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Review: Farming Simulator 25

Daniel Waite

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Jan 17, 2025

I admit that I’m a little late to the Farming Simulator 25 party. I’ve been a big fan of the franchise for years, so I wanted to give this as much time as I could. However, it didn’t feel as natural as its predecessor, and that was a shame. Though I consider myself relatively experienced with the franchise, I found myself stabbing around in the dark a lot of the time. This led to unnecessary mistakes and plenty of frustration. Yet, there was always an upside that drew me back in. The gameplay is addictive and rewarding. Consequently, I forgave many of the tough and annoying shortcomings.

This simulation game was developed and published by GIANTS Software. Moreover, it is both single and multiplayer, but I focused on option 1. Sadly, I didn’t have time to test the online action, but I imagine it would be a success. Playing with friends as you sow crops, harvest fields, and care for animals must be thrilling. Instead, I relaxed as I tended to my fields and drove each of the authentic machines.

Farming Simulator 25 has new features but familiar action.

If you have never played a Farming Sim game, you must be young or living under a rock. Either way, Farming Simulator 25 is a tough way to break that ice. Like its predecessors, it offers little hand-holding. Once you complete the tutorial, you must balance the books, select your crops, and buy suitable machines for each job. Additionally, you must understand the seasons, prepare for bad weather, and manage your farm hands.

Theoretically, this should be a walk in the park. After all, once you get to grips with the fundamentals, everything should follow suit. Unfortunately, there is so much depth, that newbie farmers can often feel out of their depth. Alongside this, there are 3 unique maps to test out and plenty of impressive new features to explore. Accordingly, Farming Simulator 25 drowns you in content and this can be slightly disconcerting.

New life beyond my struggles.

Though it wasn’t plain sailing, Farming Simulator 25 sparks some interesting life into the franchise. The use of AI and conversation with NPCs was thrilling. Alongside this, there are new towns and construction projects. Additionally, you’ll discover new crops that require specialist knowledge and new animals to raise.

However, it is the new maps, weatherfronts, and big-name brands that bring energy to this title. Farming enthusiasts will love the chance to farm in North America, East Asia, and Central Europe. Furthermore, the ability to jump in your favourite machine and get to work is irresistible. I admit that I’m not a farming aficionado. Subsequently, I don’t know the fine details between each mammoth machine. Yet, I know that keen farmers will enjoy the detail and the vast roster of equipment on offer.

Farming Simulator 25 looks great, but it has its problems.

If you want a realistic simulation experience, Farming Simulator 25 has your back. The machines look incredible and the world is alive with creatures and NPC vehicles. Yet, the AI is occasionally wonky and I was involved in many RTCs. This wasn’t problematic, it simply tarnished the realism. Where this falls short, though, is the frame rate. The game stutters and this is off-putting. I had no rendering issues, but the low frame rates will annoy next-gen gamers. I believe the developer can iron this issue out, but it won’t impress newbies or hardcore fans.

From my limited expertise, I was impressed by the varied and realistic sound effects. Each vehicle is unique and I adored the brutish nature of each enormous machine. Additionally, there are plenty of radio stations to select if you want some music while you work. Farming Simulator 25 delivers a wonderful soundscape that creates a wholesome and fulfilling insight into country living.

Exceptional controls.

The fundamentals may require some trial and error, but the controls are ridiculously smooth. Moreover, the exceptional UI makes every task easy to follow. If you are new to the franchise, your work will be cut out for you. Yet, once you work through the opening experiments, you will feel like an old hand in no time.

Time sink and simulation games go hand-in-hand. If you fall for its charms, you will lose hours of your life. What’s more, you are free to grow your business, develop your fields, and increase your fleet of vehicles. The freedom is rewarding and getting every element right will make you smile. Consequently, this has mountains of replay value and longevity.

Farming Simulator 25 is flawed but still great.

This isn’t perfect by any stretch, but it is the best game in the franchise. The expansive roster of vehicles, crops, and animals gives you ample opportunity to shine. Furthermore, I liked the AI and the large fresh maps. Frame rates are problematic and this needs improving. However, this will be a top-end simulation experience once this is improved. Accordingly, I recommend buying it here! Can you become a virtual farmer? Select your crops, raise animals, and become a country legend.

Review: Dragon Takers

Josh Blackburn

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Jan 17, 2025

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It seems the worst thing to be in Dragon Takers is ‘Skill-less’. Problem is, skills don’t seem that well defined. Sword techniques and magic are obviously skills, but there are farmers and merchants with skills too. I make a pretty decent cup of tea, does that give me enough of an edge to avoid being labelled? What about my ability to immediately lose any pen that I set down? If I were in this world, I’d be frantically gathering together everything I’m good at to try and avoid being ostracised because I can’t conjure fire out of my hands.

Still, the world of Dragon Takers doesn’t seem a particularly pleasant place to be. Most of it is on fire from repeated dragon army attacks, after all. More than that though, it’s a world that feels rather cold and empty. Dragon Taker has a bit of an issue when it comes to the ‘Role Playing’ part of Role Playing Game. While it serves up a dramatic storyline, full of exciting music, the actual experience is brutally linear.

Take On Me

You may be looking at the title of Dragon Takers and wondering what a dragon taker actually is. Well, it harks back to that ‘skill’ thing I was blathering about earlier. See, most people hone skills by training or exposing natural talent. But there exists an ability, creatively named ‘Skill Taker’, that can take skills from people. This skill is possessed by Helio, a young chap from a nowhere village. He’s driven into action when an army of dragon warriors, commanded by the Drake Emperor Tiberius, steamrolls through his village.

Helio sets off on a quest to send Tiberius packing, and rescue his childhood friend, Liana, who’s been kidnapped. The key twist is that Helio’s skill taker makes him the perfect everyman. Having no skills from birth, he’s able to borrow other people’s skills, giving him an infinite set. It’s an interesting premise and, while the gameplay doesn’t quite put it to good use, it has a nice effect on the story. Dragon Takers is one of those big dramatic fantasy tales, where ancient spirits are rubbing shoulders with ancient dragons.

True, it does get a little hammy at times. A lot of it is men in giant suits of armour all patting each other on the back and talking about amazing legends, but the writing isn’t too bad. It makes the smart decision to keep the focus on a core group of characters. There are only five in our party, for one: Helio; Louise, a warrior princess; Monica, a noble healer; Milena, a skilled mage; and Liana, the childhood friend. They have some nice dialogue with each other and feel quite distinct. It does delve into soppy, ‘friendship beats all’ territory at times, but I enjoyed their banter.

Dungeons & Lots Of Dragons

Unfortunately, the gameplay lets it down on almost every account. Let’s run down the list of grievances, beginning with the combat. I have a rule of thumb, you see. If a game has an ‘auto-attack’ button, then it is tacitly admitting that its combat is boring. I was once again proven right. It’s your bog-standard turn-based combat, with no real twists. Characters level up, and gain skills, on their own, so it’s just a case of using spells that an enemy is weak to and healing each turn. I swept through every boss just repeating the same handful of skills each turn. There’s no challenge; no thought required.

Helio had the potential to change things up with his ‘Skill Taker’ ability, but to steal a skill you just attack. You can then slot in a full set of elemental skills and job done. It’s one of a few parts of Dragon Takers that feel quite shallow. There’s no economy, for instance. All items are grabbed from set chests and swapped out for your current gear. The menu for doing so is incredibly irritating, too. It takes about five or six button presses just to equip anything.

The biggest problem of all, though, is that Dragon Takers is aggressively linear. You’re just whisked on a sight-seeing tour from town to town. There are no sidequests at all. In fact, there’s no reason to talk to any NPCs beyond a few lines of flavour text. You might think the large world map might have something in it, but no. It’s completely empty. Devoid of anything except random battles. You can’t escape fights, by the way, to add to the annoyance. Dragon Takers feels like a visual novel that someone has inexpertly stitched RPG elements to.

Dragon Takers – Dramatic But Shallow

It’s frustrating because I did find myself getting into the story. Like I said, it keeps the focus on the core characters and even manages to have a nice ending. There’s also decent art here, if you don’t mind a bit of RPG Maker roughness here and there. Music’s nice too, being suitably over-the-top in the fights. It just feels much too empty to really feel like a satisfying experience. In fact, it feels like it doesn’t really want us there at all. We make no choices and do nothing to the characters beyond swapping out their gear.

These issues resulted in a strange moment right at the end. Dragon Takers pulled the old bait’n’switch to introduce the true villain and the dialogue and music got me pumped up. Then the battle started and the illusion completely shattered. All four of my guys just stacked up the same skills over and over until the fight was done. Dragon Takers was so intent on telling an epic fantasy tale, that it seemed to forget that it was trying to be a video game at the same time.

(Dragon Takers’ Steam Page)

Review: SANYA

Daniel Waite

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Jan 16, 2025

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SANYA is a game dripping in nostalgia. I was born in the 1980s, so anything that focuses on my ’90s childhood brings back wonderful memories. Though this revolves around a post-Soviet landscape, I loved the wholesome message and the sense of childhood. Additionally, the storytelling was great, and the small puzzles and challenging moments kept me thinking throughout.

This adventure title was developed by helpnode and published by Samustai. It is a side-scrolling title with a fun 2.5D perspective. As you explore the neighbourhood, you realise that Sanya’s world is small and refined. Yet, the game feels massive. Running from point A to B can take forever, and there are things to see and people to talk to en route. This sense of discovery and exploration enhances the childhood message and the innocent nature of the protagonists.

SANYA tells a story of growing up.

The innocence of youth comes and goes in a flash. The world is a cruel place and there is little room for naive people. This sounds horrific, but that is the reality of modern living. However, when you live in this calm and fun bubble, the rest of the world can stay out. SANYA explores this idea of friendship, exploration, and innocence perfectly.

You control Sanya, a young lad who is carefree and loves life. He is new to the block and wants to make friends. His mother gives him a key and tells him to do some chores and explore his surroundings. This is the green light for a summer like no other. New friends and adventures await the adventurous gang.

Simple mechanics.

Every person you encounter wants your help. Whether it is an item or a fetch quest, you are happy to be of assistance. Though this has a sense of monotony, I liked the stories and how each character was portrayed. Additionally, you can be as polite or as cheeky as you like. Consequently, this plays out in 2 unique ways.

As you let the story evolve, you can complete mini-games, ride your bike, and teach your puppy, Pumpkin new tricks. This new-found hound is essential to your progress. Pumpkin will sniff out clues and help retrieve items. Moreover, this cute puppy helps you to start conversations with strangers.

I loved the wholesome nature of the gameplay, but there was too much back and forth. Additionally, there was little guidance and this can leave you feeling confused. I wish the developer had given more clues as I found aimlessly searching a little distracting.

SANYA looks great.

The developer has cleverly shown the world from a child’s perspective. Each adult appears huge compared to their younger counterparts. Moreover, key items are larger and this becomes the norm. As you explore the world, you see everything from the protagonist’s perspective. This simple but clever idea emphasises the core theme.

The audio is a little repetitive but fun. The cheesy music is upbeat and brings a smile to your face. Furthermore, the melancholy elements are complemented by sombre tunes. This was great as each layer is brilliantly intertwined. Additionally, the sound effects are OTT but enjoyable to hear.

Excellent controls.

Though this isn’t challenging to play, the controls are well-considered. The clean UI and responsive inputs ensure that this is a joy to experience. If I’m to be picky, some of the mini-games could do with better explanations. However, some trial and error should erode these concerns.

If you are a completionist, you’ll need at least 2 playthroughs to get through this relatively short game. I didn’t concern myself with this and I enjoyed one detailed attempt. I’m not sure the story or core elements change and playing it again didn’t interest me. Yet, if this is your thing, you’ll need to set aside around 6 hours to finish every aspect.

SANYA is a joy to experience.

Though this isn’t the most testing experience and there is a lot of back and forth, SANYA is a joy to play. The wholesome action is captivating and the clever perspective shift is wonderful to look at. Finally, I loved the new friendships and the childish nature of the core ideas. Accordingly, it is great and I recommend buying it here! Will you make the most of your childhood? Explore your surroundings, make new friends, and understand what it is to be alive.

Review: Blade75 Keyboard

Daniel Waite

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Jan 15, 2025

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The Blade75 Keyboard from Mechlands is an impressive beast. This is the peripheral for you if you want a small form factor device that packs in the tech. The 4000 mAh battery and tri-mode connectivity ensure that this is truly versatile. Moreover, it is responsive no matter your connection preference.

Alongside this, it is built with quality in mind! The aluminium case is heavy and great to hold. Additionally, the striking colours and south-facing RGB are a delight. If you love the idea of customising your keyboard, but don’t have the skills, worry not. The Blade75 Keyboard has hot-swappable switches. As such, you can adjust this device with little technical know-how.

What’s in the box of the Blade75 Keyboard?

The packaging has a dark and futuristic edge. Moreover, most of the items can be recycled.
The Blade75 Keyboard comes in 2 colours. I selected the black and dark olive green. There is a simple switch to the rear and the USB dongle is stored next to it.
A basic USB-C to USB-A cable is provided.
Pull the keycaps with the pulling tool.
Spare switches are provided.
Learn the basics with the user manual.

Technical aspects.

This mechanical keyboard is perfect for gaming or working from home. Low-latency performance makes this an ideal companion for elite gamers. I experienced the best performance when using the wired approach. However, the difference is negligible and gamers can enjoy high-end results no matter the connection.

If you are playing wirelessly, you’ll worry about power. Thankfully, the 4000 mAh battery makes this concern melt away. I had no problems with lengthy gaming sessions and the helpful LEDs highlight battery life. If I ran low, I simply plugged the device in and it charged while I carried on gaming.

The Bluetooth connection was easy to set up and there were multiple profiles to use. This makes it easy to flit between devices. I used this on my tablet, PC, and mobile phone. Luckily, I could move from device to device with the touch of a button. This makes the Blade75 Keyboard a brilliantly versatile option.

Build quality.

I’m obsessed with gaming keyboards. I have tried many brands and I’ve always admired Monsgeek and Drop. These brands deliver exceptional quality and eye-catching designs. Mechlands follows suit with its heavy aluminium case and vibrant colours. Additionally, the 75% form factor and 81 key layout make this a compact peripheral.

On top of this, the Blade75 Keyboard has gasket mount stabilisers and layers of internal padding for comfort and an exceptional audio experience. Though the switches feel extremely responsive, the input isn’t sharp or uncomfortably loud. Instead, you get a perfectly balanced actuation point and a sharp and definitive click between strokes.

The Verdant Switches are comfortable to use and I found the travel distance to be perfect for modern FPS. However, if you have a favourite switch, you can pull the keycaps and use any compatible replacement. The hot-swappable design reduces the requirement for solder, and this is ideal for gaming newbies.

Is the Blade75 Keyboard worth it?

Buying a gaming keyboard that ticks every box is no mean feat. The Blade75 Keyboard does just that, however. The Flex-cut PC plate and fine-tuned stabilisers deliver an exceptional typing and gaming experience. Alongside this, the 1000 Hz polling rate and low-latency connection keep you ahead of your competitors. Furthermore, the build quality is impressive and I love the long battery life and its versatility. Accordingly, it is a fantastic gaming device and I recommend buying it here!

_{(More information on Mechlands can be found here!)}

_{(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for an unbiased and free review!)}

News: GUNNAR glasses 2025

Daniel Waite

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Jan 15, 2025

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2024 was a massive year for GUNNAR Glasses. Accordingly, I’m looking forward to the new styles and innovative products they release. CES 2025 has come and gone and I’ve been sitting on some exciting information from GUNNAR for a few weeks. As such, I’m going to give you a snippet of what will come this year. I’ve coined the article, GUNNAR glasses 2025. However, there are plenty of designs that they have kept under wraps, so there will be some amazing surprises this year.

Whether you work in front of a computer or you are stuck on your mobile phone, this amazing company has you covered. Moreover, they have plenty of styles to appease the most niche of tastes. Whether it is gaming, anime, or classic frames, GUNNAR won’t leave you wanting. Alongside this, the patented lens technology helps to reduce eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue. Therefore, you’ll look great and feel more alert no matter if you work, rest, or play.

GUNNER glasses 2025, what’s new?

GUNNAR has some incredible licenced partners for 2025! Activision, TOKIDOKI, Amazon Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and much, much more. This eclectic blend of designs delivers vibrancy and unique elements to every pair of glasses. Consequently, you can protect your eyes and show off your personality at the same time.
Overwatch REAPER, available Feb 2025. These heavy-banded gaming glasses have a delightful hard edge and a thick frame. Moreover, there are some incredible Easter Eggs for fans of the franchise.
WOW, SYLVANAS, available June 2025. A franchise that never goes away! This stylish and slim pair of glasses will appeal to lovers of fantasy games. The accessories are stunning and the frames have a nice blend of traditional and unusual elements.
TOKIDOKI has multiple frames available in May 2025. Though I don’t see myself rocking these glasses, I love the vibrant accessories and the “look at me” style.

Revolutionary.

I reviewed the Cupertino glasses and loved them. However, carrying each lens was a little inconvenient. Additionally, I hated the idea of losing one of the lenses. Thankfully, GUNNAR has created a new lens type that removes this issue. SUN-SHIFT delivers transition lens style performance without the price tag. These impressive lenses move from Amber to Sun tint in around 15 seconds. Subsequently, gamers do not need to remove their glasses when they break free from their desk.

The VISCER glasses are another example of the GUNNAR glasses 2025 revolutionary approach. Available in March, they use advanced geometry and a single Toric lens to increase protection and coverage. Though they won’t be for everyone, I like the interesting design and the sporty finish.

There’s plenty more to come from GUNNAR.

This is but a sample of the amazing products being released this year. GUNNAR is focusing on expanding its demographic and high-end technology. Furthermore, they are building a sustainable future with their wooden framed products. However, the patented technology keeps me coming back for more. No matter which frame I choose, the lenses reduce glare, headaches and itchy eyes. As such, I’m happy to recommend this incredible brand to anyone who will listen.

_{(More information on GUNNAR can be found here!)}

The Essence of Crypto Liquidity Provision and Different Roles Involved

News

Andrew Edney

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Jan 15, 2025

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The Essence of Crypto Liquidity Provision and Different Roles Involved

In cryptocurrency markets, liquidity plays a central role in ensuring efficient trading and stability. Providing liquidity crypto refers to the process of supplying digital assets to markets to facilitate seamless transactions. This function is fundamental to centralized and decentralized exchanges, with distinct mechanisms and participants driving liquidity provision.

What is Liquidity in Cryptocurrency Markets?

Liquidity in cryptocurrency markets is defined as the ease with which an asset can be bought or sold without significantly impacting its price. High liquidity implies tighter bid-ask spreads, reduced crypto market slippage, and overall market stability. Conversely, low liquidity often leads to price volatility and increased transaction costs. Ensuring sufficient liquidity is critical to the functionality of trading platforms and the overall growth of the crypto ecosystem.

Centralized Exchange Liquidity

Centralized exchanges (CEXs) rely on various strategies to maintain liquidity. Foremost among them is the role of market makers in crypto, individuals or more often entities that provide buy and sell orders for assets, ensuring continuous trading activity. Market makers use advanced algorithms to balance supply and demand, reducing volatility. CEXs also engage institutional participants and incentivize retail traders to contribute to liquidity. They may employ rebates or reduced trading fees for large-volume traders. Stablecoins in crypto liquidity are another key component, as these assets facilitate trading pairs and reduce volatility, providing more stability to the market.

Decentralized Exchange Liquidity

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) operate on different principles, utilizing liquidity pools and automated market makers (AMMs) to ensure trading efficiency. Liquidity pools in DeFi consist of tokens locked by users in smart contracts, which act as reservoirs for trading pairs. Participants in these pools are known as liquidity providers (LPs), and they earn transaction fees proportional to their contribution to the pool.

AMMs use algorithms to determine asset prices based on the ratio of tokens in the pool. This system eliminates the need for order books, offering a decentralized and efficient way to trade. However, DEX liquidity models often encounter challenges such as impermanent loss, where liquidity providers may face potential losses due to price changes in the tokens they supply.

What is Liquidity Mining?

Liquidity mining is a strategy in DeFi where users earn rewards, typically in native platform tokens, for contributing assets to liquidity pools. This mechanism has gained traction as it offers several benefits:

● Passive income. Users earn transaction fees and token rewards, making liquidity mining a lucrative option for asset holders.

● Marketing opportunities. Liquidity mining campaigns can boost a project’s visibility by attracting press coverage and raising awareness, positioning the platform as innovative and community-driven.

● Equal access for anyone. Liquidity mining is available to anyone with compatible assets to contribute.

● Enhanced liquidity. By incentivizing contributions, platforms ensure sufficient liquidity for trading.

However, liquidity mining is not without risks. Impermanent loss occurs when the price ratio of the pooled assets shifts significantly, potentially resulting in lower returns. Smart contract risks, such as bugs or vulnerabilities, pose security threats, too. Additionally, participants face the risk of rug pulls, where developers withdraw funds from pools, leaving investors with nothing.

Liquidity provision is the backbone of cryptocurrency markets, enabling stable trading environments across centralized and decentralized platforms. Whether facilitated by market makers on CEXs or through liquidity pools in DeFi and automated market makers (AMMs) on DEXs, the roles and mechanisms involved are critical to the market’s efficiency.

Review: Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game

Dawid Wisniewski

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Jan 14, 2025

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Review: Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game

“Cricket: Jae’s Really Peculiar Game” is a hand-animated JRPG developed by Studio Kumiho and published by PM Studios Inc. Released on September 19, 2024, for multiple platforms including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, the game has garnered attention for its unique blend of whimsical storytelling and profound thematic elements.

Narrative and Themes

The game follows Jae, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother to cancer. In his quest to bring her back, Jae embarks on a journey to Yimmelia, a mythical land on the moon rumoured to grant any wish. Accompanied by a diverse group of friends, each with their own personal struggles, the narrative delves into themes of loss, loneliness, and the power of friendship. The story is inspired by genre classics like “Earthbound,” balancing childlike whimsy with heavy emotional undertones.

Studio Kumiho’s founder, Jimmy Spencer, drew from personal experiences to craft the game’s narrative. The portrayal of grief and the journey towards healing are depicted with authenticity, resonating with players who have faced similar challenges. The characters’ interactions and development are grounded in real-life emotions, making their stories relatable and impactful.

Gameplay Mechanics

“Cricket” employs a turn-based combat system reminiscent of classic JRPGs, enhanced with timed-hit mechanics that reward precise button presses for increased damage or defence. Players can form a party of three children, with various character combinations unlocking unique combo attacks. For instance, pairing Zack and Symphony results in a tornado attack, while Zack and Twila can perform elemental-infused punches. This system encourages experimentation and strategic planning, adding depth to the combat experience.

Exploration is dynamic, featuring interactive environments where players can dash, charge into objects, and engage with NPCs in meaningful ways. The absence of random encounters allows for a more seamless exploration experience, with player interactions influencing game events and combat scenarios. This design choice enhances immersion and keeps the gameplay engaging throughout the adventure.

Artistic Design and Audio

The game’s hand-animated visuals are vibrant and expressive, capturing the whimsical yet poignant tone of the narrative. Character designs are detailed, and the environments are richly crafted, bringing the world of “Cricket” to life. The art style draws inspiration from classic RPGs, with a contemporary twist that appeals to both nostalgic players and newcomers.

Complementing the visual artistry is a thoughtfully composed soundtrack that underscores the emotional journey of the characters. The music adapts to the narrative’s shifts between light-hearted adventures and sombre moments, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.

Review: House of Golf 2

Dawid Wisniewski

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Jan 14, 2025

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“House of Golf 2,” developed and published by Starlight Games, is a sequel to the original “House of Golf,” expanding upon its predecessor’s foundation to deliver an enhanced mini-golf experience. Released on August 16, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch version announced for the holiday season, the game introduces new features and improvements aimed at both solo players and groups seeking engaging couch co-op gameplay.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Building upon the original’s mechanics, “House of Golf 2” offers over 100 uniquely designed holes set within imaginative household environments. The courses utilize everyday objects as obstacles, creating a whimsical and challenging mini-golf experience. The game introduces a free camera feature, allowing players to explore each course and strategize their shots with greater precision. This addition enhances the strategic depth, enabling players to plan their approach by examining obstacles and potential shot trajectories.

The control scheme is intuitive, with shot strength determined by mouse movement or controller input. However, some reviewers have noted that the ball physics can feel inconsistent, with the ball behaving similarly across different surfaces, potentially affecting shot outcomes. Additionally, the absence of spin mechanics limits shot versatility, which could have added an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.

Multiplayer and Social Features

“House of Golf 2” emphasizes local multiplayer, supporting up to four players in couch co-op mode. This focus makes it an ideal choice for social gatherings, fostering friendly competition in a shared physical space. The game does not include online multiplayer, which may limit its appeal to those seeking to play with friends remotely.

Visuals and Design

Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts enhanced visual fidelity compared to its predecessor. Courses are vibrant and detailed, with realistic lighting and textures that bring the household-themed environments to life. The creative course designs incorporate everyday items as obstacles, providing a fresh and engaging aesthetic that adds to the overall charm of the game.

Additional Features

The Trick Score System rewards players for executing creative and skilful shots, such as ricocheting off walls or navigating complex obstacles. This system encourages experimentation and adds a layer of flair to the gameplay. Live Tournaments introduce dynamic challenges, offering players the opportunity to compete for in-game rewards like coins and exclusive skins. These tournaments keep the content fresh and provide incentives for continued play.

Seasonal updates, such as the Halloween-themed content released in October 2024, demonstrate the developer’s commitment to providing ongoing support and new experiences for players. These updates include themed environments, new levels, and cosmetic items, enhancing replayability and player engagement.

Conclusion

In summary, “House of Golf 2” builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, offering an expanded and visually enhanced mini-golf experience. While it introduces several improvements and features that enhance gameplay, certain limitations, such as inconsistent ball physics and the lack of online multiplayer, may affect its reception among players. Nonetheless, it remains a solid choice for those seeking a fun and engaging local multiplayer mini-golf game.

Review: Panic in Sweets Land

Dawid Wisniewski

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Jan 14, 2025

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“Panic in Sweets Land” is a side-scrolling action-adventure game developed and published by Sonic Powered. Released on May 25, 2023, for PC and later for Nintendo Switch, the game combines vibrant anime-inspired visuals with engaging combat mechanics, offering players a whimsical journey through the confectionery-themed realm of Sylphy Land.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The game centers on two magical girls, Lime and Mint, each possessing distinct combat styles. Lime excels in close-quarters combat, utilizing flame magic for powerful melee attacks, while Mint specializes in long-range ice magic, deploying icy arrows to freeze adversaries from a distance. Players can switch between these characters to adapt to various combat scenarios, adding strategic depth to the gameplay.

A standout feature is the combo system, where executing consecutive attacks amplifies damage output. This mechanic encourages players to master chaining attacks, rewarding skillful play with increased effectiveness against enemies. Additionally, the game incorporates RPG-like progression, allowing players to enhance character abilities and unlock new actions, fostering a sense of growth and customization.

Exploration is integral, with stages designed in a Metroidvania style, prompting players to search for hidden items and secrets. This design choice enriches replayability, as discovering all collectibles requires thorough exploration and often revisiting previous areas with newly acquired abilities.

Story and Characters

Set in the enchanting Sylphy Land, ruled by the benevolent fairy queen Miruru, the narrative unfolds as the realm is besieged by an evil force corrupting its inhabitants. Lime and Mint, guided by the fairy Puffee, embark on a quest to purge the evil and restore harmony. The story is fully voiced in Japanese, featuring performances by renowned voice actors such as Shiina Natsukawa and Sora Amamiya, enhancing the immersive experience.

The dialogue is imbued with lighthearted humor, contributing to the game’s charming atmosphere. Character interactions are engaging, and the narrative, while straightforward, provides a delightful backdrop to the action, appealing to fans of magical girl anime and whimsical storytelling.

Visuals and Audio

“Panic in Sweets Land” boasts bright and colorful graphics, with character designs and environments that exude a confectionery theme. The art style is reminiscent of Japanese anime, with meticulous attention to detail in both character sprites and backgrounds. The visual presentation is further complemented by a lively soundtrack that aligns with the game’s upbeat tone, creating an engaging and cohesive aesthetic experience.

Difficulty and Replay-ability

The game offers multiple difficulty levels, ranging from ‘Normal’ for beginners to ‘Nightmare’ for those seeking a formidable challenge. Players can adjust the difficulty at any time via the main menu, accommodating a wide spectrum of skill levels. Higher difficulties increase enemy strength and reward players with more Restore Points upon purifying corrupted fairies, incentivizing players to tackle tougher challenges for greater rewards.

Upon completing the main story, two additional modes become available: ‘Hurry Up! Charisma Magical Girl!’—a time-attack mode—and ‘Miruru’s Heart-Pound Trials!’—a score attack mode. Both modes support online rankings, encouraging players to compete globally for high scores and fastest completion times, significantly enhancing the game’s replay value.

While the game has been praised for its charming presentation and accessible combat mechanics, I have to say that the button-mashing nature of combat can become repetitive during extended play sessions. Additionally, the straightforward narrative, while endearing, may not satisfy those seeking a more complex storyline.

Conclusion

“Panic in Sweets Land” delivers a delightful blend of action and charm, appealing to fans of side-scrolling action games and magical girl anime alike. Its vibrant visuals, engaging combat system, and humorous narrative create an enjoyable experience suitable for a wide audience. While it may not offer deep complexity, its accessible gameplay and replay-ability make it a sweet treat worth indulging in.

Review: Karate Survivor

Saim Khurshid

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Jan 13, 2025

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Published and Developed by Alawar, Karate Survivor is a martial arts-based Vampire survivor-esqe roguelike.

In the art of video game development, there is a well-known trend of following the leader. Once a blue moon, a new idea, a fresh auteur-driven concept that takes the world by storm. This new thing is followed by an endless cycle of games trying to take the concept to new unexplored heights and then there are the copy-cats trying to piggy-back on the success.

Karate Survivor in all its martial art’s glory, is the latter.

A flawed Idea

As you’ve probably already guessed, the gameplay of Karate Survivor is essentially Vampire Survivors with the Vampire Gothic themes and weapons swapped out for martial arts.

And by martial arts, I mean something that feels more like someone binge-watched a bunch of 90s Jackie Chan films and thought, “Hey, this would make a fun game.” Instead of intricate combat or unique moves. It’s like a half-baked idea, trying to cash in on the martial arts nostalgia without offering anything remotely compelling.

At first glance, it looked fun, especially for someone who once had Vampire Survivors being pumped into his soul a while ago, but the whole world falls apart when you realise the big difference between magical throwables with kicks and fists.

Karate Survivor is all close combat and I don’t mean sword swipes. You use punches and kicks from a distance of half an inch from the enemy.

Alright in the beginning, but when the numbers of enemies expand, it just becomes a countdown to death.

Unlike Vampire Survivor, where you feel stronger each round, Karate Survivor just feels like you are playing the same thing over and over again.

Forever on Repeat

I won’t lie, there are unlockable and permanent upgrades—an overwhelming amount, in fact, but they still don’t give the game the much-needed spark it desperately requires. Instead of adding excitement or depth, they feel like empty distractions. In the end, there was just nothing enjoyable about the experience.

The game includes a bar that gradually fills up with moves as you progress, featuring both blue and red moves, the difference between them is so unclear and poorly explained that it completely went over my head. It’s as if the game assumes you’ll somehow figure it out, but honestly, it doesn’t even matter.

There’s a special system where you can link moves of the same colour together. Once again, I have no idea what this does. It’s one of those features that sounds interesting on paper, but in practice, it’s completely baffling and adds absolutely nothing meaningful to the gameplay. Maybe it made the character stronger but in the end, it did not matter at all.

That’s a fun way to describe this game, isn’t it… Karate Survivor… It did not matter.

A Swing and a Miss

Karate Survivor is a waste of time. It tries so hard to imitate the addictive formula of Vampire Survivors, but instead of innovating or adding anything worthwhile, it’s just a lazy knockoff with a martial arts coat.

The combat is as shallow as it gets, punches and kicks barely scratch the surface, and when the enemies flood the screen, you quickly realize you’re just counting down the minutes until you die. Unlike Vampire Survivors, where every round feels like a progression, Karate Survivor offers nothing new. Sure, there are upgrades, but they’re as hollow as the rest of the experience.

It’s the kind of game you’ll forget as soon as you hit the “quit” button. If you’re looking for a fun, engaging roguelike, look elsewhere. This one is nothing but a cash grab in martial arts clothing. It’s a swing and a miss, and it’s best left ignored.