Ancestors Legacy Conqueror’s edition is a real-time strategy game that gives you the opportunity to control 4 different groups – Viking, Anglo-Saxon, German or Slav – and plunder, pillage and conquer your way through 30 ‘expansive’ history-inspired missions. Resource management and tactical nous is advertised as king here with missions that mostly consist of capturing bases to claim as your own before moving onto the next one. With a large selection of maps that provide different ways to approach each battle and with each army having its own unique characteristics, the game manages to live up to its expansive billing, despite the lack of control you’ll feel during it.
As someone who is utterly useless at strategy games, I was happy to be reintroduced to its mechanics via the tutorials and the game’s clean and efficient user interface, but soon came to realize that there isn’t a great deal left to impress with repetitive and unrewarding gameplay that gives the player little reason to keep coming back for more.
This is due to the most frequent part of the action being as inflexible as the axe you wield. Confrontations, while starting off small, often form into one large hackathon, but with no effective way to change your position mid-battle, the victor is decided before they even lock swords. The inability to move your units when ‘engaged’ is especially frustrating when they are stacked behind each other, and the only way to disengage their idleness is to force them to retreat halfway back across the map, before being able to call them back – if the units don’t end up in the exact same position that is, as they often decide your commands are a suggestion rather than a requirement. It’s highly cumbersome and puts the success of entire missions down to luck, even in easy mode.
Unsurprisingly, this inflexibility also applies to the enemy AI who will let your units retreat mere meters away to your base during battle and reform your entire army. I, hardly the master of strategic thinking, was defeated more times than I’d willingly admit due to this issue because I didn’t think the enemy AI would provide such an obvious affront of logic. Satisfying victories can certainly be had with a few well-placed archer units or a pincer attack to blindside enemies, but these strategies are soon overwhelmed by the inflexible battling system and a rather high enemy refresh rate.
The developer Destructive Creations ran the gauntlet a little here as their previous title attracted a lot of negative press for excessive violence and shock advertising, and while you can still kill villagers for absolutely no reason, it’s mostly accidental due to its mindless and unintentionally suicidal villager AI.
This theme of poor implementation can be seen throughout, with its decent features squandering all the opportunities its potential affords and ultimately finds itself a spot on the Venn diagram of forgettable gaming experiences. A prime example of this is the action that can be viewed through a shaky close-up camera which shows its well-animated action cinematically, only for a bug to cause fighters to stare fixated offscreen as they are fighting, to swoop in and ruin the illusion.
Perhaps the best compliment I can give the game, albeit backhanded, is that Ancestors’ poor voice-acting and lack of any story-based tension – echoing that of a factual Sunday morning cartoon but with bloody visuals – forced me onto its free battle and multiplayer modes, which are by far the best this game has to offer, with a nice selection of maps and adjustable options that provide replay value to the title.
Ancestors legacy Conqueror’s Edition makes historical accuracy the hill it wants to die on but refuses to build any depth with its narrative, segmenting it into ample missions with minimal context. Its crisp graphics and efficient user interface belies a game with inflexible strategic gameplay mechanisms and poor AI, that ultimately makes this title recommendable only in its accessibility rather than its overall quality.
Is this game a true match by today’s standards? or does it lose by KO?
INTRO – A SNK Cult Classic Returns to Handheld
SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium launched in November 1999 for the Neo Geo. It’s a crossover 2D fighter featuring 26 characters from various Capcom and SNK games, including the Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and Street Fighter series. It just recently got ported to the Nintendo Switch. While we wait for news on whether The King of Fighters XV Comes to Switch or not, lets see if this game is a crossover dream come true, or a nightmare that never should’ve came about.
STORY – A evil SNK-Capcom team up from 2 Dimensions
Now, crossovers having stories is nothing new. However, the story for this game is rather light in comparison to modern crossovers like Blazblue Cross Tag Battle. Basically, a tournament is organized by Geese Howard and M. Bison to determin which character(s) will serve as members of their Shadaloo pan-dimensional army. Their efforts are rebuked, Geese and M. Bison are beaten, Evil Ryu/Orochi Iori serves as the final boss, and the rival character of whoever you picked saves you twice over from Vega before the credits roll.
For a Crossover, the story here is rather straightforward. I appreciate that. (Screenshot taken via Nintendo Switch)
The story is simple, and I like it for its’ simplicity. It’s not complicated like Blazblue Cross Tag Battle, or any fighting game for that manner. One clicheI’m surprised they didn’t go with was the whole “Villains team up only to argue and then backstab one another when cornered” cliché. Geese and M Bison instead worked well together and fought well together. With that said, how does the gameplay holdup? Let’s find out.
GAMEPLAY – Two-Button combat returns
Terry vs. the 3 clone Guards. (Screenshot taken via Nintendo Switch)
In this game, you have the 4 directional buttons for moving and jumping, and the A and B Buttons for attacking. jumping up then pressing down and A/B at the same time as you reach the apex of the jump executes your down attack.
You also have a special meter which fills up as you land and take blows throughout your battles. Speaking of battles, your character’s opposing series rival will save you from Vega in Stage 5 before challenging you to a battle that’ll determine your ending in advance. Winning secures your character’s good ending, and losing secures the bad ending.
In terms of characters, you have 18 at the start, and 8 to unlock. You get get 1-3/4 puzzle pieces at random when you beat the game’s final boss (depending on the outcome of the rival fight in Stage 5). Repeatedly playing the same mode with different characters over and over is the only option on the switch to unlocking these characters as far as I know, since there doesn’t seem to be a transfer option for points earned in the Olympics mode.
The Olympics mode features characters from other SNK and Capcom properties such as Ghosts ‘N Goblins and Samurai Shodown for example. The soundtrack and graphics are very well down for a Neo Geo game. However, the 1 vs 3 guards fight was easily the hardest in the game for me, regardless of difficulty. It took me 3-4 tries to beat, which is why my first playthrough took me nearly 30 minutes. Also, who goes first in that matchup as well as who’s used is random.
CONCLUSION – A Timeless SNK-Capcom Classic
This game may be short, but the features, hidden characters and supers, Olympics Mode, and adjustable difficulty settings will keep you coming back for more and more. It’s a true, and very timeless, classic gem. It truly lived up to its’ title of Match of the Millennium (heh!)
For many people, the thought of spiders brings them out in a cold sweat. These eight-legged, hairy beasts are the stuff of nightmares. Usually those that suffer with Arachnophobia would turn the opposite way when presented with one of these creatures. Now you can stand your ground and smash them into a million pieces.
Kill Them With Fire is a tongue in cheek first-person action adventure game. It focuses solely on the decimation of every arachnid you face. Developed by Casey Donnellan Games LLC and published by tinyBuild, this amusing fighting game has you running around many levels. You’ll rip apart its contents, and beat the crap out of anything that moves.
Potentially shallow.
Let’s be honest for a moment, it doesn’t sound the most complex or in-depth concept I’ve ever come across. Effectively, it’s; explore, ransack, hunt and destroy, though not necessarily in that order. Though the premise is simple, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye.
Yeah, I think throwing that plant away would be best!
Each stage contains a multitude of objectives and hidden objects. Doors are locked until you the hit the spider killing target, and many of the items are hidden behind the objectives that you must complete. Alongside all of this, you will also obtain new; guns, projectiles, make shift flamethrowers, and several melee weapons. Each allows you a different approach, and some have limited uses. This ensures that some thought process must be applied to how and when you use them. You will also be able to upgrade equipment to increase character attributes and inventory size.
Mindless fun!
Admittedly, it has more going for it than I first expected, yet it still has that undertone of mindless fun, and I loved it for that. Though each level was small and easy to navigate, it was packed with detail. There were plenty of hiding places for spiders and lots of objectives to complete.
Although it has much to do to keep you entertained, it doesn’t offer much in the way of a challenge. At least not if all you wish to do is run through it as quickly as possible. The spiders come in many shapes and forms, but they are more afraid of you, than you are of them (maybe it’s the flamethrower pointed at their head?) The ransacking of each area takes little to no time, so success is all but guaranteed. You will fly through level after level; squishing, shooting and burning everything in sight, and you will laugh like an insane evil genius. It’s childish, inane, but so much fun.
The checklist of doom.
Last gen graphics.
For all of its enjoyment factor, and there really is a lot, the presentation isn’t one of them. Though it’s not terrible to look at, it doesn’t wow you either. The first-person perspective lacks detail and has few smooth edges. It reminded me of a last generation console game, or low end PC title. It’s perfectly serviceable, but won’t blow you away. The bright colour and tone was gaudy to look at, and the level designs are simple and fail to evolve much past the initial stages. It was a shame that more polish wasn’t applied to this element.
The audio is equally uninspired, with what can only be described as lift music pattering along in the background. I expected a variety of tempo’s and tones to represent the danger that you face from the spiders, and this happened with a sharp piano tune, but I wanted more drama. What I did like, however, was the sound effects for each of the weapons and the screech of the spiders that you faced. Each had a unique sound, so once you familiarised yourself with it, you knew which arachnid you were going up against.
Clumsy controls.
Having originally been released for PC, it’s obvious to me that the game was optimised for use with mouse and keyboard. Though it’s not terrible to operate, it can be clumsy, jerky and a bit of a pain on the finer details. Shooting your gun lacked finesse, and there was no way to look down the sights. Selecting objects was a challenge because of the accuracy of the cursor, and buttons weren’t as responsive as I’d have liked. You won’t struggle to play it because of this, you’ll just wonder why it hasn’t been tightened up in nearly every aspect.
Put each of your eight legs in the air!
If it wasn’t for the many objectives that you face, you’d argue that this lacks depth and replay value. Thankfully, the challenges that you face will make you replay each level, and you will aim to gather all the weapons and the upgraded equipment. A moderate achievement list adds a reasonable amount of game time, but will probably to be ignored by most players. Only the completionists among us will consider taking this task on.
Silly spider squashing fun!
If you jump onto this thinking that you’ll get a massively deep experience with lots of lore, and a rich story presented on a glorious tapestry, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s a casual, silly and fun first-person fighting game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. You have the freedom to explore, destroy and kill anything in sight, so make the most of it. Do I recommend it? Yes, if you want to have a light-hearted game in your library, then buy it here! Spiders are running wild, grab your weapon of choice, find where they are hiding, and take their lives.
Naturally, I am the furthest thing from a golf fan. With that disclaimer out of the way, I am happy to report that as a gamer, I have played golf video games in the past (and yes, I was always Tiger Woods. Always.). This time, I got to play a quirky one called Golf with Your Friends. Developed by Backlight Interactive and published by Team17, Golf with Your Friends officially made its release across consoles and PC in May 2020.
As Golf with Your Friends is a sports game, the only major plot comes in the form of your journey to being number one on the digital green. From the humble beginnings to getting your initial putts to the betrayal of your friendship when your winning shot gets abruptly stopped by a planted trap, and finally your triumphant victory. Until the next course.
Golf with Your Friends, The Deep course
Gameplay: Shoot your shot
Gameplay may seem like simple golf, right? Wrong. Golf with Your Friends needs you to work for your win. How you play the game is up to you. From the course to difficulty – you choose. There are two ways to play: Online and Offline.
Online vs Offline
With Online you can either host or join a Golf with Your Friends lobby and play against other aspiring golfers – all with the bonus of a safe and socially distanced game. Online will also need you to play a smart and tactful game off-the-course. You can set traps and use rewards you earn during gameplay to create added advantages. You will soon learn how cutthroat this sport can be. It is important to note that this is not realistic golf and there isn’t a large trophy with lots of zeroes in your bank account when you win, but you can get a Viking hat that your golf ball can wear to your next match. Just saying. Each completed course earns you a reward that you can use to decorate, help you and even give you the advantage over your opponents in your face-offs.
On the flip side of things, we have Offline play. This is a place to play and fail in peace. Without the added threat of a honey trap from an opponent, you can master your shots and avoid the natural humiliation that comes with taking more than 10 shots at a single hole only to forfeit it in the end (it can happen to anyone…). But this doesn’t mean it is any easier to win. Thankfully there is Practice available too. Practice mode is all about the vibes of playing the game – no timer no penalties, no restrictions, just you and the continual improvement of your shots.
Golf with Your Friends, Candyland course
The Course Experience
As of recently, there are 13 courses to play on. My personal favorites were Oasis (and not just because I scored my first Hole in One here), Twilight, and Candyland. Each course is designed to keep its theme running through each hole you will face. From the color schemes to the unique challenges, you will both love and hate each course for your reasons.
Onto the gameplay controls. Golf with Your Friends has simple controls which I appreciated. With the left stick, you can control the force and speed of the shot you take by moving it vertically. You can also control the spin you add to your shot which is very useful in those settings that require a the-Matrix-like-shot. The right stick controls your view and the camera as the hole isn’t always as straightforwardly visible as you might hope. Other buttons can be used depending on your selected game mode. You can choose from 5 available modes: Classic, Dunk, Hockey, Explore, and Party. And if you feel you want a unique mode to play, you have the option of creating a custom mode where you have adjusted the difficulty, timing, gravity, and even the shape of the ball.
Visuals and Issues
The visuals of the game are nice and do add to the charm of the game’s quirkiness across the board. I will give Golf with Your Friends points for that. The background music is also upbeat which is very necessary when you’re on your 14th shot at the same hole (yes, I’m looking at you sir Hole 16 of the Forest course – I WILL be back.)
There were a few technical issues I experienced in the game, however. The game would randomly glitch and cause problems by either obstructing my view or resetting me off the course, making it impossible for me to get back on track and completing the hole. In some instances, I would be forced to forfeit the hole just to overcome the glitch. As frustrating as this was, I still had some good moments with this title.
The verdict: To putt or not to putt?
My biggest takeaway from Golf with Your Friends is my newfound Golf lingo education – a hole in one, Birdie, Eagle, Par, Bogey, and Double Bogey – I finally know what they mean now (please refer back to the disclaimer at the beginning of this review).
At the end of it all, I can confidently say that Golf with Your Friends is a charming golf game that you can enjoy by yourself or with others.
Is Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection as good as Arthur’s Gold armor, or does it just easily fall apart?
INTRO – My History With Ghosts ‘N Goblins
Before we get into Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection, here’s my history with this series.
I recently have gotten into the Ghosts ‘N Goblins series in 2020. I first got exposed to this series thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online service. I first played the NES Ghosts ‘N Goblins through the NES Switch Online application on the Switch. Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts and Demon’s Crest – the latter a spinoff of Ghosts ‘N Goblins and a sequel to Gargoyle’s Quest on Game Boy – were next on my list, through the SNES App. The SNES Ghosts ‘N Goblins game was enjoyable – far more so than the NES version. Demon’s Crest, on the other hand, was infuriating to get used to controls-wise, and playing as the Red Arremer known as Firebrand was.. an incredible experience that made up for the difficult controls.
With my personal history lesson on this series out of the way, however, let’s see if the newest installment, Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection, is as good as the rest of the series, or if it falls apart at the slightest touch.
STORY – A retelling of a Ghosts ‘N Goblins classic
The Red Arremer, sometimes confused with Satan and known as Firebrand, awaits you after trying to ambush you by knocking a bell down off a ruined church.
The story of Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is a reboot. The forces of Hell have invaded a village and Princess Prin Prin is kidnapped. Arthur attempts to rescue her straight away, but is KO’d by the shadowy winged demon (presumed to be a Red Arremer). Arthur, undeterred,suits back up and sets out to rescue both Princess Prin Prin, and the Umbral Bees that fled the Umbral Tree due to the demonic attack. From there, the story is strsightforward.
Before anyone even asks, and this is a HUGE Spoiler, you get a credits roll, enemy highlight reel, and altered Shadow versions of whatever stage 1s and 2s you chose to clear on your first playthrough, so technically, the game can be beaten on your first playthrough with everything unlocked and completed (More on that in the Gameplay section).
It’s a simple, and effective story. The lack of having to play through the game twice for the true ending can be a turn off for hardcore fans of the series, and it probably is, but at least the game gives you the ending after the 1st playthrough for your hard work.
GAMEPLAY – The Classic Formula is Back for a New Generation
The game will keep track of how many times a Banner of Rebirth was used, and how many deaths you had in a given level. Way to mock us, game!
The gameplay for Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is PUNISHINGLY hard. If you’re playing on PAGE difficulty – one of four difficulties – you’re probably a newcomer to this series. In that case, I don’t blame you. Immediate resurrection (heh!) upon death is nice prospect. it does take from the challenge this series is known for quite a bit, though.
Squire gives you 4 hits before death and reduces the count of enemies on screen, though Stage 4 is still able to show a lot of enemies at the start if you’re not careful.
Knight difficulty gives you 3 hits to work with, and a familiar, but somewhat merciful, challenge with some checkpoints.
Legend difficulty gives you ONE checkpoint once you reach the boss. Die at ANY POINT beforehand, and it’s back to the beginning of the stage with you, just like the old archaic days of the 1980s.
But wait, there’s 7 stages in this game to complete. You’ll need to complete and memorize all 7 in order to gather all of the Umbral Bees and restore the Umbral Tree to its’ former glory. There are 2 Stage 1s, and 2 Stage 2s.
Also, if you die against a boss or tough section enough times, the game will generally give you hints on how to deal with it, even on the Legend difficulty. Here’s a picture down below.
The game will give you hints on how to beat the bosses, even on the hardest difficulty. What an insult to my pride!
The game, from a graphical standpoint, looks very beautiful, and the soundtrack compliments the gameplay as well. Each theme feels like was remixed from either the NES Ghosts ‘N Goblins or Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts and sounds so freaking good!
On the subject of Umbral Bees, this game brings back magical abilities, first introduced in Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. As I noticed, a lot of elements got brought back from there into this installment. From the tower boss rush to Lucifer – I’m sorry, “Loki”, to the Shielder, to the Golden Armor. This game is big love letter to the first two games, and it relishes in it.
I had nearly 200 deaths by the end of my first playthrough on Squire difficulty. I can’t wait to see how much that total goes up on he harder difficulties. . . Speaking of which, if you want to experiment with the difficulties in this game, then die on a higher enough times and it will give you an option to lower the difficulty.
CONCLUSION – Is it GOOD?!
Overall, despite the INFURIATING challenges this game will throw at you, it’s very enjoyable. I actually enjoyed myself playing this. Definitely way more so than the original. I do intend on playing on either Knight or Legend difficulty on a seperate save file, since you can’t change the difficulty mid-game unless you want to lower the challenge mid-level. It was very enjoyable, and I look forward to the next installment in this rebooted series.
NOTE:Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection was provided to Movies Games and Tech by Capcom, and offered to me for review. I accepted.
NOTE: This isn’t my only review for this site. I recommend you read my review on City of Brass if you want a shorter review from me.
Nodding Heads Games makes their developmental debut with this action-filled and acrobatic adventure. Medieval India has never looked so vibrant and colorful as you climb your way through a simply stunning visual experience. Obtain magical weapons, and learn elemental skills to fight dark manifestations from ancient Hindu Mythology. A once Nintendo Switch exclusive, this title has been ported to PC, thus satiating those who prefer different gaming peripherals. Raji: An Ancient Epic is an adventure worth picking up, even if the core gameplay is a little rough around the edges.
Raji’s Quest
The story revolves around the title character Raji, a circus performer whose brother has been kidnapped. She sets out to save him under close watch and narration of Vishnu and Goddess Druga. They bless her with mighty weapons and magical powers to fight off the demons that took her brother, Golu. The storytelling from above keeps the player company. You definitely feel the Gods’ support and guidance when you see illuminated ledges and beacons pointing you in the right direction. This was a clever way to incorporate hints into the game without breaking the fourth wall. The entities above paired with Raji’s strong resiliency create a feel-good Shonen style story. This is easily what makes Raji: An Ancient Epic stand out amongst it’s indie developed peers. So, how does this title play and feel?
Who Is Playing Who Here?
Stiff controls can make or break a title. In this case it honestly does both. I did enjoy the platforming challenge utilizing the tight controls. Running up walls and timing jumps perfectly with little room for error added a fun challenge. This is reminiscent of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Checkpoints are frequent so you won’t get set back too far. Being able to triple jump down a long corridor, like in Super Mario 64, kept my twitch control urges occupied as I ingested the beautiful architecture and landscapes. I really didn’t find any issue with the control style in terms of movement and acrobatics. This wasn’t the case for the combat.
There are different weapons, move sets, and special attacks that can tailor to your playstyle.
With a fair amount of moves, jumps, and attacks, you would expect to feel relatively free on the battlefield. In reality, some moves lock on to enemies and some do not. This results in Raji changing direction mid combo and looking a bit clueless. When another enemy is firing projectiles at you from afar while you’re stuck figuring out which target to lock on to, you will take damage. And die. Also, good luck running up walls and landing an aerial attack perfectly. A challenge is always welcome and accepted, but the mistakes should fall on the player, rather than the game. I tried switching from mouse and keyboard to a controller, but felt like I had even less control of Raji. This is a classic case of “the game is playing you” rather than the intended vice versa.
A Semi-Immersive Enviromnent
The narration from the gods above paired with the interactable murals in game teach India’s deities and religious history nicely. I was really enticed learning about all of the religious figures and customs taught through statues and puzzles that are a part of Raji’s story. This made enduring the clunky combat, to reach another platforming and explorational segment to advance the plot, worthwhile.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is a linear adventure. You are limited to climbing specific walls and jumping over only the intended gaps. Though the paths are marked properly to avoid confusion, it still felt weird. I couldn’t climb a specific wall, or jump into a certain window simply because the game told me so. Keep in mind only seven people created this title, and deadlines are no joke.
Bottom Line
What Raji: An Ancient Epic’smost notable point to take in is the limited personnel. Of course this debut title has a few cracks in the pavement, given the circumstance, but so was my audition tape to play guitar in a garage rock band. It’s exciting to see India make moves in hopes to secure relevancy in a growing global market. Support the artists here and purchase this game, so we can hopefully experience what Nodding Heads Games can accomplish under a full-scale operation.
Well what a way to follow up a ‘State of Play’ event than to reveal the March 2021 line up of titles for PS Plus subscribers, and by giving Final Fantasy VII Remake for PS4 to all with PS Plus right off the bat. This is yet another strong line up especially for those fortunate enough to have grabbed a PS5 console:
Square Enix’s modern reimagining of its iconic RPG boasts unforgettable characters, a mind-blowing story and epic battles. Return to the city of Midgar as Cloud Strife, former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the resistance group Avalanche. Initially executing daring raids against Shinra to fight back against its planet-threatening machinations, Cloud and his comrades are unaware of the epic consequences that await them.
Now some eyebrows have been raised with the news that the PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake available to PlayStation Plus members is not eligible for the PS5 digital version upgrade. This will likely mean that the PS5 upgrade will be included in the DLC as an ‘Intergrade’ pack in June, which if you were going to get the DLC anyway, in my opinion makes this not an issue in particularly giving that by the time you complete the main game, you are definitely going to want the DLC!
Maquette PS5 Edition:
All that is tiny is simultaneously huge in this intriguing first-person puzzler designed around a Escher-esque recursive simulation. Making its PlayStation 5 debut as part of next month’s PlayStation Plus lineup, Maquette sets you in the center of a world the rules of which are very different from our own. Solutions to puzzles require you to twist the world recursively – manipulating the landscape of a diorama will see those changes mirrored in the life-sized version that surrounds you. If you get perplexed by a puzzle, you can call up PS5’s Game Help for helpful hints to solve Maquette’s tougher conundrums.
Remnant: From the Ashes – PS4
In this third-person survival action shooter, play as one of the last remnants of humanity attempting to retake a world overrun by monstrous, interdimensional invaders. Venture into dynamically-generated worlds alone or with up to two other survivors, scavenging for supplies and modding your equipment to strengthen your chances of survival when tackling over 100 deadly varieties of enemy and battling epic bosses.
Farpoint – PS VR
Some love being shown for PS4 VR with Far Point. Master an arsenal of weapons to keep yourself alive on a hostile alien world in this free-roaming, first-person PS VR shooter. Optimised for the PlayStation VR Aim controller and fully playable with a DualShock wireless controller, strike out towards your crashed space station solo or with a friend in online co-op. Trade alien threats for testing each other’s skills in a variety of Versus game modes.
These games will be available until April 5, 2021 to all with an active PS Plus Subscription and in the new tradition of giving people more time to grab a PS5, Destruction Allstars for PS5 has been extended to April 5th as well for this February PS Plus Title.
If you could change your present by revisiting the past, would you? You have the power to choose who lives and who dies, could you use it? These are the questions that you’ll have to answer in Retrace: Memories of Death. A single-player, logic-based puzzle adventure title that asks you to overcome many problems in a dark and sinister world.
Developed by Spider Lily Studios and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this atmospheric game will test your ability to solve a variety of problems, and it’ll push your memory to its limits. You will experience part, or whole sections of the gameplay repeatedly as you slowly piece together the correct course to take.
Simple premise done well!
The idea of time manipulation and travel isn’t a new concept, but how it was utilised here was both interesting and enjoyable. The constant changes of direction within the narrative made you question your thought process and actions. The mystery surrounding the circumstances of the story are; odd, haunting, and keep you feeling uneasy. The plot isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s written well enough that you begin to empathise with each character’s plight.
So, what on earth has happened in this creepy game? Freya (the female lead) and her friends intend to take a ghost tour of their hometown. This cheesy event isn’t to everyone’s liking, however, the group plans on taking the trip, nonetheless. Before the bus arrives, an earthquake shatters the peace, and the group of 4 is thrown into another realm. A universe filled with; horrors, death and puzzles.
The crypt of mystery.
A menacing sentry walks silently around the mansion that is now your prison. The more you desire to escape, the higher the risk that he’ll find you and kill you. It’s a dangerous world and actions must be achieved in a certain order. Failure to do so causes death to yourself and your loved ones.
A deadly feeling of Deja Vu.
Options must be considered, and answers given. The correct choices will see you progress, but then you find you are stuck. You have forgotten to find keys, or collect objects for issues that arrive later. You must return to the void and start again. You’ll learn from your errors and won’t make the same mistakes again. This is the crux of the problem solving, and the simplicity is absolutely glorious.
“Ah, you idiot” will be muttered repeatedly as items are forgotten, or puzzles failed. Reloading back into key points is quick, and though there is a break in the action, you feel fully immersed in everything that is happening in the surrounding world.
Multiple endings are offered, each with its own depressing finale. You must work hard, observing the small clues, and piecing together each moment with every character to hit the true happy ever after finish. You may think “It seems repetitive and slow!” Repetition is a key mechanism in what makes this game work, but it’s far from slow or boring.
Shhhhhhh he doesn’t see us…..yet!
Hitting the right sequence, or uncovering a missing item, is fantastic, it’s a euphoric moment when you finally pass a section you’ve been stuck on for ages. This makes Retrace:Memories of Death great. It’s gentle pace, and small pieces of the jigsaw slowly put together to create the bigger picture. The mystery slowly unravels, and eventually you understand the world you now exist in.
The 16-bit retro look.
If I was told that this was a remake of a Sega Mega Drive game, I wouldn’t have been shocked. Every element screamed retro and old-school. The character movement and look was dated, but worked well. The subdued colour palette did wonders at creating a sinister vibe, and the gothic text style worked brilliantly with the dark theme. It won’t win any medals for beauty, but it was on point for this style of game.
The audio does brilliant job of enhancing the sinister, doomed atmosphere. The slow minor tones drag you through a range of emotions, and though occasionally you hit a high point, mostly its; sombre, melancholy, and depressing as hell.
It’s only a rotting corpse in the corner.
Walk crash, walk crash!
Get used to bumping into everything and anything as Freya likes nothing more than to meander into any person or inanimate object. To say its cumbersome and awkward is an understatement! It’s as if the use of analogue has been restricted to D-pad directional controls. It’s in keeping with the retro nature, however, I wasn’t a fan. It doesn’t ruin the game, I just wish it was sharper.
With the story diverging across so many paths, and the multiple endings, this will keep you playing for some time. Your progress heavily depends on your logic-skill and memory, so some gamers may find this considerably easier and shorter than others. A small achievement list is obtained through natural progression, and all endings must be uncovered to gain the 100% status. For completionists, this has a considerable amount of replay valve.
Deja Vu isn’t always a bad thing!
Wake, eat, sleep, repeat. If only it were that simple. Wake, deadly earthquake, horror realm, death! This is your life now, unless you solve the puzzles and break the cycle. An excellent testing game that will make you think outside of the box, and curse your inability to remember. You must piece together the many small parts of this mystery and try to save yourself and the others from this horror universe. It’s a game that I recommend you try, so buy it here! Can you help Freya and her friends survive their new prison? Logic and luck must be on your side in order to succeed.
It actually feels quite a weird time for the first ‘State of Play’ briefing for PlayStation due to the on going issue with people actually being able to get hold of a PS5 console in multiple regions. But with the confirmation of PSVR for PS5 in the works, this would be a good time to get an update on games first announced in June 2020 when the PS5 was revealed…gosh that was so long ago. Going into this, I am not expecting big massive news or release dates for God of War: Ragnarok or Horizon into the West but….well, stranger things have happened.
Below you will find all the news and trailers and then my final thoughts on this 30 or so minute briefing:
Crash Bandicoot 4: PS5 Upgrade Features:
Toys For Bob dives into the enhanced features of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on PlayStation 5! The PS5 version of the game is available on March 12, the PS4 version is available now. If you own the PS4 version of the game, an upgrade option is available at no cost. To upgrade the PlayStation 4 disc version of the game to the digital PS5 version, you’ll need a PS5 console with a disc drive. Owners of a PS4 disc copy must insert it into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital version.
Returnal: Gameplay Overview Trailer
The first PS5 roguelite shooter is almost here. Get your first look at some of the latest gameplay awaiting our hero as well as some of the awesome weapons, abilities, and enemies!
Knock Out City – Gameplay Spotlight Trailer
Welcome to Knockout City™, where the hits never stop coming—literally. Get your first look now, and catch it May 21, 2021, for cross-play dodgeball domination. Team up, define your style, and take on rival Crews in lightning-fast dodgeball matches all over the city, from the Concussion Yard to the just-announced Back Alley Brawl. Got skills? Good, you’ll need ‘em if you wanna win! Show off your moves and use Special Balls like the Sniper Ball to get an edge on your opponents and claim the win. For you brave brawlers out there, the introduction of Face Off mode lets you prove you’ve got the stuff one on one. Go on, now, hit them with your best shot! Join the cross-play beta: http://www.ea.com/games/knockout-city… Learn more about Knockout City: https://blog.playstation.com/2021/02/…
New PS5 Game – Sifu
Sifu is the new game of Sloclap, the independent studio behind Absolver. A third person action game featuring intense hand-to-hand combat, it puts you in control of a young Kung-Fu student on his path of revenge throughout the city. Coming out on Playstation in 2021. For more information head to https://www.sifugame.com
New PS5 Game – Solar Ash
Journey through a surreal, vivid and highly stylized world filled with mystery, wild high-speed traversal, and massive enemy encounters. Can you save your home from the Ultravoid? For more information head to https://annapurnainteractive.com/game…
New PS5 Game – Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach
Get to know Oddworld: Soulstorm a little better in our latest feature in which we highlight just some of the things you can expect this spring when it arrives on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Kena Bridge of Spirits: Release Date Trailer
A story-driven action adventure with a stunning visual aesthetic combining exploration with fast-paced combat. Players find and grow a team of charming spirit companions called the Rot, enhancing their abilities and creating new ways to manipulate the environment. Kena: Bridge of Spirits seamlessly blends action and narrative into an unforgettable experience. Travel with Kena, a young Spirit Guide on a quest to uncover the mysterious story surrounding the demise of the village.
Deathloop: Official Trailer 3
Is this déjà vu? Fall deeper into the mystery of Blackreef with a brand new DEATHLOOP gameplay trailer featuring PS5 next-gen gameplay and an original song by Sencit feat. FJØRA. Everyone knows the feeling of déjà vu – that sensation that you’ve experienced something before. For Colt, this feeling is near-constant. Trapped in a time loop, Colt has been experiencing déjà vu for as long as he can remember. Every time the day loops, it’s a struggle to remember everything and use the knowledge he has to push himself forward and, hopefully, off the island of Blackreef.
Final Fantasy VII Remake – Integrade DLC Reveal and PS5 Upgrade
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE is coming to PlayStation 5 on June 10th 2021 as FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE; a visually enhanced edition of the critically acclaimed and award winning game, featuring a brand new episode featuring Yuffie as the main character, and numerous gameplay additions for players to enjoy. Experience the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting and atmospheric fog. Switch between the game modes “Graphics mode” which prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics, and “Performance mode” which prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second and capture and share your favourite moments of this timeless adventure with a fully customisable Photo Mode. Enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PS5 controller with its hapic feedback integration. In the brand new episode featuring Yuffie, play as ninja Yuffie Kisaragi as she infiltrates the shadowy Shinra corporation to steal a powerful Materia and restore glory to her homeland. Play alongside new characters and enjoy an expanded gameplay experience featuring multiple new combat and gameplay additions. This adventure brings new perspective to the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE story that cannot be missed.
That is a wrap!
My Thoughts….
Well…..did not see the closing of this State of Play being a reveal of a full PS5 upgrade for Final Fantasy VII Remake as well as DLC for it, this was rumoured you may remember, to be revealed during the FFVII Celebration concert in Japan 3 weeks back but never happened. But yeah, as someone who recently fired up FFVII Remake on my new PS5 only to see it have no updated features at all compared to other titles, this news is huge and the new features and upgraded visuals looks stunning not to mention new content as well with Yuffie entering the story.
Other than that, having a release date finally for the beautiful Kena Bridge of Spirits is a welcome surprise, just before my birthday in September as well, thank you Sony. This State of Play was pretty much what I expected, few big surprises other than the FFVII Remake news and just an update really on soon to release games like Deathloop which is looking particularly awesome and Returnal which has enough roguelike gameplay to turn my head towards it more. Sifu is right up my ally as a fighting game fan and it certainly looks intriguing.
For the first ‘State of Play’ of 2021, this was the measured update event I expected it to be, nothing massively big but enough to have PS5 fans excited and hopeful this early in the year. Fingers crossed with many of the games shown tonight being for the middle of the year, more fans will have had the opportunity to pick up a PS5 console. Im still buzzing over that Sifu trailer and FF VII Remake news, should keep be going until the next State of Play.
I’m a big fan of RPG games, as an early adopter of point and click adventures games back in the nineties, RPG’s have always felt like a natural progression from point and click. There are so many games now that either fall into the RPG genre completely or take many of the traditional RPG elements, but to be fair isn’t every game a role playing game in some way. This weeks entry is Arc of Alchemist, a somewhat more traditional RPG,
Arc of Alchemist begins with you being plonked in the middle of a desert because you have to find the Great Power, something that is key to saving humanity. Quinn Bravesford, on behalf of her kingdom, takes her allies to investigate the Desert of Beginnings, a desert that is spreading across the world and so, Quinn was selected to captain this mission. Quinn holds the Lunagear, the Lunagear is equipped to hold four Orbs, when all the Orbs are found then it will release the Great Power. Unfortunately, Quinn only has one Ord at hand for now. The Principality of Neuhaven, an enemy nation has sent their military in search of the Great Power, as well so Quinn and her band of merry warriors better find the Great Power quickly. Obviously life is never that easy, the desert contains many evil things that must be beaten.
Arc of Alchemist is quite a short game for a RPG, which is part of it’s problem. The main story is standard fare but as you progress through the various parts of the desert there will be times when you go back to the base and you are often presented with a cut scene that attempts to flesh out the characters. However these comedic interactions generally feel out of place whilst your hacking and slashing your way in the desert. The characters in Arc of Alchemist are never really introduced and because of that you never really care for them in any way.
The base building element of Arc of Alchemist is quite detailed and could have been quite interesting to play with. However, there isn’t a great deal of detail so you end up not really knowing what actions will benefit you. This is also the same section of Arc of Alchemist where you can pick your desert team and level up characters attributes. Investing into certain kinds of buildings will boost others depending on their location within your base, this management style could have been quite fun to get your head round but the lack of guidance is annoying.
The main part of Arc of Alchemist is wandering the desert wasteland trying to find the orbs. There are various enemies who generally spawn randomly when you approach certain areas. Beating them garner experience and other items. You have a team of 3 to help you in your adventuring. You can choose your team in the base section. Quinn is by far the most useful fighter compared to the others, combat is controlled by the AI for the other members of the team. You will find in Arc of Alchemist that your comrades end up getting into scraps you’ve attempted to run away from which is frustrating. The combat is fairly repetitive hack and slash which is fun for the most part, however when using projectiles or magic it’s pretty hard to hit enemies because the controls are iffy,
Graphically Arc of Alchemist looks a little dated. The animations are not smooth whilst there a few times when things slowed down the framerate, not ideal in this modern age. The base comes across well whilst the desert settings are reasonable to look at. Unfortunately the enemy models are nothing new, a mixture of bland robots and unimaginative animals. Musically Arc of Alchemist does really well, the sound sets the mood suitably, it’s just a shame the rest of Arc of Alchemist lets it down.
Arc of Alchemist is not a good RPG, it lacks some basic fundamentals that make RPG’s fun. The main story is reasonably interesting but you feel very little for the characters. The combat is fun in parts but held back by poor controls whilst the graphical issues are not something you should really experience in this day and age. If you love RPG’s then you may get a few hours of satisfaction but for the experienced role player Arc of Alchemist isn’t something for your bucket list.
Beyond The Wire is probably the closest that video games will ever get to satisfy my dream of having an authentic online FPS set in World War I. Developed by Redstone Interactive and published by Offworld Industries, Beyond The Wire is the latest foray into the Great War era in the form of a tense and epic experience with up to 100 players on a server fighting in a war of attrition through trench warfare.
Beyond The Wire released on Steam’s Early Access in October of 2020, and it has slowly been receiving updates. Just last week, the game received a major content update, which added a series of weapons and a new map, Château-Thierry. According to the developer’s public roadmap, players can also expect to see two new factions and three new maps dropping throughout Q1 2021. Also, although the developers state in the game’s Early Access F.A.Q. that they hope to release the game sometime in 2022, I’m sure that can obviously change as development progresses.
Beyond The Wire isn’t your typical online FPS. This isn’t a game where you can run around hunting for kills. If you end up doing just that, you probably won’t have a good time. A huge part of Beyond The Wire’s experience comes from actually playing with others and communicating. If you have played games like Hell Let Loose, Post Scriptum or Squad, then you pretty much should know what to expect from this one. This game is literally what would happen if someone took the Squad and Post Scriptum formula and decided to adapt it to World War I. Despite having not spent nearly as enough time with Beyond The Wire as I have spent with others in the same genre, I can definitely say that this, along with Squad, is amongst my top two games of this genre. Ever since Verdun, I always had a big itch for an FPS set in the First World War, and that itch has finally been scratched.
Like other games published by Offworld Industries, Beyond The Wire is an online multiplayer FPS of epic scale, where players fight in a series of long and arduous battles on the Western Front of the Great War. The game grounds itself on realism, and this is not only reflected in the game’s weapons, but also in how the player behaves, game modes, maps, mechanics, and team play. Speaking of which, at the moment, some players that dive into the game may find that it is lacking in game modes, maps, and weapons, but I would argue that that is precisely the point of developing a game, like this one, in Early Access. First, you want to build a solid foundation, and only then you want to expand on that base foundation by continuously adding more content.
There are currently only two game modes, Assault and Frontlines. The Assault mode puts attackers and defenders in an ongoing struggle, as the attacking side continuously attempts to chip away at the defender’s lines. Meanwhile, in Frontlines, both sides of the conflict must fight and capture multiple points in order to capture entire territory sections of the map. I honestly can’t say which is best or which I prefer the most. A part of me loves defending against an ongoing barrage of enemies in Assault, while another side of me simply adores the chaotic nature of Frontlines as each team scatters throughout the various points in an attempt to capture as many as they can.
As far as weapons go, each faction has its own arsenal, but what you can use depends on your role. Each team can have multiple squads, and these can range from 10 people infantry squads with medics, grenadiers and riflemen, to 2 person squads that focus on sniping, artillery, and heavy machine guns. Personally, I’m more of a medic or an assault class. While being a medic always gives you something to do, as you’re continually reviving downed teammates, an assault can just charge head-on with a pistol or a shotgun, which are much more reliable in close quarters than a bolt-action rifle. Don’t get me wrong though, all the bolt action rifles feel great to fire and to reload, there’s just something about it that also makes them really satisfying to use.
Then there is also the direction-based melee system, as well as bayonet charges, which never get old. With this game in particular, as opposed to others like Squad and Post Scriptum, melee combat is extremely useful due to the cramped nature of a lot of map areas, like the inside of buildings or trenches. Being able to perform a bayonet charge is actually more useful than you would probably think, especially if you are going up against someone with a bolt-action rifle that just keeps missing their shots. As for the other melee weapons, I find myself using these mostly when I happen to be in the middle of mustard gas. This, as well as off-map artillery strikes, can be called by your team’s Commander, and they either kill you on the spot, or they force you to put on your mask. This heavily limits visibility, and that’s why melee becomes so important, as you can get really close to enemies without even realizing it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Beyond The Wire still has a lot of work ahead of it before it’s a fully-fledged title. However, it already clearly demonstrates that the team over at Redstone Interactive has got their head in the game and knows what the community wants and expects from them. Nonetheless, the game still needs to be optimized, but surely that will only come further down the road. However, things such as hit registration can be erratic. A lot of times you trade kills even though you probably shouldn’t. For instance, you might shoot the enemy and see him fall dead, but as he’s falling you can still get shot.
In spite of that, one thing that I really feel that still needs to be worked on are the sounds that characters make when you perform a bayonet-charge. Unless I’m not paying proper attention to my surroundings, I can only hear enemies charging at me when they’re right about to stab me. It’s actually kind of hilarious how many times I’ve gotten stabbed without realizing someone was charging at me from behind or from my flanks. Still, I also manage to kill others this very same way, so I guess that this is a win-win situation.
Despite everything, another big problem that Beyond The Wire seems to be facing currently can’t really be blamed on the developers, and that is the game’s small player base. Don’t get me wrong, the game is definitely not dead, but I wasn’t able to get into a full server throughout an entire week. From what I can tell, there’s only one active server at any time, and its population fluctuates between 40 and 60 people. Sure, that’s a lot of people, but given that the game supports up to 100 player servers, that’s still a little far off from providing the proper epic experience that the developers have certainly intended on delivering when making this game. Furthermore, unless you’re from Europe, you’ll end up having a high ping, as a lot of American players that I’ve played with can attest.
Finally, I’d like to emphasize that using a microphone is HIGHLY recommended in order to play Beyond The Wire. This is because Beyond The Wire relies heavily on teamwork and communication. Not only you may find yourself having to relay orders to your squad and fellow teammates, either through radio or by speaking to those in your vicinity, but you’ll also probably run into a few moments where you’ll spot an enemy creeping up on a teammate and you’re able to save them by warning them. Based on my experience, not everyone uses one, and I understand that everyone has their reasons, but I can’t stress enough that it enhances the whole experience tenfold.
Also, the game’s gorgeous visuals, alongside its sound design, make Beyond The Wire’s atmosphere absolutely spot on. I can’t stop myself from flinching every time I’m running through the map and I suddenly get shot at, or when I’m holding a position and suddenly it starts raining down artillery on where I’m at. It’s exceptionally immersive, something which other games under the Offworld Industries (Squad’s, Post Scriptum’s, and Beyond The Wire’s publisher) umbrella have also absolutely nailed.
If you enjoy playing games like Squad, Post Scriptum, and Hell Let Loose, but you just want something with that specific gameplay but in a World War I setting, then this is it. If you enjoy online FPS games with a focus on teamwork and tactics, over individual skill and play, then Beyond The Wire will probably quench your thirst. The game certainly has its problems, but it offers such a unique experience that I’m currently willing to overlook those issues and enjoy the game for what it is. While it certainly isn’t a game for everyone, it’s my new favourite World War I game, and I honestly can’t wait to see how it evolves over time. Do check it out if it sounds like something that you’d enjoy or that you’re willing to support in the long-term. Beyond The Wire is currently only available on Steam Early Access.
If you mention Super Mario Bros to anyone, between a frenzy of ‘wahoos’ and impeccable impressions, I’m sure thousands will spill fond nostalgic memories of childhood. The Mario franchise has been a key element to hundreds of people’s childhoods. So it’s safe to say the release of Super Mario 3D World to Switch has been received well. From the opening sequence, you are immediately connected back with familiar characters and transported into childlike glee. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s fury is certainly a tribute to everything that has made Mario so iconic.
Back to basics
With a classic world layout, SM3DW takes you through a series of levels you feel like you’ve seen before. Each world follows the Mario essentials. Ice, desert, greenland, etc. However Nintendo takes this and runs with it. You are more than likely expected to encounter several biomes in one level. In addition to these extensive world types, you are presented with a variety of new power ups. It is vital to utilise these, since they will be extremely useful in every single tiny fraction of a level. Don’t underestimate how important these power ups are, especially if you are playing with others. Please trust me on this one. It will make you nearly fall out with your friends.
Teamwork makes the dream work
I had the joy of playing this game with two of my closest friends. By the end of playing this game, we were almost not friends at all. The co-op ability of 3D World is as wonderfully chaotic as you can imagine. Timed levels become a frantic race to claim victory over your teammates, and working together as a team has never proved so difficult. This game has induced fits of both laughter and rage. Once again it has created a number of memories I will struggle to forget. Which is definitely the best part of playing any Mario game. Although working as a team is key to a solid victory, there is something so maliciously enjoyable about ensuring you achieve more points and strutting around with your tiny crown.
One of my favourite moments of playing through this game, is the sheer chaos that ensues in toad houses. The rush to beat the timer caused fits of giggles when failing. And the game was paused for a breather on many occasions. Despite having to play each of these levels repeatedly after collecting the stars, you pick up the rhythm of them very quickly. I just found this to make me laugh even more if something went horrifically wrong and we had to start again.
The best level design to date
It’s safe to say, Nintendo presents us with a shiny new expectation of complexity in this one. With a multitude of hidden pathways, secret doors, specific character buttons, you will no doubt be running through each level more than once. I’d argue that even after the revolutionary success of Super Mario Odyssey, SM3DW holds some of the most intricate level design in Nintendo history. Every level has its secrets, and you will definitely want to discover them all.
Bowser’s Fury
This game has no story links to Super Mario 3D World, so can easily be picked up on it’s own. Despite it’s significantly shorter playtime, it stands alone as one of the best 3D Mario games so far. Due to having no links to 3D World, Bowser’s Fury can easily be booted up from the beginning if you wanted.
Instead of his loving brother, Mario is accompanied on this trip by Bowser Jr. This role can either be taken on by a second player or remain as an AI. His function is also completely customisable. You can decide if you want him to help out every step of the way, or the opposite. If you are unsure of 3D Mario (or if your depth perception fails you much like mine) then this company should be utilised.
Bowser’s Fury doesn’t highlight the same variety of 3D Worlds, but if all that was crammed in you’d be exhausted. There are plenty of crossovers to recognise, so you won’t be too lost. Even when levels seem too familiar, Nintendo has implemented enough new design to ensure it doesn’t get stale. BF definitely holds the potential for an incredible future in the Mario franchise.
Final thoughts
To anyone who has ever played a Mario game, be it alone or with friends. I encourage you to pick this one up. It is truly wonderful and I guarantee you will be transported back into a state of childlike glee. I haven’t laughed this hard whilst playing a game with my friends for a very long time. It is definitely the pick me up everyone deserves.
With the creation of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies, many new opportunities and experiences emerged, all of them based on the same premise: decentralized control.
Cryptocurrencies were created to be decentralized assets stored on digital ledgers under strong cryptography. They are not controlled by banking institutions or government bodies, and were only made possible by the inception of blockchain technologies.
The world’s first blockchain was created in 2008 to act as the transaction ledger for Bitcoin. Within it, records are called blocks, and each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp and transaction data. This process allows blockchains to be incredibly resistant to modification of its data. They are managed by peer-to-peer networks around the globe and keep records of transactions permanently. Even though Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, currently there are several cryptos available on many different exchanging platforms and digital wallets.
Then we get to blockchain games. Also called crypto games, this new genre grants players total control over everything related to the game. From account information to game items and assets, all content is owned by the players and cannot be operated or supervised by anyone else. Just like cryptocurrencies, blockchain games are decentralized and the content rights are held by users instead of publishers and developers. Apart from retaining control, players can also monetize their content within these games and even make a profit or invest in games’ marketplaces. And as blockchain technologies are continuously improved, new crypto games are being developed, offering gamers possibilities never seen before.
But to endeavour into these new gaming experiences, players must follow a few simple steps before choosing which game to play.
Exchanging and storing cryptos
To play blockchain games, players must have cryptocurrencies stored in a proper digital wallet. Digital wallets, or e-wallets, are devices or applications that store some form of currency on a desktop or mobile app, on the cloud or some hardware devices. In the case of real money, the most popular e-wallets are PayPal and Apple Wallet. But for cryptocurrencies, there are specific digital wallets that store these cryptographic keys, like Exodus and Wasabi. Recently, Apple announced that Apple Pay and Apple Wallet will soon store some cryptocurrencies as well.
Then, players need to purchase a cryptocurrency. Most crypto games are based on the Ethereum blockchain, so Ether is required to play. This can be done through a cryptocurrency exchange. There are many exchanges currently available with different features and fees that change depending on the market’s activity, and some of them even offer wallet services. The most popular cryptocurrency exchange is Coinbase, which is one of the oldest active exchanges, launched in 2012.
Games
The list of blockchain games is still limited, but there are a few that are already trending among players, and several others being developed.
CryptoKitties
Launched in 2017, the most successful and popular crypto game so far is CryptoKitties. The game allows players to collect, breed, buy and sell virtual cats. With a gameplay that resembles the popular 90’s toy Tamagotchi, players must improve their cats attributes, while caring for its needs and breeding them with other players’ cats. Their prices usually start at US$20 in the game currency, and it can go up or down, depending on breed, attributes and market fluctuations. The most expensive cat in the game is called Dragon and it costs more than US$300,000 in Ether.
Splinterlands
With the same collecting gameplay, Splinterlands is a multiplayer card game built on the Hive blockchain, with mechanics similar to collectible card games. Players can summon warriors and monsters through collectible cards and engage in battles in its many game modes. In the last month, Splinterlands was one of the games that most attracted new players.
The Sandbox Game
Currently in its open beta phase, The Sandbox Game is an upcoming Ethereum-based game that allows gamers to create their own worlds and build different gaming experiences inside the game’s metaverse. With its own cryptocurrency, players can buy and sell items and assets, design interactive adventures, visit other players’ worlds and monetize any content created.
Axie Infinity
There’s also Axie Infinity, which is a Pokémon-based universe where players can battle, collect, raise and build worlds for creatures called Axies. With features of social networking as well, Axie Infinity is still in early access but already generated over 6,400 Ether in revenue, equivalent to more than US$2 million.
No matter if you love or hate rodents, the sight of their long tails is enough to send shivers down your spine. They’re an intelligent and misunderstood species that have long been linked with disease, death, and destruction. Not anymore, though! Developer and publisher JanduSoft S.L. have created a rodent friendly title that has these four-legged beasts playing the lead heroic characters.
Rodent Warriors is a single-player RPG game set in a medieval world. It’s pixelated look and synthesised soundtrack gives it a retro indie feel. The simplicity of the gameplay and the ease at which it can be played means it is ideal for gamers of all skill sets. Using a classic RPG style blended with rogue-like elements made this an adventure game with an unusual twist.
An unhappy King.
As with all great adventure titles, the core plot is; big, exciting and completely unbelievable. The King is angry that the people oppose his rule. He demands every creature follow without question. So, he forms an army to slaughter those who stand in his way! No-one is exempt from this barbaric approach, not even rodents!
As I said, absurd, but brilliant. You must choose your adventurer from a growing group. As you progress and complete tasks and challenges, more become available to select. Each creature is unique and brings; strengths, weaknesses, and its armoury with it. You must adjust your gameplay style for each character, and every approach is catered for.
Even the goats oppose the King’s rule.
Character design with a twist.
When you select a new adventure, you must pick from a long list of negative traits. These add additional challenges to each attempt. You’ll have less power, move slower, reduced health and more. You must overcome this as you gain levels, selecting to increase; strength, dexterity, intelligence and vitality. Each attribute counters the opening negative effects and makes for a balanced fighting machine. You can of course ignore the negatives and make your rodent a; tank, bruiser, super smart or insanely rapid. How you wish to play is up to you.
Rodent Warriors then goes further still with; upgradable equipment, craftables, legendary items and improved stats when you are reincarnated. Yes, death is a certainty, but in doing so you come back as a new and improved fighting vermin.
Craftables are a pot luck scenario. The more you try to make, the better you get. Materials are found at random, and you have little influence on how this part plays out. Symbols are found during quests and are applied to items to enhance their attributes. Recipes for this must be learned, which is not an easy task, so you’ll need plenty of game time and patience to get to this stage.
Effectively everything you make improves your character, and all the ingredients are found by exploring the full map of each quest you undertake.
So much equipment for one small rodent.
Rodents love a maze.
You don’t have to like rodents to acknowledge they are clever. Place it in a maze and it’ll solve it very quickly. The developers joke that rats see the world as a maze, so this is how every quest is viewed. You simply follow corridors that run along the points of a compass.
Small maps of hidden treasures and wave after wave of enemies await as you explore and try to finish each quest. It’s brilliantly simple, but stupidly difficult. It should be called “Rodent Death Simulator“, as your untimely demise is all but guaranteed.
Old-school, side-scroller.
Though you are free to explore, the gameplay follows a linear path, and all the action plays out as a 2D side-scroller. Your pixelated foes approach you from both sides as you find a plethora of rich environments to enjoy. The basic character models do well to represent each creature, but you won’t be moved by the artistic style. Simple animation gave this a rigid and basic feel. Old-school doesn’t justify it, as the movement is very dated. Earthy tones make up most of the colour palette. Maybe they are trying to emphasise the rodent’s natural habitat. Maybe I’m over analysing this, though.
I was hoping for a Streets of Rage type audio with real aggressive upbeat music. Instead, you are treated to a folksy, ye-olde medieval soundtrack that matched the theme, but was at odds with the action. The sound effects were closer to what I expected, but with plenty of “pee hoo” and “woooo”, it grates on you very quickly. It’s not bad enough to quit playing, it’s just not what I expected and JanduSoft S.L. should have created something more in keeping with both theme and genre.
Choices, choices.
It sounds complex.
There are a lot of little layers that make this tick. Each appears complicated and difficult to follow, but it’s easier than it seems. Rodent Warriors uses a mixture of elements in its gameplay and hack ‘n slash combat sits at the fore. Its button-mashing ways make progress easier, while all the other parts slowly fall into place in the background.
Because of the rogue-like gameplay, the level of difficulty (standard or hardcore), the many characters to unlock and the moderate achievement list. You’ll need to and will want to return to play. Hours of gameplay lay before you, and many reincarnated rodents will be required to be victorious. As such, this has masses of replay value.
Rodents bring death to those that oppose the King.
It’s true what they say, rodents are the bringers of death and misery. In this case, it’s only if you oppose the King. Can you lead his army to victory in this in-depth RPG, rogue-like adventure? If you can’t, don’t worry. Come back stronger and try again. This is a fun indie title that’s great value for money, and I recommend buying it! Grab a weapon, craft some armour, and get that horrible long tail into action.
