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Review: Blind Fate: Edo no Yami

Daniel Waite

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Apr 11, 2023

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami is unlike any other game I’ve played. Consequently, its unique ways, interesting lore, and horrific combat make it stand out from its peers. Moreover, the story is strange but compelling and I was hooked from the off. However, cumbersome controls occasionally hinder an otherwise excellent experience.

Developed by Troglobytes Games and published by 101XP, this is a linear adventure title. Moreover, its unique mechanics and twist on Japanese folklore make it a truly unique endeavour. Furthermore, there is a basic skill tree to unlock, some interesting challenges to overcome, and a world of robotic creatures to fight. As such, it merges Asian culture with an unusual sci-fi twist.

The hero of Blind Fate: Edo no Yami showing us what he's made of. — Take that!

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami tells a story of oppression.

The Shogunate believe that discipline and order should be controlled with an iron fist. Consequently, they use a stubborn and unnerving warrior to fulfil their wishes. You control that fighter in this machine-filled Edo-Japanese period. Subsequently, no matter the order, you will follow it! Yet, this is easier said than done as your sight has been taken from you. Seeing nothing but darkness, you must use the Mask of the Oni to replicate the surrounding world. However, you cannot always trust what you see, as the environment is corrupt.

This lack of trust and a stream of unruly robots make the world a dangerous place. As such, you must collect data and intel to improve your chances of survival. Furthermore, you must study new techniques at your dojo, and learn fresh skills and abilities. Yet, to do so takes time and effort. Therefore, you must pick wisely in order to select the setup that best suits your style.

A linear game that is full of surprises.

Whenever I see the words, “linear gameplay”, I shudder. Normally, this sets you up for a repetitive and mundane experience that becomes tiresome. However, Blind Fate: Edo no Yami is different. With many pitfalls and dangers, the action is always tense. Furthermore, each of your 3 senses reveals a unique perspective of the surrounding world.

You can choose supersonic hearing, heat detection, or a heightened sense of smell. Accordingly, each of these abilities highlights different creatures, paths, and collectables that are hidden in plain sight. Moreover, as each of your foes is weakened, you may use a matching sense to unleash a hellish finishing move. As such, even with no eyes, this relentless warrior must be feared.

Gravity won't stop you from completing your task. — Even gravity can’t stop you.

Bosses and QTEs.

Alongside the brutal finishing moves, you’ll experience an array of QTEs. These basic button-bashing affairs add another layer to the rich combat experience. Disappointingly, though, they were too easy to complete, and there was never a sense of risk or failure. This was underwhelming and didn’t marry up with fast-paced fighting.

What was fantastic, though, was the excellent array of boss battles and robotic creatures. The plethora of beasts and gargantuan overlords was truly spectacular. Furthermore, their smooth animation and varied attacks kept you on your toes. On top of this, there were puzzles to complete and plenty of tricky moments incorporated into each fight. As such, it removed the possibility of mindless hack ‘n slash combat and made you think throughout.

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami looks amazing.

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami’s continual shift in perspective was amazing. Consequently, each simple world would look different and fresh depending on which sense you used. Furthermore, I adored the change in the colour palette and the distinct finish with each skill. Whenever you listened, the world would go dark, but sounds can be seen reverberating towards you. Alternatively, a burning red finish is seen when using the heat sensor. Finally, a glorious green hue hugs every key item whenever you use your sense of smell.

This change of vision added depth and a sense of suspense and fear. Alongside this, the character models were spectacular. The level of detail in each robotic creature was great, and the bosses were overwhelming. Moreover, the combat was slick, intense, and in your face.

The polished visuals were matched by exceptional audio. I cherished the Asian soundtrack and the uncomfortable sound effects. What’s more, the snippets of cinematic were great and this added to the Japanese folklore.

Your sword isn't your only weapon. — Boom, have at you, sir.

Slick controls.

With samurai combat at its core, the controls had to be good. Thanks to the excellent UI and brilliant tutorial, you’ll master the fundamentals quickly. Furthermore, the QTEs and finishing moves were easy to execute and great fun to complete. Disappointingly, though, there were moments when the controls were sluggish. As such, this prevents it from being as much fun as it could have been.

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami comprises plenty of small stages that are full of secrets, monsters, and surprises. Accordingly, you cannot find every treasure or item on your first visit, so you must return. As such, there is plenty of replay value and longevity if you can stomach the semi-repetitive approach. On top of this, there is a rich lore-filled plot that is fascinating. Consequently, uncovering each portion of this weird tale was fantastic.

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami is a nice indie title.

Though Blind Fate: Edo no Yami wasn’t as long as I wanted it to be, it was still a nice indie title. With fantastic graphics, excellent audio, interesting lore, and smooth controls, it was enjoyable from start to finish. Yes, it was slightly repetitive, but this doesn’t tarnish the experience. Therefore, I loved it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you see the world through fresh eyes? Use your skills, study your foes, and rule the world with an iron fist.

Review: Hotel Renovator

Tiziano Pepe

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Apr 11, 2023

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Hotel Renovator is the latest management game pubblished by French pubblisher Focus Entertainment, known for recent successes such as “Atomic Heart”, and developed by Two Horizons. Through a Stardew Valley-esque premise, the game introduces the player to a down-trodden hotel inherited by the protagonist’s grandafather. After selecting one of four assistants, watch the opening cutscene and reach the coveted 5 stars!

Easily comparable to 2018 hit House Flipper, by Empyrean, Hotel Renovator seems to be a natural successor; as the protagonist, you’ll have to; clear old trash, break wall and floor tilings, repaint all the surfaces, and refurnish with various items and decor that fits whatever preferences the VIPs coming in request.

Appealing graphics and realistic lighting

The game’s appereances are nothing other than a treat for your eyes. The Unreal engine really carries the graphics, with the HUD and aesthetics definitely fitting for a game in 2023. Any user can appreciate the lighting, such as the reflections seen on tables and walls and the beautiful shading done as a consequence. The background music and SFX are nonetheless, with soft rings and embellishments that make clicking any interface a treat, while the soothing smooth jazz helps your mind wander and unleash its creativity in the rooms you create. Sadly, the heavy unoptimization of the game is very apparent, with assets loading very slowly and giving your computer’s CPU a run for its money. Reflections, although also very realistic, are again held back by something we will be able to see throughout this review as a reoccurring in the game, its lack of polish. A lot of mirrors placed will lack reflection and instead show an empty white placeholder view.

The hotel is not the only decrepit part of the game

Sadly, the graphics are the only quality that are notable in this incomplete mess of an Unreal project. Although the ideas are most definetely there, with an appreciation for room customization, variable guest preferences that add challenge, different tools to optimize your room renovating, and a balanced management/artistic gameplay division; there is a complete absence of any polish or additional work that make a prototype into a commercial game.

Returning to the game’s only saving grace, aesthetics, the negative aspects can be seen slowly seeping in and outweighing the positive ones exponentially; yes, the Unreal engine puts forward industry-standard graphics and the music department certainly is a treat to one’s ears, but once: sound effects are erroneously coded in as they reset every single time an object is destroyed or placed, animations feel slow and clunky, – needing to wait for the phantom brush covering the ceiling and walls minutes after you started their construction – items and furniture only being able to be rotated in the cardinal directions causing for awkward orentation, finally not to talk about the total break of immersion when NPC sprites start repeating and the same character is shown as multiple different entities with very off-putting pathfinding. The complete lifelessness of the aforementioned NPCs only gets worse when considering how the player’s model has practically no collision except for walls, floors and doors; it truly feels like you’re a ghost happening to be renovating a hotel.

Regardless of an obvious focus on simulator and management games – as seen from Two Horizon’s very idealistic plans of a variety of “renovator” games such as Camping and Aquapark Renovator – Two Horizons brings close to nothing in the game itself. While theoretically Hotel Renovator seems like a more-refined and natural successor to “House Flipper”, it is very apparent that the development on the game was either made to follow the likes of No Man’s Sky and Fallout 76, with the game seemingly set to heavily rely on future updates or community-lead projects (further reinforced by the significant emphasis on mod compatibility), or to be a fast cash-grab with a probable exploitation of Unreal free assets, and while I am not knowledgeable enough to find what assets were used, the choice of very niche and specific elements in the customization rouse suspicion on how selective Two Horizon was when selecting them.

Get ready for action: Rainbow Six Invitational 2024 comes to Brazil

Gaming

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2023

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Get ready for action: Rainbow Six Invitational 2024 comes to Brazil

If you’re an esports lover and you’re passionate about Rainbow Six Siege, there is a good news for you (and even a better one is you are Brazilian). Ubisoft has announced that the Six Invitational 2024 will be held in Brazil – yes, you read that right! Rainbow Six’s premier international competition will be moving to the South American country next year, which is a great achievement for the region and an exciting event for fans.

Six Invitational moves to Brazil

After five editions held in Montreal, Canada, and two in Europe, the Six Invitational will take an important step by moving to Brazil in 2024. The venue has yet to be determined, anyway it is an exciting move for the region and a recognition of the passion and skills of its players and fans.

Remembering the Six Invitational 2023

Before we talk about the future, let’s review what happened at the Six Invitational 2023. The tournament took place in Montreal, Canada, and saw G2 Esports crowned champions, defeating Brazil’s W7M in the grand final. It was an exciting event that showcased the talent and competitiveness of the participating teams.

G2 Esports’ Road to Victory at the Six Invitational

Now, if you’re wondering how a team like G2 Esports makes it to the finals of the competition, here’s a step-by-step breakdown of their journey:

Qualification: Teams can qualify for the Six Invitational by accumulating points in Regional Leagues and Six Majors during the season. G2 Esports qualified through their performance in the European League.
Group stage: Qualifying teams are divided into groups of five and compete in a round-robin format in best-of-three games. G2 Esports managed to overcome their opponents in this phase and advanced to the playoffs.
Playoffs: Teams that advance to the playoffs compete in a double-elimination format in best-of-three games. G2 Esports maintained a solid performance and made it to the grand final.
Grand Final: In the Grand Final, G2 Esports faced Brazilian team W7M, who were considered favourites to win the tournament. Yet, G2 Esports demonstrated their supremacy and claimed victory in the tournament, taking home the title and $1,000,000 in prize money.

This is one of the most unpredictable Esports tournaments, with all teams fighting hard for victory and it is quite difficult to guess who will lift the trophy. So it is highly recommended to gather as much information as possible about Rainbow Six betting before betting on a specific team.

What can we expect from the Six Invitational 2024 in Brazil?

As the Six Invitational 2024 approaches, the excitement among fans and players alike is palpable. Brazil has a long history of success in Rainbow Six esports. Hosting now this big event for the first time will make the gaming scene in Brazil even more popular. Here’s what we can expect from this highly anticipated tournament.

Passionate fans

Brazil is known for its enthusiastic and dedicated fans, who have always shown tremendous support for their local teams. The atmosphere at the Six Invitational 2024 will be electric, with fans from all over the world gathering to cheer on their favourite teams.

Fierce competition

With the best Rainbow Six Siege teams from around the world gathering in Brazil, the competition will be more intense than ever. The Invitational is known to be one of the most unpredictable esports tournaments, with each team fighting fiercely for victory. It is essential to gather as much information as possible about Rainbow Six betting before betting on a particular team.

Brazil’s home advantage

As the host country, Brazilian teams will undoubtedly feel an added sense of pride and responsibility to perform at their best in front of their home crowd. This home advantage could give Brazilian teams an extra edge in the competition.

Esports growth in South America

The Six Invitational 2024 will not only showcase Brazil’s passion for esports but will also serve as a testament to the growth of competitive gaming in South America. With other major tournaments such as the IEM Rio Major 2022 for CSGO and the Dota 2 Lima Major 2023 taking place in the region, the Invitational will further cement South America’s position on the global esports stage.

Cultural exchange

The upcoming international event will be a special chance for people to come together and celebrate the diversity of the gaming community. Through this tournament, new friendships and connections can be formed that go beyond just the competition.

Looking ahead to Ubisoft Six Invitational 2024 in Brazil, we can expect an event that’s full of excitement and action. It’s sure to have a lasting impact on the world of esports. With the incredible support of Brazilian fans and the best Rainbow Six Siege teams competing, the Six Invitational 2024 is set to be an unforgettable experience for all participants.

Review: Zapling Bygone

Daniel Waite

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Apr 10, 2023

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Zapling Bygone is a fine addition to the Metroidvania genre. However, it doesn’t add a vast amount of originality to a well-trodden experience. Instead, it evolves some much-loved mechanics to open up the game and make things a little less restrictive. In short, it does a great job of letting you do what you want, but you are held back by tough bosses and a funnelled ability system.

Developed by 9Finger Games and published by JanduSoft, this is a 2D Metroidvania experience. What’s more, there is plenty of killing. Moreover, it is colourful and oddly amusing and has a plethora of collectables to find. On top of this, there is a nice flow of lore, an interesting story to explore, and plenty of twists on familiar elements. As such, it doesn’t write a new chapter for the genre. Instead, it plays around with some excellent ideas and makes them fit its narrative.

Jump skull alien-thing. — It is jumping time!

Zapling Bygone loves a bit of death.

Aliens are renowned for being aggressive assholes (if you believe in them, that is). Yet, Zapling Bygone takes it a step further by implying that they are focused purely on murder and their own success. Accordingly, you control part of an alien hive mind that must kill everything in sight and absorb their abilities. By wearing the skulls of your foes, you will learn their skills, and move and act as they do. However, changing your bony mask will remove said powers, and you will learn a new set of skills.

This is Zapling Bygone in a nutshell. The tentacled alien mess must lurch around a tight network of tunnels, killing foes and obtaining their plasma. By doing this, you’ll be able to buy items and save your progress at the many altars you discover. This was fundamental to the gameplay, as you will die repeatedly as you explore the vast and strange environments. Moreover, there are plenty of bosses to take down, and this was no mean feat. Subsequently, you’ll have your ass handed to you many, many times before you overcome each creature.

Skulls, healing, and cruelty.

The main concept of the game revolves around each skull you find. These pasty masks endowed the wearer with a range of skills that are essential to unlocking parts of the map. However, the powers are familiar, as you’ll enjoy the ability to double dash, climb on walls, and much more. Sadly, though, until you defeat the rat king and gather his wall-climbing abilities, the action is restrictive and frustrating. Yet, once you can climb walls like an alien spider, you’ll adore the freedom it affords.

By clambering around the tunnels, you will reach heights that were otherwise out of reach. Yet, you are still penned back by almost impossible bosses and some cruel twists of fate. Additionally, the developers added multiple stages to many of the encounters. Subsequently, victory is snatched away from you just when you think you’re successful. This was tear-inducing and unbelievably harsh, but somehow, it was spectacularly rewarding at the same time.

Another key mechanic to master is self-healing power. With limited health points and tough enemies, this becomes your new best friend. Yet, it isn’t a free-for-all and you must successfully hit 3 items or creatures to replenish the skill. Sounds easy, right? Well, you try healing yourself when a giant spike or beastly creature is bearing down on you!

Zapling Bygone has a fantastic lore-rich story. — Who doesn’t love a lore-rich story?

Zapling Bygone explores a seedy world.

With death at its core, I wasn’t surprised that Zapling Bygone was set in a seedy and sinister world. However, I was shocked to see the range of areas and the variety of enemies on display. What was also great was the simple but effective animation. The alien moved like a demonic octopus that was hunting its prey. What’s more, the bosses are unique, and overcoming their deadly assortment of attacks was a challenging ordeal.

Though I enjoyed the visuals, the map was unfairly covered for much of the time. Therefore, it made an already challenging title that bit harder. Consequently, it was frustrating to work out where you had been or what you needed to do when the world map didn’t update. Instead, it appeared that it would only unlock once a boss was destroyed. This seemed a strange concept that added both mystery and frustration to the action.

The grim visuals were complemented by atmospheric audio. The low-key music adds energy and a constant beat to the action. However, its subtle ways allow excellent sound effects to dominate proceedings. With wonderful squelching sounds, cruel screams, and plenty of tentacle slaps, the audio improves the fantastic action.

The world map is huge! — The world is massive.

Tight controls.

The gameplay was tough and it could have been much harder if the controls were poor. Fortunately, a tight setup and well-considered layout reduce the difficulty significantly. Moreover, the excellent UI ensures that any changes to the hero are easy to achieve. Additionally, the responsive inputs allow you to fight monsters and jump gaps with ease.

Where Zapling Bygone excels is its lore, collectables, and tough nature. With loads of memories, paintings, and fragments to find, there is plenty to see and do. Alongside this, each skull has a unique background, and this increases the lore further still. On top of this, you will find charms that can be used to upgrade each skull. However, only certain charms will fit each mask and this adds another element to the gameplay.

Zapling Bygone is strange but not remarkable.

Zapling Bygone does a great job of playing with some well-trodden mechanics. Furthermore, its story is strange and the lore and world are interesting to explore. Yet, its concept isn’t remarkable and it could easily be overlooked as a consequence. Though I enjoyed much of the action, it needed more guidance and funnelling to appreciate each element. However, lovers of the Metroidvania genre will enjoy the tough elements and its bizarre approach. As such, I recommend that you buy it here despite its issues. Can you complete the hive-mind’s quest and kill everything in sight? Jump, crawl, and climb around this tight and grim alien world.

Review: 9 Years Of Shadows

Josh Blackburn

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Apr 10, 2023

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Castles in video games are inherently unpleasant places. When they’re not filled with angry skeletons, they get oblitered about twenty seconds in. Castlevania wouldn’t have gotten far if castles were all nice and lovely. So when 9 Years of Shadows told me we were going to a castle I thought, ‘here we go again’. Just once I’d like to go to a castle and enjoy a banquet. Drink wine from a goblet.

To be fair, 9 Years of Shadows is actually set in a mechanical giant, so that’s okay. Facetiousness aside though, I found 9 Years of Shadows to be quite the absorbing experience. It may stick a little too closely to the standard metroidvania playbook, but all of its individual pieces are nicely polished. For a castle that’s cursed up to the eyeballs, it’s quite the fun place to visit.

Horrible Night For A Curse

Tonight’s castle of choice is Talos, a dormant mechanical giant slash fortress. A curse is spreading out from this castle, seeping colour from the land and corrupting the local population. Our hero, Europa, fresh off some personal tragedy, sets forth to sort it all out and bring colour back to the world. She’s aided along the way by a… ghostly Teddy Bear named Apino. It makes sense in game, I promise. The plot is kept deliberately in the background, which is no bad thing, but I found myself warming to Europa. As the game progresses, we learn more about her through dialogue and her own thoughts. While her arc is a little predictable, her interactions with the non-monsterous denizens make her hard to dislike.

What’s more, I thoroughly enjoy controlling her. Metroidvania games live and die on their movement and their combat. I’m happy to report that 9 Years of Shadows is so smooth you could spread it on toast. The platforming feels accurate, with very few frustrating falls and the combat is pared back quite a bit. It’s a simple light and heavy attack combo system, with the emphasis on being in the right place at the right time. Getting into the flow, especially with bosses, feels great. Kills felt like they were my win, rather than me juggling a bunch of special moves.

The other main component of metroidvania games, of course, is the exploration. Talos is full of mysterious colour-coded doors and glowing holes in the wall. Meaning as you progress you get a whole arsenal of different equipment to help you explore. Once kitted out, you can then go poking back through the old areas. 9 Years of Shadows exploration isn’t too involved, mind. There was some backtracking to get upgrades but it was rarely necessary. Still, it did elicit the usual enjoyment where a previous impassable route suddenly becomes penetrable. Though one of the powers is to curl up and roll through a small tube. Perhaps taking the first half of ‘Metroidvania’ a touch literally?

Full Suit Europa

Let’s go back to that combat for a mo’. Layered on top of the simple mechanics is a weakness system. As you progress, you’ll gain different flavours of armour that correspond to different elements. Using the right armour against the right enemy will give a damage bonus as well as different traversal powers. Apino can help too, firing a blast that will destroy otherwise impenetrable enemies. It’s a nice system, allowing you to deal more damage over time without relying on any standard RPG elements. You can switch armour on the fly too, which 9 Years of Shadows uses to its advantage. Bosses will often force you to switch armour just to stay alive.

It’s used to its best effect in one boss: a giant mechanical chess set. Each piece has a different alignment and they’ll attack in their set pattern. You have to cut through them in order to bring down the king. It’s also nicely representative of 9 Years of Shadow‘s best attribute: its sense of style. The boss variety is fantastic. For every human boss there’s a giant mechanical spider or tangle of snakes. It doesn’t stretch to monster variety, sadly, as they are aggresively recycled but the art style makes up for it. The pixel art is gorgeous and is accompanied by lovely cutscenes.

If I sound like I’m gushing a bit, then you’re probably right. Still, I do have a list of gripes that are worth touching on. Possibly my biggest point is the painful lack of fast travel. With a thread of sidequests asking you to comb over every unexplored room in an area, the ability to zoom between save points would be appreciated. I know you want your world to feel big, 9 Years of Shadows, but trudging through easy, well explored rooms over and over is not enjoyable. It’s just wasting my time. As are the little unskippable cutscenes before bosses. You can skip dialogue, but not their intro. After a few deaths, it’s hard not to feel like they’re flipping me the bird.

Metroidvania In Miniature

The other big point is rather subjective: I found 9 Years of Shadows a touch too easy. It could be that years of gaming has finally paid off and I’m now the greatest gamer to ever live, but I doubt it. I suspect the problem lies with our squishy friend, Apino. He can be hugged to regain health and if you pass a basic QTE once damaged, you can recover full health. This snaps the difficulty of most enemies over your knee. The only real teeth come in when 9 Years of Shadows starts taking cues from bullet-hell shooters, with the final boss being particularly fond of this. As a result, the playtime is fairly short for the genre.

Still, those are mostly unimportant quibbles. My feelings towards 9 Years of Shadows can be summed up thus: it is the perfect entry level metroidvania. It follows the rulebook almost to a fault and doesn’t push the envelope. Instead, it is content with gilding and refining the envelope into something that is genuinely pleasant to play. It looks great, sounds great and, crucially, plays great. The small issues don’t get in the way and it left me with a smile on my face. It’s not going to set the world on fire and it leaves a tad too soon, but 9 Years of Shadows is a beautiful and engaging experience while it lasts.

(9 Years of Shadows Steam Page)

Review: ZERO Sievert

Samuel Beattie

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Apr 10, 2023

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In life, we are allowed to live and learn from our mistakes. However, this couldn’t be any less true in ZERO Sievert, a brutally tough survival game. ZERO Sievert is developed by CABO Studio and published by Modern Wolf and features a post-apocalyptic world that is displayed using pixelized graphics. This title has intense gameplay and a lot of mechanics to further heighten the enjoyment. Unfortunately, it fails to explain these mechanics and it is unfairly difficult for new players. While I appreciated the difficulty in the later parts of the game, it made the early game very unenjoyable.

Life After The End

The events of ZERO Sievert take place after a nuclear fallout. As one of the survivors, you are brought to the ZERO Sievert bunker, a place that is safe to all, regardless of any conflict that might be happening outside the bunker. As a Hunter, you are a neutral party and are tasked to survive while finding resources for the bunker. The main way is to take on tasks so you can earn enough currency to live as well as upgrade your hunting capabilities. You will meet diverse characters in and out of the bunker, each with their own goals, affiliations, and struggles.

While there isn’t a lot of text to tell this story, it is still fantastic. The world itself shows the impact of the nuclear fallout through the enemy types, the abnormalities, and the abandoned traces of civilization. This is further demonstrated through the way the characters interact with the world and the player. These characters are so used to death that they bet on people’s lives. The characters feel real because of this and it made me enjoy the world of ZERO sievert all the more.

The Brutal Life Of A Hunter

The gameplay is split into two sections, the ZERO Sievert bunker, where you prepare for tasks, and the expeditions, where you explore an area, complete tasks and find resources to ensure your survival. As stated before, the bunker is where you can prepare for missions. You can do this by crafting and buying gear, restoring your health, and changing the time by sleeping. It is also here where you accept tasks, which is the main focus of the game. Unfortunately, there isn’t a main quest line, which made it hard to motivate me to go on expeditions outside of the fun gameplay. However, I still enjoyed the bunker as it has some great world-building.

ZERO Sievert is a very fun game. I enjoyed exploring areas, infiltrating enemy bases, and looting chests. However, because of the poor tutorials, I struggled to enjoy this game as I was never taught the mechanics. This title’s tutorials are all hidden in a menu. Furthermore, these tutorials are awful and tell the player mechanics rather than teach the player. This wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the brutal difficulty of the game. Even on the easiest difficulty, you are expected to play very well to even survive, which hugely affected my enjoyment of the game. If I was taught more of the game’s mechanics, I think I would have enjoyed the game more as the difficulty of the game made it more enjoyable once I understood the game.

The Sounds Of ZERO Sievert

This game is visually a treat and the sound design while flawed, is also very good. However, this title suffers from slowdown and lacks music. While the lacking music adds to the more mature tone of the game and the ambiance of the field, it still was a huge let down to not have any soundtrack. Thankfully, the sound design makes up for it, as the sounds of footsteps and guns firing are phenomenal. Unfortunately, the static of being affected by radiation sounds awful and is the most common sound you will hear. This shouldn’t take away from the beautiful pixelized graphics. While flawed, ZERO Sievert’s presentation is great.

ZERO Sievert: A Few Missteps

ZERO Sievert is an enjoyable game with its deep world-building, fun gameplay, and great presentation. However, it struggles with some aspects of its presentation and its teaching tools. Although, this game is still in early access and might have changes in the future that fix these problems. Overall, ZERO Sievert is still a very fun time. If you are a fan of the Survival genre of games I recommend giving it a go.

Review: Arlo Pro 5 2K Security Camera

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2023

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Here is our review of the Arlo Pro 5 2K Security Camera.

Capture more than 60 billion colours with our advanced 2K colour night vision that’s over 100X better than a human eye. With up to 30% more battery life and dual band Wi-Fi connectivity, instantly connect direct to any Wi-Fi router for 24/7 protection. Protect your home day and night and customise your security via the new Arlo Secure app.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the Pro 5 2K camera, battery, charging cable, wall mount, screws and instructions.

A Closer Look

Setting up the Camera

Setting up the camera, and controlling all the settings and viewing footage is all done using the Arlo Secure app. Once installed and you have signed in you just follow the steps to add a new device and wait. During the installation process any updates for the camera are also downloaded and installed.

Final Thoughts

The Pro 5 2K Camera from Arlo is very small – but don’t let that fool you, it’s a great camera that has a built-im spotlight, uses a battery and works easily!

Setting up the camera is simple – just download the app and follow the instructions. You can then use the app to view footage, control settings and much more. You can even talk to the person outside your house if you want to using the built-in 2-way audio feature. The app has been updated and provides a signifiant amount of control of what you can do and see.

As mentioned, the camera uses a battery, which you can charge using the USB cable provided. A fully charged battery should last for about 7 or 8 months (depending on the settings you are using), and you can see on the app when you will need to recharge it. The battery that comes with the Pro 5 2K provides 30% more battery charge than previous versions.

Fitting the camera is just a case of deciding where you want to put it, and using the mounting kit supplied in the box. That’s it!

There is an additional Advanced Security Monitoring monthly subscription you can take out if you want additional features such as cloud storage – have a look to see if it’s for you, but its only £3.49 a month so it’s certainly worth considering.

The picture quality is excellent and it works very well at night too, in fact, one of the major selling points of the Pro 5 2K camera is 2K colour night vision which captures over 60 billion colours (thats 100 times better than the human eye), so no more blurry black and white (or grey) images at night. The Pro 5 2K camera also has a 160-degree viewing angle so you shouldn’t miss anything!

The built-in spotlight also provides a very powerful light capable of illuminating a subject at around 7 metres away and if you want the alarm to sound, it has a very loud and powerful 80 db smart siren!

The Pro 5 2K is designed to be weather-resistant so even in the usual British rain it will work great.

Overall this is a camera you should really consider getting – you wont be disappointed.

The Arlo Pro 5 2K Security Camera is available now priced around £219.99 for the single camera kit.

You can learn more from the Arlo website.

A Closer Look at Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game from Asmodee

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2023

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A Closer Look at Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game from Asmodee

This weekend saw a lot of Star Wars news coming out of the Star Wars Celebration, and we take a closer look at Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game from Asmodee.

A fast-paced game that brings the galaxy-spanning war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance to your tabletop, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game features easy-to-learn gameplay and iconic Star Wars characters including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader. This title is a battle for the galaxy that anyone can enjoy!

In the two-player game, opponents each choose a side, playing as either the Empire or the Rebels. As the game progresses, both players strengthen the power of their starting decks and work to destroy each other’s bases. The first player to destroy three of their opponent’s bases wins the game.

Fans of the celebrated Star Wars galaxy will love the opportunity to immerse themselves in the battle of the Rebels vs. Empire. Facing friends as opponents, they step into the hobby gaming world of strategy and anticipation of future moves. With over 50 different cards to play, participants can take command of their favourite Star Wars characters, vehicles, and starships, each with thematic abilities. Multiple game sessions can also be had as players face off again and again using the vast strategic elements.

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game also offers three unique mechanics new to the deckbuilding genre:

Bases – instead of scoring points at the end of the game or reaching a hit point value, players score points throughout the game by destroying their opponent’s bases.
Bounty Hunting or Sabotage – players can attack opponent’s cards to refresh available cards, while also gaining rewards. On each turn, they can decide whether to attack an enemy card, attack an enemy base, or purchase a faction’s cards.
The Balance of the Force – control the Force to gain powerful advantages. Balance of the Force track adds an extra tug-of-war to gameplay!

The easy to learn, two-player format makes Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game a great introduction to hobby gaming and resonates with both current discovery table top game players looking for that next step into their hobby, and Star Wars fanatics regardless of their gaming experience.

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game is a really fun game and is a must for any Star Wars fan! You won’t be disappointed.

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game is aimed at players aged 14+ and is available now priced around £34.99.

You can learn more from the Asmodee website.

Review: DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos

Daniel Waite

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Apr 8, 2023

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Review: DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is a crazy Superhero adventure that’ll make you smile. With classic heroes and cruel Super-Villains, this comprises many well-trodden tropes and hilarious one-liners. Moreover, it oozes retro charm and is perfect for players of all ages.

Developed by PHL Collective and published by Outright Games Ltd., this is an -action-adventure title. What’s more, it can be played solo or cooperatively with another. Consequently, it is an excellent game for families and those that love the DC franchise.

Superman uses his laser power in DCs Justice League: Cosmic Chaos. — It is laser time.

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is wonderfully cliched.

I’ve always adored the cheesy one-liners and pun-based humour associated with the Superhero genre. Fortunately, DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos doesn’t disappoint. With perfectly timed jokes, colourful characters, and excellent dialogue, you’ll laugh throughout. Furthermore, the large open world is fascinating to explore.

You control Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as they take on an insane trickster. Mr. Mxyzptlk is from the 5^th Dimension and can’t help but cause mischief. Consequently, this naughty villain must be stopped before it is too late. Sadly, though, most of the Justice League has been bewitched by this prankster. Accordingly, the aforementioned heroes must step forward and save the day.

Brilliant button-bashing.

I’m not one for button-bashing titles. However, I cherished the simple combat, the special abilities, and each unique superhero. The vivid and interesting world is awash with fishy monsters that must be thwarted. By throwing punches, using special powers, and swapping your hero, you’ll overcome every foe you face.

The combat was great, but it was improved whenever you played with another gamer. This free-play mode allows you to explore the large world while kicking some ass. Furthermore, you can work together to tackle every creature and villain you encounter. What was also great was the variety of enemies you’ll face. As such, you must punch, kick, and smash each one if you wish to progress.

You must pick the artefacts to improve each character. — So many artefacts and such little space.

Collectables, games, and lairs.

One of the key mechanics is the upgrade and collectable system. The surrounding world is loaded with loot, resources, and comic books. The latter is used to buy era-specific costumes for each superhero. These add little to the gameplay, but they were amusing, colourful, and worth the effort to unlock. The loot and resources are essential if you wish to upgrade your team or improve your gear. Consequently, as the action moves on, the enemies get tougher and you need the strongest characters possible.

Alongside this, you’ll stumble across lairs and strange games. Mr. Mxyzptlk loves to tease the Justice League. Accordingly, to keep him happy, you must endure a range of childish games. These mindless moments are testing, amusing, and a fine distraction from the rest of the action. The lairs, on the other hand, allow you to test your skills against some villains. What’s more, you’ll unlock some excellent side quests that pad out the main storyline.

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is great to look at.

Played using an isometric viewpoint, you never struggle to see what’s going on. Alongside this, the free-flowing camera lets you adjust the angle to your liking. This was great, as it helps whenever you are exploring tight spaces or creepy lairs. Furthermore, this is complemented by an easy-to-use AI. With clean menus and easy-to-follow upgrade systems, little guidance is required.

The camera work and UI may be great, but the pièce de résistance has to be the Chibi art style. I adored the OTT character models, the vivid colour palette and the smooth animation. Moreover, the fantastic stage design and the interesting open world were great to look at and were in keeping with the theme.

In typical DC fashion, the acting is bold, amusing, and just a bit absurd. This is matched by the loud and aggressive audio and the fun and mischievous tunes. Alongside this, you’ll smile at the crunching sound effects and the brilliant jokes. Subsequently, the incredible audio sets the tone for the bizarre and unbelievable plot to unfold.

Cars and the Batmobile help you to move quickly in DCs Justice League: Cosmic Chaos. — Why walk when you can drive?

Smash, Crash, Bang!

With responsive inputs and an excellent tutorial, this is perfect for younger gamers. Moreover, the superb UI highlights each button and you know exactly when you can execute every special ability. Accordingly, though there are many layers to the action, it never feels overwhelming and was a pleasure to play.

Collectables, resources, outfits, and much more will keep you playing this title. Alongside this, the cooperative mode is fun, and the story is silly but well thought out. Additionally, you must level up your hero, upgrade your skills, and explore many strange locations. Furthermore, there are plenty of villains to tackle, an array of heroes to save, and many side quests to complete. Consequently, this has masses of longevity and replay value.

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is entertaining, colourful, and oozes retro charm.

Outright Games Ltd. have an amazing list of published titles. As such, I was confident that DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos would entertain me. With colourful characters, cliched dialogue, and puns galore, it lived up to my expectations. However, I can appreciate that some gamers may find the acting and puns to be somewhat shallow. Moreover, the combat could become repetitive if you tackled long gaming sessions. Yet, I still enjoyed every moment and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you put the trickster back in his place? Save the Justice League, attack the fish monsters, and set the town free.

Top-Rank Video Games with Lesbian Characters

News

Christopher John

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Apr 8, 2023

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Top-Rank Video Games with Lesbian Characters

In recent years, the representation of diverse identities, including lesbians, in video games has become increasingly important to many players. While this has been a slow process, some games have stepped up to represent these characters meaningfully and nuancedly. From emotional journeys of self-discovery to epic battles against mythical beasts, these games provide a unique and engaging experience.

That said, let’s explore some of the top-ranked video games with lesbian characters and the impact their impact.

More Lesbians are Coming Out of the Closet

Coming out of the closet in a conservative, judgmental society is never easy. However, activism and increased representation across the board have motivated lesbians to express themselves openly. Nevertheless, finding meaningful connections within the community can still be an uphill task for some lesbian singles. So, if you’re a single searching for a lesbian hookup near me, online dating platforms are the surefire way to find a like-minded partner. Lesbian dating sites are made to connect like-minded girls seeking romance and casual hookups, and they’re at the height of their popularity right now.

The Importance of LGBT Characters in the Games

It’s not enough to have these characters in the games; what are some of the benefits of doing so?

· It aids players in feeling seen and heard

For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, finding representation in media is a struggle. That’s why including LGBT personalities in games is so significant. When players see themselves mirrored in the narratives they love, it can be incredibly validating and empowering. It shows that they are not alone and that their experiences and identities matter. By allowing gamers to relate with characters who share their sexuality or gender identity, they become more engaged.

· LGBT characters challenge stereotypes and promote diversity

By including LGBT characters in games, developers have the opportunity to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote inclusivity. Too often, LGBTQ+ individuals are portrayed as one-dimensional caricatures or sidelined altogether. But games that feature well-developed, multi-faceted LGBT characters can shift these perspectives and make society more willing to embrace diversity.

· LGBT characters can serve as role models for young players

For young gamers struggling to cope with their sexuality or gender identity, lesbian characters in games can serve as powerful role models. Seeing characters who are confident and comfortable with their identities can be incredibly inspiring for young players to explore their identities.

· It helps normalize same-sex relationships

By including LGBT characters in games, developers are helping to normalize diverse identities and promote acceptance and inclusion. When players encounter LGBT characters in games, it helps them learn more about different sexualities. This can lead to a more welcoming and inclusive gaming community where everyone feels valued and respected for who they are.

Three Bright and Memorable Characters

Ellie in The Last of Us

The Last of Us is more than just a post-apocalyptic survival game – it’s a richly crafted narrative that explores complex themes of identity, loss, and love. At the center of this story is Ellie, a young girl who represents both the hope and the danger of a world overrun by infected humans. Ellie discovers her strength and resilience as she embarks on a perilous journey with the smuggler Joel.

But it is her sexuality – her unapologetic queerness – that sets her apart from other video game heroines. Her sexuality does not define Ellie; instead, it is a natural part of her identity, enriching the game’s message of diversity and acceptance.

Chloe in Life is Strange

Life is Strange is a captivating and thought-provoking game that explores the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of our choices. The game’s main character, Max, possesses the unique ability to go back in time, which she uses to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a local girl with the help of her best friend, Chloe.

Chloe’s character is a bold and dynamic presence in the game, challenging Max to confront her fears and push the boundaries of her powers. Her bisexuality is a natural and integral aspect of her identity, and her story of self-discovery and acceptance is a moving experience.

Judy in Cyberpunk 2077

Judy Alvarez is a bright and memorable character from the game Cyberpunk 2077. Set in a dystopian future, the game follows the story of V, a mercenary on the hunt for a rare implant that can grant immortality.

Hope is a rare commodity in the bleak dystopian world of Cyberpunk 2077, but characters like Judy Alvarez provide a much-needed ray of light. Judy is a woman of many talents – a tech genius, a skilled technician, and a fierce activist. As a member of the Moxes, she stands up for her fellow sex workers, lending her voice to the voiceless. But her emotional depth and nuanced character truly make her shine.

Conclusion

As we look toward the future of gaming, it is clear that diversity and inclusion will play an increasingly important role in shaping the industry. By featuring LGBT characters in games, it is possible to challenge harmful stereotypes and showcase the rich diversity of the human experience. This will help create a gaming community that is truly inclusive and welcoming to players of all backgrounds and identities.