Here is our review of the Orb Mini Arcade Machine.
Relieve hours of video game nostalgia with the Micro Arcade Machine! Loaded with 240 fun games, this console is integrated with an enhanced screen rear light to suit both bright and dim lighted environments.
Features
240 Built-in 8-Bit Games
1 Player, winner stays on
8-way control joystick and 2 buttons
80’s Inspired Retro Gaming
Requires 3 x AA Batteries
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Mini Arcade and some instructions.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Mini Arcade contains 240 games, so there’s going to be something for everyone to play, although don’t expect to see big recognisable games – although there are plenty of clones of games like Space Invaders.
The Mini Arcade requires 3 AA batteries, although you might want to have a few spare on hand as they don’t last very long if you are playing a lot!
The controls are very simple (just like arcade machines of old) – you have a joystick to move, an A and B button depending on the game and three controls buttons – reset, volume and start.
The cabinet looks like arcade cabinets of old, lots of colourful stickers – to really takes you back.
The 2.5″ screen is fairly clear and is the best you are going to get from such a small screen.
The Orb Mini Arcade Machine is a lot of fun to play – it’s just a shame the games aren’t the originals, but you will still have fun.
The Orb Mini Arcade Machine is available now priced around £24.99.
Most road users hate cyclists. Just the sight of a lycra-clad individual or group makes their blood boil. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and that’s when they are competing. The Tour de France is a world-famous race that convinces people that cycling is cool. Consequently, these new fans can try to become elite athletes in Tour de France 2022.
Developed by Cyanide and published by Nacon, this is a sports simulation title. If this isn’t your thing, you’d be excused for thinking it’s the Bore de France. But don’t be put off just yet! I was surprised by the level of depth, the competitive edge, and how much fun I had. Therefore, bear with me as I dissect the finer points.
Tour de France 2022 surprised me.
Being a keen cyclist, the thought of playing Tour de France 2022 wasn’t that shocking. Yet, I can understand why others would be put off. It must be difficult to see how it could be fun or challenging. What’s more, would you really want to keep playing a potentially repetitive game?
Though many of the races follow a similar pattern, they are always unique and this makes it fascinating. With different teams vying for their agendas, you never know where you stand. Furthermore, each rider in your team has strengths and weaknesses that suit different events. Consequently, it is a tactical and logistical nightmare to get everything right.
Minor errors undermine every plan you make. Therefore, you must rely on your team and the NPCs to get you through every course. If they consider you not to be pulling your weight, you’ll get dropped. Subsequently, you must weigh up your options and never rest on your laurels. As I said, it is a tactical nightmare that can unravel at any moment.
A lovely day for a ride
Stamina, team orders, and the wind.
When you are racing 100s of kilometres every day, it is understandably exhausting. However, you must push yourself if you wish to win, master the sprint, be King of the Hill, or stay with the peloton. In order to do this, you must maintain your energy, use your gels wisely, and rely on team orders to get through.
Each race asks you to ride in a group to conserve your energy levels. You have 2 to monitor, red and blue. The red is for sprinting, and the blue is for long-distance. These can be maintained if you coast behind other riders and shelter from the wind. If you don’t do this, you will battle with the elements and “blow up” too early. Therefore, this is where team orders are essential. Your group of riders must work together to protect the leader. This is a fine art and one that takes a lot of practice to get right.
You may choose to surround your leader to keep them sheltered. Alternatively, you can attack to stretch the group and break up the flow of the race. Whatever you decide to do, it will impact your team. Therefore, planning, patience, and using your strengths are a must if you wish to win.
Work together as a team and win the race.
Plenty of modes.
The best sports games have plenty to do. Luckily, Tour de France 2022 is packed with options. With custom tours, online leaderboards, and team and individual careers to experience, it’ll keep you busy. The career options are tough, rewarding, and take over your life. Moreover, if you get hooked on this, you won’t be able to put it down.
Team mode.
The team career mode asks you to balance the books while hiring the best riders. You have the choice of who makes the cut and how you specialise your group. However, the aim is to make a rounded bunch that can challenge on all fronts. Subsequently, you must find the best leader, sprinter, mountain climber, and all-rounder to win every tour.
Ride solo in Tour de France 2022.
If you are all about individual glory, then select the Pro Leader option. Here, you can choose your discipline and the events to enter. You are still part of a team, but your success is based on individual performance. By riding well, and completing your goals, you can become a leader and a champion of each “grand race”.
The casual option is not so casual after all.
If an in-depth and demanding career is not your thing, then dive straight into Race mode. Here, you can create a tour, undertake any race you wish, and ride for glory. However, this casual mode isn’t so casual. Instead, each race takes hours to complete and you must abide by the same mechanics. Consequently, it is drawn out, demanding, and oh so rewarding.
This is also true of the Race of the Moment. These limited-time events ask you to compete against global players. With a variety of challenges to attempt, it isn’t as full-on as other modes. Instead, it’s a little more relaxed, but just as competitive, nonetheless.
Feel the roar of the repetitive crowd.
Tour de France 2022 is great to play, but it looks dated.
Graphics aren’t everything, but a modern finish is nice to have. Sadly, Tour de France 2022 looks like it was picked from 2018 to 2019. Its poor textures and clunky animations are disappointing. However, it doesn’t ruin the game, it just makes it less realistic.
Unfortunately, the audio is also a letdown. With repeated soundbites, uninspiring sound effects, and dull commentary, it’s underwhelming. Fortunately, there were some fleeting moments that worked, but these were limited. It would have been nice to have more variety in crowd noises and a choice of background music. As it is, the lack of energy makes longer stints a little dull.
The controls are great.
With an array of tactics to use, drinks to swallow, wind to avoid, and more, this could have been horrendous to play. Thankfully, the responsive controls and excellent UI prevent this from happening. The easy-to-follow tutorial explains the fundamentals and, therefore, you’ll understand the basics immediately.
Every event is a full-on experience that takes hours to complete. Yes, you can simulate or skip through races, but that defeats the purpose of the game. If you play this as intended, you’ll enjoy a deep title with plenty of longevity and replay value.
Tour de France 2022: as gruelling as the real thing.
Those crazy athletes that undertake the Tour de France are special. They put their mind and body through some horrific ordeals. However, you can feel their pain from the comfort of your sofa. It shouldn’t have been so enjoyable, but I was hooked immediately. It is tactically brilliant, challenging, and gruelling. For these reasons,I recommend you to buy it here! Grab your lycra, bike, and team, and race to become the next big thing.
First off, Sonic has always been a blast to play, just as much as if I was playing any of the Super Mario Bros. games. However, there are memories I hold dear as a child playing these types of classic games with my twin sister. Especially when it comes to the Sega Genesis system, with all those fun and classic Sonic the Hedgehog games.
What’s great about this game, Sonic Origins is that you are now able to enjoy a few of the best Sonic classic games on your Xbox or Nintendo Switch consoles. Plus, from what I got to try with the Xbox One version, it includes Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD. Also, some additional game content as well! Honestly, they are all great games and I love it even better that you get the first, second, and the third game on the same one download for the console. Many in the past gave you just the first and second, but you get all three and extra with Sonic Origins.
On top of that, there are a few additional key features that you wouldn’t normally find in the traditional game, but don’t worry you can still play the original version of the game anytime you like. However, if you’d like to try out these new remastered additions, then be prepared to play the games with a little bit more exciting features. Some will include the ability to add additional lives to your game, no more short lifespan, and the game-ending so soon. So if you keep falling off that ledge, hit by the same robotic enemy, or maybe drown in the water, well you got plenty of lives to keep going and getting better and better at it!
Also, for the special Anniversary Mode, which allows you the ability to enjoy extra lives you can even watch everything, all the fast-paced action on a full screen. No wide or short window to peer into. Oh, and the fun doesn’t stop there, choosing to do a few fun new missions that the normal game didn’t include, you can now use earned coins to unlock new content. So the more you earn the more you unlock, and if you love those special rounds, well go right ahead and play them as much as you like, no more need to find a large ring, end of the level, or access it in any other way. It’s all available as is new content in the game.
How Was The Game
I actually was proud to have had a chance to take the Xbox One version for a test drive and oh my, it is just like my past is flowing right back to me! Even with the few new features from the beginning, from the startup of each game and with the HD graphic update, I have no complaints. Each of these adds a change, but the one thing I really loved best is the brilliant adjustment of color and the graphics as a whole. It’s just so nice and made the game even more joyful to play.
Especially, just hearing the music, the large word of SEGA, the original and charming characters, and even the devious villains are all still there. No wonder I can’t stop smiling at the joy of playing each game in any order I like. Also, I should mention that Sega Genesis wasn’t the only console that had Sonic, but it was the only one I played growing up, so to still have all these classics and some new content in just one game, Sonic Origins is Awesome!
So with all those added missions, better graphics, better sound, the same great art in each level, and the gameplay that everyone loved from playing Sonic in general, especially me. The game is remarkable being remastered and spectacular! My childhood may still be there, but so is more fun and modern gameplay with this new stuff added. Who doesn’t love something more than what they already loved for years?
The games that you get are all amazing:
Sonic The Hedgehog
This is normally a single-player game with so many fun adventurous worlds you need to speed across or walk through if you prefer. As you know Sonic, he likes to move fast! However, you can also choose Tails or Knuckles in the Anniversary Mode. That right there is totally awesome! You don’t just need to play the first game ever created as Sonic, but now you have a choice.
Of course, the levels are all the same, and so is the digital design of the game as well as the characters. However, it might be me, but everything just appears clearer and brighter looking. Anywho, now with the chance of playing as any character, you can travel through each different level, like Green Hill, Marble Zone, and many others. There are just a few specials to uncover as well, but mainly these are all the normal levels you’ll get to endure during the game. Everyone is still full of obstacles and bad guys all over, it’s action-packed type levels with the third stage being Robotnik trying to take you down.
In the past, if you lose all your guys; lives, you wouldn’t be able to continue. So it was a hard game to accomplish if you die so soon and easily after getting so far. So it’s not the easiest one to get far in, but the choice of new characters, extra lives, and so on, it may actually not be as bad this time around as it use to be.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
If you loved playing Sonic, well now here comes the game where his cute fox partner joins in. This is when I was first introduced to Tails or Miles. He is a cute fox with two tails and can fly. I’ve always loved playing him as my twin sister would play Sonic. I was always the sidekick in many games. However, I just love the cute fox who was tech-savvy, smart, and can fly!
Now with the different modes, Anniversary Mode you can choose Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails, or Knuckles and Tails together. The one with knuckles and Tails is something I’ve never seen as an option, but a nice addition, I love the two with both having their own unique powers and are just super fun. Makes the entire game even better with so many options of characters and classic fun worlds to play through.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Now we have Sonic and Tails or Knuckles as a choice. This I loved cause either version was a different game. It played a bit differently cause they had different powers and honestly, I loved Knuckles cause he was new and could glide or slightly act as close to Sonic, but the gliding is why I enjoyed him. He also was pink, and not just a helper for Robotnik, but a good guy this time!
Then you can play as Sonic and Tails and still work your way through the levels like a normal adventure, action-packed game. Of course, they can be played separately too. There wasn’t so much of a difference with the game mode this time. It would play like in the past, especially with character choices. I don’t mind, the game was brilliant as it was, and to have those fun large rings to enter into special locations, for gems well it’s all fun and entertaining to see how fast you can earn them all.
Sonic CD
Honestly, I never even played Sonic CD. So this is already a bonus new game for me in this bundle. It’s something I’m getting to enjoy for the first time. It is full of action, yes that is still there, and even more, things to see and do. It sort of has a similar style as the stages and levels like other games. However, it also reminds me of a 3D style design in some ways or as if it’s trying to be.
The Anniversary Mode gives you a chance to play as Tails and not just Sonic like in the classic game. The game itself has so many unique worlds and different obstacles. A bit trickier than to speed across the screen so easily, in my opinion. However, this game and like the others is still very nice and has many worlds to play through.
Museum
This is something for looking and listening to music. There are photos, videos, and music you can play through the museum and see rankings. It’s not anything but a Museum of everything you’ve seen and done and now have those moments captured. A great place to chill and remember what you’ve accomplished or look back at those moments or characters you want to recall.
Missions
These are just recaps of what has been done from other games. It’s a great mix of all those you’ve played and adds some new changes that might haven’t been played before. Each one is unlocked after playing the other games. It alerts at each start if a new mission has been unlocked.
Final Thoughts
I love Sonic from the past and love it even more or at least equally. Nothing beats those rings, special abilities, and trying to achieve to become supersonic; all yellow and powerful! This game is a step above the classic with every one of the best games in on. I had nothing but high hopes before playing and my hopes stayed high and just got higher, well met! I’m so proud to just play these games over and over, trying each game as much as I like, alone or with a friend as the fun never ends with Sonic!
There is so much more to see, view, hear and just feel entertained. I did come across a few issues of it shutting down on me, messing up my game. Not starting up, had to unplug my console each time to get it to actually start up correctly. It’s a bit buggy sometimes with the movements and I wanted it to be perfect, but these issues take more time to just get to play the game. However, that is the only issue I faced, the rest is about as great as I could wish it to be!
Lastly, a little about me, I collect everything Sonic the Hedgehog, love everything Sonic, and just adore the movies and TV shows. So to tell you the truth I couldn’t say that this classic redone is better but it’s nothing as brilliant as the classic! That is why I can only say that If you love being the blue hedgehog with that super-fast ability, beating robotic bad guys, and taking down Robotnik, then this is the game you’ll truly enjoy and will enjoy for years to come!
Without a story, puzzle-platformers are often short experiences that have difficulty resonating with the player, relying entirely on gameplay to provide any level of replayability. System of Souls is a first-person puzzler that tries to avoid this pitfall, giving itself context with lore you’d expect from a Hollywood movie more than you would an indie title.
Set in 2155 on an Earth that is now uninhabitable due to extreme environmental decline, humanity’s last hope is to transfer their consciousness – their souls – into robots. After an accident, you wake up in a mute robot with amnesia at the technological company ION (responsible for the human/robot mind transfer process) and are set to tests to try and re-map your ‘brain’ with new neural pathways that would recall your lost memories and unlock your new abilities.
Guided by an AI, you learn the how and why you came to be and the circumstances of how the world has gotten to the point of no return. Philosophizing about the morality of placing human consciousness into robots with one-way conversations with other robots who have also undergone the procedure, and considering the ethics and thought process of a civilization on the brink takes you places you certainly wouldn’t expect from such a game, and with the very sterile but crisp visuals, you could easily have pulled out of I,Robot or any other futuristic robot thriller.
The gameplay is no slouch either, combining numerous abilities and puzzle features for some clever mechanics.
The player uses the hanging glowing orbs to sling Spider-Man-esque around the room but as you are unable to carry the block at the same time, you must time your placement of the blocks on springs and moving platforms to get them to your desired switches to open up the exit.
Those who have played Portal might be familiar with the dynamics of blocks needing to be placed on switches to open doors and may see a developer inspired by the former in the way they’re implemented, but the biggest difference is that here puzzles are restricted to small monotone areas that are progressed in a very linear manner.
Puzzle mechanics and abilities are introduced slowly, from gravity fields that invert gravity for two different types of blocks that can also be manipulated with attractor beams and a slow-motion ability, but the puzzles only really start coming into their own just after the halfway mark when they start breaking the single room mold with a grappling hook-like beam that has you swinging like Tarzan to avoid security Mission Impossible-like lasers.
Invert gravity and use springs to sling blocks around the room, all while avoiding unintentional gravity activations.
While there weren’t any puzzles that confounded me more than my own stupidity (translation – they aren’t difficult), my enjoyment of them was in direct correlation with how much control I had in the puzzle itself, with there being an equal level of interactivity between level mechanisms and robot abilities across them. The slow-motion beam, for example, would often allow for innovative solutions where you effectively set in motion and adjust parts in a conveyer belt of movement, and on the flip side, I equally bored of rooms that required little more than switch pushes.
Sadly, the potential that the varied platforming affords, turns horrendously difficult with strict sections that require very quick reflexes over any sort of thought process, abruptly ramping up the difficulty to nightmare mode in certain sections. It’s an odd requirement at the tail end of a puzzle game and a stretch for the justification of healing your lost memories.
A nice abstract description for a puzzle that has no link to it whatsoever.
This change to timing/skill-based platforming at such random junctures also makes it feel like SOS gives up on trying to challenge you mentally, and although the game’s puzzles don’t lack for variety, these sections awkwardly shove in artificial difficulty for no real reason, despite granting you so many abilities that could have been given wielded in more interesting ways.
Furthermore, out of all included the features and abilities, I never quite felt that there was a clear link to the narrative and would have much preferred more story-appropriate puzzle-solving such as hacking a network that could represent linking pathways in a neural network, or at least a visualization of the story in the puzzles, like using concepts of consciousness in the puzzle’s items.
I would love to hear the justification for the inclusion of this ridiculous platforming section that has no purpose apart from being frustratingly difficult.
Without an obvious and concrete link (i.e. specifically labeling puzzle items as part of the rehab process) the AI’s reasoning for your actions and the platforming seem somewhat separate and unintegrated, despite the game’s effort to build a story around it.
Another hit against the presentation is the varying quality of SOS’s features when compared side-by-side, such as the soundtrack that assigns the same repetitive and mutable track for puzzles, but includes an atmospheric track in the lobby scenes. In addition, adjacent to the prior-mentioned area that houses the conversing robots are black-and-white projector scenes that represent your uncovered memories, but their b-movie-level quality contrasts poorly with the exciting world-expanding lore that comes mere moments earlier and is hard to take seriously.
With an interesting story and some decent puzzle mechanics, System of Souls has all the ingredients for a good sci-fi puzzler, but with its best parts rarely firing in tandem, it only shows flashes of its real potential. Being a little rough around the edges, however, shouldn’t keep away fans of the genre though as there are a few thought-provoking hours for those willing to give it a shot.
I’m always a little dubious about sequels! Consequently, when Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong hit my desk, I wasn’t sure. Its predecessor, the 2004 title Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, is much-loved by the gaming community. Its excellent script, fantastic characters, wonderful acting, and fascinating environments take you on a badass and tough journey. Therefore, I was unsure whether the sequel would live up to this standard. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t.
Developed by Big Bad Wolf and published by Nacon, this is a text-heavy RPG. Its combination of puzzle elements, action, and consequential dialogue should have been fantastic. Disappointingly, however, it’s pretty messy, slow, and confusing. No matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t empathise with the characters or their plight. It was a shame, as there were sparks of potential. Yet, more often than not, these were snubbed out by baffling conversations and high levels of tedium.
Whatever you do, don’t blink.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong lacks oomph.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is set in Boston. The humans of this city have no idea that vampires walk among them, and that’s the way they want to keep it. Sadly, a religious sect known as the Second Inquisition has other ideas. Their leader, Stanford, wishes to wipe every one of these bloodsuckers from the face of the planet. However, after the events in London, the Camarilla, led by Hazel Iversen, wishes to maintain peace and order. Yet, this can only be achieved if three vampires step forward to investigate and save the day.
As you can see, the story should be rich in drama, excitement, and lore. However, it is anything but. Its odd mechanics, droll blood-sucking ways, and ill-advised skill and XP system hold it back. Furthermore, no matter which way I looked, I was met by bland conversations and a flat atmosphere. Even when I was changing between each of the protagonists, this failed to ignite any excitement. Annoyingly, the plot felt so fragmented and evasive that I struggled to enjoy what I experienced.
Who are the protagonists?
With an eclectic blend of heroes and their unique missions, this should have been entertaining. Fortunately, in some ways, it was both fantastic and fascinating. You will control Galeb, Emem, and Leysha. Each of these vampiric superheroes must use their skills, abilities, and charms to complete their tasks. However, caution must be taken as humans react badly to otherworldly powers. Consequently, you must sneak about in the shadows, suck blood in private, and stay under the radar.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t always possible! This is more noticeable when you control Galeb. He is effectively a bland and shallow assassin, but his story is the highlight of the three. With interesting puzzles to solve and gruesome imagery, it somewhat papers over the deep cracks. But, the other missions from Emem and Leysha are drab and dated. What’s more, they don’t match the theme and add to the increasing levels of confusion.
Someone appears to have lost their head.
Choices, choices.
There is much to love when a game has multiple endings. Accordingly, you buy into the story and genuinely feel like you’ve made an impact. This is one key area where Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong excels. By exploring your surroundings, improving your skills, and making relevant choices, you can influence many outcomes. This was brilliant, as it added much-needed depth and longevity if you wanted to return. However, making the right decisions wasn’t always as straightforward as you’d like.
Annoyingly, every plot-altering decision was reliant on skills, a discipline bar and hunger. This was a bad decision from the developers as it was poorly executed. Every ability was linked to XP, and the XP was linked to successful tasks. Yet, if you failed any of these quests, you progressed with a massive disadvantage. Moreover, this impacts the story and the game can quickly go off on a tangent.
This was the biggest turnoff, as the plot evolved through no fault of my own. I wouldn’t normally mind this, but this key mechanic should have been amazing. Yet, it hamstrung itself with flawed ideas that undermined its potential.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong looks amazing.
Though I disliked much of the gameplay, I loved the graphics. With a vast array of supernatural abilities, some excellent environments, and wonderful cinematic, it’s great to look at. The artistic approach doesn’t make up for its many shortcomings, but when you find a moment that works, it is glorious to play. Sadly, though, these moments are few and far between and this adds to the frustrations.
The audio was also surprisingly good. With a deep and emotional soundtrack, it creates a moody atmosphere. Alongside this, the excellent acting does wonders to improve the gameplay. Furthermore, the cinematic flows at a nice pace and the blend of characters are interesting to interact with.
These vampires are a messy bunch.
Thank goodness for decent controls.
With intricate puzzles to solve, and many, many clues to find and collect, the controls needed to be good. Thankfully, they were responsive and simple to understand. Strangely, though, Big Bad Wolf made bloodsucking a little too easy. Consequently, it was mind-numbingly simple and another example of a poorly executed idea.
This should be a game that makes you want to keep playing. Disappointingly, one playthrough is more than enough. With around 15 to 20 hours of game time, it should be great value for money. However, its shortcomings and lack of energy undermine everything it stands for.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is not good enough.
A few underwhelming ideas are forgivable. But, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is filled with them. With some promising ideas, excellent narrative choices, and testing puzzles, this should have been great. However, much of the action will disappoint gamers and leave them frustrated. I can’t recommend you to buy it, but more information can be found here! Boston needs a hero and luckily 3 come forward. Use their unique skills to stop their kin from being destroyed.
Here is our review of the new SpinMaster PAW Patrol Rescue Knights Rubble and Blizzie.
PAW Patrol is going mediaeval. Join your favourite pups and their new dragon friends as they go on exciting rescue missions with the Rescue Knights Pup and Dragon Packs. This action figures set includes Rubble and his trusty dragon pal Blizzie. Wearing his Rescue Knights armour, PAW Patrol’s beloved pup is ready to jump into action. Press Rubble’s badge button to make his backpack’s tool transform and pop open. Then, clip Rubble onto Blizzie’s back and push the button on the tail for its glittery translucent wings to flap.
Paw Patrol Action Figures: Rubble is geared up and ready for adventure time, with his dragon Blizzie. Rubble is wearing his Rescue Knights armour with dragon-scale details, a helmet and a spiked collar.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
PAW Patrol Rescue Knights is the latest iteration of the highly successful PAW Patrol TV series. Rescue Knights takes place in Barkingburg (where the pups have already had numerous adventures).
Rescue Knights sees Ryder and the pups turned into Rescue Knights rescuing dragons (and dealing with a very naughty Sir Claw and his dragon Sparks) and dealing all sorts of other adventures.
As you would expect, Ryder and the pups have new outfits and vehicles and even a new HQ.
Rubble has his rescue tool on his pup pack, it can be moved into different positions. Blizzie also has a button on her tail which flaps her wings when pressed. Rubble fits onto Blizzie so the two can work together to perform rescues.
Rubble and Blizzie is really well made and they look exactly like their on-screen counterparts.
If you, or your child is a fan of PAW Patrol, then the PAW Patrol Rescue Rubble and Blizzie set is an essential addition to your collection.
You can add more characters to make your own adventures.
The PAW Patrol Rescue Rubble and Blizzie set is available now priced around £10 and is aimed at ages 3 and up.
Here is our review of the new SpinMaster PAW Patrol Rescue Knights Marshall and vehicle.
Team up with Marshall for exciting missions with his PAW Patrol Rescue Knights transforming Deluxe Vehicle! Marshall’s vehicle features dragon-inspired details and styling and an exciting rescue tool transformation. Geared up in his Rescue Knights armor, Marshall is ready to save the day in Barkingburg. When a dragon friend is in trouble, place Marshall behind the wheel and race to the rescue! Push down on the spoiler and a launcher pops up from the back!
Load the projectiles (two included) and press the button to launch! Explore your imagination to create awesome medieval rescues, just like the ones from the hit TV show. Gear up for rescue missions with Marshall and his Rescue Knights Deluxe Vehicle!
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
PAW Patrol Rescue Knights is the latest iteration of the highly successful PAW Patrol TV series. Rescue Knights takes place in Barkingburg (where the pups have already had numerous adventures).
Rescue Knights sees Ryder and the pups turned into Rescue Knights rescuing dragons (and dealing with a very naughty Sir Claw and his dragon Sparks) and dealing all sorts of other adventures.
As you would expect, Ryder and the pups have new outfits and vehicles and even a new HQ.
Marshalls new Rescue Knights vehicle has a water cannon on the back that raises when you press down on the rear spoiler, and then there is a button to fire the water cannons.
Marshall and his vehicle is really well made and they look exactly like their on-screen counterparts.
If you, or your child is a fan of PAW Patrol, then the PAW Patrol Rescue Knights Marshall and vehicle is an essential addition to your collection.
The PAW Patrol Rescue Knights Marshall and Vehicle is available now priced around £15 and is aimed at ages 3 and up.
Despite being someone who devoted a lot of their early teenage years to watching anime, I was slow to join the hype train when Demon Slayer became incredibly popular. All my fellow anime-loving friends were suggesting it relentlessly to me, but I still held off. After watching the first few episodes of the first season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles was released. Rather than watching the anime, I could now play it.
This game covers the first season of the anime, ending with the Mugen Train movie. So, if you’re like me and barely sunk your teeth into the show you get a wealthy recap before you begin your adventure. However, as sought-after as this title has been, there are some elements to gameplay that let the whole experience down.
The story of the Hinokami Chronicles condenses most major plot points in the first season of Demon Slayer. So, as you can imagine – there is a lot of talking from the get-go. This may be beneficial to some players, as long as you’re prepared to face some seriously long cinematic cutscenes.
Like I said, I went into this game already vaguely familiar with the story, so the lengthy, unskippable cutscenes towards the beginning of the game left me making a cup of tea and grabbing some snacks before sitting down and getting anywhere close to starting the gameplay. However, once you do get to take the reigns, you’re faced with an in-depth tutorial that takes you through every fighting element.
What’s in store
Essentially, this title is a fighting game with occasional action elements – like exploring a mountain while encountering several demons before facing a boss. But primarily, it’s hands-on combo-based combat with towering, terrific opponents. It’s a fantastic gateway into the franchise and introduces you to a number of significant characters and enemies. Engaging in combat definitely satisfies some of the pent-up stress from watching the show.
A simple approach to combat
That being said, one of the elements that let the title down is how incredibly basic its combat structure is. There are few defense mechanisms, and most of the time the hit will somehow phase through and you’ll take the damage anyway. Combat between the more common demons is simple. There are a few buttons you need to hit before successfully defeating them. They follow the same, easy-to-remember moveset, and every single interaction with them is the same.
As I mentioned already, the tutorial at the beginning of the game takes you through every control you need to know. While it definitely looks fantastic, it’s just so repetitive. The only real excitement comes from boss battles. Where you face off against a different series of moves and more than one form of the same boss. You need to utilize dodging and timing in order to land a hit and not leave yourself open for attack. I thoroughly enjoyed these instances, and the detail on the bosses is immense. They aren’t hard encounters, but they are fun nonetheless.
A challenger approaches
Additionally, there’s an added challenge when you face other human players. Although it may seem challenging to keep up with their attacks, as you progress through the game you’ll realize it’s more of a waiting game. You wait for your opponent to be vulnerable before rising to their challenge and landing a four-hit combo. Essentially, you just need to repeat these steps before you can finish the battle.
The story mode really tries to keep you engaged between battles by reminding you of key elements of Demon Slayer. It showcases phenomenally beautiful cutscenes and introduces you to key players which become available in versus mode. Further rewards are available while you progress through the chapters. Additionally, this game opens up the chance of unlocking art, costumes, and various other in-game rewards.
Final Thoughts
With six hours of gameplay to hand, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is occasionally a very engaging game. With an incredibly story-telling nature and a Rolodex of enemies to face, if you’re new to Demon Slayer then this may be a foot in the door. However, if you are familiar and consider yourself a fan of the franchise then I think there are just a few too many holes in the mechanics and story to sell this game to you.
But, if you’re willing, then I would recommend it for a fun hands-on approach to a much-loved title. It won’t be that detrimental to your love for the franchise, but be prepared to question certain elements.
Here is our review of the new Review: Playmobil Knight Rider K.I.T.T.
“Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.” A detective, thought to be dead, is now under a new identity. He is driven by justice and sets out to take down crime with the help of K.I.T.T., a futuristic artificially-intelligent car outfitted with high-tech gadgets and weapons.
Now K.I.T.T., the legendary wonder car from the 80s hit series Knight Rider, is making its way into the PLAYMOBIL car lineup. Just like his onscreen counterpart, PLAYMOBIL‘s K.I.T.T. is equipped with a whole range of authentic functions, such as a printer underneath the dashboard for printing out mug shots, a rotating number plate, a cord with grappling hook, pop-up headlights, and a detachable roof. K.I.T.T. features electronic sounds and lights operated by touch-feature on the vehicle’s hood. The vehicle quotes lines from the series in the original iconic K.I.T.T. voice. Certain quotes are heard with the on/off function, while others play randomly. At the same time, the iconic scanner light on the front of the vehicle lights up, and the dashboard lights flickers.
In addition to Michael Knight, the playset also includes highly-detailed accessories such as Bonnie Barstow’s computer lab and Devon Miles’ office furniture. Now, it’s time to get in the car and drive off to the next mission!
Features
• Michael Knight, Bonnie Barstow and Devon Miles • The vehicle interior has seats for up to 4 figures • Detachable roof • Rotating number plate • Pop-up Headlights • Includes cord with grappling hock that can be attached to the rear bumper • Highly detailed accessories include Bonnie’s computer lab and Devon’s office furniture
With lights and sounds:
• Tapping the ventilation inlet once triggers the welcome sequence. • Each subsequent tap activates one of six electronic feature sequences with light an sound. • By actively switching off (press and hold) or after 60 sec. of inactivity (Auto-Power-Off), the farewell sequence is activated and all sound and light functions turn off.
What’s in the box?
The box contains K.I.T.T., Michael, Bonnie, Devon, Bonnies lab and Devons desk, stickers and instructions.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
Back in the 80s I was a huge fan of Knight Rider – tuning in every Thursday night to see the latest adventures of Michael and K.I.T.T. We didn’t really have many Knight Rider related toys available then, so when I saw that Playmobil were releasing something I jumped at the chance to take a look – and it would give me a good excuse to introduce my trusty nearly 6 year old assistant to the world of Knight Rider.
The box contains K.I.T.T., Michael, Devon, Bonnie and a few other things. You have to put everything together yourself (most of K.I.T.T. is pre-built for you) and put a number of stickers on.
Putting everything together was a lot of fun, although the wheels took a little while to get right, but that was probably us! K.I.T.T. also requires 2 AAA batteries (not supplied) which are easy to fit on the underside of the car.
When you press down on K.I.T.T.s bonnet there are a number of things he says – it’s very cool to hear them again! You can also take off the roof to go into Convertible mode (who remembers that season!), the headlights pop up, and you can even switch the number plate on the rear (just like in the show).
The Playmobil Knight Rider K.I.T.T. is such a fun toy to build and play with, whether you are a fan or Knight Rider of not, you will love it!
Now if Playmobil could just release an AIRWOLF toy I will be externally grateful!
The Playmobil Knight Rider K.I.T.T. is available now priced around £69.99.
Looking at seven of the most popular video games, Betway recently conducted an experiment to reveal which are the most effective when it comes to raising heart rate and burning calories.
Playing video games and keeping fit aren’t often seen as two activities that go together.
But with many of us spending more time than ever sitting down, you might be thankful to learn that you can burn a significant amount of calories from the comfort of your own home while playing video games.
Betway online casino asked 17 gamers to play seven of the most popular video games for 90 minutes at a time, and revealed just how many calories we can expect to burn during our next gaming session, and how this compares to an actual workout.
You can burn a maximum of 538 calories per gaming session on average
The experiment has revealed that Fortnite is the best game to play when it comes to burning off those gaming snacks with participants burning 194 calories on average, followed by Fifa (189) and Call of Duty (188).
Whilst Grand Theft Auto V came in last place, you can still expect to burn a decent amount of calories during 90 minutes of game time (164), making this game perfect for a light workout.
Gamer’s heart rates peak when playing Call of Duty
Whether it’s being moments away from completing a mission you’ve been working on for days or escaping a near death situation, it might not come as a surprise that some of our favourite games have the power to really get our hearts pumping:
Call of Duty: Warzone is revealed to be the video game that will get your heart rate peaking the most with participant’s average maximum heart rate reaching 119 BPM.
Meanwhile, the study shows that Fortnite will get your heart racing the most on average with participant’s heart rates increasing to 89 BPM during a 90 minute gaming session.
On the other hand, participant’s heart rate slowed down the most when playing Minecraft, making this the best game in the experiment for relaxing whilst still burning off a good amount of calories.
You’d need to do 353 squats to equal the amount of calories burned during 90 minutes of playing Fortnite
Asking they participants to measure their heart rate whilst doing squats, crunches and pushups, they’ve calculated how much exercise you’d need to do to equal the amount of calories burned whilst gaming:
You’d need to do 353 squats (or 162 push ups or 239 crunches) to equal 90 minutes of playing Fortnite, making this the best gaming alternative to a workout.
The next time you plan on skipping the gym in favour of some time with your console, refer to the guide above to calculate how long you’d need to play to burn off your goal calories.
