Here is our spoiler free (I know, but some people may not have seen them) review of the new 4K Ultra HD 4 Movie Collection of Indiana Jones.
Relive the unforgettable exploits of world-renowned, globetrotting hero Indiana Jones in spectacular 4K Ultra HD when the INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION in a new 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray set and on Digital to Download & Keep from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Entertainment.
The cinematic classic that started it all – Raiders of the Lost Ark – celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having first introduced audiences to the man with the hat on the 12th June, 1981. Forty years later, the legendary hero continues to captivate new generations of fans.
Now, for the first time ever, all four films are available together in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10 for ultra-vivid picture quality and state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos audio. Each film has been meticulously remastered from 4K scans of the original negatives with extensive visual effects work done to ensure the most pristine and highest quality image. All picture work was approved by director Steven Spielberg.
In addition, all four films were remixed at Skywalker Sound under the supervision of legendary sound designer Ben Burtt to create the Dolby Atmos soundtracks. All original sound elements were used to achieve the fully immersive Dolby Atmos mixes while staying true to each film’s original creative intent.
The INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION includes nine discs in the set. Each film is presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc with original theatrical trailers and on standard Blu-ray. The set includes a double sided map and an additional Blu-ray™ with seven hours of previously released bonus content as detailed below:
On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark
From Jungle to Desert
From Adventure to Legend
Making the Films
The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981 documentary)
The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Making of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Making of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (HD)
Behind the Scenes
The Stunts of Indiana Jones
The Sound of Indiana Jones
The Music of Indiana Jones
The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones
Raiders: The Melting Face!
Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies (with optional pop-ups)
Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations (with optional pop-ups)
Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute
Indy’s Friends and Enemies
Iconic Props (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
The Effects of Indy (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
Adventures in Post Production (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
I am a huge fan of Indiana Jones and have been for most of my life. Whilst I didn’t see Raiders at the cinema (I can’t remember why now, it was a while ago), I did see the rest at the cinema. I remember going to see Temple of Doom about six or seven times and loving every minute of it. I think today it is still my favourite of all the films. I have to be honest, I wasn’t really impressed with Crystal Skull, and so I am hoping the new Indiana Jones movie, which is currently filming, will be better – it has to be!
Anyway, I’m not going to spoil any of the stories in case people haven’t seen them yet (I know I am very excited to show them all – well the first three – to my son when he is a little older).
This set is simply a must have if you are a fan of the movies – they are beautifully remastered in 4K and it makes you feel like you are back in the cinema. The inclusion of all the extras really adds to the value of the set.
So what are you waiting for, go get it now, you wont be disappointed.
Available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and on Digital to Download & Keep now.
Well I certainly would not want to follow that incredible Xbox and Bethesda Showcase just 30 minutes ago but now we have the Square Enix Digital showcase for E3 and as a PS5 gamer, I certainly have my eyes on this one for some Final Fantasy news, MARVEL’s Avengers Blank Panther expansion news and other updates and possible reveals of what to expect over the next year from this publisher. Below you will find all the news and trailers as they happened in the showcase followed by my own thoughts on them:
MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Official Reveal Trailers
Fire up Star-Lord’s jet boots for a wild ride across the cosmos in this third-person action-adventure game, a fresh take on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. With the unpredictable Guardians at your side, blast your way from one explosive situation to another, with original and iconic Marvel characters caught in a struggle for the fate of the universe. You got this. Probably.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is coming October 26, 2021 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Final Fantasy: Pixel Remasters
The games that inspired a generation come to life once more, in the ultimate 2D pixel remaster. Coming soon to Steam and Mobile!
Legend of Mana:
Watch the Legend of Mana opening movie! Now Remastered for the first time, featuring a colorful cast of characters, exciting real-time combat, and the option to alternate between the original or new rearranged music. Legend of Mana is available 24th June 2021
MARVEL’s Avengers: Black Panther – War for Wakanda Trailer
Black Panther must defend Wakanda from Klaw, who seeks to steal Vibranium for his own desires. Watch the cinematic trailer for Marvel’s Avengers Expansion: Black Panther – War for Wakanda. Available in August 2021!
Mobile Games: Trailers
Hitman Sniper: The Shadows introduces a wholly original story set in the Hitman Universe. The game focuses on events following the disappearance of Agent 47 and follows the story of The Shadows, a group of highly skilled snipers – Soji, Kiya, Kolzak, Knight, and Stone – within the hidden world of assassination, where a new criminal network threatens global stability. Diana Burnwood and the International Contract Agency (ICA) activate Initiative 426, aka The Shadows, to eliminate this threat. Hitman Sniper: The Shadows is a free-to-play game set to be released in 2021 on iOS and Android. More exciting updates will be revealed later this year.
Pre-registration is now available for NieR Re[in]carnation, an action command-based RPG for mobile.
With over 45 Million downloads worldwide, FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS celebrates its 5th Anniversary with a special countdown campaign starting on June 17, 2021!
Can you become history’s first SOLDIER? FINAL FANTASY VII THE FIRST SOLIDER coming to iOS and Android Worldwide in 2021
BABYLON’S FALL from Square Enix is developed in partnership with renowned action specialists, PlatinumGames Inc., (NieR:Automata). Featuring fluid co-op-combat, powerful weapons and a unique, striking art style, the epic world of BABYLON’S FALL is coming to the PlayStation5 (PS5) console, PlayStation 4 and STEAM. The game can be played in co-op online multiplayer for parties up to four and will feature a range of post launch game modes at no additional cost.
Life is Strange: Remastered Collection Trailer
The Life is Strange Remastered Collection includes ‘Life is Strange Remastered’ and ‘Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered’. Both award-winning games have been remastered with updated visuals across characters & environments.
Life is Strange: True Colours Trailer
In March, the latest entry in the Life is Strange series was revealed: Life is Strange: True Colors, a small-town supernatural mystery. Brought to life through full performance capture by rising talent Erika Mori, players will navigate Haven Springs as Alex Chen, a young woman who has long suppressed her ‘curse’: the psychic power of Empathy, a supernatural ability that allows her to experience, absorb and influence the strong emotions of others – which she sees as blazing, colored auras. When her brother dies, in a suspicious accident, Alex must at last embrace her volatile power to find the truth, and uncover the dark secrets buried by a small town. Alex Chen’s journey, power and future are all fully under the player’s control. The psychic power of Empathy affects every interaction and relationship Alex has in the game and is fully under the player’s control. Use it to reveal the secrets of Haven Springs, the hidden facets of Alex’s past, and the future of her journey to find a place to call home. Release Date: September 10, 2021
Strange of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin – Announcement Trailer
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE veterans Tetsuya Nomura and Kazushige Nojima join forces with Team NINJA from KOEI TECMO GAMES to deliver a bold new vision for FINAL FANTASY. Get your first look at STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN. Coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2022. With the memory of their struggle buried deep in their hearts… Jack and his allies, Ash and Jed, burn with resolve to defeat Chaos as they throw open the gates to the Chaos Shrine. Yet doubts remain—are they truly the Warriors of Light the prophecy foretold? Step into a world of dark fantasy and revel in the exhilarating, action-packed battles! Trial version available on PlayStation 5 until June 24th, 2021.
and that is a wrap…..
My Thoughts…
Well short and sweet and to the point really, a focus on the big MARVEL license they have so of course we got to see the plans for the MARVEL’s Avengers newest expansion in Black Panther: War for Wakanda and I have to be honest, it does look good enough to make me want to return to the game to play it and a very sensible choice to keep it as a free for everyone who owns the game because at this point following the most recent content updates, not sure I would put my hand in my pocket to pay for it. The surprise opening of the rumoured MARVEL’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a clever way to open the showcase and they did double down on the trailers with a reveal, gameplay and developer breakdown set of trailers. Pleased to say they are certainly more inspired to give a comic book GoTG experience than trying to make it like the MCU versions though some of the gameplay look like it was lifted from the Tell Tales GoTG game and Avengers.
A Focus to Mobile games was expected but not really very exciting unless you are into Mobile games before a nice look at Life is Strange and I will say that though I have no desire to revisit the first game again, True Colours certainly has my attention with its main character and choice of powers. Babylon’s fall looks interesting but not as much as what was not shown in this showcase though the promise of another Square Enix Presents in the future that will look at Final Fantasy XVI and Forspoken, but it was enough, nothing huge but just…enough.
Here we go, perhaps the biggest event for Xbox fans other than a console launch, with E3 2021 now fully underway it is time for Xbox and newly acquired Bethesda Studios to both showcase what they have coming soon and for the next 12 months. Hoping for surprises and reveals, updates on currently known games and what Xbox has in store for fans in the near future, this is a showcase with so much potential to make a lot of Xbox gamers very very happy. Below you will find all the news and trailers from the event as well as my own thoughts on it:
The opens with Bethesda’s Todd Howard delivering the opening and welcome to the showcase, talking about the 20th Anniversary of Xbox and the relationship between Bethesda and Xbox. Time to open the show with…Starfield!
Starfield: Showcase Teaser Trailer
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery. Launching November 11, 2022 exclusively on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Become a member of Constellation at StarfieldGame.com and be among the first to receive Starfield news and updates.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl – Official Gameplay Trailer
From epic cutscenes and underground labs to open-world fields, here is the first look at the gameplay of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl. The game is next-gen only (PC, Xbox Series X|S) and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass (both console and PC).
Back 4 Blood: Coming to Xbox Game Pass Trailer
New PVP mode for Back 4 Blood tells us one thing – things are about to get messy. Coming Slay, October 12! https://www.xbox.com/games/back-4-blood Play Back 4 Blood day one with Xbox Game Pass.
From Avalanche Studios and Xbox Game Studios, a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life Reveal Trailer
Split across five incredible Tall Tales packed with secrets and side-quests, Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life sees Captain Jack Sparrow sailing in from beyond the horizon to sweep players into an epic new adventure! Free Jack from his prison and witness the power of the world’s greatest Pirate Treasure, which he just so happens to have stolen, before joining him on an unforgettable quest to stop dark forces from dominating this pirate paradise. This lovingly crafted story will be available to play alone or with a crew, and will be a free update for all players with the arrival of Sea of Thieves: Season Three on June 22.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon – Xbox Game Pass Reveal, Available Now!
Play Yakuza: Like A Dragon today on console, PC, and cloud with Xbox Game Pass. Become Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left on the brink of death by the man he trusted most. Take up your legendary bat and get ready to crack some underworld skulls in dynamic RPG combat
Battlefield 2042: Gameplay Trailer
Play Battlefield 2042 starting October 22, 2021. Fight to define the future in a world transformed by disorder. For the first time in Battlefield’s history, 128 players can join the all-out war at the same time* – giving you the chance to take part in massive-scale battles where anything can happen. Get an even greater sense of spectacular, large-scale war on seven massive maps where you’ll experience ever-changing battle conditions and gameplay challenges.
Twelve Minutes: Release Date Trailer
Twelve Minutes is coming Xbox console & day one to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud on August 19, 2021.
Psychonauts 2: Gameplay Trailer
Psychonauts 2 is available August 25. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass. Combining quirky missions and mysterious conspiracies, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game with cinematic style and tons of customizable psychic powers. Psychonauts 2 serves up danger, excitement, and laughs in equal measure as players guide Raz on a journey through the minds of friends and foes on a quest to defeat a murderous psychic villain. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S.
Bethesda Updating more games coming to Xbox Game Pass such as the free Xbox Series X/S optimisation for Doom ETERNAL before talking about….
Fallout 76: Steel Reign Expansion Trailer
Steel Reign brings the conclusion of the Brotherhood of Steel storyline. You arrive back at Fort Atlas to find the tensions between Paladin Rahmani and Knight Shin have reached a boiling point. After swarms of Super Mutants start to appear and people are reported missing, how will you guide the Brotherhood? Will you take the side of justice or will you remain committed to duty? Free for Fallout 76 Players. Available July 7.
Expeditions: The Pitt is a free update to Fallout 76 that will, for the first time, take you outside of Appalachia! Expeditions are story driven, repeatable missions to various exciting locales in the Fallout universe – starting with The Pitt in 2022!
The Elder Scrolls Online: Console Enhanced Trailer
Experience Tamriel unleashed with Console Enhanced, a new version of the game for Xbox Series X|S that fully utilizes the native power of current-generation machines to provide incredible boosts to performance and graphical fidelity. Tamriel has never looked or played better on consoles with Console Enhance—available June 15 for Xbox Series X|S
Party Animals – Official Console Announce Trailer
Get ready to party like an animal. Party Animals is coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2022. Fight with or against your friends in Party Animals! Choose your character from a diverse cast of adorable animals as you battle it out across multiple game modes to be the last one left standing in the ultimate competitive brawler.
HADES: Xbox Gsame Pass Reveal Trailer
Battle out of hell in Hades, recipient of more than 50 Game of the Year awards, coming to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud on August 13, 2021 and also available for pre-order now. In this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion and Transistor, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unravelling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.
Somerville E3 2021 Trailer
In the wake of catastrophe you must find the means to make your family whole again. Somerville is a Sci-Fi adventure grounded in the intimate repercussions of large scale conflict
HALO Infinite: Multiplayer Trailer
Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer experience is dynamic, ever-evolving, and arrives later this year on Xbox and PC. Whether you’re a returning player ready to check out the Master Chief’s new campaign or brand new to the franchise, Halo Infinite builds on the legacy foundations of the series’ sandbox-driven gameplay, including Big Team Battle and Arena. Offering something that’s equal parts fresh and familiar, with a personalized Spartan journey that’s only just beginning at launch – Halo Infinite’s multiplayer will deliver continuous content releases, finely tuned combat, unique modes, and community-driven content for years to come.
DIABLO II: Resurrected Reveal Trailer
A dark figure wanders in the East and he must be stopped at all costs. Own the definitive remastering of Diablo ® II and its Lord of Destruction ® expansion on 9/23/21 for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
A Plague Tale: Requiem Reveal Trailer
Embark on an emotional and breath-taking journey. Follow Amicia and her brother Hugo on a perilous new quest, doing whatever it takes to survive a brutal, uncaring world. A Plague Tale: Requiem will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2022. The game will be available at launch on Xbox Game Pass for Consoles, PC and Cloud.
Far Cry 6: Xbox Gameplay Overview Trailer
Watch new Far Cry 6 gameplay from the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Takedown settlements with the help of an angry alligator Fang for Hire, resolver weapons, and customizable backpacks. Bring freedom back to Yara with co-op matchmaking.
Slime Rancher 2: Reveal Trailer
Beatrix LeBeau is returning to the Far, Far Range in Slime Rancher 2!
Shredders: Reveal Trailer
A love letter to snowboarding, Shredders takes inspiration from snowboarding movies, the Amped games from the original Xbox, and the snowboarding heroes on social media. Shredders is a project fed by passion and built to shine on Xbox Series X|S.
Atomic Heart: Reveal Trailer
Atomic Heart is coming day one to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud. Atomic Heart takes place in the Soviet Union in an alternative reality sometime in 1955, where technology like the internet, holograms and robots have already been invented. The main protagonist is a special agent called P-3, who is sent by the government to investigate a manufacturing facility that has fallen silent.
REPLACED: Announcement Trailer
Discover the dark secrets of Phoenix-City. Define your shared future in REPLACED coming in 2022 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC, with an optimized version for Xbox Series X|S.
Grounded: The Shroom & Doom Update Trailer
The Grounded Shroom & Doom Update is available June 30. Play it with Xbox Game Pass. Befriend pets, build castles, unlock achievements, fight the Broodmother, and so much more, in one of our biggest updates to Grounded yet, coming June 30. Play Grounded today in Xbox Game Preview with Xbox Game Pass.
Among Us: 15 Player Lobbies Trailer
Hey Crewmates! Among Us celebrates its 3rd birthday on June 15, and our gift to you is a special update: You can play with EVEN MORE of your friends with the launch of 15 Player Lobbies!
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes: Reveal Trailer
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an exciting new JRPG adventure published by 505 Games and developed by Rabbit & Bear Studios. Featuring a traditional 6-character battle system utilizing painstakingly created 2D sprites and gorgeous 3D backgrounds. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a celebration of the JRPG genre readily associated with studio lead Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I & II) and director Osamu Komuta. Eiyuden Chronicles is both a throwback to the classic JRPG games that have entertained millions and a modern, exciting tale of discovery and adventure featuring a cast of hundreds of fully realized characters.
The Ascent: Coming to Game Pass Trailer
Play The Ascent day one on console, PC, and cloud with Xbox Game Pass on August 19, 2021. The Ascent is a solo and co-op Action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?
Age of Empires IV: Release Date Trailer
Age of Empires IV is available October 28, 2021. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass for PC. One of the most beloved real-time strategy games returns to glory with Age of Empires IV on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows Store, and Steam, putting you at the center of epic historical battles that shaped the world. Featuring both familiar and innovative new ways to expand your empire in vast landscapes with stunning 4K visual fidelity, Age of Empires IV brings an evolved real-time strategy game to a new generation. Choose your path to greatness with 8 diverse civilizations, 4 distinct campaigns with 35 missions that include legendary historical figures, user generated content tools for custom games, 8 player multiplayer modes, and a tutorial system and story mode designed for first time players to help achieve easy setup and success.
The Outer Worlds 2: Reveal Trailer
New solar system, new crew, same Outer Worlds. The Outer Worlds 2 is coming…and when that day is closer we will show you more…but until then enjoy this.
Flight Simulator: Xbox Console Edition
Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X|S July 27, 2021. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Forza Horizon 5: Reveal trailer
Your ultimate Horizon adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars. Play Forza Horizon 5 day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Phil Spencer takes to the stage to recap what has been shown, 30 new games with 27 coming to Xbox Game Pass on day on of release before announcing one more Xbox Exclusive…
The quaint island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the island off from the outside world. Trapped with a handful of survivors against diabolical enemies threatening to bleed the town dry, choose your hero from a diverse roster, grouping up with others to create the perfect team of vampire slayers. Redfall is an open-world co-op FPS being developed by Arkane Austin and will launch exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC in Summer 2022. Play it Day One with Xbox Game Pass.
and that is a wrap….well…almost
My Thoughts……
HOLY SH*T!…..I mean if you are going to hold a 90 minute briefing at E3…..Xbox have just set a new standard, to put this into perspective, 30 games were showcased with 27 of them coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for console and PC. The Pacing did not let up, this was a showcase all about the games, no talking about films or TV shows in the work, no focus on Cloud gaming and the plans to expand on the technology across new devices…just games and we got a lot of games.
From sequels to surprises and finally Xbox Exclusive games to call their own, this showcase not only showed the Series X and S consoles as being must have consoles now but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best subscription service you can have as a gamer. This show in 90 minutes answered all the criticisms of the last 8 years for lack of exclusive games and with so many games coming and the plan to have one a month on Game Pass has blown my mind to the level i am physically tired just having all that information in my brain. Though we did not hear or see anything about FABLE or Avowed, we still have a Gamescom season to come and this was a lot, I do not think any platform has announced that many games with so many coming as part of an affordable subscription service.
Incredible showcase by Xbox and the entire team, and to end with the Xbox Series Mini Fridge…..amazing, and of course now I want one!
Nioh 2 is special to me. It became a turning point from my rigidity toward challenging games. It also proved to me, if nothing else, that I’m able to meet almost any video game’s challenge. Provided I’ve got enough patience, and a willingness to fail miserably a couple of times first.
Difficult ≠ lmpossible
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have had more than one disastrous foray into the souls-bourne series. I’ve played every entry outside of Sekiro. And I’ve yet to finish any of them.
Slowly over this year however, things have been changing for the better. It started a few months ago when I played a game called Mortal Shell. A souls-like title in more ways than one. When I found out what I was in for. A feeling of dread hit me. However, something unprecedented happened. I not only finished, but enjoyed it. Me, of all people.
It laid the foundation of where I find myself now. Loving Nioh 2 more than I ever thought I would. Even when I want to tear my hair out after my 7th death to the same boss.
Who am I, and what is going on?
Nioh 2 has you play as Hide, a hybrid samurai. You are half-human and half-yokai, a supernatural entity in Japanese folklore. While your human half gives you the tenacity to make it in this demon infested world, your yokai heritage grants you access to abilities that provide you with a welcome edge in combat.
While your backstory may be set in stone; your character Hide is mostly customizable. Leaving you free to embody whatever kind of warrior you can imagine. Whether a samurai warlord or an Onna-Musha, there’s a great range of options at your fingertips.
You’ve also got the option to delve into the Nioh community’s character codes. Making your way through Japan, battling all manner of yokai as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Zuko, 2B, or Ciri. Hell, Billie Eilish is an option, even if some may not be the most accurate replications.
Sengoku-era Japan is your battleground. Featuring historical figures from this feudal period such as Oda Nobunaga and Imagawa Yoshimoto, the cast is positively star studded. Your human father is even Saitō Dōsan. Nioh 2 hits manynotable events in Japanese history, but even so it takes a couple of steps to the left of historical accuracy. Nioh dives into the deep end of the supernatural, using this to explain major events as strings being pulled by evil forces of the dark realm. Forces which have sown chaos across Japan.
Enemies galore
Crawling with enemies both human and of the dark realm, there are no shortage of battles to be had. Nioh 2’s wide range of enemies make for a multitude of different combat scenarios. Amongst the horde of foes you will inevitably come across are yokai such as the Yoki, a brutish demon that hacks at you mercilessly. Or the Karasu Tengu, a bipedal bird-like creature carrying a spear to descend upon you from the sky. Those are just two of more than 30 different yokai you’ll find yourself fighting, not even counting the unique Bosses.
Every yokai and every boss has their own style of combat. Some may be swift, closing distance between the two of you in the blink of an eye. Others are slower, dealing devastating damage to those unfortunate enough to find themselves on the receiving end of their rage.
These different combat scenarios incentivise you to learn your own strengths and your opponents weaknesses. A big bulky enemy will be at the mercy of fast attacks and quick movement. A faster enemy may be better dealt with at a distance. It’s your responsibility to make yourself familiar with the many different combatants you’ll encounter.
Dancing with the yokai
Lengthier boss battles become something of a dance. Your first few encounters might not result in anything other than your timely demise. However, there is a benefit to failure in Nioh 2. Every time you perish and respawn at a shrine, you’ve gained valuable knowledge. As time goes by and the battle tally rises, you learn the telltale signs of your opponent’s movement. Whether they raise their head before a sweeping attack, or climb a tree before unleashing a ranged blow.
No matter how insurmountable a fight may seem at first. Before long your enemy holds no more surprises for you. You’ll come to know every move they’ll make. You know how to bait them, exploit their animations and counter at crucial moments. These fights evolve into a well-choreographed dance that just requires a bit of focus and patience. Your opponent steps forward as you dash back. They attack as you position yourself for that perfect opening that you know all too well is coming. Even the most difficult fights can be unpacked and analysed to find the most efficient route to victory. It makes combat extremely engaging and fluid in its rhythm, grabbing and holding your attention to fully immerse you in the battle.
While yokai form a huge chunk of your enemies. Humans are also in the mix. They can be simple in theory, but may just surprise you when making use of their wide range of weapons. Humans take up many of the weapon types available to you. From dual swords, to axes. Some of them, such as spearmen, do not prove to be much of a challenge. While others, like switchglaive-bearing opponents can overwhelm you with their relentless barrage of blows. However, humans are rarely more deadly than the yokai.
Take your pick
It must be abundantly clear by now that combat in Nioh is fantastic. You make use of three fighting stances. Low-stance has the lowest stamina consumption, allowing you to dance around your enemies effortlessly to deliver a flurry of quick attacks. While sacrificing damage output, you have more freedom of movement to compensate. Perfect for embarrassing slow enemies with your fancy footwork. Or just keeping up with a particular quick opponent. High-stance is all about damage. You dash, dodge, and attack more slowly, using more stamina in the process. However, every hit that lands is that much harder on your enemy. These are perfect for weaker enemies such as the gaki and other one-on-one fights. Mid-stance strikes the balance, allowing for a more well rounded range of attacks and movements.
Nioh 2 supplies you with 11 potential weapons of which you may choose 2. Between the tonfa and odachi, there are many play styles you can adopt. You might enjoy a healthy mix of ranged and close quarters weapons like the dual swords and Kurasigama. You may wish to challenge yourself with a strictly ranged or close weapon loadout. Or you can be the ultimate badass and take on demons barehanded. The choice is yours.
That’s not even mentioning the projectile weapons. The longbow, rifle and handcannon all give you the option to deal damage at a distance. You can take out bowmen before they see you, or ninja hiding in bushes. Even take pot shots at big enemies to give you an advantage between going head-to-head. With all this variety, you don’t even have to stick to your two initial choices. At any point you can switch out your katana for a splitstaff and get to work.
However, switching comes at a cost. There are 8 attributes ranging from constitution and heart, to skill and magic. You’ll want to commit to a set few to get the most benefit. Of course there are ways to respec your points. Although, sticking to a choice few allows you to increase your damage output with certain weapons. For example the more points you have in constitution the more effective you are with a spear. While I’d love to be able to switch weapon types on the fly with less consequence. This does work incredibly well with setting up specific builds for the best possible damage output. It also makes for great replay value as you can choose drastically different weapons and attributes the second go around.
There’s almost too much
The depth to Nioh 2 is absurd in the best way possible. 30 Hours from the starting point and you’re still more than likely to find something new. There are A LOT of items in this game. Honestly it can be overwhelming when you first dive in. Just have a look at this list of usable items in-game, it’s crazy. You’re constantly picking up new stuff, but don’t be too intimidated. Every once in a while, take a gander at the item descriptions. Or even experiment with them at random. Before long you’ll have your favourites. Whether Jutsu and Onmyo magic, necessities like antiparalytic needles, or helpful items like stones to toss at enemies, baiting them.
Between the weapons, enemies, and usable items; Nioh 2 is overflowing with content. Yet there are still a number of systems within the game that provide even more depth to an already deep experience. Such as the revenants and benevolent graves. Revenants are AI-controlled spirits of fallen players you can do battle with, if you feel like there isn’t already a legion of enemies to fight. Defeating these revenants drops loot and glory, a currency used to unlock items and cosmetics. But most importantly they drop Ochoko Cups, which are used to summon spirits to join your fight. These spirits are called upon at benevolent grave sites left by other players, yourself included. This can come in handy when you need some backup. Or just to use as cannon fodder.
And yet, there’s more
We’ve already established a number of different ways to go on the offensive from weapons, to jutsu and magic. But even with its generous range of options Nioh 2 still has ways of adding even more. Specifically through soul cores. Whenever you defeat a yokai, it has a chance of dropping a soul core containing its unique ability. You attune a soul core to your guardian spirit, allowing you access to their powers at the cost of your anima gauge. A Nure-Onna core will give you the ability to paralyse enemies. A Waira core will allow you to dive underground, bursting out from beneath your opponent to deal damage. There are soul cores for just about every yokai type. Giving you a wide range to choose from throughout the campaign.
One of the most helpful abilities available in Nioh 2 however, is the yokai shift. You channel your half-yokai side, which you inherited from your mother. Transforming you into a supernatural being. Much like normal combat in this form you have the ability to switch between stances that provide different combat approaches. You can even execute multiple soul core attacks in this state as they are no longer tied together by the anima gauge.
What makes this ability for me though, is the fact that your HP is not linked to the Yokai form’s. Meaning once your Yokai gauge is depleted, you revert back to human form with your HP exactly where you left it. Yokai shift has been my saving grace on more than one occasion, taking me from near death panic to unearned confidence.
You have a choice between three yokai forms, brute, feral and phantom depending on your chosen guardian spirit. And later in the game you even gain access to a second guardian spirit. Allowing you access to another form that you can switch to during a shift.
Man, do I love Nioh
Nioh 2 has a lot to offer, and succeeds at basically everything it attempts here. From combat to its many systems, it’s almost too much content. As blasphemous as that may sound. But with enough time spent, it becomes clear that it is an expertly crafted title. Everything that worked in Nioh and games of its calibre has been curated and refined into this magnificent piece of work.
At times it may be unforgiving, and not always as welcoming to newcomers. But if you stick with it for a while, the rays of genius come shining through every pixel.
From ravaged villages and labyrinthian caves to the enemy design, Nioh 2‘s world is a pleasure to gawk at. Hours upon hours in and you’ll still be finding new environments to explore and baddies to put down. I struggle to find things to hate. Well, maybe just one thing. After your 8th death, a boss’ theme song can become a bit grating. But hey, that’s on me for dying so much.
Clearly there are very few things I find myself complaining about in Nioh 2. It’s an absolute banger of a game, even for those not traditionally into difficult titles. However, if you happen to be a fan of a challenge, you’ll get exactly what you desire and then some. Nioh 2 is the full package.
Its medieval times and the idea of having oodles of gold is a dream that you’ll never achieve. Living in your mud hut, you are more likely to die from a horrendous disease than you are to become rich. You decide that you’ve had enough of the oppressive regime and the only way to make it in life is to work hard. You put your skills to the test and take on cleaning and building jobs to earn as much gold as possible. If you save enough, you can build a castle and be the lord of the manor. This is the dream that is realised in Castle Flipper! So don’t shy away from work thrown your way and prove “the man” wrong.
Developed by Pyramid Games and published by Ultimate Games, this is a ye olde house clearance and renovation simulator. You are a peasant who is down on his luck. Fed up of having little to be proud of, you gather your tools and start helping the elite of society. The jobs keep flowing and the gold builds up. Pretty quickly your fortunes are turned and that dream castle becomes a reality.
Castle Flipper, a standard simulator with some amusing twists.
Now, house renovations games have been available for quite some time. People love to get to grips with wrecked properties. Adding their creative flair, they allow their imagination to run wild. Castle Flipper has all the standard mechanics you expect, but its crazy quests add depth and character to a familiar prospect.
What I particularly enjoyed was that many of the jobs were intrinsically linked. For example, one person would ask you to smash up their neighbour’s house because of money owed, or a hatred for one another. The next quest you are given you return to the scene of the crime only to be paid to rectify the damage caused. It was brilliantly amusing, if not a little repetitive revisiting the same location so soon.
It’s drinking time!
A world that’s devoid of life.
When I was shown the medieval landscape, I was hoping this would be a game full of life, dirt, and disgusting characters. Sadly, other than the dirt, the rest failed to materialise. The game adds new shops for you to unlock blueprints and to exchange or sell goods, but interactions are restricted to ledgers and numbers. It was frustrating as it’s an opportunity that slipped the developers by. The world should be alive with people milling about, but it’s quiet and serene.
If you love the meticulous nature of the genre, you won’t mind the emptiness, but I would have preferred quests to be offered by real people, rather than a quest board found by your house. The flow of jobs was nicely balanced, and you always received a blend of different objectives. You may have to build a house for an Earl or repair a castle for a Lord. Whatever task you had to do, it was thorough, comprised plenty of minor jobs, and kept you entertained throughout.
The world is split into two distinct areas; the free play section and the quest section. The first is where you may build your house/castle, become a landlord, and purchase materials. The second transports you to different locations where a list of tasks is shown on the display. You’ll have to; mop up stains, repair walls and furniture, clean rubbish, and destroy broken furniture. It’s repetitive, but the variety of jobs and the different locations prevent this from becoming monotonous.
Could you knock up a house like this?
Gold and skill points.
Money makes the world go round, and Castle Flipper has bags of gold on offer. Materials are expensive but gold is never scarce. If you wish to make more money, and who doesn’t? Build some small huts, fill them with peasants, and become a medieval landlord. After all, what is the point of having a mighty castle if no one is there to admire it?
As you complete each task, you earn XP for a job well done. As you level up, you are free to upgrade skills to help you work faster. No one likes to spend hours scrubbing floors, hammering nails, or cutting down trees, so improve those abilities and get the job done quicker. This is a standard mechanic for this genre, and I would have liked Castle Flipper to have done something original. Maybe the chance to hire surfs, or to subcontract work to make more money. Either of these ideas would have been interesting and would have added a twist.
A gritty medieval world turns into a fairy tale.
What I loved about Castle Flipper is the grimy dark world you live in. The medieval land is wonderful to look at and its earthy tones set the scene perfectly. This poor existence quickly alters to become a glamorous and regal landscape. With plush furniture, grand walls, and flowered gardens, it moves from a nightmare to a fairy tale in a flash. It’s by far the best looking house renovation sim I’ve played and it ran like a dream.
Now, I wish I could say the same for the audio. Yes, it was apt and screamed ye olde vibes with its light stringed soundtrack. But it quickly became annoying and tedious. I had to turn the sound down to eliminate the repetitive tunes. Once I removed the songs, I appreciated the realistic sound effects. This was where the audio shined and I wish Pyramid Games had added a variety of songs to listen to.
Who doesn’t want a dead animal hanging on their wall?
Simple to play, with good use of hotkeys.
This had the potential to be a pig to play. Loads of tasks to complete and mammoth stages to explore were all a recipe for disaster. Luckily, the simple UI and the great use of hotkeys made this a joy to play. My only gripe was with the furniture placement. It didn’t snap to the allotted spaces, so if you wished to create a tidy room as intended, it was pretty fiddly and time-consuming. I ended up dumping the furniture and walking away. I’m not sure this is what the developers intended, but it worked nonetheless.
If you love the genre, you’ll adore this. With loads of quests and the chance to build a castle, what’s not to like? Earn money, increase skills, become a landlord, and more. There is a large achievement list to work through and lots of blueprints to unlock. Simply put, there is plenty to keep you playing.
Castle Flipper: The medieval builders dream!
I didn’t know what to expect with Castle Flipper, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Its variety in gameplay, in-depth quests and building mechanics make it a dream to play. It’s a must-have game if you love the genre, so buy it here! Don’t let “the man” crush your dreams! Work hard, save your gold, and own that castle you’ve always dreamed of.
E3 2021 season has begun and Ubisoft is holding its own annual digital event to showcase hopefully new games as well as updates for current games available and those soon to be released. As per the norm now sadly, some aspects have already leaked ahead of the event in terms of potential DLC for Far Cry 6, a delayed game only recently given a release date but this is a time for many Ubisoft fans to get excited to see what they have in store for them for the next 12 months and beyond. Below you will find all the news and trailers from the event:
Rainbow Six Siege: Extraction – Cinematic Reveal Trailer
As the threat grows, our Operators rise to meet it. In Extraction, Rainbow Six has been united under REACT. Their mission: learn about the enemy, stop its spread at all costs… and leave no one behind. Hibana has gone Missing in Action. See Operators Ela, Lion, and Nomad, under commands from Eliza “Ash” Cohen, mount a daring rescue mission, as they use intel, teamwork, and improvisation to save one of their own from a dangerous new enemy. Who’s Got YouR6?
Aiden Pearce is back! Discover Bloodline, the expansion that brings Aiden and Wrench back to Watch Dogs! Set before the events of the main game, Aiden Pearce leaves Chicago for London where he will take over a contract and reunite with Wrench and his nephew Jackson. Caught between a powerful military robotics corporation and a returning DedSec member with an opposing agenda, Aiden must rely on his grit and experience to navigate a hostile city, try to outmanoeuvre his enemies, and keep his family intact. Bloodline is part of the Season Pass. Available 6th July.
The Crew 2: Year 4 Reveal Trailer
The Crew 2 is getting new content for its 4 year! Starting with Motorflix third season this summer: You have your spot on the starting grid of the U.S. Speed Tour, the fastest rally around the East Coast.
Rocksmith + : Interactive Music Learning – Reveal Trailer
Learn to play acoustic, electric, or bass guitar with Rocksmith+, the only subscription service that offers interactive music learning using official song masters and personalised real-time feedback. Rocksmith+ has been built upon the proven Rocksmith method which has helped almost 5 million people learn how to play guitar.
Riders Republic: Official Deep Dive Trailer
Riders Republic invites players to jump into an exhilarating massive multiplayer playground where they can experience the thrill of outdoor sports through some of the most breathtaking landscapes the United States has to offer! Riders Republic will run at 60 FPS on next gen consoles and display more than 50 players simultaneously live on screen. With the game’s very intuitive character and camera control combined with an innovative trick system, all players, casual and hardcore, will have the chance to experience untapped joy from the very beginning.
Rainbow Six Siege: North Star Story Trailer
Love, wisdom, bravery. It suits her. On June 14, look to the skies for help from Thunderbird in the new Season, North Star.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: 20th Anniversary Trailer
2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon. It’s thanks to the fans continuous support that Ubisoft celebrating this milestone. Stay tuned! There’s still lots to come!
Just Dance 2022: Reveal Trailer
Launching 4th November 2021, Just Dance 2022 will make you dance, exercise and share unforgettable moments!
Curious to know where your journey with Assassin’s Creed will lead you in the coming months? Learn more about Assassin Creed Valhalla’s upcoming second expansion, The Siege of Paris, as well as free updates, Discovery Tour, and more in this Upcoming Content Recap.
Ubisoft Movies and TV Shows Updates:
With the quarantine finally over, the new season of Mythic Quest finds everyone back in the office (well, almost everyone), attempting to build upon the success of Raven’s Banquet by launching an epic new expansion, but Ian (Rob McElhenney) and the newly promoted co-creative director, Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), struggle with the game’s direction. Meanwhile, C.W. (F. Murray Abraham) reconciles some unresolved issues from his past, the testers (Ashly Burch and Imani Hakim) test the bounds of an office romance, and David (David Hornsby) loses yet another woman in his life as Jo (Jessie Ennis) leaves him to assist Brad (Danny Pudi).
WEREWOLVES WITHIN is a feature film based on the Ubisoft VR title of the same name. Directed by Josh Ruben (“Scare Me”), and written by screenwriter, bestselling author, and Ubisoft Women’s Film Fellowship Recipent Mishna Wolff (“I’m Down”), “Werewolves Within” is set in the small town of Beaverfield. When a killer terrorizes the snowed-in residents of the small town, it falls to the new forest ranger to find out who – or what – lurks among them in this hilarious horror whodunnit The ensemble cast includes Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, Michael Chernus, Catherine Curtin, Wayne Duvall,, Harvey Guillén, Rebecca Henderson, Cheyenne Jackson, Michaela Watkins, and Glenn Fleshler. Werewolves Within opens in theaters June 25 and on VOD July 2.
Far Cry 6: Meet the Villain Anton Cinematic Trailer
Escape isn’t an option from Yara. Watch as Giancarlo Esposito plays the most powerful Far Cry villain yet. In Far Cry 6, players are immersed in the adrenaline-filled, chaotic world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. As dictator of Yara, Antón Castillo is intent on restoring his nation back to its former glory by any means, with his son, Diego, following in his bloody footsteps. Become a guerrilla fighter and burn their regime to the ground.
For the first time in franchise history – become the villain. You are Vaas. You are Pagan Min. You are Joseph Seed. Play as past villains with the Far Cry 6 Season Pass. Watch now and learn more.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer
Team up with Mario, Rabbid Peach, and their friends on a mission to save the galaxy! Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, coming 2022 on Nintendo Switch. Cursa, a mysterious and malevolent entity seeks out energy to further its nefarious plans, plunging the galaxy into chaos. Twisting the planets with its evil influence, it’s determined to consume all the energy of the Sparks, uncanny creatures formed by the fusion of Lumas & Rabbids, and destroy all who stand in its way. To bring order back to the galaxy and save the Sparks, Mario and friends team up with Rabbids heroes in a journey through mysterious and ever-surprising planets.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope will be available for Nintendo Switch in 2022!
….and that’s a wrap following a word from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillmort, paying tribute to all the developer teams following the difficult year that was COVID and giving credit to the millions of Players and Fans for their support in their game’s communities but closing the event with the first look at….
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Reveal Trailer
Coming in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia and Luna.
My Thoughts…
Very little on big surprises but overall, a very solid and steady event from Ubisoft that will no doubt have fans of their iconic game series looking forward to the year ahead. Interesting to see that AC Valhalla is going to be supported through it’s second year with more expansions no doubt pushing the next AC Game to 2023. Plenty of things for fans of Rainbow Six Siege to get excited for with Extraction being a potential fun one to see experienced players stream. Surprised by the lack of focus on titles like Watch Dogs Legion: Bloodline expansion, just a trailer during the pre-show and mention briefly during the show.
But yeah, a solid and great start to the E3 eekend and for me, keeping it simple and safe was probably wise considering the amount of delayed games they have had to deal with in this challenging last 12 months.
Battle Hunters is your typical adventure RPG game set in an unknown faraway kingdom in need of saving. On your quest to save the kingdom, you run into many different characters that eventually join your party and become playable characters. Boasting over 36 different characters to choose from, Battle Hunters’ simplicity and accessibility allow players to form squads catered to their own preferred playstyle.
The variety of characters presented is pretty neat, ranging from your typical knight in shining armour to elusive rangers and spell-slinging wizards. I was so spoilt for choice with the characters that were presented to me, as a party could only consist of three battle hunters and any given time. I guess a downside to the character system that I noted was that each character gains experience points separately. This meant that if I wanted to switch up my playstyle or heroes in the middle of my playthrough, I had to train my hunters all over again.
Battles and their mechanics are straightforward to understand, making the game really accessible for kids and casual gamers. Players issue commands to their characters separately to try and defeat the monsters during battle. The game is forgiving because the battle pauses whenever the player is issuing commands so that the player does not need to overly stress about micromanagement within a strict time frame. The combat is highly intuitive, which allows players to dive right into the heat of battle without the need to read up or study any fancy tips and tricks. However, this begets the issue that the gameplay can get really repetitive and mundane after a while. The combat system is thus also very restrictive, in that players are only given a limited set of actions which prevents creative strategies and playstyles.
Issuing commands during battle
My first impressions of Battle Hunters upon launching the game honestly gave me shallow expectations of what to expect. The game started off with overly simple dialogue and storyline, what one would expect in a children’s game. This, coupled with a visually unappealing user interface, made me feel like I was playing a mobile game made by an overzealous game producer with little to no budget.
First impressions are undoubtedly important, but the gameplay is usually the deciding factor as to whether a game is even worth playing at all in the first place. Unfortunately, the gameplay itself was OK at best. I found the battles very repetitive and boring as they were not interactive at all. Because of the game’s simplicity, all I did was issue commands and watched as my characters fought to the death. It was a simple brainless process, devoid of thought that a kid would have probably enjoyed. The maps and dungeons were not aesthetically pleasing either, which did not alleviate the overall mundaneness of the game. Quests were repetitive and unexciting, while the background music was just forgettable and unimpactful.
Battle Hunters felt more like a mobile game that you would drop after a week or two. The aesthetics of the game, combined with its overly simplistic gameplay, didn’t do much for it as a console port. It is definitely enjoyable to a casual audience and is excellent for just killing time. However, for $16.99, there are surely better games out there that could better make your money’s worth.
Beautiful Desolation is a District 9-like isometric Sci-fi RPG adventure that has made its way to consoles following its Steam release in 2020.
Trapped in an unknown world, you need to collect items and make tough decisions in an attempt to find your way back home. Initially without the resources and knowledge to do so, you’ll require the help of the planet’s eclectic inhabitants, with who you’ll communicate or threaten to achieve your goal. It’s these characters, and the choices that affect them, that make this a unique, if not under executed, game.
After the appearance of a UFO spacecraft named The Penrose a few years before, two brothers look to uncover the secret of why it came to earth and its purpose. Placed on maps with rudimentary RPG transaction-like gameplay, functionality is limited, with your character only able to run and initiate interactions. Interaction like in isometric adventures Disco Elysium and Desperados is noticeably absent and will likely leave you wanting. You do get a talking robot dog though, so it’s not all bad – even if you can’t pet it.
No animals were harmed in this review
As you discover new areas, you acquire an airship and can use a hub map with areas you can access. This, plus smaller areas of exploration, focus more on the interactions between characters and allows the world to pulse with personality.
This isn’t how the game starts though, with a beginning that suffers from poor pacing and the game’s worst adventuring sections to the point that I would have given up if I wasn’t reviewing it.
Firstly, it’s not always immediately obvious what to do, which, while par the course for these types of games, is unaided by the game’s areas that are burdened with a design that makes its depth imperceptible – you can’t even tell if areas can be accessed directly in front of you.
This is the most you’ll see of your human character, but it won’t matter much as the scenary looks rather nice.
Unfortunately, the controls haven’t been optimized for consoles, using the same collision detection for as the PC’s mouse point and click system, meaning that it will automatically try to run around an obstacle if it hits one. This makes sense if you are clicking further down the map using a mouse as you’d expect this delayed movement to automatically move around obstacles, but for a controller that requires immediate input/output, this makes the character movement unruly and takes unexpected detours when you make contact with the edge of the map – which is especially easy as you have no idea where they are. This is made worse by sluggish control response times and it results in a highly frustrating experience.
As mentioned before, however, when the story gets going the interactions between characters are amusing and memorable, providing mystery to the world. With a multiple-choice conversation system and choices with a great deal of gravitas, there is a real feeling that the game has something special – only for it to let itself down. As a big fan of being given choices with consequences, I was slightly disappointed by its implementation as time is spent creating a scenario with potential for tension and intrigue, only for the immediate consequence – the equivalent of a shrug – to drain all emotion from the situation and feeling like its inclusion was simply to set-up multiple endings.
Erm…..so where am I exactly?
If you can forgive these issues the voice acting is excellent and its profanity-filled convo choices are right up my street. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t tried to swear in a South African accent?
Ultimately beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but in my mind, this title’s elements aren’t integrated nor interactive enough to fulfill the potential built by the story and the world and therefore is far from an essential purchase – it just feels too empty and void of gameplay. The lack of a consistent soundtrack that could’ve helped create more emotion and even minigames to assemble items or unrelated side missions that would delve more into the main character’s background would have added more variety missing from the final product.
Despite all this, Beautiful Desolation will appeal to an RPG fan looking for a short and unique adventure with some replayability, its just likely to come up short for everyone else.
Mayhem in Single Valleyis the second game developed by Fluxscopic Ltd., and published by the lovely folks over attinyBuild. The developers describe their game as a “fast-paced, puzzle-loaded action adventure”, and although I completely agree with that description, I’d also add that a key part of Mayhem in Single Valley is its charm and loveliness.
In Mayhem in Single Valley, you play as Jack, a random kid from Single Valley. Now, what is it that makes Jack special? Truthfully, nothing, but it just so happens that he started the apocalypse, or at least that’s what pretty much everyone in town is led to believe. In an effort to both clear your name and save the world, you step out of your own backyard and venture into the world.
It all started with a spillage of a mysterious substance in the local water supply. Upon consumption, the local wildlife and the townsfolk immediately became vicious and attempted to kill or transform anything and anyone in their path. As you travel the surrounding areas, you’ll traverse a multitude of environments, bat-infested caves, a desert, a private zoo, your own school, the town itself, amongst a few places.
Throughout your journey, you’ll meet several quirky characters that will aid you in your quest to save the world. However, although your interactions with the various characters are funny and memorable, and even though the game has plenty of charming moments, overall, I, unfortunately, didn’t find the overarching story to be that interesting. The game definitely has its moments and surprising twists, sure, but it wasn’t really the driving force that pushed me to keep playing the game. What kept me going through the game was the fact that it constantly presents you with new challenges and small gameplay dynamics. Because of that, the gameplay manages to feel fresh throughout the whole game.
Now, upon first glance, Mayhem in Single Valley might look like a game with some degree of combat, but actually, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there will be plenty of enemies in your way, you won’t actually be fighting them directly. Instead, you either run past them as fast as you can, dodging if necessary, or you distract them with bait. Most enemies have a unique kind of food that they like, and if you manage to drop or throw a piece of it, they will gladly leave you alone while they eat it. In any case, there isn’t any penalty to dying, other than just restarting at the last checkpoint, so you can easily try again.
Meanwhile, just as a huge part of the game revolves around avoiding enemies, another huge part of it is puzzle solving. Now, if we’re being real, the puzzles are very minor, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t play puzzle games at all. Most of them are pretty typical, requiring you to move boxes and hit switches with your slingshot, but, most importantly, none of them feel forced. That’s one of the main reasons why I had such a good time while playing the game. Pretty much every gameplay mechanic, no matter how small it is, feels natural within the game world.
It’s worth pointing out that the game features a huge amount of collectables, but the overwhelming majority of them are optional. With that said, there are upgrades that you can get if you manage to find duct tape. Still, it’s fairly easy to acquire all of the upgrades even if you’re not looking in every nook and cranny. The upgrades themselves are pretty useful, not because they do things like increasing the number of items that you can carry, but because they increase your movement speed. This is my biggest complaint about the game, the fact that, by default, you move extremely slow. Fortunately, this is only a real issue during the early phases of the game, because once you get the speed upgrades, the whole game becomes much more fluid.
In terms of how the game feels, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how great it plays with a keyboard and mouse. At the same time, I was also astonished by how good the game looks in motion. Based on the screenshots that I had seen prior to playing it, I was expecting Mayhem in Single Valley to feature some finely detailed pixel art, but it actually goes beyond that. The game also boasts some rather meticulous lighting effects and dynamic shadows and reflections. Sure, it’s no ray tracing, but I feel that the developers have definitely put in work to make their game look the best it could.
Mayhem in Single Valley is a great example of why I love indie games. It perfectly shows what video games can be when developers don’t have their creative freedom restricted. They can bring to life ridiculous premises that can end up being incredibly witty and fun to play. In an age where the overwhelming majority of games either focus way too much on action or whatever their genre is best known for, Mayhem in Single Valley feels like a breath of fresh air.
Although far from perfect and despite having a few, albeit minor, bugs and crashes, as a whole, I found Mayhem in Single Valley to be a compelling experience. It took me around 5 hours to beat it, but that could probably be stretched over the 6-hour mark if I went back and hunted down every single collectable and achievement. For 12,49€, I think that Mayhem in Single Valley is definitely worth your time. It has some pretty creative ideas which you don’t see on a lot of games, it’s funny and charismatic, it plays great, and the soundtrack is a banger.
We are so used to playing as a ruthless hero, how often have you stopped to think about what it would be like to step forward as the enemy? Legend of Keepers presents this opportunity, and finally you get the redemption all villains crave. With a multitude of opportunities to slash and slay the heroes, you are tasked with protecting dungeons. A simple task, really. But it definitely doesn’t come easy. With dungeon crawlers rapidly becoming an overpopulated genre of game, Legend of Keepers provides a breath of fresh air.
The game begins with a pretty blank tutorial. Obviously with practise it is pretty easy to pick up controls, but the tutorial is VERY fast. There isn’t much to explain, but this definitely misses out some key elements to the game. Each ‘run’ of a dungeon carries over the statistics of the previous, but you are still presented with a clean slate to work with. As far as enemies and tools are concerned.
Monsters on monsters on monsters
As a fan and previous DM for Dungeons and Dragons, I felt like I was revisiting old campaigns within this game. Taking on the role of wreaking havoc to heroes, there’s something so refreshing about villainy. Turn based combat controls each encounter, and you must think strategically about how to defend your place and treasure. You’re presented with three open slots to assemble your crew of criminals, and a wide variety of characters is available for selection. Depending on your room or location within dungeons, the roster reflects. There are different villains for different places, so it’s rare you’ll get to assemble the same group time and time again. Every time a monster is successful in defence you are rewarded. This reward can then be used to buy more monsters or traps to continue your success.
No method to your madness
Aside from defending deeply buried treasure, you do get some quality time with your cast. Each dungeon run (I am becoming extremely tempted to refer to this as a Rungeon.) lasts about two weeks. Not real life time, don’t you worry. But these ‘weeks’ tend to be spent with an assorted amount of tasks. In this time you can take your monsters to work out and gain skill levels, or give them a captured victim from the dungeon for a delightful boost of confidence. Like I said though, these tasks are randomly generated. So it is a little difficult to devise any sort of plan. Every six weeks a new hero shows up, letting you apply all your newly found skills.
Every time you encounter a new hero, you can choose from a select few in correspondence to what reward you seek. Aside from payment, you can also gain new traps. These are vital in refusing the glorious return of the heroes as they encounter your evil teams. But with high reward comes high risk. Heroes differ in level the same way you’d expect enemies too. So don’t bite off more than you can chew. Although an extremely powerful shiny new trap seems super inviting, you won’t be able to win straight away. As you’d expect from any dungeon crawler, you need to grind to get there.
Final thoughts
As a whole, the first 10 to 15 hours of Legend of Keeps is extremely fun. Learning move sets and utilising each monster’s abilities is exciting and new. But once you’ve gotten to a certain point, there seems to be a sense of repetition. It’s definitely fun for a few hours at a time, and I’d recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed D&D in the past. So why don’t you try and play the opposition for a change?
Do you see dilapidated buildings and think how has this happened? Can you look at these wrecks and picture what they would look like in their heyday? They are beautiful structures that have been; burnt, smashed, and covered in graffiti! Can you restore these architectural masterpieces to their former glory, or will mother nature swallow them up? Train Station Renovation asks you to clean and repair old station buildings before it’s too late. Take your time, painstakingly restore and lovingly decorate each building.
Developed by Live Motion Games and published by Ultimate Games, this is a relaxing simulation title that expects you to have an eye for detail. With fifteen stations to look after and a grading system to perfect, this is no easy task. You will walk around rural halts and grand city locations, looking at the wonderful architecture and assessing the damage. Graffiti, dirt, rubbish, damage, and missing equipment all ruin these iconic structures. You must scan the local area, strip the buildings back to the brickwork, and rebuild each room. It’s time-consuming, hard work, but worth the effort when you see the final product.
Train Station Renovation taps into the House Flipper market.
If you’ve played a House Flipper game, you’ll feel very familiar with the mechanics found in this title. In Train Station Renovation you are given a tool belt loaded with equipment. You are a jack of all trades, and no job is too big for you. As you delve deeper into the renovation scene, new mechanics are added that require specialist tools. Luckily, these are explained to you in great depth and your truck is always on hand to help you carry the new equipment.
As you load into each stage, you will not know what to expect. A list of tasks is presented to you, but you are free to tackle each one as you see fit. Like all these types of games, the levels are graded in a percentage format. To simplify things, the developers added a star system where 100% will score you the maximum points. You need not aim for the maximum score and only perfectionists will attempt this. As long as you complete the main aims, you can move forward to the next station.
I liked this system as it allowed more adept players to focus on harder gameplay, whereas beginners or younger players can simply enjoy ticking the boxes and moving on. There is nothing complex about the renovation work, but the latter stages require a lot of micromanagement and this may overwhelm some players.
Breathe some life into this beautiful place.
Rubbish, recycling and upgrading your tools.
Live Motion Games has added a sense of morality to their gameplay with the insistence that recycling is key. You will bag up the rubbish, placing glass, plastic, and paper in their own bins. This wasn’t just great for the planet, no, it was also good for your bank balance. Keeping yourself cash-rich was essential, as renovating each station isn’t a cheap hobby. All the items you place down are expensive, so you must put some thought into what is essential to buy and what is nice to buy.
Some items can not be reused and these must simply be binned. Skips are purchased and filled with bulky items and this can be difficult to manage. You must plan what items to throw away first otherwise you’ll waste space and lose all-important money. Rubbish management, the unexpected task when renovating a site, great fun, eh! It’s not all doom and gloom though, as cash is awarded for progress on each level. The more stars you earn, the more money you are given. So pick out the easy jobs, place down cheap items, and increase that completion percentage slowly.
So why earn those stars? Our jack of all trades starts with basic equipment. A paintbrush, sponge, yard brush, and so on. As you earn stars, you can improve your equipment. Your sponge turns into a mop, paintbrush a roller, and yard brush a hoover. It makes each job easier and quicker to complete, and this is essential when you hit the later stages. Working alone is hard enough work as it is, but hand scrubbing graffiti is more bearable when the job is simplified.
So much rubbish to deal with.
Your tools are magical and the rubbish doesn’t quite add up.
The gameplay is pretty well thought out, and each task is well balanced. Yet, it was amusing how certain tools could be used for multiple reasons. The crowbar essentially smashes everything and anything; boarded windows, check. Broken doors, check. Massive vending machine needs destroying, check, check. It was a tad unrealistic, but amusing nonetheless.
This silliness continued with the non -recyclable rubbish. Your character has no problem with placing building blocks and large pots in his pocket but rightly has to carry pallets and oil containers straight to the skip. So far, so good. What was hilarious was the inability to bag up small toys such as rubber ducks. You’ll find one lying down and have to drag it across the map to heave into the bin. Bizarre, absurd, but it brought a wry smile to my face.
It didn’t break the game, but it reduced the realism factor that was otherwise pretty high. I would like to have seen the requirement to carry a toolbox, purchasing objects, and the need for a multitude of different tools. Though this would have made the gameplay harder and possibly tedious, I think it would have been the right way for this title to go.
Train Station Renovation works well on console.
Whenever I look at this genre of game, I automatically associate it with PC gaming. Yet, when one comes to console I’m instantly interested in trying it out. Fortunately, Train Station Renovation works well on console. Graphically it’s not the most advanced game that you’ll see, but the levels look great, the buildings have a nice layer of detail to them, and there is an array of furniture and equipment that looks lifelike. A nice mix of colours add depth to the images, and the gameplay runs smoothly with no issues.
A relaxing game requires a laid back and calm soundtrack and that is exactly what is presented. A mix of jazzy piano songs and airy tunes add variety to what is a slow-paced affair. You will enjoy the sounds of your footsteps as you walk around each station, and every task has appropriate noises attached to them. Like the graphics, it won’t wow you, but the amount of songs that play prevents the game from feeling monotonous.
Get out the mop and bucket and give that a scrub.
A great port from PC.
With many tasks to complete and lots of items to select, this could have easily been a mess to play. Luckily, it’s smooth and easy to understand. The radial menu makes tool selection simple. And I liked how it was aimed at gamers of all skill sets. The UI has been redesigned for console gaming and it shows straightaway. I applaud the developers for their consideration when porting this from PC and this makes it a much more enjoyable experience.
Can there be much replay value in cleaning up old stations? Yes, yes there can. There are loads of jobs, new mechanics, and five stars to collect on each level. So, there is plenty to make you keep playing. A large achievement list asks you to get every star and so this may be out of reach for younger gamers. If you love the railway, or you enjoy DIY this will keep you busy for hours.
Train Station Renovation; a welcome slow-paced break from the norm.
With so many shooters, sports, and all-action games, Train Station Renovation is a welcome break from the norm. There are plenty of tasks to complete and beautiful locations to renovate. It’s relaxing and can be played at a mellow pace. It was enjoyable and there is a market for it, so I recommend you to buy it here! Grab your tools, clear out the rubbish and bring these architectural beauties back to life.
Game genres come in and out of fashion all the time. One that has been ever-popular and a mainstay around the indie world is platforming and Metroidvania. These tough precision titles ask you to wander around labyrinthine worlds with little guidance or knowledge of what you will encounter. The monsters you face are evil and love nothing more than to kill you on the spot. Sun Wukong VS Robot captures each of these elements in its pixelated gameplay.
Developed by Indienova and Bitca and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a mini retro pixelated Metroidvania game inspired by old-school classics. You must run, jump, fight and explore the dank surrounding dungeons. The world you live in is dangerous and every new corridor and room could be your last. You must observe each section, think fast, and make it out alive.
Sun Wukong VS Robot is short but horribly difficult.
Now, I’ve always enjoyed this genre of game, but sadly it’s not my forte. My lack of skills compound the difficulty and this probably took me much longer to play than the standard gamer. The precision, accuracy, and dexterity required to succeed evaded me. So I took a methodical approach, slowly annihilated my foes and patiently worked my way through the maze-like levels.
Metroidvania games are renowned for their difficulty, and this one is no different. With foes that shoot, smash, and crush you where you stand, you must learn their attack pattern and avoid their strikes. This is compounded further with gigantic bosses that require both accuracy and tactics to overcome. Add in the requirement to have unlocked certain skills and you will lose your mind as you constantly search the dungeon you are trapped in.
Duck and jump.
Wukong is trapped in a mechanical maze.
Having to fight for your life is one thing, but being trapped by four jewels attached to your head is something altogether different. Each gem represents one of the four bosses you must defeat. These gargantuan robots are the key to unlocking the mechanical maze you are trapped in. The aim is simple, but achieving it is anything but straightforward. This is a title that will push the best Metroidvania fans and one that will keep you playing for hours.
The gameplay follows the standard approach for this genre. An unmarked map gives you no hints to the direction to take. You are free to explore with no idea about which path is easier or harder. You will backtrack to find each ability and new routes to each of the bosses. It’s confusing, frustrating, but above all an enjoyable challenge that keeps you coming back for more.
The skills allow you to take down your foes from afar and using them at the right time is essential. Failure to make the most of the abilities bestowed on you makes the game much harder and you are unlikely to progress. Alongside the abilities, you can spend your experience points on power-ups. These expensive boosts are essential to defeating the overpowered bosses, so grind out the XP and make Wukong as strong as possible.
Can you defeat the boss and his pet?
Sun Wukong VS Robot is a wonderful to look at retro title.
For all the realistic games that are coming out, I still love retro pixelated titles. The garish colours, blocky graphics and simple yet varied worlds are always great to look at. The sprites vary in size and shape and contain enough details to make them interesting to watch. I loved each of the bosses as they were absurd in both appearance and stature. The OTT nature of their build made the tiny hero look even smaller, and it was terrifying and amusing to witness. Sun Wukong VS Robot is the perfect representation of the modern Metroidvania title, with smooth gameplay and interesting stage designs.
The audio worked brilliantly to support the dark atmosphere and the ominous graphics. A haunting minor toned soundtrack plays out constantly, giving you an eerie and uneasy feeling. The music breaks away from this when facing each of the bosses. The beat picks up, and the atmosphere becomes aggressive. This change in style is instantly noticeable and helps to set the main fights apart from the rest of the action. The sound effects, however, were as expected. Loud noises accompany each of your weapons, and your jumps are met with thuds as you slam to the floor. The audio is well delivered and is one of the key elements that make this work so well.
Bats, robots and lasers….
Typical straightforward control setup.
Though there are many skills and power-ups to unlock, this is straightforward to play. Flicking through your abilities is easy to achieve, and moving accurately from each surface is helped by responsive controls. If it wasn’t for the games overbearing difficulty level, Sun Wukong VS Robot would be an easy title to complete.
On the face of it, this is a short game to play. The maze isn’t massive, and each section you explore is relatively small. You are held up by the army of enemies you must slay or avoid, and the constant supply of dead ends. Once you overcome the bosses and break the mind locker, there is little else to do. The achievements will all be unlocked and the only reason to return is if you loved the first playthrough. Sadly, this affects the replay value but as it’s inexpensive, it’s still great value for money.
Sun Wukong VS Robot a great little indie title.
If I didn’t suck at Metroidvania games so much I would have loved this! As it is, I still enjoyed my time and the challenge that is presented. I strangely wanted it to last longer and was disappointed when I defeated each boss. It’s a great little indie title that will push the best of players in the genre. With an unusual story and nice mechanics, I recommend you to buy it here! Sun Wukong VS Robot is an old-school inspired title that will have you addicted to its retro charms. Defeat the bosses, remove the gems, and escape the mechanical maze.
Zombie Driver: Immortal Edition provides the definitive Zombie Driver experience. But, just what is that experience, exactly?
A product of its time:
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I want to preface this review by reiterating that, fundamentally, this is a videogame that was developed way back in 2009. This game was created before Instagram; youtube boxing; and it even has the unflattering honour of being within the same release year as the god awful Transformers 2. The point I am making is: this game is old.
As such, all aspects of this game are dated in some way. Duh. Graphically and mechanically this edition provides some minor repairs, but not a brand new model(… that was my best attempt at a car metaphor, apologies). So, when it comes to reviewing this game, I am going to focus more so on the content on offer; and how that holds up all these years later.
Thankfully, Zombie Driver is packed full of content. Three modes – with defined differences – help keep the experience somewhat fresh.
Story mode provides the bulk of gameplay, with 31 missions, a bunch of side quests and optional objectives all set within a large city. Unfortunately, the city itself is fairly drab, and the mission variety isn’t all that exciting.
You start out with a basic taxi, going around the city trying to save as many people as you can, amidst a zombie outbreak. On the way, you’ll fight through waves and waves of zombies and bosses interspersed through missions.
Between defending installations, transporting cargo and destroying enemy nests, mission objectives do some good in terms of keeping the experience from becoming repetitive. That being said, the overall gameplay loop doesn’t change from just driving around and killing a load of zombies.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just important to be aware that this is the core loop throughout the game. If you like the idea of that, then Zombie Driver has a certain endearing quality; cultivated through epic automotive violence. Some of the boss battles are pretty awesome, to.
Furthermore, the various new upgrades, vehicles and weapons that you can unlock as you progress, helps to add some variety and incentive to the experience. There is a power crawl here that is definitely satisfying.
Outside of the story:
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Story mode – even for a lack of general narrative – is still the best part of Zombie Driver, for me.
Blood race mode, which focuses on offering an arcade style racing experience, suffers from the jankiness of the driving, as well as less overall objectives.
Slaughter mode, Zombie Drivers equivalent to a horde mode found in other games, takes you through nine different arenas, as you look to take out hordes and hordes of enemies .
The problem here is that this mode magnifies the core gameplay that you will have already spent a great deal of time with during story mode. And for someone who found the gameplay to be increasingly repetitive as the story progressed, this mode did little to reinvigorate my interest.
I appreciate the effort that the developers went to offer a diverse package for players, but the gameplay unfortunately struggles to hold up across all of these modes and the many, many hours of engagement that they demand.
Some positives and a missed opportunity:
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There is undeniably a certain niche that Zombie Driver fulfils. In small doses, Zombie Driver Immortal Edition provides a cathartic experience for players.
The gameplay is serviceable, but the aged systems are stretched by the plethora of content that this game tries to offer.
For better or worse, your enjoyment of the game is solely predicated on how much satisfaction you can derive from the core gameplay.
Frustratingly, I think one area that would have definitely boosted this game’s longevity would have been multiplayer. The chaotic nature of the game lends itself to a shared experience, but unfortunately as a single player title, Zombie Driver doesn’t offer quite enough innovation or incentive.
Still, if you’re looking for some mindless fun, Zombie Driver Immortal Edition has it in abundance.
No matter the era you live in, the secrets that the future holds are both worrying and intriguing. In the 80s we perceived our future selves as wiser beings who flew in hover cars and are healthier beyond measure. These ideas helped to form the plots for many much-loved films and video games. Nuke Zone takes inspiration from these titles with its destructive neon-filled robotic outlook.
Developed and published by Blue Wizard Digital, this is a sharp, vibrant strategy shooter title. You control a lone tank that must drive through danger-filled tunnels. You must fight wave after wave of robotic foes, collecting Nukonium while trying to survive for as long as possible.
Bide your time and destroy them as they spawn.
Nuke Zone is still in development.
Blue Wizard Digital kindly provided me with a demo key to give you this first look impression. Nuke Zone is currently a work in progress, so my one level taster gave me an idea of what we can come to expect. At this stage the gameplay is limited and the developers plan to add a lot more content. So with this being said, let’s look at what I saw, and then I’ll discuss the missing elements.
You are instantly struck by crisp lines and a Tron inspired look. The neon hues and symmetrical shapes make this a wonderfully retro title. Your weapons fire a trail of glowing lights and your enemies explode, leaving a fading pixelated cloud. It’s beautifully stylised and will capture arcade fan’s eyes immediately.
Another key feature is the synth-wave audio that pumps out banging beats in the background. The electronic sound was a true delight to listen to, and I was amazed at how well balanced it was. It’s loud enough to catch your attention, but it doesn’t overpower the glorious laser and explosive sound effects. The graphics and sound work in perfect harmony, helping to create an old-school title that pulls at those nostalgia loving heartstrings.
EMP and explosions.
Dexterity and limited use of weapons.
The action quickly becomes fast-paced and unbelievably hectic. It fuses tank driving, warfare, and tower defence under its arcade umbrella. This eclectic mix of genres complements one another, but your success will be measured by your dexterity as a gamer. Your nimble tank can strafe, dodge, boost, and turn on a sixpence. It really is a delight to control, and this is helped by the simple combination of mouse and keyboard inputs.
What isn’t so simple, however, is judging your use of each weapon. The demo allows you to use; rockets, lasers and an EMP. Each has a cooldown system that prevents you from spamming the attack button. When all hell breaks loose, it was easy to lose your head and burn out your guns. Doing this was a big mistake and left you open to failure. I loved this strategic approach even if it made the gameplay considerably harder.
The weapons were wonderful and left me dying to know what the developers had planned. The balance of agility to power was just right. If they continue in this vein, they will have both a challenging, varied and enjoyable game on their hands.
Kaboom!
What does the future hold for Nuke Zone?
Currently, this is a great addition to the indie genre, but it needs more meat on the bone. So, what does that look like? A deep and interesting story that grabs you and drives you forward. Tank customisation and the chance to alter abilities. Purchasing of new weapons with your Nukonium. A varying difficulty, including a hardcore mode. Random item collection and inventory system. Level and objective selection. And finally, new musical elements that bring the world to life.
Nuke Zone’s view of the future is bleak and damning! But its own prospects are as bright as its neon colour scheme. The demo was fantastic, addictive, and left me wanting more. It was the tip of the iceberg and I can’t wait to see this evolve. A demo is available, so give it a go here! (Demo available from June 16th 2021.)
Summary!
It’s a massive thumbs up from me. The 80s inspired aesthetic, wonderfully sharp lines, and vivid colours make this great to look at. Challenging enemies and fast-paced gameplay make this an addictive arcade title worth giving a go.
(Reviewed on PC. Currently in development so gameplay may differ on release.)
