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Review: Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

Davide Roriz

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Jan 17, 2022

Review: Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

After about 2 years of Early Access on Steam, Encased finally released its 1.0 version into the wild back in September of 2021. This period was a long and arduous one, and despite being out for about 4 months now, the game is still receiving updates. Although I prefer to wait for when a game is no longer scheduled to receive any more content, so that I can play everything in one playthrough and then move on to the next thing, it just got to a point where I felt like I finally needed to dive into this one.

While I’m happy that I’ve finally played through the entire game, I must say that the game feels rushed in a lot of aspects. It’s clear that a lot of care and thought was put into creating such an imaginative world, but it seems like some things just didn’t make it into the final game in time, or they were just scrapped during development as the Early Access period stretched on.

Regardless, Encased is another great example of why the recent CRPG Renaissance has been such a thrill to experience. The developers, Dark Crystal Games, have clearly been inspired by the old-school Fallout games, and this reflects itself not only in Encased’s gameplay but also in its setting.

The game takes place in an alternate timeline during the 1970s, where the discovery of a mysterious Dome led to an abrupt end of the Cold War. With all of Humanity uniting under the goal of exploring the Dome and its riches, CRONUS is created, a megacorporation dedicated to unlocking the secrets and technologies under the Dome. However, the problem presented by this mysterious and massive structure is that once you’re inside of it, there’s no coming out.

It’s a pretty interesting premise as far as I’m concerned, and it allows players to open multiple doors both in terms of roleplay opportunities, as well as in terms of gameplay. Right at the start of the game, you create your own character, a new employee of CRONUS. As an employee of CRONUS, you belong to one out of five different wings, with each encompassing individuals with a specific set of skills. There are the prisoners and ex-convicts from the Orange Wing, the technicians from the Blue Wing, the guards from the Black Wing, and so on. It’s a system designed to segregate everyone under the Dome, but it works great from a gameplay perspective, as it functions as a pretty straightforward faction system.

In any case, once you’re thrown into the actual Dome, Encased feels extremely familiar if you’ve played any CRPG before. In a way, perhaps that’s to its own detriment. As far as gameplay goes, Encased doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t actually need to. As an RPG, it’s pretty good and roughly at the same level as its peers. As long as you aren’t expecting something groundbreaking in the gameplay department, then I’m sure you’ll be pleased with what the game has to offer.

The combat is pretty bog-standard and should feel extremely intuitive, even if you’re not a hardcore fan of turn-based RPG combat. With that being said, the game offers plenty of ways for you to build up your character, as well as your party by providing a pretty diverse range of companions. Now, for example, even though you can use a lot of weapons, regardless of their class, if you invest skill points to specific areas, such as high-tech or heavy weapons, you’ll unlock active abilities to use during combat and even passive buffs that not only affect your character but also your companions.

As with a lot of RPGs, everything in Encased happens in real-time and when you enter combat the game switches to a turn-based mode. The combat is pretty much what you’d expect from an RPG such as this, but the surprise for me was the fact that the game has no cover system. Instead, the game allows you to use unspent action points to increase your defence for the next turn.

Now, if combat isn’t really your thing and you just want to explore the world and enjoy the story, then you don’t need to worry. Encased offers 4 different difficulty modes suited for all sorts of players. Whether you just want to experience the story, have a little challenge, or be fully immersed in Encased’s turn-based tactical combat, the game has got you covered. With that being said, I wish there were more customization options that would allow players to fine-tune specific aspects of the game, such as if certain stats affect you or not. In this regard, I think that the developers of the Pathfinder games, Owlcat Games, have been doing a tremendous job in providing players with a vast array of difficulty customization options, and I hope other developers eventually follow suit.

Although the combat has left me wanting something more unique, the rest of the game left me pretty satisfied. Even though some locations in the game might feel very similar to each other, they’re populated by a unique set of characters. At the end of the day, the strongest point of Encased is precisely that, it’s characters that are driven by a set of morals and beliefs, the mystery surrounding the Dome, and the ongoing power struggles between the various different groups with each seeking to shape the world under the Dome under their own ideologies.

Just imagine a series of factions with different points of view on how things should be run, sometimes with extreme opposite opinions, all locked in a confined space, and under constant threat by a series of anomalies that decimate everything in their path and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Everyone should be working together, but that’s precisely what’s not going to happen. It falls on the player’s shoulders the choice of how they want to shape this world, who they want to align with, who they want to eliminate, but most importantly, who they want to become.

Despite everything, I’ve run into a few issues during my playthrough that clearly indicate that the game still isn’t as good as it could be. For example, the most obvious one is that inventory management isn’t smooth and requires a lot of work on the player’s behalf. There’s also no way to compare the stats of different items, especially if you’re figuring out what you should sell or not. I found myself constantly going back and forth between my inventory and opening up trade windows just to make sure I was selling the right items. Furthermore, traders have limited money, so selling your unwanted items can become quite a chore, since you have to go all over the place looking for traders with money to buy from you. I understand that the developers might have wanted to simulate an actual economy under the Dome, but it just gets in the way of my experience.

Another issue that you always run into as soon as you get your first companion is the fact that companions don’t keep up with you. Instead, they follow you from a distance, which is rather annoying when you initiate combat and the rest of your party is slightly behind you. There can also be some rare occasions where your companions will stop moving until you select them, and they can also get stuck in the terrain sometimes. One thing that does confuse me about your companions is the fact that they can’t equip power armour, even though they have a slot for it in their inventory. At the moment, power armour can only be equipped by your main character, which I find to be quite a shame.

In spite of all that, these aren’t really the main issues that I have with the game. The ones that I was really bothered by are things such as being unable to finish quests, despite meeting the requirements, and having characters stuck with radiation sickness and all the methods that can be used to treat it refusing to work on specific characters.

Nevertheless, something that disappointed me about the game was how the main quests change as you move through each act. While the game starts quite strong and keeps like that for a good while, it comes to a point where the main quests turn into glorified fetch quests. Sure, the story follows along nicely, but I would like to have seen something more captivating. The first half of the game feels like you’re constantly seeking answers to an unsolvable mystery, while the other half feels like you’re just tagging along for the ride and gathering materials to craft something. The characters and the dialogue are just as good throughout the entire game, but I did feel less interested in the main questline towards the end of the game.

It took me roughly 60 hours to reach the end of the game while completing the overwhelming majority of its side-quests. I was lucky enough to get an ending that I was happy with, even though it presented a rather unexpected twist. With that being said, if you want to experience other endings, you can just reload your last save and go through the last part of the game until you’ve seen most of them. On the other hand, the reason why I can see this game being replayed by many people is due to how you can approach its story from various different points. There are multiple factions that you can align with, betray, not to mention the entire roleplay potential of it all. Despite its shortcomings, I do think that Encased has done quite well on this point.

It’s really a shame that the game suffers from multiple issues, even though I wouldn’t consider any of them to be game-breaking. Despite being in Early Access for about 2 years, Encased feels rushed and unfinished in some places. At the end of the day, Encased is a good game, but it really feels like it has a lot of untapped potential. The universe and the story are unquestionably the stars of the show, but the rest of the game just doesn’t stand out as much.

I definitely think that Encased is worth the asking price, but if 30€ is too much for you right now or you’re unsure, just keep an eye on it for a little longer. Although the game has been fully released for a few months now, it’s supposed to receive a content update pretty soon. Therefore, it’s clear to me that the developers are not only focused on improving the game, but also on expanding it by adding even more things to do. In any case, while Encased might not be the next big RPG, and even if it was frustrating at certain times, it did leave quite the impression on me. If you’re a fan of CRPGs, especially the old Fallout games, then I definitely recommend that you check this one out.

Review: Klang 2

Natosha M

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Jan 16, 2022

0

I’ve never been too fond of games that require following a rhythm or beat and do it in a certain mannerism that allows you to correctly earn those points or defeat any enemy in front of you. It was due to some bad experiences with a few games. I rather just turn them off and stop playing when noticing it’s that type of game. However, I didn’t do anything like that for this game, the total opposite! The unique design and story appealed to me, so did the music and after playing a few times playing in a single day, I honestly can say I was quite hooked and impressed. I may have to rethink games about music and rhythm!

First off, I’ve never played Klang before, so having a chance to try the 2nd edition and getting to experience every bit of the game, well it is true enjoyment! The music, the flashing lights, and the colors going all over are just mesmerizing! The game is a perfect balance of gameplay coordinated quite well with the music even in with mistakes by not accurately getting the perfect aim at any time, it still plays excellently, and playing on the Xbox One console makes it just superb!

Let There Be Sound!

There is no doubt in my mind that this game is quite remarkable and unique. I’m totally engaged in accuracy and being a perfectionist when it comes to the goal of winning each level! Additionally, I want to make clear that this review is going to be based on the game as you start it up, first thing. There were no changes in the controls and to make it anyway easier, just as it would play if you started right when it came on without configuring the control keys. I only want to make this clear because, there is no difficulty level adjustment, but you can change the way it auto-locks onto each mark, taking one less step away from the game and making it a bit easier. Also adjusting the control to work with your choice of the trigger button.

For me the X button was ok, but I’m used to pressing the A. It was so much easier to push than X all the time. Therefore, these setting changes can aid in the way the game plays and makes it easier for those who need a little less worry on speed and more just on accurate timing. So my review is based on the game as you first turn it on and play it, not with the adjustments.

So first off, I must admit that in the first few rounds of the game, my score was graded with a letter C. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t grasp the concept of the gameplay, to get it anything more than a C. I was just blasting my tuning fork’s power at each shape as quickly as I can, hoping it was correct. However, there is so much more to it than speed, which dawned on me after a couple of redos in each level.

I did notice that my controller, which could just be me, but for some reason, the triangle-shaped marks made it hard to get it completely accurate. Yet, I’m not sure if this is an error or something else, but I finally realized there is no need to do it perfectly, just good enough. It would accept as long as the shape is in the lines somewhat, which is a blessing as it’s hard to always get it just right. So it took a few tries to realize what mistakes I’ve been making. Especially when it came to the other shapes, aiming when it’s in the right location at the right time. Nothing can be too far off, or you’ll see words appear this is anything other than PERFECTION!

Is this game fast-paced, yes and no. It can require a quick response, but also patience is needed. So I wouldn’t suggest this game for someone who wants to sit back and feel they’ll be playing something relaxing. Especially, if you are not able to be patient and always got that trigger finger pressing the button to blast balls of color all over the place. I almost can say it’s like how you would play Guitar Hero or any game that requires accuracy at certain timing.

As the main goal is to continuously aim accurately at the correct locations when required. The wonderful music in the background may even push you to feel as if you need to shoot sooner, but don’t be fooled. Sounds can trigger that speed-up effect and not really help if you want to get the score to pass. I’ve felt that way when I use to play any Mario game. The one-minute timer, changing to this fast pace sound, it pushes you to want to go faster. This is where the game brings a bit more challenge to the player, seeing if they can hold they’re cool and continue to be perfect and correct at all times.

Once again, I must say that it’s not such a super easy game to get right away, but it is fully challenging. You first need to learn to play the game through the tutorial. Especially, if you happen to be like me and not have ever played the first game, I’m sure it would have been played the exact same way. However, being my first time trying this game, it really interests me because it’s got some very nicely motivating music and sequence challenges that add to the difficulty. I won’t just be playing the game through, get a high score the first time around, and be done with it in an hour or two. So look forward to a more challenging game than just a simple and easy one!

On the other hand, it may mention using a pair of headphones; earbuds while playing. I must say that even without a pair of headphones, the game still sounds quite remarkable. Of course, the sound in a set of headphones may make for a stronger and powerful background sound while playing. I don’t think it really is too bad without! In addition to the music, each beat just plays well with the music that you get to hear during each level and the dark atmosphere with the bright colors; flashy fireballs, which you’re aiming and shooting with your tuning fork is just a perfect combination. The entire design from sounds to background scenery and graphics is just brilliant!

I never was a fan of these games, as mentioned above. However, after playing this game, I find my entire mind and eyes immersed in the game! I just want to keep playing till I am able to reach the passing grade or a higher score than I got before. Yet, it is a bit challenging to get each sequence right, while everything speeds up during the level. Additionally the taunting the game throws out, if you aren’t doing as much as you should, it can be a bit hard not to step back and stop playing till you can show off your skills and beat the level, proving that you do have what it takes!

The Final Beat

Kang 2 is really one entertaining game! I can’t say there is anything wrong with a little bit of a challenge from being used to a slow-paced or one that requires a quick change in aim to hit each note just right. I really feel so much more engaged and excited to continue to play and get a better grade; score!

Even if it’s difficult, I’m so blessed to have a chance to try such a splendid game that is pushing my eyes to be on alert for the next location that the target will appear and have my finger ready to aim. The only way to be the best in this game will include speed, but most of all accuracy. After you get those few things down, which is speed, timing, and aiming accurately you will be super successful! It really will have you pushing till you aim for perfection or close to it!

Review: Warriors: Rise to Glory (Early Access)

Charles Ombler

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Jan 16, 2022

0

Review: Warriors: Rise to Glory (Early Access)

‘Funny’ games are an interesting beast to tame. Humour is entirely subjective so you’re either in the situation of finding the game funny, in which case *tick* the game has gone its job, or not finding the game funny, in which case you can often see where humour has been attempted and can acknowledge that it just isn’t for you. However, that all changes when the game explicitly calls itself ‘funny’. When a game does that, all allegiances to whether the jokes are funny or not disappear to be replaced with a very difficult united audience of cross-armed individuals saying “Go on then. Prove it. Make me laugh. I’m waiting.” All of this rambling introduction serves to set the scene for this review of a self-professed ‘funny’ game: Warriors: Rise to Glory.

Warriors: Rise to Glory is an early access online multiplayer Roman gladiatorial combat simulator where you play as a gladiator of your own creation. You can stick with some historical accuracy in your character creation by playing as a tired-looking human man or you can do what I did and mash the randomise button until you end up with a Doctor Manhattan-looking chap with blue skin, red hair and a triangular forehead tattoo. You start from the bottom and, as you win more and more fights, earn the money and experience you need to work your way up, purchasing weapons and armour to start looking a bit more like Russell Crowe and unlocking new skills to rub your opponents’ faces in the dust.

The things you can unlock are pretty great and make a real impact on your ability in the ring. Armour significantly increases your health bar, weapons make a much more major dent in the enemy’s health and the skills you can unlock are game-changing. When you level up, you get 5 points to put into your RPG-style core abilities, things like your chance to hit, health and evasion. You also get to unlock a new ability from a dazzling array of options which will switch up your play style – things like your weapons now bestow bleeding to deal damage over time or taunting forces the enemy to move towards you.

The character creation and levelling up systems in Warriors: Rise to Glory are honestly excellent and I don’t have anything negative to say about them. Unfortunately, it’s when you take your lovingly crafted character into the arena that it starts to let itself down. The game is in early access so there’s still time for this to be rectified but, as it stands at the moment, the combat (the whole point of the game) is a little lacklustre. The turn-based combat is on a 2D plane that’s made up of a row of tiles. On your turn, you can take one action. This could be moving forward or backwards some tiles, resting to recharge your stamina, dancing to win the crowd and enrage your enemy or attacking. When you attack you can either do a ranged attack or a close attack of light, medium or heavy strength, each of which has a damage stat and a chance to hit. I think the issue with the combat lies in only having one action per turn. This disincentivises doing anything clever because choosing to move is also choosing not to do any damage and opening yourself up to your enemy doing damage to you on their turn. This means you spend most of the fight standing next to each other taking it in turns to hit the attack button and waiting for one of your health bars to drop to zero.

To circle back to the abstract for this review, the opening statement on humour in video games – Warriors: Rise to Glory isn’t very funny. It’s trying. It really is trying but that’s almost what lets the humour down, like it’s trying too hard. All of the jokes are toilet humour. When you get the crowd excited enough, they might throw a toilet at your enemy. When you spare your enemy, you fart on them to humiliate them. It’s all just a bit juvenile and basic so whenever it happens it elicits a sigh rather than a laugh.

Warriors: Rise to Glory has a lot going for it. It has a character creation and progression system that I love and applying that to some tight gladiatorial combat would make one hell of a game. However, in its current state of early access, that combat just isn’t there and the humour that has been inserted to fill the gap is honestly dire. I’m going to keep an eye on Warriors: Rise to Glory because, if the developers make the right choices over the next few months, there could be a hell of a game there. However, I’d struggle to make an argument that it is worth buying into at the moment.

Review: Football Cup 2022

Daniel Waite

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Jan 15, 2022

0

My vvideo review with footage captured using my Xbox Series X, enjoy!

Football has long been known as “The Beautiful Game”! It draws together friends, family, and strangers to show their adoration towards one team. Therefore, it brings out the best and worst in people and is ever popular in the gaming industry. When I was offered Football Cup 2022, I was intrigued. I wondered, could this be a contender to FIFA or PES’s thrones? Or would it be a waste of time?

Developed by Inlogic Software and published by Jandusoft, this is a classic footballing title. It allows you to pick from club or international teams but it lacks a full license. Unfortunately, this means that the authenticity is somewhat reduced. Instead of Harry Kane, you have Harry Kanu and Bernd Leno is Bernd Lena. These minor alterations are seen throughout and will make hardcore fans chuckle repeatedly.

Football Cup 2022 is full of content but considerably misses the mark.

Modern football games are a fantastic representation of the real thing. The graphics are stunning, the audio is immersive, and the gameplay addictive. Furthermore, each title is full of content and a deep and fulfilling career mode. Sadly, other than the content, Football Cup 2022 is horribly lacking in every department. Yes, at its roots it represents the action, but it is so badly optimised and designed that it’s laughable.

At best, this will remind you of a rudimentary early FIFA title. At worse, you’ll despise everything about it, so, let’s look at the positives. The developers have worked hard to create multiple game modes with enough variety to keep you interested. There are daily challenges, quick matches, a career mode, and multiple skill games with a global leaderboard. These will keep you playing as you attempt to complete tasks to unlock badges. The badges earn you coins and these, in turn, help you to unlock extra kits. It certainly lacks complexity, but it does add depth to an otherwise overly simplistic approach.

It lacks finesse, and the AI is awful.

There is no greater feeling than when you beat a challenging opponent. Sadly, however, you never get to experience that in Football Cup 2022. The AI is so terrible and predictable that you can simply walk past every player. Moreover, the keeper is about as useful as a chocolate teapot! With some basic trickery, the keeper will always fall to the floor and you can roll the ball into an empty net. This lack of difficulty is an immediate turnoff and undermines some already poor mechanics.

To add insult to injury, the game lacks finesse. Passing is woeful, shooting is appalling, and every player turns like a tanker. Throw-ins are bizarre, corners rarely occur, and someone forgot to implement the offside rule. The list of shortcomings is almost endless and this ruins this dated title. I know in some games these problems can be endearing, but Football Cup 2022 is just eye-wateringly terrible!

Football Cup 2022 is ugly as sin!

I’m not usually one to worry about graphics. Yet, I expect modern sports games to look incredible. Therefore, I was understandably disgusted by what I experienced. The players run around as if they are suffering from whiplash. The pitches all look the same, and the players are limited to a handful of models. Consequently, it lacks variety and is horrible to look at. This is then compounded by the jarring movement, awful animations, and garish colour palette. The redeeming features are few and far between and to say it’s enhanced for the Series X is a joke.

The appalling quality continues in the lacklustre audio. This hollow and soulless endeavour adds nothing to the gameplay. There is no commentary, only limited atmospheric noises, and basic sound effects. While flitting through the menus, you experience a high-energy soundtrack that fills you with hope. However, as you load into a match, the energy dissipates and everything falls flat. You get to hear the same repetitive noises of boot on leather and the occasional roar of the crowd. It’ll remind you of the faux crowd noises added to matches during lockdown, and is just as disappointing.

It handles like a bag of spanners.

The controls are some of the worst that I have come across in any game. In short, it handles like a bag of spanners. It’s slow to respond, the aiming is off, and the shooting is underpowered. Sadly, it also lacks fluidity, and this makes the gameplay poorer still. It’s shocking how terrible it handles and this makes it even less appealing.

Yet, for all its shortcomings, I couldn’t put it down. I laughed repeatedly while enjoying its terrible ways. Thanks to its daily challenges and its large achievement list, it has some replay value. However, there is a glaring omission that deeply impacts its longevity. For unknown reasons, there is no multiplayer mode. Therefore, this can only be played solo, and that’s just ridiculous! This was an enormous mistake and one that’ll instantly put off fans of the genre.

Football Cup 2022 is dreadful.

Football Cup 2022 has a few minor positives, yet these are heavily outweighed by the negatives. It’s probably the worst sports game I’ve tackled while being one of the least desirable titles I’ve ever played. The developers got this so wrong that it’s laughable. I do not recommend it, but more information can be found here! If you want a great football game, you’ll need to look elsewhere. This is woeful in every conceivable way and is an insult to the genre.

Review: Ary And The Secret Of Seasons

Natosha M

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Jan 14, 2022

0

Ary and the Secret of Seasons is a game like no other! As we take on the role of a young heroine named Aryelle, which we all come to know her as Ary. Our main goal is to help save the world from the horrible enemies that are creating havoc. Even more so, we must try to assist the Guardians of the Seasons to keep the balance of the world, Valdi. Without that balance, everything will stay in disarray.

So what’s great about being this heroine Ary? Unquestionably, It has to be her ability to work with the different seasons. Using each of them as a powerful weapon, by manipulating them to help her defeat enemies and make it easier for us to continue our way through the beautifully created world, even if it’s going through some chaotic changes. Additionally, there are so many different quests to accept and challenging puzzles to figure out as we venture forward!

The Adventure Begins!

While being such a beautifully designed game, I must first mention how much fun it is to be able to interact with the objects and the people of the world. Ary was very well created to the resemblance of a young child, by her mannerisms and yet she’s strongly spirited and even trying to be a great hero like her brother Finn. Plus, how confident our character is, there really is nothing going to stand in our way, we just push forward and prove ourselves to the entire world. This must be one of the most favorable aspects to why I love the game!

In addition to our character’s personality and the lovely ability to change the seasons throughout the game. I do want to comment on how nicely designed each of the characters is. They actually remind me of a cartoon character from a Disney animated movie. I don’t have anything negative to say about the character style, they really look perfect. Plus, the enemies, such as the humorous design in the hyenas add a little more of an interesting appeal to the game as well!

In some way, I always get this feeling of one Disney movie because the first portion of this game’s story is about a female who changes her appearance to appear like a boy. Even if everyone knows it’s not, which is where it is a bit different. Yet, if you have ever seen the movie Mulan, this is the vibe I get when Ary decides to dress up in a warrior-style suit and cuts her hair before venturing out to help save the world. On the other hand, instead of seeing it at the end of the game, Ary’s mom is proud of her right from the beginning, proving herself by just being strong and fearless.

The next thing to mention is how fun it can be to basically run around the world, checking out all the locations without running out of time or being rushed to finish the game. You’re able to be free to roam around every nook and cranny. Plus, there are so many quests you can do at a time, giving you more to do and complete in any order. A few are bonus quests, but there is also the regular route we must accomplish in the game. Nevertheless, there is no rush to need to do any of the extras in order or possibly at all!

Anywho, these quests as they are obtained and accepted will be listed on the top left side of the screen. Making it easy to recall what you decided to accept and need to complete. Never forget what was the next location you need to check out. After a portion or at least one quest is completed, the listed quest turns green, till the entire quest is done and at that time it’s removed. The creators really thought of that quite well. Especially, I love how they made sure the quests in this upper-left corner of the screen aren’t too big or dark, covering up the screen so it’s hard or in the way as one plays the game.

In addition to the quests and our character. I must mention that the ability to venture through the world is quite easy, as well as the battles we take on with the enemies in the game. All the movements we need to use to rotate and move Ary are very easy to pick up and well mapped out on the controller. If it’s using Ary’s sword or her powers using the seasons, they are all easy to trigger. Therefore, there are no worries about this game being too difficult, which is perfect for kids and even adults who want a game that is taught to them as they play or who can pick up the game at any point and know what needs to be pressed. Plus, a little bonus help is while the game loads, there are these helpful tips making it easy to know and learn to use certain features a bit better.

Even if we want to get more into the action features of the game; the battle sequence between you and the enemies. Well, one good thing is that it does take place in the actual game once you come up to an enemy. Another is that it’s just as exciting as many other games. No change in who fights next, just go all for it and keep swinging that sword till the enemies are defeated. So there will be no letdown in the fighting portion of this game. Each one is similar, fully entertaining, and engaging from start to finish.

Of course, when you travel through many locations, battling many enemies, and obtaining the different seasons to use during the game to get you so much closer and accomplish plenty of quests. You might as well be totally captivated by the realistic appearance of the worldly environment. The graphics are marvelous, like a piece of art. That is possibly why I find myself wondering sometimes, freely checking out every area that I can, fully before continuing the game’s main goals and quests. Luckily, If I need to get back on track, there is a nice size map located in the bottom right corner with many different pieces directing the player where to go for the requests being asked to be completed.

There is one other feature I must point out, that really is a blessing about this game. You are in charge of how hard you want the game to be. If you aren’t one for very difficult gameplay, just choose to have the game be easy, while others can always choose a harder version, making it a bit more challenging. There also are a few other settings that can be adjusted throughout the gameplay, making it suitable as you play, anytime during the game.

As the game has so many wonderful features, I can tell you that there are a few displeasing ones as well. Depending on personal preferences, it may not be such a big issue to many players, but I feel a tiny tweaking could improve the game immensely! For example, the use of the season power, especially the winter ability. You can turn it on and off at any time, which is nice. However, when using it anywhere, for example, the winter ability could just cause a snow globe effect or even trap you if done in a spot that is without an escape route. It just appears a bit strange. At least with the use of the power again, you can untrap yourself and hopefully not have to reset the game to a past location you’ve saved yourself at.

The second problem I came across is during the loading screen. It does take some time, and honestly, I was surprised that it’s without color. It feels as if the game is missing some completion. However, this is just a minor issue, which I can get past. Yet I am surprised that there was no color. The other portion as it loads is a little strange too. The character rides the horse across the screen as it loads, but it looks like the character gets to the other side, and yet the loading is still loading, when it clearly would appear to be done.

The last one is that many of the objects you can swing a sword at can break things, but it doesn’t include much of anything inside to find. It’s possibly just for appearance and the joy of swinging at something. However, there doesn’t seem to be much to worth finding inside.

Regardless, these issues are not such huge problems as the game is still very well made. I honestly wouldn’t let these features bother me, since the game’s story is very cute and the game itself is very entertaining and original. Even if you can’t change weapons to fight with, you do have the ability to play with the seasons and make the weather become whatever you like. Now that is what makes the game so appealing and fun!

In Conclusion

This game brings a bunch of entertainment, from the normal story or the additional challenges, which you accomplish besides the original adventure. Additionally, there are so many beautiful scenes to be seen and plenty of objects to interact with. When you have the ability to work with all of the lovely seasons, it can be fun and to be honest, the snow falling down is so beautiful in every part of the game.

It’s a game with so many lovely images that you’d want to capture a photo of. The graphic art is just gorgeous and so are the well-designed characters. I also think the enemies are quite cute and silly in a cartoony way. Lastly, Ary And The Secret Of Seasons is a perfect family-style game for young to old, not too easy or difficult, but just a whole lotta fun!

Review: S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored

Daniel Waite

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Jan 14, 2022

0

When it comes to horror, I don’t mind dated and clichéd elements. In fact, I love an obvious jump scare! There is something truly thrilling about knowing you are about to be scared senseless. S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored utilises these old-school and obvious moments at its core.

Developed by Volframe and published by Art Games Studio S.A, this is a first-person puzzle horror title. It’s a suspenseful game filled with dark rooms, supernatural encounters, atmospheric audio, and challenging puzzles. Its story beautifully intertwines eerie elements to create an enthralling but unnerving adventure that tests you throughout.

S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored blends real life with the supernatural.

Chernobyl is an emotive, painful, and sorrowful subject. I always worry that using its past will be in bad taste. However, S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored tastefully touches upon the events while focusing you on its bizarre storyline.

9 months after the events of reactor 4, a team of scientists were sent in to investigate a mysterious facility. Though the rest of the area was evacuated, this top-secret location was not. The group didn’t expect any hostile activity, but they were wrong. The academics alongside paramedics must explore the unknown area looking for abandoned survivors. A straightforward expedition quickly takes a turn for the worse. Subsequently, you must explore the facility alone while trying to piece together any information you find.

Darkness, locked doors, and plenty of puzzles.

The action rarely deviates from its core principles. Therefore, much of the progress is reliant on the exploration of darkened, confined spaces and solving simple puzzles. Scattered around each location is an array of visual and audio clues that guide you to a solution. Walls are scribed with codes, and photos and journal entries provide you with hints. You must wander through hallways with doors magically opening and then dramatically slamming as you pass through. The classic jump scare tactics are dated, but they never got old! There was always a sense of suspense as you waited to jump feet.

These standard moments are beautifully complemented with petrifying supernatural encounters. Rooms will shift and change as you explore them. Alongside this, shadowy images will adorn the walls, or chase you as you run. These entities are the result of the S.W.A.N. program, a scientific experiment that was inhumane. Syndrome Without A Name took people from around the globe and experimented on them. The plan was to weaponise these individuals, but as usual, it backfired. These abominations that haunt you are the result of these trials and form a key horror element of the gameplay.

Drip-fed mechanics.

I’m desperately trying to skirt around the story, as I don’t want to ruin the many twists. What I can say is that, unsurprisingly, death is always around the corner. Fortunately, though, the facility offers some insight into the life of 1980s Ukraine. I loved how the plot returned to the tragic events while not making them the key focus. It was a truly respectful way of drawing you back to the cause without overdoing the matter.

Another element I adored was the use of drip-fed mechanics. With a heavy reliance on ghostly images and bizarre happenings, the developers had some creative licence. They took full advantage of this with strange medical equipment that helped to see other dimensions. Moreover, you can gather swirling ammo that helps to fight off the apparitions. It was a little odd, but the balance of a hard-hitting location combined with the absurdities of science fiction worked.

S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored is a little rough.

The developers have created a title that captures its era beautifully. Sadly, though, it is rough at the same time and this makes it appear dated. S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored utilises a grey and grainy palette to represent the industrial side of 80s Ukraine. Subsequently, it works brilliantly with the setting and theme. Each chapter was horrifically claustrophobic and running around a maze of corridors and rooms was disorientating. Its oppressive nature, combined with the spooky horrors, makes this a creepy and unnerving experience.

This is then enhanced by the haunting audio. A beautiful blend of dramatic and slower songs adds energy and fear to the wonderful imagery. The noise of your footsteps or the creak and slam of doors was petrifying. Furthermore, the click of your Geiger counter was both scary and a telltale sign that something was a miss. The audio is excellent, and this makes S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored stand out from its peers!

The controls could be better.

The developers have done a great job of making this a user-friendly title. They have implemented a well-thought-out tutorial, and this makes it easy to master. Sadly, though, selecting items can be hit and miss. The cursor lacks accuracy and this can break up the immersive gameplay. Undoubtedly, this would be better with a mouse and keyboard! It’s not a game-breaker by any stretch, as the controller is serviceable and well mapped.

Like many titles in this genre, the replay value is limited. With a linear story and no additional content, there are few reasons to return. Fortunately, a handful of achievements demand you return to play, so it has some longevity. Luckily, your first experience is memorable, so it’s good value for money.

S.W.A.N.: Chernobyl Unexplored plays to the clichés.

Clichéd horror won’t be for everyone, but I loved it. I jumped repeatedly and adored the strange supernatural twist. The developers have created a tasteful title that is scary as well as taxing. I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you uncover the mysteries of this top-secret facility? Solve the problems, read the clues, and get out alive!

Win Van Helsing Season 5 on Blu-ray

Andrew Edney

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Jan 14, 2022

62

To celebrate the release of Van Helsing Season 5 on Blu-Ray and DVD, we have two Blu-ray copies of Season 5 to give away.

Van Helsing has become one of the most exciting and entertaining fantasy-horror shows of recent times, combining brutal action with compelling storytelling and memorable characters. Inspired by the Helsing graphic novel series, the show has gone on to earn a loyal fan following worldwide.

Following an event referred to as “The Rising”, vampires now dominate the world. Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton, True Blood, Legends), the great-great-great-grand daughter of vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, is resurrected to lead the surviving humans in their struggle against the vampires.

How to enter to win

We have two Blu-ray copies of Van Helsing Season 5 to give away, enter below:

The contest closes at midnight on 29th January 2022.

This contest is only open to those in the UK – sorry!

Van Helsing: The Complete Collection is also available on Blu-ray & DVD from 10th January
Find it on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Van-Helsing-Season-1-5-Blu-Ray/dp/B092JVKB1K

Review: Watcher Chronicles

Jordan Kirkpatrick

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Jan 14, 2022

0

Have you ever wondered what you would get if you took Dark Souls and Castle Crashers and mixed them together? Well, the answer is a colourfully frustrating 2D tale named the Watcher Chronicles.

After Purgatory has been invaded by hordes of monsters, it becomes your main mission as a nameless knight to traverse this colourful and rich Purgatory, defeating monsters and bosses along your way, in order to reclaim Purgatory

The world of Watcher Chronicles is non-linear and interconnected through secret passages and routes as you travel. Each area you pass through has a plethora of skeletal enemies ranging from axe-wielders, bow users and even larger mutated beast-like skeletons. Eventually, at the end of each level—if you manage to reach it with enough health intact—you’ll face a boss you need to defeat before you can continue to the next region.

If you delve into this game thinking that your knowledge and basic skills at souls-like games is decent, be prepared to rework your skills a fair bit. Methodical combat and managing your strategy will be your best friend in Watcher Chronicles. I found out the hard way that spamming your blocks and attacks will only get you killed—several times in fact before I decided to change strategy. Being methodical about your attacks to save energy and stamina to block incoming attacks from large groups is absolutely essential if you don’t want to die right before a boss fight and get sent right back to the start of the region again. With more than 20 bosses in Purgatory too, you’ll certainly have your work cut out for you if you fail to skill manage early on.

Managing your energy and stamina levels is crucial to survival

As for the art style itself, if you’ve ever played or seen Castle Crashers, it is very similar. The cartoony appearance and bright colours work fantastically together in order to create a contrast between the background environments and foreground play area. As for your protagonist, you can either choose from a male or female model, but that’s really as far as character customisations go aside from armour upgrades. NPCs and non-hostile characters that appear and live at your home base of Haven also have their own unique appearances and styles which is a nice addition to be able to distinguish them from one another—these characters are able to assist you in upgrading your weapons, armour as well as skill levels if you have enough currency to do so. Their abilities often update after each completion of an area too, so it’s worth checking back home often to ensure you’re maxing out your character.

Another nice detail is the sound design and music. As you travel through each area, both the music and ambience of the crumbling castles, fires and rattling of bones is amplified and it gives a wonderfully realistic experience. It also doesn’t become repetitive, which was a factor that I found to be crucial—usually in games where you tend to die a lot, the music and ambience only tend to make your frustration worse—but thankfully, this wasn’t the case with Watcher Chronicles.

The addition of a two-player co-op multiplayer was a feature that I didn’t expect but was highly impressed by. Whilst I didn’t play much in multiplayer, the addition of the mode brings a new change of pace as well as a skill set that you need to adopt. The addition of a friend would definitely prove helpful in some of the tougher areas, especially at lower levels near the beginning of the game when it can become difficult to kill a lot of enemies quickly.

Overall, if you’re a fan of the souls-like and Metroidvania genre, Watcher Chronicles may be worth checking out if you’re looking for a frustratingly fun title to sink your teeth into. With tonnes of content, bosses to kill and hordes of enemies to rid Purgatory of, you’ll have a lot of hours of content to explore with Watcher Chronicles. Despite the steep learning curve for those newer to the genre, the presentation and style of play would absolutely be a good first stepping-stone into the world of souls-like games.

FAR: Changing Tides pre-order available, full launch on 1st March

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Jan 13, 2022

0

FAR: Changing Tides pre-order available, full launch on 1st March

Today, Frontier Foundry, the games label of Frontier Developments, announced the launch date for FAR: Changing Tides, the next part of the FAR universe, from developers Okomotive. Due to launch on 1^st March, 2022, pre-orders have opened across a range of platforms, including Xbox, where the game will hit GamePass, day one.

To celebrate this, two new lo-fi soundtrack videos, Soundwaves, have been created using in-game assets. Across a two-hour runtime, these meditative videos invite listeners to lose themselves in the world created by Okomotive, from the gentle lapping of the waves to the rhythmic thump of the mighty engine that powers the ramshackle vehicle across a flooded world.

Pre-order links are below:

Xbox: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productid/9n29vz9lrnnq~
Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productid/9mt3d7z4nwdv
PlayStation SIEE: https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP2377-PPSA03767_00-FARCHANGINGTIDES
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1570010/FAR_Changing_Tides
Epic: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/far-changing-tides
Nintendo: pre-orders available in February

For more news and information about FAR: Changing Tides:

Website: https://www.farchangingtides.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FARtheGame/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FARtheGame
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farthegame/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FrontierDevelopments/+
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/frontierdevelopments

TV Review: The Book of Boba Fett – Episode 3

News
Reviews

Sean McCarthy

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Jan 12, 2022

0

I have really enjoyed the opening two Chapter to this series, for just shy of 90 minutes of television, there has been a whole lot of storytelling so far. We have learned how Boba Fett both survived and escaped the Sarlac pit from ‘Return of the Jedi’ and we have also started to see the events from that point to the time Boba makes his appearance in ‘The Mandalorian’ thanks to the Arrowverse style flashback story telling. We also have seen what is happening in the present-day side with Boba having claimed the former territory of Jabba the Hut with Fennec by his side and how he wants to rule with respect not fear but is already being challenged by the Mayor and the twin cousins of Jabba who arrived in Chapter 2 also claiming the territory, saying it is theirs by right. Boba clearly has his hands full back in the past and in the modern day and I was eager to get to Chapter 3 to find out what happens next.

I have to say I am thankful that Disney Plus do not do weekly trailers for each Chapter so you can go into the story with only the recap of what has happened before, keeping surprises and spoilers to a minimum which is something I do appreciate as not a big fan of the “Next Week on….” Style tease for the next episode in a series. I must admit, I was hoping that the almost “middle” chapter in this seven-episode series would focus more on the present-day story with a good amount, and for good reason, of the first two focusing on the flashback story whenever Boba goes into his Bacta Tank to heal.

I got my wish, for the first time this series, there is a real focus on the current dangers facing Boba as the self-proclaimed Daimyo of Tatooine as begin to learn far more about the criminal empire and how it changed from being under the rule of Jabba before Boba claimed it for himself. We now know that under the previous leader, Bib Fortuna, his rule was too weak to have a dominant presence like Jabba had, instead the empire was split into three territories, each run by a different crime syndicate and had alliances with each one to ensure their tribute. Now Boba is in charge, he will have to each Syndicate that he is worthy of their respect and loyalty. It is a nice reminder that Boba has only been Daimyo for a short time, too short to have make a mark yet on Mos Espa.

A Water Trader comes to the palace, complaining that a local street gang of kids who modify themselves with droid parts, have been stealing his inventory, something the trader wants to make sure Boba understands had never happened under any of the previous Daimyos as well as implying that the assassination attempt on Boba has made him look weak to those who should at the very least, respect him as the new Daimyo. Boba heads off with Fennec to see this gang for himself and for me, this is the part that sadly falls flat.

For this Street Gang is indeed a bunch of teenagers, living in the work district but do not actually have jobs so are forced to steal water, also revealing that the trader has been overcharging for it making it unaffordable to many in the district. Confronted by Boba, one stands her ground and talks back to Boba who then reminds her of his position, which serves as another sign that his name alone does not yet bring the instant fear or respect a Daimyo requires. Boba almost admires her tenacity, and others the entire gang a job working for him, which angers the trader but Boba, to the surprise of the gang, offers to pay him what they owe but on hearing the amount, it angers Boba who gives him less than half of what they owe, tells the trader to accept it and to also lower his prices or choose to move elsewhere if he does not want to do business in Boba’s territory.

For me this scene is showing that Boba wants to rule according to his own moral code, he has already said he wants to rule with respect and not fear but so far that approach has only inspired the contenders to his throne rather than having them afraid to step up. The mayor has already tried to have Boba assassinated, the Hutt Twins have already advised him to “sleep lightly” and yet Boba still tries to apply his code when dealing with challenges, whilst this street gang appear to appreciate it, it might not be the best style of rule unless Boba stamps his authority down. Another visit to see the mayor has his underling make a run for it with Boba ordering the gang to chase him down leading to a very bizarrely placed in the story chase sequence. The street gang all riding a cross between a speeder bike and a moped, do just that and I have to be honest and say that this broke the immersion for me as it was just a little too much on the nose and out of the Star Wars Universe for me. The gang’s bikes are very much a nod to the British Mods of the 60s who rode mopeds all customised, some with far too many wing mirrors, something that the show also uses and just looks horrible. This entire sequence just did nothing for me and was quite cringey to watch.

Thankfully the rest of the chapter makes up for it as we do get a very short Flashback sequence that sees Boba venturing into town to collect the protection payment that he arranged for the Tusken tribe from those who were running the train operation across their land. Discovering that they had also paid another syndicate who also demanded protection payment has Boba return to the tribe empty handed but only to discover that in his absence, they had been attacked with the leader killed among others with some of the tribe missing. It was rather touching to see Boba burn the bodies, much like the tribe had done following the first train attack in Chapter 2.

Boba is snapped out of his Bacta Tank dream as finally see Krrsantan, the monster of a Wookie that accompanied the Hutt Twins, attacked Boba, pulling him out of the tank and we see Boba without his armour and weapons barely manage to survive the encounter as this Wookie Gladiator not only manhandles Boba but also the street gang who ran in to save Fett. I really liked this scene as it has only really been Chewbecca as the Wookie we have seen in live action before, and a little in the prequel films but to see this fully trained and deadly Gladiator warrior Wookie in Krrsantan just standing his ground as multiple armed opponents was something to be seen.

We do get to see the Rancor pit trap used once again as Fennec managed to capture Krrsantan as the only way to stop the attack and ending the assassination attempt. Fennec as a character is still underused for my liking, she is clearly street smart and fully aware of the dangers facing her as Boba’s number one but also to Boba himself, I do get the sense that we may see Fennec do what she does best far more before the end of this series. But this sequence, unlike the chase sequence, feels more Star Wars and along with some other wonderful nods to the wider fanbase of the show, delivers far more in terms of story building. Boba knows he must send a message, this has been two failed assassination attempts on him, and though he survived, he knows it wont end unless he does something.

As the third Chapter, much of the present-day story has been to introduce to us the audience all the players on the board. With Krrsantan failing, the Hutt Twins come with an offering to Boba as an apology, this gift is a new Rancor calf for him alongside his trainer, Danny Trejo which Im sure is playing a character but for me, I am just as happy to know that Danny Trejo is now canon in Star Wars. The Hutt Twins claim they are giving up their rights to Jabba’s territory and are in fact leaving the planet as they do not want to get into a war, which is a strong hint that for Boba, war for his claim is coming. The trainer explains that the Rancor is a calf who will bond with the first human he sees after his blindfold is removed, no doubt setting up something quite impressive perhaps in the later episodes. Krrsantan is also offered to Boba as tribute, and he simply releases him but giving him some advice not to work for others but to go into business for himself, I sense that this will not be the last we see of this monstrous Wookie.

This chapter has been the slowest so far for me, I am grateful that the present-day story has been given more time whilst the short flashback look does play into the now focus on Boba working to cement his reign as Daimyo with the Criminal Syndicates now his focus as he has become the focus of one especially, The Pikes. This is the kind of middle of the series chapter I expected, a slow one to allow the latter ones to have more action, it was great to see a Rancor and have Danny Trejo starring as “Danny Trejo in Star Wars” but the whole street gang with the moped speeders was eye rolling cringe content for me.

I am hoping the pace quickens up in Chapter 4 and possibly Boba going on the offensive finally both in the present and flashback story arcs.

Review: Dyna Bomb

Alex Chessun

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Jan 12, 2022

0

With a well-documented lack of AAA releases during the first year of this generation of consoles, it would be quite easy to assume that gamers lucky enough to find the mythical hardware have nothing new to play.

Actually, there’s a relatively large number of indie games released on a weekly basis, but the reason you don’t often hear about these games is that some are considered ‘Shovelware’, a term used to describe video games that are created by developers who spread their development resources as thinly as possible over many different games to ‘catch’ gamers scrolling through the bargain bin.

Developer/publisher 7 Raven Studios just happens to be one of those smaller teams flooding the PS store with cheap games, and they have now added a port of their 6-year-old Android platformer, Dyna Bomb, to the mix.

Unfortunately, the strange sense of excitement one gets when purchasing something so cheap – like it might somehow, somehow, be a diamond in the rough, is immediately dashed when you arrive at an incomprehensible main menu and cheesy soundtrack, and bringing home that you really do get what you pay for.

The goal of the game is simple, obtain a key to open a large door in each level that’s hidden in segmented sections accessible via switches and portals and collect everything that shines. Enemies attempt to halt your progress by zipping back and forth and combining with a challenging one-hit death system, while jewels can be collected and spent on extending failed runs and temporary power-ups. With one hit all that’s required to end your run, so bombs allow you to clear the map of the enemy and head straight to the goal.

Collect your bombs, fire them at enemies and pick up jewels. That’s the name of the game here.

Traversing the levels is done via your jetpack, which in theory should be a great deal of fun, I mean who doesn’t enjoy the odd play of Flappy Bird, but the movement here is too rigid and is far from the intuitive control system that the developer describes it as. It’s also very clear that the move to consoles hasn’t been thought through very clearly as even the resolution has been poorly adjusted and everything seems too large from the characters to the world itself, making it look far uglier than it should.

Furthermore, the implementation of the controls makes very little sense. The triggers could have easily been used for simultaneous use of the jetpacks and bombs without any issue, but instead, you have to hold down ‘X’ to use the jetpack and then slide your thumb across the pad to hit the bomb button using ‘O’. It’s a puzzling choice and is unnecessarily awkward.

Worst of all though, it seems no one was in charge of actually making this game fun instead of just functional, as the experience is as bog-standard as features within it, so even though there are numerous elements to the gameplay, nothing is significant enough to make this seem more than a glorified smartphone game (which ironically has more features in its Android version than this one) only adds to the reputation that the PlayStation store is slowly turning into a bargain bin platform like Steam, where the price points are king. Thankfully the PS store’s ratings are not as skewed as Steam’s and awful games tend to have an equally awful rating, which quite frankly, this one deserves.

Flying around is not as fun as it should have been and is even inconveniently blocked by the interface at times.

Playing devil’s advocate for a second, no game is without its faults and Dyna Bomb does have some redeeming features, such as satisfaction gained from perfect runs to complete the level, but as there isn’t even a feature to record your times – and completing a level has the ugliest ending animation I’ve ever seen – it kinda makes you wish you hadn’t.

Perhaps it should also come as no surprise for a developer that has numerous fruit machine and puzzle games under their belt, but they also added a daily roulette wheel of temporary upgrades, but its inclusion is perplexing, as it not only expires as soon as you die (which you will an awful lot) but the explanations are unlabelled, so you just sit there tapping away at each button attempting to figure out which will bring it up.

How’s that for an end screen animation. If there was an achievement for questionable inclusions this game would win it every time.

A shoutout should be made to the character’s running animation, which is actually decent, but it’s the animation you see the least in a game where you jetpack everywhere, which pretty much encapsulates what you are getting here.

In fact, the most enjoyable part of this game is not actually the game itself, but the developer’s description of it on the PS store as it makes you wonder what game they were referring to when writing it. It’s a level of quality that the game itself saw fit not to include, even after the benefit of having 6 years under its belt on other platforms. While paraphrasing a tad, the ‘intuitive, thunderous, and glorious arcade action game play’ must be in one of the secret levels that is purportedly hidden in the game.

Unless you were born in a vat of platforming goo and can only consume platforming games as way of staying alive, this is the kind of experience that you should avoid, as even though this game is ‘cheap as chips’ and entirely functional, you’ll likely want a refund for the precious seconds of your life lost.

Review: Biker Garage Mechanic Simulator

Michael Hoade

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Jan 12, 2022

0

The idea of working in a garage – as a mechanic of all things – is something that has never dared enter my mind. Shielded by an innate clumsiness, and disregarded by my general disinterest in all things automotive, it just isn’t meant to be.

The great thing about video games is you can completely do away with any real world worries by escaping to fantasy worlds, saving princesses, making dastardly evil choices and all other sorts of wonderful creative things that game developers conjure up. But, there is also the opportunity to experience something closer to home; not stretched too far from reality.

Biker Garage Mechanic Simulator offered the opportunity for me to experience a world – admittedly not too dissimilar to our own – but one that I had personally never ventured near. I had the chance to live a life as a – you guessed it – motorbike mechanic.

Got to be the very best:

Developed by Bearded Brothers Games, you take on the role of a mechanic with the simple aim to become the best mechanic in the whole world (what else would you expect?). You start off in a smallish garage, with a humble workstation, your laptop and all the basic essentials (that were quite complex for a newbie like me).

There is a lot to immediately take in, as the game drops a ton of jargon at you whilst running you through the basic mechanics (excuse the pun). It is clear that this game has been developed with a certain expectation set on the players understanding, which for a simulation is understandable. Even still, I would have appreciated an optional, slightly more in-depth tutorial just to ease myself into things. This isn’t a game where trial and error is particularly fun, and feeling lost presented an almost instant barrier for me to overcome. For motorbike enthusiasts I imagine the lack of handholding will be greatly appreciated.

The gameplay loop is built around missions where you can take on work for various clients. You accept missions from your laptop and each mission has a different overall goal, with some freedom in how you approach each objective. For example, one mission involves you having to replace the lights and front head of a bike. The specific items have to be the same make as the original parts to progress, but you’re afforded some choice when it comes to painting the colour of the new items. Of course, if you choose a colour completely different to the original design / rest of the bike, your client is likely to be less satisfied and the reward for the mission will be lower. At the same time, the better the job you do at matching a clients needs the more you’ll progress to your ultimate goal.

The actual process of repairing the bike took a bit of getting used to, as I began to familiarise myself with all the stations in the garage. You have the ability to inspect the bike, diagnosing various issues and also attempt to make repairs. Sometimes you will only be able to repair a certain amount, and as such will have to consider ordering a new part to replace the old one with.

Whilst not everything is readily available to you at the start, such as the auction system and racing, there is enough at the beginning to keep the player engaged.

Even as an outsider it is clear to me that the developers have put considerable effort into making this game feel authentic. With 15 different vehicle types available to work on, the opportunity to test your bikes on tracks, and all the palette and part customisation options available to you immediately.

A proper simulator:

Graphically the game leans towards realism, which works for the proper simulation feel the game is going for. For motorbike enthusiasts, this is fantastic.

Naturally, when a game’s primary focus is on being an authentic simulation, this does have an interesting effect on the gameplay. I personally found the gameplay to be clunky and monotonous. Now, for someone as inexperienced as me, this felt like an authentic reflection of how I would feel being a motorbike mechanic. I’m sure for the more seasoned player this feeling might be appreciated.

However, this feeling wasn’t helped by the clunky control scheme, that even many hours into my experience still felt like it was working against me. Trying to paint parts is an arduous experience, with any sort of attempts at finesse being undermined by awkward controls. The shop menu is also quite finicky to navigate.

Being able to build your own bikes is very satisfying and my highlight of the game. Testing them out is also fun, and the overall sense of progression, such as expanding your workshop, created a satisfying gameplay loop. Also, the soundtrack is low-key a highlight.

Aside from a few technical misgivings, Biker Garage Mechanic Simulator does a commendable job in providing an authentic simulation experience, with plenty of depth in gameplay and missions to sink hours into. No, the game didn’t suddenly enact a desire for career change, but it did give me a good insight into the life of a mechanic.

Whether the gameplay balances enough fun with being authentic is another debate – and I recognise my personal bias against the gameplay – but as a simulator this is a very solid entry.

Review: Bloody Rally Show

Daniel Waite

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Jan 11, 2022

0

My video review with footage captured from my Xbox Series X, enjoy!

Computer games have made me genuinely scared of our future. Never do they paint a happy picture, and mankind is all but doomed. However, the sick and twisted part of my mind loves the brutality of the situation. People are used as pawns in gory reality TV shows where anything goes. This horrendous concept is at the core of Bloody Rally Show where you must fight for your life to entertain a wealthy crowd.

Developed by Kodo Linija and published by Digerati, it’s a top-down murderous rally racer. Set in a dystopian future where anything goes, it combines elements of Twisted Metal with the stomach-churning moments of Smash TV. It’s a blood fest that will bring out the worst in every player while making them chuckle like a maniac.

Blood Rally Show stacks the odds.

The phrase dystopian future implies immediately what type of game we’re getting. Therefore, you know the action is never going to be balanced. Now, this isn’t a complaint. No, it’s an observation! Everything about Blood Rally Show favours the overpowering and horrendous bosses of this disgusting reality TV show.

You play as a racer who has been kept alive in a cryo chamber. This protective tomb didn’t come cheap, and its owners are demanding payment. A bill of $500,000 is presented and the only way to pay is to race. This may not seem problematic, but everything costs money and you have to upgrade your vehicle to compete. Consequently, you quickly realise that paying your debt will take years and this amuses the creditors further still.

Procedurally generated seasons and plenty of gore.

When a title has such a simple concept and no real story, it can plateau early on. Fortunately, however, Bloody Rally Show utilises procedurally generated courses and events to keep things fresh. This is supported further thanks to the inclusion of couch multiplayer action. Subsequently, it was great fun blasting your mates while competing to win each race.

Other than the obvious racing elements, the game demands that you are ultra-violent throughout. There is an array of weapons to use and drifting through a crowd never gets old. The course is constantly coloured with claret thanks to its murderous ways. You may choose to leave the innocent bystanders alone, but killing them awards you with cash and XP. If you want to be the best, you need to drop your standards and put on an entertaining show.

Unlike other racing titles, this one offers different objectives in each event. You’ll take part in drag races, multi-lap affairs, gun battles, and it concludes with a special mission. These strange quests offer huge rewards for success, but dreadful penalties for failure. You’ll be asked to kill influencers in the crowd, finish in a certain position, or not leave the track. It was an excellent addition to the gameplay, as it added depth while distracting you from the racing elements.

Bloody Rally Show looks great.

There’s no denying it, Bloody Rally Show looks great! Its simple but effective top-down perspective makes the action easy to follow! Its crisp lines and rich colour palette enhance the futuristic theme while upping the gore. Furthermore, the developers have designed an array of tracks that encompass many landscapes. You’ll race through deserts, towns, highways, and more. Each is challenging thanks to the different surfaces, and the twists and turns will keep you interested throughout.

Though most of the game impressed me, the audio was lacklustre. Sadly, it offered little inspiration and the sound of the engines was annoying. Consequently, the constant buzz and drone of the cars reduced the enjoyment factor. Yet, I liked the crashing of the weaponry, the squelching of mowed down spectators, and the music. These elements prevented the audio from being awful and were the game’s saving grace.

Practice makes perfect.

Everyone knows that practice makes perfect. However, we’d rather jump in and play with little effort. Unfortunately, the controls require some finesse, and therefore, you’ll need some patience to master them. Yet, once you understand the finer points, and adjust your style for each race, you’ll dominate the field. It was great fun to drift around sweeping bends while knocking down unsuspecting humans. The challenge of mastering the controls makes this moreish and hard to put down.

The longevity is increased further because of the procedurally generated maps. Luckily, no race is the same and you never know what will happen. Moreover, there is a character levelling system and cars can be purchased and upgraded. Subsequently, the faster the car, the harder it is to control, so you must adjust your approach again. There is also the inclusion of a tough achievement list that requires you to complete the game on the hardest setting.

Bloody Rally Show is a great casual title.

There is only so much gratuitous violence that I can stomach, so I couldn’t play this for hours on end. I found the action appealing when I could play it between major titles and this makes Bloody Rally Show a great casual title. Fortunately, every season can be completed quickly, so you can make progress in a short period. I loved much that was on offer and only the audio holds it back. I enjoyed my time with it and recommend you to buy it here! Paying your debts is a pain in the arse, but sadly, it has to be done. Can you use your skills to kill, maim, and be victorious? Jump in your car, start the engine, and mow down anyone in sight.

Review: Mechajammer

James Refelian

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Jan 10, 2022

0

Rarely do I give up playing a game before I at least get halfway but Mechajammer by Whalenought Studios is shocking, and not in the good way.

The game is dark, dreary, and confusing at best. Not to mention the overwhelming (or rather underwhelming) conversations with NPCs and endless “combat” with rats. Most of the locations lead to nothing. But when you do finally find what you need the depth of interaction can be rewarding. There’s something joyous about having to type ‘admin’ and a login password to use a computer terminal, for example. This, however, is one of the only good elements to the game, which is saying a lot.

The map system is severely lacking so finding where you need to go is more luck than following any route. Endlessly walking around very similar looking, brown streets is unfortunately what I spent most of my time doing. When you aren’t endlessly walking around this myriad of replica streets you could be talking to an endless myriad of replica homeless people or fighting rats… or some other random people that have decided to attack you for reasons I never fully worked out. It’s when this happens that the game really gets frustrating because of the combat mechanics.

Using guns seems to do little damage (assuming you can find ammo) and so you typically end up resorting to melee weapons which break easily. I made the mistake of using throwing weapons and spent longer-than-necessary picking up each one individually. The combat mode only moves when you do in a turn-based approach, however, the point-and-click is fiddly due to poor accuracy of the targeting. Often, however, you are out-numbered and will die a lot.

With any RPG you would expect a rich world full of interesting dialogue and unfortunately again this is where Mechajammer fails. Most NPCs have nothing to say and when they do the game does nothing with it. It seems that any choices you make have very little impact. At best, you’ll lose some money due to a glitch and at best you may get a lackey to follow you around. But overall, it’s bland; much like the environment.

Movement can be difficult to get right in a point-and-click game and sadly Mechajammer isn’t one of them. Trying to get anywhere feels like a struggle where it isn’t a straight line and in your line of sight. It’s like the game doesn’t quite know how to handle simple tasks like walking through a door and into a room without glitching your avatar and requiring far more clicks than should be necessary to navigate it.

Perhaps the most unforgivable aspect of the game is that the story is confused, incomplete and gives you absolutely no reason to care. Character creation choices while at first glance looked amazing (true classic RPG style) it’s all meaningless. The characters are all two-dimensional and mostly the same. I’m not necessarily sure I could tell you what was really going on for the many, many hours I played. Beyond my ship crashed and I don’t know anything despite my character supposedly being a veteran soldier for years.

Mechajammer is a good idea – a retro styled; pixel-art RPG set in a cyberpunk world. Unfortunately, it’s dreary, full of bugs and a disappointment. Especially when you realise the detailed character creation doesn’t really make much difference.