Review: Total War: Warhammer III

Daniel Waite
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Review: Total War: Warhammer III

The idea that a sequel or trilogy can better the original is an alien concept. However, there are exceptions to the rule and one such case is the Total War series. This long-running franchise is much-loved as it was built on strong foundations. Therefore, Total War: Warhammer III has been well-received since its release.

Developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, this is a fantasy strategy title. Fans of the franchise will adore the familiar mechanics while enjoying some fresh ideas. It has a meaty campaign, a long list of playable factions, and solo and multiplayer action. In short, it’ll tick many boxes for an awful lot of gamers.

Total War: Warhammer III is captivating.

Rarely does a strategy game capture my attention from the off. I find them to be a bit of a slow-burner, but Total War: Warhammer III was different. Thanks to the combination of wonderful cinematic, gruff acting, hard-hitting missions, and an excellent prologue, I was hooked. Yes, veterans may think “prologue, shmologue!” But, I implore you to not overlook this fine opening gambit.

Of course, this short campaign serves as an in-depth tutorial. However, it is also much more than that. You are introduced to some key characters and you’ll experience the dark world of Chaos in the great vortex in Ulthuan. To ignore this key campaign is a mistake, as it introduces you to each mechanic without being preachy. Thankfully, you soon become familiar with each strategy and tactic while admiring the lore of the land.

Total War: Warhammer III is all about strategy and patience.
Charge!

What makes it tick? 

You open as a Prince of Kislev who must save the Bear God Ursun from the clutches of Chaos. Very dramatic, I know, but this is just the start! This then evolves where new campaigns and factions can be selected. 8 playable groups can be chosen, and each has its legendary leaders and heroes to select. You may pick from the four Chaos Gods — Khorne, Nurgle, Slaanesh, and Tzeentch. Then there is the Demon Prince, who can command an undivided Chaos empire. Furthermore, there is the Russian-inspired Kislev and the Chinese-inspired Cathay. Last, if you have pre-ordered, you can play as the Ogre Kingdom. As mentioned, the gameplay revolves around the great vortex in Ulthuan and the need to gather 4 demon souls. Once the souls are collected, you must face a final battle to decide your fate and that of Ursun.

As you can imagine, Creative Assembly has gone full bore on the fantasy aspect of the gameplay. Lovers of Warhammer will adore the attention to detail, the array of units to select, and the use of awe-inspiring magic. The combination of spells and melee allow you an array of abilities and traits that impact tactical decisions. Furthermore, battles are won and lost on the most minor of choices. Each faction you select has strengths and weaknesses and demand a unique approach. I loved the different gameplay styles and each vast campaign. Subsequently, you’ll experience betrayal, political ramblings, an empire to build, economical nightmares, and the excellent real-time strategy aspects. Each of the battles can quickly escalate, and this can become overwhelming. This is no more apparent than when you must send your hero into one of the demon’s realms.

Maintain order during every battle.
Maintain order no matter the cost.

Many fronts to fight on. 

As the gameplay evolves, corruption spreads from the many chaos rifts you encounter. Here you have the opportunity to close them down or take on the challenge it presents. If you take on the latter option, and you should, you’ll go face to face with the aforementioned demons. If you vanquish your foes, you’ll steal their souls and be one step closer to unlocking the Forge of Souls. Sadly, this is easier said than done, as you must utilise the world map to forge a mighty army. This is all well and good, but time rests for no man, child, or ogre, and while you wait, your opponents step closer to collecting every soul.

Every war you undertake is a multi-faceted affair, and one of the new components introduced by Creative Assembly. The Survival battles comprise multiple stages and hours of action. Here, you are tasked with capturing a certain point and defending it against waves of Chaos defenders. What’s more, you can use portals to summon more powerful creatures. The action concludes with you duelling each realm’s champion of Chaos. Subsequently, you’ll adore the epic nature of the encounters and the unique challenges you will face.

Total War: Warhammer III is beautiful.

Total War: Warhammer III is beautifully detailed thanks to its harsh and varied landscapes. If you love the tabletop game, then you’ll adore every minor element that the developers have included. I was struck by the brilliance of the smooth gameplay and the scale of each battle you faced. Overseeing the war while commanding your troops is an amazing experience, and you genuinely feel like you are a general of your army. Moreover, the environments play a key part in any tactical decision and this was important to understand. Luckily, the excellent free-flowing camera and superb UI help you to identify each vantage point with ease.

The atmospheric and dramatic audio complements the excellent gameplay. The haunting songs enhance the deep-seated lore and the grandeur of each campaign. Furthermore, during each battle, there are bone-crunching sound effects as man and beast clash with one another. Consequently, it was fascinating to hear the roar of your troops as you advanced across the battlefield. Like the visuals, Creative Assembly has got every bit of audio spot on. From the varied and at times OTT narrative, to the excellent song choices, this is an atmospheric and chilling title that works on every level.

Total War: Warhammer III is full of epic battles.
So many epic battles.

Excellent controls.

Unsurprisingly, this much-loved franchise has excellent controls that are simple to master. The aforementioned UI makes it easy to understand every move you make. From selecting your hero and the equipment they wear to altering the formation and groupings of your troops, it’s all straightforward. Furthermore, the prologue serves as an excellent tutorial to brush up on your skills. Therefore, every key aspect can be studied and understood before you dive into the main game.

Total War: Warhammer III has so many campaigns and unique approaches that it oozes longevity. You’ll sink hours of your time into it and you’ll barely scratch the surface. The incredible amount of lore and stunning stories will capture your attention immediately and this makes it addictive as hell. If you love real-time strategy games and/or the world of Warhammer, then you’ll need to play this game.

Total War: Warhammer III is the perfect finale.

If this is Creative Assembly’s last instalment in this series, then well done on going out with a bang. They have taken everything that is great about the previous titles and added some excellent content. It will tick the boxes for many people and is a must-play title. What’s more, it is free to play on Game Pass on PC, so you have nothing to lose. I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will you be able to gather every soul and save Ursun? Forge a mighty army, battle your enemies, and step into the Chaos realms to claim your rightful prize.

Review: Autobahn Police Simulator 2

Natosha M
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Review: Autobahn Police Simulator 2

Have you ever wanted to be a crime fighter or hero, just like the ones we see on the roads every day? I’m talking about the police who are constantly trying to protect and serve the community against those causing problems for others or those that require and need some help. On the other hand, how about just having the power, while obeying the law and being able to take control of situations that require you to figure out who’s guilty or innocent and even what may have happened? Well now you can, with the game Autobahn Police Simulator 2!

How Does it Feel Be the 5-0

I should first mention, I’m a huge fan of simulated games. So when you can pretend and feel how the life of being a police officer would be like, well right there I’m a bit excited! There are so many corrupt things that happen during the day, and as the duty of being the police in this game, we need to prevent them from reoccurring or getting worse. Plus, with so much going on, many missions; jobs needing our attention, it can be a bit challenging to stay on top of everything.

Therefore, as a rookie, starting this game out from the beginning can be hard to keep up with everything going on. If you don’t get to all these commands, you may just find yourself restarting back at the station. This game is one that I have noticed will keep you on your feet, with plenty of things to accomplish. However, with all good games, even those that appear great, there are a few flaws that make the simulated style of this game a bit off from feeling or expecting to be really pretending to be the real thing; being a real policeman or policewoman.

First, let me start with the positive aspects of the game, afterwards, I’ll voice the few features that made the game lackluster. Especially, what little ideas I have that could make the game better and play even closer to the real thing. To start, I do want to mention that these are my own opinions and I don’t have anything against the game, it really is quite well designed. However, not all games are perfect and some things are left out on getting put together completely when the rest of the game is complete.

So beginning with the favorable parts of the game. Example one is that I do enjoy that you can voice your opinion when being asked a question. You as the player can decide how you want to answer and what kind of person you want to be. So you don’t have to follow one path when it comes to the game, even the responses you can give throughout the game.

There is even a nice feature of being able to move the player with ease, it isn’t difficult to walk around or run. You can easily search and get to the locations you would like to visit that are accessible to you, which will be labeled with either a letter that’s on the controller so you can open, move to, speak to, and practically everything that you can or can’t do. So there may be limitations in this game, but it does keep you from doing something that may cause you to get lost.

So I haven’t found myself getting confused or lost, where I need to move or locate my next mission. The game is very well designed in that manner, which I’m grateful for! Some games can get you to fall off course and get lost on how to get back, this isn’t that difficult, cause it isn’t with too much freedom, not much like a Grand Theft Auto Game.

Now for a few, well many negative features, which I don’t want to sound like there are many, but I did find some issues that take away the realistic gameplay feel you get with a simulated game. One thing, for example, is its limitation on choosing how you want to set up and customize your character; your police officer. The game is limited to just 3 options of males and females. Now it’s not that I don’t mind an easy setup when personalizing a character, but when you are limited to just a few ethnic groups, which not everyone wants to be.

Sometimes you may want to be able to look like yourself in the game. This would make it feel closer to what it really would feel as if you are playing a simulated-realistic style game. Especially, so much more realistic when you can be free to have light tan skin, shorter hair or longer hair, maybe even curly or for the males, a mustache or beard, and so on. It would be great to be able to design a character that matches the real person playing or one that wants to have tattoos, pink hair, or anything unique like that, who says you have to look proper to be a police officer, many in the real world have tats and other looks that aren’t all very conservative in the modern-day.

Also, let’s talk about the mapping of the controller. It may be easier to move the character, but it can be a little hard to understand the controls especially when driving. It might be easy, but I struggled with getting out of the vehicle, remembering which is to backup, using the brakes, turning the siren on and off, and even using the quick signal options or just opening the menu options while in the vehicle. So much you need to know and it takes some time to get used to it. However, with a few trial runs of playing the game it can become a bit easier, just takes some more time to figure it out.

Another issue of the controls that work with the camera, well it can be a bit hard to always keep it on target when moving a different way or looking straight ahead. I feel that the game’s camera rotation can be a bit of a headache when you’re trying to get everything caught up with the camera as you move. Sometimes, I actually wish I can automatically have it move when or whichever view I’m looking towards. Even more so, it can, especially make you feel a bit sick if you have or get vertigo with fast movements or going around in circles.

Oh yes, and if you are looking to get out of tricky situations. For example, if the vehicle gets caught into the trees, possibly bad driving or in a tight spot. There is no way to back out or get out it’s like you have to restart. Just feels a bit off on that and I wish there was a way to backup and get from the problem, which it would or could be possible, but not in this game. It’s nothing like driving in Grand Theft Auto, just wishing it could be, but it’s so much more restricted and difficult.

One last thing is the graphics. It’s not totally horrible, the background scenes and the design of everything is perfect, but the animated style of how things are opened or moved can be slightly off. Especially, when the arms of your created police officer don’t actually move, but the doors will open up or it just happens to be in your hands. It just feels less like you are doing a real action. Only if it’s some type of magical witchcraft you can open doors without using your arms. However, it doesn’t just stop at that!

Another issue is with objects. One especially, in particular, the police car. I noticed right away that you can walk right through the door after opening it. I would think a door would block you from moving forward, not going right through it. So there might be a bit of an animated and graphic issue, but at least the realistic appeal is still there, just that it could probably use a little fix and things might feel a bit more like reality verse just a game that is partially complete or in a stage that is like beta, with a few glitches.

Overall Conclusion

I feel the game has its good qualities and its bad ones. Maybe it just needs a little of these things fixed to be a brilliant game. However, it just can come off a bit less realistic. Even with a simple thing that acts as a meter to locate your next location. It tells you how close you are getting towards an object, well this blue marker does count down, but it never gets to 0 to tell you that you’ve arrived. it just gets to about 2 something, and that is the location. At first, I was thinking it would have to be further, then just right there, but it isn’t.

I’ve played many different games with that type of location thing, but to see it not really do an accurate counting, and the rest of the issues. I only can think that the game is close to playing a beta version of the game, not the completed one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great game, but maybe it needs a few adjustments to make it just a bit easier and well put together.

Lastly, I’d like to say that in reality sometimes people, like myself may be afraid of the police in real life, not all are nice, but when I get to be the police it’s kind of fun to see how it is and what they have to face daily. Nevertheless, this game is action-packed and quite fun and challenging at the same time! Even if it isn’t super close to perfect, the game of being a real police officer still allows you that exciting feeling to be a real cop, or even if you want to just say be a pretend cop in this fun game, Autobahn Police Simulator 2!

SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH – Review

Krissy
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SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH – Review

Battle with your favorite characters in this classic trading card game – SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH. Originally sold as two separate games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, both games are now combined into one for Nintendo Switch.

Gameplay:

I never played this gem as a kid, but it felt very reminiscent of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, so it was really easy for me to pick up the rules. When you start the game, you can decide between playing with the SNK deck or the Capcom deck, and you can switch between the two as long as you have separate save files.

You battle 1v1, and each player can place up to three character cards on the table. You draw one card per turn and place character cards alone or as a backup. There are attack cards and ability cards that have a BP and SP. Finally, when a player’s HP reaches 0, it’s game over.

However, don’t be fooled by the simple gameplay; this game is far from simple and proves to be quite difficult. Strategy is your friend and, of course, a bit of luck. I lost many frustratingly close games because the CPU happened to pull better cards, or I played too offensively. At some point, it felt like the game was “cheating”, so I really wished there were different difficulty levels to choose from. Despite this, the challenge makes each win feel so much more rewarding and fun.

One of my favorite things about this cross-collaboration is the collecting and trading aspect. Despite its age, the graphics are still stunning, and you can collect 300 cards. I felt like a little kid again, like how I used to collect my favorite trading cards; I was even excited when I got the Chun-li and Cammy cards. Overall, I think if you’re a Capcom or SNK fan, the trading aspects alone are enough to grab your attention.

In addition, it’s a small detail, but I loved that I could change the handheld size and colors. The original screen size is a bit too small, so I zoomed in as soon as I could.

Pros:

  • Fun & Challenging
  • Numerous cards to collect
  • Can customize the handheld

Cons:

  • Typos & strange wording
  • No difficulty settings

Conclusion:

Even as a newcomer to the series, I think SNK VS. CAPCOM: CARD FIGHTERS’ CLASH is a pretty solid game. Other than a few annoyances here and there, I can say I enjoyed this classic title. If you’re an SNK or Capcom fan, or a card trading game fanatic, I’d say this retro goodie is worth adding to your collection.

Entertainment: 8/10

Replay value: 6/10

Graphics: 6/10

Sound: 7/10

Kid Friendly: Yes

Platform:Nintendo Switch
Publisher:SNK
Released:January 12, 2022
MSRP:$7.99
ESRB:Everyone

Review: Music Racer: Ultimate

Daniel Waite
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Review: Music Racer: Ultimate

Music is a strange entity that divides and unites people. Subsequently, what I may love, you may loathe. Yet, no matter our tastes, we can all agree that it enriches our souls and makes us happy. Music Racer: Ultimate attempts to explore this theory while testing your reactions and rhythm.

Developed by AbstractArt and Light Road Games and published by Sometimes You, this is a racing rhythm title. This is the upgrade from Music Racer, the arcade game released in 2018. The new and improved version has performance enhancements, but more importantly, the ability to play your own music. “Why is that important?” you may wonder! Well, when the hectic action relies on a variety of songs, you may wish to select your favourite track.

Music Racer: Ultimate is a slow-burner. 

I usually adore every rhythm game I tackle, as I love how addictive and challenging they are. I recently covered Beat Souls, and it highlights my obsession with the genre. However, Music Racer: Ultimate didn’t grab me straight away. Its lack of early game content and its simple mechanics left me reeling. However, as I progressed, it got under my skin and I became lost in the futuristic setting. Consequently, I enjoyed unlocking new stages, purchasing vehicles, and the chilled out Ibiza vibes.

Though I soon warmed to its straightforward approach, I was disappointed by the lack of a story. True, it would have been hard to implement it within the fast-paced rhythmical action. Yet, it would have added to the gameplay if there was a reason for racing upon the neon-infused streets. As it is, you must speed through a selection of racetracks, collecting tokens to hit the high score. There are obstacles to avoid, and hitting every marker enhances your combo.

Drive a police car in Music Racer: Ultimate
Why not race a police car?

A basic premise. 

As I said, the concept won’t stretch you. There are no fancy power-ups to collect, and it matters not which car you select. Therefore, the gameplay could be repetitive. Luckily, however, the developers overcame this with the choice of 4 game modes and a variety of songs to pick from. The options available to you are standard, zen, cinematic, and hard. They are pretty self-explanatory, but each has a distinct quality.

The standard mode is your go-to option. Here you will collect tokens, avoid obstacles, and race to the finish. There are no penalties for failure, and hitting a trap is a mere inconvenience. Zen mode, on the other hand, allows you to race freely with no danger whatsoever. Therefore, you can focus on your high score while enjoying the atmospheric music. Next, there is the Cinematic option. It offers an awe-inspiring view of each vehicle and the surrounding world. It was beautiful to zoom in and out of your car while studying the different backdrops. If you so wished, you could lose yourself in this time-consuming choice. Finally, hard mode will break your soul. Death is guaranteed and any mistake will end your run. Subsequently, this hardcore option is not for the faint of heart. It’ll test your reactions, memory, and skills. It’s devilishly difficult and will make you scream.

Music Racer: Ultimate is vivid and futuristic.
A stunning futuristic world.

Music Racer: Ultimate, is a vast improvement. 

New and improved titles are all the rage. Therefore, we are seeing more remastered games because of next-gen consoles. Music Racer: Ultimate pushes its presentation to the limit thanks to its 4K resolution with 120FPS. This jump in performance is noticeable over the original, and the gameplay benefits exponentially. The smooth movement, striking colours, and distinct stage design will capture your attention. Unfortunately, though, for all its positives, there is one glaring oversight. The camera angle is too tight to your vehicle, and this impacts your point of view. Sadly, you’ll miss tokens and hit obstacles that could have easily been avoided. Had the developers incorporated an array of camera angles, then this would have been avoided.

The positives extend to the audio arrangement. With 3 options at your disposal, you are spoilt for choice. First, it is loaded with a variety of chilled and fast-paced electronic songs. These weren’t to my taste, but they suit the theme and were pleasant, regardless. Second, you can temporarily download a song from Audius. This streaming platform has a large selection and you can pick from its vast catalogue. Last, the pièce de résistance is that you can select your own music. Now, this isn’t as straightforward as I’d have liked. You can upload your favourite tune to a server and connect to this from the game. There is a large list of free apps to choose from, but it was too much hassle for my liking. It is a nice idea, however, and adds another layer to the addictive and immersive gameplay.

Music Racer: Ultimate allows you to drive more than just cars.
Leave the cars behind.

The analogue stick is too sensitive. 

Like Beat Souls, Music Racer: Ultimate suffers from overly sensitive controls. This is a massive flaw when moving to the beat is an essential mechanic. Luckily, though, you can use the d-pad and this removes this issue immediately. Problem solved, you’d think, but unfortunately, it is not. During the harder mode or faster songs, the d-pad isn’t responsive enough and you miss your targets repeatedly. This is an issue that needs to be addressed if the game is to reach its potential.

Sadly, Music Racer: Ultimate fails to evolve past its basic concept. Yes, there are four modes to experience, but these follow the same core principles. Consequently, the action is repetitive, and this negatively affects longevity. On the other hand, players who fall for its charms will adore the challenge of unlocking each level and every vehicle. Moreover, completionists will have to invest hours if they wish to finish it.

Music Racer: Ultimate is a wonderful casual title.

Though I found much of the action to be repetitive, I enjoyed playing it in short bursts. Subsequently, this is a fantastic casual experience. I adored the beautiful futuristic landscapes, the interesting cars, and the unusual stage design. Unfortunately, though, its USP isn’t as user-friendly as I’d have liked and this somewhat undermines it. All things considered, it’s a great arcade title that I recommend you to buy here! Will you be able to move to the beat or will you fail miserably? Pick a car, select your tunes, and pick up every point on offer. 

Review: What Lies in the Multiverse

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: What Lies in the Multiverse
Here is my video review with footage captured on my Xbox Series X, enjoy!

Life is a bizarre thing! On the surface, it’s simple enough, but when you start looking deeper, it gets complicated. Therefore, have you ever considered the possibility of multiple dimensions? The belief is that every possible outcome is being played out. This is the core principle of What Lies in the Multiverse, a dark, yet funny adventure title.

Developed by Studio Voyager and IguanaBee and published by Untold Tales, this is a puzzle-platformer. It is a retro side-scrolling affair with a wicked sense of humour. Furthermore, it has brain-twisting puzzles, will test your reactions and will make you laugh repeatedly. Moreover, it has a striking cast of characters and a strange story that must be seen to be believed.

What Lies in the Multiverse does the basics right. 

Even though the plot, characters and core concept are wild, the gameplay is excellent. What Lies in the Multiverse has got the basics spot on. Consequently, it is an excellent platform title that strikes the right note. It blends madness with increasingly convoluted problems to offer a challenging, yet fun experience. 

You control a young boy who is obsessed with the idea of parallel worlds. He is determined to make the science work, and here is where the madness begins. Armed with a computer and an indignant cat, he starts his experiment. Somehow, he is successful, and this is where he meets the colourful Everett. This wizard, dressed in purple, has a sharp tongue, witty outlook, and a carefree attitude. Think of Willy Wonka, but instead of chocolate, he can bend time and space. Everett won’t allow the boy to jump willy-nilly between dimensions and so he becomes his assistant. Between them, they undertake a wild adventure and take on some wily adversaries. Subsequently, madness ensues, and you’ll chuckle while scratching your head throughout.

Not every chapter of What Lies in Multiverse is dark and dingy.
Take your time and listen to the people of the world.

Simple mechanics and excellent puzzles. 

Though the science behind What Lies in the Multiverse is complex, fortunately, the mechanics are not. The developers have created a wonderfully straightforward affair that is easy to understand. You must move left or right using a classic side-scrolling method. Furthermore, basic platform elements, such as leaping between surfaces and clambering up ladders, are utilised. All sounds easy, right? Wrong! The game twists the action when you flit between dimensions. As you change your perspective, new items appear. Whether it’s vines to climb, icy platforms to slide over, or poisonous air to breathe, it makes the action much harder.

Alongside the perspective-shifting ways are the logic-based problems! They begin easy enough, but soon become much larger and more complex. You are expected to slide boxes, flip switches, and time your jumps between each dimension. Therefore, it’ll test the hardiest of players and comprises many Eureka moments.

The story has 8 chapters that each contain two worlds. You’ll explore a train, town, countryside, caverns, and more. Each of these locations has an alternative dimension to visit, such as an icy tundra, a lush jungle, and a poisonous nightmare. Moreover, you’ll have to put up with “Interferences” and “Ubiquitous”. These are the unfortunate side effects of Everett’s frivolous use of his “Voyager”. This is the staff he uses to travel between dimensions and the reason he is being pursued. The Ubiquitous are items that exist but also don’t exist. They appear in both dimensions but can only be moved in one. The Interferences block the use of the Voyager while forcing you into an alternative world. Both anomalies force you to consider which plain to use while adding complexity to every puzzle you face.

What Lies in the Multiverse has some colourful characters.
Probably best to stay on their good side.

What Lies in the Multiverse is wonderfully pixelated.

Old-school is the in thing. I’ve experienced more pixelated games since owning a Series X than anything else. Indie developers love the style and I admit I’m obsessed with it as well. Fortunately, What Lies in the Multiverse is wonderfully pixelated while being vivid and great to look at. Furthermore, the level design is interesting, varied, and keeps the action fresh. On top of this, the retro sprites add to the interesting layers of nostalgia. Visually, it won’t blow you away, but it’s pleasant and well-considered.

This continues in the simple but fun audio. The whimsical tunes change as you leap between dimensions, and this adds to the drama. Furthermore, there are some strange 8-Bit sounds that increase the madness. Fortunately, however, the noises and music add to the Sci-Fi theme without being too in your face.

What Lies in the Multiverse has a lot of adult themes.
Chug, Chug, Chug, Chug!

Simple controls.

Unlike some of its peers, What Lies in the Multiverse is easy to play. The developers have focused on a simple and responsive control setup. Consequently, this is easy to pick up and master. Therefore, new players and veterans alike will excel thanks to the user-friendly approach. There is an inclusion of basic QTEs that mix things up while maintaining the straightforward style.

Sadly, where this doesn’t excel is its longevity. Though there are 8 chapters, the story only lasts around 4 to 5 hours. This was a little disappointing, as I wanted it to continue. I enjoyed the whimsical story and colourful characters, and I didn’t want it to end. Luckily, however, there is replay value thanks to the large and varied achievement list. If you are a completionist, you’ll spend hours on multiple playthroughs. Consequently, this is great value for money and could span 10 to 15 hours.

What Lies in the Multiverse is great fun. 

I expected What Lies in the Multiverse to be challenging. However, what I experienced was well-thought-out and user-friendly. It has some simple mechanics that evolve thanks to the multidimensional gameplay. Its cheeky story, loveable characters and silly ways will make you smile. Subsequently, you’ll experience an interesting title that is great fun to play. I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you help Everett complete his quest, or will his adversaries stop him? 

Review: A Musical Story

Natosha M
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Review: A Musical Story

A Musical Story is a game that takes place in the 1970s where we follow the journey of a young man named Gabriel, a factory worker with a dream. His life, working in a canning factory, day in and day out can get a bit tiresome, undesirable, and it just feels like it’s taking him nowhere. So Gabriel decides to push onwards, towards his dream to build a band with his 2 other amazing friends, and the three of them try to build something more for themselves!

The main goal of this game is to complete the story and make the dream of these three friends in this band come true. All by playing the music through each gameplay, hitting the beats or marks around a circular designed game board, making sure to get it at the right time. Each one must be correctly done to move forward and the story can also progress, getting the friends in this band to their final destination Pinewood. This is their goal and where they want to give the best performance they can.

Play Your Hearts Out!

A Musical Story is just that, a story that shares a few artistic graphics of what is going on after each performance; the little game portion we have to play. I can totally appreciate that the game is very well designed, simple and easy on the eyes. There aren’t much crazy, blazing, and bright colors, but it does have that classic 70’s vibe in style and appearance. This includes the hair, clothing, the vehicle we are taking, and even just the entire scenery.

Plus the music that is playing, which is mainly our own creation, while the story progresses isn’t that amusing or entertaining, but it’s something and sort of fits the game’s theme. Additionally, each portion of the gameplay is very easy to play with simple button mapping makes it easy to play. The only problem I find is that it can be hard to know when to start with the first beat or the next ones afterward. It takes a few times to get it right, but soon it gets easier to get a hang of the gameplay. Especially, the way each stage goes in around like a circle and requires just two buttons left and right buttons on the controller to use to play the music.

Again, it’s not like the most music-filled game I’ve ever played. Yet, the gameplay is basically a repetitive action, using two buttons and aiming to hit the beats at the right time, even if the sound doesn’t really pick up or does it ever sound anything more than just a slightly unappealing music game. So it’s not something I was expecting when thinking 70s, it just feels a bit less of the exciting disco or anything that might be danceable or make you want to dance while playing. However, with the gameplay and the part, we have to do as the player, it’s just all about the right timing. Plus, no fear of losing the level or stage because even if you mess up, you can easily replay it while it goes around until you get it perfect. So don’t give up, just try, try, and try again till it’s 100% perfect!

After the little gameplay, the story appears. A new part of what is going on before we play again. It’s like a little image of the story that is going on. It isn’t a bad story, it’s quite different and how it plays it is even more original. It is a bit of a nice story and music-playing combination game. So yes, one thing about the game that I do really like and probably mentioned a few times is that it’s easy to learn quickly and not that much exciting.

Final Conclusion

Nonetheless, it’s not such a bad game. Simple, quick, and easy with its challenging features, trying to hit each beat on time. Though with full honesty, I’m not a big fan of music genres when it comes to gaming, but this wasn’t too bad. It’s all about perfect timing, with each little activity and it gets a little challenging, but can be a bit boring for me. However if music games are things you love that is fine too, don’t let me push you away from this game.

Lastly, the game might not take too long, but it does have its tougher parts. Maybe not as crazy as many music rhythm games, but it still will keep you engaged on timing to play perfectly. I must admit, I wasn’t great in the beginning, but after a while, it isn’t as bad as it was when I first started. Therefore, the game is not too bad, maybe a little less entertaining than many others, but for a simple music game, it’s not too bad.

Review: Monster Crown

Daniel Waite
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Review: Monster Crown

As a youngster, I had an unhealthy obsession with Monster Hunter on the PS One! However, all good things must come to an end and I’ve not looked at it since. Yet, this doesn’t mean I don’t have fond memories of the time we spent together. Habits are hard to break and subsequently, whenever a new monster game hits the market, I’m always keen to give it a go. Monster Crown is the latest “Gotta tame them all” title that creeps down a heavily congested walkway and into my lap.

Developed by Studio Aurum and published by Soedesco, this is a top-down 8-Bit RPG monster adventure title. It is clearly influenced by the powerhouse of the genre, Pokémon, and it’s impossible for me to ignore the glaringly obvious similarities. From its garish colours, basic and loud audio, and simple controls, this should appeal to lovers of that franchise.

Monster Crown isn’t unique.

Being influenced by a much-loved title isn’t a crime, but the similarities are worryingly close. Therefore, there is a lack of unique action and consequently, the plot and gameplay feel rehashed. The main concept of fighting lacks personality, depth, and offers nothing new. Furthermore, the plot is generic, slow-paced, and predictable. Sadly, it was all a little disappointing and will be underwhelming for fans of the genre.

The action revolves around a young monster tamer who lives on Crown Island. His dad can see his potential but doesn’t want him to run before he can walk. With some guidance, the hero starts his journey. As you explore your surroundings, you will discover enemies, allies, and a large range of monsters to battle and tame. The story follows a linear plot, and the characters you face are sterile and disinteresting.

Monster Crown takes inspiration from many much-loved franchises.
Where it all begins.

Confusing fighting mechanics.

When a game relies heavily on its combat mechanics and taming elements, you’d hope it would be easy to pick up and play. Sadly, however, Monster Crown is a little confusing. You must understand the 5 different types of monsters in the world and who trumps who. You will encounter Brute, Vicious, Unstable, Relentless, and Will. If you pick the wrong creature to fight another, then your attacks are weaker and your opponent has the upper hand. Luckily, though, the information is made clear in a handy notebook. Unluckily, however, this can’t be accessed during a fight, so memorise it or pay the price.

Once you know who to pick for the best chance of victory, then you must be aware of an ability called Synergy. This all-powerful attack should add tactical nuance to the gameplay, but it’s simply a case of swapping your team around and the ability is unleashed. Consequently, this was disappointing, and it made the gameplay lack finesse.

Monster Crown allows you to select your group leader.
Who will lead your gang?

The best things come to those who wait.

Though you are introduced to the monster taming mechanic very early on, the best elements of the gameplay are withheld. Monster breeding and the deeper parts of the plot don’t appear until you’ve heavily invested your precious time. This wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t for the lacklustre story and simple and bland mechanics. Studio Aurum potentially prevented its player base from seeing the premium content by unnecessarily making them wait. With 200 monsters to capture, I mean tame, and an untold amount of mutant breeds available, this makes for a mouth-watering concept. It was for this reason that I was so frustrated that it took forever to be introduced. Had the developers offered it near the beginning, it would have been a mechanic that could have evolved alongside the story.

If you are patient, you can complete your journey across deserts, woods, and through dungeons with a team of up to 8 monsters. These wild creatures are recruited easily by battling them and offering them a pact. In theory, this was an excellent concept. Sadly, though, the beasts are too generous and everyone wants to join your team. With no challenge to face and no refusals on the cards, it quickly became tedious. Subsequently, like many of the elements of Monster Crown, it falls just short of its full potential.

Monster Crown lacks originality.

Monster Crown’s decision to replicate many of the fine qualities of early Pokémon has not paid off. Conceptually, it’s poor and doesn’t grab your attention. Unfortunately, the disappointment doesn’t end there! Graphically, it lacks originality, and this was unforgivable. The sprites, landscape, colour palette, and animation are all familiar but not as polished. Where it does excel, though, is its level design, the clear and easy-to-read dialogue, and the retro top-down perspective. Sadly, these are minor things, and therefore, it is tough to overlook the many shortcomings.

Worryingly, the problems continue with the music and sound effects. Now, I liked what I heard and the dramatic atmosphere it created. However, its oh so familiar style gave a distinct déjà vu aura to the proceedings. Yes, you’ll like the chirpy and cheeky upbeat songs that are juxtaposed with heavier moments during battles. But this wasn’t enough to paper over the enormous cracks that appear.

Monsters of all shapes can be tamed in Monster Crown.
If it isn’t the battle of the sea monsters.

Easy but clunky controls.

To compound matters further, the controls are dated, inaccurate, and annoying. Furthermore, the UI is clunky, and the gameplay is full of issues. At times, you can’t select monsters, move through the menus, or complete tasks at hand. Then there was the issue with navigating small spaces as the hero only moves on 4 points of a compass. Luckily, the action doesn’t move quick enough to make this game-breaking, but it was annoying, nonetheless.

With approximately 10 hours of story to decipher and many monsters to breed or tame, you get a lot of bang for your bucks. Sadly, though, withholding the best mechanics, glitchy gameplay, and bland action will put many players off. Furthermore, it’s obviously a poor man’s Pokémon, and its many fans will not put up with the shortcomings.

Monster Crown falls way short of expectations.

Maybe my obsession with Monster Hunter tarnished my expectations, but I think not. Disappointingly, the developers attempted to get a small slice of a large and well-loved pie, and they fell way short. Practically, every element of Monster Crown is tepid, underwhelming, and lacklustre. Frustratingly, the best elements require you to wade through hours of monotony and this was a poor decision. Unsurprisingly, I don’t recommend you to buy this! Will you uncover the deep-seated mystery of the island? Live up to your potential, undertake a dangerous adventure, and discover what your home is hiding.

Review: Rugby 22

Michael Hoade
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Review: Rugby 22

Sport simulation is somewhat of a touchy topic in gaming. Finding the balance between offering fun, engaging gameplay, and an authentic, realistic experience isn’t easy.

Fifa is a series that has often walked the line between arcadey exhilaration and purist satisfaction. But yearly releases demand such a quality. Rugby games, on the other hand, are a less consistent experience. An absence of a dedicated release schedule, and big developer backer, has unfortunately led to sparse releases of varying quality.

Rugby 20 released back in 2020 and showed some promise; a commitment to deep, tactical simulation of the sport was evident throughout the game. Now, 2 years on, developers Eko Software have the chance to build on the evident promise of the previous title with Rugby 22. 

Striking a balance:

I mentioned Fifa earlier because football, much like Rugby, is a tricky sport to translate to video games. The complexity of the game – with deep tactical differences between teams – has presented a significant challenge over the years for developers. A series like Football Manager leans heavy into the tactical aspect; foregoing any arcade aspects for a much deeper experience. Whilst the classic Fifa Street leaned completely into the over-the-top and arcade style of gameplay.

Unfortunately, the demand hasn’t been quite the same for a top mainline Rugby title. Rugby 22 evidently builds on the promise of Rugby 20, with a clear appreciation for the many tactical nuances of the game, but in other areas, you can feel the absence of support.

Gameplay wise, Rugby 22 has a lot to offer. The initial tutorial impressed me with the layers of gameplay mechanics that it seeked to introduce, and I was hooked from my first match.

Tackles feel impactful and frenetic, movement feels responsive and this makes each moment of a match feel engaging and rewarding. That said, there is a deep learning curve here and for newbies (like me) even the easiest settings will feel like quite the challenge. This isn’t necessarily a negative, however, and I’m sure someone new to the game of football would feel similarly about Fifa. Positives aside, the game’s choice to frontload the tutorial with an abundance of mechanics – some, such as the jackal – that are poorly explained, made the learning curve a bit steeper than necessary.

The physicality and intensity of the sport has been remarkably well captured and scaling the difficulties provides hours and hours of entertainment. The developers have also succeeded AT striking a difficult balance between making the game fun and an authentic simulation.

Playing online against other players is a smooth and inherently engaging experience (and humbling in my case). At its core, Rugby 22 offers some very solid gameplay that accurately lives up to the real game.

Unfortunately, other areas of the game feel undercooked, and in some cases, short-sighted. 

Rough around the edges:

“Career mode” fails to live up to any reasonable expectations. A better way of looking at Rugby 22’s “career mode” is more akin to Fifa ultimate team: there is no narrative or story to be found here – instead, you compete to work your way up various divisions whilst earning points to buy packs containing players. Whilst the loop has potential to be addictive, the lack of licensing for most players makes unlocking new players much less exciting when the vast majority are randomly generated.

Without an exciting incentive, career mode lives and dies on the core gameplay, and whilst this might be enough for some, for me it feels misguided.

League mode offers an even briefer alternative, with its one season structure feeling quite bizarre. 

Sadly these issues speak to a game that is very rough around the edges that surround its core gameplay. Game modes are shallow and there is very little to keep you hooked beyond the core gameplay. 

As a visual offering Rugby 22 is also subpar compared to other modern sports games. The scanned players look great, but players without scans look somewhere between creepy and downright frightening. Thankfully the players animations are very well done, even if the commentary that accompanies the action feels stilted. 

A crunching blow:

Rugby 22’s solid gameplay struggles to carry an otherwise mediocre offering and the result is a game that feels like a missed opportunity. Whilst the initial engagement of the deep, well realised incarnation of the sport of Rugby had me excited, the game’s lack of polish in other areas severely hampers the overall experience.

Online may offer some longevity, but outside of that, I’m not sure there is enough here to satisfy anyone but absolute purists. 

Review: Breakout: Recharged

Daniel Waite
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Review: Breakout: Recharged

The Recharged series is expanding rapidly and now comprises four titles. I have been lucky enough to play and review each one, and I love the arcade and nostalgic feel of each encounter. Every title follows a similar approach, and Centipede: Recharged, Black Widow: Recharged, Asteroids: Recharged, and now Breakout: Recharged brings old-school gaming to a new generation of players.

Developed by Adamvision Studios and SneakyBox and published by Atari, this is a retro arcade title. It reinvigorates the classic brick-breaking game with a modern lick of paint and high-powered utensils. It’ll tick all the boxes for arcade lovers while offering a new challenge to younger and more modern players. It is the perfect addition to the series and retains the brilliant mechanics that I’ve come to expect.

Breakout: Recharged doesn't go easy on the amount of bricks.
So many bricks to destroy.

Breakout: Recharged is brilliant.

Modern gaming is a wonderful thing! The action is expansive; the worlds are enormous, and there is more depth than you could ever imagine. However, there is always a place for retro titles. After all, Breakout captured people’s imaginations with its simple ways and addictive action. Luckily, Breakout: Recharged maintains this simple style, but it also adds a little modern-day magic.

No longer will gamers just bounce a ball around a small stage hoping to break a few blocks. Instead, you will overcome challenges, take on a fast-paced arcade mode, and infuse your paddle with awe-inspiring power-ups. In short, this is an arcade title with a Hollywood twist. Like the original, it is simple to pick up, but challenging to master. You will aim to hit the top of the leaderboard while destroying as many blocks as possible. You are given limited lives and when you lose them all, it’s game over. This do or die approach makes it difficult and addictive. Therefore, it’s a casual title that is hard to put down.

Blow up the bricks and avoid the traps in Breakout: Recharged
Destroy the bricks and avoid the traps.

It offers more.

The other Recharged games focus on two key modes; Arcade and Challenge. Breakout: Recharged, however, is different. Yes, it utilises those options at the heart of its gameplay, but it also maintains strong links to the original mechanics. Subsequently, it is more authentic than its other Recharged counterparts.

Its similarities, on the other hand, fall within the 50 challenges you must overcome, the never-ending arcade option, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively. No matter which mode you select, the fundamentals remain the same. You must ping a ball around a fixed screen while trying to destroy every block you encounter. If you have power-ups activated, you will shoot a rail gun, control three balls at once, slow time, and more. The new abilities add a fun layer to the classic and addictive action that we’ve all come to love.

Unlike its peers, Breakout: Recharged isn’t as difficult. The other games in the series were challenging to overcome, and I struggled to get through every level. This one, however, was easy to finish. Consequently, I was left wanting much more! Sadly, a lack of depth or range of missions didn’t help the situation. Subsequently, the developers could have added more variety to up the ante while increasing the difficulty.

Breakout: Recharged looks fantastic.

I adore it when a game maintains its retro charms, however, at times I like to see a modern polish. Breakout: Recharged has been given a new lease on life thanks to its sharp lines and clean colours. Yes, the action is hectic, and at times, unbearable, but the buttery smooth graphics make it a joy to look at.

A fast-paced game needs a high-energy soundtrack, and that’s exactly what’s delivered. Furthermore, the classic sound effects have been retained to add to that feeling of nostalgia. It was easy to fall for its charms because of its futuristic noises, clean-cut imagery, and neon-infused colour palette. Its simplicity won’t appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed what I saw and heard throughout.

Breakout: Recharged has ridiculous weaponry.
It’s rail gun time.

Moving a paddle isn’t a complex task.

Unsurprisingly, it isn’t challenging to master! You are required to move your paddle, judge the pace of the balls in play, and use any power-ups you have collected. Thankfully, the responsive controls and simple button layout enhance the simplicity further. With minimal effort and a little patience, you’ll destroy every block in sight.

With three game modes to select from, the ability to play with or against friends and a global leaderboard to top, this has replay value and longevity. Yes, it isn’t as hard as its peers, but yet, it’s still addictive and it will get under your skin. On top of this, the moderate-sized achievement list will push you to achieve high scores and complete certain tasks.

Breakout: Recharged is a welcome addition.

I will always love retro gaming and I adore it when developers try something new. Consequently, the Breakout series will always tickle my fancy. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the authenticity of the original mode and the nostalgia-fuelled action. Disappointingly, though, it isn’t as hard as its counterparts and this left me wanting. I wish the developers had been more inventive with the challenges, as this would have made it much tougher and more enjoyable. Nevertheless, I liked it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will you beat every challenge and top the leaderboard? Destroy every block, gather the power-ups, and keep your balls in play.

Review: Ancient Islands

James Refelian
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Review: Ancient Islands

Ancient Islands is a game that sets out to accomplish a lot; and for the most part delivers. At first glance, I thought Ancient Islands by Avernus Software and Art Games Studio S.A. was going to be a run-of-the-mill tower defence game. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

In Ancient Islands you must defend the gate at all costs using a variety of troops and structures.

Gameplay

The game is positioned as exactly that, a tower defence game. You must gather your resources which in this case is gold, wood and stone and build up your structures. These include basic knights, archer towers, mage towers and healing stations. All of which can be upgraded. When you have the necessary resources, you simply build your structure on the desired tile and hope it works. Of course, tactical thinking is a must!

The game will throw waves of monsters at you, all of which are unique in terms of HP, abilities, and speed. So far; exactly what you’d expect. Your objective is to stop your gate being destroyed and there might be more than one. Within the gated walls, however, you can build more freely the resource collecting structures and those which level up your defences. Be mindful where you place them, however, because you’ll want to ensure they’re in the green zone for bonus resources.

Each island has a unique feel, green pastures of traditional medieval lore to more rugged dessert areas. Stages in Ancient Islands also get more challenging as you progress with multiple routes for the monsters to follow and for you to defend. In addition to that, these monster spawning points can even be in the middle of the map rather than the edges. The progression felt natural and offered a good amount of challenge; sometimes to the point a re-do was necessary. The stages have difficulty levels you can select from as well. Once a stage is completed, you’ll progress to the next one as you explore the Ancient Islands.

Like most tower defence games each stage in Ancient Islands is comprised of multiple waves. They usually start easy and get progressively more complex. There’s a handy tracker that displays what wave you’re on. Just before the next one arrives, you get the option to spend some resources to delay it – a great tactic if you’re still clearing out the wave before. In addition you can freeze time and speed it up.

When in level select, be sure to check out the encyclopedia. It’s a nice touch to give you more details on every aspect of the game.

Unique Features

One of the more interesting mechanics about Ancient Islands is the spells you can cast. As the timer progresses through the waves you build mana. If you have the mages building constructed, you then access two basic powers (healing and poison gas) which can help you on the battlefield. As you level up, more interesting spells become available.

Where Ancient Islands diverges from the traditional is with its incredibly complex skill tree system. Points are awarded at the end of each stage, and you can spend them in a vast sprawling tree of level up abilities that span every aspect of the game. From improved economics and gathering to increased damage and resistance across all defence types. It is RPG worthy.

It also throws a few economics systems into the mix with the bazaar feature. This is a structure you can unlock and use to exchange materials for other types of materials you may need. This becomes tactically very useful on maps which are limited in one type or where you’ve levelled up your gathering structures in one area but need more gold for those upgrades and new structures. It works really well and often I found myself needing to pause the timer so I can properly plan before the onslaught of another wave.

Then we have tactics. This an in-depth feature that allows you to plan exactly how your defences will target the monsters. It’s also completely customisable and switchable in game. It works really well and can give you a tactical edge if you need to redirect focus on a particularly difficult enemy.

Music and Graphics

This is perhaps another area where Ancient Islands excels. It is vibrant and cartoony and reminds me of a Matt Groening creation (think Disenchantment more than The Simpsons). What’s even better is you can zoom in and really enjoy the unique monster designs as they fight your defences.

The game gets the sound about right. Again, a little cartoony and ‘over-the-top’ with the clanking of swords and swooshing of arrows through the air but it works. A few sound glitches occurred on occasion but overall, I had no issues. In terms of music, it is the most stereotypical medieval style fare you can imagine. It’s fantastic for this game and never gets annoying or repetitive but gives Ancient Islands a sense of fun.

The cartoon like graphics in Ancient Islands are wonderful.

Issues with Ancient Islands

Ancient Islands is not without some issues. Quite frequently an object would look selected, but it wouldn’t be, and it was increasingly difficult to work out exactly what I had selected which became frustrating. Minor issues included some audio glitches and one instance where my structure didn’t line up with the build tile. I also ran into problems when in docked mode with the Nintendo Switch as on occasion controls were not as responsive as they should be, and the game felt like it suffered from slower than expected loading times.

That brings me to the controls. They are frustratingly complex at times, and unnecessarily so. It took me most of the first island just to work out what does what and the tutorial aspects aren’t the clearest due to poor English language in places.

It can get windy! Enviroment can impact abilities in Ancient Islands.

Is Ancient Islands Worth It?

So Ancient Islands has some issues; one can be more frustrating than the rest which is why I’ve scored it just above average. What the game does, however, is give you a solid tower defence game with other elements from RTS genre games such as economy mechanics and ability point spending via complex skill trees. This is great. It’s great because it feels fresh. It also gives you good challenge and variety which can be lacking in some monotonous tower defence games.

My favourite bit though? Just how fun the game looks. With its bright colours and cartoon style graphics (that still remind me of a Matt Groening creation) Ancient Islands is a joy to play and zoom in to see the fun details. It also has some wonderful mechanics that work really well. It might frustrate you at times, but it will be a visually fun game and I recommend checking it out.

Review: FILMECHANISM

Natosha M
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Review: FILMECHANISM

Ready to put your brain to work? Then step right up and try this new puzzling game, FILMECHANISM. There are so many levels, so many frustrating and strategic planning all bundle up in this 8-bit game!

The main hero, who is us the player, is known as Rec. His goal is to complete the game by getting from the main entry location to the goal, which is the flag. As Rec you are recording or in other words, snapping a photo of the level so that you can keep a memory of where everything is located before you move or rearrange things. From there you can move objects and return to the image it was as you snapped the photo beforehand. Now you can complete and finish the level.

This game is all about planning correctly. Just perfect for giving your brain a workout, but can also be a fun achievement when you hit the goal! From normal levels to hard and even the hardest levels in each world, this game will make you feel excited to keep on playing and playing, till you can complete the level. It’s so compelling and so well designed, that the entire game really plays just perfectly and has been well designed in its 8-bit style!

Continuous 8-Bit Fun

I found the entire game is unique with its photo-taking feature. However, it just works out very well and impressively all the levels are solvable, but also challenging! Thankfully, if you make a mistake, just reset and try try again. Simple as that! There is no pressure to be perfect, but just keep playing till you complete the level. That is something I do like, sit back, relax and challenge your mind!

Especially with three types of difficulties and many worlds to visit, this will keep you busy! Especially with over 200 puzzles to complete. It’s not something that can be done in a few minutes or hours. Cause when you even get to finish the simpler levels, the harder and hardest ones will puzzle the mind completely!

This game is very original from any platformer, puzzle-style game I’ve played! It’s cute with this little character Rec and how he can take photos and even return objects where they use to be with simple control. The game background sounds so pleasing and adorable. As is the gameplay and the graphics.

The games may be easy in the beginning, but don’t be fooled it gets a bit trickier along the way. Nevertheless, it’ll all finally make sense after playing for a while. There are so many unique obstacles that make it trickier to complete. Plus, those starting out, the first few levels completely guide you through the controls and what you can do or how to play.

One thing I can say is that making mistakes is a part of life and a part of this game! So making sure to plan out the approach is a must and sometimes, taking a dry run with what you may think might work, can even help out as well. Regardless, there is a location in the pause menu, where you can buy a hint and get help with the level. It will cost you, but you earn each puzzle you play, which helps! After awhile, it will soon all fall into place and be one of those moments, when you reach the end with a little happy shout!

Final Conclusion

Filmechanism is a wonderful game to play and challenges the mind. It’s full of complex and simpler puzzles to figure out. It all depends on the player and how well they are in strategically planning out paths to get from beginning to end, safely. This is one of those games that will keep the player engaged mentally while being joyful being this cute little guy named REC, safely moving around the puzzling level to the goal.

Therefore, I found this game to be a blast for a classic reminder of the 8-bit game style. Also, so much fun with its many levels to play through, without it ending too soon. They all are different and full of obstacles to overcome, which adds to the fun, challenging aspect of this puzzling game to play constantly!

Review Tetris Effect: Connected

Natosha M
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Review Tetris Effect: Connected

Puzzle lovers, guess what! Tetris is back and plays great on the Nintendo Switch. The game itself is way more captivating than it’s ever been! The entire stage comes to life as you play while rotating and moving those four classic shapes throughout the game’s boards. Plus, the danceable and ideal music is always playing in the background. Let’s just say that everything about the game, Tetris Effect: Connected is totally motivating and captivating during gameplay!

Classic Tetris with Unmatched Features!

Tetris Effect: Connected is a game that in my opinion, appears ways more superior to any other Tetris game I’ve played before! There are numerous amount of stages, each fully illuminated and fascinating with beautiful background scenes. Every stage you enter has a different scene and difficulty, pushing you to the limit and pressuring you to think fast, and score big! Oh, but don’t get pulled in by graphics in the background, which might even make it hard to pay attention, resulting in losing your chances of winning the game. Playing alone it’s not a bad thing, but if you’re playing a competitive game against others it may ruin your chances of winning.

Another thing about the music and scenary, which works with every gameplay, I just had to explain. Every little movment in the puzzle’s stage plays some original and gorgeous music. The more you play the more the music adjusts and more of it plays. Every little tile that is placed by the player, creates a new beat with the background music. Additionally, each tile after clearing of a few lines, adds a new tune and more of the song to be revealed. I also love that not only does the music change, but the visual graphics also comes to life and changes right infront of your eyes as you play. This is very much one original combination that Tetris ever created in a game, so beautiful and motivating at the same time!

Even more, if you are playing many different stages, there are unique shapes and matching to the graphic tiles. It’s a bit trickier and can be quite fun too! An additional challenging with the shapes, easy to make a mistake with the few styles, but thankfully if you play in the beginner or easier option, you can see exactly where the piece will fit into the board. It’s deffinitly have plenty of amazing stages and quite an original puzzling game, this is for sure!

Regardless of the graphics which by the way, are breathtaking! The game plays just like the classic Tetris, which everyone who played throughout the years will still love. Moving those four falling shapes around a rectangular box, trying to combine them together and clear the stage with a high score. Nevertheless, the game gets even more interesting when you have a chance of choosing a different choice of modes to play.

One option that you can choose with in either mode option is playing the game a bit more competitive with others online or nearby. This I really do love, as you can challenge plenty of others even have spectators up to 8 in a room online or play with four other friends nearby and battle it out, seeing who comes out as the top winner! There are no more just two-player games when you can have many enter the game and plenty more challenging players from all over, some easier than the next. All of this makes it a bit more challenging and always a reason to play Tetris whenever possible

Additionally, the ability to play and unlock some great new avatars is always a pleasant reward bonus! Not only can you score big and try to beat that score, but you can also get a new set of avatars to choose from. In all truth, that even proves how much better you are at playing Tetris, as you level up and earn a new avatar. There are plenty to earn, so winning plenty of games and scoring well is a great start to a collection of new achievable avatars!

I do need to point out, that even with a similar game with a bit more upgrade. There are no multicolor shapes, but the theme of the level; stage, and graphics all match. I love that addition. When you play the classic way you’d play Tetris, the movement of the tiles, the graphics and the difficulty all play a part together. It’s very easy to get confused or lost in the game that distractions will occur, this is what I had occurred a few times I’ve played through. It’s very much more challenging but still provides the entertaining Tetris everyone knows how to play; those who played it before.

One special mode I do like in this Tetris game, which isn’t in most others that I’ve tried. Well, it isn’t only playing against one another or competing against other friends and even working together through the Journey Mode, but the Tetris Effect Mode option. It is something that is a challenge, where you play the beautiful graphics done like the original gameplay. Instead, you have to complete the puzzle by completing a certain amount of lines. They aren’t super easy and don’t expect to be a champion the first time around. However, like all Tetris puzzles it gets harder and harder as you clear lines and time passes by.

Now was there any problems I’ve encountered? Yes, just a few. This game was almost what I’d considered complete perfection. It had entertaining music, graphics and the game was fully intensive and engaging. However, the problems that I did come accross was just two. May not be a big deal with many others, but I did notice these as I played.

The first one was when I was using the instant drop button, a quicker way to release the tile down into the puzzle; board. However, this didn’t seem to be always easy to avoid when playing. I accidentally triggered the button one after another, by mistake because my finger moving to the next directional key, hit the fast release directional key by accident a few times. Easiest way to lose and ruin a game.

The second problem I’ve encountered was a bit of a stall with the game. There would be times where it would not load and freeze for a moment, maybe longer than a moment. I had to get out of the game and press a few buttons and finally it defrost and I was ready to play again. Thankfully cause I didn’t want to lose what I’ve played and won so far. Another blessing, is that it automatically saves after each stage, so it won’t really do much but cause you to plat that stage over again.

I think this also could be due to lost of connection, while playing in single-player mode. If you lose connection, you might be why the freezing. However, in settings turning off the online option and it will remove the chances of keeping down the score, but it might be beneficial if you are dealing with areas that the game stalls. However, it might just be the graphics are too much and it could cause for it to freeze for a short amount of time till it can return back to the game.

Other than these faults, the game still kept me engaged for a while. I didn’t want to put it down. Every time I got close I didn’t want to stop and step away when I could try and try again to win! It’s a game that won’t leave you bored but entertained for hours, days, months, and years to come!

Final Thoughts

Tetris has always been a game that never ends. You can play it over and over, never playing it exactly the same as you did the first time or a few times afterward. Plus, with the many mode options to choose from, it’s just so much more interesting and of course, challenging. Also, who can not love a bit more entertaining music, background graphics, or just the difficulty of the stages as you advance forward. Tetris really just got an upgrade and for those who don’t like change, it still has that classic gameplay everyone can enjoy!

Therefore, what did I think about this game? Well, it’s magnificent, with a few faults like many games. However, it’s not something that will stop me from playing, as it will keep me entertained a long time. The games are always random, unique, and the competition can always boost the challenging approach to the game. No matter, Tetris Effect: Connected is honestly a marvelous game and a perfect addition to the Tetris lover’s collection!

Review: Grapple Dog

Kara Phillips
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Review: Grapple Dog

Grapple Dog is a bright, fun, adventure across islands in order to stop a robotic apocalypse. You take on the protagonist, Pablo, who unfortunately loses his way at the beginning of the story. We are quickly introduced to our crew of fellow explorers and shown what exactly it is that we are fighting for. Pablo, not really knowing the power he’s unlocked, is quick to understand that he is the one that has to stop this overwhelming enemy. Equipt with a recently discovered grappling hook – the game gets its name and we set sail to save the world. 

Despite it’s colorful and bold art style which makes you think it might be a little out of your age range, Grapple Dog is definitely a challenging title. As you progress through several new realms and explore your own abilities, the difficulty increases too. Games with a grappling mechanic usually end up resulting in finding extremely easy routes out of difficult situations. But even though the game is titled after this mechanic, it’s use is very limited. Areas marked out prominently in blue are the areas you can use to grapple, but it very much feels like this mechanic is only utilized in boss battles. 

Boss battles and bonus levels

The boss battles are generously scattered across each of the maps you explore, and once again mirror the increasing difficulty much like the core gameplay. You face off against one main nemesis which is introduced during the tutorial of Grapple Dog. And as you get more powerful – so do they. The boss battles are genuinely really fun but that doesn’t mean they aren’t frustratingly challenging at times. The game also comes with a series of bonus levels, given you do well. They feel almost like mini games and are a refreshing change of pace after fighting your way through a level. From collecting various fruits to fighting every enemy in sight, the better you do the better the benefits. 

Grapple Dog also comes with a fast, joyful soundtrack to accompany it’s gameplay. Which, I’ll admit, feels a little deafening at the beginning. Luckily you can adjust the game’s sound settings very easily. But the soundtrack does get repetitive and annoying after a while. So it might be worth just turning it off before you find yourself grinding your teeth and wishing you’d never begun the game in the first place. It doesn’t change between levels. Which is a shame as there would be some great opportunities for different soundscapes given the vast landscapes you discover along the way. 

Final thoughts

All in all, Grapple Dog is an extremely fun experience. It’s got a solid story and definitely has challenging aspects to keep you coming back. The only real downside is the soundtrack which even then isn’t really enough to say this game isn’t worth playing. It gives off the same energy as an old school Gameboy title, with it’s bold and brash character design. It’s worth playing for anyone who needs to satisfy the needs to play a platform game with a different mechanic rather than rinsing another Mario title.

Review: Explosive Candy World

Daniel Waite
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Review: Explosive Candy World

Explosives and sweets don’t usually go hand in hand. As a parent, I couldn’t imagine mentioning the two in the same sentence. Well, maybe I’d say “Don’t touch that bomb and here are some sweets for listening to me, for once.” However, Explosive Candy World obviously thinks this is a marriage made in heaven.

Developed by Marcos Game Dev, published by Eastasiasoft Limited and ported by Ratalaika Games, this is a physics-based puzzle platformer. It’s sickly sweet, demands an eye for detail, and requires patience, a calm mind, and an awful lot of luck. It uses a fixed-screen perspective while relying on horizontal movement. Furthermore, it has a distinctly retro feel thanks to the pixelated imagery and simple sprites.

Explosive Candy World will test your patience.

I admit that I installed this, expecting it to be a walk in the park. Sadly, I was wrong and my late-night gaming session quickly turned into a rage-induced battle. Explosive Candy World lays out its simple mechanics from the off. Consequently, there are no hidden surprises, and failure is down to your lack of ability. This brutal but simple approach will appeal to fans of hardcore titles such as Super Meat Boy or OkunoKA Madness. However, Explosive Candy World doesn’t have the finesse or evolve like its peers, but its core mechanics will still test you.

Surprisingly and disappointingly, there was no story to experience. Therefore, your reason for collecting sweets or being empowered with explosive abilities is never explained. Subsequently, you simply have to go with the flow and complete each challenge in front of you. The action takes place in four colourful worlds that each contain an array of sugary snacks. There are new mechanics introduced as you advance, but the majority of the gameplay revolves around familiar ideas.

Explosive Candy World is full of mean monsters.
Use your explosives to get to the cakes.

Sweets, sweets, and more sweets!

Every dentist in the world will be sweating as they see this disgustingly sweet game. With candies strewn across every level, it’s a deliciously deceptive treat. You must move the hero using his explosive power, so forget about walking or jumping. As you navigate each stage, you must avoid the traps, collect the sweets, activate switches, and hit the end goal. On paper, it seems easy enough. However, in reality, you’ll fall to your death, bounce off walls, and generally screw things up.

To make matters worse, you have to be precise and quick as switches have timers, and platforms twist and turn. Furthermore, spikes line the floors and ceilings and minor mistakes will kill you. Luckily, though, the developers have a soft side! They have used unlimited lives, and this makes it much easier. You can try and fail as much as you like and it doesn’t impact your progress.

You must collect strawberries, doughnuts, drinks, and cakes. As you plan to gather each item, you’ll bounce off jellies, become enveloped in cake dough, spin on moving platforms, use teleporters, and more. The straightforward action becomes hectic and the simple objectives quickly become that bit tougher.

Explosive Candy World doesn't believe that sweets are bad for you.
Wbo says that sweets are bad for you?

Explosive Candy World, a retro treat.

Explosive Candy World isn’t the most pretty game you’ll ever play, nor is it the most graphically advanced. However, it captures both retro and arcade imagery in its basic approach. Thanks to its lack of complexity, blend of colours, and fixed-screen perspective, this is as old-school as they come.

The sense of nostalgia doesn’t end there because of the shrill and fun audio. The upbeat music is jovial and adds energy to this maddening physics-based title. What’s more, the obnoxious sound effects are loud, in your face, and are reminiscent of classic arcade games.

Both the visual and audio elements lacked complexity, but I loved their straightforward approach. When precision is a key element, you want the imagery to be clean and easy to observe. Luckily, Explosive Candy World delivers this from start to finish, thanks to its sickeningly sweet ways.

Don't let the freezing land in Explosive Candy World stop you.
Brrrrr those treats are chilly.

ARGGHHHHH.

This genre is designed to bring out the best and worst in its fan base. It’s deceptively easy to pick up but quickly becomes a nightmare to master. Therefore, passing a level that has made you scream ARGGHHHH is undeniably rewarding. Luckily, the controls are responsive, accurate, and easy to understand. Moreover, a helpful guideline highlights the path of your explosives and this prevents you from going astray.

With 80 levels to defeat, it’s great value for money. I enjoyed the variety on offer and the gentle learning curve. However, I can’t help but think the developers missed a trick. There is no NG+ mode, speedrun option, or leaderboard. Furthermore, the use of unlimited lives reduces the risk and difficulty. I wish a hardcore option had been incorporated, as well as some of the familiar tried and tested options. If this was added, then the longevity would be vastly increased.

Explosive Candy World is a casual treat.

The simplicity of its design, quick levels, and easy-to-understand mechanics makes it a great casual title. Luckily, there is an introduction of new mechanics throughout and this helps to keep the action fresh. I loved how the developers captured the retro arcade feel and this makes it just a little more special. Yes, it could have had more options to enhance the gameplay, but what is presented is enjoyable and challenging. It’s a winner for me and I recommend you to buy it here! Explosives are your best friend! Destroy the scenery, collect the candy, and explore each world you find en route. 

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