point-and-click adventure with puzzles to complete along the way as you get missions from the State or side quests from residents.
Quests
The quests in Beholder 3, more like little story chapters than a ‘mission’, are well varied despite running back and forth in the same locations. These quests are often time sensitive with time ticking away as you play. This is the same with paying bills – don’t pay, it’s game over. Bankrupt its game over. Fail a mission for the state it also mean game over. While not difficult per-sae, there is enough challenge to keep them interesting. You can also get creative. In one scenario I used the drugs from my daughter’s room to frame another tenant because the State wanted them gone. I felt uneasy doing it, but the game demanded such.
Sometimes you will need to break in and plant a hidden camera, others you will need to interrogate people and in some you may need to search for incriminating evidence. While these naturally take up a lot of time, don’t forget to take care of the chores, pay the bills, look after the tenants needs and your family. Choices matter though, and some quests will be unavailable to you if you act in haste to get objectives complete. This type of gameplay is interesting as it means with each playthrough there are new paths to take. It also means you must be tactical in your approach to completing things.
Graphics
The world is wonderfully drawn and cartoony in nature. The use of shadows for people is especially telling for some visual representation of living in the shadow of a totalitarian regime. The game, like the theme, is bleak. Lots of washed-out colours, brutalist grey architecture and darkness. Even during the day, it felt oddly dark. While this suits the game perfectly, it isn’t exactly an inspiring visual treat for the eyes. It does, however, fit the game perfectly and would have been jarring had it looked any different.
Beholder 3 has some issues…
Now, Beholder 3 is not perfect. It’s rare when a game is to be honest. There are bugs, NPCs will sometimes get stuck. The game also lagged for me in places for no real reason. It isn’t exactly graphically challenging, and my gaming pc can handle recent AAA titles just fine. In addition, I did experience one crash during my playthrough. Outside of the bugs the dialogue can be a little dry in places. It’s all very bleak and in some cases obvious.
My biggest complaint, however, is when mission objectives randomly just vanished from my HUD and I had to track them down, usually while breaking into someone’s apartment, which didn’t exactly help evade being caught. Hopefully these are all easy fixes that can be patched soon.
Is Beholder 3 worth playing?
Beholder 3 takes the best bits of the first two games in this series and blends them together to make a fun, dark, morally challenging point-and-click adventure. While slow in pace is still thoroughly enjoyable. If you like dystopian fiction, if you like puzzle-based point-and-click adventures, if you like strong narrative then Beholder 3 might just be the game for you. It’s one I will be playing again and again.
No matter who you are, you want to be entertained! Whether it’s a fantastic book, enthralling and dramatic play, captivating TV series, or an enticing video game, you don’t care. All you want is to be amused and distracted from start to end. However, there is one genre that blends many of these elements to deliver an OTT and exciting spectacle. I am, of course, talking about wrestling! Men and women put their bodies and livelihoods on the line to amuse their many spectators. So, what better way to expand its fanbase than by releasing an associated video game? WWE 2K22 is the latest instalment of scantily clad men and women fighting one another for your entertainment.
Developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games, this is a real to life sports simulation title. Its predecessor WWE 2K20 was a failure and flopped within moments of being released. Furthermore, it was a buggy mess that disappointed many players. Therefore, I’m hopeful that both publisher and developer have learnt from the past, and this latest instalment is a marked improvement.
WWE 2K22 brings a lot to the table.
Let’s cover the elephant in the room and accept that there are bugs and glitches. Sadly, there are lots of them, but they are mostly harmless and amusing. The majority focus on visual issues and rarely do they impact the gameplay. However, they shouldn’t be there and this is something that will be patched out…I hope.
Performance issues aside, WWE 2K22 brings a lot of action to the table. The amount of detail, depth, and options are almost overwhelming. Subsequently, fans will be spoilt for choice as they take on traditional modes, become a GM, create a wrestler, and so forth. There is also a fantastic training section, online play, couch co-op, and more. Furthermore, you can select from the modern roster of athletes, legendary wrestlers, and upcoming stars. Alongside this, there is also the inclusion of custom wrestlers to add spice to the recipe.
I spent an unhealthy amount of time designing my fighter, but it amused me nonetheless. I designed the beautiful and childish It Che Frush, who was deadly and irritating. She was a solo fighter, as she was always thwarted in tag team matches by the Can Es Ten Duo. Right, enough about my immature approach. Let’s get on with this!
It Che Frush is a thing of beauty.
Take on a career or enjoy quick tournaments.
What makes WWE 2K22 particularly great is its depth. Whether you are playing for an extended session or jumping in for five minutes, it has you covered. Furthermore, this is easy to play online against friends and strangers. Therefore, it’s accessible as well as community-focused. Unsurprisingly, though, the lobbies are a tad childish and this can be tedious. The “banter” can be ignored or avoided altogether, so it’s a minor issue.
I’m not a massive wrestling fan, so the slow-paced elements of the GM mode were lost on me. However, if you love finer details, and organising every element of a show, then you’ll adore it. You must hire a roster of superstars, organise the fights, and wow the crowds. On top of this, you’ll have objectives to hit, finances to balance, and a rival to overcome. You can also take part in every battle, or simulate them to speed things up. Subsequently, it’s the perfect option for a wrestling superfan. You’ll finally get to manage the team of your dreams while becoming the most popular GM on the planet.
It offers everything you’d expect and more.
Other than the GM mode, you’ll experience the normal custom/exhibition matches, the much-loved Sandbox world of “Universe”, Showcase, MyFACTION, and MyRISE. The latter two are new to the franchise and bring it in line with other sports simulation titles.
MyFACTION is similar to Fifa’s Ultimate Team, and it allows you to create a special roster of wrestlers. Here you’ll unlock rare cards, find superstar wrestlers, and more. You’ll build up a stable of athletes and take on the world.
MyRISE is your go-to story mode for your created character. Here you’ll experience a unique plot depending on your sex. Furthermore, you must start rivalries, build friendships, and experience many twists and turns.
Finally, the game’s key mode is Showcase! Here you take on the role of Rey Mysterio and relive his fabled career. It is a narrative-driven affair with objectives to complete and characters to unlock.
Showcase brings all the great wrestlers together.
Plenty to do, but is it worth it?
It’s not unusual for a sports title to go all out with its features. So, what we really want to know is, is it worth it? Well, yes, it is. The action far surpasses anything previously seen in the franchise. Obviously, there are the aforementioned bugs and glitches, but these won’t bother you. You’ll adore the high-energy matches, the variety of rules and regulations on offer, and the intense rivalries. Moreover, if you follow modern wrestling, you’ll enjoy the familiar characters and storylines.
On top of this, the transition between offline and online action is seamless. The gameplay flows beautifully thanks to the well-designed UI. Also, the cross-play features allow every player to enjoy the full customisation options normally reserved for PC gamers. This was a nice touch from the developers and one that expanded its appeal exponentially.
WWE 2K22 looks amazing.
Wrestling is all about the show and the razzmatazz. Luckily, WWE 2K22 captures this perfectly! Its graphics are bright, crisp, flashy, and in your face. What’s more, it looks great, plays smoothly, and is a treat to look at. I loved the real to life images of each wrestler, and the bizarre looks of every custom creation. For me, sports titles don’t come better than this.
To enhance the drama further, you’ll enjoy a curated soundtrack from Machine Gun Kelly. The eclectic blend of tracks has some world-famous artists performing their hit songs. Consequently, this adds to the showbiz nature of the gameplay. Alongside the badass tracks, you’ll enjoy some crunching sound effects and OTT commentary. Neither of these elements is surprising, but they add drama and were wonderful to listen to.
You were asking for it.
An excellent tutorial.
I always worry that wrestling games will be complex and annoying to play. There is always a niggling doubt that the developers will overcomplicate matters. Luckily, however, WWE 2K22 has a phenomenal tutorial. Subsequently, within minutes, you’ll be grappling, punching, and kicking your way to victory. The controls are also extremely responsive and this saves you from mashing the buttons. Yes, there are some detailed elements that require time to master, but it’s pretty straightforward and great for newcomers.
Thanks to its deep career paths, online and offline action, and amusing customisation options, this will keep you entertained. Moreover, you can waste hours creating a super roster of wrestlers or take minutes to battle a mate online. Consequently, this has masses of replay value and longevity.
WWE 2K22 is a wrestling fan’s dream.
I wouldn’t go as far to say that I now love wrestling again, but this did amuse me. WWE 2K22 is perfect for the avid wrestling fan while also offering enough to entertain those sitting on the fence. There is something for everyone and this ensures you won’t tire of it easily. I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you defeat every contender and become a champion? Or perhaps you’ll become a world-renowned GM. Whatever you decide, this is one wrestling title that has you covered.
