With Christmas not too far away now, we are going to be looking at various things you might want to consider – here we look at some awesome personalised books from Wonderbly.
This is how Wonderbly describe themselves:
“There is nothing more magical than a child’s imagination. It is limitless, glorious, and incredibly precious. Here at Wonderbly, we create meaningful, magical personalised stories which let children imagine themselves doing extraordinary things.
From learning about their own identity, to discovering the world around them and developing empathy, curiosity and confidence, our splendid stories help prepare children for every chapter of their life ahead.
The positive power of personalisation
Studies show that when children see themselves in a story, it has a profound effect on their literacy and language development. This helps create confident, enthusiastic readers for life.
Personalisation also helps children relate to the storylines – it’s really them, in the story! This makes them far more receptive to the key messages and learnings of each tale – from courage, to friendship, to curiosity and kindness.”
We decided to take a look at two different books that Wonderbly offer.
Where Are You? Save the Multiverse!
An urgent mission to save the multiverse from an evil criminal mastermind? Awesome! Send up to three children on an epic quest to look for themselves (and save each other) in a personalised search-and-find book.
This particular book is aimed at ages 4 to 10 and comes with 36 pages. You can even preview the entire book before you buy which is great.
This personalised book is £24.99.
How Many Yous Make a Hippo?
Are you faster than a cheetah? Can you jump higher than a kangaroo? How many yous would it take to lift a gorilla? See how you compare to the world’s most incredible creatures in this personalised animal book for kids.
This particular book is aimed at ages 4 to 6 and comes with 34 pages. You can even preview the entire book before you buy which is great.
This personalised book is £24.99.
Both of these books are great – the process of personalising them was easy and fun and from ordering them to them being delivered was a very short time too.
Wonberbly have a lot of really great and interesting personalised books to choose from – take a look, there is bound to be something there you would love to give someone for Christmas.
If you have an iPhone 13 Pro Max you probably want to protect it, here we look at the Catalyst Tempered Glass Screen Protector.
100% Compatible with Catalyst Waterproof & Drop Proof Cases Switching up your case and protecting your screen has never been easier. For the first time ever our screen protector is compatible with both our iPhone 13 Series Vibe, Influence, and Total Protection cases.
Shatter & Scratch Resistant This anti-shatter and anti-scratch glass is the perfect defense against all those unwanted nicks and scratches.
Fingerprint-free Keep your screen as fresh as the day you got it with our fingerprint-free Screen Protector.
Easy Installation Installation is fast and easy. Plus, each set comes with a cleaning cloth, dust remover sticker, and alcohol cleaning pad. Although I would state that there are no instructions for fitting included in the package – there is a QR code that is supposed to take you to installation instructions but instead its a quick marketing video, but its not that hard to fit the screen protector.
Ultra-Thin Our Screen protectors are ultra-thin and lightweight while still maintaining a flawless display quality on your iPhone
The Catalyst Tempered Glass Screen Protector is available now priced around $39.99.
If you have an iPhone 13 Pro Max you probably want to protect it, here we look at the Catalyst Active Defence Influence Series iPhone 13 Pro Max Case.
Get going with the latest Active Defense Influence Case for the iPhone 13 Series. Created with a fingerprint-free frosted back, it’s the ideal option for those looking for a tailored, sophisticated look.
2.5X Higher Drop Protection Always feel secure with our high-tech design and air-cushioned engineering that allows for a drop spec of 10ft (3m) – 2.5X higher drop protection than military standards. Plus, it comes with a free lanyard, so you’re never left hanging. Necessary for that bike commute into work.
+30% Louder Sound with Unique Forward Audio Don’t you hate when you have to cup your hand around your phone to echo the noise while on a late-night conference call? With our unique forward audio, those days are in the past as this case delivers +30% louder sound versus a naked iPhone.
Fingerprint Proof We all love a clear case, but fingerprints not so much. Have the best of both worlds with our fingerprint-free frosted case back.
Charge with ease Each Active Defense Influence Case is MagSafe and QI wireless charging compatible. Lets you charge up without stripping down.
Instant Mute Switch Be gone the days of getting your nail stuck in the tiny crevice of your phone case every time you want to silence your phone. With our instant mute switch, all you have to do is twist and hear the click. Trust us, you’re going to love it.
Personalise as you please Looking to spruce up your case with a pop of personality? Each Influence case has 4 corner attachments that are compatible with our Crux Gear line allowing you to pick and choose what suits your needs and of course your style.
The Catalyst Active Defence Influence Series iPhone 13 Pro Max Case is available now priced around $39.99 and comes in four different colours – Stealth Black, Clear, Neon-Glow-In-The-Dark and Pacific Blue (the one we were sent).
With Christmas not too far away now, we are going to be looking at various things you might want to consider – here we look at the Marvel BattleWorld Treachery at Twilight Mega Pack.
Pick your favorite Hero, rescue your friends, and win battles to defeat Thanos!
Battleworld is a revolutionary cooperative, expandable, collectible adventure game featuring dozens of characters from all over the Marvel Universe!
Players get to crack open the mysterious Thanostones during the course of play to reveal the mystery character inside for a constant sense of surprise and delight!
Mega Packs let you jumpstart your collection with six characters: four starting Heroes [including an exclusive Captain Marvel (2099 Suit) variant] and two more trapped in Thanostones!
Unique team-based or solo gameplay allows players to jump into Battleworld right away!
Collectible characters come with their own game cards for immersive, cooperative play. Collect all the unique powers and abilities!
Free the mystery character from the “Thanostone.” Each time you crack one open, it’s a surprise!
Series 2 includes 30+ unique characters including rare variants!
Includes a new unique-to-Battleworld Hero available ONLY in this Mega Pack – Captain Marvel (2099 Suit)!
The Marvel BattleWorld Treachery at Twilight Mega Pack is aimed at children ages 6 and up and is for 1 to 4 players. Each game takes around 15 – 30 minutes to play and you can combine them with other games, and you will want to collect all the characters!
The Marvel BattleWorld Treachery at Twilight Mega Pack is available now priced around £15.
Disclaimer: The Marvel BattleWorld Treachery at Twilight Mega Pack was sent to us for the purposes of an honest review. All opinions are the opinions of our reviewer.
With Christmas not too far away now, we are going to be looking at various things you might want to consider – here we look at the Marvel BattleWorld Battle Ball – Treachery at Twilight.
Pick your favorite Hero, rescue your friends, and win battles to defeat Thanos!
Battleworld is a revolutionary cooperative, expandable, collectible adventure game featuring dozens of characters from all over the Marvel Universe!
Players get to crack open the mysterious Thanostones during the course of play to reveal the mystery character inside!
Series 2 introduces us to brand new locations, battles, and game mechanics that will continue to challenge players and test their strategies!
Expanded series to include 30+ unique new characters from exciting locations all over Battleworld, including cool rare variants! Collect them all!
New game mechanic “Loki’s Trick” Battle Cards, included each Battle Ball, add a twist to the gameplay by affecting battles around them!
Unique team-based or solo gameplay allows players to jump into Battleworld right away!
Collectible characters come with their own game cards for immersive, cooperative play. Collect all the unique powers and abilities!
Free the mystery character from the “Thanostone.” Each time you crack one open, it’s a surprise!
The Marvel BattleWorld Battle Ball – Treachery at Twilight is aimed at children ages 6 and up and is for 1 or 2 players. Each game takes around 15 – 30 minutes to play and you can combine them with other games, and you will want to collect all the characters!
These balls are available now priced around £9.99 and would make a great Christmas stocking filler.
CLUG PRO combines the Eurobike award-winning pedigree of the original CLUG (or CLUG range) with FIDLOCK’s innovative magnetic WINCH handle and ratchet system to ensure your bike is always secure. Engineered to hold up to 30kg once the WINCH is magnetically locked into place, you can have total peace of mind that your bike will remain rock-solid in the event of a hard knock from someone brushing past or an unwelcome puncture after long term storage.
Keeping your bike safe and secure during long-term storage the Clug Pro Hugs your bike tyre and works with your floor to store your bike vertically or horizontally. It’s designed to fit all road, hybrid, gravel, and mountain bike tyres between 23-81mm. (1”-3.2”)
Combining the extraordinarily strong FIDLOCK winch and high-performance cord, the CLUG PRO can comfortably hold a 30kg e-bike meaning your bike will be protected from accidental knocks or tyre deflation over the long term.
CLUG PRO is the world’s smallest bike rack and at 26g it’s also the lightest. It’s so small that it’s virtually invisible when the bike isn’t there.
CLUG PRO is made from a durable ABS polymer, tested for 10,000 insertions and comes with a 2-year warranty as standard. Used by Olympic Double Gold Winner Alistair Brownlee it neatly and stores his priceless bike collection.
The Clug Pro is available in different sizes for different bike styles. Prices between £25.99-£27.99 from Hornit.com
There are many ways to observe the changing of the seasons. Check your calendar, look out of your window, or have a look at the latest game releases. Chances are, if it’s loaded with first-person shooters, then it’s Autumn and you’ll be staying indoors glued to your computer. Insurgency: Sandstorm joins the flood of new FPS titles to the market. Does it have what it takes to stand out, or will it quickly be forgotten?
Developed by New World Interactive and published Focus Home Interactive, this is a hardcore first-person shooter. The sequel to the much-loved Insurgency, this title aims to build on its well-received mechanics while taking advantage of the next-gen hardware.
Insurgency: Sandstorm is realistic but doesn’t rely on real events.
Many games in this genre try to boost their dramatic approach by utilising real events, however, Insurgency: Sandstorm is different. It doesn’t rely on building its atmosphere and excitement by borrowing from harrowing events. No, instead it uses intense mechanics and tactical elements to increase its difficulty and to make its player base return.
Having recently played Hell Let Loose, I thought I had my fill of tough hardcore shooters, but I was wrong! This equally challenging title has realistic weaponry, an array of classes and leans heavily on Middle Eastern urban combat. The action is split into distinct categories of online multiplayer and cooperative. The latter asks you to fight AI bots, whereas the first is all about the online cooperative spirit.
Bang bang, you’re dead!
The lack of a story will disappoint.
I’m not a gamer who needs or wants a story mode when I play shooter titles. If I’m honest, I can’t remember ever playing a single-player campaign mode. However, I’m in the minority and the lack of a good story will upset many gamers. Though I don’t look for a story mode, it is an oversight, as many of the elements would have worked brilliantly to create an enthralling tale.
With no campaign mode in sight, the game relies heavily on an addictive yet highly tactical approach that will push players to their limits. This action is played across five game modes and each comprises two teams, Security and Insurgents. The latter have dated weapons such as AK-74, M1 Garand and the Welrod. Whereas Security have more advanced technology, that’s associated with NATO countries, such as MP7, L85A2, and the M4 Carbine.
You may worry that dated weaponry will make the battle unfair, yet fear not! The developers have balanced the weaponry nicely and skills and tactics are the key factors that decide victory.
The night is on fire.
Classes and customisation.
What I love about the shooter genre is the blend of classes to choose from. The mixture leads to some interesting tactical elements and an array of firepower on display. Insurgency: Sandstorm is generous in this department with eight classes to choose from: Rifleman, Breacher, Marksman, Observer, Commander, and more. Each has unique weaponry, but the Commander has the ability to call in support if a friendly observer is close by. This was a fantastic example of teamwork and added a brilliant tactical layer that can turn any battle in your favour.
Alongside the tactical elements were the opportunities to customise your fighter. You can change their appearance, but more importantly, you can add attachments to your loadout. Subsequently, understanding what your teammates are using is key to being victorious! A blend of firepower is essential to overwhelming your opponents and there is little advantage if you all run the same gear.
You can add lasers, sights, grips, underbarrel attachments, explosives, and more to any weapon you can wield. Your only limitations are the number of points you have to spend on each setup. This was an excellent choice as it forces you to focus on your play style by making a loadout to match it.
A game mode for everyone.
I found it refreshing that both the online and cooperative modes have a selection of available game modes. This inclusive approach was interesting to see, and it reduced the toxicity that I’ve come to expect from the genre.
Many of the modes focus on objective-based gameplay, whether it’s ‘domination’ or attack and defend scenarios. This wasn’t a surprise as the developers wanted communication and teamwork to be key components. You must move together as a unit to ensure that everyone stays alive. However, sadly, death is all but guaranteed for the less skilled players, though this matters not.
If you die, and you will, you observe your teammates until the objective is captured or the wave timer runs down. This was an excellent mechanic as it rewards the more skilled team with a player advantage and increases the difficulty at the same time.
Lives long abandoned.
Hardcore mechanics are reminiscent of Rainbow Six Siege.
Rainbow Six Siege has drawn in big numbers for many years and its fan base love the tactical approach and slower gameplay. Many of these elements are found within Insurgency: Sandstorm. Therefore, running around like a headless chicken is not advisable.
An understanding of the fine details and familiarising yourself with the maps and objectives is key to being a great teammate. The learning curve is understandably tough because of the realistic elements, but once you find a great team and you overcome the many hurdles in your way you’ll have a blast.
Insurgency: Sandstorm reminded me of COD 4 crossed with PUBG.
Insurgency: Sandstorm’s desert aesthetic and old-school background instantly reminded me of COD 4. This style then extended to the weaponry and the way you move. The uncanny similarities gave the gameplay a familiar edge and, subsequently, the realistic approach has an arcade feel to it. This then blends into a PUBG style title when you look at the character customisation and the menu interface. The strange combination wasn’t unpleasant and the dated look ran smoothly. Furthermore, the arcade edge diminished the realistic approach a little and I would have liked something closer to Hell Let Loose.
Audio is always key in any game I play, but in shooters, it has to be superb. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed! Shots whizzed past my head, footsteps sounded around me, and the quiet noise of weapons reloading can be heard. The attention to detail is phenomenal and the graphics are soon forgotten as you are sucked into the action.
They could be hiding anywhere.
Where the shot lands, matters!
Being able to control your weapon has never been so important. With recoil playing a big part, you must learn the intricacies of each gun. Unleashing a clip of bullets like Harry out of Dumb and Dumber is entirely possible, so practise and patience are key. As this is an ultra-realistic title, headshots matter! Shooting someone in the arm or leg will sting, but landing a shot in the chest or head will drop them. You must be accurate and luckily the controls help as they are responsive, and easy to pick up.
A thorough tutorial walks you through your paces, but it’s no match for in-game experience. Fortunately, the well thought out layout reduces the learning curve and gives you a fighting chance against other players.
The tough nature of the gameplay may put off some gamers, but if you can get to grips with it and find a good team, you’ll fall for its charms. Its brutality makes it both rewarding and addictive and its ever-changing gameplay makes it moreish.
Insurgency: Sandstorm will punish you.
The brutality surrounding its gameplay and its punishing mechanics will divide the FPS community. Its tough and unforgiving ways won’t be for everyone. Yet, if you get hooked, you’ll experience a truly rewarding title similar to Rainbow Six Siege. It chewed me up and spat me out, but I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! War has never been so tough! You must work together, master your class, and win every battle you take on.
Here we are once again with a surprise ‘State of Play’ which was suddenly announced at the start of this week but once again, PlayStation have actively played down expectations of fans to say that this briefing will be only 20 minutes long and will be focusing on third party news more than any massive PlayStation reveals. That said, 20 minutes is still a lot of time to have one or two surprises, I personally am hoping for more on Final Fantasy XVI perhaps but below, you will find all the news and trailers as it happened in this briefing:
Deathverse: Let it Die – Reveal Trailer
Presenting the multiplayer melee survival action game “”DEATHVERSE -LET IT DIE-”! Greetings to all of you looking to relieve your daily stress and fulfill an insane desire for extreme self-expression. We invite you to take part as a contestant in a literal survival game show that has enthralled the world over! !
We are OFK – Reveal Trailer
From indie pop band OFK: We Are OFK follows the lives of four friends in their 20s as they attempt to break into the music business, fall in and out of love, and figure out how to pay rent and make art in Los Angeles. Coming in 2022 to PlayStation 5.
Bugsnax: The Isle of BIGsnax – Reveal Trailer
In the Isle of BIGsnax update, explore a mysterious new land crawling with supersized Bugsnax. Back on Snaktooth, you can complete challenges from your mailbox, collect decorations to personalize your hut, and most important of all: put hats on your favorite Bugsnax! This free content update to Bugsnax will be available early 2022 on PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5.
Death’s Door: PlayStation Launch Date Trailer
Reaping souls of the dead and punching a clock might get monotonous but it’s honest work for a Crow. The job gets lively when your assigned soul is stolen and you must track down a desperate thief to a realm untouched by death – where creatures grow far past their expiry.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach – Reveal Trailer
Gameplay and announce date for Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.
Kartrider: Drift – Reveal Trailer
King of Fighters XV: State of Play Trailer
Beta announcement trailer, Players can choose from 8 characters, including our newest one, Dolores. Features modes like Online Casual Matches and Room Matches.
First Class Trouble – Reveal Trailer (PS Plus Title for November 2021)
Six players enter the game together, but two of them are naughty Personoids, secretly trying to stop the Residents from escaping. Who can you trust? Social deduction is your key to survival! In this video, the Invisible Walls team outlines the roles of both Resident and Personoid, and provides strategic insights to help you come out on top—no matter which side you’re on!
Star Ocean: The Divine Force – Reveal Trailer
Star Ocean 25th Anniversary commemorative product. Square Enix and developer Tri-Ace present the latest title in the Star Ocean RPG series. Featuring a story that blends fantasy and a sci-fi settings, a plethora of different playable characters and side stories, and a unique battle system that allows for thrilling fights using simple and instinctive controls. Due for release in 2022
Little Devil Inside: Gameplay Trailer
Official gameplay trailer for Neostream’s upcoming PS5 title – Little Devil Inside.
and that’s all Folks….
….Final Thoughts!
Short and Sweet, literally zero fanfare or big surprises as PlayStation confirmed before the event, just a nice “this is what you can look forward to”. First Class Trouble coming to PS Plus next month (Next Tuesday actually) is a welcome surprise as the PS Plus line up has yet to be announced. Otherwise, Little Devil Inside does have my attention with this gameplay trailer whilst Deathverse: Let it Die becomes the third BR revealed for PS this year, does look interesting.
Safe, solid and non spectacular, bit of a confusing surprise briefing if honest but it has people talking all things PlayStation this evening which is probably the whole point.
Back in September 2020 the original Crysis game was remastered and released and whilst it was fun to revisit the game that launched the Crysis series, it was a remaster that left me disappointed as it was your standard lazy remaster, adding a new visual shine to it but not taking the time to fix original issues and as such I ended my review saying that they would have been more successful in releasing the entire trilogy as a remastered collection than just the opening game. Well, someone paid attention because that is exactly what has happened, the entire Crysis Trilogy has been remastered and released for current consoles and PC.
Whilst I was less than impressed with the performance and quality of the first game’s remastered offering, the game itself still works as the introduction to the world of Crysis. The team that made it also made the original Far Cry games which is very evident when you start the game in a forest environment before the sci-fi element kicks in. The weapons are standard FPS favorites and the world felt linear rather than a playground. Technical issues aside, the best thing about the game was the introduction of the Nano Suit, something which would become the core element in the sequels as the suit is used better and levels designed to give the player a greater choice in how to use the abilities the suit gives the wearer. On it’s own, as someone who played the original, the first Crysis Remastered game is a base, it feels even more dated only looking “nicer” but as the opening to a Trilogy experience, it is very much worth the experience.
The very fact the whole trilogy is included for the single asking price is a big reason why I would recommend this collection to FPS fans, both if you played the original games and especially if you never did because having them all together, despite the faults the games still have, and still an annoyance that original issues were not fixed yet again, Crysis 2 and 3 are a far more complete experience than the original game. The story expands and changes from the island in the original to New York and improvements are impactful right away both in the story telling and the gameplay, which is why for me, Crysis stood out against the big-name FPS franchises of the time like HALO and CoD.
Crysis 2 introduced a new hero in Alcatraz, member of a military fire team on route to a mission when their submarine is attacked, and the team is forced to abandon the sub. A cutscene plays showing a wounded Alcatraz being found and rescued by Prophet, the surviving Nano Suit wearing soldier from the original game, now taking the fight to the Ceph alien race in New York, as the cut scene plays out however, Prophet is forced to give his suit to Alcatraz as he himself has reached his end and in a bid to continue his mission, puts the suit on you the player with the hope you will finish his mission and fight.
Crysis 2 right away is a big step up from the first game is a variety of ways from the visuals and sound systems to the scale of the world despite it being focused on New York City. The Nano Suit is really the launch pad for all the improvements in gameplay for the sequels as I said above, this begins in two improvements, the Visor and Nano-Vision. With the Visor, players can now scan the wide area in front of them and tag enemies to plan their next move and Nano-Vision is no longer just Night Vision, instead moving to thermal vision to identify moving targets. The other Nano suit abilities are still present in “MAXIMUM Armour” and “CLOAK” and activating them has that satisfying suit announcement sound to confirm they have been activated. All the abilities still use up the suit’s power, so players are still required to monitor battery levels to manage when these abilities are in play.
Something that Crysis 2 brought to the series was player choice to either go stealth, using the visor to tag enemies and then taking a route that would avoid them or go full tactical and take out all the enemy forces. Either way is great fun, personally I prefer to go stealth with the challenge of managing the battery when using the CLOAK but having two styles to play and a world designed to allow it is such a difference compared to the first game. The story is far more enjoyable as well as any sequel should have, and this was the next step fans wanted. Sadly Crysis 2 like Crysis also has many bugs that were never addressed. Playing on both Xbox Series X and S, there are instances of terrible screen tears quite often and moments where whole sections of a level failed to render at all enabling you to see under and through the world which is never good. Hit detection can also be problematic with straight shots either not registering at all or hitting off to the side of the intended target. Game sound would also cut out, requiring me bringing up the Xbox guide then switching back to the game to get it to return after cutscenes. As frustrating as these issues are, the gameplay and the story kept me moving forward but as with the first game remaster, it was just super annoying to still hit bugs that should have been corrected.
Crysis 3 is by far the best in the series with improvements across the board, visually it is the best looking, building on the two previous games and the story itself is nearing its climatic conclusion and let’s be honest, if you have made it through the first two games you are already heavily invested in the story. Crysis 3 Remastered is also the most stable of the three games in terms of issues though the sound issue was still present on occasion but overall, a far more robust remaster. Where Crysis 2 built on focusing the action on the Nano Suit, Crysis 3 is a celebration of the Nano Suit and the ability to go stealth thanks to the sudden inclusion of the NANO Bow, adding archery for extra stealth and trick arrows that offer even more tactical decisions along with the same human weaponry of the series. I say human because now in Crysis 3, the player is now able to pick up and use Ceph alien tech, think HALO when you pick up and use a Covenant weapon.
Working through the levels using the NANO Bow and NANO suit abilities was everything I had hoped for as my play style through each of the games reached this point of just feeling like a true super soldier badass, something which at the time when I said this to my friends that this is how I wished playing as the Master Chief would feel like earned me harsh looks. The gameplay is just incredibly satisfying at this point, the story after so many twists and surprises feels like it is nearing the end in that way good story telling should do. My journey through the series is all coming together nicely, I am one with my Nano Suit, I know its strengths and weaknesses, but the game still offers some new tricks in the skill upgrade system which now allows the player to create and save a “build” of enhancements that can be switched too at any time, allowing for a focus on stealth or combat when the situation demands it. This is the game that made me forget the tech issues and limitations of the first two games and you can feel how improved each game was from before getting to this stage of the collection.
Looking at this as a collection of an FPS series that dared to do something different against the big hitters in the FPS genre has been a big nostalgia trip for me, but this is a collection that for this asking price, I would easily suggest to someone who likes a good single player FPS run. Though all the Multiplayer has been stripped out from the series to leave it as a campaign only experience, there is still a lot of gaming for the price. I standby my original view that the Crysis series would have benefitted from having a full remake rather than a remaster because the original flaws are still there without the “aww this is still broken then” acceptance but more of a “why wasn’t this fixed?” reaction. Currently there is no optimization for Xbox Series consoles or PS5, which again, is a shame now nearly a year since their launch.
If you are looking to perhaps discover why Crysis is a name still talked about now, this collection is for you and even if you played the original games back in the day, this is a great way to revisit them. The tech issues of the first two games are a distraction however and glaringly so but the gameplay and using the NANO Suit is still as gratifying now as back on the original games. I opened by talking about how I ended my review of Crysis Remastered in saying how the entire series should have been remastered and released for the asking price of it and well, I got my wish.
As the gaming world prepares for the latest CoD game in Vanguard before Battlefield 2042 is released to show the world the series has evolved and just under two months before the huge return of HALO with Infinite, Crysis is a series firmly set in the gaming generation it first released it, dated but still very playable, this is a collection worthy of an FPS fan with a solid asking price for three games.
Ruin Raiders is an action-packed tactical roguelike, where players are tasked with gathering certain materials and completing hard hitting battles in order to progress. At first, this seems like an easy game to pass the time with. It’s a simple idea with new mechanics to ensure you have to run the same level time and time again. But with such a repetitive nature you’d think the developers would implement some sort of refreshment to each level. Stopping players from feeling like they are playing the same level over and over. Unfortunately, Ruin Raiders doesn’t quite manage that.
Roguelike games are renowned for making players crawl through levels repeatedly, whether that’s to gather materials or kill a certain number of enemies. But with most games falling into this genre, maps are different in design to keep the gameplay fresh. Sadly, Ruin Raiders began to feel stagnant after a few runs. Levels are different, that’s a given. You aren’t literally walking around the same map until you complete the games, but there are few changes made between maps. So it really does begin to feel like dejavu. Each level is made up of the same components which are across the whole board of roguelikes.
Over and over again
You are responsible for controlling teams of explorers, trekking through the ruins of what was once civilization. The cartoonish style of characters and environments is fun and engaging, and it reminded me of Starfox in terms of character design. There’s a very strong futuristic feel to the game, which is aided by the desolate dungeon crawling. It definitely looks the part, but gameplay definitely lets the side down when it comes to taking the game as a package deal. At first, engaging in battle is new and fun. But turn based combat which never really changes no matter how far you get in-game, feels like a broken record.
There is a lot needed before you begin to feel like you are making any sort of progress. Blueprints to upgrade your base can be found whilst exploring new places, but they are few and very far between. It’s more frustrating than boring as you can see how much potential Ruin Raiders has, but the repetition really makes it lose its charm. Treasure chests litter every few rooms, but hardly ever contain things you need. The main material you search for is Entium, the one thing responsible for crafting items and upgrades. But good luck crafting these without blueprints, basically taking us back to square one.
Final thoughts
My main issue with this title is the lack of drive. There isn’t enough to keep you coming back unless you really respect the grind. If you are willing to put the time into Ruin Raiders, it would be a genuinely enjoyable game. But it takes so long to get the ball rolling and I found myself getting tired before really getting anywhere. It’s a shame, as certain mechanics could be amazing, and the game definitely holds potential. It’s just a shame that it feels so repetitive and for what?
Let me tell you how it feels to play this game, Inscryption. It feels, looks and sounds like playing something you found in a garbage bin, a CD with some indiscernible words marking its side. You put the disc in the drive and you find yourself immersed in a soaked, swampy, dark atmosphere, playing cards with a creepy, mysterious entity, while it’s raining outside. Oh, and let me tell you, there is no swamp really. No rain either. There is nothing actually, besides a small cabin in (presumably, we don’t know) the woods. A set of eyes, always watching our every move. A clock on the wall. A safe with a combination lock. Creepy music. We have no idea why anything is where it is. Hell, we don’t know why we are there to begin with.
Then, the entity invites us to play a card game. The atmosphere begins to take form in a way only possible in VR. The cards are almost tangible, the entity feels as though they are actually sitting in front of us. We are explained the rules of this weird card game, that are -at first- pretty straightforward and reminiscent of other similar games’, but little by little they start to get way more complex. Oh, also, some cards talk with you, and seem to have their own agenda regarding this strange place and the nightmarish set of eyes that inhabits it.
You’re not expecting this
I say that the rules are familiar, but I’m oversimplifying really. You see, in Iscryption you do play with cards, and these cards do have stats like health and attack, and also some extra conditions like “flying”. It’s familiar, yes, but also it’s eerie because it is interwoven with the game’s overall narrative in interesting ways that more often than not end up in some kind of bloodshed. You have to sacrifice cards to gain “blood”, after all, which is then used as a resource to summon stronger cards. Every time you pull up a vicious wolf-card, the other cards on the table start to tremble because they know they’re about to be sacrificed; what’s a puny squirrel next to a mighty wolf?
One of the better parts of Inscryption’s card game systems is found in the conditions you have to meet to win a match. You have to “kill” the enemy cards and then hit the “health” of the player, until you bring it down to zero, as in most games of this type. But, here, it’s not that simple. In Inscryption, every bit of damage you inflict on your opponent tips a scale to one side. If you bring it all the way to one side, you win. But every time the enemy damages you, the scales tip back to the opposite side. So, it’s a constant battle of wits and luck, never entirely predictable and always fun in a grim way.
A haunted card game
The rules get expanded on, you find some ways to upgrade your cards later, and in general Inscryption is a very good card game, built on a weird, unsettling cabin that looks like the backdrop of an escape room experience. And, what a surprise, it also kinda is one! I mean, the puzzles you’ll see around this otherworldly room are not plain decorations: they have actual meaning and uses. You can get up from the table and roam around the cabin, with the ever-present eyes always there, so you get to meddle around with the machines and strange items you find. At first you will not know what any of it is. But give it a while and the card game will merge with the room, you’ll start understanding what you need to do and why, and then you will actually do it and encounter the most surprising twists you couldn’t think of.
Listen, I could tell you exactly what happens, I could explain why Inscryption is superb, but I absolutely will not, because I will ruin it. This is a game that must be experienced with zero knowledge about its intricacies. Believe me, if it sounds even a tiny bit interesting to you, you should just play it without researching anything. It’s made to be experienced this way. It surely helps that the game looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous, exactly how it should: like a haunted, unknown game found in the garbage.
Go in with an open mind
While it is one of the best games to come out lately, and one of the most interesting ones you will ever play, there are a few structural problems and in some parts you might actually get a bit bored. This is because Inscryption is in its heart a roguelike. Yes, it’s a card game, a horror experience, a roguelike and some other words that I will not utter, in fear that I’ll spoil the entire thing. Its roguelike aspect is interesting and downright creepy at times, but it does, in some instances, get in the way of enjoying the well-crafted narrative and the excellent card mechanics. Then again, I am not sure how it could be improved upon, but I think lowering the ambitions a tiny bit could maybe be beneficial. Also, the controls could definitely be better, especially in the walking-around parts, and some puzzles and mechanics could be explained in a more clear way. However, the core of the game is so interesting that all these little problems get washed out and feel like noise. As it stands, it is absolutely unique, mind-bending and well-made, even taking into account those little parts that bring down the experience. A superb experience, beautiful, one of a kind, fun, occasionally funny, and very unsettling.
The thought of office work fills me with dread. Sitting in a little cubicle filing paperwork all day must be mind-numbing. How about you blend this cold environment with a dehumanised existence in a dystopian future? How would that make you feel? The Plane Effect sells this horrendous image in its bleak and heartless isometric world.
Developed by Studio Kiko and Innovina Interactive and published by PQube, this is an adventure puzzle title. This grey and oppressive world lacks empathy and warmth. The protagonist wanders the landscape silently as he pieces together clues to overcome the many obstacles in his path.
Will you pick it up?
The Plane Effect is a surreal and depressing game that’ll catch your attention.
Finishing your career is supposed to be a happy occasion. Years of your life have been invested into your work and you are supposed to be valued. However, The Plane Effect emphasises its dystopian outlook by creating an empty existence for our retiring hero.
The plot revolves around a man who leaves his office for the final time. His journey to reach his home and family is stranger than usual and you get the sense that something or someone is trying to stop him. His usual trip isn’t normally this complicated, however, the simplest of tasks are challenging and time-consuming.
The isolation of every portion of his journey is soul-destroying, and the story has a depressing undertone. This wouldn’t usually be my thing, but the distinct and controlling vibes work perfectly with the setting and create an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.
Caught in the middle of something.
Tricky puzzles and three difficulty options.
The Plane Effect isn’t the easiest of puzzle adventure games I’ve played. Its gameplay focuses on exploration while scouring for answers. This was a great concept that worked perfectly for veteran puzzlers, but for less experienced players, the developers offered a helping hand. The choice of three difficulty settings enables you to play with no hints, limited help, or a permanent guide. This was an excellent approach that levels the difficulty curve. I selected the middle option and found the balance between freedom and advice to be just right.
However, even with the hints, many of the puzzles were tricky to solve. There is a heavy reliance on tasks being completed in a specific order, and missing finer details can hold you back. Moreover, many of the problems were environment-dependent, and each location generated new and interesting mechanics for you to try to piece together. Whether you are finding a lost ticket, scrambling around for coins, playing with electricity, or more, you’ll test your brain while enjoying the bizarre surreal landscape.
The Plane Effect is striking to look at.
Using a cold colour palette is an effective way to highlight the oppressive nature of a dystopian future. However, The Plane Effect has also captured this within its sparse environment. Moreover, the empty locations and lack of human contact are worrying and the lack of emotion is downright cruel! Yet, I loved this callous approach, and I also adored the weird dreamy locations and the smattering of vivid colours. They were cleverly incorporated to guide you from A to B or to highlight danger or an obstacle. It’s a deceptively simple method that works with the genre while maintaining the futuristic and damning outlook.
With no spoken dialogue, the gameplay relies on text and music to enhance the atmosphere. This is beautifully achieved with its calm but haunting piano music. The slow-paced soundtrack matches the methodical approach required to solve the many problems and the occasional noises from the protagonist. These were nice touches that completed the game’s emotionally starved ambience.
At least you are not alone.
Controlling an office worker has never been so easy.
I didn’t expect this to be challenging to control, and I wasn’t wrong. The developers have created a well thought out button layout that is simple to understand. The controls are responsive and you are assisted by helpful icons that highlight interactive objects. Furthermore, there are no requirements to select items in your inventory. Therefore, if you are holding the ‘solution’ to a puzzle, this is sufficient to remove the obstacle in your path. This was a fantastic decision as anything more complex would have been frustrating and an unnecessary layer.
As with most puzzle adventure games, the desire to play it again is somewhat reduced. With no additional game modes or NG+ options, you won’t experience something new the second time around. Fortunately, however, the longevity is increased because of the achievements you can miss. Completionists will require luck and a fine eye for detail if they wish to finish this.
The Plane Effect is a fantastically cold and depressing look into our future.
If my future is anything like The Plane Effect, I don’t want to get there! However, I loved the sparse environment, cold and sterile atmosphere, and the lack of emotion and warmth. The puzzles and exploration aspects will push you to your limit and test your logical approach. I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! Will you be able to navigate the surreal journey or will the oppressive world get the better of you?
My vvideo review with footage captured from my Xbox Series X, enjoy!
Will you take the red pill or the blue pill? One of the most memorable choices in movie history is now yours to make in The Caligula Effect 2, a JRPG that combines effortlessly the dual world of The Matrix to an Anime high school drama.
Originally released as a digital-only PlayStation Vita title in 2017 from Persona scenario-writer Tadashi Satomi and Director Takuya Yamanaka, The Caligula Effect was remastered for modern consoles in 2019, as The Caligula Effect: Overdose, overhauling the title for newer consoles. Copying and pasting virtually all of the gameplay mechanics from the rerelease, the sequel goes a step further to improve the game by removing previously ‘unnecessary’ elements and providing a more interesting story with a more unique cast of characters than its predecessor.
Created by a pop music idol, this digital world consists of fans with regrets large enough to be pulled from the real world and has them relive their high school years. With each and every character holding onto a secret it’s interesting finding out what that might be for each character and seeing their character progression throughout.
Sometimes a concept is too similar to be ignored….
Like The Matrix, the world will sometimes change its form and provide some weird and wonderful environments to have its sometimes bizarre narrative play out in, but due to the slice-of-life element of the game, the characters remain grounded by their normal routines, which allows the change in their lives to be more profound, especially as you learn about the characters’ lives in the real world, which are often completely dramatically different and makes for some tremendous storylines for the main playable characters.
The best part of this RPG though is not its concept, but its thrilling battle system that places your 4 characters’ actions on a timeline, with each action taking an allotted period of time to complete before pausing when the next character’s waiting period is up. What makes this system click superbly is a preview feature that plays out the entire timeline before you commit to your move, allowing you to synchronize your team’s moves to perfection for some great combos or to avoid enemy attacks with split seconds to spare.
With satisfying moves that launch enemies up into the air and a great soundtrack with lyrics that appear in an eclectic background design, this is by some way the most enjoyable battle experience I’ve had with an RPG battle system. Its dynamic flexibility to change a battle on its head, while not affecting the enjoyable flow of action is top-notch.
I cannot overstate how much I love this battle system – I would buy this game just to play with it. The turn-based timeline system gives you the feeling of complete control of while the cast of characters (Tank, Attacker, Support and Debuffer) offer a variety of abilities, weapons and strategies. I want all RPGs to use this – not joking.
Also carried over from the original is the social bond system which links a large number of interactable characters via a social web called its ‘Casuality Link’. Each character has their own profile, specific conversations, and an associated quest, the completion of which improves your stats.
While this is certainly impressive on paper, it only carries a tenuous link to the world, as its entirely separate from the main story and has little to no effect on other characters, meaning that the characters’ list of generic answers to random questions seems a bit pointless in the larger scheme of things. It is interesting as unrelated side content, but considering that you could recruit all those NPCs as team members to fight within the original, it seems like a step back.
This is the profile of Shuka Uno, and the girl who I gave tips to improve her Go (a Japanese board game) game in her quest. You can see the Causality Link board behind her profile showing the links between characters. If you click on X to ‘Dive Deeper’ you can see her real-life profile and why she is in the current fake world. There’s no doubt that it’s interesting, but it clearly has potential for so much more.
Another missed beat is the inconsistent visuals. The UI is sleek and smooth and the character design is more varied from the original, but the cutscene animation, which the game relies on heavily, is quite poor considering the platform this particular game is now native to. The protagonist’s entire range of movement, for example, seems to feature in the opening cutscene alone, and his woodenness is hardly aided by making him/her intentionally mute in a game with near full voice acting.
Regardless of these faults, with a concerted effort to offer up something new throughout, The Caligula Effect 2 constantly feels fresh and enjoyable. New characters add twists to the story and add an extra ingredient for varied battles and new moves for existing characters ramp up the action.
Most aspects are also integrated well into the game – the excellent j-pop/Vocaloid soundtrack is relevant to the story as the fake world’s creator is a pop music idol who is supported by a band of musicians, and whose music plays in the background. Integrating excellently with the battle system is the same music – but with a small adjustment – the lyrics kick in when battles start. It doesn’t sound like it would make much of a difference but it raises the excitement for the battle ahead and is just one small added detail of many that make this game seem like a labor of love for the developers.
With a concept and a battle system that rivals the best in the genre, The Caligula Effect 2 punches high above its weight, only to then disappoint with its average visuals and a world lacking depth. Assuming that you haven’t been dissuaded by its inconsistent qualities, however, following the story is still very much a good time, and overall, is an easy recommendation for JRPG fans. Hopefully, the series is allowed to build iteratively in further sequels, as better visuals, an expanded world, and a more meaningful social bond system could make this something special.
Woo, got to the next platform, an easy jump left to go…Darn it. Happenlance is an action/puzzle game available on Steam. Phillip Trudeau-Tavara developed and released it on the 22nd of October 2021. I couldn’t find many details about the developer. This title is the only one listed for this developer.
Happenlance Premise
The aim of the game is to use your lance to conquer the obstacles and make your way to the exit. A simple goal, but very difficult to pull off. I had to watch another person have a go, to get past the first level. You use the lance, like a pole vaulter. It can be very difficult to position it in a way that means you get to the next platform. There is a small sense of achievement when you do. If you’re not the type to put up with failing this isn’t the title for you.
I have to say that the first level is far harder than it should be. There are no checkpoints so if you fall then you have to make your way back. Tips are not present either. You’re stuck by yourself to figure out how to progress I took to YouTube to see how to complete the first level. Tips appear on the second level which feels late. The first level is where I expect most people to give up. I wanted to give multiplayer a try, yet there was no one to play with at the time of the review.
Happenlance Presentation
The style feels like a mid-00s flash game. There is attention to detail so it wasn’t too blocky. But it isn’t beautiful. For a not-free game, I would at least expect the graphics to have a more premium feel. But, I wouldn’t say it was ugly either.
For the soundtrack, the developer has stuck to ambiance noises. Such as birds tweeting and leaves in the wind. I felt this was a great choice. It is hard enough to focus on not falling without an annoying soundtrack in the background. The ambient noises are high quality. It sounds like they recorded it in a forest.
Final Verdict
I always try to go into games with an open mind. But when the first level is an infuriating introduction to the mechanics of the game. It puts me off from progressing with the title. In the end, I watched someone play it online and suprised by their skill. The first game that they have developed, it is a great entry. I would love to see what they come up with next. I understand that I’m not the target audience. Even though I grew up with platformers I have moved on.
This has made it difficult to give a fair review of this game. I don’t think it’s a bad game, but a very difficult one. So I have given this title a 5 out of 10. If there had been more hand holding on the first level then it would have at least a 6.
