Events

Review: Conan Chop Chop

Daniel Waite

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Mar 15, 2022

My video review with footage captured using my Series X, enjoy!

If you are a hero, you are not going to step down from a challenge. Subsequently, you’ll want to show the world how brave and strong you are, no matter the consequences. Conan Chop Chop incorporates this idea in its colourful and addictive all-out combat action.

Developed by Mighty Kingdom and published by Funcom, this is an action rogue-lite adventure title. Played solo or with up to 3 others, this is a fun party game that keeps on giving. With a large array of weapons and charms, you can find the right combination to suit every gameplay style.

Conan Chop Chop will drive you mad.

Like every great adventure, Conan Chop Chop is full of interesting characters and plenty of danger. The action takes place in Hyboria, a colourful but dated land. It was once a peaceful kingdom, but the evil wizard Thoth-Amon’s life is in danger. Consequently, his only way to survive is to lure someone to his lair. He thinks fast and organises a competition to capture some foolish adventurers. Sadly, Conan and 3 of his friends have egos that are bigger than their muscles. Subsequently, they accept the invitation and fall for his ploy! Unbeknownst to them, their show of strength gets them one step closer to death. Can they complete their quest, survive and overcome Thoth-Amon? Unlikely, but someone must stand up to this heinous monster.

The gameplay revolves around procedurally generated playthroughs and rogue-lite mechanics. Therefore, Conan Chop Chop will drive you mad. Every mistake you make and trust me, you’ll make loads, costs you dearly. Death is guaranteed and all your hard work is wiped. Therefore, it is gloriously, infuriating and stupidly addictive. Moreover, its simple but striking presentation will capture your attention immediately. Fans of Hades and other rogue-like titles will feel right at home. However, this game isn’t as challenging, and it somewhat lacks the deep lore of its peers.

Conan Chop Chop has a lively village. — Can you rebuild the village?

So many weapons.

The story revolves around 4 dungeons, many minions, and an array of demi-bosses and massive overlords. Yet, once you’ve survived your arduous adventure, you must still face the evil wizard. Subsequently, Mighty Kingdom demands a lot from its fanbase. You must be willing to experiment while being skilful and patient. Furthermore, you’ll understand that death and losing your equipment is merely a small part of this rich tapestry.

What you quickly learn is that all the gear is expendable. Moreover, what works on one playthrough won’t on another. You’ll purchase bows, swords, maces, hammers, and more. On top of this, you’ll find armour, equip shields, and protect yourself with charms. These magical items are essential, as they give you a fighting chance. Whether it’s a poisonous weapon, a friendly chicken to fight by your side, or more, it makes it much easier.

The sheer choice of equipment is overwhelming and makes it tough to find the right combination. However, this was a problem I loved to have. As every playthrough ended, I didn’t know what would happen next. All I knew was that I’d retain the XP I had earned and the blacksmith stones to unlock equipment. Other than that, everything else was wiped. Therefore, if you dislike the idea of a blank canvas, then rogue-lite games are probably not for you. Yet, Conan Chop Chop is more forgiving than its peers and is great for newcomers to the genre.

Once you enter the dungeon you can't turn back. — Once you enter the dungeon you can’t turn back.

Upgrading your hero.

Yes, you’ll start from the bottom and have to work your way up, but it’s not all bad! Your character level and XP are never wiped. Consequently, your hero will improve the more you play it. In theory, this makes it easier. However, in reality, the procedurally generated elements keep things tough. If you could guarantee your favourite loadout, you’d be laughing. Yet, this rarely happens and you must quickly come to terms with that.

Though Conan Chop Chop is excellent as a solo adventure, it excels as a multiplayer title. Its action is much more hectic and enjoyable when you team up with friends and family. Fortunately, you can combine couch co-op with online lobbies to get the most out of it. Disappointingly, though, there are a few annoying elements that undermine the fun.

If you are not the host, you can’t speak to the blacksmith. Now, this may seem minor, but it means your equipment choices are limited. Therefore, your character is weaker, and this makes it much harder. Second, the screen stays focused on the host player. This means that your exploration is restricted and that’s just annoying. Finally, it is tough to identify your character when all hell is breaking loose. If the developers had incorporated character customisation, then this problem would be eradicated.

Conan Chop Chop looks incredible.

I adored the striking and simple style of Conan Chop Chop. Its amusing sprites, blend of colours, and interesting landscapes are great to look at. Furthermore, the action is smooth, even at the craziest of moments. This well-considered approach makes the repetitive action bearable. Consequently, you won’t tire of what you see, especially as you never know what’s coming up. Though I loved what I saw, the lack of custom options does undermine its potential. It’s a small thing, but it would have worked perfectly with the gameplay. However, don’t let this small oversight taint the brilliant visuals.

Regarding the audio, all I can say is loud…very, very loud! There are grunts, screams, war cries and more. Moreover, there is the twang of a bow, the slash of swords, and the crunch of metal on bones. It’s gruesome, horrific, but oh so enjoyable. At the end of each playthrough, your ears will be ringing and your head will hurt. This sounds terrible, yet it adds to the drama and the brutality.

One of the many bosses you'll face. — Will you be able to beat the ice giant?

Easy to play.

Other than its silly story and appealing aesthetics, I loved the simple controls. Thanks to a wonderful tutorial, this is particularly user-friendly. Therefore, it’s easy to pick up and is great for newcomers and veteran gamers. Luckily, the controls are also super responsive and this helps when it’s hectic. On top of this, you must adjust your style for every weapon you find. This was great as it prevents the hack n slash elements from becoming tiresome.

Because of its procedurally generated action, you’ll not tire of what you see. Subsequently, this oozes replay value and longevity. Alongside this, the fantastic multiplayer mode and large achievement list will keep you coming back for more. Yes, it lacks the complexity and lore of its peers, but this matters not. It’s instantly appealing, as you are not weighed down by unnecessary information.

Conan Chop Chop is fun and whimsical.

Rogue-lite games normally make me shudder. However, Conan Chop Chop is different. Its user-friendly style, colourful imagery and lack of complexity were all fantastic. It offers enough to keep veterans happy without alienating newcomers, and this was brilliant. I adored it and recommend you to buy it here! Will you bolster your ego and defeat the wizard? Gather your friends, grab your equipment, and try to survive.

What Industries Use API Management Solutions?

Tech

Andrew Edney

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Mar 15, 2022

0

What Industries Use API Management Solutions?

Online services are more popular than ever and growing increasingly popular every day as consumers expect more than ever from products and services. Companies all over the United States are undergoing digital transformation in a bid to provide more personalized customer experiences and gain analytics insights to help them make better business decisions. Moreover, the high demand for personalized services and big data means companies have to load up on business software applications to enhance their business processes. Businesses of all sizes have robust IT infrastructures these days, and they need a platform that can support and maximize these robust systems.

Application programming interfaces (APIs) make application development, data integration, business application monetization, and many other processes simpler. However, even APIs require advanced API management tools to allow business users to get the most from their API processes. Many industries use API management tools and plenty of viable use cases for them. In this article, we’ll tell you about the industries that use API management platforms the most and how they use them. Continue reading to learn more about API management and how it’s impacting the real world.

These industries use APIs the most.

API management used to be considered a niche field whose value was limited to large companies in only a few industries, but that’s totally changed in recent years. In fact, these days you would be hard-pressed to find an industry where there are no companies using API management solutions. However, studies show that the financial services, healthcare, tech, and telecommunications industries use them the most. It makes perfect sense when you consider that those three industries need to personalize their products, services, and customer experiences more than most others.

Data management companies use API management to provide data as a service.

As you may have heard, big data has become a pretty big deal in recent years. The reason industries like the ones mentioned in the previous section can provide such unique customer experiences is big data. Data science is one of the fastest-growing markets on the planet, having an astronomically high projected CAGR of over 30% over the next five years. Most tech companies use API platforms to provide data-as-a-service (DaaS) business applications and tech support.

Online businesses use API gateways to share microservices with third-party services.

API management tools are an invaluable asset for e-commerce companies. Many online businesses rely on third-party services to expand their customer base and deliver advanced features. API management tools enable them to provide microservices through third-party partners without having to redirect customers to their web or mobile application. Furthermore, as they learn more about individual customers through online interactions, they can offer relevant microservices to tailor their online experience.

B2B companies use API platforms for integration and API security.

One of the great things about APIs is they enable software developers to easily create business applications and share APIs to enable customers to tailor them to their needs, providing ultimate scalability. Indeed, API management tools make API integration much simpler and safer. With complete access control, you can control API usage and set permissions for what API users do, providing API security and ensuring data quality.

The API management industry was worth close to $3.9 billion in 2020, and it’s expected to be worth almost twice as much by 2026. So, as you can see, APIs aren’t going anywhere any time soon, especially with them being so prevalent in the financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications industries. As you can see, there are plenty of use cases for API management tools, and we’re confident that you can find creative ways to take your business to the next level as well. So, is your company down with APIs? Because the rest of the business world certainly is.

Review: Shadow Warrior 3

Alex Chessun

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Mar 15, 2022

0

Do you know those TV shows that have that one epic season before repeating the same formula over and over and ending on a whimper? Well, the video game version of that might just be Shadow Warrior 3, a gory quip-filled FPS with an Asian-fusion fantasy story that starts off cock-sure, before hitting its limit and trailing off into mediocrity by giving all the wrong features its attention.

It shouldn’t have been this way though, as the Doom-esque blasting and Deadpool-like humour combined with stunning environments that has you scaling mountains and cliff faces, running through bamboo forests and admiring Chinese/Japanese temples, starts the player off impressed and raring to go. Call me crazy, but after being whipped-up in a giddy euphoria from playing around with the dismembering swordplay, I was half expecting to be able to add SW3 to my list of favourite games of 2022.

What the befalls the game though is a linear structure that devours any chance for anything unique (bar killable rabbits that spawn bad guys with rabbit ears) as cutscenes, battles and grapple hook sections robotically repeat themselves without improving, making the gameplay incredibly predictable.

The gun/swordplay is relatively decent – allowing for bloodspurting goodness in any given moment – but the battlefields are often far too small and poorly-designed, forcing the action into a box unfit for purpose. This essentially means that when the game starts to overcrowd these small platforms with waves of enemies there are few ways to enjoy it. The only other real gameplay element, the grapple hook sections, are used to transport you from one battle to the next, but take up far too high a percentage of the gameplay and is seemingly artificially extended for inane character interactions.

Some of the visuals that game provides are quite stunning.

Interestingly, the Shadow Warrior series has gotten shorter with each new entry – in this instance removing Multiplayer, New Game+, and all other extra features – which you’d assume would mean that the developer has been working away to perfect the formula – addition by subtraction, if you will. Unfortunately, SW3 actually ends up too streamlined, leaving only enough room for some average gory kills and the odd quick-witted comment. For some this will be enough, but it could have been so much better.

Helping you deal with the quick build-up of enemies are temporary – but admittedly hilarious – ‘finishing weapons’, which are removed from the body of the enemy and are used to unleash hell upon your foes – such as a blackhole, a homing eyeball that shoots lasers and a Gatling gun that shoots fireworks. Sadly, these seconds-long interjections are far too awesome for their own good, as they highlight the imbalance of your permanent weapons.

Don’t shoot the bunnies or else a bunny monster will come after you. The enemies in the game are divided into henchman or minor bosses with the weaker ones easily dispatched with your sword and revolver, and the minor bosses better suited to your more powerful, but less satisfying weapons.

Furthermore, these super weapons expose the inability of the battle system to achieve anything impressive or requiring any kind of skill. A slow-motion feature could easily have been integrated to allow highlight-reel sword slashing with existing abilities such as the running dive along the ground and the chi-blast, but instead, and in another example of taking away any control and satisfaction from the player, it’s another of the prior-mentioned ‘finishing weapons’ that receives the benefit.

Sadly, this underutilized aspect is also true of the enemies who tend to camp in their area depending on which of the two attacks they’ve been given. If they have short range attacks they hang out inches from your face, if they have projectiles they’ll be a short distance away, but they rarely can do both. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that there are only two minor bosses that are particularly satisfying to defeat, as they don’t follow the same pattern as all the others. One, a Multi-Arm Swordsman, has both long and short range attacks and the other, a Jack-in-the-Box, simply laughs at you as it runs away while leaving suspended blades in the air.

Lo Wang is given little backstory, but still carries the narrative with his culture references and insults

There is a story here, one where the protagonist must team up with a former enemy to defeat a dragon that he accidentally unleashed upon the world, but the 5-hour long narrative largely considers one-liners to be its character building, until Lo Wang sees fit to save his incredibly boring ‘best friend’. This acts like a double-punch with both banal conversation and unnecessarily extended grapple hook sections making you wish for a speedy return to the monotonous blasting.

In deciding that ambition is the dragon that needs toppling, Shadow Warrior 3 is aggressively average, restricting its own potential with poor level design and underwhelming weapons and enemies. Quite how it manages to fluff its lines, despite having all the ingredients for success – humour, great visuals and Doom-lite gunplay – is frustrating, but if you are able to look past this, it does still provide an opportunity for you to switch off with some mindless entertainment in short spurts.

Review: Young Souls

Daniel Waite

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Mar 14, 2022

0

Being an outcast can be tough to swallow. Therefore, you have to have a thick skin and great resolve if you wish to survive. However, you always wonder why people dislike you just because you are different. All you want is a quiet life, but to be accepted, you must step up and show you care. Young Souls uses this idea in its bizarre fantasy story.

Developed by 1P2P and published by The Arcade Crew, this is an arcade beat ’em up with RPG elements. It’s a dungeon crawler that has the sass of Olli Olli World and the dark elements of Deaths Door. Furthermore, it can be enjoyed solo or cooperatively and is available on Game Pass. Subsequently, you and a mate can enjoy this title for nothing, so what’s to lose?

Young Souls is a story of redemption.

It can be tough to change how the world perceives you. Yet, this is the core message of Young Souls! You control a pair of twins who are Jenn and Tristan. Their world was turned upside down when they were orphaned at a young age. However, fate stepped in and they were adopted by an eccentric scientist. Unbeknownst to them, this chance encounter would change their entire lives.

The professor has a brilliant mind, and he hides many great secrets! However, the cat is out of the bag when he goes missing. Worried about his safety, the twins enter the secret part of his lab and discover a hidden goblin world. This is the start of their strange adventure through sprawling dungeons. They must overcome monsters, gargantuan bosses, and stop the leader, Dwaverngobben, from destroying their town.

Young Souls is full of gargantuan machines. — Giant goblin machines.

Hack’ n’ slash and collect the loot.

Though the story of Young Souls is amusing and touching, the action is hectic. The gameplay focuses on hack’ n’ slash combat, oodles of loot, and upgrading the ginger heroes. Furthermore, what makes it particularly appealing is the simplicity of its design. From the opening gambit, you know what to expect and very little changes. Now, this may sound like it plateaus early on, but it doesn’t. Luckily, the developers have drip-fed new elements and mechanics to keep things fresh. Moreover, as you progress, the difficulty increases exponentially. Therefore, you are challenged from the beginning to the end and this makes it moreish as hell.

The action is broken down across four unique locations. On top of this, you must find four special keys that unlock new paths and treasure chests. Subsequently, you must return to each area if you wish to explore every nook and cranny. This was an excellent approach from the developers that helps the learning curve. Furthermore, you’ll explore each area thoroughly and this doesn’t become tiresome. With new bosses to find, loot to gather, and secrets to discover, Young Souls is full of surprises.

Welcome to Goblin Street. — Goblin Street is a thing of beauty.

Bosses, levelling up, and plenty of equipment.

Every great RPG has custom options at its core. Luckily, Young Souls is no different. You’ll gain XP for every monster you kill and this is used to level up your characters. However, unlike traditional RPGs, your three stats are automatically improved. I can understand that this may seem restrictive, but the developers have allowed some freedom. Occasionally, you are awarded a token to use in the local gymnasium. Here you complete a mini-game that improves one of the three skills. Luckily, the task is simple as you must keep your cursor within the marker. However, though it’s easy to understand, obtaining 5 stars and the maximum result is harder than it looks. Consequently, you’ll struggle to get the best out of the exercise, and this will frustrate you.

Where this excels is its vast range of monsters, demi-bosses, and enormous overlords. The selection of enemies will blow your mind and keep you on your toes. Subsequently, each area funnels the heroes to an encounter with either the underlings or a massive guardian. Alongside these creatures, you’ll face traps, darkness, and plenty of trickery. As you face off with each of the overlords, you’ll be awarded new equipment, guardian tears, or a rune of power. Each of these items is as important as one another as they improve your character and help you progress.

You can purchase and find different sets of armour and weapons that’ll change your approach. Whether you use a slow two-handed sword or swift knives, they both have strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, you can equip enchanted items that’ll resist cold, heat, electricity, and more. These items can be changed on the fly, so you can alter your style depending on which enemy you face.

Young Souls plays like a comic book.

I loved the gameplay, but what amazed me was Young Souls’ phenomenal art style. The beautiful imagery, interesting landscapes, and colourful world were brilliant to look at. Moreover, the developers have done an amazing job of replicating a comic book. It was fascinating to explore each dungeon while taking on every monster. Alongside this, the cinematic was stylish and amusing. I adored the cutscenes and found the information to be captivating and humorous. The graphical approach was excellent, well-considered, and ran smoothly on the Xbox Series X.

The presentation was further enhanced because of the wonderful audio. A brilliant mix of folksy and high-tempo music helped convey the story. I loved the blend of tunes and the crashing sound effects. Sadly, though, there were a few things that were missing. First, there were no clichéd “Wham, thwack, and capow!” speech bubbles. These would have added to the comic book approach and would have matched the style. Furthermore, the story relied heavily on text rather than acting. Consequently, this was a missed opportunity. Had this been incorporated, then the game would have gone to the next level.

Hit the gym and get stronger. — Time to get strong!

Lots to learn but easy to play.

Thanks to its array of weaponry, a vast selection of monsters, and different environments, there is lots to learn. Therefore, it’s understandable that gamers may feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, however, the simple controls and thorough tutorial make it easy to play. If you tackle this solo, you can select either twin with ease. Yet, as a duo, you’ll adore the straightforward style and its uncomplicated ways.

Like many adventure RPGs, Young Souls oozes replay value. With many avenues to explore and lots of treasure to discover, this will keep you busy. Furthermore, there are several difficulty settings that’ll test newcomers and veterans alike. To complete this, you’ll need skill, patience, and at least 15 hours.

Young Souls is incredible.

The indie market is saturated, so to be noticed, you have to be special. Luckily, Young Souls is incredible and will entertain you immediately. What’s more amazing is its inclusion in the Game Pass subscription. Therefore, you can play this awesome game for nothing. I adored every moment and recommend you to buy it here! Will you save the day, or will the goblins take over? Attack every monster, gather the loot, and defeat Dwaverngobben.

Review: Triangle Strategy

Natosha M

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Mar 13, 2022

0

Do you have what it takes to be a heroic and great leader? Possibly, you have a love for long narrative-style games, which you can enjoy the option to choose what you want to say next? Well, that is what you get with Triangle Strategy is a game that provides all of those options and choices that you have to decide upon. So if you can say yes to one or both questions asked, well then you might have found the next best game to play this year or longer, with the chance to end up a victorious winner in this game!

Especially cause the gameplay and the story are built upon the player’s choices, as you are the leader and controller of all the odds. There is no single straight and narrow path to playthrough. The battles and the way the narrative portions take place are all based on the player and not just the game. Especially, the way we upgrade, remove, equip, or do anything else in this game. Therefore, it’s on us to decide and be this outstanding leader!

How It Felt To Play Triangle Stategy

First of all, it’s an excellent strategic RPG game with a long story that flows quite well with the battle portion. It’s something that I’ve never played before with the two combined. Also, I’m enjoying the ability to have control over the game’s outcome. So without a doubt, I just felt the game is completely original, and my eyes were amazed at the remarkably artistic game design, which includes the characters and the actual graphics of the game.

I was also impressed that for a game that allows not a choice of how the outcome will end up, but there is a choice to make it easier for everyone to play. Just by adjusting the difficulty level, going from very easy to hard, and the option to adjust the game’s entire settings is also a pleasure to have. Its ability to set the game correctly up for whoever is playing is an excellent aspect for me. No one has to suffer a one-way-to-play method, like many other games. In this game, the options over everything are not as limited and close to endless.

Plus, the game can also be extremely a long adventure to dig one’s mind into, with a long narrative and battle portion. However, in my own opinion, I’m not a big story lover when it comes to games. Especially one that is very long and that isn’t just in one portion of the game but throughout the entire game. Thankfully there is that fast-forward button or skip choice when you want to move it along faster. I’m not saying it’s a bad story, just might put me to sleep if I don’t get to more of the gameplay and action sooner.

On the other hand, the game’s battle portion is my favorite portion of the game. There are so many possibilities to choose what goes on during the gameplay. Especially, choosing the team members you’d like to have, utilizing the character’s equipped items, and plenty to choose from as well as upgrading, level-up, and learning new skills as you battle through each game. Also, collect some more items for future needs and battles. Additionally, I’ve found the neon-lit squares to be very helpful and aid in the battle portion of the game.

I would also like to tell you there were only two issues I really felt that didn’t suit me about the game. By the way, I’m not saying it’s a bad game or story, but these are more about my own comfort and the kind of games I prefer. To start, the narrative is the first issue I’ve felt was an issue for me. I am not big on long stories and it really could put me to sleep. I rather discover more items at each location and have more action, and less of the story to speed through. The second problem is the frustrating issue I had with the placement of the team members while having the use of both buttons on the controller, the directional buttons, and the left analog stick. It could be a bit difficult when moving the player on the team to a location you want when using the analog stick as it can move too quickly. On the other hand, the directional buttons can move slower which can be a little easier.

This also goes with the option of what weapon, skill, or item you want to use for that member of the team you’re playing next. I feel it’s a possibility to be about the sensitivity of the controller and it can be harder to get it perfect. However, it isn’t as horrible as I thought it would be after playing through the game, but it sometimes can be frustrating as well! The last issue I had is that I don’t like that there is a need to choose which way you face when finishing a turn. It’s like an unnecessary portion, which maybe should be left out. I think it would be nicer to fight no matter whichever way you face as you can easily attack whoever is near you.

Otherwise, the game is something I’d still see myself playing again and again, as the options of what you do can always be changed. No game has to be played the same way. Plus, if I want to go a bit difficult, making the battle portion of the game even more challenging, well that is another reason I can enjoy this game! Especially by building up one’s love for tactical and narrative gameplay, by playing this game and going from easy to hard, and adjusting the story perfectly.

Final Thoughts

As with all the questions, I started with, I have just one more. So does this game have what it takes to bring joy and pleasure to whoever wants to play a really good strategic RPG game and narrative story? In my opinion, the answer is YES! I had nothing but complete interest in the game, by the unique combination and the game art. It’s quite compelling and enticing. However, in short, this game is amazing and fun. The entire experience is just totally amazing! I love the ability to lead as a leader and build my team to battle along with as well as move the story the way I wanted to.

Therefore, I want to end by saying that the game is as remarkable as it appears. Especially, when you turn it on for the first time and many times after! The graphics will brighten up your eyes and the game’s adventure and options will keep your brain in tip-top shape. It’s something that won’t leave you fully bored or regret not trying it out, as it’s got plenty to offer.

Review: Moto Roader MC

Daniel Waite

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Mar 13, 2022

0

The 80s are responsible for some great and terrible things. For the gaming industry, this decade created some of the most influential titles ever to be seen. Subsequently, developers and gamers still adore the simplicity of this era. 30 to 40 years have passed, and the industry has evolved massively, yet there is room for some classic titles to be re-released. Moto Roader MC bursts back onto the scene and highlights quite how much the industry has moved on.

Developed by Masaya and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a top-down racing title. It’s distinctly old-school in its approach and therefore, it lacks complexity. It can be played solo or with up to four others as you race around minuscule tracks. Furthermore, it offers some extra modes that add depth to an otherwise shallow experience.

Moto Roader MC: an unnecessary remake.

I usually adore every remake or remaster that I come across. I love revisiting my childhood while allowing my kids to see some gaming history. However, Moto Roader MC is an unnecessary remake that fails to evolve. Sadly, its lack of complexity, poor graphical fidelity, and shallow gameplay leaves a bitter taste.

I didn’t expect it to comprise multiple race options, but what you get is tepid at best. There is no story, no overarching rivalry, and no love interest to fight for. In short, you complete the same repetitive task for very little gain. Consequently, it quickly becomes mundane and tiresome, and you’ll soon turn it off.

Moto Roader MC has a varied selection of tracks to experience. — Can you avoid every obstacle?

Multiplayer action and level design are its saviours.

Never has the level design or multiplayer action been so important! Without these two key elements, Moto Roader MC would score a 1 to 2 out of 10. Luckily, though, the excellent variety of stages and their little quips add depth. You’ll race across an array of locations that have ice, obstacles, and speed boosts. These small additions give you a tactical edge while adding a layer of difficulty. Alongside this, each vehicle is loaded with a cannon and explosive barrels. These can be used to blast your opponents and change your fortunes.

Another great element was the couch cooperative action. If you have like-minded friends, you can come together to race or take on mini-games. Thankfully, this was where Moto Roader MC excelled. It was brilliant to race around the tiny courses while hurling abuse at your mates. Furthermore, the Rocket League style mini-game was enjoyable in short bursts. Unfortunately, however, though this was the best part of this title, it barely makes up for the shortcomings. Annoyingly, most of the gameplay is weak and underdeveloped.

One of your rivals. — Will you beat your rival?

Moto Roader MC is dated.

Unsurprisingly, a thirty-year-old title looks incredibly dated. Therefore, it appears blocky and out of place on a large TV. What I did like, though, was the contrasting tones, the simple but varied stage design, and the well-thought-out perspective. Moreover, each of the cars is unique, and this helps when the action is hectic.

If you enjoy the sounds of 1000 wasps buzzing, then you’ll love the audio of Moto Roader MC. Consequently, it is annoying at best and utterly bloody horrific at worst. The constant shrill buzzing and tinny bangs are terrible to listen to, and an instant turn off. Now I know the 80s were limited in its sound design, but this is just awful. Subsequently, I advise you to turn the sound to a minimum. Unless, of course, you like the sound of angry wasps, that is.

Simple controls.

Due to its retro style, I didn’t expect any complexities. Luckily, my expectations were met, as the controls are simple to understand. Sadly, though, they are also extremely sensitive and consequently, it’s like driving on ice. Therefore, you’ll slip and slide your way around every track. It was a little unusual, but you soon master its bizarre approach. Other than the handling issues, the game is simple to play.

If your ears can stand the noise, you’ll complete this in no time whatsoever. Luckily, there is some longevity because of the time trial mode and local multiplayer options. However, it sadly lacks depth, and this ultimately impacts the replay value.

Moto Roader MC is poor.

There are some great 80s racing titles, but Moto Roader MC isn’t one of them. It’s lacking in nearly every department and will leave you wanting. Moreover, it has few redeeming qualities and will only attract serious retro fans. It was tiresome and I don’t recommend you to buy it. However, more information can be found here. Can you avoid the obstacles, missiles, and mines? Turn down the audio and race to win the championship.

Review: CurBot Portable Curtain Robot

Andrew Edney

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Mar 12, 2022

0

Here is our review of the Review: CurBot Portable Curtain Robot.

Tired of wasting time opening and closing curtains? Hate the feeling of being woken up by an alarm clock? Installing smart curtain devices seems to be an excellent choice. But the time and cost of installing traditional curtain motors are too high. CurBot is here to help you out!

CurBot is an advanced smart home device that can turn any old-fashioned curtains into a fully automatic curtain system based on IoT technology. With CurBot, you don’t need any installation tools or skills, it can be set up in seconds, and it fits most types of curtain rails and rods.

A Closer Look

Setting it up

After you have charged the CurBot, its time to set it up. Download the Smart Life App and follow the instructions to add the CurBot.

You can then control the CurBot from the app.

Then just fit the CurBot onto your curtain rail.

Final Thoughts

Each CurBot comes with Rod, U Rail and I Rail attachments, and each one is different. There are also space grey, moon silver and pink versions of the CurBot so make sure to get the one that fits in best for you.

Fitting the CurBot was very simple – it took less than a minute. Everything you need is included in the box for your type of curtains. Just download the app and follow the instructions. These are really simple and only take a few minutes, then you are ready to use it.

There are different ways of having the device open your curtains – you can use the app to move it left or right, use the app to fully open or close the curtains, set up a schedule so that at certain times of the day and it can even open when it detects sunlight. There are so many options for you to choose from, however you want to use it, it will be easy. There is also a remote included if you don’t want to use the app.

The fully charged battery lasts for around 12 months depending the number of times per day it’s used – we haven’t tested this obviously but the app will show you how much battery you have left.

The CurBot is a great gadget for opening and closing your curtains without the need for doing it yourself. Sometimes at the end of a long day, or first thing in the morning, who wants to be bothered doing that – well now you can have it done for you.

And because CurBot is portable you can take it with you when you go away so that you have the same easy time.

The CurBot is available to order now on Kickstarter – the prices vary depending on what pack you want so take a look.

You can learn more from the CurBot website.

Review: Quest for Infamy

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James Refelian

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Mar 12, 2022

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Quest for Infamy is a game I wanted to like a lot but sadly it falls short. Based upon the Quest for Glory series by Sierra Games this is a classic fantasy RPG-Action game that honestly, I wish I had played on PC. I reviewed this point-and-click adventure on PS5, and the experience was less than desirable.

The controls for movement which involves cycling through cursor options really isn’t suited to a controller and I often found myself using the wrong one and having to cycle through again to progress. This gets tiresome after a while and in a game as well detailed as this one, it made playing more of a chore.

The premise of the game is simple enough, you play the part of Mister Roehm, an unsavoury gentleman running away from being caught with a Baron’s daughter and trying to make a name for himself. You would think, with the title of the game, you could get up to all sorts of mischief and nefarious activities – but you would be mistaken. After this initial incident the game takes a rather tame turn. You can’t really hurt people, break things, or steal from the shops. If you do attempt such infamous acts, you will be chastised by the disembodied narrator. This can be amusing especially when the character breaks the fourth wall to interact back.

It’s a little disappointing then that the game almost forces you to be less infamous and more heroic as you go about the world. There’s also a level of apathy which I found confusing. The main character rarely seems to care about anything which begs the question why he bothers doing anything.

During the game you can elect to become a brigand, a rogue or a mage which gives you access to different storylines, items, and abilities. The game world is incredibly detailed and the depth of recreating endless pixel art backdrops for your character to walk through and interact with is evident.

Puzzles. Quest for Infamy does puzzles with exceptional strength. What sets these puzzles apart is that they aren’t necessarily based on random objects you might find. This isn’t typical in point-and-click games that employ puzzles and they are welcome to see and feel satisfying to solve.

Which brings me on to perhaps the worst part – the painfully badly acted dialogue. Honestly, it is so bad I wish they hadn’t bothered. I wonder if they are doing this intentionally to provide satire on the genre or if someone signed this off as good quality. Either way it was a terrible, terrible mistake. If you can get past it and continue playing then there is a lot to enjoy. It’s just very difficult to enjoy when every time you speak to someone or have the narrator speak to you, you’re reminded of just how terrible it is.

Despite this, the dialogue can be tongue-in-cheek and funny in some places. The overall plotting and story is also reasonably well developed, if not a little light. This is perfectly serviceable for a classic era point-and-click RPG but I expected a little more. It’s never going to be ground-breaking, and the tropes will feel familiar, but it relies a lot on nostalgia. This will always put a smile on your face.

The treatment of female characters is not something that should have been borrowed from those RPG games of old. Barely clothed in a chainmail bikini in one place for example just made me eyeroll. Combined with slightly uncomfortable attempts at humour it just makes the character, and indeed the game, feel sleazy.

Should I play Quest for Infamy?

For an indie game the sheer size and scale of the world is great. So to is the story and the fact each class has its own storyline. As well as this, the amazing puzzles. Quest for Infamy achieves a lot. It does some things very well and for a fan of those classic RPGs you’re going to love it. It will transport you back to the early 90s and that’s never bad. Sadly, the bad scaling and the atrocious voice acting are hard to get past. If you’re not used to this type of game the learning curve is steep and it may seem tedious.

Review: Gunborg: Dark Matters

Daniel Waite

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Mar 12, 2022

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What’s not to like about a great sci-fi adventure? They are full of aliens, badass one-liners, and likeable heroes. Furthermore, there are swathes of enemies, gargantuan bosses, and plenty of danger en route. You are normally thrown in at the deep end, and this is both overwhelming and exciting. Therefore, when I was offered Gunborg: Dark Matters, I couldn’t wait to see what I’d encounter.

Developed by Ricpau Studios and published by RED ART GAMES, this is an arcade twin stick shooter. It has science fiction at its core and guarantees to drive you crazy because of its tough ways. Now, it’s not in the same league as many of the 2D hardcore platforming titles. Yet, it still requires patience, precision planning, and a great memory.

Gunborg: Dark Matters is retro to the core.

Retro gaming is massive, but some titles merely play the part. Gunborg: Dark Matters is different! Every element reeks of old-school action, and I loved it because of it. From the excellent pixelated graphics, simple side-scrolling perspective, and hard-hitting audio, there’s plenty to enjoy.

The story, however, is a little weak. I admit I was confused from the off as the developers fail to explain what’s happened. Effectively, you are a female warrior who must escape from an abandoned spaceship. On her way, she encounters many aliens, traps, and objects that wish to kill her. She must use her guile, dexterity, and weapons to overcome the obstacles and get to the escape pods.

There is the normal selection of weapons to choose from, the usual traps to avoid, and the monstrous bosses to defeat. Yet, it still feels fresh and exciting to play. The gameplay is broken down over many short levels, and you’ll encounter a boss every four levels or so. You may think, “short levels, what’s the point?” Trust me when I say it, but they are the perfect length, as anything longer would be overwhelming.

So many obstacles to overcome. — Lasers, spikes, and many aliens!

Weaponry.

The heroine is armed with an energy sword and shield. As she progresses and kills aliens, she can steal their guns to improve her arsenal. Sadly, there is no way to reload your weapon, so once you are out of ammo, you chuck it away (no recycling here, I’m afraid). You’ll pick up rifles, grenade launchers, machine guns, rockets, and so forth. I adored the selection of futuristic guns and loved mowing down every foe I faced.

You’ll encounter flying discs, explosive beasts, sword-wielding maniacs, grunts, and more. Each hulking alien has strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited, and the further you progress, the harder they become. Therefore, it is essential that you empower your Dark Matter ability. This special power is armed as long as you achieve a large combo and don’t get hit. Subsequently, you are rewarded for your skill and this makes you much more badass.

Combat is only one part of the equation, however. As you explore the cavernous stages, you must avoid an array of obstacles and traps. You’ll avoid spiked walls, dodge lasers, land on moving platforms, and run under energy-infused cogs. Insanely, you must do all of this while fighting every foe you face. Therefore, you must plan on the fly and have razor-sharp reactions.

The bosses have many weapons at their disposal. — How can you defeat this awful boss?

Ranking system and 3 difficulty settings.

Like the great arcade titles of the past, Gunborg: Dark Matters focuses on an easy to understand ranking system. You will be marked on your speed, your deaths, the points you’ve collected, enemies you’ve killed, and collectables you’ve found. If you excel and perform perfectly, you’ll be awarded an S accolade. However, no matter what you score, you’ll always be able to progress.

Luckily, completionists and perfectionists can return to tackle any level at any time. Therefore, you can work your way through each stage and return to achieve top marks whenever you wish. I liked this approach as it keeps the action flowing. It would have been easy for the developers to make it more of a chore, but this would have undermined the arcade style.

To test veteran gamers, Ricpau Studios utilised 3 difficulty settings, easy, normal, and hardcore. Now, twin stick shooters are a genre I struggle with, so I found the easy option to be challenging enough. However, madmen or women can push themselves to their limits and try to defeat the hardcore option.

Gunborg: Dark Matters looks great.

It is easy for me to get swept up in the hype of retro gaming, as I love the nostalgic ways and the garish colours. However, I can’t deny that Gunborg: Dark Matters looks great no matter my biased point of view. The developers have done an amazing job with its buttery smooth action, brilliantly varied stages, and excellent neon hues. It captures everything that the 80s loved about sci-fi, but it adds a wonderful modern twist. Furthermore, the aliens look amazing, as they all have a unique appearance.

To enhance the retro style, there is a brilliant synth soundtrack that is aggressive, loud, and amazingly dated. Its hard-hitting ways add energy and drama to every stage you attempt. Alongside the great music are the fantastically futuristic sound effects. You’ll adore the booming explosives, the shrill sounds of each laser, and the ominous sounds of every alien. Like the graphics, the audio is well-thought-out and matches the theme and genre perfectly.

Gunborg: Dark Matters has many bosses to defeat. — Don’t negotiate with the aliens.

Responsive controls.

When a game demands high levels of precision, you need the controls to be responsive and accurate. Luckily, Gunborg: Dark Matters does just that. Subsequently, it makes a tough genre much easier to play. Even when the action gets hectic and you have many obstacles to avoid, you won’t feel out of your depth. Therefore, I can confidently say that this is suitable for both veterans and new players alike.

Thanks to the array of difficulty settings, collectables to find, and challenging gameplay, this will keep you busy for hours. Furthermore, once you finish the main story, you must overcome three extremely difficult stages! These will test the best gamers and will potentially make you rage quit.

Gunborg: Dark Matters is a hidden gem.

I knew little about this title before it hit my desk, but wow, I’m glad I played it. The developers have got every element spot on, and this will appeal to fans of many genres. I adored the aesthetics, the level design, the array of weaponry, the aliens, and the replay value. Yes, I won’t be trying the hardcore mode, but I know my limitations. I absolutely adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you work your way through the spaceship and get to the escape pods? Grab any weapon you find, kill the aliens, and avoid every obstacle.

Review: Dr Oil

Daniel Waite

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Mar 11, 2022

0

If you live by the seaside, chances are that you’ve been attacked by a seagull! These sky rats are greedy, aggressive, and obnoxious. They’ll crap on you from a great height and take enormous pleasure in stealing your food. It is for these reasons I can relate to the hero in Dr Oil. The protagonist was bitten by a seagull and he’s hell-bent on revenge. His enemy is now referred to as Captain Seagull, and he’s an angry beast. Yet, our hero is Doctor Oil, and he’s angrier still. He despises every seagull he sees and plots how he can decimate their whole species.

Developed by Antena and published by Chilidog Interactive, this is a 2D hardcore platform title. Set across 5 unique worlds, this is a classic controller breaking affair. You’ll hate every moment of it, but you won’t be able to put it down! It demands accuracy, patience, and a lot of skill. Subsequently, if you have none of these things, you’ll rage-quit, swear, and despise every moment.

Dr Oil is infuriating.

Like its peers, Dr Oil punishes minor errors. You’ll need muscle memory, exceptional twitch speed, and an eye for detail if you are to succeed. Furthermore, you’ll grind your teeth to stubs, bite your lip in rage, and make noises you never knew existed. In short, Dr Oil is infuriating, but oh so rewarding.

When a title mocks you about death, you know you’re in for a tough time. Therefore, if you don’t like failing, or you get a little sensitive, Dr Oil probably isn’t for you. Subsequently, each of the 75 levels will test you in horrific ways. You’ll have to dodge spikes, land on spinning platforms, avoid ghosts, work in the dark, and so forth. Furthermore, there are flying bullets, plenty of sharp edges, and ledges that disappear. In short, it’s a nightmare to beat and will test the hardiest of gamers.

Dr Oil has so many spikes to avoid — Avoid the spikes and stay alive.

Its concept isn’t unique.

Hardcore precision platformers aren’t a new concept. As such, it has a niche following that loves a brutal time. The genre is already packed with rage-inducing titles such as Super Meat Boy and OkunoKA Madness. So, how does this compare? Sadly, it isn’t as good as its counterparts. Yes, it is challenging and is enjoyable, in a sadomasochistic way. However, its concept isn’t unique and its peers do everything that much better.

Unfortunately, Dr Oil is lacking in the complexities that the other leading titles have. Moreover, the stages are much smaller and the levels lack flair or depth. However, this doesn’t mean it’s poor, because it’s not. I simply wanted it to evolve past the drip-fed mechanics and usual death-inducing elements.

Though I wasn’t overly enamoured by its approach, I liked the unique element within each world. This was a clever idea from the developers that kept the gameplay fresh. Furthermore, it added to the difficulty and kept you second-guessing. Whether it was the introduction of shifting platforms, floating spikes, cannons, or more, you had to think on the move. This quick planning and the constant shift in approach are where the title excels.

Captain Seagull is massive in Dr Oil. — That is one big seagull!

Dr Oil keeps things simple.

The lack of complexities extends to the graphical approach. The blend of bright colours and dark tones makes it pleasant and interesting to look at. What’s more, the sprites are simple, yet striking, and this helps to navigate each stage. Other than the silhouetted level, the action is easy to follow. Sadly, I struggled on the low light stages as the obstacles and enemies were tough to see. This unfortunately increased my frustrations unnecessarily. Had the developers used contrasting colours, then the issue would have been alleviated. This aside, it was a nice looking game that is attractive, simple, and well designed.

The simplicity continues with the repetitive, but melodic soundtrack. The high tempo and aggressive music suit the risky and challenging gameplay. Sadly, though, its basic nature will annoy many gamers. Unfortunately, the same song plays on a loop and that’ll drive you mad. With no respite or sound effects to break up the tedium, it’s hard to play for long periods.

Dr Oil lacks contrasting colours. — It is far too dark.

Easy controls.

Much of the action demands accuracy and tenacity. Therefore, it is lucky that there are easy controls to rely upon. Fortunately, the simple layout and responsiveness help to overcome the difficulties. The actions are well explained in the early levels and this helps to set you up for the challenges you encounter.

Unlike its peers, Dr Oil doesn’t have a speedrun option. Furthermore, there is no NG+ mode, and this was disappointing. Yes, the gameplay is tough already, but I expected more from this genre. However, completing every level is no mean feat, and subsequently, you’ll keep playing for hours.

Dr Oil ticks most boxes.

Getting everything right in this genre is a tough ask. Its fanbase is particular and wants to be challenged. Luckily, Dr Oil ticks most boxes, but I feel it doesn’t evolve enough. Sadly, there are a few things missing and this prevents it from fulfilling its potential. This being said, I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will you overcome every obstacle and get your revenge? Avoid every trap and kill that evil seagull.