Review: Long Live the Queen

Natosha M
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Review: Long Live the Queen

Have you always imagined what it would be like to be a Princess, or even better, just to be Queen? I know that being a part of royalty might look awesome in movies or TV shows, but it really is very difficult and not only does the King have an important role, but so does the Queen or even if it’s the Queen to be!

Long Live the Queen is a game that puts you in the seat of a Queen-to-be, working towards being a leader of the kingdom. It’ll have you working on many different assignments and allowing you to make decisions, which will move the narrative portion of the game on. All of which will determine the outcome of the game’s results. Also the many different classes, you’ll attend will help you train, learn, practice, and build those skills you need to know so you’re prepared for the life of being a Queen. However, don’t be fooled, the game isn’t all that easy and there are many different results as you are the guide to your own destiny. So as long as you take each week ahead seriously, you’ll have no problem becoming a strong and committed leader.

👑 How Was The Game 👑

I was very entertained by the idea of being a Queen or at least learning to become one. The game is very easy after you know how to set up the classes you want to take in the morning and evening. It’s odd that it’s not done day by day, the schedule is made out to be for a full week. Thus, you just learn by deciding each class you’d like to take during the day, from morning to evening for that week. Each one will raise your skill level a bit higher and you will be tested.

When I meant tested, well you will use the knowledge you’ve learned that week and weeks before to decide upon how well you will pass or fail during each conversational portion of the game. Once again, the game allows you to decide, and choosing correctly is a big important part. There will be a few chances to do a few things in the castle, which will also increase one’s mood or reduce it. Just depends on what you decide on checking out before the next week begins.

Also, you can keep changing the classes so it’s not something you are stuck with after a week is up. That will only help improve your skills and make you more knowledgeable. I also want to mention that I do like that you can speed things up in this game, sometimes it is a blessing. However, when it ends up you need to know what to respond to or decide on what happens next, it will be difficult. For example, if something bad occurred and you skipped the conversation. It might end up difficult to decide what to do as it may end up being the wrong choice or you might be lucky to choose correctly.

Additionally, the game is very much a click-and-go with every choice you decide. It’s not too much about real fighting or action that you have to do yourself. It’s just a click and continues through the story-style game. So it can become a bit boring, not a game I’m a huge fan of, but if I want to talk about how well it was designed, well it’s not bad. Everything works great in the order and manner it should. Nothing stalls or freezes and the graphics are perfect as well as the endearing music that plays in the background. I just wish there was a bit more to the game and it wasn’t just about a story you choose what goes on next.

👑 Final Thought 👑

Long Live the Queen has so many skills you need to achieve to be your best. Plenty of skills which you will be required to focus on and gain experience. The better you do, the better the ending of the game results will become, as you will be an awesome leader and a great Queen. However, it does get difficult with some challenging tasks required. So if you think this game is just about dressing the part and using excellent etiquette when possible, it is not!

Thus, I can only say this is a great game idea, and the design is nice, but also can be a bit tricky too and slightly boring after a while. A few issues I’ve had are to do with the fast-forward ability being triggered seems to be stalling quite a lot. I also think the selection of classes could probably have been setup and done a little better. So the game is partially great and has a few flaws that could be great with an update or a little bug fix. However, if I think past those few things, it’s an interesting game and a tricky one too! Each time playing this game, everything can change by how you choose and decide on different choices, so be careful there is a chance of having full success each time or having everything come to a horrible end!

Review: Avenging Spirit

Daniel Waite
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Review: Avenging Spirit

Love can make us do strange things. However, revenge will drive us crazy! Therefore, when you combine the two emotions, you have a dangerous and powerful mixture of feelings. Consequently, those who cross you will pay as you try to get back to your loved ones. This is exactly what happens in Avenging Spirit. It is a haunting retro game that is straight from the 90s.

Developed by City Connection and published by Ratalaika Games, this is an old-school arcade title. It can be played solo or with another, and it reeks of nostalgia. Subsequently, it may not be for everyone, but fans of the original will lap this up. Sadly, it is a bit of a short game, but this shouldn’t put you off. Thankfully, its low price point and fast-paced action make up for this.

Avenging Spirit won’t test you.

Though there is an array of difficulty settings, the gameplay will not test you. I died repeatedly, but it mattered not. Every time I failed, I simply continued as if nothing had happened. I found this to be more than a little strange, and just a tad too easy for my liking. Accordingly, I ran around like a headless chicken and was just as graceful as well. I wish it was much harder, but this never happened. As such, this short title was shorter still and took minimal effort to complete. 

The simple nature of this title starts with its uncomplicated plot. A loved-up couple is taking a romantic walk when trouble strikes. Unfortunately, a crime syndicate attack the pair and the man drops dead. To make matters worse, they leave him where he falls and they kidnap his girlfriend for good measure. However, this isn’t where it ends. Instead, the spirit of the man returns to avenge his death and save his girlfriend. In order to do this, he must traverse many levels, possess his foes, find keys, and defeat enormous bosses.

Avenging Spirit has some strange enemies.
Kill them with your snowballs.

Simple concepts and short levels.

Though the core concept of Avenging Spirit is straightforward, it is also enjoyable. You’ll experience some basic platforming elements, plenty of shooting, and some paranormal activity. The hero must possess his foes and control their body. Moreover, each person he controls has unique skills that must be mastered. Therefore, you’ll become a gun-welding maniac, a kung-fu champion, an unusual snowball rolling fiend, or more. The eclectic blend of characters ensures the action is always lively, if not a little predictable. Sadly, this does make it somewhat repetitive, but the short stages mitigate this issue.

What I did enjoy, however, was the Metroidvania moments and the quest to find each of the three keys. These collectables were essential to save your girlfriend. If you missed them, you must restart your adventure and attempt to say your beloved again. What was also great was the mean bosses at the end of each of the 6 levels. You’ll face a giant snake, the head of the crime syndicate, a magical being, and more. Each boss will test your reactions and abilities but are simple to overcome. Because of the aforementioned unlimited lives, death was just an inconvenience. This was a shame, as you rarely considered your approach, and this removed any risk or tactical nuance. 

Avenging Spirit is full of supernatural moments.
Will you possess this enemy?

Avenging Spirit is bright to look at, but also uninspiring. 

The 90s were renowned for their vivid colour palette and simple but cute sprites. Avenging Spirit doesn’t fail to live up to these classic retro tropes. Consequently, it’s nice to look at but is also uninspiring. Moreover, its approach was familiar, repetitive, and lacked an exciting edge. Even when the landscapes changed and the obstacles were different, they screamed déjà vu. This was a shame, as there was such potential for a unique and unusual action title. Instead, the developers played it safe and this won’t cut it with a modern audience.

The retro approach continues with the loud, sharp, and ear-bleedingly painful audio. This high-energy and aggressive soundtrack matches the theme and hurts to listen to. However, you won’t turn it down as it’s so bad it’s good. Alongside this, the annoying sound effects add to the OTT cacophony of noise. All in all, it is the perfect accompaniment to this legacy arcade title.

Avenging Spirit has some weird bosses.
Will you be able to take down the final boss?

Easy controls and a lack of longevity. 

Avenging Spirit captures the arcade gameplay with its simple control setup. The hero can shoot, jump, and possess his foes. This is the extent of the button layout and it won’t test you. On top of this, the fast-paced action is matched by the reactive controls. Therefore, this already simple title is just a bit easier to play. 

Disappointingly, the levels are too short; the enemies are weak, and the bosses are simple. As a consequence, you will complete the game in no time at all. Luckily, the search for the keys extends the longevity, as does the one labyrinthine stage. Other than this, you’ll fly through the content and will be left wanting. 

Avenging Spirit doesn’t work for a modern audience.

In the 90s, Avenging Spirit would have been well-received. Sadly, its simple ways and lack of difficulty don’t work for a modern audience. Its key selling point is its retro style and simple achievement list. Other than this, it is a basic arcade title that hasn’t aged well. I can’t see a reason to revisit it and therefore I won’t recommend you to buy it. However, more information can be found here! Will you avenge your death and save your girlfriend? Possess your foes, find the keys, and save the day. 

Review: Mothmen 1966

Alex Chessun
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Review: Mothmen 1966

There’s something about the Mothman that makes it eminently fascinating. Whether its the creature’s humanoid appearance, the mystery behind its sightings in the nostalgic 60s, or the fact that a paranormal writer took some rather impressive leaps of logic when penning a book that was eventually adapted into the highly evocative 2002 movie The Mothman Prophecies. However it came to be, the story is a hard one to forget. 

Appearing in isolated incidents in 1966 in a town named Point Pleasant to terrify the locals, it was then attributed to prophesizing large disasters as it would mysteriously appear just before they occurred. It matters not that the first sightings were explained by a local wildlife expert stating that a large Sandhill Crane – a very large reddish-eyed 7-foot wing spanned bird – may have diverted from its normal migratory path, the creature was set in stone, and its story staying alive in the vernacular of mythical beasts.

Using 80s home computer graphics as a visual framework to tell a short interactive visual novel, Mothmen 1966 centers the appearance of the creature around 3 characters, starting off with a couple of university students that go for a ‘romantic’ shooting star viewing in a remote town. Little do they know that mysterious men in black suits, paranormal events, and turn-of-the-century stories are in their immediate future.

The narrative starts slowly by building up the character backgrounds, with a 3-pronged perspective allowing you to learn about the lives of these normal characters and their innermost thoughts, exposing their personalities and their ticks.       

The retro presentation provides stylistic pixelated visuals with minimalistic but decent animation between shots, while repetitive 8-bit music fills the proceedings.  

I normally love this style of storytelling as the smallest details always paint the best picture of the intended world, but in this case, as the story’s running time is limited, the often blurted-out comments between characters with previously established relationships overshoot their mark, with the subtext not able to fill the gaps, like you’ve started a movie 30 minutes in and aren’t able to put a finger on what’s going on. 

This is an occupational hazard of a short story, of course, but one-way Mothmen 1966 tries to convey these existing relationships is by making them strained, but in doing so, makes it hard to actually care for any of the characters as they go through their trials and tribulations. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of media where you can’t empathize or see yourself in the characters, with the lack of redeeming features diminishing my enjoyment, regardless of how good the production is.   

Adjust the binoculars to get a better look at the mysterious figure on top of the trees….

The interactive parts of the game come in when the characters start being threatened by the local wildlife and require you to choose from a list of options with all but one leading to an abrupt and single death screen. Whether it’s adjusting binoculars to get the correct focus on a creature or fending off beasts from all angles, every interaction seems like a good idea on paper, but in reality, you just are pounding through the options in a crude menu to keep the story moving, as your incorrect option rarely provides any further story. 

The only game-like interactions that flow naturally within the story involve an ‘impossible’ card game introduced by one of the characters at the very beginning and also the choices mid-conversation that occasionally lead to differing dialogue and suggest a branching story. 

A death screen you’ll see over and and over until you land the correct option

Sadly, a large branching story with multiple endings never materializes – with only one end –  resulting in the biggest regret of the game, as this is the exact genre where this is needed. There are no sequels, no characters that need to survive, and no story that can be ruined with a bizarre ending.   

It should be said that the subject manner and the direction the story takes with the background of the Mothman – and why it appears – is both interesting and also the most intriguing part of the story, but the visual novel ends not long after the long discourse that finally has you understand what is actually happening, so despite setting up the story with everything feeding into this exact moment, all the air is let out of the balloon when it forces its abrupt and surprising ending on you.

It’s almost as if it’s done out of necessity to try and top the late reveal moments earlier, but it’s given little chance to build itself back up, resulting in a flat ending.    

You have fewer bullets than creatures you have to shoot. They are attracted to the lights. How to solve the puzzle?

This isn’t to say that Mothmen 1966 is a bad story by any means, but it’s not the greatest interactive experience. Short stories by their very nature are limited by the length of time to deliver its narrative, but without innovative gameplay or a branching story to extend the experience, it makes little more than bland one-and-done viewing. 

To play devil’s advocate, one advantage of this style is that a broad spectrum of ideas can be conveyed if delivered in a package, but despite some slightly confusing advertising, you are only getting one game out of a planned collection of 3 separate short stories. A three-in-one package will presumably happen once all three have been released, so I suggest that any pulp fiction/mythical creature fans wait until that happens before making the investment. 

A short story that is both light on content and variety, Mothmen 1966 is a two-hour supernatural mystery without the narrative highs or multiple endings that you’d expect, and as such, you are better off turning your console and streaming The Mothman Prophecies for the millionth time instead. 

Review: Arsonist Heaven

Daniel Waite
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Review: Arsonist Heaven

Balancing offence and defence is easier said than done. Sometimes, fear takes hold and you want to run away. Other times, you become gung ho and you lose your mind. Whatever occurs, it is bound to have serious ramifications. This is exactly what happens in Arsonist Heaven.

Developed by OMEGACORE and Ratalaika Games and Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a retro-inspired 2D side-scrolling platformer. It is a title that uses some tried and tested mechanics and blends them with tough and unforgiving moments. Consequently, it is not a walk in the park, even though it is really easy to understand.

Arsonist Heaven will enrage you. 

There is no doubt about it. Arsonist Heaven is a tough title. As such, it will enrage you as you fail, die, and fail again. In theory, everything should be straightforward. In reality, it is not. You must learn to manage resources while trying to kill everything in sight. However, your overpowered foes run rings around you. Therefore, a tactical and calm approach must be considered.

The story, on the other hand, is much easier to digest. You are a hunter who is sent to annihilate his foes. Each world he visits has a set number of enemies, and he can’t progress until they are eliminated. Simple, so far, right? Well, here is where it hots up! You must visit a volcano, desert, icy tundra, and forest. Each of these locations breeds unique monsters with different abilities. If you can survive this onslaught and not run out of ammo, you’ll complete your mission, and become a hero.

Arsonist Heaven has some massive bosses to defeat.
Dodge the giant rock boss.

Classic platforming and limited resources. 

Though I loved the madness of the fighting, the classic platforming elements were better. Thanks to its traditional approach, it reeked of nostalgia. I adored leaping from surfaces, finding hidden paths, and falling into the unknown. If you combine this with the brutality of the shooting mechanics, you get an interesting and addictive result.

Alongside this, the minor tactical nuances make it stand out from its peers. Because of the limited resources and a large array of obstacles, death is a very real threat. Therefore, you must study each stage, concoct a plan, and hope that you’re successful. 

Each weapon is fuelled by gas canisters. If you run out, and you have no alternative gun, you are doomed. As such, you must scour the stage for resources, gather new weapons, and fire sparingly. After all, you won’t want to fail because you run out of ammo, will you?

Dodge every monster that comes your way.
What the heck is that thing?

Arsonist Heaven: a pixel title with a modern finish.

So many people groan whenever pixelated graphics are mentioned. However, I love this dated style! Yet, what I love more is pixel graphics with a modern finish. Arsonist Heaven captures the retro vibes perfectly because of the simple sprites and garish colours. Yet, it doesn’t look rough and its modern polish makes it pleasant to look at. What’s more, the backdrops are unique and varied, and each monster has a distinctive animation.

What, perhaps, wasn’t so modern, was the retro audio. The synthesised soundtrack and basic sound effects worked well but were at odds with the visuals. It was a little strange, but I liked it, nonetheless. The weapons sound loud and aggressive and add to the drama. Furthermore, the music is ever present, so there is never a lull in the energy.

Arsonist Heaven has a nice variety of stages to visit.
Brrrrrrr.

Perfect controls. 

Rarely does a game get its control system spot on. Consequently, perfect controls are hard to come by. But, Arsonist Heaven is pretty damn close. Thanks to an excellent UI and responsive inputs it is easy to play. Furthermore, the basics are easy to understand. Accordingly, the only thing to hold you back is your lack of skill. 

Because the gameplay is so brutal, it’s oddly addictive. Subsequently, you won’t want to put it down, no matter how much it kicks your ass. If you then consider the 4 worlds, the array of enemies, and the arsenal of weapons, this has longevity and replay value. 

Arsonist Heaven is unusual, but familiar. 

Arsonist Heaven is retro in so many ways, that its action feels oddly familiar. The eclectic blend of combat, tactics, and platforming will test your patience, reactions, and planning. Furthermore, it’ll make you scream while demanding you return for more. Consequently, it’s rewarding, cruel but oh so moreish. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here! Being a hunter is never easy. Yet, by planning and being patient, you can become a hero. 

Review: Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition

Xavier Berry
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Review: Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition

Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition is a beautiful adventure game set in space and involves a complicated relationship between Jun and Eda as he recalls their adventures and what transpired over the years. Since the narrative is told from an elderly Jun, the game plays as one major flash back. There is a major focus on the music in the game and solving minor musical puzzles to advance the plot. Being the third title in the series, Opus: Echo of Starsong Full bloom edition is easy to pick up without having to play any of the previous games.

Story

Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition an adventure game that focus on the relationship between Jun and Eda, as stated before. Jun is an exiled noble who is accompanied by his guardian and friend Kay. They embark on an adventure to make up for a mistake Jun made during a trial which brought dishonor on his clan. Along the way, they encounter Eda and her co-pilot in a busy market while trying to purchase information regarding a potential mining spot. Eda states that she is a witch, and the information would be more useful in her hands since Jun lacks a witch of his own. After the initial run in with each other, Eda takes off for a mining facility located in an asteroid only for it to be a pirate base hidden away so that they can capture unsuspecting adventurers. As Jun and Kay make a rescue attempt, the relationship between the three characters goes from one of annoyance and irritation to an attempt to trust one another to escape the asteroid.

Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition has a lot of dialog and information to drop on players within the first few hours, so it is important to pay attention to everything being said. For example, if players are not aware of what is going on, they may miss what a witch is and why they are so important. Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition is a short game, with players able to see the credits after around 12 hours so even if they miss any information, it won’t take long to see the story through one more time. This leads us to our next talking point which is the gameplay.

Gameplay

Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition plays out with different modes going on. Space navigation will see players moving their ship from one location to another while using and gaining resources. While they travel through space, they may run across different asteroids and caverns to adventure into which moves players into the exploration stage. Here players will move characters around in a 2.5D view as they move throughout the location, picking up different memos that give more information on the story and world around them. There will occasionally be puzzles that require players to utilize the Star song’s they have picked up along the way to harmonize with the Machinery to progress.

There are points in the story which players will be able to make decisions and this can impact how the story plays out. If players make the wrong choice however, the screen will shift to the elderly Jun as he states that what happened isn’t correct. This will give players a chance to redo the encounter and make the correct decision to move on.

Final Thoughts

Opus: Echo of Starsong-Full bloom edition gives players a heartfelt adventure without asking for 40+ hours of their time. Since there is a heavy focus on music, players can expect to hear a beautiful soundtrack accompanied by Voice acting which was added to the Full bloom edition. The game runs well on the switch and is perfect for the on the go play but since players cannot save manually, it is important to dedicate time to playing the game.

Review: Superola Champion Edition

Natosha M
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Review: Superola Champion Edition

Do you consider yourself a fan of burgers? Maybe you love beef, chicken, turkey, or even a vegetarian burger patty topped with everything or simply cooked and placed on a bun. Either way, if you enjoy them, how would you feel if your favorite burgers were removed from the world, and you wouldn’t be able to enjoy them anymore?

Ok, maybe you won’t be totally upset, but this little white llama in the game Superola Champion Edition is a bit outraged to find out his favorite food, the burger is being stolen by alien hotdogs. Yes, you heard that right, hot dogs are taking over the world and removing all of the burgers. So this llama has made it his goal to stop these devious alien hotdogs and retrieve all the burgers back. Therefore, if you feel you would love to help and be the hero of the game, a hero llama. Then prepare yourself for a challenging adventure with 10 worlds and 70 bright and brilliant platform-styled stages to play through.

Each location is filled with obstacles and tough bosses that need to be taken down, bringing you one step closer to victory and all the burgers you can eat! However, don’t be fooled, this isn’t going to be an easy game to speed through as there are so many obstacles and enemies trying to stop you. So if you feel you can take on an engaging game as this one, being a heroic burger-loving llama, then prepare yourself and get ready to be entertained and challenged!

🦙🍔 How Was The Game 🍔🦙

At first, I was going to say that this game might be too easy to accomplish, but it really has some tricky bits that made it way more challenging and entertaining. Plus, with so many levels, it’s not going to be super fast to complete, which is also a plus!

The game itself doesn’t ever feel boring, because there is no repetitious gameplay after playing from one stage to the next. Each one has something new to enjoy, especially new activities that will have you challenging your brain and putting your fighting skills to work. Additionally, with the multiplayer option, you can enjoy playing against 4 others and see who can beat the stage the fastest.

I honestly can’t say there is much of a difficult learning curve about the game. It’s very straightforward and of course, easily explained through the start of the game. If you ever tried any platformer in the past, you’ll know how simple it is to go from one location to the next defeating enemies and trying to accomplish small goals to get you closer to the main goal of the game, burger victory!

What I felt throughout the game was a little more joyful from how humorous it was and unlocking extra bonus levels is just even more exciting. On the other hand, the bosses were tough, but with a little skill, it was easy enough to defeat them and move on. Might take a few mistakes, but after a while, it gets easier. I do want to also point out that with the market on the map, you can purchase gear for the llama. Wear a costume style to personalize your llama as much as you like or even buy burgers if you can’t gain enough in each level to help restore your shooting extra powers that you’d never have known a llama could have, till you see him shoot a laser from his mouth.

Additionally, there is another entire game called Alpaca’s Redemption, a pixelated game that plays just as fun and adventurous as a classic retro game of the 1990s or the NES and SNES style era. That game choice is available right away, so no worries to complete the main game to get to play this one. It can be found right on the main menu screen and like mentioned above, this additional game is totally fun, not as fast-paced, but still very action-packed too!

Lastly, I’d like to mention that the graphics of the game, Superola Champion Edition reminds me fully of a very cartoonish style game. On top of that, you can even decide if you want to play the graphic design with a more modern visual appeal or pixelated, like a classic 16-bit game. However, either version is great and it’s clear enough to make out the characters, either good or bad in the game. Everything is very bright and full of beautiful colors, which I feel makes the game quite enjoyable and easy to see everything going on in the game. Making it hard to miss out or forget anything that you need to collect. So honestly there is nothing about this game that is negative in its beautiful artistic design. That includes the excellent gameplay as well!

🦙🍔 Final Thoughts 🍔🦙

Superola Champion Edition is a very cute and humorous game. For me, it was nothing but a joy and a fast-paced game that brought plenty of new discoveries and challenging enemies to face. I’m honestly not a big burger fan, probably not as much as this llama loves them. Yet, I did enjoy being a hero and moving as fast as a horse, galloping quickly through each stage to get to those burgers back! Nothing about the game was boring as each stage was different and involved doing something new. It almost felt like a game that is part of playing a quick thinking and planning platformer and even reminds me of a classic adventure game by the background sound and bright graphics.

It really is a great game that is something that will keep you entertained for a while and has plenty of unique characters to meet. That also goes for the additional game you can choose to play, Alpaca’s Redemption. Each game is original and quite fun to play!

Review: Path of Titans

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Path of Titans

Dinosaurs fascinate me. Consequently, I love anything that has these scaly beasts at its core. I’ll admit, I adored Jurassic Park as a child, and I played Ark a little too much. However, I regret nothing! Whenever a new IP is released, that allows me to fulfil my dinosaur-loving ways, I jump at the opportunity. Path of Titans does that even though it is still in Game Preview.

Developed and published by Alderon Games, this is a role-playing open-world dinosaur simulation title. It focuses on MMO mechanics and can be played solo or online. Furthermore, it has Cross-Play features, and this ensures you can play with friends no matter the system. It is still early days for this title, but the potential is plain to see. Accordingly, this is one game that has a bright future and, therefore, it is appealing.

The selection of creatures is crazy.
You are big enough not to be messed with.

Path of Titans will be amazing. 

Thanks to a large array of herbivores and carnivores to pick from, you are spoilt for choice. What’s more, each of these beasts has unique strengths and weaknesses that must be understood and exploited. You are free to play the game as you wish, but the core concept revolves around a plethora of quests. These tasks are essential as they force you to explore the monstrous map while gaining XP.

You may wonder why a dinosaur needs XP, well without it, they won’t grow. Yes, you read that correctly, your character (the dinosaur) starts as a weak juvenile and grows into a massive, hulking creature. As they age, they learn new abilities that help them to fight and complete quests. Alongside this, you are expected to climb mountains, explore woodlands, swim in lakes, and more. 

In theory, there is plenty to do. However, the quests are quite repetitive, usually straightforward, and need some fleshing out. Sadly, this is one of the biggest shortcomings in its current build. Unless you have a great group of friends to roam with, it gets quite tedious. Subsequently, I could only play for short periods of time and this surprised me. I expected to be sucked into the wonderful Jurassic world, but I never was. In part, this was down to the ridiculous nature of the tasks at hand. I mean, why would a carnivore collect lychees or pine cones?

Empty plains and not a dinosaur in sight. 

My biggest concern is the lack of creatures. No matter how far I walked, or how many quests I completed, the world was empty. I’d look up, and the sky wasn’t filled with quetzals or pterodactyls. No, instead there was the odd cloud to look at. Furthermore, there is even less life at ground level. I had expectations of a brontosaurus eating trees or being chased by a spinosaurus. Yet, the biggest risk was falling from a boulder or drowning in a river.

It is true that I was disappointed. But, I still enjoyed what I experienced. Losing yourself in a prehistoric world was incredible, even if it was devoid of life. However, I can see the developers adding to this as the game evolves. If this happens, it will be a fascinating and thrilling time whether you play alone or with friends.

Path of Titans has a fantastic range of dinosaurs.
Now,who is a handsome dinosaur?

The multiplayer action is king.

Unsurprisingly, this MMO comes to life when played with others. Alderon Games desperately wants Path of Titans to be a role-playing experience. As such, to get the most out of it, you must be willing to think like your character. Now, a few of my online compatriots took this to the next level. Though I couldn’t bring myself to become a dinosaur, I could tell they were completely invested in the situation.

On top of this, the community is fantastic. I’ve played many MMO games, and the toxicity is unreal. Fortunately, Path of Titans has plenty of players who adore the theme and like to be helpful. However, there is always one bad apple and you can be killed at any time. Consequently, being savvy and teaming up with fellow triceratops or the likes is a wise move. 

Path of Titans looks spectacular. 

I can’t say enough how much I loved the visuals within this game. Graphically, Path of Titans looks spectacular. From the excellent models to the lush vegetation, it is phenomenal. Then, there is the smooth animation, the excellent abilities, and the aggressive but interesting combat moments. Alongside this, I witnessed no major bugs or glitches, nor were there any frame rate issues. I fully expected there to be a plethora of problems, but its polish and finish were a pleasant surprise.

Disappointingly, the same can’t be said for the audio. For unknown reasons, it is extremely quiet and rarely present. Subsequently, the empty world feels starker. This is then enhanced when dramatic music accompanies your journey. Whenever this occurs, the gameplay is instantly improved. Sadly, though, it is so sporadic that you become accustomed to the silence. What’s more, each dinosaur has a set vocabulary of calls. These are so hard to decipher that they become redundant. This was a shame, as in theory, it was a spectacular idea that should work. In reality, though, it is confusing and needs to be filtered and simplified.

The creatures and landscapes are incredible.
Is something hiding near those rocks?

Excellent controls. 

Thanks to the considered UI, Path of Titans works extremely well. Furthermore, an intelligent and thorough tutorial explains the fundamentals. This was an extremely good idea, as it could have been overwhelming. Luckily, the clearly explained mechanics allow you to jump straight into the action. Alongside this, a mix of radial menus and sub-menus enables you to manage every action. Even when new abilities are unlocked, you always feel in control. Subsequently, it is an extremely user-friendly title that can be enjoyed by everyone.

The lack of other dinosaurs and repetitive tasks may impact the replay value. However, if you play this with friends, there’s plenty to do. Also, the developers will add more content and hopefully beef out the lifeless environment. If these things happen, the gameplay will be vastly improved. In its current build, it will only appeal to a niche audience. Yet, I can see this expanding as the core action improves, and the world is as alive as it should be.

Path of Titans is a slow-burner. 

Path of Titans will be a fantastic title once it fulfils its potential. There are many routes it can take, and this is what makes it exciting. I loved spending time with its enthusiastic community, improving my dinosaur, and exploring the incredible world. However, I simply wish it grabbed my attention for longer. I strongly believe it will improve as it’s currently a bit of a slow-burner. I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will you become the dinosaur you are destined to be? Play solo, or with others as you roam a beautiful prehistoric world. 

Review: SpellForce III Reforced

Daniel Waite
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Review: SpellForce III Reforced

The RTS genre has long dominated the PC market. However, console gamers yearn to be included in this captivating and time-consuming endeavour. Yes, a few titles have made their way onto PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, but not enough for my liking. SpellForce III Reforced tries to mix things up with its eclectic blend of mechanics and fantasy themes.

Developed by Grimlore Games and published by THQ Nordic, this is an RTS RPG hybrid. Furthermore, it is the remastered version of the 2017 PC exclusive SpellForce III. This console edition has been successfully ported and gamers can enjoy the additional DLC in the complete version. Alternatively, it can be purchased separately at a later date. So, shall we see if the jump to console has worked? Yeah, let’s wait no longer and take a closer look.

SpellForce III Reforced has an array of special units to train.
Probably best to keep out of their way.

SpellForce III Reforced: jack of all trades, master of none. 

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, jack of all trades, master of none. Well, that’s pretty apt for SpellForce III Reforced. This is one hybrid title that takes it to the next level. Consequently, there are plenty of ingredients to play with as you progress. Unfortunately, though, none of them truly excels, and this somewhat dampens down the depth and complexity. However, this shouldn’t put you off, as its multi-faceted approach will entertain you throughout.

The story revolves around the hero Tahar and a group of mages known as The Circle. A deadly plague is sweeping the realm, and the protagonist and their group of adventures must somehow stop it. The plot takes place before the acclaimed SpellForce: The Order of Dawn. Consequently, fans of the series must adjust their timelines to get their bearings.

If you are a newcomer to the franchise, you may worry about being out of your depth. Fear not, this can be enjoyed as a standalone title! Moreover, the drip-fed lore and excellent storytelling drag you into this grim and troubled world.

SpellForce III Reforced is full of drama and epic battles.
So many dramatic battles to witness.

Base building, resource management, and real-time strategy. 

What I loved about SpellForce III Reforced was its eclectic blend of elements. Now, the aforementioned lack of depth is a concern, and purists may dislike it, but I wasn’t worried. I adored how the action flitted from one area to another. Whether you were expanding your kingdom, building your base, or manifesting an army, it was captivating. These elements nicely support the RTS battles and are akin to a stripped-down Age of Empires.

The fights focus on each unit’s strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, the chosen race influences your approach and your tactical advantages. Elves, humans, orcs, and dwarves dictate your style and which element you’ll dominate. Further to this, your resource management is key if you wish to succeed. As more advanced troops become available, more complex ingredients are needed. Subsequently, you must balance a larger army with more specialist units.

SpellForce III Reforced has a classic look. 

Baldur’s Gate and Diablo are excellent examples of isometric viewpoint titles. Luckily, SpellForce III Reforced can be added to that list. With its detailed characters, deep and moody tones, and excellent environment, it looks fantastic. What’s more, the RTS elements aren’t overwhelming, and the action flows perfectly. I encountered no frame drops, glitches or bugs during my extended playtime.

What isn’t so good, sadly, is the flat audio. It does a good job of installing that fantasy feel and whimsical magical edge. But this quickly falls away as the acting is dry and the sound effects are uninspiring. Don’t get me wrong, they are serviceable, but they lacked energy and were the weakest element.

The world is full of stunning architecture.
Check out the stunning environment and landscapes.

Surprisingly good controls.

My biggest fear with PC ported games is the controls. Thankfully SpellForce III Reforced has done an excellent job with its user-friendly approach. By using a radial submenu, the UI isn’t as cluttered as expected. Further to this, a lack of in-depth abilities ensures its easy to understand. Alongside this, the isometric viewpoint makes it straightforward to handle your troops and control your party. This was key when traversing large areas or scanning any landscapes. All in all, it’s a comfortable transition from PC to console that should be applauded.

As expected, this oozes both replay value and longevity. This is helped in part because of the excellent multiplayer options. If you tire of the single-player mode, you can play competitively against the AI and friends, or cooperatively. You can experiment with a purely RTS mode, try a campaign mode across multiplayer maps, or compete in an arena. Whatever you fancy, they add a nice distraction from the main event.

SpellForce III Reforced is an excellent remastered title.

There is no doubt that Grimlore Games has done a fantastic job. My only concern is its lack of depth across each specific genre. However, its hybrid design does enough to keep you interested throughout. What’s more, as a console player, it is nice to experience this much-loved title without the investment of a decent PC. All things considered, I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you lead your army to victory? Expand your lands, thwart your enemies, and destroy the plague that’s spreading like wildfire. 

A Closer Look at the Trust Bologna Sustainable Slim Laptop Bag

Andrew Edney
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0
A Closer Look at the Trust Bologna Sustainable Slim Laptop Bag

Following the announcement of its Clevergreen initiative in August 2021 where leading value-for-money digital lifestyle accessories brand, Trust Electronics Ltd began pursuing many projects concerning the environmental impact of its products, packaging, and operations, have introduced its Bologna range of sustainable, spacious and secure laptop bags manufactured from 11 polyethylene terephthalate bottles. 

The Trust range of Bologna bags hold laptops and other essentials while being comfortable on commutes. With a padded, top-loading laptop sleeve suited for laptops up to 16 inches and a zippered front pocket for small accessories, such as a phone, charger, and other useful items, the Bologna sustainable bags with ultra-soft microfiber lining keep laptops safe from scratches on the inside and bumps on the outside.

Practical and lightweight, the bags can either be carried by the handle, or by the removable strap that can be adjusted for a custom fit so everything can be carried comfortably, safely and in style.

The origin of the materials used in the Bologna bags has been verified according to Global Recycled Standard (GRS). This means that the fabric supplier is GRS certified, and a transaction certificate (TC) for each provides proof that the fabric is indeed made from recycled materials.

Style, function and a clear conscience; the Bologna range has it all, enabling potential customers to reduce their carbon footprint by carrying a bag that is almost completely made from recycled materials.

The Bologna Slim Laptop Bag 16 inch ECO is available in black/blue/green/red from Amazon for around £19.

Review: Turtle Beach React-R controller

Daniel Waite
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Review: Turtle Beach React-R controller

Gaming controllers are incredible these days. They are robust, well-built, and look amazing. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule. Therefore, you want to be sure you are looking at a quality product before investing. Turtle Beach is an industry-recognised brand. Consequently, when they release any peripherals, you are confident that they’ll be good. The Turtle Beach React-R controller is their latest product that pushes the boundaries without breaking the bank.

This Xbox and Microsoft-specific accessory looks great, feels wonderful, and is packed with special features. Subsequently, it is amazing value for money while enhancing your gaming experience. There are mappable buttons, tactile textured grips, audio controls, and a massive USB-C cable to power it. In short, it’s an excellent upmarket controller at a fraction of the cost.

The Turtle Beach React-R controller has easy to use buttons.
Switch on the Superhuman hearing function and stay ahead of the competition.

What’s in the box of the Turtle Beach React-R controller?

  • This accessory is packaged in a small but robust box. It has a familiar Xbox colour palette and highlights the key selling points. Furthermore, every part can be recycled, and this is a massive positive.
  • The Turtle Beach React-R controller looks similar to the official Microsoft products. However, it is lighter and has a cluster of additional buttons. Above the Xbox symbol, you’ll see a “Superhuman” hearing option, a mute button, and an audio toggle switch. Further to this, the d-pad can increase and decrease game and chat volume. To the rear, there are two mappable buttons. Finally, there is a 3.5mm audio jack port as well.
  • The USB-C cable. This 3-metre-long cable is rubberised and built to last.
  • Quick start guide. Learn the fundamentals immediately with this basic manual. 
Familiar Xbox livery.
The front of the Turtle Beach React-R controller
Check out the mappable buttons.
A simple user manual.
A monstrous USB-C charging cable.
The full package.

Technical aspects.

When I look for a new controller, I want it to feel comfortable, and to have great build quality. Luckily, the Turtle Beach React-R controller ticks both of these boxes. Because of its ergonomic tactile grips, and well-placed additional buttons, everything feels right. What’s more, the plastic shell is sturdy, lightweight, and built to last. This accessory comes in a range of colours, and I received the white and lilac variety. However, a plain black option is also available.

Whenever a controller has custom settings, they need to be easy to use. Fortunately, in this case, they are extremely straightforward. By double tapping the centre audio button, you can map the additional triggers on the fly. Alongside this, the centre button can also be used to increase the game volume or balance voice comms. This was a phenomenal idea, as changing your settings so easily is almost unheard of.

Alongside this, you can utilise Turtle Beach’s Superhuman hearing setting. At the push of a button, your audio is enhanced. You’ll hear footsteps, bullets flying through the air, and the quietest of noises. Moreover, if you need some privacy, you can mute your mic in no time at all.

The Turtle Beach React-R controller is comfortable and well designed.
Comfortable and well-placed ergonomic grips.

Is the Turtle Beach React-R controller worth it?

It’s nice to have all the elite additional functions. But, let’s be honest, all we want is a sturdy pad that is reactive and feels great. The Turtle Beach React-R controller analogue sticks have a useful movement range, feel sturdy, and react as expected. Furthermore, the additional buttons are comfortable to use and easy to alter.

On top of this, the audio functionality is excellent. It’s a game-changer to be able to alter settings on the fly, and Turtle Beach has this covered. What’s more, the Superhuman hearing is incredible. Accordingly, I loved how much this improves your gaming experience. Consequently, once you’ve boosted your sound, you won’t want to go back. All things considered, this is an amazing accessory that is inexpensive. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here!

Summary.

Turtle Beach has yet again proved to be an incredible player in the gaming industry. Though this wired option may not be for everyone, I loved everything about it. Accordingly, if you want an inexpensive but upmarket accessory, then look no further.

(More information on Turtle Beach can be found here!) 

The Turtle Beach React-R controller has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech gold award.

Review: Yurukill: The Calumniation Games

Alex Chessun
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Review: Yurukill: The Calumniation Games

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is a game you won’t see coming. 

The best way to describe it would be to imagine the Ace Attorney series, the Zero Escape series and a shmup having a baby, but even then, you’ll probably still be blindsided by it.   

Similar to Squid Game where competitions can lead to some rather grave situations, a group of murderers with dubious convictions are taken against their wishes to the amusement park from hell, Yurukill Land, and are forced to team-up with the victims of their crimes and compete, with the promise that the winning team would have their crimes exonerated and wishes granted, while the losers suffer a more unpleasant fate.  

Rather than being a bloodbath, this is more a PG-13 campy anime thriller, which, like riding a rollercoaster in the pitch black, aims to surprise you at every possible turn. 

While there is a decent mix of comedy and ‘shocking’ scenes, due to the slow unveiling of the story, the narrative can occasionally get stuck in repetitive ‘Oh, no I didn’t.’ ‘Oh, yes you did’ loops. 

Each fabricated stage replicates the pair’s own crime scene, having huge implications for their cases with new evidence coming to light. The ‘prisoners’, who all emphatically profess their innocence, will do anything to learn more about the true culprits, while the victims vehemently wish for said prisoners to admit their guilt. As further motivation for the prisoners to follow the victims’ wishes, the victims, or so-called ‘executioners’, are all given the ability to end the life of the prisoners at any time via a metal tag around their necks.

It’s a story that likes to keep its cards to its chest, but as the plot thickens and the stress heightens for the participants, the characters’ vulnerabilities and tragic backstories reel you in and I found myself invested in most of the characters and their motivations.   

As a Japanese-voiced (with English subtitles) visual novel, the player ‘controls’ one-half of each of the 4 murderer/victim pairs in point-and-click puzzle investigations which eventually lead to VR-like vertical shoot ’em up battles.

If that wasn’t enough, after defeating the ship of your partner, you then launch into Phoenix Wright-esque cross-examinations (which are interfaced to your opponent’s logic and emotions) and produce evidence in an attempt to resolve their disputes, all while still manning their ships in the futuristic interface.

‘Yurukill’ is the combination of the Japanese word for forgive – ‘Yurusu’ – and English word ‘kill’.

Logically, this makes little to no sense both narratively and in general for a standard genre game, but strangely, it actually works. Admittedly, it’s quite hard to imagine Sherlock Holmes challenging a criminal to a VR shoot ’em up game instead of catching them in the act or handing them over to the police, but even with the negligible link between the two, with desperate characters in do-or-die situations (due to the hold the executioners have over the prisoners), the urgency and high tempo of both the soundtrack and the gameplay matches the mood well.

With visual novels and shmups being two of my favourite genres of games – separately, mind you – due to their ability to take their time in telling a story and providing thrilling gameplay respectively, my biggest concern was not actually the combination of the two, but rather the puzzle sections.

I often find puzzles to be unnecessary inclusions that have zero context and add nothing but filler gameplay to the proceedings, but, thankfully – for the most part – the large number of puzzles (that range from code breaking to pattern recognition) is not only varied but all have a legitimate reason for their existence, aiding the story as it progresses.

Choose your poison…..

Interestingly, the biggest disappointment I had was with the shmup gameplay which relies a lot on the high-stakes nature of the story to carry its shallow gameplay. It’s one thing to provide variety with 4 different ships with different evasive characteristics, but it’s slightly underwhelming when your ‘special’ abilities are less impressive than your standard weapon, essentially reducing the gameplay to holding down ‘X’ and using the left analogue stick to move your ship.

The visuals are decent and there is enough a difficulty to tide over the boss battles during the story, but what this means for the overall game is that despite having a separate score attack mode just for this gameplay style, it’s not enjoyable enough as a standalone feature, with its removal from the context of the story highlighting its weaknesses. 

Despite the slipups, the crescendo of the story is as many outrageous anime stories often are, ending in an admittedly unbelievable, but still satisfying conclusion. 

Stuttering transitions between scenes, low frame rate cutscenes, and numerous loading screens are also an issue that plagues the game throughout, and although it is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, as most of the gameplay is in a visual novel format, it is another unfortunate footnote for what is otherwise a brave gamble for the developer.

With enough twists and turns to give you motion sickness, Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is a unique anime visual novel that isn’t afraid to try something new, taking you places you’d least expect. While the shmup gameplay doesn’t particularly hold up its end of the bargain as a standalone feature, as the enjoyable sum of multiple parts, this is a visual novel that genre fans should consider. 

Review: REDSHOT

Lee Fairweather
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Review: REDSHOT

Since the release of Castlevania: SotN back in 1997, Metroidvania games have consistently retained popularity in the consumer market. Countless takes on the genre are widely available across each and every platform. And while this is certainly a great thing, it can also make it difficult to find something fresh to play. REDSHOT is one such title that has successfully managed to separate itself amongst its peers.

At its core, REDSHOT is a Metroidvania side scroller, with a focus on bullet time gameplay. It was created by solo developer Brian Lynch over the course of seven years. His hard work has certainly paid off though, as REDSHOT is incredibly well made title, albeit with a few hiccups.

Story

Our story follows Galactic Defence Force agent Jack Redshot, AKA “Goose.” While making his standard rounds, he receives a distress call about an ongoing invasion on the planet Carcosa. His higher ups task him with investigating the attack, along with safely extracting the royal family back to HQ.

Predictably, Goose is ambushed on his way to the planet, causing him to abruptly crash-land. In true video game fashion, this somehow leaves him with very few resources at his disposal. Now isolated from his allies, he aims to successfully complete his mission against the mysterious enemy forces.

On the surface, REDSHOT seemed pretty cut and dry narratively. However, the further I delved into the game, the more I started to find myself genuinely captivated. It all seemed to be leading to an epic grand reveal, but sadly, that never occurred. Instead, the story was practically dropped half way through the game. And worse of all, the plots conclusion was straight up abandoned in place of obvious sequel bait.

To say this was both disappointing and unsatisfying, is putting it incredibly mildly. It did somewhat sour my experience of REDSHOT, but the unmistakeably awesome gameplay brought me right back on the games bandwagon.

Gameplay

Gunplay

In REDSHOT, you’ll face off against a countless bombardment of enemies. To combat them, you are provided with a vast array of weapons and equipment, all of which serve their own purposes. These range from pistols, shotguns and rocket launchers, all the way up to energy blasters and flamethrowers. They are all absurdly entertaining to use, and most important of all, control extremely well.

The ability to slow down time also provides you with a massive strategic advantage. However, since using bullet time drains your stamina, you still have to have the wherewithal to use it smartly. Letting it tick for too long will leave you exhausted and vulnerable, thus, unable to avoid the enemies’ attacks. With all that said, if you use this mechanic efficiently, it’ll make you feel like a total badass.

Throughout the entirety of my playthrough, I never once felt exhausted with any aspect of the combat. In fact, I found it to be so enjoyable, that I had no qualms about replaying it on multiple difficulties. For all intents and purposes, REDSHOT’s gunplay is a well-polished gem, and a collosal breath of fresh air.

Movement and Upgrades

The movement is also tantamount to the gunplay in how smooth and seamless it is to perform. It quickly becomes second nature to make precise jumps, leap off of walls, and slide out the way of incoming attacks. Its implementation meant that I could exclusively focus on the action, instead of worrying about finicky controls. This was especially important during the boss fights, which often had a lot of things in play.

REDSHOT has the advantage of being a non-linear game. Effectively, this means you can traverse the map in any way you want. This is great from a replayability standpoint, as each subsequent playthrough can be tackled in new and unique ways.

You’ll also discover a myriad of useful resources and entities throughout your journey. These could include upgrades that buff your characters potency, exclusive shops that sell new tools, or unique NPC interactions. These are usually hidden in secret areas, which gives you more of an incentive to pay attention to your surroundings. It is also a prime example of well thought out level design, which this game has in spades.

Art

To put it simply, REDSHOT is an utterly beautiful game. The environments up front and striking colour pallet, mixed in with its stylistic sprite work, aggrandise the overall aura of the game. Each of the regions also have their own individual appearances. While this is a nice design choice, it is also handy when it comes to navigating around the world.

While I wouldn’t say they are on the same level as the backgrounds and landscapes, the character designs still retain their own charmful approach. Of particular note are the boss designs, with my personal favourite being the Little Shop of Horrors inspired Man-Eating Plant. Its floral patterns and tendrils simply pop out exuberantly on screen. With that said, most of the other NPCs are fairly bog standard, and I’d argue that they are the least impressive part of the game.

Contrary to this is the animation quality, which is equally stellar in its execution. The VFX employ a similar pixel aesthetic, and blends in nicely with the rest of the visual presentation. Goose himself also has a fairly distinctive appearance. The frames for his actions are ridiculously fluid, with his oversized scarf being the most obvious example.

Audio

The music in REDSHOT feels vaguely similar to the 90s anime Trigun. That isn’t a knock against it though, if anything, it’s a massive positive. The arrangements span a number of different genres, all of which do an insanely crisp job of capturing the ambient and desolated feeling of the planet. Some of the tracks can get a bit overbearing at times, but overall, the soundtrack is pretty great.

In addition to the OST, the sound effects are recorded and implemented extremely well. The guns, items, abilities and enemies expertly match the onscreen visuals, all while successfully retaining the games overarching thematic.

Conclusion

REDSHOT is a game that genuinely surprised me in the best way possible. The mixture of smooth platforming elements, tied in with seamless bullet time gunplay, made for an overall enthralling experience. The stellar art direction, and equally as impressive OST, capture the isolated mood of the alien planet immaculately. While the story does have one or two captivating moments, it ultimately ends without any real resolution. Overall, REDSHOT is a heck of a lot of fun, with a unique twist on the Metroidvania genre. If you enjoyed titles like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells or Bloodstained, then I recommend you check this one out.

Review: Coromon

Natosha M
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Review: Coromon

Ready to set out on an adventure, being able to build your own personalized hero? Have the ability to design not only the appearance of your character but also create your own experience as you play the game?

Well, then you might enjoy this turn-based, JRPG-pixelated game such as Coromon. It’s packed with a variety of options allowing you the choice for an easier experience that is more laid back and strongly about the narrative, or if you want, there is a choice of the difficult mode. Well, if this is something you feel like trying, then you’ll need to step up your game and prepare for a challenge at every battle as well as try for greater stats! Either option you decide, the game practically adjusts and changes to fit the way you want to play. Also the many in-game features, every decision made on your behalf is part of building the game’s story and it’s up to you to complete and survive the destruction of the demonic monsters.

How Was The Game

First, I must admit I thought of this game to be as similar to playing a classic and a more modern style, pixelated Pokémon and adventure game like Zelda combined. Especially, by how you capture, train, and use each new Coromon creature to battle against others. You’ll mainly be a trainer or as they put it, Battle Researcher. Your job is to capture and enjoy playing up to 100 unique and adorable creatures, or just as many as you like to use in battle with other demonic monsters who are causing destruction. Some that you go against could be a few new friends you’ll want to capture, rather than defeat.

I did want to also mention that I found the adventure portion of the game to be enjoyable! I love the ability to roam around in a game with such beautiful graphics. Each location is filled with such a realistic appearance that you can easily detect where and what an object is when you enter a room or destination. Sometimes it’s possible to find hidden items by checking out every object in that location as well! In some ways, I felt like I enjoyed not only the game’s main purpose for playing but the surroundings and what else you can do. It felt as close to playing an RPG and a simulation game in one.

The freedom portion of the game I totally love, it’s different from just playing a straight one-path game. That is what really makes me enjoy the game even more! For example, I can slow things down and play a fun game on the computer in our bedroom called Flappy Swurmy and try to win a few times on that. Even if I want I can change my hairstyle or clothing whenever I feel I want to. There is no need to restart or buy anything extra for adjusting the clothing and my own appearance. Even plant seeds to grow helpful products for your creature’s health, figure out side quests, and do many other little things, also including the ability to change one’s name in the settings menu at pause or adjust the way the character moves and much more!

In addition to all of that, like a real RPG-style game, communication is so important. Many of the people will provide plenty of worthy knowledge about the game and what you need to do and even gift you some special items to add to your inventory. This also occurs, find special items when you begin checking out objects all over the different locations you visit, such as hidden items some in boxes and others just behind other objects. Either way, everything will all be useful to have in this game.

So moving on to the main goal of the game, being a Battle Researcher is an uncommon job, never seen in another game. Nevertheless, it might be really fun to really have a job title like that, where one performs the job of a creature trainer. Plus, everything is very well explained from the start and even the first practice battle training is provided to you. So there will never be any type of confusion about how to play the game as you move forward. Even at the start, the similarity of Pokémon, choosing your first creature from the three in front of you, looks so familiar.

As you do move forward in the game, discover some new creatures to capture. You’ll not only get to keep a log and learn about each creature captured or found during battle, but during a real battle with the six you can have in your team at a time, you’ll be able to show off their powerful abilities that each possesses. Additionally, each battle also aids in your milestone log, gifting you rewards as you also get to level up, just as the creatures do during each battle. So the more you fight, the wild creatures or those you meet from other Battle Researchers, the better and the more powerful of a trainer you become. That also includes the creatures you will be used to battling, they begin to evolve and transform with better stats and obtain some new powerful attacks as you battle more!

Sometimes many may have found some RPG-styled battle games to be difficult to play, but not this one! It’s way easier for every type of player, beginner or expert to enjoy! Everything is clearly explained and simple enough to know how to use or know what to do next during any turn-based battle. Every creature will have its own special earthly, powerful abilities. Every one you find will provide its own earthy style of power like fire, water, and many others. So it kind of makes it easy to know which one to use while going up another creature that is based on a different powerful attack source.

That way, when you get an idea of the type of power each collected creature can possess, you’ll know who will provide the most damage to each creature of all different sizes that you come up against to fight. The game continues to get challenging for those who play the normal or either of the two other difficulty modes. However, the easy version makes it a bit simpler, so if it ever gets too hard, that is still an option! Otherwise, the challenging portion of the game continues to keep adding pressure on you and your team when it comes to the battle sequence.

There is one other thing I must admit. I adore playing RPG games specially designed like this one! It’s fully engaging and pleasing to the eyes. Everything about the battles, the beautiful graphics, and the story as well as the gameplay in total is just brilliant! I even enjoy the character; the hero that we are able to play in the game. Since we can control the design of what we look like, which was something we never had that type of freedom in some similar classic battle-trainer games. Plus, you can also obtain even more gear to help move you along on your journey by helping others out on some mini-quests, and also completing a few larger tasks. It’s fun to see that not only do the creatures we train gain some leveling up and stronger skills with better, but so do we; Battle Researcher.

I guess all of this mentioned above is why it was hard to put the game down and stop playing. I just kept wanting to charge my console up and continue on this adventurous journey. Even if the goal is clearly to defeat the demonic creatures and monsters in this world, I found everything else going on in the game to be so much fun! I guess that is why I couldn’t even find one flaw in this game. Maybe I’m just too blinded by how well this game really well created. Plus, add the additional ability to play online in multiplayer mode, where you can battle another team. Well, the game just got even more entertaining to play.

Final Thought

Lastly, Coromon has so much going on, but it’s not difficult to play. This game is just really entertaining and fully engaging with plenty of challenging battles between creatures you capture and train. It’s got so many different paths that will set up as you continue to play, cause each choice you decide will create the journey you’ll need to continue on to complete the game. I feel that this game is really something worth playing. It’s perfect for all styles of gamers, beginners to expert RPG gamers, and will keep you playing over and over again and again.

Review: Train Valley: Console Edition

Daniel Waite
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Review: Train Valley: Console Edition

I know it’s a little geeky, but playing with trains is pretty cool. Now, I’ve loved this theme in gaming ever since the original Railroad Tycoon. However, these days, I don’t have the time or patience to micromanage a whole railway. Yet, I still want to play something that will scratch that itch. This is where Train Valley: Console Edition comes into play.

Developed by Flazm and published by Blitworks, this is a resource management simulation title. Accordingly, it’ll test your patience, planning, and management skills. Furthermore, the gentle learning curve will suck you in, while the unfortunate hectic action will spit you out. As such, it is unhealthily addictive and bloody good fun.

Train Valley: Console Edition is simple to understand but challenging to master.

What makes Train Valley: Console Edition so moreish is its simplicity. Effectively, all you have to do is connect stations and run your trains. However, things quickly heat up as more trains are introduced. Moreover, the vehicles vary in length and speed, and the track layouts become more complex. In short, it is simple to understand but challenging to master. 

Sadly, there is no story to follow and this may disappoint some gamers. Instead, the action spans 5 seasons that revolve around real locations and famous events. You’ll see the fall of the Berlin Wall, WWII, the Gold Rush of 1849, and more. These renowned moments add a fascinating and historical twist to the addictive and relentless action.

Train Valley: Console Edition is full of historical landmarks.
So many glorious landmarks to avoid.

Planning, and many tasks. 

Though building your railroad is essential, you have other tasks to focus on. Accordingly, every level is ranked up to a maximum of 3 stars. Each of these represents a task that must be completed during every stage. You’ll be able to spend money, lay tracks, demolish properties, or make money. There are, of course, other jobs, and they will test your ability. 

Every level starts the same, no matter the environment. You must connect each coloured station with train tracks. Then, it is your responsibility to send each train to its corresponding goal. En route, you must switch the point work to set the path you wish to take. Sounds easy so far, right? Well, don’t get too confident as things soon go astray. As more trains are added, you must plan and prioritise your approach. If you take too long, the drivers lose patience and will go without your authority. Consequently, your plans will be scuppered and accidents will happen.

How will you cope with multiple stations and many trains?
Too many stations to focus on.

Crashing and hectic action.

Talking of accidents, train crashes are a big no, no. They cause damage to infrastructure, cost lives, and will set you back. If, and when, your vehicles collide, the surrounding area becomes damaged. Subsequently, you must replace the tracks, and you lose the money for each train that has exploded.

As you can tell, the action gets pretty hectic even though you don’t have to micromanage your business. Instead of the normal sim/resource management tropes, you experience puzzle elements. As such, you must think logically and methodically at all times.

The moment you fail to plan or you go off course is the time it’ll go wrong. Luckily, the developers aren’t monsters as the action can be paused, slowed down, or sped up. This was a godsend as it gives you time to think, build, and prevent the inevitable crashes.

Train Valley: Console Edition is painfully colourful.

Though a very simple approach has been taken, this doesn’t undermine Train Valley: Console Edition. Instead, the vivid colour palette and basic graphics allow you to focus on the ensuing madness. The top-down viewpoint and fixed-screen perspective allow you to plan and observe your progress with ease. Furthermore, the basic UI is clutter free and sufficiently comfortable to complete every task. Therefore, it’s a nice but not visually impressive look that works extremely well. 

The seriousness of the gameplay dissipates because of the fun and jovial audio. A Western folksy soundtrack accompanies everything you do. Alongside this, loud sound effects indicate when tasks are started and completed. Thankfully, it is a simple affair that works wonderfully with the gameplay.

Train Valley: Console Edition has a fantastic array of landscapes to explore.
Brrrr such a wintry scene.

Occasionally clumsy controls. 

Train Valley: Console Edition suffers from the usual PC ported ailments. By that, I mean its controls are occasionally clumsy. With no free cursor to use, you are forced to move rigidly between point work or stations. This is particularly testing when your track layout is complex and you have many moves to complete. Sadly, this leads to frustration and certain failure. This could easily have been resolved if a free-flowing cursor was introduced alongside the other control method.

As tradition dictates, simulation and resource management games ooze longevity and replay value. Luckily, Train Valley: Console Edition ticks both of these boxes. Not only is it tough as hell, but you also have the ranking system and a sandbox mode to explore. Consequently, this will keep you busy for hours.

Train Valley: Console Edition made me scream. 

I’m not sure that I have sadomasochistic tendencies, but I adored the brutality of this game. As such, Train Valley: Console Edition made me repeatedly scream with rage. You’ll learn that minor mistakes cost you dearly, and this will haunt you on every level. However, there is lots to love and enjoy about this addictive game. Accordingly, I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Running your railway shouldn’t be easy, but surely, this takes the biscuit?

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