Hardcore games attract a niche and insane audience. I understand the desire to complete brutally hard titles, but normally I give them a wide birth. Gaming is supposed to be relaxing, yet these tough experiences are anything but. Struggling is a game that will punish you at every opportunity and make you scream with rage!
Developed by Chasing Rats Games and published by Frontier Foundry, this is a tough physics-based platform title. With a loose story to enjoy and a meaty and gross protagonist, this isn’t a game for the faint of heart. My fears of rage quitting, swearing repeatedly, and hating life came true instantly, yet I couldn’t put down this difficult endeavour.
What a beautiful creature.
Struggling by name, Struggling by nature.
Hatred is a strong word, but I spent much of my time hating the developers. Their disgustingly brilliant title will have you sweating, screaming, and failing repeatedly! It’s a dream for sadomasochistic people and one that made me wince repeatedly. The irony that its name matches its difficulty wasn’t lost on me, but yet I didn’t want to put it down.
Played as a solo or couch co-op title, you control a meaty blob called Troy. It’s an experimental beast that is horrendous to look at. The entity is formed of conjoined twins that have one working arm each. This blob-like creature must explore by grabbing surfaces, swinging from ceilings, and rolling around. The gameplay evolves as you progress, and new abilities are learned that add further challenges.
Don’t let the nuclear waste drip on you.
Puzzles, platforms, and physics-based madness.
I don’t mind when a title has difficult elements. In fact, I enjoy the challenge. However, when every mechanic is unfairly difficult, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. This is pretty much Struggling in a nutshell….it’s just too tough. Though you’ll curse your luck repeatedly, you’ll love the stage design and the ways you traverse the landscape. You’ll avoid spikey blobs, push scientists into the abyss, swing over nuclear waste, ride a motorcycle, and more. There are boss fights to endure, puzzles to solve, platforms to cross, and plenty of physics-based madness.
Yet, it’s the latter element that hurts Struggling so much! The controls are tough, and Troy ties himself into knots repeatedly. You begin by controlling just his arms, and this evolves into the ability to detach them. This causes each arm to become entangled and creates an unforgiving mess. What should be simple to work with isn’t, and it will make you grind your teeth and become enraged.
This sadly knocks on to impact the puzzle and platforming elements. Moving items or bridging gaps is easier said than done, and you’ll be morally deflated throughout. As a solo player, you’ll have fun if you can battle through the tough gameplay. Yet, as a team, it is more forgiving if you can work together and use good communication.
Struggling is graphically brilliant but grotesque.
Struggling is awful to look at because of its gory meaty theme. However, once you become accustomed to its grotesque ways, you’ll love its striking style and 80s cartoon aesthetic. I adored the vivid landscapes, the variety of worlds, and the disgusting images. If the gameplay wasn’t so tough, I’d have spent longer admiring the scenery. Sadly, you’ll spend hours with your head in your hands repeating the same sections.
The agonising brutality of the action is alleviated by the excellent audio and comical sound effects. The wonderful soundtrack enhances this weird title and distracts you from an otherwise tortuous experience. The pain is reduced further thanks to the hilarious noises that flow from Troy’s mouth. With agonising screams and weird shrieks, you’ll chuckle just before you rage quit.
Nice to see you branching out.
Controls that’ll bring tears to your eyes.
Struggling had me grinding my teeth, and constantly on edge, thanks to its controls. I despised them from the off and never got used to them. Sadly, they taint the experience and made the simplest of tasks much harder. Moving at speed is nearly impossible, and swinging across gaps is a fine art. However, when you are successful, the sense of achievement is euphoric, and it makes the struggle worth it. The action is controlled using the two analogue sticks, and when new abilities are added, you must remember an array of buttons that add to the complex gameplay.
If you are brave enough to get through every level, you are a better person than me. Its difficulty will put off many gamers, but for those that stick with it, you’ll experience interesting levels and challenging puzzles. There is an array of hats to be found, and these add to the replay value and force you to explore each stage. Alongside this, you have a tough achievement list that will make the best players cry. If you finish this, add it to your CV as one of your greatest successes.
Struggling is great, it’s just too difficult.
The keyword of this review is difficult, and that’s the lasting impression Struggling gave me. Yes, I loved the audio, the horrific and striking graphics, and the boss battles, but it always felt unfair. It will attract those crazy gamers who love to brag about their completion rate, but lesser players will be put off. I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I admire its style and recommend that you buy it here! Can you help Troy across each level without smashing your controller? I doubt it, but it’s worth a try.
Here is our review of the Magna-Tiles Stardust 15-Piece Set.
For kids who love to sparkle, the Magna-Tiles Stardust 15-Piece Set is the perfect magnetic building toy. Made by Valtech, this eye-catching set follows the original Magna-Tiles formula – but with a glitzy twist!
Vibrant, translucent tiles are full of suspended glitter, while others are brilliant mirrors that catch the light. The extra shine is a great way to keep kids engaged as they create, have fun, and develop foundational skills in STEM areas and beyond.
Magna-Tiles Stardust tiles are guaranteed to spark hours of engaging, unstructured play. The sky is the limit with what kids can build – a rocket, castle, stage, or anything else they can imagine. Plus, they’ll work on developing dexterity and independence.
Part of what makes Magna-Tiles so great is its kid-friendly design. Tiles are three inches in dimension, making them easy for little hands to stack and connect. They’re also completely non-toxic and safe for all children age three and up.
Each three-inch piece is made from food-grade ABS (BPA-free) plastic that doesn’t contain toxic phthalates or latex.
The ceramic magnets are securely sonic welded into the plastic, eliminating all sharp edges and ensuring that magnetic building tiles stay safe to use over years of exciting play.
The set includes 4 Mirrored Squares, 7 Glitter Squares and 4 Equilateral Triangles.
Final Thoughts
The Magna-Tiles Stardust set can be used straight out of the box, other than removing a thin film from the 4 mirrored pieces which is there to protect the mirrors in transit.
My trusty 5 year old assistant started building shapes before I had even removed all the pieces from the box. He loved how easy it was for the pieces to just “click” together and he was making different shapes and patterns over and over again. Pulling them apart and making something else was very easy and he didn’t need any assistance from me!
The mirrored pieces really add to the set – my trust assistant actually made a dance floor for some of his PAW Patrol toys to have a pup pup boogie session on!
This set is fully compatible with other Magna-Tile sets and I think once you buy one you are likely to buy more as you child will want to carry on building, and the 15 pieces that come in this set are soon used – my trust assistant wanted to build something even bigger but we didn’t have the pieces so he improvised!
The Magna-Tiles Stardust 15-Piece Set (18915) is available now priced around £19.99 and is aimed at children ages 3 and up and would make an excellent stocking filler at Christmas.
Love Yourself is a premium food delivery service, freshly prepared by a Michelin trained chef and delivered to your door. We give the service a go!
This is how Love Yourself describe themselves:
We believe that everyone deserves to eat delicious and healthy meals, but we know that sometimes our busy lives get in the way.
We cook fresh each day with fresh ingredients.
No additives, preservatives or processed foods
We have numerous calorie options.
A real gourmet Chef and Nutritionist have prepared your meals
Every meal is scannable via MyFitnessPal app to help you keep track of calories and macro-nutrients
At Love Yourself we do all the work for you by creating tasty menus using locally sourced, fresh ingredients, which are prepared with you and your dietary requirements in mind.
Trying it Out for Ourselves
We had the opportunity of trying two complete days of meals of ourselves, so we went for the Performance option (mainly because I am really picky when it comes to food and that one had the best menu options at the time of looking).
Once we had selected the plan (and the 2 days worth) it was just a case of waiting. Each days worth of meals – there are 5 each day – are delivered the previous day between 5.30pm and 10pm Sunday to Thursday. Outside of those days you would get multiple days delivered at the same time, depending on your selected plan.
I received a text message telling me my order was on the way including a rough time and then as promised it was delivered.
The food comes very well packaged, although you will ideally want to be at home when they deliver as the food packages themselves are delivered in a bag, there isn’t any cold packs like other food delivery services, although theses are cooked fresh and ready to use. This shouldn’t be a problem unless its a really hot day and they are standing outside for several hours.
Each meal package has the meal number on, the description of the meal, cooking instructions (where applicable) and all the nutritional information you could need, including the ability to scan the meal directly into the MyFitness App.
Final Thoughts
There is a very good selection of meal types available and you can see them all either on the website or on the Love Yourself app. Once you have selected your plan you also get an email with the weeks menu on. This is really useful if you don’t like one of the days, you can contact Love Yourself and change to a different plan. I was originally going to try the Keto plan but when I received the menu for the next week I decided to go for a different plan. Again this is purely down to me being really picky (I’m more of a burger and fries guy than a heathly balanced meal guy!)
As mentioned earlier in the review, the food is delivered daily in the evening and I knew when it would be delivered to. On one of the days I wasn’t in when the delivery came and they left it in a safe place and sent me a picture, which I thought was really good!
The quality of the food was excellent – as were the portion sizes – and following the instructions to cook the food was very easy.
If you want to have freshly prepared high quality food delivered to you daily at a reasonable price then you really should take a look at Love Yourself, there are so many options to choose from there is bound to be something for everyone (even I found something!)
At the time of writing they were offering some discounts on 4 and 8 week plans too!
Potions, cauldrons and spell books – oh my! Children can now perform real magic and create their own magical pet with brand new, Magic Mixies from Moose Toys.
The first of its kind toy, Magic Mixies allows children to conjure up a magical potion and cast a spell to reveal their very own mystical best friend!
The Magic Mixies Cauldron comes with all the magical ingredients needed to make a cute furry friend! Children can find the spell from the Spell Book, then add magical ingredients such as a Glitter star, Crystal Gem, and Magic Feather to the potion one step at a time to help bring their friendly creature to life.
By putting children in control of their own magical powers to create, the child can use the wand to complete each step, and watch in amazement as the cauldron reacts to each tap of the wand with enchanting sounds and lights.
Once the potion is mixed, children pop the name of their creature into the cauldron and real magic happens right before their eyes. A magical mist appears from the cauldron and… ta da! The Magic Mixie is revealed!
With over 50 sounds and reactions, Magic Mixies react to touch and respond to the wand. Plus, the more Magic Mixies are nurtured and cared for, the stronger their energy levels become. Magic Mixies also love to perform spells alongside the child magician, and may even grant a wish as their gem lights up.
Available in pink and blue, there are two species of Mixie to magically reveal.
And what’s more – the magic never ends! Once the Magic Mixie is revealed, it can be put back into the Cauldron and the magical reveal can be repeated again and again. The Magic Mist & Spells Refill Pack can be purchased separately.
Magic Mixies are suitable for ages 5+ with an RRP of £69.99. Refill packs are £9.99. Available on pre-sale from 1st September and on sale from 1st October at Smyths, Argos and Amazon.
With Christmas a little over 3 months away, we are going to be looking at various toys and games that you might want to consider getting. Here is the Bluey Plush from Moose Toys.
Bluey is a loveable, six-year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to turn everyday family life into endless, playful adventures. Recreate some of the most memorable moments from the show at home with figures & plush toys!
The much-loved 6-year-old Blue Heeler dog who loves to play is perfect for Bluey fans!
Children can have fun playing out adventures from the hit animation, as seen on CBeebies.
Also available – a jumbo size Bluey plush and plush toys of Bluey’s sister, Bingo!
Available now from Moose Toys, with prices starting from £7.99 at Smyths, Argos, The Entertainer and major supermarkets, and is aimed at children from 3 to 5 years old.
Disclaimer: The Bluey Plush was sent to us for the purposes of an honest review. All opinions are the opinions of our reviewer.
Ambition: A Minuet in Power is an RPG? I think. Nowhere on the Steam page or associated literature will you find a scrap of prose that agrees with that assessment, instead referring to the game as a romantic visual novel. But, I’m erringly certain that RPG is a reasonable category for the game. It has dialogue and reputation systems to rival your nearest Bethesda offering of Sky-based-rims, except the sections between the schmoozing and smooching are less dragon-ey and more buying-pretty-dresses-ey.
You play as Yvette, a young lady from a common family who really bloody loves a party. She’s taking her first trip to Paris at the invitation of her fiance, Armand, with the intention of them moving in together. However, when she arrives she finds everything is not quite as it seems. Armand is not exactly the man he appears in his letters and, what’s more, in the time it’s taken to journey to the capital he’s gone missing. Rather than setting out immediately, hell-bent on finding her groom-to-be and answers to the knee-deep pile of questions she finds herself in on arrival, Yvette prioritises partying, procrastinating like any undergrad with an important deadline. This is where she needs your help to navigate through the social graces of high society by dressing to impress and making sure the right people hear the right things to increase her standing with warring factions. Oh, and she needs help finding Armand too I guess. Only if he happens to be at one of these parties though. We’re not going out of our way.
Despite its appearances as a relatively cutesy dress-up and romance game, Ambition: A Minuet in Power has a remarkably intricate reputation and credibility system with about a million things feeding into it. When I play a game to review it I make notes so I can remember key plot points, new mechanics and gut feelings. My notes for this game read less like the careful musings of a games journalist and more like the crazed scrawlings of a madman, due to the sheer number of connected systems I’m trying to keep track of. I’m not going to cover everything here because a) that would take all day and, b) I’m never going to explain them anywhere near as well as the game explains them itself. I’m simply going to give you a tantalising taste of what’s on offer and you can play the game yourself if that sufficiently whets your appetite – an undertaking I would emphatically recommend after the time I’ve spent with the game.
It’s day ten of your fiance being missing and you are, as ever, wholly unconcerned. You have a party to attend this evening and there are decisions to be made. What are you going to wear? You could wear the dress you wore to your previous party but, as you wore it last time it’s lost some Novelty and won’t gain you as much Credibility. You could wear the new dress you bought last week but that doesn’t do much good for your Reputation with the Crown, the faction that is hosting the party. You should’ve bought a new dress for tonight but you can only do one activity per day and you’ve spent the last few days frantically selling the Gossip you learned from the last party to journalists to increase your Livre (money), resting in bed to cure the Exhaustion you acquired from the last party and undergoing missions for friendly characters to help all of your stats. You suppose you’ll have to wear the dress from last time, with its reduced Novelty and take the hit to Credibility, which is unfortunate as it’ll decrease your odds of passing certain dialogue checks, which will, in turn, stop you from gaining Gossip, Credibility and Reputation that will help you in future conversations.
It’s all a very delicate and intricate web of interconnecting systems where you’re not quite sure if you’re the spider or the fly. It feels fantastic to balance all of your stats and choose which you want to target with your very valuable free days. All of this comes together in a range of different endings where the choices you’ve made, the consequences of those choices and the choices you’ve made to deal with the consequences of those choices send you down a path to determining the future of France, either for the Revolution or the Crown.
Ambition: A Minuet in Power is a very well disguised RPG with an incredible system to track your social standing, the key to success in 1790s Paris. To an extent, it may have blown my tiny little mind but I appreciate the depth and effort that has been put into developing the game. If you love Fallout: New Vegas but get bogged down by the troublesome shooting and combat, Ambition: A Minuet in Power might just be the game for you.
The Aliens franchise began in 1979 and has spanned many years and many formats. Films, games, books, comics, and plays all take influence and the name of this iconic series. Yet, this big-hitter hasn’t always struck the right chord, and its many fans can be a fickle bunch. Roll on to 2021 and Aliens: Fireteam Elite has been released to tickle our fancies.
Developed by Cold Iron Studios and published by Focus Home Interactive, this is a cooperative third-person shooter. It’s a standalone sequel to the original trilogy but set twenty-three years after those events. Played solo with a team of AI bots, or with two friends, this is a hectic alien endeavour that will fuel those Sci-fi desires.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite blends some big named games into its all-or-nothing action gameplay.
The background of the story won’t shock you, and it leans on many much-loved elements from the franchise. You control a group of marines who are sent on a rescue mission to an outer colony after receiving a distress call. After boarding a refining station known as the Katanga, the team quickly realise that our friends the Xenomorphs have taken over. After an epic rescue mission to save Weyland-Yutani scientist Dr Timothy Hoenikker, the group turns their attention to another survivor on the planet surface. LV-895 is more dangerous than first anticipated as it’s the breeding ground for experimental Xenomorphs and the home to a deadly pathogen. As I said, the plot lacks any mighty surprises, but it’ll keep the hardcore fans happy, nonetheless.
Cold Iron Studios believes that cooperative shooters should be more than simply completing a goal together. They have created five roles within the team to ensure that each member is a useful cog in a well-oiled machine. The idealism does, however, give off distinct Left 4 Dead vibes, and the developers admit that there are similarities between the projects. But, they stress that Aliens: Fireteam Elite is also unique in many ways.
It’s also worth noting that the latter stages and enemies are reminiscent of the Gears of War franchise. I don’t blame them for borrowing elements from both, and luckily there is enough about it to make it enjoyable on its merit.
Light ’em up
Familiar settings, fast-paced action we all crave, and useless AI.
When Alien: Isolation was released, I was excited, but it left me deflated. Yes, there was tension, but all I desired was to grab a rifle and start shooting. Fortunately, Aliens: Fireteam Elite has this in abundance and this is exactly what this franchise needs. However, it uses the usual claustrophobic labyrinth of rooms and tight tunnels too often, and this funnels the gameplay into all too familiar and repetitive places.
Fortunately, the regurgitation of gameplay is somewhat eased by character perks, weapons upgrades, class selection, and challenge cards (more on these later). Yet, you can’t help but pray that something happens to spice up the fun, yet shallow, story.
One area that does alleviate that feeling of Deja vu is when you play with friends. The combination of tactics, the necessity to work as a team, character selection, and watching your mates being mauled by Xenomorphs were fantastic. However, it’s only fair of me to mention the one negative, and that’s your abysmal AI teammates. During the early missions, you’ll stomach their inadequacies, but as the waves and types of aliens get larger and stronger, your useless crew are cannon fodder at best, and a hindrance at worse. In a game where teamwork is essential, this was an oversight.
The classic Aliens look.
Five roles, a short campaign, and plenty of replay value.
The six to ten-hour campaign is short, but its alien splattering, synthetic smashing, and cover to cover moving ways are great to experience. The four chapters each comprising three stages take you on a fantastic journey that explores the underhand experiments by the Weyland corporation. You search some iconic locations that link nicely to the films and these will make hardcore fans salivate.
Where Aliens: Fireteam Elite excels is its selection of roles and its attempt to add longevity to a rather repetitive core concept. You are free to select from Gunner, Demolisher, Technician, Doc, and Recon. Each has unique weapons and cool down perks that enable you to create specific tactics for any situation. Whether you are using a shotgun, rifle, missiles, turrets, or more, each role has its strengths and weaknesses.
This is further enhanced by upgradable equipment and perks that add small buffs to each character. Sadly, though, you’ll be grinding out many of these improvements rather than earning them on the fly, so it feels like a cheap and tiresome way to add longevity.
Where this didn’t feel forced or cheapened was the challenge cards. These additional goals give the team a further focus and this increases the difficulty considerably. Whether it’s a team-based aim or extra foes to annihilate, they add some welcome meat to the bone.
Hand to hand combat is definitely not advised.
Why experiment on a deadly alien species?
Now, I’m sure it’s common sense, but messing with the DNA of a monstrous killing machine will end in tears, surely? Well, according to its many films, book, and games, that’s an accurate statement. The experiments completed by the Weyland scientists have created a hodgepodge of Xenomorphs that the brave colonial marines must contain. With warriors, spotters, drones, and more to contend with, you’ll be seeing chunks of alien skin and green acid-laced blood splattered across many walls. If you thought things couldn’t get worse, you’re sadly mistaken as synthetics and other horrific entities await you.
Unlike the normal Gears of War cover defence mechanic, Aliens: Fireteam Elite doesn’t rely on this defensive mindset. The Xenomorphs are an angry bunch, and they care not where you hide, or your tactical approach. You must have eyes in the back of your head as an attack can come from any angle at any time. This evil and aggressive attack mechanic ramps up the fear factor and enhances the inevitability that death is just around the corner.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite looks and sounds great.
I came into this with an air of resentment that the previous poor iterations helped develop. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only for them to be dashed again. Fortunately, I was so off the mark with my concerns that it was a pleasant surprise. Aliens: Fireteam Elite looks and plays fantastically well. Utilising the normal grey and sombre tones, you are struck by the futuristic yet doomed look, instantly. The variety of landscapes and character models were brilliantly designed and include incredible details. On the Series X, it runs effortlessly and the colours are vibrant.
This quality is continued by the hard-hitting and futuristic audio. With excellent acting, thumping sound effects, and spine-tingling alien screams, this is the stuff of nightmares. Every element of the sound compliments the other, and it was joyous to listen to. The music builds the suspenseful atmosphere and the footsteps and narrative comfortably fill the silence while adding to the tension.
Where it all begins.
The controls are a handful but well thought out.
If you are a veteran of the third-person shooting genre, then you’ll find the control setup a breeze. Helped by its well thought out layout and excellent UI, it uses a generic but comfortable approach. However, if you are new to the genre, you’ll find the volume of controls a handful. It takes some patience and practice mastering them while concentrating on the all-or-nothing action.
Thanks to the challenge cards, character perks, and unlockable horde mode, there are elements of replay value. However, these aren’t helped by the shallow story and repetitive gameplay. The constant room to room action and inevitable ammo and health crates at every turn undermine the desire to return.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite delivers a good but hollow Aliens experience.
There is much to love about Aliens: Fireteam Elite as it captures much of the Aliens essence. The atmosphere and tension are fantastic, as are the range of opponents you face. Sadly, the mediocre at best AI is unforgivable and taints the solo experience, considerably. Weighing things up, I had more highs than lows and recommend you to buy it here! Take on another alien destroying mission and help to save mankind from this never-ending threat.
For many would-be streamers and content creators, audio and voice recording are the bane of their existence. Getting a professional sound is both expensive and requires a lot of effort and know-how. However, things are about to get much easier thanks to the ROCCAT® Torch Studio-Grade USB microphone.
This affordable peripheral packs a lot of punch into its tiny frame. Standing at around 21cms tall and weighing in at around 500g, it’s a lightweight but well-constructed piece of equipment. Priced at £89.99, it isn’t the cheapest microphone on the market, but it offers a lot of quality and great voice recording at an affordable price. Its closest rivals are the Razer Seiren X and the HyperX HX-MICQC-BK QuadCast. Straight off the bat, I can say the ROCCAT® Torch is of better build quality than the latter, offers superior recording power than both and is much more user friendly.
Vivid blue RGB lighting.
Where to start with the ROCCAT® Torch?
Don’t you just love it when your new toy can be played with instantly? I do, and the ROCCAT® Torch knows gamers want to plug in and play with no fuss! With its driver free technology, the setup couldn’t be simpler!
This mic has been designed to look great and to be simple to use! With three distinct RGB lighting zones that utilise AIMO reactive lighting technology, contactless quick mute, and a studio style mixer for quick and easy adjustments, you’ll master the controls in no time. With an adaptive set-up for both desktop use and on a boom arm, this mic offers flexibility without compromise. Even when connected to a boom arm, the mixer controls can still be used, and this allows for trouble-free recording.
Red means stop!
Looking great is one thing, but how does it sound?
Thanks to its preset recording setup, you’ll instantly find the setting that works for you. With three distinct options available, the designers have covered most scenarios. Cardioid, Stereo, and Whisper are your presets, and each benefits from a specific RGB indication for easy identification.
Cardioid.
This is your go-to option as it picks up sound directly in front of the mic and captures crisp and clear sound.
Stereo.
Perfect for multiple sound sources and works great when recording vocals and instruments thanks to its left and right channel capture.
Whisper.
Works perfectly for night owls and proves the ROCCAT® Torch records the quietest whisper to the loudest roar (max SPL, 110dB.)
You record crystal sound that is perfect for streaming and video recording, thanks to the dual condenser capsule design with its 24-bit optimal selection and its 48 kHz Sample/Bit Rate. This ensures trouble-free optimisation and compatibility with many editing programs. Whether you are a novice or adept, you’ll adore the simplicity of creating your content.
Alongside these features, you also have zero-latency recording for 44.1 kHz and a built-in pop filter. Both are game-changers and will transport you from an average streamer to a crisper sounding and professional artist immediately.
What’s in the box?
ROCCAT® Torch Studio-Grade USB Microphone Module.
Base with recording style controls and Mic angle adjustment.
2× Microphone to Base connection Cable (15cm/200cm).
USB-C to USB-A PC connection Cable (200cm).
Quick Start Guide.
Final thoughts on the ROCCAT® Torch!
I’ve been fortunate throughout my fledgling YouTube career to have a good quality mic in the Razer Nari Ultimate. However, the ROCCAT® Torch takes my audio to another level! Thanks to its simple mixer that controls volume, gain, and presets, I’m in total control of everything I do.
The build quality starts at the well-constructed packaging that houses this powerful microphone. From the first moment, you know this product is well built and looks professional. The user manual provided is short and straight to the point and offers enough information to get started. The three USB cables have ample length for most setups and the quality of the cables was as expected.
The microphone feels robust, has a nice weight, and looks well built. The RGB lighting is bright and adjusts to the presets and the level of gain. It looks great and would stand out in any live stream.
The recording quality is fantastic and works well on an array of voices, volumes, and tones. The contactless mute is a great function and the indication that the device is recording was a nice touch. I appreciated the user-friendly approach, the driver free installation, and the optimised audio files make it a dream to work with.
The ROCCAT® Torch microphone offers high-quality studio sound at a fraction of the cost. It should be considered if you are looking to upgrade or to stream. I was amazed by what it offers and recommend you to buy it here!
More information on the ROCCAT® Torch can be found here.
How many times have you picked up a game and immediately felt yourself fall in love? It’s one of those feelings which only comes once in a blue moon, but once you know, you just know. For me, Hoa was nothing but instant infatuation. There is something so genuinely special about it, and whether that’s because I grew up on the outskirts of the forest or if the game reminds me of Studio Ghibli marathons with my older siblings, I have found myself picking it up time and time again at every chance I get. I can’t seem to get enough of it, and I’m sure if you picked it up you would feel the same.
There is no way that I could possibly stop myself from pouring my heart into this review. Hoa is undeniably one of my favourite games, and I’m not just saying that for the sake of selling the game to you. It’s an unforgettable, breathtaking experience for any forest dweller like me. So if you want to find yourself bouncing around alongside the bugs, then pay close attention. In my many years of playing games, I have never experienced something that has had such an effect on me.
Grow through what you go through
At first glance, Hoa is obviously a beautiful game. The style follows something similar to Studio Ghibli, so it’s hard to believe that it was created by a small team of developers. It is clearly a game filled with time, passion and love for both the gaming industry and the natural world. You spend your time within the game jumping around leaves or rocks meeting a whole cast of critters along the way. The most important thing to remember is that everyone is there to help one another. Every element of the natural world provides a domino effect of assistance, and their main goal is to keep you, Hoa, safe.
Despite the game being mainly focused on you discovering your history as Hoa, there is far more depth to it. You see the subtle loss of the natural world to industrialization. The forests slowly become dominated by tiny evil robots, putting you and your fine bug eyed friends at risk. It’s your job to prevent this overwhelming consumption of woodland, but by doing so you put your life at risk. As you progress through the game, you learn that the main guardians of each biome were responsible for keeping you safe. So the least you can do is repay the favour. These guardians are unlike any other I have experienced in my many moons gaming. Compared to our little fairy they are monstrous, but I still want to give them a massive hug. I absolutely adore the character design in Hoa, thus encouraging my endless praise of it.
Smooth sailing
At first your adventure may seem simple. There is only so much depth that can come to a game following one single idea. Get from point A to B. But Skrollcat Studios have made this steadily paced journey far more compelling by introducing us to such a lovable cast. They speak to us in a way which makes us feel encouraged and loved. Which is lost in a world of mass produced games. There are hearts poured into Hoa, much like mine in this review.
The whole experience is encouraged by how smooth the game looks and runs as well. If things were blocky or laggy, your attention would slowly drift from the story at hand. But luckily we get to enjoy this game in its rawest form, first time. It’s the kind of game you can sit and play to completion in one sitting and still want to finish and pick it up again. I struggle to do that these days. Whether it’s because my attention span isn’t quite what it used to be, or if it’s due to the tense nature of video games nowadays, but I could play Hoa until I’m blue in the face and still not get bored of it.
Final thoughts
I believe that I hold this game so dear to my heart since it shows the genuine fears our world faces. Making it easy to understand and accessible for all ages. It’s painfully true. We are losing huge areas of natural beauty to the production of factories and the industrialization for our own guilty pleasure. I feel honoured to be able to relate to Hoa, having experienced genuine natural beauty for myself in real life. Let alone getting to revisit it in game. Hoa is a perfect representation of the current fate of our natural world, and it shows us that without having to spell it out. So it’s about time we actually sat back and listened.
Western action films are a classic rough and tough form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by young and old. The stories are full of colourful characters, interesting plots, and absurd fight scenes. Virtuous Western captures the essence of the theme with its bright pixel world and gunslinging fights.
Developed by Nibb Games and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a Western-inspired action-puzzle title. With fixed-screen stages to overcome and some logic-based puzzles to complete, this will have you leaping, shooting, and dodging your way to victory.
Can you make them shoot each other?
Virtuous Western has a generous learning curve.
Virtuous Western spans thirty sun-drenched stages and has a speedrun mode to enhance the game’s difficulty. The story revolves around a cowboy who chases a horse thief after he steals his prized stallion. Unhappy to have his property stolen, the hero stops at nothing to be reunited with his ride. The aim of the game is straightforward, as you simply must annihilate every cowboy you encounter. How you do this is your choice, but you must avoid being shot as one bullet will kill you!
The game starts easily and gradually builds in difficulty! Your revolver starts with no ammo and you must scour the stage to pick up bullets to shoot your foes. With a limited amount of ammo at hand, you must use the scenery and your enemies wisely to succeed.
You have as much time as you wish to scan the scene, so use it to plan your approach and complete each stage. Shoot the chains that hold up dangling boulders, or get your enemies to kill one another. The choice is yours and sometimes more than one opportunity arises for you to complete each level.
Shoot the chain and let the boulder drop!
Its simplicity lets it down.
I liked the concept behind Virtuous Western, but its simplicity lets it down. The game fails to evolve past its basic premise and this stunts its growth. I would have loved to see more complex problems introduced but the game plateaus early on. You do, however, encounter tougher opponents, TNT crates, and sticks of dynamite, but this sadly doesn’t add to the excitement. This doesn’t mean it lacks fun, or it isn’t worthy of your time. No, it just won’t test you.
Where it excels and tests you are the speedrun sections. This hectic mode pushes you to remember how to complete each stage flawlessly, and it keeps you on your toes. This is where the developers should have invested their energy, as the gameplay would have been excellent as a completely hardcore speedrun title.
Virtuous Western uses a simple pixel art style.
The simplicity of the imagery and the fixed-screen perspective worked really well. The retro style and colourful backdrops were nice to look at, and each stage was well laid out. Thanks to its lack of complexity, I could easily plan how to overcome the obstacles I encountered.
The audio uses every clichéd trick in the book to enhance the Western theme. With its dramatic soundtrack that reminds you of John Wayne, to its booming revolver sound effect, you’ll be transported to the dangerous plains of those lawless lands.
No shame in shooting him in the back.
You’ll be wielding a revolver in no time.
With limited buttons to use and straightforward controls to master, you’ll be wielding your revolver like a pro in no time. With three commands to learn that are responsive, you’ll have no issues becoming the cowboy/girl of your dreams.
If you enjoy the challenge of speedrunning, then you’ll get hooked on Virtuous Western’s fast-paced secondary mode. However, if this doesn’t float your boat, you’ll experience a fun title that offers little reason to return. Its small achievement list is completed with ease and this reduces the longevity exponentially.
Virtuous Western is not challenging enough.
I’m not a gamer who needs a Dark Souls or Super Meat Boy level difficulty. However, I want my games to test me in the latter stages. Sadly, Virtuous Western rarely challenges, and this was disappointing. Though I wanted more, I enjoyed the theme, presentation, and the speedrun mode, and therefore I recommend you buy it here! Grab your pistol, solve the puzzles, and shoot your foes.
The review in video form with gameplay captured on my Xbox Series X, enjoy!
You heard it from the grapevine folks; Garden Story is the sweetest, most wholesome ARPG of 2021. All bad fruit puns aside, Garden Story is a cozy adventure that’ll leave you feeling good to the core.
Gameplay:
Garden Story stars a young grape named Concord who is appointed as the new Guardian destined to save his home, The Grove, from the destruction of the Rot. Freshly off the vine, Concord comes across a few rough patches as he must navigate to earn the trust of the leafy inhabitants while trying to rebuild their deteriorating community.
Combat in this game is pretty simple. The action button slashes your sword-like pick to obliterate your foes, but you can’t just mash the A button all willy-nilly. Specifically, there’s a stamina bar that limits how much Concord can slash their weapon. I realized that the stamina bar felt limiting at first after the first boss made a fresh jar of jam out of poor little Concord.
Thankfully, Concord eventually upgrades to other gardening tools they use for combat and can upgrade their stats as they experience memories of the past. The number of upgrades and status buffs in this simple game was really refreshing, and I eventually didn’t feel as defenseless as I did at the beginning of the game.
But Concord isn’t just a hero; they have a day job too! As a Guardian, they are tasked with various errands in each town, leading to several upgrades and cold cash! This money can later be used for gardening or sprucing up Concord’s wardrobe.
Despite having several features I enjoyed, I didn’t care for the plot. While the story was a nice take on the apocalyptic theme, I think it could have been executed better. But considering the genre, I don’t think it negatively impacted too much how I felt about the game overall.
With this in mind, one of my major complaints about Garden Story is the lack of characterization. Particularly, with these kinds of wholesome games, you tend to want to connect more with the characters and their world, so having NPCs saying the same one-liner throughout the whole game was a big disappointment. In fact, the side characters could have should have been developed throughout the game just as much as the main characters.
Pros:
A nice wholesome cozy game with a good amount of action
Features many quests, upgrades, & collectibles
Nice good-feeling soundtrack & adorable art
Cons:
Wanted more characterization & side stories
Can feel a bit repetitive
Conclusion:
At times, Garden Story feels a little bit rough around the edges, but they dealt with many issues in a nice clean update. In fact, the amount of care put in this game really shows. In the end, I was highly satisfied with the finished product.
Honestly, I haven’t played a game in a while that had me grinning from start to finish. I felt like I went in a time machine and was a kid again enjoying my favorite Zelda or Hamtaro game – surprisingly, it really felt nice to feel that magic again. On the whole, if you like laidback or wholesome games, I highly recommend you buy this “berry” sweet gem!
It is fair to say that Sony have been rather quiet with no show at either E3 or Gamescom just a few short weeks ago. Tonight that all changes as Sony has promised a look at the ‘Future of PS5’ and fans are very much expecting some big news, surprises and a look at the other PS5 games announced in the run up to the console’s 2020 launch that we have not seen anything from since. I have tried to keep my expectations managed for this but I am rather excited to say the least.
Below you will find the trailers and news as they happened as well as my own final thoughts on the show:
Project Eve is an action-adventure game that takes place in the not-too-distant future on the ruined Earth against unknown enemies. Accompany the powerful heroine Eve, join forces with comrades along the way, and take up the challenge against the tough adventure.
Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry! Bullets, magic, and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. Roll your own multiclass hero and loot, shoot, slash, and cast your way through outlandish monsters and loot-filled dungeons on a quest to stop the tyrannical Dragon Lord. Everyone’s welcome, so join the party, throw on your adventuring boots, and be Chaotic Great!
Forspoken – PS5 Gameplay Trailer
Forspoken arrives Spring 2022 on PlayStation 5. Mysteriously transported from New York City, Frey Holland finds herself trapped in the beautiful and cruel land of Athia with a magical, sentient bracelet wrapped around her arm. Her new, cynical companion “Cuff” helps Frey navigate through the sprawling landscapes of Athia. In search of a way home, Frey will battle monstrous creatures, confront the powerful Tantas, and uncover secrets that awaken something much more from within.
Rainbow Six: Extraction – PS5 Gameplay Trailer
For decades, Team Rainbow has been the shield against the worst global threats imaginable: hostage situations, biological weapons and the threat of nuclear war. But now, we face the greatest terror our world has ever known: a lethal, mutating alien threat. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction will be available in January 2022 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4.
Alan Wake: Remastered Edition
The award-winning cinematic action thriller Alan Wake, remastered for a new generation. Play as troubled author Alan Wake, who goes on a desparate search for his missing photographer wife, Alice. The sleepy Pacific Northwestern town of Bright Falls isn’t what it seems. A malevolent presence lurks in the dark, and a horror story Alan doesn’t remember writing is coming true. Experience improved visuals, enhanced character models & richer environmental details in a remaster of Remedy Entertainment’s classic game. Alan Wake Remastered includes the main game and its two story expansions – The Signal and The Writer – with the complete experience rendered in all-new 4K visuals. Alan Wake Remastered is available October 5.
GTA V – PS5 Editions Release Date Trailer
Experience the world of Grand Theft Auto V in brand new ways when GTAV and GTA Online come to PlayStation 5 in March 2022 – with additional bonuses now available for PlayStation Plus members.
Ghostwire Tokyo – PS5 Trailer
Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces, perpetrated by a dangerous occultist known as Hannya, causing Tokyo’s population to vanish in an instant. Ally with a powerful spectral entity on their quest for vengeance and master a powerful arsenal of abilities to unravel the dark truth behind the disappearance as you FACE THE UNKNOWN in Ghostwire: Tokyo. Ghostwire: Tokyo arrives on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2022.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Showcase Trailer
A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
Vampire the Masquerade: Blood Hunt – PS5 Trailer
Join the Bloodhunt and become the ultimate vampire! Bloodhunt is a free battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. A treacherous betrayal has stirred a war amongst the vampires, who are also being targeted for annihilation by a secret society known as the Entity. Use your supernatural powers, weapons and wits in this thrilling battle royale game to dominate the night and restore the Masquerade.
Deathloop: PS5 Showcase Trailer
“Blackreef is a mystery, and Colt is looking for answers. Who are the Visionaries? What is Blackreef? How does the timeloop work? Why does everyone on the island have amnesia? Why is Julianna always lurking behind the nearest corner ready to ambush Colt? Most importantly, Colt wants to know: “Who am I?” The deeper Colt goes down the rabbit hole, the more questions arise. One thing is for sure, Colt is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and break the timeloop—no matter what answers he finds. Launching September 14, 2021 on console exclusively for PlayStation 5.
Kid A Mnesia Exhibition – PlayStation Showcase
An upside-down digital/analogue universe created from original artwork and recordings to commemorate 21 years of Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac. Coming in November 2021.
Tchia – Showcase Reveal Trailer
A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection – PlayStation Showcase Reveal
No other information given but it looks like the entire Series including Lost Legacy being remastered for PS5, now what will this mean to anyone who owns the Nathan Drake Conollection, Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy PS4 versions….well, upgrades are going to cost PS5 owners no doubt!
MARVEL Wolverine – PS5 Reveal Trailer
Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development by Insomniac Games for PlayStation 5. Created in collaboration with Marvel Games and PlayStation.
Gran Turismo 7 – PlayStation Showcase Trailer
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – PlayStation Showcase Reveal Trailer with 2023 Release
Venom……Spider-Man and Spider-Man Miles Morales….Vs….VENOM!!!! The wait for 2023 is going to be…LONG!
God of War Ragnarok: Showcase Trailer
and finally…
…..and that is a wrap!
My Final Thoughts
Well the sense was that Sony were going to go big with this showcase and big they went, not all the surprises that were hoped for but surprises none the less. Starting off with what will be the console launch exclusive in Knights of the Old Republic Remake for PS5, personally I wish this would be shared on Xbox as well but knowing it has been remade makes me very happy. Then we have Insomniac Games who have revealed they are not just doubling down on MARVEL games with the reveal of a Wolverine game but also Spider-Man 2 coming to PS5 in 2023 that will partner Peter Parker and Miles Morales to take on….VENOM! I lost my tiny mind a little.
Everything else was great to see but expected, finally getting to see a gameplay montage for God of War Ragnarok with some teasing to the story was a great way to end the showcase on though no release date was given, not even a mention of 2022 or 2023 so will have to wait for more information on that. The entire Uncharted collection being remastered for PS5 made me smile and then got me nervous about what the upgrade path will be to others like me who own that series on PS4, £10 per game for a PS5 upgrade could be very pricey so will see how PlayStation handle this come Spring 2022.
Forspoken looks incredible and a title I had actually forgotten had been revealed so long ago, gameplay is looking incredible and definitely on my radar now. Gran Turismo 7 looks like how Gran Turismo should look on a PS5 and Im very much done and over with anything GTA V news related, to say it will finally get a PS5 version in March 2022 when most fans are very much in the “can we have GTA VI now please” zone. The absence of anything Final Fantasy XVI related is less of a surprise as we are fast approaching Tokyo Games Show 2021 but overall, I am rather happy and excited for the next 12 months of PlayStation at least!
It is fair to say that Sony have been rather quiet with no show at either E3 or Gamescom just a few short weeks ago. Tonight that all changes as Sony has promised a look at the ‘Future of PS5’ and fans are very much expecting some big news, surprises and a look at the other PS5 games announced in the run up to the console’s 2020 launch that we have not seen anything from since. I have tried to keep my expectations managed for this but I am rather excited to say the least.
Below you will find the trailers and news as they happened as well as my own final thoughts on the show:
Project Eve is an action-adventure game that takes place in the not-too-distant future on the ruined Earth against unknown enemies. Accompany the powerful heroine Eve, join forces with comrades along the way, and take up the challenge against the tough adventure.
Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry! Bullets, magic, and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. Roll your own multiclass hero and loot, shoot, slash, and cast your way through outlandish monsters and loot-filled dungeons on a quest to stop the tyrannical Dragon Lord. Everyone’s welcome, so join the party, throw on your adventuring boots, and be Chaotic Great!
Forspoken – PS5 Gameplay Trailer
Forspoken arrives Spring 2022 on PlayStation 5. Mysteriously transported from New York City, Frey Holland finds herself trapped in the beautiful and cruel land of Athia with a magical, sentient bracelet wrapped around her arm. Her new, cynical companion “Cuff” helps Frey navigate through the sprawling landscapes of Athia. In search of a way home, Frey will battle monstrous creatures, confront the powerful Tantas, and uncover secrets that awaken something much more from within.
Rainbow Six: Extraction – PS5 Gameplay Trailer
For decades, Team Rainbow has been the shield against the worst global threats imaginable: hostage situations, biological weapons and the threat of nuclear war. But now, we face the greatest terror our world has ever known: a lethal, mutating alien threat. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction will be available in January 2022 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4.
Alan Wake: Remastered Edition
The award-winning cinematic action thriller Alan Wake, remastered for a new generation. Play as troubled author Alan Wake, who goes on a desparate search for his missing photographer wife, Alice. The sleepy Pacific Northwestern town of Bright Falls isn’t what it seems. A malevolent presence lurks in the dark, and a horror story Alan doesn’t remember writing is coming true. Experience improved visuals, enhanced character models & richer environmental details in a remaster of Remedy Entertainment’s classic game. Alan Wake Remastered includes the main game and its two story expansions – The Signal and The Writer – with the complete experience rendered in all-new 4K visuals. Alan Wake Remastered is available October 5.
GTA V – PS5 Editions Release Date Trailer
Experience the world of Grand Theft Auto V in brand new ways when GTAV and GTA Online come to PlayStation 5 in March 2022 – with additional bonuses now available for PlayStation Plus members.
Ghostwire Tokyo – PS5 Trailer
Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces, perpetrated by a dangerous occultist known as Hannya, causing Tokyo’s population to vanish in an instant. Ally with a powerful spectral entity on their quest for vengeance and master a powerful arsenal of abilities to unravel the dark truth behind the disappearance as you FACE THE UNKNOWN in Ghostwire: Tokyo. Ghostwire: Tokyo arrives on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2022.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Showcase Trailer
A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
Vampire the Masquerade: Blood Hunt – PS5 Trailer
Join the Bloodhunt and become the ultimate vampire! Bloodhunt is a free battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. A treacherous betrayal has stirred a war amongst the vampires, who are also being targeted for annihilation by a secret society known as the Entity. Use your supernatural powers, weapons and wits in this thrilling battle royale game to dominate the night and restore the Masquerade.
“Blackreef is a mystery, and Colt is looking for answers. Who are the Visionaries? What is Blackreef? How does the timeloop work? Why does everyone on the island have amnesia? Why is Julianna always lurking behind the nearest corner ready to ambush Colt? Most importantly, Colt wants to know: “Who am I?” The deeper Colt goes down the rabbit hole, the more questions arise. One thing is for sure, Colt is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and break the timeloop—no matter what answers he finds. Launching September 14, 2021 on console exclusively for PlayStation 5.
Kid A Mnesia Exhibition – PlayStation Showcase
An upside-down digital/analogue universe created from original artwork and recordings to commemorate 21 years of Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac. Coming in November 2021.
Tchia – Showcase Reveal Trailer
A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection – PlayStation Showcase Reveal
No other information given but it looks like the entire Series including Lost Legacy being remastered for PS5, now what will this mean to anyone who owns the Nathan Drake Conollection, Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy PS4 versions….well, upgrades are going to cost PS5 owners no doubt!
MARVEL Wolverine – PS5 Reveal Trailer
Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development by Insomniac Games for PlayStation 5. Created in collaboration with Marvel Games and PlayStation.
Gran Turismo 7 – PlayStation Showcase Trailer
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – PlayStation Showcase Reveal Trailer with 2023 Release
Venom……Spider-Man and Spider-Man Miles Morales….Vs….VENOM!!!! The wait for 2023 is going to be…LONG!
God of War Ragnarok: Showcase Trailer
and finally…
…..and that is a wrap!
My Final Thoughts
Well the sense was that Sony were going to go big with this showcase and big they went, not all the surprises that were hoped for but surprises none the less. Starting off with what will be the console launch exclusive in Knights of the Old Republic Remake for PS5, personally I wish this would be shared on Xbox as well but knowing it has been remade makes me very happy. Then we have Insomniac Games who have revealed they are not just doubling down on MARVEL games with the reveal of a Wolverine game but also Spider-Man 2 coming to PS5 in 2023 that will partner Peter Parker and Miles Morales to take on….VENOM! I lost my tiny mind a little.
Everything else was great to see but expected, finally getting to see a gameplay montage for God of War Ragnarok with some teasing to the story was a great way to end the showcase on though no release date was given, not even a mention of 2022 or 2023 so will have to wait for more information on that. The entire Uncharted collection being remastered for PS5 made me smile and then got me nervous about what the upgrade path will be to others like me who own that series on PS4, £10 per game for a PS5 upgrade could be very pricey so will see how PlayStation handle this come Spring 2022.
Forspoken looks incredible and a title I had actually forgotten had been revealed so long ago, gameplay is looking incredible and definitely on my radar now. Gran Turismo 7 looks like how Gran Turismo should look on a PS5 and Im very much done and over with anything GTA V news related, to say it will finally get a PS5 version in March 2022 when most fans are very much in the “can we have GTA VI now please” zone. The absence of anything Final Fantasy XVI related is less of a surprise as we are fast approaching Tokyo Games Show 2021 but overall, I am rather happy and excited for the next 12 months of PlayStation at least!
When it comes to scratching that Sniper itch, my go to game series has always been the Sniper Elite series with Sniper Elite 4 ticking so many boxes that I am genuinely hoping and looking forward to a possible new console generation version to utilize the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Consoles. As always in gaming however, there is another option if you prefer a more stealth and tactical sniping experience for your shooter and in a case that is better late than never, Sniper Ghost Warrior Ghost Contracts 2 has landed on PlayStation 5, but is this PS5 upgraded version worth the wait?
That was has been a while for those on PS5 as it has been a long 2 month wait for the PlayStation 5 upgraded version to release, a version that makes use of the PS5 features with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback that really do add something to the sniping experience blended with improved visuals and loading times of the PS5, it is a step up from the PS4 experience but there are some elements that really hold it back but I can certainly respect where it is trying to take the player.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, which I refer to as SGWC2 from this point on, focuses on the Sniping but has tried to add a very HITMAN style gameplay style in offering multiple targets and multiple strategies to take them out. As the player you play the role of Raven, a highly trained super solider level sniper with the close to Iron Man level tech to help find the designated targets assigned by your handler and take them down for the usual reasons that you would be sent on a fully black ops style mission all CIA style.
While there is certainly an inspiration from the HITMAN Style of having multiple options and choices in how to complete the contract and I applaud the attempt to add that element to the gameplay, it falls short of having the variation that HITMAN levels have with seemingly random events or situations playing a factor in how you decide to tackle the objectives. This is something that adds so much replayability to the HITMAN games but here in SGWC2, where it would also have worked incredibly well, it is simply not quite there. Enemy AI can be basic for most of the time meaning each time you approach that contact they are doing the same thing in the same way keeping it very predictable. There are times when if you make a mistake and give away your location that they will alert other enemies and try to break line of sight by dropping smoke grenades or target your last known location with a mortar barrage so there is some element of punishment for making a mistake.
The game will also tempt you into making some mistakes as well the Bounties that pop up randomly during a mission which can give you bonus cash for upgrades however, seeking out the Bounty and making the mistake will trigger an alert that will make it harder when you return to the main target and objective. I appreciated the player freedom to take my time to plan my moves, checking and exploring the area to find a safe place for me to let my Sniper Rifle do the work. The rifle cannot do it all and this is more than your standard shooter and will require some precision and patience to setup your shot by using the scopes and adjusting to get that perfect shot. I did find this quite difficult at the start, being too used to the arcade style of just point, aim and fire to get a hearty kill with a sniper rifle, here SGWC2 makes you work for it which is where the PS5’s Dualsense controllers adaptive triggers and haptic feedback really brought this element to life.
I really enjoyed the gameplay and for those who prefer an additional challenge you can customize it to have less aim assist and other aspects to truly make it a challenge. It did take me a few practice runs to adjust to its gameplay but thankfully now upgraded to PS5 version, loading times made dipping in and out to try and get better less of a chose. Visually the game looks great, benefitting again from the power of the PS5 over the PS4 version. Sadly, the story is one of the weakest elements to the game and the voice acting and dialogue leaves a lot to be desired compared to other shooters trying to have a more dramatic and cinematic story telling experience. That and some technical issues which plagued my time with the game with several crashes to dashboard proving quite annoying right in the middle of a mission.
There is certainly a lot here if the slow methodical style of shooters is your go to gaming pleasure, and with some polish and more focus on the weaker elements, there is a lot to build on for the next entry in the series on the foundation of this on PS5.
From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.
The trailer is full of nostalgia moments for fans of the original Trilogy with some interesting teases to explain who Neo is back in the MATRIX alongside Trinity who do not seem to recognise each other yet feel a strong connection. We also appear to see a much younger Morpheous still character along side the now iconic Red and Blue pill decision and brand new Agents leaving many unanswered questions about what has happened since MATRIX Revolutions!
Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue and Lana Wachowski. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman.
The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).
The Matrix Resurrections only in cinemas December 22, 2021. #TheMatrixMovie
