With Christmas not that far away now, we take a closer look at the Willow Starter Pack.
For the friend who swears they “just don’t have a green thumb”, this might finally turn things around. The Plant With Willow Starter Pack gives your houseplants a voice – quite literally. A discreet soil sensor tracks moisture, light, temperature and nutrients, sending real-time updates to your phone via a beautifully intuitive app. You’ll know when to water, when to feed, and when your monstera simply needs a moment in the sun. Each plant even gets its own “happiness score”, because who doesn’t love a little positive feedback? Perfect for city dwellers or anyone on a mission to master their indoor jungle.
The Starter Pack includes
1 Sensor for 1 indoor plant
1 Hub
USB cable for the Hub
Coin cell battery in Sensor
The Sensor has built-in Bluetooth connectivity. The Hub connects to your home 2.4GHz WiFi.
The Willow Starter Pack is available now priced around £34.99 in either Moss or Charcoal and would make a very unique Christmas present.
With Christmas not that far away, we take a closer look at the Michelangelo Phone Stand from Cable Guys.
Cowabunga! The Michelangelo Mini Cable Guy is here and ready to party. With his signature orange mask and laid back attitude, Mikey is geared up to hold your phone, earbuds and any other small accessories.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mini holder
• Perfect for keeping your earbuds, phone, and other small gadgets organized
• Officially licensed by Paramount, styled on Michelangelo from the TMNT franchise
• Approx 4″ tall
The Michelangelo Phone Stand from Cable Guys is available now priced around £17.99.
Making money from games isn’t about selling copies anymore. Developers are now relying on in-game stores, subscriptions, battle passes, and time-limited events to help keep things going.
Some of it works and gets players coming back. Some of it makes the community burn out fast. Knowing the difference is what separates a strong, long-lasting game from a short-lived cash-grab!
Pexels.com
Games That Actually Get Monetization Right
Some games are making money because they respect players’ time. Take, for example, play-to-earn titles. In some areas, such as Decentraland, players can purchase virtual property, host events, or rent out digital spaces. That ownership helps keep people involved. They’re not just playing, they’re creating something for themselves.
Other games bring back the arcade feel. Fish table games on gambling sites are a clear standout here. You join a room, aim, fire, and shoot to win big prizes. The concept is simple: the better your aim, the bigger your rewards. It’s fast, competitive, and taps into that old-school energy, but now there’s real money in the mix.
Then there’s the free-to-play model that works without ruining the game. Fortnite and Apex Legends are the go-to examples. They’re free to start, but players can grab up some skins, emotes, and battle passes if they wish. No pressure, no pay-to-win tricks. Just good old-fashioned gameplay, with upgrades if you would like them. GWI suggests that this particular feature is key to making players come back for the long haul.
The Pitfalls: Where Things Go Wrong
Not all ideas in game monetization work out. Loot boxes were the first big warning sign. Players were promised excitement, but what they got was more like gambling. Odds weren’t clear, rewards were random, and people kept spending without knowing what they’d get. It didn’t take long for the pushback to begin.
Even games that don’t contain loot boxes or tokens can trip up. Some titles have a paywall behind their progress. You play and you level up, then you hit a wall. The only way forward is to pay. That kind of move puts players off fast. It destroys trust and makes the game feel rigged. Once players get the sense of being pushed, they leave.
Keep It Fair, Or Lose the Room
Good monetization does not push. It fits. When players earn something in real play (as a reward tied to something that happens, or a story), it feels earned. That’s what keeps people around.
Different players spend for different reasons. Some want their performance to be upgraded. Others just want a cool look. Offering both choices and allowing players to have control over their interaction with the money in the game creates trust.
Be clear. Show odds. Use filters that can protect younger players. When rules are fair and up front, people will stay with your game for a longer time, and they’re more likely to spend when they feel respected.
What Game Makers Should Keep in Mind
Games that stick around are the ones built to grow with the people playing them. Selling a copy used to be the finish line; now it’s a start. If you’re a developer, don’t always wait until launch day to see what works. Test early. Watch how the players in the real world move through your game. Adjust where needed!
The best monetization feels natural. It doesn’t interrupt the game or push too much. When you get that balance right, players stick around, tell their friends, and come back for more. That’s what keeps a game alive long after the credits roll.
Here is our review of the Canyon Over-Ear Headphones OnRiff 6 ANC.
Features
Active Noise Cancellation
Usage Time: Up to 25h
Low Latency Gaming Mode
Wireless & Wired Connection
Deep Bass
BT Multipoint: Connect to 2 BT Devices Simultaneously
Specification
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Canyon Over-Ear Headphones OnRiff 6 ANC are lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods time.
You can connect the headphones with your device either with the provided wired cable or via Bluetooth – the choice is yours. Either option is very quick and easy to set up.
Sound quality wise they are very good, and the active noise cancelling (ANC) works really well even in fairly loud environments. The sound quality is just as good if you are listening to music or playing video games.
When they are fully charged you get around 25 hours of use out of them, and recharging them is pretty quick too.
With BT Multipoint, you can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can be listening to music on your laptop, take calls on your phone, and switch between them easily.
The Canyon Over-Ear Headphones OnRiff 6 ANC are available now priced around £37 and are available in Black, Blue or Grey.
GUNNAR has collaborated with Blizzard many times. The result is striking glasses that appeal to a wide audience. Accordingly, when they released the World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses, I had to take a look. Designed with gamer girls in mind, these glasses have a nice, feminine appeal. Moreover, the plum frame is rich, attractive, and eye-catching.
If you spend your day in front of a monitor, TV, or on your phone, you may suffer from blue light exposure. The result is itchy eyes that can cause headaches, fatigue, and reduced productivity. If you invest in a pair of gaming glasses, you can overcome these issues while making a fashion statement.
These glasses come with amber-tinted or clear lenses. Furthermore, you can select +5 to -5 prescription lenses. If you choose the amber option, you’ll enjoy 100% UV and 65% blue light protection. Alternatively, the clear version delivers 35% blue light protection. Accordingly, your eyes will benefit when gaming or working.
What’s in the box of the World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses?
The packaging is discreet and robust.
The World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses look great! Each arm has some fine details, and the hinges and polymer frame are durable.
A hard and soft case is provided to keep your glasses safe.
Clean the lenses with the microfiber cloth.
Technical aspects.
GUNNAR’s patented lens technology is fantastic. The amber option is ideal for gamers, office workers, and anyone who wants to reduce harsh, contrasting tones. However, if you need colour clarity, I recommend selecting the clear lens option. This offers impressive blue light protection without tinting your work. Subsequently, this choice would be better for graphic designers.
The World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses are part of the Epic performance range. Consequently, users benefit from an oleophobic coating that reduces glare and unwanted smudges. This makes it the ideal choice for streamers who want to avoid distracting their audience. On top of this, there is a scratch-resistant coat to reduce the risk of damage.
Build quality.
Durability and high-quality materials make GUNNAR products reliable and appealing. The frame is constructed from a premium engineered polymer material, and it has a metal core. This makes them extremely hard-wearing and ideal for heavy-handed users. The slim arms have wonderful silver details that complement the plum base colour.
The multi-barrel hinges are reliable and smooth to use. Additionally, a 1-year warranty is offered for peace of mind. The soft and hard cases have nice WOW details, and I love the fantasy imagery on the microfiber cloth. Everything about these glasses will appeal to WOW fans, but they’ll appeal to non-gamers as well.
Are the World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses worth it?
If you struggle with dry eyes and headaches, you need to consider a pair of GUNNAR glasses. The patented lens technology improves your eye health. Additionally, they are comfortable to wear, durable, and fashionable. Although these glasses are aimed towards women, there are plenty of unisex and masculine glasses to select from the range. Accordingly, I think the World of Warcraft, Sylvanas glasses are great and I recommend buying them here!
Interactive entertainment is now so much more than a simple pastime. Modern games can often give us laughter, tears, deep reflection and profound sadness in a single sitting.
We players are no longer just completing objectives or chasing high scores as the medium has grown into what can often be described as an emotional experience coupled with absurdity, contextuals and deep narratives. And, according to the Entertainment Software Association, the average gamer in 2024 spent over eight hours a week engaged with interactive content, and it’s most often story-driven games that are leading in retention and engagement.
The Humor of Play
Humor plays a big old role in many games whose goal it is to delight and surprise us. Think of titles such as The Impossible Quiz, which masterfully blend absurdity, bizarre logic, and unexpected outcomes. Of course, it’s going to be leaving you giggling because games like this absolutely thrive on unpredictability – often turning minor in-game events into moments of sheer comedic value.
Research in game psychology actually suggests that humor significantly increases engagement, with players more likely to return to games that produce consistent positive emotional responses. Makes sense, right?
Mobile games, too, increasingly incorporate humor through animations, quirky character interactions, and situational absurdity. It goes to show that comedy can be just as interactive as those traditional gameplay mechanics that we are so used to.
A very popular component of interactive entertainment is iGaming – basically a combo of traditional casino games with modern interactivity and narrative layers. A growing number of these game choices are quite odd and unusual, and, for many, can be a nice change from “normal” table games and slots.
Of course, you’ll always have classic games like blackjack that can’t be bettered. They still hold a special place because sometimes the originals cannot be bettered, and reviews of top blackjack apps will testify to this, but there are also small modern twists like different bonuses and free play, all brought to you in a safe, secure, mobile app. That’s definitely not to say that online casinos are intimidated out of providing more unusual games. You see, online casinos have most definitely embraced creativity and variety.
There are games like Space Invasion, for one, that turn the classic arcade experience with its over-the-top consequences into a real-money challenge. Other unusual offerings, such as Plinko, bring unpredictability similar to Pachinko, with balls falling through a pyramid to land in prize multipliers. Even virtual sports titles like Donkey Dash, where players bet on digital donkey races, show how far iGaming has come in offering us interactive experiences that feel freshly entertaining and, at times, pretty damn funny.
Tear Jerkers
In video gaming, there are also those games that are designed to heavily tug on our heartstrings. And, oh boy, do they?! Titles such as To The Moon and Spiritfarer explore mortality, memory, and the complexities of human relationships. If you haven’t played it, get hold of the tissue box because the storyfollows two doctors as they navigate a dying man’s memories to fulfill his final wish. The combo of narrative depth and super nostalgia-inducing music produces a really moving experience for many players.
Then there’s Spiritfarer, where players assist spirits in transitioning to the afterlife, and it blends life simulation with adventure mechanics, encouraging a bit of reflection on loss, friendship, and closure, all very real human emotions and elements we face in real life.
Data from player feedback surveys indicate that narrative-driven emotional games rank higher in memorability and player recommendation compared with action-heavy games, showing us the enduring appeal of the story, the narrative, and, yes, the emotion it brings.
The Shared Experience Of Emotion
Interactive entertainment is also increasingly social. Multiplayer experiences and streaming platforms to share reactions, laughter, and emotional moments with friends or even global audiences.
There’s the rise of spectator gaming, which shows that even observing gameplay can provoke strong emotional responses. And the science proves it. Studies from the Interactive Entertainment Research Network indicate that shared play and spectating amplify both positive and negative emotional engagement, with watchers often reporting stronger laughter or tension than solo players.
Summing Up
It’s clear that interactive entertainment occupies a unique place in modern media on multiple levels. Players today have access to a diverse array of experiences, and the best games are those that don’t just entertain us but also invite players to feel, think, and question.
In a digital age, which is so often overfilled with passive content, interactive entertainment offers a surprisingly human alternative.
Another year, and another chance for EGX to merge with the ever-popular MCM Comic Con. This event is a staple in my calendar, and I always take a glass-half-full approach. However, I cannot ignore the dwindling games on offer and the minuscule EGX footprint. Consequently, I was a little apprehensive as I took my overnight train and arrived in the capital at the ungodly hour of 05:30.
Unsurprisingly, the security at the ExCel were shocked to see a member of the press arrive so early (07:00). After a short discussion, we were sent packing to a local coffee house that rhymes with Charhucks. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best of starts. However, I remained positive and hoped that the rest of the day would unfold in a more gamer-friendly way.
Once we managed to gain our passes and made our way through the crowd, we were met with 2 expansive spaces filled with stalls, excited people, and plenty of cosplay. Although the gaming stands were minimal, there was a pleasant buzz of excitement and lots to see and do. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed as it is another underwhelming year for UK gaming.
What stood out at MCM Comic Con?
If you love to shop, MCM Comic Con has you covered. Board games, soft toys, weapons (cosplay), books, and much more are on offer. The choice felt almost endless as wave after wave of stalls greeted you from every angle. Although this wasn’t important to me, there was plenty of cash changing hands and loads of happy fans.
Autographs, photos, and fan art can be acquired if you are willing to use your credit card. There were plenty of big names on offer, and the queues were seemingly never-ending. Consequently, each famous person will have earned their fee.
Wrestling took me by surprise! I didn’t expect to see burly men in underwear whilst perusing each stand. Yet, here we are. Once seen, it cannot be unseen. Lovers of the sport went wild as they watched the action. Subsequently, it added energy, drama, and excitement to the vivid and upbeat atmosphere.
Although the gaming was limited, there were some absolutely cracking indie titles on display. Beneath, DJ Bunny, and Sweet Dreams in Midnight Kingdom were the standout experiences. Furthermore, the team behind each one were enthusiastic and welcoming.
It didn’t live up to the hype.
Sadly, MCM Comic Con didn’t live up to the hype. There is plenty to see and lots to do, but it doesn’t tick the box for purely gaming enthusiasts. Unlike previous EGX events, this one was too limited, and the big developers and publishers were not around. However, if you enjoy cosplay, anime, manga, board games, and shopping, this will entertain you for a couple of days. Accordingly, if you are interested, you can click here to get more information.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition is as shallow as it is hectic. This fast-paced experience captures the arcade vibe perfectly. With its colourful graphics, insane worlds, and short, sharp action, it is an electrifying affair. However, it is repetitive, simple, and reasonably short. Accordingly, every benefit is balanced by a shortcoming.
This arcade racer was developed by Cradle Games and published by GameMill Entertainment. It is a single-player and 2-player couch competitive experience. There are 6 levels to enjoy and 8 iconic cars to drive. This lack of content was my biggest bugbear as the gameplay quickly plateaued.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition tells no story.
The film franchise is filled with insane stories, ridiculous characters, and dangerous stunts. Unfortunately, Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition decides to move away from this tried and tested formula. Yes, there are exciting missions to witness, but racing from A to B with no plot is shallow at best.
As you undertake each race, you must get to the finish line in first place. If you do so, you’ll stop a drone, derail a train, or prevent a bomb from exploding. Furthermore, once you win every race, you’ll unlock a Furious version of your car and an Extreme version of each race course.
It lacks depth.
This is the extent of the gameplay progress. Once you’ve tackled every race with every car, there is nothing more to do. Thankfully, the action is fun, and playing it with another person keeps things interesting and competitive.
Alongside this, there are shortcuts and destructible items to add to the drama. Moreover, you must use your nitro boost carefully if you wish to maximise your chances of winning each race.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition is dated but clean.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition is clean and vibrant. Additionally, there are minor visual bugs, but the frame rate was suitable for the genre. However, it cannot be considered a next-gen title. The cars are varied but a little boxy. Furthermore, the level design is relatively linear, and the tracks are quite small.
The audio is upbeat, dramatic and loud. Drifting your car generates a boost of power and a booming sound effect. Though the soundtrack wasn’t for me, the music works well with the action.
Basic controls.
Children can play this with ease! Furthermore, the simple button layout can be mastered in no time. Moreover, the clean UI ensures that you know exactly what you are doing throughout. As such, you’ll be racing and winning in no time at all.
Sadly, this isn’t a game that’ll keep you hooked for hours. Though I enjoyed the casual racing, the repetitive design leaves a lot to be desired. If you have someone to play with, you’ll get more out of it. However, if you are a lone wolf, this will fall flat pretty quickly.
Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition needed more.
I like the core ideas, high adrenaline action, and vibrant graphics. Moreover, the cars are varied, and the quick races make it wonderfully casual. Yet, I was left wanting. Sadly, Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition needed much more. More levels, more cars, and more depth. Without this, it feels like it’s missing some key ingredients. Despite these shortcomings, I enjoyed what I saw, and I tentatively recommend buying it here! Can you save the day? Pick your car, race through the streets, and complete every mission.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction is a fun, tongue-in-cheek adventure that took me by surprise. Not only was the action more testing than I expected, but the plot was genuinely hilarious. I should have expected nothing less, as one of the writers from the smash hit film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, led the writing team.
This stealth adventure game was developed by Aardman Animations and published by Outright Games. It is a single-player and local cooperative title that plays out from an isometric viewpoint. Furthermore, each level is set in a maze-like world filled with obstacles, traps, and guards. Consequently, you must use each chicken’s ability to avoid detection, overcome problems, and save every chicken.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction tells endless yolks!
Chicken Run: Eggstraction proves that humour doesn’t have to be smutty, rude, or close to the line. Instead, the witty moments, perfect timing, and amusing characters will make you smile from beginning to end. Though there is drama, excitement, and danger, it is the comedy that makes the story and game shine.
You control each of the lead characters from the Chicken Run series. The plot continues the story of the 2023 film with some nice, unexpected twists and turns. There are some new villains to overcome and a cameo appearance from everyone’s favourite inventor and dog pairing. As the chicken heroes move through each stage, you must rescue captured chickens and thwart the plans of every evil menace you face.
Simple mechanics.
The premise behind Chicken Run: Eggstraction is remarkably simple. You must explore farms and factories as you hope to rescue your captured sisters. En route, there are rudimentary puzzles to overcome, switches to flick, doors to open, and guards to avoid. Moreover, there are robot dogs, CCTV, and other security measures to avoid.
As you free the chooks, you must guide them past any remaining obstacles. This is easier said than done, as they walk a predetermined path. Subsequently, if you are not careful, they will walk into grinders, trigger CCTV cameras, or attract the attention of the local robodog.
Each stage has cogs and corn to collect that can be used to buy equipment. This equipment can distract your foes or help you hide. Additionally, there is a scoring system of 3 stars per stage. The stars can unlock new heroes or upgrade your defensive and offensive abilities. This simple progression system won’t blow you away, but it adds a nice level of depth that works particularly well.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction feels like you are watching a movie.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction is a game of two halves. The core action is understated and relatively dated. This isn’t a complaint, as the animation is smooth and the character models are pleasant to the eye. On top of this, the level design is good, well-considered, and fun to explore. However, it is the cinematic that makes this pop. The cutscenes are brilliantly created, and portions of the game feel like you are watching a movie. This helps to deliver the plot and is a pleasant way to bridge the gap between each stage.
The audio is absolutely hilarious. The accents, dialogue, and comedy timing are perfect. I adore the stupidity of the chickens and the wholesome nature of the silly ideas. Though much of the action is thwarted by danger, the excellent acting adds a layer of lighthearted fun.
Brilliant controls.
I hoped that this would be a game aimed towards younger gamers. However, this isn’t the case. Chicken Run: Eggstraction is easy to master, but I think the planning and occasional fast-paced action make it a viable option for anyone older than 13 years of age.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction has a handful of fortified farms to explore. Each one is larger and more complex than the last. Additionally, the evil villains love to make an appearance to keep you on your toes. If you are a completionist, you’ll need to invest some time to achieve a 3-star rating across the board. Alternatively, you could rush through each arena and complete this in under 7 hours.
Chicken Run: Eggstraction is a brilliant stealth adventure.
I adore this franchise and love its silly ways. As such, Chicken Run: Eggstraction was always likely to tickle my fancy. Though the core mechanics are rudimentary, I like the stealth elements and avoiding every guard. Furthermore, the puzzles are interesting without driving you to distraction. Accordingly, this is a brilliant stealth adventure game, and I recommend buying it here! Can you help your fellow chooks? Pick your team of chickens, master your abilities, and leave no chicken behind!
In the gory and hyper-violent world of Daimon Blades, you hack and slash through hundreds of enemies to turn them into pools of blood. Daimon Blades is a first-person action roguelite in which you must fight your way through hordes of enemies in randomly selectable zones and strengthen your character. These zones and the very world itself invoke a hostile emotion as you traverse through various locations, such as sewers, ice caverns, prisons, and more. The game is sporting a dark fantasy aesthetic in both location and character designs.
Gameplay
As I mentioned before, Daimon Blades is a first-person action game. From the start, you have the choice of selecting a specific weapon and your player character’s appearance (Note: The appearance does not have any significant gameplay differences among them. They are just cosmetic). The weapons have different properties, but you only get one till you find another one in a run. Starting out, you have access to a standard melee attack and a projectile that you can charge for more damage. There’s a block button that if you time it at the right moment you can parry and stun enemies. Throughout a run, you’ll be able to add abilities to your arsenal, but those will not stay afterwards. What you do end up keeping after runs are Celestial Stones and Daimonic Orbs. These items are important as they are used to increase your stats and upgrade your weapon abilities, respectfully.
Although you would want to prioritize those items, you may end up dying A LOT in your first few runs. Daimon Blades is very brutal when it comes to its enemies and bosses. You are constantly encouraged to keep moving as enemies can come at you from all sides and angles. Thankfully, you’re not totally helpless as this game gives you very generous movement options. Double jumps, dashes, and a grappling hook: all of which go a fair distance. Still, you will have to be on high alert for most enemy encounters. Projectiles will be constantly shot towards the ground or flying enemies. Not to mention that you’ll be getting swarmed by the basic foot soldier enemies and an elite. Elites tend to have shields that you will have to break through. Although they are some of the more interesting enemy types in the game for the fact that if you time a parry right, they will be stunned for a brief window of time that will allow you to hit them around their shield.
One of the last few things that I wanted to touch on about the gameplay that I found interesting was the Corruption Gauge. Starting out, the Corruption Gauge’s limit goes to 100. Every time you would die in a run, you would be revived and the Corruption Gauge would fill by 20 points. Once you reach 100, it’s game over and you’re back to the main hub area. What I find interesting about this system is how there are ways of increasing and lowering the gauge without dying. If you were to increase the Corruption Gauge, usually it would mean that you’re risking your run ending, but you would normally receive some semblance of a buff or aid. Similar can be said about lowering the Corruption Gauge, but these are harder to come by and are more dangerous areas of the zone.
Early Access Woes
For what I’ve enjoyed about Daimon Blades, a majority of that enjoyment was from the gameplay (as it should). The real problems of the game creep up when you least expect it. On several instances, the game has crashed on me. Sometimes it would be during a run, other times I would be interacting with NPCs in the main hub area. It’s not uncommon for Unreal Engine games, especially ones in early access, to have crashing problems, but they are still annoying none the less. Another complaint I have about the game are its settings. When you start the game for the first time, you are granted the option to alter the game brightness. I tuned mine on the brighter side just by a little bit just to fully see how the game looked. When I found some areas to be too dark, I tried to find the brightness setting and it was nowhere in options. I even relaunched the game to check the options on the title screen and they still weren’t there.
Conclusion
Despite some of the flaws of this game, I enjoyed my time with Daimon Blades. The combat felt great and fast-paced and I enjoyed the progress system. Much of my complaints about this game are things that I hope will get fixed on future updates to the early access version or the full game release. The is currently listed at $34.99 USD on Steam, so I’d understand if most would want to hold off on it till full release or sale. Regardless, if what I described sounded like it was up your alley, then show the devs some support and give this game a shot. If you’ve got a friend you could convince to get this game, it has multiplayer. All-in-all, I hope that this game continues to polish a lot of its rough edges till full release.
Escape From Tarkov, a highly anticipated extraction shooter developed and published by Battlestate Games, is planned to have a full release later this year on November 15th. However, a closed beta for the game has been out since July 28, 2017, so the game has been in the works for a while. Though I personally have not played myself, I can imagine the hype has been building for the game for those lucky enough to play and those anticipating its full release. With only a few weeks left, I hope it lives up to the expectations of the fanbase, filled with intense combat, strategic planning and loot galore to fully customize your builds and loadouts.
But what if it had ducks?
As the name suggests, Escape From Duckov is a parody take on the Escape From Tarkov game. Developed by Team Soda and published by bilibili, a full release was on October 16, 2025. Escape From Duckov is a top-down extraction shooter in a world of loot, violence and cute little ducks. With five unique maps, tons of different enemies, weather effects, a day/night system and seven different difficulty settings, this single player adventure will entertain and challenge you for each raid you attempt. Starting as an ordinary duck, you must find loot to develop your duck, weapons and bunker to venture out a little bit further each time as you complete quests for fellow ducks. So, ready your ducks because its time to discuss Escape From Duckov!
The Story: Duck Customization in Duckov
The story begins with a shot of the world: Duckov. Duckov teeters on the edge of collapse as cataclysmic events ravage the region, forcing evacuation on most of the population. We did not. After completing a dream sequence (I’ll get back to this), we awake in a prison with a voice speaking to us through loudspeakers. We are unaware of who this voice belongs to, but they direct us through our escape of the prison, leading us to a bunker. They teach us some of the basic ropes, such as movement, looting and combat and eventually we reach the bunker and meet the voice: Jeff. Jeff is an older duck who serves as our guide throughout our adventure. He teaches us about the many facilities we can add to the bunker, gives us our main story quests to accomplish and wishes us luck every time we leave.
The story beyond this has so far proven to be a slow grind to piece together. There are things to read and more ducks to meet out in the world, but most of them only have a line or two of dialogue. Usually, they have nothing to do with the overall story and want to talk about fishing or request us to retrieve a “balanced” diet. Obviously, I have questions. A lot of them. But my hope is that the further you proceed with the game, more story will be revealed to you, such as the cause of the collapse or what we can do to save the world or how will we evacuate. Ultimately, I do wish there was a bit more story early on, but I’ll speak more on this a bit later.
During the dream sequence, you get to do one of my favorite things in video games: Character customization! For a game where all the characters are ducks, the customization is surprisingly detailed. There’s different scales to change size and positions, and different faces, feathers and feet. You can come up with some wacky looking ducks. I spent probably too much time playing around with the customization, quacking up over some of the ducks I was able to create. If this isn’t your cup of tea though, you are able to say you are the “yellow duck” which will give you a preset character to go with. Personally, I believe my duck turned out pretty cute.
The Combat & Loot: Guns, Crafting and the Miscellaneous
After completing the tutorial, we receive a basic firearm, ammo, and a melee weapon to help us survive. Proceeding on the first raid, we quickly learn that field of vision and sound play important roles in this game. Enemies remain hidden unless they enter the duck’s direct line of sight, making visibility a tactical challenge throughout the game. However, enemies pace around and their footsteps can be heard. Once you hear a quack though, they have either spotted you or sometimes another enemy. For example, wolves roam around in specific parts and will sometimes attack enemy ducks. This gives you an opportunity to clean up or make a break for it while they fight. Different sounds of footsteps and quacks belong to different enemy types. Its beneficial to try and remember what goes with what to know whose nearby.
Obviously, combat is not entirely unavoidable, so it’s important to know how to fight. The game features plenty of different weapons, from shotguns, snipers, rifles, bows, knives, shovels, dynamite, etc. Different weapons feature different stats which can be viewed by hovering over them with the mouse. Ranged weapons will display different reticles as well, which might change how aiming might look on the screen. Ranged weapons will also require ammo, so make sure you have the correct set of ammo on you. Some weapons support attachments like extended magazines, laser sights, or suppressors. This allows players to customize their loadouts for improved accuracy, capacity, or stealth. Personally, I prefer the stealth approach with a bow, and a shotgun in case things get out of hand.
Loot plays a key role in this game. Loot can be a wide range of items, such as healing items for your hotbar, other weapons, ammo and armor, and consumables such as food and beverages. Many loot items will be crafting materials and upgrade currency that are stackable, such as wood, bolts, fading feathers and cash. Other loot items include a few “miscellaneous” things that are not stackable but rare to find, such as keys, cups, and IV bags. With all these different types of loot, it can be very easy to get bogged down without proper inventory management. I’m that player that loots everything in games. So I had to make frequent trips to the bunker to store my loot in the warehouse. Eventually, I realized that I needed to start planning my raids, taking note of what items I should look for and what I can leave behind.
The Gameplay Beyond Combat: Upgrades & Stats
You can upgrade almost everything in the game—guns, gear, skills, and more. You can upgrade your duck’s ranged capabilities and melee prowess. Upgrading the warehouse storage space, the overall bunker with different facilities to add, and more are also possible. Along with crafting and quests, there’s certainly a ton to try and keep track of. I almost felt the need to play with a pen and paper just to take notes. So far I believe I’ve encountered four different skill trees, each with their own purpose. As mentioned, some items are rare to come across, but are necessary for some quests and facility crafting. It also doesn’t help that if you die out during a raid, you lose all of your inventory and must retrieve it without dying again, or else it will be lost “forever” (you can restore an earlier save if you want to try again though).
There are also a ton of gameplay mechanics that I haven’t even touched on yet. There’s fishing which I haven’t tried yet. Fading feathers are used to purchase totems, which are items that provide great boosts to stats. The amount of stats in this game is insane. Without a sort of in-game guide to help us out, it’s a tad much to try and keep track of. Hunger and thirst are important to keep track of, but I’m not too sure what they do when empty. Different consumables apply unique effects, though I’m unsure of what they mean. The maps seem expansive and are interactable. There’s bridges to build, extraction points for quick travel, mysterious vendors to sell rare items and mini-bosses to challenge. There’s definitely a learning curve here. This may seem daunting for unfamiliar players who really wanted to play a game about ducks.
The Drawbacks: A Ducking Long Grind
The audio and visuals in this game are great. I have no notes in these departments as I feel like both just work. I love the cute ducks, the quacks (though a dedicated quack button feels like a huge miss), and even the little dog that follows us around. The world isn’t the most detailed, but again, it feels fitting and adds to the overall charm.
However, that charm probably won’t keep the player-base interested in the long run. I think this ultimately brings me to the main drawback of Escape From Duckov. It is certainly not lacking in goals to set and work towards completing. However, it does start feeling like a grind to do so. The sheer amount of things you are able to craft or upgrade is yes, a great thing to have. Unfortunately I can see players becoming disinterested overtime.
Since the game is single player, there isn’t that appeal in playing with friends in co-op or competing online in PVP. Don’t get me wrong, the single player aspect isn’t a drawback for me personally. Single player tends to be my preference. However, I worry that without multiplayer, the game might have a burst of player base (which it seems is currently happening with its peak of 180K concurrent players) followed by a decline overtime as people either grind through and finish the game or get bored. The game requires a grind that may turn off some players. On top of that, there isn’t a replayability factor that I can see of.
The Conclusion: It Has My Interest…For Now
Having just had a full release earlier this month, Escape From Duckov is certainly set to receive future updates. With overwhelmingly positive reviews on steam and modding capabilities, there can hopefully be a bright future for the world of Duckov and all the cute ducks that inhabit it. This is a game that I can see myself continuing to play, spending hours and days on the grind. Though I may get bored in the future or an extremely unfortunate death sets me back a ton of progress, I’m enjoying the game for now and am having a lot of fun.
I think the developers at Team Soda did a great job! I would recommend this to players who enjoy a grind and a challenge. If crafting, looting, questing and cute ducks are your thing, then Escape From Duckov might be the game for you! I’m also glad that Battlestate Games is embracing/promoting the game despite the obvious parody of Escape From Tarkov. I’m eager to see how Duckov holds up after Tarkov launches on November 15th. If you played both, please let me know in the comments how you think the two compare. I am hopeful that the game continues on with its own identity and player-base, and am excited to see what comes next.
PowerWash Simulator 2 scratches a cleaning itch that its predecessor always fulfilled. The rotten stages, interesting equipment, and new mechanics will make fans of the genre foam at the mouth. Moreover, the expansive campaign feels like it is never-ending. Huge buildings, complex vehicles, and an array of new climbing methods make this the best PowerWash experience to date.
This dirty simulation game was developed and published by FuturLab. It is a single-player, split-screen, or up to 4-player online title. I didn’t tackle the latter choice, but this is something I plan to do post-release. Instead, I focused on each level by myself or with one of my rather keen children. I wish they were this happy to clean a plate, their room, or any other mundane task.
PowerWash Simulator 2 expands the city of Muckingham.
Muckingham is a disgusting place at the best of times. However, the protagonist and their cleaning company seem to find some of the most revolting sights you’ll ever see. Crusty buildings, ruined cars, and an array of weird and wonderful objects require your attention. This much-anticipated sequel takes you to Sponge Valle, Power Falls, and Lubri City.
Each location is filthier than the last, and there is a sense of grim grind as you blast the mess off of every surface. Though the core mechanics are very similar to every DLC and the first game, the developer has done their best to freshen things up. This will appeal to hardcore fans and anyone who has never played the original due to living under a rock.
What’s new?
Like a Babushka doll, PowerWash Simulator 2 has levels within levels. Consequently, when you think you’ve done enough, a secret area unlocks, and the filthy hell starts again. Furthermore, there are plenty of moving parts to entertain and test your accuracy. This is the headline change and something impressive. Although it makes solo action more difficult and long, it will improve the co-op and online scenarios.
The developer has added a base and furniture to design a relaxing home away from the madness. I wasn’t that sold on this idea, but plenty of gamers will enjoy cleaning the furniture and creating the base of their dreams.
On top of this, there is a new soap mechanic to speed up the cleaning of stubborn stains. Furthermore, there is a floor scrubbing mop and a scissor lift to get you to awkward locations. This is paired with a moving seat that attaches itself to billboards and other unusual structures. The latest additions add some flair, depth, and new tactics to a very well-trodden franchise.
PowerWash Simulator 2 looks great.
I reviewed a PC version of PowerWash Simulator 2, and it looks fantastic. The action was flawless, and I didn’t encounter any bugs, frame rate problems, or flaws. However, I understand it would be tough to point out textural issues when many of the levels look dirty and ghastly.
The audio has always driven me potty! The constant whoosh of water is torture. Yet, PowerWash Simulator 2 has upped the ante with a weird audio bug. If you play it cooperatively, one player’s audio doesn’t work. Subsequently, I managed to invent the first silent run pressure washer. Furthermore, if you use the floor mop, the water volume is wrong every time. This wasn’t problematic, but it needs fixing ASAP.
Excellent controls.
If you have played the original, you will not struggle. However, if you are new to the franchise, the excellent UI, simple controller layout, and responsive inputs make this a joy to play. PowerWash Simulator 2 plays exceptionally well with a mouse and keyboard or a gamepad. I preferred the latter as it felt more intuitive and smoother.
The grind is real. However, if you love the rewarding sense of removing dirt and slowly working through every level, this will keep you playing for hours. Undoubtedly, this is much easier with additional players. Yet, it is an achievement if you can tackle every mountain of filth alone.
PowerWash Simulator 2 is a great sim game.
I cherish this franchise! The developer has done an amazing job with the sequel, and I applaud their eye for detail and the new elements. Furthermore, I love how they have kept the heart and soul of the original. Therefore, this has enough new elements to prevent boredom, but it is familiar enough to start playing without effort. Accordingly, it is a great sim game and I recommend buying it here! Can you make Muckingham shine? Upgrade your equipment, master the new gear, and polish every filthy stage.
I’ve played my fair share of games with various combat mechanics, some have been poor, had great ideas but not well executed and others have been amazing, fun, and engaging which is exactly what Absolum succeeded at, very well too may I add.
Several aspects made me enjoy the combat as a whole, which were the various abilities, bosses, enemies, along with the satisfying attacks and combos. The kicks and punches despite throwing hundreds of them were just as satisfying as the first one, I was so into that sometimes I would hit the controls harder and faster than necessary, if I had to say why it was so addictive I feel like that describes it almost perfectly.
Not only was it the basic attacks that made the combat so great, but the throwables which included knifes and axes were a great resource and switched the combat system up, not to mention how useful they were especially in boss fights, allowing for long ranged attacks without taking much damage. The ultimates and special abilities for each character also added more variety, special abilities were easy to charge up, you deal damage and the bar fills simple, the ultimates though are a lot harder to gain, you always start with one but it’s very rare to find more in chests or breakables. Regardless they’re both quite strong and fun to use.
There’s still more, after helping save a frog from the swamp and approaching her upon starting a new run, she’s able to help you enhance rituals and unlock some strong abilities for elements like fire and lightning and also for necromancy and time. These are extremely useful and makes the game so much easier and enjoyable, it does take quite a lot of effort however to unlock ones which are very helpful, so you’ll have to put in a decent amount of hours into it.
Having to beat the game through runs instead of in a single go was its biggest weakness
Most story games have you beat the game in one playthrough, allowing you to save your progress on multiple files and when you die you go back to your latest save. Some games of course do only give you one life to complete it though that’s often on the hardest difficulty, what Absolum does is only give you one life without a difficulty setting, there is no easy, normal or hard mode to choose from, the only feature there is to make your life a bit easier is to reduce the damage you receive and deal.
You can either increase or decrease both so you can make it much easier or a lot more challenging, if the game was too much of a breeze for anyone. But here’s the kicker, this is only available on co-op mode, you’re probably wondering why I’m saying that like it’s a really bad thing, after all you have one extra person helping you beat the game, the levels, abilities, and enemies you fight are the same so what’s the problem?
Well with all good things come drawbacks, and for Absolum’s co-op mode it’s that there are a lot more enemies who all have extra health, to put it simply it’s quite chaotic. Not to mention that if the other player has really bad connection then it can impact your gameplay too, regardless it does make beating the game easier thanks to the difficulty option, just be prepared to fight a lot more enemies on potentially much worse ping.
With that said having to beat the game on one run on your own or with someone else was something I found quite annoying at first. I would constantly die either early on or very late on which annoyed me the most, and to get back there and beat the game I would have to beat the same areas, levels, and enemies constantly which as you can imagine quickly became repetitive and rather boring.
But after a while I didn’t mind, since you were able to unlock more abilities, try out new trinkets, and make strong and unique builds, not to mention the combat even after 12 hours of constant punching and kicking was still satisfying and highly enjoyable. It took me about 20 runs to finally reach the end and defeat Azra the Sun King, but it was worth it.
On your journey you won’t always be fighting alone however, you do have options to hire mercenaries to help you on your quest to defeat Azra, though they do come at a cost. Most of them cost 50 coins with the stronger ones costing 100, they don’t last that long but they can be quite useful, taking some of the heat whilst dealing some damage.
Meds were quite hard to come by which encouraged cautious gameplay
If you’ve ever played any games that have a survival aspect to them or a character health bar, then you’ll know how important healing items are. You’ll look high and low to ensure you have an adequate amount for an upcoming boss fight or for an area you know will be swarmed with enemies. Absolum however strays completely from that, in the sense that you can’t actually carry and stack the already scarce healing items that you’ll come across in the various areas.
Healing comes in the form of food, from bread to cheese you’ll find them in breakables like barrels or sometimes in chests, though they’re not easy to find. There isn’t actually a way to increase the number of healing items you find so most of the time it’s just luck based and considering this is a roguelite game it’s not at all surprising, despite how annoying it can be.
There was nothing worse than going through several different levels and taking so much damage, destroying all breakables and finding only one food item which didn’t heal you that much knowing that a boss fight is upcoming, it doesn’t exactly make one ooze with confidence, if anything it pretty much means the likelihood of defeating the boss is very slim, depending on how low your health actually is of course.
Though there were other ways to heal in the form of Hearthroots which you’ll come across every now and then, it’s a completely safe area with a massive campfire in the middle that heals you slightly, you can increase the amount of health they restore by buying upgrades on the soul tree, you can also buy other upgrades with earned crystals such as increasing the maximum amount of hp you have amongst other things which makes the runs much easier.
Analyzing enemies attacks and improving on dodging and clashing I also found was great to preserve health, I would still get hit of course but it was less frequently, meaning that whenever I found food I was near enough fully healed. There’s also a trinket which reduces the amount of damage you take, so if you manage to find them frequently in shops or after completing an area then you’ll practically be a walking tank by the end of the game.
I’ll be honest: I’ve never really interacted with NASCAR. I didn’t grow up in a state where the sport was particularly relevant, nor did I have anyone in my life introduce it to me at a formative age. It’s something that I’ve observed from afar, mostly knowing Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the “Mountain Dew guy”.
There’s something to be said about welcoming new people into niche communities though. Sure, I might not be very knowledgeable about NASCAR culture, traditions, and history, but that gives me a unique perspective when asked to review their latest video game. Did NASCAR 25 transform me into a massive fan? No, but I have a bit more context for the sport now, and understand why it captivates millions of Americans each year.
As you might expect from a yearly sports title, the main menu presents you with a variety of modes to hop into, including Career, Online, and Championship. I chose to explore Quick Race first given that it was the simplest, allowing you to pick a driver and track before getting straight into the action.
I understand that NASCAR isn’t the most complex motorsport in the world (driving fast while veering left served me relatively well) but I was befuddled by the lack of any tutorialization. The sports games I frequent every year usually shove some sort of introductory gameplay segment down your throat, so its absence here was particularly alarming.
It forced me to reflect on how just because someone is playing a sports title doesn’t necessarily mean they know all of its ins-and-outs, or even basic concepts. These games can be used as educational tools, driving more people to check out the events happening in real life. As I spent more time with NASCAR 25, it became clear that other drivers were executing strategies that I wasn’t aware of, thus making it harder for me to compete. Perhaps I would have been encouraged to spend more time with the game if developers iRacing Studios had been more accommodating to new players.
Career mode is certainly the package’s main draw, where you’ll create your racer and begin your ascent to NASCAR superstardom. Your character options are disappointingly thin, merely offering a choice of gender and name, though the lion’s share of customization options belong to your car. You’ll be able to tailor the exterior to your liking, and purchase upgrades to keep your vehicle in tip top shape.
As you place in races, your reputation will increase, netting you new sponsors and an increased cash flow. When your rep reaches certain thresholds, you’ll be welcomed into the next available NASCAR series. You’ll need to grind for this privilege however, since progression can be a tad glacial if you aren’t winning every contest. This can easily be passed off as an attempt at realism, but it can be frustrating if you were hoping to jump into the Cup Series quickly.
Thankfully, Championship solves that problem immediately. This is the standard season mode you’ve grown accustomed to, letting you select your series and play through an entire year of races. You can even shorten the mode’s total length if you’d like, opting for a half or quarter season. It’s a nice alternative to Career if you’re not looking to engage with extracurriculars like reputation or finances.
NASCAR 25 is a good simulation, including multiple modes that, while similar in some aspects, let players experience the breadth of the racing experience. It’s not the most beginner-friendly product in the world, and I doubt that it will catch on with those outside the sport’s sphere of influence, but longtime fans should be satisfied with the offer on display.
