Review: Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium

Natosha M
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Review: Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium

Nostalgia is the best, especially when you can get to take what you once loved and have it played on a newer console, with better visuals. Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is exactly that, tons of classics with brilliant graphics! You won’t ever need to miss those classic arcade games that you once played when they are all in just this one game download. It’s totally worth it if you have always enjoyed Street Fighter, Mega Man, Savage Bees, The Speed Rumbler, and so many others.

There is nothing but joy with arcade games, especially when you enter this game and see realistic 3D arcade cabinets that you can step right on up to and begin playing. Here’s one bonus, no money or quarters are required to play these games. Instead, it is some form of using credits to play the games. It’s a bit like quarters, they will appear like you are inserting money into the machine, but you aren’t limited and the amount is infinite. So one download of this game allows you to take on any of the games in this one download, full of varieties of the best games possible, classic games. Also, when I mean the best games, I’m talking about 32 classic games in one. So there will be plenty of games that will become your favorites, even if you haven’t tried any of them in the past or it’s your first time playing all of these classic 1980-1990s games.

There are some additional ways to play, Co-Op and VS Modes and even Tag Team Mode. They all make the games even more enjoyable and with Co-Op and VS Mode it can be chosen by adding a credit for each player. Tag Team is a bit different. You will be able to play with one player and with another. The game will detect the controllers in play and allow it to recognize how many are playing this game. So why not make all these games even better with the challenge of playing with other friends and family! As well as going online if you like to connect to the network right before anything starts, is also an option.

Lastly, I would love to mention that you will even get to notice the many new changes and additions in the games. Just playing the classic game and seeing the newer, second release or a special version of the game will show a big change between the many others. Nevertheless, each game is worthy of trying and having in anyone’s collection. Especially when you can try it on a newer console and have them all there on one game. So do you love to collect old games, have a new console, and want to try them out with better graphics, then you should try Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium.

How Were The Games

There are so many games, 32 to go over, and let me say they all have their own special and original features that make them entertaining. For being on the Xbox One console, which I reviewed it on and in single-player mode, as there are other options to play with other players, I can tell you that the quality of the graphics is nicely improved, but similar gameplay as if it was just released in that specific time period. You also can go forward and backward in the game, a special edition with the controller back buttons. Something that can help you if you want to replay a move and do it better or just continue ahead.

Either way you play and all the other bonus access accounts you are able to access, each game is still in one quick answer, fun and entertaining in their own unique and classic style ways. Also, Capcom has always been an exciting creator of games that you fight and play through in a style of adventure-platformer games. So to break my reviews down to each game, this is exactly what I felt after playing a few for the first time and again a long time ago.

By the way, a few will be mentioned to be played with others or only a single-player game. I also will want to mention some are only in the JP(Japanese) version and can’t be played in EN(English). However, they play great in either form. It’s not much what you know it’s more about just the joy of the game that really matters. So let the gaming begin!

  • 1943 Kai – Midway Kaisen (1-2P Co-Op JP)

This is an interesting game, with the ability to rewind. I love that about many games, which allows you a second, third, or even tenth chance to rewind and restart that leap, that move, or anything you’d like to do better. Making a mistake is nothing now that you can just use the rewind button and have a perfect play the first time. Everything is nicely explained too, so no confusion while playing the game. especially when it’s told to you clearly in the beginning.

This game is mainly about moving a plane, like a flying game where you try to shoot down other aircraft that are attacking you. So be on the lookout for many different sizes, colors, and designs ready to take you down. It isn’t as easy to play, you will crash or get hit numerous amount of times. Sometimes, you may even forget the rewind button, I know I did. However, it’s still enjoyable, playing it as it’s on a real arcade cabinet-sized screen and the design of the entire outer portion, away from the game. Plus, the second player is always invited to join in whenever they feel during the game.

So in short, it’s actually a nice game, just a bit tricky. The game looks and feels like a classic flying and shooting game, with simple 2D graphics that are very bright and clear, which I do enjoy. This includes the music that plays in the background and the use of remote control. There is one other feature with this game, an additional special challenge option and it can make the game a little difficult. Still allows you many similar features as the regular game, but it is more based on the difficulty levels, speed changes, and even a few other ways to change the game up. Also, this can only be played as a single-player game. So I’d like to say that it’s just a perfect classic game, and I have nothing negative to say about it, just keep practicing and try to remember to rewind if you want to avoid defeat so often or if you want to fix mistakes.

  • A.K.A. BLOCK BLOCK (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

If you ever played a game like Pong from Atari or something similar that requires you to move a rectangular-shaped line from right to left to hit a ball off and hit blocks on top, well this is similar to that type of game. It’s all about aiming and hitting the ball right back at each brick or what they call blocks. The more you hit the more you earn and even surprise items come falling from the blocks. It’s very easy to play and very colorful.

The speed does pick up, requiring your eyes and brain to focus. As the game requires you to play with the right timing to get those special items and catch the ball before you lose each one in the game. It does get tricky, but the whole fun part is the challenge of the game and it also comes in a variety of ways to play. A special challenge mode is here too with three choices and makes the game a bit more difficult or for others entertaining. Also, add in another player and enjoy gaming together. It’s a fun, simple, and classic arcade game to bounce a ball at blocks and earn rewards.

  • A.K.A. KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND (1-3P Co-Op JP/EN)

This is a game that has a few special challenge modes, up to 4 and even the difficulty can be harder than the rest of the two I reviewed above. This game is actually quite fun, not just battling, but you move through an adventure-style designed world, where you fight the enemies as they come up to you. There are three choices of characters, which you must decide upon in a short amount of time. Of course, 2 other players may enter the game, which is also fun and all three can help each other as you defeat these evil magical warriors and foes.

There are not as many sound effects, except for the swishing sound of the character’s weapon and the defeat of the other enemies as they fade away. The game is simple enough and very easy to play. There are some secret large objects hidden behind barrels and other things that can be attacked. They will reveal some more collectible items to aid in your score and health.

The game in some way reminds me of a historical-style world, Renaissance, or some past era where fights from either kingdom would occur. There are large bosses to defeat like knights and many more types, which will include a larger bar and time to defeat them. I do like the ability to move freely as the hero in the game. The weapons are large and do take a great hit on each foe.

I’ve been playing the normal difficulty and found it to be just my right speed. However, it still does get harder with one player and many ganging up on you at a time. However, they slightly move slow and with special abilities that can take them down quicker, which helps a lot too! Therefore, it’s definitely able to be even more challenging and still a fun adventure and battle game to play.

  • A.K.A. MAGIC SWORD (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

Here is another game with special modes and other challenging options to choose from. The level of difficulty isn’t as high as the last one, but it still gives you that additional choice. I think what I like most about this is that it reminds me of the last game, an adventure battle-style game as you go. The foes are a bit quicker moving and you do get to choose a floor you want to play. It’s a bit different, but I do like the fast-paced style and background graphics. It doesn’t allow you to choose a character of choice, but it doesn’t make the game a bad one! Unless you decide to play the second player and be who that character will be.

I only tried each game mainly in the single-player mode, so that is why I’m only able to give you the details on how the one-player version will proceed. Again, the battles do seem to go quicker, one slash, and they are practically defeated. However, the larger the foe the longer it takes. Nothing too tricky about this game, just faster-paced than A.K.A Knights of the Round, and the rewind ability is always there allowing you to rewind when necessary.

Additionally, I feel it’s a bit more nicely done, with plenty of keys to collect and large coins gained when you defeat enemies. It’s also fun to have the ability to use the hero’s magic from the sword, and the many special abilities to defeat from a distance, with just one swing and slash. It’s a bit more entertaining and interesting.

  • A.K.A. THE KING OF DRAGONS (1-3P Co-Op JP/EN)

This has more challenging difficulty levels in this game and you are allowed to choose up to 3 players to play. There are so many options of characters to choose from. I chose the wizard for the first time. However, there are others that may interest you, a total of 5 characters to choose from. Each is strong and provides as much change in what energy and power they include. So what you do is really up to the player, and how they play the game.

Plus the more players, the easier it gets to move forward. Also as a single player, this isn’t too bad, it’s easy to use the power you behold as the hero you’ve chosen. The normal gameplay feels a bit slower, so it’s not too hard to go through and defeat the foes as they don’t attack as fast quickly.

Honestly, it’s a very fun and interesting game. I love the choice of characters to play and choose from. However, for the normal version, it’s the perfect way to get to fight and move on through this adventure-style game and not struggle if you are playing for the first time or a beginner to any type of game like this.

  • A.K.A. VAMPIRE SAVIOR – The Lord Of Vampire (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Here is a great game that is all about fighting each other! You get to choose your character and of course, battle it out with a friend or just the computer. It’s a great game that has some creative-looking demons to choose from. Even the cute and small all hold some nifty powers that will put the opponent in their place!

The special options for this game are just how fast you’d like the game to go and complete it based on the time it takes you to clear it. This game is very much a straightforward, fighting game. It’s not much different from the modes, but it does have a few as mentioned above. I do like this classic fighting game, and Q-Bee is one of my faves to play, especially in turbo to make things move a bit quicker. However, it isn’t too hard to defeat the opponent, it does get tricky down the line, but the only issue is that you may also have a little problem with performing some special attacks. It’s not all so easy. Plus, if you hit the rewind button by accident, it may not look good if you were doing great to repeat something you were almost winning.

Otherwise, this game is really great. I am so grateful they’ve added it to this collection of arcade games. It was one of the best games I did likes by Capcom and one of the fun fighting games where you can play as a demon-style character and use all those nifty attacks.

  • BLACK TIGER (1-2P Tag Team JP/EN)

This must be the most exciting adventure classic game I’ve played for the first time! I love the weapon choice for the hero. It’s like using one button to activate two different weapons at the same time. Throwing weapons and using an ax with this long length will prevent damage from anything coming near you. It’s very easy to play and the buttons on the controller from moving, jumping, weapon usage, and even ducking down are quite easy. There is even plenty of items to collect.

A lot of adventure to go through in this game, a very magical castle-style game in graphics with the gear of a warrior and enemies that are of all types. It’s very interesting and so fun, for an old game it’s one I’ve never tried before, but with what you can do, I love it! Plus, the special additions can make the game difficult, and there are a few more changes to adjust how the game plays. It really is a great adventure fighting game, reminds me of Castlevania for SNES. It’s not so fighting and moving on, it’s more just moving and fighting as you go and unlocking some collectible items without defeating everything if you don’t want to.

  • Capcom Sports Club (1-2P VS JP/EN)

This is a three-in-one game. You have Kick Stars, Dunk Stars, and Smash Stars, each relating to a different sport. The first one mentioned is soccer, the second is basketball, and the last option to choose is tennis. Each is played similarly, choice of a single or two-player game and deciding the nationality of the team. Then it’s very simple controller buttons to kick, hit or dunk the ball. You practically just use a few buttons and don’t need to worry about much but moving and aiming to score! Very easy game not many special differences in this one, but is very nice and very easy to play!

  • DARKSTALKERS – The Night Warriors (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Another game that is very straightforward, fighting game with not so many additional special challenge modes to adjust the game, However, you can enjoy a few additional modes once they are available to you to play. The game is a simple fighting game with a variety of character monsters to choose from. Each has its own special abilities and can be done with a few button combinations to cause a nice attack on the opponent. I love that there are tons of monsters to choose from and even the best is that it’s not too difficult, but is like a true arcade fighting game with monsters. Who doesn’t love being a monster or anthropomorphize character verse a simple human hero sometimes?

  • ECO FIGHTERS (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

If you love to fly aircraft and shoot down other foes, this is the game for you! It’s all about attacking from the sky and moving from the right side to the left; horizontal gameplay. All different bottom foes and flying objects to destroy with different shooting abilities. The longer you hold the shooting button, the more powerful the blast becomes. It’s a great game and very easy to play, plus requires you to keep an eye on everything on the screen and move in the right location to get a perfect attack, every time! Also, plenty of coins to collect and nice outdoors graphics with a few special challenge modes to make it a bit difficult and yes, challenging! Honestly, an excellent aircraft battle-style game.

  • Gun Smoke (1-2P Tag Team JP/EN)

Here is a vertical played game, where you are trying to get the villain; most wanted, the enemy on the poster. The reward is posted for taking him down, and your goal is mainly to set out like the hero deputy and defeat all the bad guys with your guns in each hand. It’s a simple vertical-played game, but it isn’t slow, plays at a great speed, and the graphics give you that cowboy western style game feel. It’s also very easy to play and another entertaining game. Simple enough to play with easy buttons to trigger shooting and move in either direction, getting you closer to the next enemy heading your way.

  • Hissatsu Buraiken (1-2P Co-Op JP)

It’s a bit spooky from the start, it just may be me, but for a Japanese game it’s a bit darker in this game and the characters feel like they move a bit slower than I like. It’s hard to knock out so many when you are one person and there are about 3 or more enemies heading your way to attack you. I wouldn’t find this to be the best of the games. Might take me some time to get through the game, but it does have some challenges as well, not so many that you can adjust.

However, the game is already still very difficult at the start. Not a bad game, just a bit more difficult than many in this collection. Plus, you’re moving more vertical; upwards verse side to side. Also, the graphics still are good, and so are the kicks and punches you can give without weapons. However, it is just hard in its normal version of the game, so imagine what a special challenge mode would do? I will need to work on this one to get a hang of beating the enemies; foes to move on to the next location.

  • HYPER DYNE SIDE ARMS (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

Another game is flying in space, shooting down enemies from left to right, with a powerful gun to begin with. There are plenty to collect and ways to adjust the difficulty level to be a bit harder than it already is. This is a great fast pace to this game. A perfect game if you love to shoot and continue to shoot nonstop. It’s all about defeating fast before you get harmed by all the enemies that arrive as the screen moves forward. It’s a very nice game, the graphics are great and very entertaining.

  • HYPER STREET FIGHTER II – The Anniversary Edition (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Street Fighter is a classic game with characters that if you’ve ever played any before, you’ll love the classic known names. Nothing big and spectacular you can do with the special challenge mode, but there is so much you can enjoy with just this classic fighting game already offers. Especially with human-style fighters like Ryu, Ken, monstrous guy like Blanka, Guile, Dhalsim, and even Vega. There are over 16 characters to choose through, each with special attacks and many that require a combo of button pressing, but it’s as always a classic fighting arcade game that I know best from Capcom, and excellent sound effects and graphics!

  • LAST DUEL (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

This is more like a vehicle-style game, which you play in a vertical format. The game is starting from the bottom and you are moving upwards, shooting the enemies in front of you. The different weapons you can obtain to attack and defeat more is a great thing and slightly similar to an aircraft battle style game, but with a moving vehicle that is shooting enemies vehicles, and objects, or collecting special gadgets and items to power you up to get you ahead. It’s a very easy game, tricky still, and not many special challenge additions you can make, but the game is just as great as it is and can be tricky for a few starting out.

  • MEGAMAN 2 – THE POWER FIGHTERS (1-2 Co-Op JP/EN)

To start, 4 players to choose from in this classic great game that is! You can be Megaman, Protoman, Bass, or Duo. Then it’s time to select the story in the time limit given you’d like to play, and also who to VS against. It’s mainly a fighting game that pushes you to choose who you want to battle and who you are rescuing or playing for as the goal. It’s a game I actually never played before, of the many Megaman games, but it is very nice and a simple fighting game with a few special challenge effects you can adjust to. It’s a great game, with plenty of difficult battles and additional foes-style characters that enter to make the fight harder than as simple as one on one.

  • MEGAMAN – THE POWER BATTLE (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

The first one of Megaman allows a choice of three characters, Megaman, Protoman, and even Bass. This game allows you to choose a few things and then you are on your way to battle large boss-style guys. Each location is sort of chosen for you. However, you do have some selective options, but if you aren’t quick enough it will choose for you like many fighting games, as this is. It’s not a bad game, nice bright graphics and plays very well, just be prepared to take down some strong enemies in each fight.

  • NIGHT WARRIORS – Darkstalkers’ Revenge (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Darkstalkers’ Revenge is another great game of fighting as a monster-style human being. You get to play against one friend or just the computer and the special challenges don’t change as much in this game. However, it is quite a great classic fighting arcade game as is! Character choices, there are not many, but to tell you the truth it’s easier to decide which ones you find to relate with more or who may end up choosing the most. I normally find myself just sticking to one or another, but with fewer options, it’s easier to decide and only a few battles to win and conquer the game! Its quality is great, hard, and challenging in normal game mode, but there are options available if you can handle some more difficulty from how the game already plays.

  • Pnickies (1-2P VS JP)

If you ever played Tetris, the game is similar, and if you ever played Bejeweled or a gem combining game that is close to this game. However, to be honest it’s like a simple game that you can have another friend join in and play against you mainly connecting similar colors together and building them up. A few with stars will be also included in similar color pieces. What needs to happen is to get two stars same colors on the build-up of bricks or at least together to earn those points and break those bricks or one big block from existing on the screen.

Afterward, you just continue to build up and destroy each block before it reaches too far to the top. The challenge of the additional special feature will make it a bit harder, than the normal game. So if it’s the first time playing it would be best to start off with the original game then see how well you can handle building up bricks and breaking them before it gets faster or just difficult in any other way!

  • Rally 2011 LED STORM (1P EN)

Rally 2011 is a racing game, but also not. It’s hard to explain. In a way, it’s like you are racing other vehicles, but there are other obstacles in this single-player game, which are like large trucks and other vehicles that aren’t part of the race, but just blocking and causing havoc for you as you try to win. So even if there are a few special challenges you may want to adjust, this game is not super easy and requires plenty of speed and eyes looking at every which way to get to the finish line. So for a new way to race and win, this is something that you must try and see if you can even defeat it in the normal game mode before taking on any special challenges. It would even be great if they made this into a two-player game too!

  • SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM MASTERS (1-4P VS/Co-Op JP/EN)

If you love to watch wrestling or just play games that require defeating one another in the ring, well this is a game you’ll love! It’s all about defeating your opponent in a timed 3-minute fight and taking them down while being cheered on by the crowds in the background. Feels like a real wrestling TV show, even for a classic game. How you arrive out and everyone is cheering you on and all the smoke and lights that appear. Then you are in the ring ready to fight! Simple as that. They are all human fighters with muscles as many wrestlers would be, and each with their own signature look and name. So you have here a wrestling game with moves you have all the options to use to defeat your opponent and win the game.

  • SAVAGE BEES (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

Here is another game played vertically. going from you flying from bottom to top in an aircraft game you are basically shooting down bees, savage bees as the title states. It’s like hives are designed for the game and many bees and other bee-style objects causing havoc and trying to take your ship down. You have a great weapon, which I do like as it does take down plenty of enemies easily, and you can collect items along the way. In the single-player mode, you really have to watch out for everything going on around you. It gets difficult and can be challenging, or you can even make it harder with the other options in this game, like the special challenge choices. Either way, it’s a fun game, requiring you to fly, shoot and conquer the bees!

  • SONSON (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

Let me start with this is such a CUTE game! It’s like a simple level built on an ongoing horizontal platform-style game. However, like Bubble Bobble or like another type of platformer style that is 2D, this game is different in how it just continues to move onward. You can move up or down and can collect tons of items as you go through different style environments. The game isn’t like you win one level and move to the next as I mentioned above. Instead, it’s all connected. So with the weapon you have to attack the enemies and watch out for things coming from below or at all sides, you’ll be able to keep moving on to meet the goal. It’s a simple game and very cute. Not many challenging differences, but you can make it harder and still the game is cute and like an adventure, battle, and platformer-style game in one!

  • STREET FIGHTER (1-2P VS JP/EN)

A classic game, but I must admit I’ve never played the real first one before. It basically has the character chosen for you, Ryu and then you are fighting your opponent. Similar to other fighting games and Street Fighter games, but no choice on who you want to be. The moves are a bit normal, like a kick and punch from above or below. It’s a bit slower in movement, but then again it’s the first fighting game designed for Street Fighter. Not much to adjust challenge modes, the game is already difficult. So don’t worry it’s hard to fight and win right away for some, like myself and isn’t in need of making it harder right away if you play against the computer.

  • STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 2 (1-2P VS JP/EN)

A step above the first game and it’s got 18 characters to choose from. Each with its own special appearances and fighting styles. I love this one a bit more, they move faster and have more power to present in each battle. Of course, the most recent and newest releases make for the better of all fighting games. So a classic game with not many changes in modes for the challenge, but it’s still great, challenging, and a perfect arcade classic in this collection of games!

  • STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3 (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Here is an even better step above from the 1st and 2nd versions. This game has 25 total characters to choose from, and more to fight and choose from as a player. Each one is available to play, so no waiting to unlock them. That is something I do like with these games, it’s not a wait till you win to earn the new fighter, you’re granted them right at the start. Another thing is that they do move quicker with better action-packed moves and a challenging computer opponent to play against.

  • STREET FIGHTER ALPHA -Warriors’ Dreams (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Classic Street Fighter characters and excellent backgrounds to fight each other in front of, That is what you get with this game. It allows you with 10 characters to decide upon the speed of how you want the game to play. The challenge changes are not as much different from what you get with the game. However, it’s a great game without even making it harder, but if you must there are those changes as well. It’s a normal fighting game, classic, and provides plenty of moves you can perform to defeat your opponent in this classic arcade fighting game, Street Fighter Alpha.

  • SUPER GEM FIGHTER – MINI MIX (1-2P VS JP/EN)

Here is a cute game that is like a street fighter in a small-size version of each character you can be. Only a few characters to choose from, but with gems included in the gameplay. The gems act as powerups and level your character making them stronger to fight each other. It’s also got some hilarious changes when you battle and I think it makes the game a bit more charming to look at and play. I honestly find it cute and fun, with small challenge adjustments, but nothing big than what you get with the game normally. However, it’s great as is, so no need to have all those additions sometimes.

  • SUPER PUZZLE FIGHTER II TURBO (1-2P VS JP/EN)

This is not the typical fighting or verse game. Instead, you play as if you are playing a Tetris-style board game with Gems of many colors, two together coming down. Each combination you put together, the larger they are to build up and connect making for a better attack on the opponent. It’s like fighting with a puzzle-style game. You do need to wait for these special spherical color balls that match the blocks that you are building to throw some large hits to the opponent’s side. The worst thing is if you end up having no luck to destroy the blocks that you have built on your side and it hits the top. Then you are practically defeated, but if you are lucky enough to destroy many blocks and attack the opponent most often, then you’ll win the game and fight!

It’s a cute puzzle fighting style game. Classic Street Fighter characters to choose from in a mini version. Plus, a new and a change from the normal fight-style game. Very good for puzzle lovers who don’t want to just fight but win through puzzle battling.

  • The Speed Rumbler (1-2P Tag Team JP/EN)

It’s a mix of driving and shooting without the vehicle. The game is a bit slow moving and doesn’t seem to speed up as in normal gameplay, not many adjustments or challenges, but there are a few to this game. It is okay, just a bit slower and reminds me of cops and robbers. You are trying to get these bad vehicles and destroy each of them, while they are trying to defeat you as you try to defeat them. It’s a fun game, like the ability to get out and go back into the vehicle and move around freely, just a bit slow in movement and challenging with one player to defeat all these criminals out to get you in the game.

  • THREE WONDERS (1-2P Co-Op JP/EN)

Here is a three-in-one game. Midnight Wanders, Chariot, and Don’t Pull are the games to choose from. Each is a bit on the cute side with character design and how you play. Midnight Wanders is like a normal platform adventure game where you fight and collect items through each level. The Chariot is like you are a flying hero who shoots and tries to defeat those attacking you in a space background, moving horizontally; side to side. As you go on, it gets harder, but mainly you just keep on shooting and collect what you can in each level. Lastly, Don’t Pull is a bunny puzzle-style game. It’s different but cute with how you must push things together to win and break blocks.

In some way, it reminds me of DigDug by the enemies in the game, but the game is way different. Plus, you can also notice that you must get each piece with a special symbol to complete the game and move on to the next puzzle. In each game, I like the cute factor of the characters; heroes in the game and it’s very interesting how they are all different but interesting. Plus, I love the bright and happy, cheerful colors included. It’s also in some way very entertaining. So to be an arcade addition, a 3-in-1 game it’s a really nice addition to this collection!

  • Tiger Road (1-2P Tag Team JP/EN)

This reminds me of a normal adventure platform-style game where you move on, fighting on the way. Big weapons for our character; hero. It’s practically the same for each enemy and those large ones you go up against. There are hidden special items to find and the game seems very entertaining, with the flexibility to leap higher than in many games I’ve played and how freer you are to move. Yet, challenges are very difficult, so don’t think it’s gonna be easy, plus adjusting it to be even more difficult, well that is a choice too.

It’s a great game, with a lot of enemies to defeat and items to collect on the way. The levels are all different, but the main goal is always set in front of you from when you decide which portion of the game you want to play in the beginning. Otherwise, it’s not a bad game for an older game.

Final Thoughts

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is nothing but a game that is completely full of classics, 32 total. So there are no worries you can enjoy all the faves in one game and try playing against others or the computer; AI. It’s simple to just step up to an arcade machine, which they really appear as, and just start playing.

So never be fooled, even playing old games aren’t as easy as it may seem. Back then they took a lot of time to defeat and there were patterns and ways to do certain tricks to win and defeat the opponents so they can win the game. So right now there is nothing different, just plenty of challenging gameplay that will make you work harder and become a better fighter, racer and so much more with all these games. That is why I love this game collection!

There are just so many to adore, even I found I liked others more, but honestly, each has its own fun features and I can see myself switching from one to the next whenever I feel like it. Even asked a friend to play against me because many are made for 2 players. So if you are ready to get your challenging gameplay on, this is the collection of Capcom arcade games you do need to try, especially for those who love nostalgic gaming.

Review: Lumberjack Simulator

Daniel Waite
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Review: Lumberjack Simulator

The idea that I can lose myself in a virtual world intrigues me. Furthermore, taking on random jobs and completing weird and inane tasks captures my attention. Consequently, I adore the simulation genre and love to explore every game I can get hold of. Therefore, when I became aware of Lumberjack Simulator, I couldn’t resist. The thought of mastering an axe and chainsaw while getting rich was too much to resist. As such, I installed the game ASAP and waited eagerly to make my fortune.

Developed and published by Exponential Games Inc., this is a real-to-life simulation title. It utilises the normal genre tropes and is set in a fictional world. Furthermore, there are two difficulty settings, a plethora of equipment to buy, and lush landscapes to explore. However, it is released hot on the heels of Lumberjack’s Dynasty, so how will this compare? In short, Lumberjack’s Dynasty was pretty average, so, surely, it can’t be any worse, or can it? 

Lumberjack Simulator is disappointing. 

You take on the role of a freelance woodsman who must complete contracts, fell trees, and purchase new equipment. You are free to explore your surroundings, buy new forests, and control gigantic machines. Subsequently, its core ingredients point to a game-winning combination. However, in reality, everything is poorly executed, and the game is thwarted by bugs.

I couldn’t help but be disappointed by practically every element on offer! Whether it was the graphics, sound, or core gameplay, it was subpar at best. Unfortunately, everything felt dated, sluggish, and undeniably ugly. What’s more, it’s horribly clunky, lacks a modern finish, and quickly becomes disintegrating. As such, once the action plateaus, or glitches, you won’t want to continue playing.

Lumberjack Simulator is full of massive machines.
Use the machines to make your life easier.

A lack of originality. 

No matter how much I tried, I struggled to find any positives. I desperately wanted to find the silver lining, but it failed to materialise. Further to this, the core concept lacks originality and the developers have played it safe. This mundane approach undermines the rest of the action and leaves you desperately wanting more. 

The gameplay focuses on a fledgling business that comprises a truck and a small trailer. By completing an array of simple tasks, you will purchase bigger equipment and take on tougher jobs. However, most of the quests focus on felling trees and chipping wood. As you progress, the tasks become more complicated and the objectives are more time-consuming. Consequently, to earn the big bucks, you must work hard and find specific resources.

This element of the gameplay was enjoyable, as it made you think. Sadly, though, the moments of happiness were fleeting and rarely did they overcome the many shortcomings. Even the introduction of log cutting trucks and massive trailers failed to spark this into life. What’s more, the sheer volume of bugs and glitches ruins any minor layer of fun.

Wood = money and money = big machines.
Clear the forest and get rich quick.

Why are there so many bugs?

Modern games shouldn’t be filled with game-breaking bugs. However, Lumberjack Simulator has other ideas. Sadly, your vehicle will clip invisible trees, your trailer will become beached on minor mounds, and you can’t complete quests. In short, its many faults are infuriating, pathetic, and undermine the action.

Lumberjack Simulator looks dated. 

I couldn’t believe how dated Lumberjack Simulator looks. Its textures are terrible, the UI is clunky, and the environment is blocky and poorly finished. Furthermore, the branches of trees randomly disappear, and each vehicle belongs to the late 90s. Alongside this, the world is devoid of wildlife or people and feels empty and bland. It was disappointing, as it could have been extremely relaxing and realistic. Yet, it was anything but.

The underwhelming performance continues with the lacklustre audio. Every noise and sound effect is flat and dull and will infuriate you. What’s more, the vehicles sound awful and the felling of trees lacks excitement. Like the visuals, the audio is poorly executed and undermines much of the gameplay.

The bigger the machines the larger the job.
Haul those trees and complete the jobs.

Pointless controls.

I play simulation titles for their high levels of realism. However, Lumberjack Simulator has other ideas. Accordingly, you can cut logs any way you wish, or you can swing an axe to remove branches. Whatever you do, it lacks finesse or skill. This is apparent when you can sprint and jump while carrying a 2-metre long log. Furthermore, clambering upon your chipper like a health and safety ignorant spider monkey isn’t what I expected. Subsequently, the controls are easy to understand and use, but I expected much more from this genre.

In theory, there is plenty of replay value and longevity. Yet, in reality, you will be turned off in a matter of minutes. So much of the gameplay is poor, and the finish is woeful. Consequently, it will leave a bitter taste in your mouth, and you won’t want to play it again. 

Lumberjack Simulator is seriously lacking. 

With so many great simulation games on the market, I had high hopes. But, Lumberjack Simulator is so poor and lifeless, that it will disappoint. I was so desperate for it to grow on me, but the bugs and dull action make it a slog to enjoy. Unsurprisingly, I don’t recommend it. If interested, though, more information can be found here! The life of a woodsman is captivating and rewarding. Unfortunately, this game fails to highlight the beautiful parts of this tough career. 

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei – Review

Krissy
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Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei – Review

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei is an otome game that follows Shanao, the youngest son of the Genji, who harbors a deep secret… Shanao is actually a woman living as a samurai with expectations to overthrow the Heiki clan!

Gameplay:

For those not familiar with the genre, an otome game is an interactive story targeted towards women. And the player makes choices that determines the outcome of the story. Like most otome games, Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei features a main storyline with five main characters you can romance. Each character route has a tragic and happy love ending as well as bad endings.

Story:

In Birushana, you play as Shanao, the youngest heir of the fallen Genji clan living deep within the mountains of Kurama. With the Heike’s tyrannical rule over Kyoto, Shanao must face the name of being a Genji and navigate their secret of being a woman and decide whether to stand up against the Heike.

Without getting into spoilers, the character routes share the same overall story but take a separate path and reveal different aspects of Shanao’s life and personality. Three character routes are available to start with, and after completing them, you can unlock other routes. The recommended route order I followed was: Noritsune, Shungen, Benkei, Yoritomo, and Tomomori. An interesting aspect I was surprised to see about this game is they also have four other “if” endings for additional side characters that you can romance as well!

Character ”CG” picture

While the story and characters were interesting, Birushana has one of the best graphics, designs, voice acting, and music I’ve experienced for an otome. Some scenes, especially the battle ones, were done so well it aided in the interactive experience, so I never felt like I was just reading a story.

Considering this game has such amazing graphics, I was kind of bummed with the limited number of CGs (love interest’s picture like seen above) per character route. While the romance aspect was cute, it felt very much like an afterthought. Most of the romance scenes don’t show up until much later in the game, which was disappointing for an otome. Because of this, it felt very abrupt and rushed in terms of the storyline, so I wished they pushed the romance a bit earlier.

Pros:

  • Amazing graphics, VO, & music
  • Engaging story
  • Additional ”if” routes

Cons:

  • Weak romance
  • Grammatical errors & typos
  • Few CGs

While I have a few small complaints about this game, overall, I would say it’s in the top best otome games I’ve ever played. Shanao was not your typical weak main character, which is always refreshing to see when it comes to Japanese media. And the story wasn’t only engaging and interesting, but the character dialogue was witty, and the translations were pretty good.

Conclusion:

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei was a pleasant experience and a title that surprisingly went beyond my expectations. If you’re an otome fan like me, this is a game you must add to your collection. While otome games aren’t for everyone, if you are interested in a good story or romancing pretty men, then Birushana is definitely worth checking out!

Entertainment: 7/10

Replay value: 9/10

Graphics: 9/10

Sound: 8/10

Kid Friendly: No

Platform:Nintendo Switch
Publisher:Idea Factory
Released:June 28, 2022
MSRP:$49.99, €49,99
ESRB:US Teen, EU 12+
Official Website:https://ideafintl.com/birushana/

Review: Seduction: A Monk’s Fate

Daniel Waite
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Review: Seduction: A Monk’s Fate

No matter what religion you follow, it is divisive! Consequently, people choose to believe or oppose your thoughts, and this causes friction. However, for entertainment purposes, religion is fantastic. It is the theme behind many box office hits and chart-topping games. Seduction: A Monk’s Fate aims to capitalise on this as you delve into a surreal experience.

Developed by KOEX Studio and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a puzzle horror adventure title. It focuses on temptation, seduction, dark imagery, and many dreamlike moments. Subsequently, it is super weird, confusing, challenging, but oh so good at the same time. Furthermore, you’ll wonder what you’ve let yourself in for as supernatural powers kill you for the nth time.

Seduction: A Monk's Fate is filled with religious imagery.
Where it all begins.

Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is strange.

The story lacks originality, but its delivery and setting make it stand out. You control a monk who is gifted with unusual powers. By harnessing his abilities, he must uncover the dark mysteries that taint his monastery. Accordingly, he will discard the advice of his elders and take his own path. By doing this, he will discover the truth and many sickening secrets. En route, visions fog his mind that lead him to his calling. Here, he encounters a sacrificial ritual involving a young woman’s soul. Caught at a crossroads, the monk can ignore what he sees, or he can save his home and the woman.

Without a doubt, Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is one of the stranger games I’ve played. Its blend of puzzles, QTEs, and supernatural creatures is extremely bizarre. What’s more, the religious undertones and dark environment are creepy and will make you feel uncomfortable. The gameplay focuses on two realms that coexist. By using the power of prayer, the protagonist sees snippets of the other world and its demonic beings.

The gameplay is full of mysteries.
Who is this mysterious lady that haunts you?

Logical thinking and quick reactions. 

What’s phenomenal about Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is its blend of slow-paced puzzles and fast-reactive QTEs. During the puzzling sections, you must think logically and methodically. Fortunately, every chapter is small, so the list of useful items is tiny. Now, this doesn’t reduce the difficulty. No, instead, it makes every bite-size problem much more enjoyable. Accordingly, you are expected to search for clues, combine items, and use your power of prayer. Consequently, this is where the other realm takes centre stage. With hidden items, demonic beings, and hazards galore, you must stay alert.

Alongside the excellent, but slow puzzles, are the rapid quick-time events. These fleeting moments add drama and challenge to this creepy title. You’re expected to dodge monsters, run from creatures, or hide in the shadows. Whatever the chore, it wonderfully juxtaposes the methodical elements of the gameplay. What’s more, you must be patient and calm if you wish to progress. If you fail, and you will, you’ll become increasingly frustrated. Subsequently, it has a balanced approach between its methodical and reactive elements.

Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is eerie and uncomfortable.

The side-scrolling perspective and small levels create a restricted and claustrophobic experience. Further to this, the use of richer and darker colours enhances the eerie nature of the plot. I adored the cutscenes, the differences between the two realms, and the low-key use of gore. Thankfully, the developers allowed their story and audio to set the atmosphere. Because of this, the visuals weren’t clichéd, nor were they OTT or horribly cheesy.

The horror genre is only as good as the atmosphere it creates. Luckily, the audio is phenomenal and complements every element. With stomach-churning noises, haunting music, and uncomfortable sounds, it sets the scene perfectly. From start to finish, you’ll feel uneasy and will be creeped out at this brilliantly considered horror game.

Every area hides a creepy secret.
It is probably best not to bathe here.

Excellent controls. 

Due to the reliance on QTEs, the controls had to be responsive. Fortunately, they were, and this makes the faster moments much easier to overcome. Alongside this, the fantastic UI and button layout are well-considered. In short, the excellent controls allow you to focus on the uncomfortable and puzzling elements of the plot.

Where Seduction: A Monk’s Fate falls short is its longevity and replay value. With a linear plot and no collectables, there is little reason to return. What’s more, its short game time reduces its longevity considerably. However, don’t let this put you off. Luckily, the first playthrough is excellent and more than makes up for the shortcomings. 

Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is worthy of your time.

Indie games are two a penny these days. Subsequently, finding a gem is easier said than done. Fortunately, though, Seduction: A Monk’s Fate is excellent, horrific, and worthy of your time. Yes, the lack of longevity is a shame, but everything else makes up for this. Accordingly, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you uncover the secrets that haunt your monastery? Explore both realms, find the clues, and save a soul from a cursed fate. 

Review: Bright Memory: Infinite

Daniel Waite
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Review: Bright Memory: Infinite

When The Matrix hit our screens, we were all amazed by the sleek time-bending moves. Secretly, or not so in some cases, we all wanted to be Neo. Now, this was never going to be possible! However, game designers wanted us to experience the thrill of dodging bullets, running walls, and leaping from death-defying heights. Consequently, the Bright Memory franchise was created to scratch that itch. Bright Memory: Infinite builds on from its predecessor and aims to wow modern audiences.

Developed by FYQD-Studio and published by Playism, this is a slick, sci-fi FPS title. It has a semi-futuristic theme and combines badass sword combat with out-of-this-world combos. Furthermore, there is a wicked arsenal of weapons, skilful brutes to take down, and an array of collectables to find. Alongside this, you’ll learn new skills, explore grim environments, and discover some long-lost secrets.

Bright Memory: Infinite has fast-paced action interlaced with stealth moments.
Softly, softly, catchy monkey!

Bright Memory: Infinite has a compelling story.

I love an all-out action title, but what I adore more is a great story. Fortunately, Bright Memory: Infinite has both, and I cherished every moment spent with it. With great cinematic, short but complex levels, and an array of gargantuan bosses to annihilate, this will keep you busy. On top of this, there are some RPG elements because of the character skill tree. This was a fantastic inclusion from the developers, as you could tailor the protagonist to your approach. Subsequently, each playthrough is unique, and you must consider how to tackle each situation. 

The story is set in 2036 and the future is bleak. You live in a sprawling and cold metropolis where everyone is out for themselves. One day, a strange phenomenon fills the sky, and no one knows why. Accordingly, the government send in a top-secret agency the SRO to investigate the root cause of the mystery. Soon, you discover that the strange occurrences are connected to an archaic power. Unwittingly, you and your team inch closer to the history of these two worlds and the secrets they hold.

Parkour, unbelievable powers, and an array of weapons. 

When a game claims to be a slick futuristic shooter, it better live up to those words. Fortunately, Bright Memory: Infinite more than delivers on its promises. Consequently, what you experience is a buttery smooth title that is enjoyable to play. Whether you are running and gunning, sniping from afar, or hacking limbs from torsos, it’s brutal as hell. However, this could be any modern FPS title. So, what makes this stand out from its peers? Well, the blend of combos, supernatural powers, and parkour moves, that’s what.

Further to this, there are some fantastic high-adrenaline scenes that will blow your mind. Without giving the plot away, you learn to grapple over monstrous chasms, take down your foes in a car chase, and have a gunfight on an airliner. However, it isn’t just about mindless high-octane action. No, you must consider each battle while studying your opponents. Some will be wearing armour that requires accuracy and patience. Others can be lifted from the ground with your telekinetic powers. Then, there is the ability to deflect bullets with your sword, run up walls, and leap massive gaps. All in all, it’s a crazy athletic title that uses the strong foundations of its predecessor.

On top of this, there are some insane boss battles to contend with. These pain-in-the-ass brutes are tough, annoying, and determined to ruin your day. What’s more, they have endless goons to support them, and this makes it tougher still. You must think outside of the box, move fast, and use every weapon to take them down. Annoyingly, failure is all but assured, but this matters not! You’ll brush yourself off, learn from your mistakes, and come back stronger.

Slick reloading forms and essential part of the gameplay.
Reload and fire.

Bright Memory: Infinite looks fantastic.

Because of the first-person perspective, the action feels fast, in your face, and pretty oppressive. What’s more, the 60 FPS and the 4k Ultra HD resolution are both smooth and impressive to look at. Furthermore, the incredible detail can be seen in the phenomenal weaponry, your horrendous foes, and the fantastic environment. The world has been modelled against real-life locations in China and this gives it an uncanny, realistic edge. The developers have created an uncomfortable and grim landscape because of its earthy colour palette. Consequently, this adds to the oppressive nature and the doomed undertones of your mission.

The visuals are great because they are complemented by the excellent audio. With some amazing acting, loud and obnoxious sound effects, and angry and aggressive music, it works with the theme. I adored the depth of the guns firing, the gut-wrenching booms of incendiary devices, and the daunting sounds of the choppers overhead. Subsequently, each element of the audio is well-considered, and this enhances the overall experience.

Take a break from the shooting and jump in a car.
Don’t let them get away.

Excellent controls = smooth action. 

Bright Memory: Infinite uses a detailed but easy-to-understand tutorial. As new mechanics are dropped, a step-by-step guide highlights the fundamentals. Now, you may worry that’ll break up the immersive nature of the game, but it doesn’t. Instead, it nicely integrates them into the action. Accordingly, this considered approach makes it simple to play and great for gamers of all abilities. Furthermore, the responsive and well-laid-out controls work with the high-paced gameplay. You can easily swap between weapons, hack up your foes, or leap from platform to platform. This was essential when hordes of enemies or the bosses were attacking. 

Though the story is linear, you are free to explore each level. Fortunately, the developers have hidden boxes, ammo, and Reliquaries for you to find. The latter is key to unlocking new skills and consequently will make the game easier to play. Sadly, though, other than this, there is little meat on the bone and this impacts both longevity and replay value. However, completionists must invest many hours in unlocking everything and trying every skill. 

Bright Memory: Infinite is an enjoyable title. 

I was a little sceptical, to begin with. However, I’m glad this didn’t put me off. Because of its real-life locations, a large array of enemies, and interesting combat mechanics, it’s an enjoyable title to play. Bright Memory: Infinite is only held back by its short game time, but don’t let this put you off. If you are in the market for a slick and stylish futuristic shooter, then look no further. I liked it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you discover the secret behind the strange phenomenon? Grab your guns, use your powers, and take down every enemy in your way. 

Review: Wonder Boy Collection

Alex Chessun
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Review: Wonder Boy Collection

With a release almost every year since the Wonder Boy remake in 2016, the classic platformer Wonder Boy series has seen quite the revitalization, putting the bankruptcy of its developer and dry spell of 22 years very much in the rear view mirror. But what is success if the current generation can’t even play the classics on current consoles? Wonder Boy Collection aims to fix that, bringing a compilation of its greatest hits to PlayStation systems and Nintendo Switch.  

Due to some confusing licensing rights and the addition of a female protagonist, funnily enough, some may not enough know the series as Wonder Boy as it has also gone by the name of Monster World, Adventure Island and even Monster Boy (and that’s just the start!).

Odd naming system aside, the secret of its power is well-known, and Wonder Boy Collection is taking us back to the golden age of platforming with 4 (Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Monster World IV) of the original 6 game series. 

Starting as a platformer released in the arcade in 1986, the linear levels were replaced with adventure areas and hub maps filled with NPCs for a console audience by the time the last entry of the series was released in 1994.

Not sure where our jungle boy got a skateboard, but it matters not, these snakes need a jumpin’.

Out of them all, I most enjoy the simplicity of the 1st entry – Wonder Boy.

With a metabolism that would make short work of any international eating competition you must consume items to keep up an ever-decreasing health meter all while avoiding/killing enemies and navigating platforms to the end of the stage. It’s a pretty standard platformer by today’s standards, of course, but the challenge and its speed still hold up, making it the easiest of the 4 to just pick up and play. 

Wonder Boy of Monster Land fuses the original’s arcade time limit and difficulty with RPG gameplay but like a game in transition between genres, it never quite feels balanced enough, as you have to speed through it and the frantic enemies without being able to enjoy the RPG elements. There is also a lack of quality with poor hit detection and platform mechanics and it’s not until Wonder of Monster World that the platforming action RPG blueprint feels actuated with all features improving, from the visuals to interesting level implements and story.

Wonder Boy in Monster Land has a good sense of humour.

This might have a lot to do with the fact the time limit is gone, and interestingly these changes are quite indicative of the huge developments in the game industry at the time with it possible to see the changing trends with each game. The difficulty of the games ease after Wonder Boy in Monster Land, for example, and by Monster World IV you are able to save regularly due to limitations of console cartridges during the Master System generation.  

Monster World IV continues with the improvements, making the largest and most detailed home hub area of the titles with many great world-expanding NPCs. Naturally, each entry’s visual quality improves, and with IV the 2D visuals have a quantifiable charm that combines with the best overall platforming gameplay in the series.     

Another thing common across all the games is a great and varied soundtrack (albeit with some annoying sound effects – looking at you Monster Land) and although a playable soundtrack isn’t included as a separate feature, the crisp audio is handled as well as every else element in this high-quality emulation.

The collection’s extra features are actually pretty standard as far as retro releases now go – with original screen display modes, a ‘save anytime’ save file system, and a rewind feature – but they are by no means any less appreciated. In particular, the rewinding ability is a godsend – especially for the Wonder Boy and Wonder Boy in Monster Land, which are painfully difficult.

How I wish I had that feature when I was younger. It would have saved so much heartache, and although not for me personally, probably would have saved the destruction of a lot of controllers as well.

I don’t know if Wonder Boy in Monster World is the first use of inputting commands to play an ocarina in a video game, but it’s clear to see where Zelda got its influence.

What the collection does offer is all gravy, but what it doesn’t is almost as important, and for those set on getting as much bang for your buck as possible, please be aware that a complete collection (including all 6 of the original games and 21 versions in total) comes out later this year in Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection as a limited physical release.

This might explain why Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap aren’t included in this collection, and it’s quite unfortunate as they do just happen to be two of the more interesting games of the series, with Monster Lair providing another type of genre in a side-scrolling shooting platformer and The Dragon’s Trap, a critically acclaimed action platformer, that allowed different playable characters that can be switched at any time. 

Monster World IV’s Pepelogoos are a great gameplay mechanic.

While it is no doubt disappointing that this isn’t a full collection, at half the price of a newly-released game, Monster Boy Collection still not only offers value for a discerning fan but is jam-packed full of retro goodness that simply never gets old.

The LEGO Group reveals the new LEGO® Atari 2600

Andrew Edney
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The LEGO Group reveals the new LEGO® Atari 2600

Today, the LEGO Group reveals the new LEGO® Atari® 2600 set, a nostalgic recreation of one of the most famous video game consoles of all time.  The iconic Atari VCS/2600 was an instant hit when introduced in 1977 and the new LEGO set is based on the four-switch revision which debuted in 1980.  The release of the new LEGO set also comes in celebration of Atari’s 50th anniversary.

From the unboxing experience through to adding the final brick, building this intricate set is an evocative journey within itself.  Activate challenge mode as you build your own console in brick form and take a nostalgic journey uncovering features such as the controller with a joystick that moves to feel just like the original.  Brick builders and gamers alike will enjoy sliding open the front and unveiling a pop-up scene from an 80’s gaming room, reviving memories of hours spent trying to get a new high score.

The set also includes three video game cartridges of iconic Atari games in brick format: Asteroids™, Adventure and Centipede™.  The cartridges can be stored in a case and built into mini versions of the games.  In addition, the console includes a switch to select whether you have a colour or black and white television.

When it came to choosing a LEGO Designer for the set, there was only one person for the job.  Lifelong Atari fan Chris McVeigh, who said about the design; “The Atari 2600 was one of the most memorable gifts I got as a kid. I recall spending hours and hours in front of the TV, absolutely amazed that I could play arcade games in my own home. There were so many legendary titles, too, including Asteroids, Adventure, and Centipede. This is why it has been such an incredible experience to bring two icons together, Atari and LEGO, in this awesome set. We hope that building this classic console takes you back to those halcyon days when a handful of pixels meant a world of adventure.”

The LEGO Atari 2600 set is available from the 1st August 2022 via LEGO Stores and www.LEGO.com/Atari at the recommended retail price of £209.99 / $/€239.99.

Review: Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel and Peddles (Xbox and PC Version)

Andrew Edney
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Review: Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel and Peddles (Xbox and PC Version)

Here is our review of the Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel and Peddles (Xbox and PC Version).

Designed for all gamers looking for performance and immersion and wanting to free themselves from their keyboard, mouse or gamepad, or improve their skills after starting out with a beginner’s wheel, T248 is a racing wheel officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and compatible with PC.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the T248 wheel and base, T3PM pedal set, 48 W power supply + power cable, attachment system + screws, USB cable, Allen key and Quick start guide.

A Closer Look

The Steering Wheel

The Peddles

Final Thoughts

Both the steering wheel and the peddles are very well made and feel solid. The steering wheel feels very responsive and is comfortable to use. You will need to clamp it to something to use – you might want to consider the various racks and stands you can buy specifically for the wheel and peddles.

The steering wheel has all the usual Xbox buttons on it, plus a number of other controls (25 action buttons it total to be accurate) . There is a display screen on the wheel with more than 20 different displays, including settings adjustments, telemetry information and more.

There are also 3 different force feedback options available to choose from – decide what type of driving experience you want and set the force feedback for a more enjoyable drive.

The wheel also has magnetic paddle shifts which are really responsive which really adds to the experience too.

The peddles are very responsive and you will probably want to fit them into position somewhere so that they don’t move around if you have a particularly intense race.

The list of compatible games on PC and Xbox console are available on the Thrustmaster technical support website, and regularly updated. Some games provide more information than others and some games require manual settings in order to use it.

After connecting it all up, the first thing I had to do was update the firmware on the wheel. It’s fairly easy to do by following in the instructions on the Thrustmaster website, but it does assume you have access to a PC to do it (which you would have if you wanted to use the wheel on a PC), but in my case I use a Mac and they don’t provide any software for the Mac so I had a sort out a PC in order to do the firmware updates. Hopefully this is something that Thrustmaster will address in the future.

The only issue I had setting up the wheel was that when I first plugged it into the Xbox Series X the wheel kept saying it was PC – which meant it wouldn’t let me use it on the Xbox. You can change the settings on the steering wheel to force it to be Xbox, which only took a moment, but the instructions stated the wheel defaults to Xbox (which in my case it didn’t).

Once I had played on the steering wheels and peddles I don’t want to go back to a controller.

The Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel and Peddles is available now priced around £299.99 and is a must if you play lots of racing games! This version was designed for the PC and Xbox, but there is also a PlayStation version too.

You can learn more from the Thrustmaster website here.

Review: CyberHive

Daniel Waite
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Review: CyberHive

I’m not daft enough to believe that we are the only intelligent beings in this universe. However, I’m also not a conspiracy nut. Consequently, I don’t believe that aliens walk among us, or do they? Instead, I believe that somewhere out in space, there are beings just doing their thing. CyberHive plays with this idea as you explore uncharted areas of space.

Developed by Blazing Planet Studio and published by Samustai Ltd, this is a sci-fi adventure colony builder. On top of this, it has resource management, research, and rogue-lite elements. Therefore, it’s a tactical game that requires you to plan ahead while spinning many plates.

CyberHive is deceptively simple. 

As you start CyberHive, you’d be excused for feeling overwhelmed. The opening data dump is a thing of nightmares and could be extremely off-putting. Yet, I urge you to battle through the pain. Why? Because it is nowhere near as complex as it appears. In fact, as you get hands-on with it, it quickly becomes an enjoyable and manageable experience.

CyberHive has a loose plot that comprises multiple events and many subplots. You are the commander of the Melistar (“The Star Bee”). This ship is home to a queen bee and her army of workers. Their task is to survive, expand, and thrive. But, the discovery of an ancient artefact gives their life more purpose. With a mission to undertake, the colony scours the universe, battles its opponents, and makes new allies.

The UI in CyberHive is simple and easy to understand.
Be wise and get those bees working.

It’s all about the resources.

The core concept is as simple as it comes. Effectively, you must manage resources to expand your colony. However, you must balance growth with food. If you run out of food (energy gel), it is game over! Moreover, the bigger your colony, the more resources you must have. Therefore, it is a fine balancing act and one you’ll fall foul of repeatedly. To survive and expand, you must search for biomaterial, spare parts, crystals, and energy gels.

Each of these elements is key to your success. The biomaterial is used to research an array of technologies. Whereas the spare parts upgrade your ship. Both are important as they improve productivity and the efficiency of your hive. Finally, crystals and energy gels are intrinsically linked. Without crystals, you can’t produce food, and without food, your bees will die and it is game over. 

As I said, it is a fine line between progress and survival. Subsequently, every plan must be considered, and every gamble is a risk. Yet, with great risk comes enormous rewards. Accordingly, you must occasionally chuck caution to the wind if you wish to succeed.

Every chapter is full of game changing decisions.
Choices, choices.

Many aliens and lots of events. 

What is so fascinating about CyberHive is its non-linear plot. With many branches to this interesting story, it is easy to get swept up in the moment. This is then complemented by a vast amount of events to enjoy and many aliens to encounter.

The aforementioned resources are mined, scavenged, or stolen during each of the events. You must send worker bees to derelict ships, asteroids, and more. Alongside this, you’ll rescue refugees, transport goods, or become a pirate. Whatever you decide, you must live with the consequences. Sometimes the impact is felt immediately, and other times, slow-burning ramifications manifest themselves during revenge attacks from deluded aliens. 

Talking of extraterrestrials, there are so many that I can’t remember them all. Most of these greedy asshats are only interested in their survival. Sadly, this somewhat undermines your mission. I mean, how can you find secret artefacts and trick people if they are only interested in themselves? Sadly, these selfish beings are hostile and all-out warfare is the consequence.

This is represented by a basic mini-game. Your enemy’s fire rockets toward your ship and you must blow them up. Seems simple, right? Well, it is, but there are some tactical elements to remember. The more bees you have present in the barracks, the more missiles you have to fire. Furthermore, the more bees in the power room, the stronger your shields will be. However, placing your workers in these areas isn’t always wise. If they are sitting idly awaiting a battle, they can’t gather resources. Consequently, you must judge when to hunt for goods, or when to prepare to fight.

CyberHive is a simple pixel affair.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Graphics do not make the game! CyberHive isn’t a modern-looking title, nor is it polished. Instead, it’s a simple pixel affair that works wonderfully with the theme. Its fixed-screen perspective and excellent UI are great to look at. What’s more, I loved the rich and varied colours that enhance the Sci-fi vibes.

The futuristic and alien ideas continue with the tinny electronic audio. This dated but effective approach is reminiscent of 80s space-inspired TV programs. With its camp feel and clichéd style, it was both brilliant and absurd.

Be sure to mine every resource to strengthen your hive.
Mine those resources and make your hive stronger.

Straightforward controls. 

Though the initial data dump is intimidating, the straightforward controls make it easier to play. With well-labelled and single-use buttons, you’ll know exactly what you are doing. What’s more, though the tutorial is somewhat confusing, it does well to explain the fundamentals.

Longevity and replay value are core principles of CyberHive. Thanks to its non-linear story and masses of events, the action remains fresh. On top of this, the rogue-lite element adds a layer of risk that keeps you on edge throughout. 

CyberHive is a brilliant indie title. 

My opening experience with CyberHive should have stopped me from continuing. Its poorly executed data dump is off-putting and simply ridiculous. However, a little patience made all the difference. By giving it a chance and working through the opener, I discovered a brilliant indie title. It is tactically wonderful, comprises fascinating lore, has interesting events, and the aliens are imaginative and disgusting. What’s more, it oozes originality while testing you to your limit. Subsequently, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you expand your colony and balance the well-being of your creatures? Gather resources, improve your technology, and find every secret artefact. 

Review: Out There: Oceans of Time

James Refelian
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Review: Out There: Oceans of Time

Out There: Oceans of Time falls somewhere between being an unforgiving rogue-like adventure and a point-and-click visual novel with some key decision-making. Unfortunately, it isn’t clear which one it wants to be. At times you find yourself trying to enjoy the story but ignoring it because resources won’t manage themselves.

Gameplay

In Out There: Oceans of Time you’re mostly thrown into the deep end of this vast space saga. What passes for a tutorial is really the prologue with a few text boxes hurriedly explaining what everything does. It’s a lot to take in and even more to remember. Unnecessarily complicated systems of resource gathering, development, and management make it difficult to navigate the core aspects of the game. This is disappointing as there is a good story underpinning it with even more impressive visuals.

The game sees you as space-faring survivors trying to work out what’s going on as you emerge from a deep cryo-stasis. This is set against the backdrop of great evil taking over literally everything. So, you begin hopping your ship to one of the countless systems to explore, gather resources, and ultimately arrive at various objectives. There you will be met with a lot of text-based dialogue as the story unfolds. This all sounds relatively straightforward, but it is resource management that seems to be the biggest foe in Out There: Oceans of Time.

To do anything, your ship spends resources. Only in certain locations can you replenish those. However, it’s rarely clear if you’ll get what you need, and if you do, whether your equipment will last, and you’ll get enough. Gathering any main resource negatively impacts another and so rather than focusing on the adventure, you find yourself obsessively worrying about just staying functional. This can get frustrating as one wrong move and it’s game over. There isn’t even a simple save solution to make that outcome anything less than frustrating.

What is phenomenal is how vast this game really is. There are so many planets, so many of which you can land on and explore. This can lead to interactions with possibly the most diverse range of unique alien designs I can recall. Depending on how well these interactions go (you must learn a language along the way which reveals more of what these dialogue choices are with the more that you participate in) will determine how successful your trades or resource gathering is. You move your away team along different tile paths where you can interact with things along the way. These can be as simple as collecting items, or text-based choices in a choose-your-own-adventure format. There are also things that will harm your crew so healing and effective management are key.

Art and Graphics

Art from sheer scale, Out There: Oceans of Time has some wonderful designs. The ships, and especially the aliens, all feel very fresh in a genre that has some pretty big heavy hitters when it comes to design aesthetic.

It’s a delight to see so many weird and wonderful designs that make the game’s universe feel very alien. No two aliens feel the same and none of them feel like they’re cookie-cutter templates from the genre. In fact, the most generic characters seem to be humans, and for once in a sci-fi medium, it’s nice to see. For example, the alien language you have to learn along the way, at first, it’s a total guessing game what you’re saying, and I love that there aren’t a ‘universal translator’ and humans aren’t literally everywhere.

Everything from the planets, to space, to the animations and cutscenes, are all beautiful to look at and you can certainly spend a lot of time looking at them… provided you have resources and aren’t too busy worrying about them!

Is Out There: Oceans of Time worth playing?

The lack of ability to save whenever you want, tied to an incredibly complex resource management system is unforgiving. I can see why people find Out There: Oceans of Time to be a game they just can’t get on board with. Try and stick with it though, the story is great, the visuals are better and if you’re lucky enough to have enough resources to fully explore, you won’t regret it. Out There: Oceans of Time is a challenging rogue-like, story-driven adventure and while sure, it isn’t perfect, it isn’t a total write-off.

The LEGO Group is celebrating 90 years of play

Andrew Edney
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The LEGO Group is celebrating 90 years of play

To celebrate 90 years of play, the LEGO Group and Rankin have teamed up to create special portraits of 90 LEGO® fans aged 1 – 90 years, to showcase the ageless nature of LEGO play.   Hundreds of fans shared their stories of what LEGO play means to them to be with a chance of being photographed by Rankin, best known for his iconic celebrity portraits including the Spice Girls, David Bowie and The Queen.   The portraits can be viewed here https://www.lego.com/90-years-of-play/90-builders as will also be displayed in Manchester, Glasgow and various London locations.   

The line-up includes LEGO lovers from around the country, from 8-year-old Boaz and his Grandpa Paul, who says LEGO play has come a long way since he was little, to 11 year old Elijah who enjoys creating fantasy worlds and 45 year old Kev Gascoigne, of Fairy Bricks which donates LEGO sets to children’s hospices and hospitals.  They feature alongside LEGO designers including Matthew Ashton and Amy Corbett, plus familiar faces including Model Ellie Goldstein; Glow Up Judge Dominic Skinner and former England footballer and BBC podcast host Peter Crouch.  

Former England footballer and dad of four, Peter Crouch, says “LEGO play has always been in my life. From a young age I’d build football stadiums – little goals, bricks to make the lines around the edge of the pitch and mini-figures as players for the match. 

Now, as a dad of four, LEGO building is firmly back in my life and everywhere in our house. My kids love to build – it’s something they’ve all been into at one point or another. LEGO Ninjago is very popular in our house, some of the things the kids build are so intricate, it really amazes me how it captures their attention. I try to get involved but they normally send me away – I’m definitely better with my feet than my hands!”

Vicky Ryan, who features in the line up alongside her son Kaelen, adds, “LEGO play is at the heart of my relationship with my son Kaelen. I loved LEGO sets as a child and passed that love onto him from an early age. We have developed an amazing LEGO town in his bedroom where we have created fantastic scenes of chaos and mayhem and while away the hours chatting whilst we build”  (HOLDER: update once 9 shot finalised )

Photographer Rankin said, “I’ve captured some playful photography in my time, but this campaign has been a truly special one to be involved in. There aren’t many brands who have stood the test of 90 years, have fans across all ages and which still manages to excite and inspire people across the world to be creative every day.”

The 1-90 portraits can been seen on outdoor media in cities around the UK and at lego.com for the next two weeks. They form just one element of a whole summer of celebration for 90 years of LEGO play with other highlights including:  

  • Celebrating the role of play in the lives of world-renowned creatives such as Alicia Keys, Yotam Ottolenghi and Peggy Gou
  • Bringing LEGO fans and families together for an exciting look behind-the-scenes of LEGO HQ with LEGO® CON
  • Recreating iconic LEGO models with the LEGO Classic 90 Years of Play, and two new sets that reimagine original classic themes: the LEGO® Lion Knights’ Castle and  the LEGO® Galaxy Explorer, which were revealed through a touching reunion of LEGO families.
  • A ‘What Brick Are You?’ quiz available on LEGO.com, LEGO social media channels and LEGO Life
  • The (re)opening of the world’s biggest LEGO store in Leicester Square on The LEGO Group’s 90th birthday itself, 10th August 

90 years of play 

Ninety years ago, a Danish carpenter crafted a line of small wooden toys in his Billund, Denmark, workshop. His first collection had a modest 36 items that included cars, airplanes, and yoyos, all carefully crafted to help local children learn about the world.

Twenty-six years after Ole made his first wooden toy, his son Godtfred patented the LEGO® brick we know today, with its interlocking tube system offering endless creative building possibilities.

Since then, the LEGO brick has become both one of the World’s biggest brands and most popular toys, even being named ‘Toy of the Century’ in 1999. The humble brick has formed the basis of over 18,000 LEGO products, received the Hollywood treatment in THE LEGO MOVIE™, helped children learn about robotics and coding through LEGO® MINDSTORMS®, and inspired hours of playful digital adventures in over 180 LEGO video games. 

The name derives from the Danish ‘Leg Godt’ meaning ‘play well’ – and the LEGO Group’s mission is to ‘inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow’.  New research from the LEGO Play Well Study shows play as not only fun, but also integral to childhood development, overall happiness and family wellbeing.

LEGO play continues to grow in popularity, with famous fans, including David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner, helping reach new audiences year on year.  

Family values have always been at the heart of the LEGO Group, which is still headquartered in Billund, Denmark, where Ole started making his first toys. To this day, it is still owned by Ole’s family with grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen recently passing the helm to his own son, Thomas Kirk Kristiansen. 

Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, Chairman of the LEGO Group said, “when my great-grandfather founded the company 90 years ago, he recognised that play could change the lives of children – it brings families together and helps children develop skills that can enable them to reach their full potential. He only had a small workshop, but he had big ambitions to ensure as many children as possible could experience the benefits that play brings. Whether 1932, 2022 or on our 100th Anniversary in 2032, we strive to continue this legacy by helping all families, wherever they are in the world, to play well.”

Innovative play for all 

Keeping the LEGO brick remains at the heart of everything The LEGO Group does, 2022 marks a year of driving further innovation through play. 

Most recently, The LEGO Group announced the launch of LEGO City Missions, a new digital storytelling experience that puts children in charge of creating their own builds, using imagination and creativity to solve exciting missions. Launched with three new sets based on animal rescue, space exploration and police detective mysteries, children are given inspiration for core model builds, which they can then build and rebuild again and again. 

In April, The LEGO Group and Epic Games announced that they are entering a long-term partnership to shape the future of the metaverse to make it fun and safe for children and families. Together they aim to build an immersive, creatively inspiring and engaging digital experience for kids of all ages to enjoy together and empower them to become confident creators in a safe and positive space.

In a year that sees women’s sport in the spotlight, The LEGO Group is a national sponsor of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 which is currently taking place, as part of its commitment to champion inclusive play and ensure children’s creative ambitions aren’t limited by gender stereotypes

Follow the hashtag #LEGO90years or visit LEGO.com/90-Years-Of-Play to join in the fun.

Review: Gravastar Mars Pro speaker

Daniel Waite
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Review: Gravastar Mars Pro speaker

I’ve been lucky enough to cover plenty of headphones and earbuds. In fact, I recently looked at the Gravastar Sirius Pro earbuds, and they were fantastic. However, now I get to explore the advantages of Gravastar’s incredible Bluetooth speaker range. I am, of course, talking about the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker. This exceptionally beautiful and user-friendly device looks amazing on your shelf or desk while delivering top-quality sound.

It has been designed with Audiophiles in mind and will not disappoint this group of sound perfectionists. This Bluetooth 5.0 speaker has been created to work alone or with another Gravastar Mars Pro speaker. If you take the plunge and use two simultaneously, you’ll experience a rich and immersive sound that will blow your mind. However, a solo speaker is also a fantastic investment that won’t disappoint you. What’s more, it looks incredible, with an array of light features, and produces a wonderful range of tones and a bone-shattering bass line.

Don’t mess with the futuristic speaker.

What’s in the box of the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker?

  • The futuristic theme begins with ostentatious packaging. The sizable box is silver and adorned with weird imagery and key information. Immediately, it screams open me, so that’s what I did. The device is housed snuggly between two pieces of polystyrene. This was disappointing as it’s hard to recycle. I believe a cardboard alternative would work just as well.
  • The Gravastar Mars Pro speaker. This spherical speaker is heavy, well constructed, and made from zinc alloy. It comes in a range of colours and special editions, and I choose the standard black version. On the underside of the speaker are extendable claw-like legs that perfectly balance the accessory. Furthermore, the feet absorb minor shocks to prevent damage and maintain audio quality.
  • USB-C charging cable. This device has an exceptional battery life of around 15 hours. However, when the power runs low, you can charge it with ease thanks to its universal USB-C port.
  • Aux cable. Perhaps you have an older device with no Bluetooth connection. Worry not. By plugging in the Aux cable, you’ll be able to create a wired connection. 
  • User manual. Understand the basics with this small but in-depth guide. 
Check out the rear of the speaker.
So much detail from every angle.
Vivid LED lighting.
A simple user manual.
The USB-C charging cable.
Create a wired connection with the AUX cable.
Striking and futuristic packaging.
The branded protective packaging.
The full package.

Technical aspects. 

MaterialsZinc Alloy
Product Dimension7.5″H x 7.1″L x 7.9″W
Weight5.55 lbs
BluetoothV 5.0
RGB Lights6
Touch Volume ControlYes
True Wireless StereoYes
Battery lifeUp to 15 hours
Output Power20W
Transmission range10M
Power supply5V/2A

I’m in awe of the design and LED light display. However, my biggest concern when buying a speaker is the audio quality. Fortunately, the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker is exceptional. Because of the built-in exclusive DSP audio algorithms, you experience a truly mind-blowing sound. With deep and gut-wrenching bass, accurate rich mids, and crisp highs, it will amaze you. Further to this, the ability to connect 2 speakers enhances your audio further still.

I’ve owned speakers that sound great at one volume, but awful at another. Thankfully, the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker doesn’t suffer this affliction! No matter the volume, its deep bass resonates through the dual speakers and passive bass radiator. Consequently, it performs perfectly while delivering crisp sound.

Stop that speaker in its track.

Touch controls and LED lights. 

You can rest assured that you’ll experience true wireless sound thanks to the Bluetooth 5.0 connection. This low-latency option has a great range, a quick pickup, and a low energy draw. However, the aforementioned Aux cable provides an alternative arrangement to cover all bases.

So, we know the sound is incredible. Moreover, it has a great battery, and it’s easy to use. But what about its looks? Well, in short, the Mecha Sci-Fi theme is jaw-droppingly good! With a brushed metal finish, interesting and chilling claw feet, and mesmerising LED lights, this has phenomenal aesthetics.

The weighty design and zinc alloy spherical case are well built and robust. Furthermore, the speakers are housed safely within the body to prevent unnecessary vibration or issues. The feet can be adjusted with ease and give the speaker an unusual alien-like appearance. Undoubtedly, this will be a conversation starter, especially when the LED lights begin to shine. 

Thanks to the large array of settings, you can customise the look to your liking. The lights can be extinguished, remain one colour, flit through a random selection, or pulse with the beat. I chose the latter option as it looked incredible and was responsive to every song. 

Finally, the touch-sensitive controls make it easy to adjust the volume. Located at the top of the body, you can increase and decrease the sound with ease. This was a feature that wasn’t entirely essential, but I’m glad it was included. Not only does it look great with the LED light display, but it adds to the futuristic theme.

The Gravastar Mars Pro Speaker looks great in any situation.
The Gravastar Mars Pro speaker looks striking.

Is the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker worth it?

Bluetooth speakers are two a penny these days. However, buying one that looks amazing whilst delivering exceptional audio quality isn’t easy. Thankfully, the Gravastar Mars Pro speaker breaks the mould as it ticks every box. Not only does it produce phenomenal sound quality, but it can be enhanced further by connecting it to another speaker. Moreover, the exclusive DSP audio algorithms offer an unrivalled experience.

If you then consider the build quality, unusual Sci-Fi design, and LED lights, you get a speaker that is a real conversation starter. Further to this, the exceptional battery life and user-friendly design make it the perfect device for your home or when you are out and about. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here!

Summary.

Gravastar has created a mind-blowing accessory that is out of this world. Not only does it look great, but it is a market leader with its exclusive technology and masterful design. If you are in the market for a head-turning speaker, you need to look no further. 

(More information on Gravastar can be found here!) 

The Gravastar Mars Pro speaker has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech gold award.

Review: Neon Blight

Lee Fairweather
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Review: Neon Blight

Neon Blight is a game I was genuinely looking forward to playing. I first noticed it during the Steam Next Fest, where its distinctive cyberpunk art style immediately grasped my attention. The gameplay also appeared to be very reminiscent of Enter the Gungeon, and it was shaping up to be an all-around great time. This is why it’s all the more disappointing that it turned out to be an utterly broken mess.

Neon Blight was developed by newcomers Bleeding Tapes, and published by Freedom Games. Inherently, it is a top-down bullet hell roguelite shooter, but also features shop management undertones. I have a lot I want to say about this title, but to be up front with you, I’d suggest you avoid this game for the time being.

Bugs

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this review, I want to highlight the issues I faced while playing Neon Blight. During the first 3 hours of my playthrough, there were a number of instances where my game would freeze, or simply terminate altogether. I stopped making a note after the 15th crash due to the staggering frequency in which they occurred.

Outside of these, I also encountered my fair share of bugs and glitches. Some of these were bizarre, but fundamentally harmless, whereas others were outright gamebreaking. Here is a short list of some of the issues that I experienced:

  • Being stuck in various out of bounds areas.
  • Being randomly warped to areas of the game I hadn’t yet unlocked.
  • Enemies getting stuck in walls, and somehow managing to still successfully attack me.
  • AI pathing resulting in characters getting stuck on terrain.
  • Customers stealing items that I had put up for sale.
  • The entire storefronts cosmetic system being completely broken.
  • Placeholder text being used in dialogue boxes.
  • Text missing entirely from dialogue boxes.

I’m not sure if this is a curse with cyberpunk themed games, but its honestly baffling that these issues got past the QA department. Though, having worked QA before, it seems as though not much internal testing was done at all. It took me less than 15 minutes to discover the first gamebreaking bug, and that was simply by playing the game normally.

Early Access?

Bleeding Tapes and Freedom Games, the latter of which I have a fairly high opinion of, should be embarrassed calling this a fully fledged release. Nobody would have batted an eye at this if they simply put this out as an early access title. After all, that is exactly what the EA system is setup to do for a product. Alas, it was released as a finished project, and that is both laughable and insulting.

Update: As of this review, Bleeding Tapes have put out a number of updates to try and fix some of the issues. While they have managed to patch out some of the bugs, a lot of them still persist. I was initially going to rate this game a 2/10, but as it stands now I’ve bumped it up to a very generous 3.

Story

The story follows the former police officer Lara in her attempt to start a new life as a gun store owner. However, in order to start her new life, she seemingly has to confront her old one. She decides to become a rogue gunslinger to discover the truth surrounding a mysterious event which transpired 15 years earlier.

Truth be told, the game did a stellar job of piquing my interest. Why did the former cop turn into a gun store clerk? Why did she leave the force to begin with? Who is this mysterious entity that has compelled her into action? I wanted answers to these questions, and I was eager to see how it played out.

Then, unexpectedly, and very awkwardly, the entire story was dropped almost immediately. I honestly have no idea if this was because of a glitch I caused, or if it was a mishap on the developer’s side. Either way, it is yet another example of the abysmally poor state this game is currently in. I hope Bleeding Tapes implement this story properly at some point, as I really do think it has potential.

Gameplay 

When I wasn’t experiencing endless crashes, Neon Blight managed to be fairly enjoyable top-down shooter. There are a diverse number of weapons at your disposal, all of which have their own qualities to them. These range from semi-automatic pistols, all the way up to high powered sniper-rifles. They also come in ballistic, energy or plasma variations, which further alter the way they operate.

Running around and dodging out of the way of incoming attacks felt seamless and smooth. However, the speed at which you can move around reduced the games difficulty by a dramatic amount. Outside of one very late game boss, Neon Blight never felt like the bullet hell game it was hyping itself up to be. Unsurprisingly, I lost more progress to crashes than I did to the games challenge level.

Every item you find in the game can be sold in your shop to make a profit. You can use those profits to buy new weapons, upgrades and character buffs when exploring out in the wild. This seems like it would be a nice change of pace, but it never really felt necessary to do at any point in time. On top of this, the management systems aren’t fully functional. Needless to say, this led to even more aggravation on my part.

Art

The art direction of Neon Blight is a partial redeeming factor of the game. The city of Eden for instance has an astonishing amount of detail to it. The luminous neon lights mixed with the bright colours and dark undertones make for a wallpaper-esque spectacle.

Outside of the city, there are a fair number of other locations to explore. These range from forest biomes to winter wonderlands, and even abandoned factories. These locations are effectively the different dungeons in the game. In truth, they are baron and empty. Nevertheless, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to Bleeding Tapes here, as I suspect this is in an attempt to be less cluttered for the bullet hell gameplay.

The character designs are rather plain and simplistic, but do come across as a nice homage to the pre-NES stylings. Their blown-up counterparts offer a more detailed look at them, though admittedly, most of the designs are somewhat forgettable.

It really is a shame that the game didn’t do more with the dystopian cyberpunk aesthetic. While this thematic is currently the ‘in’ thing to do, it’s clear that Neon Blight could have created a fairly interesting spin on it.

Audio

Neon Blight has an pleasantly ambient soundtrack. The composers, which I believe comprise of at least 3 different artists, have managed to create a vibrant 80s synth-based OST, something that is synonymous with the cyberpunk thematic. There are a couple of tracks in the game which sound almost incomplete, but those are, thankfully, pretty sparse.

The SFX are another saving grace for Neon Blight. The guns, which are arguably the most important part to this game, have all been given their own unique sound banks. This allowed things like the ballistic and energy weapons to sound different from one another, all while remaining immersive and punchy.

All in all, the audio and sound design teams genuinely make you feel like your John Wick in his titular series. Unfortunately, the other departments faltered so spectacularly that it feels as though their work has gone to waste.

Conclusion

Neon Blight is an above average game which is currently plagued by countless issues, bugs and crashes. The top-down shooter gameplay, when functioning, is smooth and enjoyable, albeit repetitive. The store management systems are a nice idea, but have been implemented in a very mediocre fashion. While the art style can be absolutely gorgeous at times, it didn’t utilise the cyberpunk aesthetic enough. However, the OST and sound design are genuinely great additions to an otherwise poor game.

Neon Blight could easily be a 6 or possibly 7 out of 10, however, due to its myriad of problems and drawbacks, it barely manages to scratch a 3. Hopefully Bleeding Tapes continue to release patches and get this game where it deserves to be. But for now, I’d strongly recommend avoiding this game until a later date.

Review: DNF Duel

Jonah Ehlers
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Review: DNF Duel

Bright colours, flashy moves, vague lore, and a surprisingly solid roster of characters. These were the ingredients chosen to create DNF Duel. An extremely fun and moreish fighter from Arc System Works.

Newcomers Welcome

The first thing about this title that really struck me was how simple the command list was; especially when compared to mainstream games of the genre like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and most of all Tekken. In DNF Duel you only have a handful of inputs you need to know, that when combined allows for more diverse and lengthy combos.

Firstly you have standard attacks. These are simple jabs, kicks, and leg sweeps that are most effective when used to start a combo chain. Then you have a set of skills and MP skills. Skills are special moves that can inflict solid damage, and reliably keep combos going. Some maintain a target’s position in mid-air, while others launch them. Certain skills can do damage from above continuing a barrage on downed enemies, or trigger AOE attacks.

MP skills then take this one step further and use mana points to pull off even more powerful moves. All it takes to pull them off is a directional input and a press of B for normal skills and A for MP skills (Provided you’re using a controller).  Some skills don’t even need directional inputs. Just an B or A input and voilà. This is the same across the board for everyone. However, the outcome is the main difference. 

A couple of examples of this are: Ghostblade’s [←+A] MP Skill, which sends forth his ghost to deal damage and put pressure on an opponent while he closes the distance and/or sets up his own attacks. Or Berserker’s [←+A], which grabs your opponent, and recovers some HP, while inflicting damage. Every character might have a different move suited to their archetype, but the input required to execute these skills can be as easy as hitting a button or two. 

This made DNF Duel one of the most beginner-friendly fighting games I’ve seen in a long time. The ease of inputs makes it so that even the most green of fighters can do some flashy, albeit simple combos from the get-go, and gain some confidence. It’s a really easy game to pick up, which newcomers will surely appreciate. However, it takes a bit more to master this fighter. 

Deeper Than It Looks

Mastery of DNF Duel, much like any good fighter is highly dependent on good spacing, and utilising your skills in order to extend combos and keep the pressure on your opponent. Knowing which skills to use and when can reap some serious rewards. And luckily the entire cast of this title is a viable choice, partly due to its simplified controls. But mostly due to a varied moveset across its roster.

The Ranger whose ranged capabilities, make him an obvious choice for experts at zoning. Or the Crusader, who is a master of locking an enemy in a combo with his ability to form a wall behind them. I could not for the life of me find a overtly weak link among the playable characters. There are definitely standouts though, like the aforementioned Crusader, the Berserker, Swift Master and Troubleshooter. However, after some practice, and learning a few tasty combo strings; any and everyone is a threat.

This title also adds a couple of extra layers of depth to the combat. Resource management is important in this title. Especially when playing online or against more difficult AI. Your guard is finite. You can only block for so long before your guard is broken, and you’re completely vulnerable to a thrashing. Similarly, your MP skills use up mana, and once all points are depleted your character becomes exhausted making them unable to use any MP skills until it recharges. There were a couple of moments when I first started playing where I was exhausted without even realising it. I hit [→+A], and just watched my fighter stand there like a dunce before catching some hands. It was then I realised keeping an eye on that gauge could be the difference between victory and shameful defeat. 

Taking and inflicting damage also has a little bit of extra depth. Regular damage results in a section of your HP bar turning white. This white damage can be recovered over time. But take enough damage and some becomes red, which is permanent. Your MP skills though, will always inflict red damage. Furthermore, they will eat up any latent white damage. Making a combo of regular moves/skills and finishing things off with MP skills, a lethal combination. This incentivises aggression and making good use of your abilities.

However, when you’re the one with white damage and an unrelenting enemy after you, there is another option. Converting the white into red in exchange for some extra MP. This conversion mechanic also cancels most attacks. This can help turn the tables after you’ve whiffed an MP skill, became exhausted, and are at risk of falling victim to a combo. Or it can simply be used to extend a combo. It’s an advanced risk/reward mechanic that adds an interesting element for more experienced players.

Give Us an Edge

Speaking of turning tables, another important element of combat is Awakening. When your HP drops to a certain point you can access an all-powerful and spectacular attack that can do some serious damage, either putting yourself and your opponent on more equal footing or outright winning a seemingly lost fight. It’s a mechanic that’s become a standard in the genre and provides some drama and theatrics to a fight. 

Combat in DNF Duel is enjoyable, easy to grasp, and beautifully animated to boot. However, there is one aspect that I felt was a bit lacking. Defence. Aside from spacing, blocking and dashing you’ve not got many defensive options. Especially when an enemy has you locked into a combo. The guard gauge is quite generous, so good timing can save your skin. However, I’d appreciate at least one additional way of getting out of a combo. At the very least a delayed wake-up to throw an opponent’s timing off, and allow for some punishment.

Narratively Bankrupt, Rich in Gameplay

The story mode in this game is paper-thin. About an hour long for each character if you don’t zoom through the dialogue. It provides some equally minimal and vague lore about the world and then you fight someone. Every main fighter has inside them “Will” which gives them access to “Wonder” which are portals to other lands where they’ll find another fighter with some will they can absorb. Simply put, Will is an excuse for them to fight. Eventually, they use the accumulated will of everyone they’ve fought in order to awaken an ancient warrior. I’ll let you guess what happens next.

The general plot remains the same for everyone. The only differences are who fights who and where they do so. Although to be fair, most people don’t decide to play fighting games for their campaigns. There are a good amount of options outside of story mode. You can train, with a nice variety of settings. In arcade mode you fight an 8-leg tournament. A survival mode in which you use points accumulated in the fight to give you an edge in the next battle. Including an increase to your attack/defence or replenishing lost HP. 

All of these offline options are great and all, but they also make for good preparation. A chance to find your character, practice combos, timing, as well as learning the strengths and weakness of other fighters. This is all vital when it comes to the real challenge. Online play. Which is also great. Finding a match in lobbies was quick and easy, things run smoothly, and I met some really skilled, and friendly players too, which is always a treat when you’re getting your ass handed to you. Things only got a little slow when it came to ranked matchmaking, sometimes finding a match took a while. Thankfully, you can play any of the offline modes while you wait so you can get some last-minute practice in.

It’s… Beautiful

DNF Duel is an absolutely beautiful 2.5D fighter on top of it all. The animations are exceptional. Your moves and abilities have so much spectacle stuffed into them, from the beams of cosmic energy to fiery explosions. I was really impressed by the quality of visuals, the use of colour and dynamic camera work. This combined with the simple control scheme makes it so that enjoying some flashy combos is a constant. From the most basic skills, down to your earth-shattering Awakening attacks, I cannot stress how good this game looks. And how truly and wonderfully absurd some of these people’s skills are.

DNF Duel is fun, it’s a spectacle, it’s easy to learn, and a bit trickier to master. Its deceptive simplicity may not be for everybody, and its story may as well not have been there. But overall, it’s a good time.

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