Review: God of War (PC)

Vasilis Tatsiopoulos
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Review: God of War (PC)

As many things do, games too need to evolve. Eras shift, trends are born and then die, to give way to new ones. Better ones? Someone once said “new is always better”, but, surely, he was wrong. New is not always better, but, if we’re talking about video games, new is, indeed, welcome, even if it doesn’t manage to upstage the old. Kratos, the raging god killer star of the series “God of War”, has had his share of hack and slash, mindless button stomping and titan killing. The old games were fun, brutal technical marvels, but they do belong in another era.

As trends shifted, so did the principles of AAA mainstream gaming. Action-adventure games now tend to tell better stories, more diverse, with deeper meanings and complex characters. They also tend to include RPG mechanics, among other things. Well, Santa Monica’s God of War, the -long awaited before its release and hugely praised after it- reboot/sequel of the famous PlayStation series, ticked all the boxes. It was a great game, and still is. A technical showcase for Sony’s machine, the PS4 at the time, with a well-written story, some expertly crafted cinematographic tricks and meaty, strategic combat, God of War had it all.

Now, against many of our best predictions, Kratos’ latest adventure can be played on PC. It’s been a while since the original PS4 release; it was 2018 and God of War was a trend setter. It was a game of a high caliber, one that would surely have other games treading the same path. Now, some years later, it’s still a magnificent game, standing tall to this day, not being yet surpassed.

Really, it’s a wonder that the PS4 was even able to pull this off, from a technical viewpoint. God of War is an incredibly pretty game, showcasing graphics that were probably ahead of its time, setting the bar for years to come. Even today, on the “next gen” era, it’s hard to find games that look and play this good, excluding Naughty Dog’s works or Red Dead Redemption 2.

So, it’s impressive to see this game looking even better, on the PC. This is a meaningful port, full of updates in graphical quality, in fidelity, boasting a stable performance in higher numbers than Sony’s consoles could reach. Aspect ratios like 21:9 are supported, native 4K resolution is here, you can play on ultrawide monitors, technologies like Nvidia DLSS and Reflex are implemented nicely, the textures look better, the shadows take a substantial update and, in general, God of War looks better than ever. Also, technologies like Reflex are bringing important feats to the gameplay experience, like significantly reducing input lag and making a difference in combat responsiveness.

If you have a capable PC, you will see impressive results. For those needing the comparison, there’s the “original” graphical setting, which is, well, the original. You can play the game with the settings of the original version, and then you can tinker with them to max out what you like. As a result, on a fitting computer, you will see faster loading times, you will not see the checkerboarding and artifacts which were apparent on the original version, and you will enjoy a much clearer version of the game. Also, the level of detail is increased on higher settings, the fog looks better and more realistic, there’s no flickering, the shadows’ resolution is much higher, and the lighting is also improved significantly. The pop-in effects are gone, the details are more complex; every place you explore now “pops” more.

The only downside can be found in the optimization, because the scale is not always tipping in the right direction. While the PC version’s performance is good and stable, hitting higher frame rates like 60 or 120 -with some drops in busy scenes and fights-, you will find that raising the various settings’ quality can be very taxing on your machine, to the point where it might not be worth it, in some cases. Getting a bar to move from the “good” to the “great” doesn’t always produce very obvious improvements, and the hit on performance can make those improvements seem trivial.

The core of the game remains the same, understandably -even if some additions could be welcome. The controls are great, controllers are supported nicely and -if you want- you can play with a mouse and keyboard, even though it’s not the better way to experience God of War. You can play with a DualSense or an Xbox gamepad, but you can only remap the keyboard/mouse controls. In general, there are enough settings, and you can change some effects like reducing the movement of the camera.

This is a great port, but there’s not enough here for someone who has played and finished God of War on a PlayStation console. Or, rather, there’s not enough here for people who finished God of War on PlayStation recently, because, in the event that you played it when it originally released, it’s high time you replayed it. It holds up better than you’d think. If you haven’s played God of War, well, it’s a no-brainer: you should go buy it right now on PC. This is the better version of a fantastic game, filled with impressive, fun and difficult fights, with top-notch exploration, some clever environmental puzzles, incredible level design and a surprisingly deep and affectionate narrative about a father-son relationship -and a bit of monster killing, of course. Also, while in today’s scene, it’s refreshing to go back to a more laid back world design, with enough side content to not be short, but with nothing close to a huge open world full of markers.

In the end, if you didn’t play God of War until now, you definitely should. Don’t worry about its age. This is a marvelous game, standing the test of time easily, even looking and playing better than recent similar games. The better version of a great game can only be one thing: absolutely fantastic.

Review: The Book of Boba Fett – Episode 6

Sean McCarthy
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Review: The Book of Boba Fett – Episode 6

Well, that was quite the fifth Episode last week with a reaction amongst Star Wars fandom across social media so huge and vibrant that it surpassed any reaction to previous big screen film releases. It was huge but as I said in my review, despite how gloriously brilliant the episode was, leaving fans teary and happy and jumping for joy, it also created a massive issue for “The Book of Boba Fett” as a show because it was a brilliant episode of “The Mandalorian” that did not feature Boba at all. With just two episodes remaining, it will be interesting to see if we do return to the impending war with the Pyke Syndicate or indeed continue with what was teased at the end of Chapter 5 and a visit to someone’s dear little friend.

Once again this episode is both fantastically brilliant and full of fan service for any Star Wars fan familiar with Dave Filoni’s work with Clone Wars, and seeing how he himself took the reigns of directing this episode, it will be no surprise to anyone that what was has been delivered once again is just a start to finish exceptional story in the Star Wars Universe but underneath the hat of a Star Wars fanboy who has been utterly spoiled in the last two weeks, it is once again however, a complete distraction away from the character of Boba Fett who is supposed to be the star of this show, but more on that a bit further on.

We are certainly starting to get to the impending War between the Pyke Syndicate and their attempt to have complete dominance of Tatooine for their Spice trafficking and the yet to be cemented rule of Boba Fett as Daimyo. This episode opens with another familiar face from ‘The Mandalorian’ and the brilliant Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth, who we last saw giving up Boba Fett’s armour he had been wearing whilst serving as The Marshall to his township, aided by Din Djarin to take out the Sand Dragon that was threatening his people. Now without the Beskar Amour of a Mandalorian, he is still serving the people as the law which is where we find him in the opening scenes as he comes across a Spice Deal happening between Pyke Syndicate members. Stopping them in their tracks and adding yet another quotable line of dialogue in “Think it through” as Vanth attempts to prevent a gun fight, a Pyke attempts to draw his blaster causing Vanth to quickdraw and kill three of the four, leaving one alive and again telling them to “think it through” before telling them to leave the Spice chest and go, which they do. Highlighting the disdain for the drug known as Spice, and a subtle reminder to the audience of what the Pyke Syndicate want control of Tatooine for, Vanth kicks it over to let the Spice just disperse in the winds of the desert.

I genuinely really enjoy the call backs that all the Star Wars Disney Plus shows make in terms or bringing back characters such as Cobb Vanth so we the audience get to see the locations featured, even if just in a one-off story, and how they have continued long after the main hero of the story has moved on shows the talent and dedication to world building that Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau has just experts in handling. From the opening we then return to following The Mandalorian, which was a surprise to me if honest as I did expect to immediately jump back to Boba Fett after such a big pay off last week but we were treated to even more fandom satisfaction as we finally get to see the “visit to a little friend” as Din flies his new starfighter to a forest planet and after landing is greeted by R2-D2 himself and so began the nostalgia overload that had me pausing the episode to take a few minutes to prepare myself for what was about to happen.

Din is then lead to a clearing where multiple ant-type droids are collecting rocks and building a structure that would soon become the school, the Jedi Academy that Luke will setup which turn will then lead to the events we all saw in the big screen Episode Eight – The Last Jedi. But here we see it still being built, and whilst Din is forced to sit on a bench and wait, the cameras quickly move to what fans have been waiting and hoping to see since the finale to the second season of The Mandalorian, Luke and Grogu together….training.

Right away you can see that the digital face rendering for Luke has been vastly improved since his cameo at the end of the above finale, something that whilst being a huge HOLY S**T moment for fans when Luke came and single handedly put down an entire squad of Dark Trooper droids. It would be fair to say that the special effects and digital artist teams are very close to perfecting this technology, first used in the MCU films of course. We see Luke sitting with Grogu, in meditation as Grogu becomes distracted by a frog, because of course he did but Grogu then uses the Force to bring the frog to him which we the audience know means “lunchtime for Grogu” before Luke stops him, in that way a grown up would when a young kid is being a bit cheeky in doing something wrong. This then leads to a teaching moment as instead of telling Grogu off, Luke instead extends his right hand and with a gesture lifts all the frogs from the nearby pond as a demonstration of how The Force can be used, impressing Grogu.

Star Wars fans of a certain age, like myself, have always wondered what Luke did after Return of the Jedi with very little outside of novels and comics book which stopped being Canon sadly once the last trilogy and Disney buying Star Wars. The Last Jedi told us that Luke created a School, a Jedi Academy where he attempted to train a new generation of Jedi only to see it destroyed by his mistake with Ben Solo who would become Kylo Ren. To see how Luke is training Grogu, his patience, using the same techniques that Master Yoda himself used on Luke and to see Grogu respond with some self-doubt but a willingness to learn, well I must be honest and say I did get a little teary eyed as a fan who never dreamed of seeing this level of storytelling.

Of course, Dave Filoni is not finished, and not only do we see Luke training Grogu but we also see Luke helping Grogu to remember his home, and a sequence shows what Grogu thinks about when he is asked to think of home which for him, is back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in the moments after Order 66 has been given and a battalion of Clone Troopers are firing at three Jedi trying to protect Grogu and other younglings no doubt only to fall to the fire and what I would consider to be the moment that Grogu is captured by the Empire. The audience knowing this in some way allows us to understand the bond Grogu has with Din, someone who rescued him and protected him at a time where he was being experimented and cruelly treated at the hands of Moth Gideon and the Empire.

Was Filoni finished delivering his fine dining of fanservice, no and a returning Ashoka wakes a sleeping Din and helps him to understand that whilst she understands his need to make sure Grogu is safe, seeing him again would make it even harder for Grogu’s training. Reluctantly but understanding why, Din gives his gift for Grogu to Ashoka to deliver and leaves, which Grogu of course sensing him forces Luke into a difficult position. For the very same reason that Ashoka said she could not train Grogu due to his bond with Din, Luke sees that Grogu is being pulled in two directions and not fully able to dedicate himself to the training necessary to become a great Jedi. I do have to say, the moment of having Ashoka, who was a Padawan to Anakin and was betrayed when he turned and became Darth Vader, now standing with Anakin’s grown-up son Luke and seeing the familiarities between Luke and the Anakin she knew, just more moments that I as a fan never expected to see and shows the strength of these shows under the stewardship of Filoni and Favreau.

We again follow Din back to Tatooine, landing at Jabba’s former palace to meet up with Boba and Fennec and we see Fennec, not Boba, conducting a briefing about the danger of the Pyke Syndicate, admitting that they still do not have the numbers to control the area should the Pyke’s start the offensive. Din then says he may be able to help and we then once again, follow him as he goes to see Cobb Vanth, hoping that he and the townspeople will step up to fight alongside him to protect their town and way of life from but naturally, Cobb Vanth is weary of getting involved knowing the dangers open fighting would bring to the town and its people. The dialogue between Din and Cobb is amazing, two gun fighters who highly respect one another with Cobb teasing Din into asking for a favour knowing full well its why he came was just a lovely touch to this friendship. Din then leaves and Cobb asks for a town meeting to see who would be interested in helping but then a shadowy figure on the horizon is seen walking towards town and Cobb Vanth is immediately concerned, so concerned that he asks the people to step inside their homes out the way and instructs his new gun ho Deputy to leave this to him.

At this point I have already been spoiled with all the nostalgia and Star Wars fanboy dreams coming true that my nerd emptions were close to running on empty and then Filoni does it once again as this shadowy figure, slim and wearing a cowboy style hat, slowly comes into view and I am literally out of my seat shouting at the TV because once again, a character from the Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels that I never ever expected to come to live action, just like with Ashoka and Bo-Katan, as Cad Bane himself, a bounty hunter of such infamy that many would put him above Boba Fett in fact, speaks to Cobb, telling him that he and the town would be paid to not get involved with Boba Fett, that he is working for the Pyke Syndicate and that Tatooine is theirs. The deputy then steps up leading to Cobb giving the most impactful “WTF are you doing” Side glances ever on screen forcing a shoot out that leaves Cobb shot in the shoulder and down and the deputy dead as Cad bane simply turns and leaves with the dialogue of “you should never have given up your armour” still ringing in the audience ears. The Pyke Syndicate are making their move as following this, we see two of them go to The Sanctuary cantina, with Madam Garsa Fwip suspicious, the two walk out but leaving the container they had brought with them and as Garsa realizes two late what this means, a bomb explodes.

All of this happens in just 42 minutes of television, 42 minutes of television that saw the character the show is named after, Boba Fett, feature in one scene where he says nothing other than looking around the room and giving a nod of acknowledgement to Din Djarin. That is all we have had this week after he did not feature at all last week, in the penultimate episode of this series, the main character says nothing, does nothing and all the best moments features The Mandalorian and characters from his own series. At this point I no longer am seeing this as Boba Fett’s show, just a Star Wars series telling a story that is almost a crossover event much like fans would have in the Arrowverse where the characters of multiple shows all come together in one special story. Boba Fett is now a side character in his own story and whilst the finale next week may indeed have Boba speaking and doing something, two episodes of his series have focused on bigger characters with bigger story reasons than simply come back to this “skirmish” Boba is about to have. I loved the first two episodes, was disappointed by the third episode, lost completely by the fourth, overjoyed by the return of The Mandalorian in episodes five and six and left wondering if it matters what Boba Fett does unless this battle puts The Mandalorian and the characters he has brought to this story in danger, which I am not actually feeling they are such is the weak way we come to the finale.

This point is cemented even more by another big teasing cliffhanger as the episode ends with Luke sitting down with Grogu and gives him a choice. That choice is to either accept the gift Din brought him, a chainmail of Beskar he had forged for him in episode five or accept Yoda’s Lightsaber and in doing so accepting that the training to become a Jedi could mean never seeing Din Djarin again. A decision that we will have to wait to see what Grogu made. I am more excited to see this outcome thanks to this and last week’s episodes that at this moment, the final confrontation with the Pyke Syndicate is furthest from my mind and with only a single episode to wrap things up, I am again left wondering if Boba Fett is going to do something or just stay at the palace and feed his Baby Rancor.

I am buzzing with Star Wars fandom right now but not because of The Book of Boba Fett, but because of the Star Wars world of storytelling that The Mandalorian can generate. Which is not where I thought I would be when Boba’s own series started. I really do not know what this series was meant to do other than a vehicle to remind fans how awesome The Mandalorian and his adventures have been. Boba does not feel like a threat as he was shown to be in The Mandalorian and Cad Bane was more evil and threatening in the few minutes of screen time that he had than Boba has had in all the episodes he featured in. This is a show that has somehow forgotten its own title and leaving the audience just wanting more Mandalorian story than Boba’s own tale.

Shadow Warrior 3 Slices, Dices & Makes Katana Fries on March 1st

Andrew Edney
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Shadow Warrior 3 Slices, Dices & Makes Katana Fries on March 1st

Finely sculpted, athletic developer Flying Wild Hog and their personal trainer Devolver Digital have announced Shadow Warrior 3, a stunning new entry in the global best-selling franchise, will launch its barrage of over-the-top weapons and offbeat humour on March 1st for PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Pre-orders are now open and include the exclusive Koromodako Katana – a weapon so great they gave it eight legs. Console owners will also receive Flying Wild Hog’s 2013 Shadow Warrior and Shadow Warrior 2.  

n addition, the team is excited to reveal that actors Mike Moh, Andromeda Dunker, and SungWon Cho have joined the cast as the new voices of Lo Wang, Motoko and Zilla, alongside the returning Alex Dobrenko as Hoji.

Shadow Warrior 3 finds Lo Wang and his former employer turned nemesis turned sidekick Orochi Zilla embarking on an improbable mission to recapture an ancient dragon they unwillingly unleashed from its eternal prison. Armed with a punishing mix of blades and bullets, Lo Wang must traverse uncharted parts of the world to track down the dark beast and push the apocalypse back yet again. All it will take is the mask of a dead god, a dragon’s egg, a touch of magic, and enough firepower to tear down the encroaching Shadowlands.

Be sure to visit shadowwarrior.com and follow @ShadowWarrior on Twitter for updates, bad puns, and excellent waffle recipes.

Review: White Shadows

Daniel Waite
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Review: White Shadows

Lying politicians and an imbalance in living conditions is nothing new. Where greedy creatures can manipulate power, they always will. George Orwell perfectly highlights this plight in Animal Farm. This novel is critically acclaimed and subsequently, it has influenced many forms of entertainment. White Shadows wears its appreciation to Orwell’s work on its sleeve! Therefore, fans of gritty and twisted dystopian dramas need to look no further.

Developed by Monokel and published by Thunderful, this is a monochromatic puzzle adventure title. Set in a twisted and futuristic dystopia, you must work through bizarre chapters of a disheartening plot. Its repeated nods to Orwell’s work are equally uncomfortable, as it is fascinating. Consequently, the quote “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” is as poignant as ever.

White Shadows tells a gripping story. 

You control a little Ravengirl who must work her way through an industrial and oppressive world. She knows that she is at the bottom of the animal hierarchy and wishes to escape her dangerous existence. However, the piggy overlords will not allow such an indiscretion to take place! They block her path, use manipulative messages, and attack her with robots. After all, what is the use of power if it doesn’t give you full control?

White Shadows comprises multiple chapters of increasingly disturbing and bizarre ideas. As you wander through the bleak monochromatic world, you are introduced to seedy advertisements and creepy traps. Everything you encounter is designed to break a society that should be equal. However, the pigs view themselves as intelligent and masterful, and this is how it must remain.

Oppressive imagery at every turn.

Simple puzzles intertwined with absurd machinery. 

Much of White Shadows gameplay focuses on a handful of similar puzzles. You must flip switches, push or pull boxes, avoid detection, or jump over obstacles. At the start, you’ll be intrigued by the interesting blend of problems you face. However, as time wears on, you realise the developers have simply rehashed their ideas repeatedly. This would have been disappointing if it wasn’t for the wonderful surrounding world and excellent machinery. The buzz and flicker of sordid advertisements will chill you to the bone. Moreover, the brutality of machinery will make you shudder.

The puzzles blend methodical thinking with fast-paced action. You quickly flit from dumping 80+ chicks into a blender to leaping across ladders and avoiding trains. Furthermore, there are moments where you must sacrifice your feathery friends in order to escape. No matter how much you try to better the system, you can’t, and this was disturbing. 

Political influences. 

Whatever way you look at it, you can’t avoid the obvious parodies to Stalinist Russia. You may worry that this is overbearing, but it complements the style perfectly. If you aren’t keen on the political twist, you can simply enjoy it at a rudimentary level. However, the blend of subtle ideas and OTT imagery creates an interesting, albeit strange world to explore.

Where White Shadows falls short is its failure to evolve. As you reach the latter stages, the action plateaus and you are left wanting. This was particularly disappointing, as the early game is so promising. Fortunately, it doesn’t taint the overall experience, yet, I can’t help but imagine how much darker the plot could have gone.

Enjoy the thrill of this train ride.

White Shadows is stunning. 

Few games make me stop to admire the scenery. However, White Shadows is spectacularly stunning! Its use of a striking monochromatic palette and overbearing imagery is wonderful. Furthermore, the stage design, complex machinery, and crazy advertisements will surprise you. Monokel has created an immersive world that is unnerving and fascinating to explore.

Gamers may become frustrated with the side-scrolling approach, as much of the world is out of reach. You’ll yearn to explore it and play with each whacky item, but sadly, you can’t. Luckily, however, you are never far away from a new puzzle or landmark. Fortunately, this continual flow of new and interesting moments distances you from any lingering disappointment.

The striking world is supported brilliantly by the ear-piercing audio. Industrial sounds screech and whirl around your head the further you explore. These are complemented by robotic noises and the juxtaposition of the cute animal squeaks. It’s an eclectic blend of sounds that adds to the hectic nature of the gameplay. Whether it’s a train whooshing overhead or a machine crunching bones, you’ll never tire of what you hear.

The industrial brutality hidden beneath the surface.

It’s a dream to handle.

The developers have clearly aimed for a seamless and user-friendly experience. With a simple button layout and buttery smooth movement, this is a dream to handle. Furthermore, the responsive controls make leaping platforms or completing puzzles much easier. The straightforward approach allows you to “enjoy” the oppressive atmosphere and bizarre story.

Unusually, for this genre, there is some replay value. Thanks to the loud imagery and strange goings-on, there is always something to see. Moreover, the secretive achievement list keeps you coming back for more while demanding perfection. 

White Shadows is short but brilliant.

With only 2 hours of gameplay, you may worry you’d be left disappointed. However, those couple of hours are brilliant. White Shadows is visually amazing, full of atmosphere, and will genuinely make you shudder. Its only downfall is that it plateaus near the end, but don’t let this put you off. I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! The surrounding world is dangerous and you must escape before it’s too late. 

Review: Vagante

Daniel Waite
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Review: Vagante

Gaming is supposed to be a calming and relaxing pastime that helps you to unwind. However, there are a niche bunch of players who break this mould. Instead of enjoying their time with a title, they’d rather be put through their paces and punished repeatedly. This small group is responsible for Dark Souls-like games and the rogue-like genre. Vagante sits heavily in the latter category, but its brutality and gritty ways are reminiscent of Dark Souls.

Developed by Nuke Nine and published by Blitworks, this is an adventure-platform rogue-like title. It’s set in a dark fantasy land where you contend with procedurally generated levels and permadeath. With failure all but guaranteed, this isn’t a title for the faint of heart. You’ll scream, cry, and quit many times in this blend of rewarding and heartbreaking action.

Keep out of his way.

Greed will always better you!

Rumours have circulated around the kingdom about a cave that is hidden at the edge of the woods. Legend has it that it’s filled with treasure but also deadly monsters. The deeper you explore, the greater the rewards, but also the larger the risk. Mankind is greedy and they only see the allure of treasure. Many adventurers try to make it to the end, yet they fail. Can you and your hardy group succeed where others have not?

At the start of each adventure, you must select between an array of classic RPG characters. Each hero has strengths and weaknesses that you must master to be successful. You start each journey with basic equipment and limited skills. As the game unfolds, you’ll find new weapons and equipment that’ll help you to survive. You’ll find melee and ranged tools as well as spells and potions. Furthermore, you’ll level up and your skills will increase according to your class. These RPG elements were a fantastic way to make you approach the game in different ways. Subsequently, you can opt for stealth, brute force, guile, or more.

Each area has oodles of treasure and weapons to find and a shop to spend your gold. Moreover, Demi-bosses hold keys to the best treasure. Overcoming these monsters isn’t easy but to progress, you must have the best equipment. Like its peers, Vagante demands that you weigh up risk and reward. With the possibility of losing it all, it would be foolhardy to rush in. You soon learn that a patient approach is necessary if you wish to stay alive.

Why is everything so expensive?

Vagante is tough.

The rogue-like genre is extremely divisive. Because of its elements of luck and skill, combined with undoubtedly tough mechanics, it has a tendency to break most players. Vagante is no different, as its random maps and horrendous monsters make each playthrough unique, but eye-wateringly tough. However, Nuke Nine isn’t all bad, as they’ve incorporated a cooperative mode to make it slightly easier.

Tackling this grim monster with friends makes the idea of failure a little more bearable. You must work together to find treasure, slay creatures, and delve further into the abyss. The ability to play with friends adds a layer of tactical nuance that many of its peers sorely miss. As a team, you can combine each hero’s strengths to annihilate your foes and stay alive for longer. 

Vagante is too dark. 

The developers clearly like the idea of a moody and seedy atmosphere, and that’s what Vagante delivers. However, its use of sombre colours and poorly lit rooms makes it tough to navigate. This is compounded further still because of the pixel art style. Consequently, the level of detail is vastly reduced, and this makes it hard to identify traps and obstacles. Sadly, this issue makes a hard game much more difficult as you’ll repeatedly fall into spikes or get shot by arrows. This issue could easily have been resolved with better lighting or brighter colours.

The audio brilliantly complements the oppressive imagery. With its heavy and depressing music and hard-hitting sound effects, you instantly feel part of the action. I enjoyed the combination of songs and loud aggressive sounds, however; they were reminiscent of many retro games and therefore lacked originality.

Feel the power of my lightning spell.

A good UI makes it easy to play.

With a selection of combat approaches, many potions to consume, and lots going on, it could have been confusing. Fortunately, though, a combination of an excellent UI and a straightforward tutorial makes this easy to play. It’s true, however, that the opening moments lack direction. But once you overcome this hurdle, only the brutality will hold you back.

This is a genre renowned for its addictive nature and horrible longevity. Vagante doesn’t let you down on either score! Thanks to its selection of characters, RPG mechanics, and cooperative gameplay, it’ll keep you busy for hours.

Vagante is a fantastic indie title. 

Though I despise losing hours of hard work, there is a part of me that adores the high risk. The genre pushes you from start to end and Vagante will test you because of its solid and tough mechanics. It’s a gem of an indie title that stands out from the crowd. Disappointingly, its graphics weren’t as strong as I’d have liked, but this is a minor complaint. I enjoyed it in a sadomasochistic way, and I recommend you to buy it here! With untold treasures to find, it’s time to get rich or die trying. 

Win RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY on Blu-ray

Andrew Edney
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70
Win RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY on Blu-ray

To celebrate the release of Win RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY on Blu-ray on Blu-Ray and DVD, we have three Blu-ray copies to give away.

Witness the beginning of evil in RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY.  Once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. The company’s exodus left the city a wasteland…with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.
 
Written and directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner franchise), Hannah John-Kamen (Ready Player One, TV’s “The Stranger”), Robbie Amell (“Upload”), Tom Hopper (The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard), Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) with Donal Logue (“Gotham”) and Neal McDonough (“Van Helsing”), the film’s executive producers include Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida, Jeremy Bolt and Paul W.S. Anderson.

How to enter to win

We have three Blu-ray copies of RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY to give away, enter below: 

Win RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY on Blu-ray

The contest closes at midnight on 15th February 2022.

This contest is only open to those in the UK – sorry!

RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, rent the Home Premiere now, available to Download & Keep on January 31st, to Rent on Digital, on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 7th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Review: Super Onion Boy 2

Daniel Waite
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Review: Super Onion Boy 2

Can you remember a time when you’d be happy with a basic stage design and easy mechanics? Modern games push the envelope so much that it’s occasionally pleasant to return to a simpler way of gaming. Super Onion Boy 2 does just that with its throwaway story, straightforward ideas, and vivid worlds.

Developed by Powerslash Studios and published by Ratalaika Games, this is an adventure-platform title. Set in a whimsical and colourful land, this has retro vibes and moreish action. Its core concept will feel familiar to fans of Mario, yet it sadly lacks the finesse of its gargantuan rival.

Super Onion Boy 2 lacks originality. 

I’m all for developers being inspired by the world’s greatest titles. Heck, if I made a game, I’d sure as hell look at Mario as a great starting point. However, when you stick too closely to its tried and tested methods, you are likely to fall short. Sadly, Super Onion Boy 2 fails to evolve past its rudimentary principles. Therefore, you are left with a dated experience that offers nothing new.

The lack of fresh impetus isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, I so wanted Powerslash Studios to try something new. Their rigid formula is sure to be a winner with indie loving fans. But, for a more modern audience, its lack of progress and its simplistic design will leave them wanting.

Gather the gold and move on.

An odd tale that we’ve experienced a million times.

You control a young hero who must rescue his friends from an evil boss. This abomination has psychic powers and a desire for mischief. You must traverse an array of stages while overcoming enemies and obstacles in your path. It has basic platforming elements and you must gather coins, power-ups, and extra lives. You’ll leap surfaces, dive down pipes, swim, and smash boxes in this classic 2D title.

The gameplay is heavily reliant on the use of special powers that have been borrowed from other titles. You become a ninja, an ice-wielding wizard, invincible, and you float in a bubble. Each ability allows you to defeat your foes with ease, or to traverse the level trouble-free. Furthermore, chests and collectables aid you on your journey. With limited health, your opponents are a pain in the arse. If you die, and you will, you’ll return to the nearest checkpoint. With flying monsters, creepy crawlies, and other beasts to contend with, you’ll need some luck and skill to defeat the latter stages. 

Life under the sea is wonderfully relaxing.

Super Onion Boy 2 is wonderfully old-school. 

If you love retro aesthetics, then you’ll adore Super Onion Boy 2. Its vivid and garish tones, pixel art, and dated level design will fill you with nostalgia. Furthermore, its blend of environments, hidden pathways, and varied sprites are all interesting to look at. Yes, it’s very familiar in style and approach to Mario, but that’s a good thing. I admired the developer’s enthusiasm towards classic franchises, and the game benefits because of it. 

This continues in the smooth action and interesting stage layout. The clever use of abilities expands each level and you are free to explore as you wish. Stars are hidden throughout each world and you must spring into the clouds or drop down pipes to discover each of them. This was the most interesting and challenging element of the gameplay, as no stone could be left unturned. 

The dated style continues with the chiptune audio and 8-Bit sounds. I simply loved the trip down memory lane, even if it was a tad shrill. The chirpy music is filled with fun and energy and matches the colourful imagery. Furthermore, the rudimentary sounds perfectly match each action. It won’t win any awards for its audio, however, it matches the dated style. Subsequently, retro fans will love what they see and hear. 

Probably best not to mess with this one.

Easy to play. 

Where Super Onion Boy 2 excels is its simple controls. Like its peers, it takes little effort to master the responsive setup. You’ll therefore be jumping, swimming, and fighting in no time at all. I loved how easy it was to leap into the action and this makes it a user-friendly experience.

Sadly, the same can’t be said for the replay value or longevity. Though you must find 5 stars per level, which adds some elements of difficulty, the rest of the action isn’t challenging. Disappointingly, the stages aren’t as big as they could be and this reduces the complexity of the end product. If the developers had made it tougher or added more collectables, you’d keep playing for hours. As it is, it’s a completionist’s dream thanks to the simple and quick achievement list.

Super Onion Boy 2 could have been great. 

As a retro-inspired title, Super Onion Boy 2 ticks all the boxes. It’s bright, fun, and has a loud soundtrack. Furthermore, it’s easy to pick up, has secret locations to find. Yet, it lacks originality and depth. I wish the developers had tried something unique, but this never happened. I enjoyed it, but it could have been so much more. Despite its shortcomings, I recommend you to buy it here! Can you beat each level and save your friends? Leap, fight and swim your way to victory. 

Review: Risk System

Alex Chessun
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Review: Risk System

The whole idea of a shmup is to avoid an onslaught of bullets, but what would one look like where you want the player to do the opposite and fly straight at them? In Risk System, you almost need to do exactly that, throwing caution to the wind by getting as close you can to the projectiles – without dying – and charging your weapons in the process.

It’s a great – but slightly terrifying – system that excels by being as simple as possible without an overcomplicated interface and set of upgrades. Your abilities, for example, extend to a barrel roll, your gun and an attacking/defensive move called a ‘barrier breaker’ – that’s it, and it’s this efficient focus and requirement for precision that makes this a wave worth riding.

It is possible to progress through the levels without attempting near-misses left, right and center, but your weapon boosts make things ‘easier’ as you can make quick work of smaller enemies.    

Each level has its own memorable moments but it’s the boss battles where the game comes alive with the use of the ‘barrier breaker’ which acts as both a weapon and a burst defense. During a level, it can be used to wipe the screen of enemies and top-up your health, but during boss fights, it’s used as a defensive wave against different laser attacks. The best part of this feature and the boss fights themselves, is that you have to use said attacks to charge your move by edging as close to the lasers as possible to initiate the charge, which is hardly a walk in the park considering they’ve just been shot at you. It’s integrated excellently into the boss’s arsenal and makes the set pieces stand out even more.

Dodging the bullets and firing your weapon will see it glow yellow, more powerful shots.

It’s as hard as it sounds and with a one size fits all difficulty level you might be wondering why it couldn’t have been made a little easier, but thankfully your progress is saved at each stage, so you can take solace in the fact that you won’t lose your progress even if you are redoing the levels countless times. I’d also say that despite being a big believer of accessibility in video games, the difficulty level for the game is perfect as the requirement that the player is on the edge during its most tense moments, and if it were any easier, it feels like the game would unravel.

While the game plays great, it also looks a treat with its 2D animation a joy in which to embrace the mayhem. It conveys an excellent sense of speed and chaos as explosions shake the screen and the understated soundtrack provides a foreboding tension for the surprisingly intriguing story.

Playing out with animated headshots and voice-acting the narrative has you up against an alien parasite that’s controlling your previous squad members – which you then have to kill – and it adds a dark tone to the standard score-chasing shmup, making you wish that the title just be that bit longer and the story more fleshed out. The narrative even changes based on how successful you are in each stage, although to be fair in my case, there’s little hope in seeing too many different ones. 

One of the boss’s main weapons and one that requires the use of your ‘barrier breaker’.

In fact, the only thing you could really grumble about here is Risk System’s length, but even upon learning that there are only 6 stages and a potential speedrun of 30mins, the difficulty is such that it provides longevity and few will be polishing this off in the first few hours. 

There are only so many ways to reinvent the wheel in the shmup genre, but Risk System’s gameplay mechanic is certainly one way to do it, creating a thrilling action title that every side-scrolling fan will enjoy. It might have been available on other systems for some time, but considering its content and the price there is enough value on offer here to justify giving it a shot.

Review: Anagrams

James Refelian
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Review: Anagrams

Anagrams by Hero Game Co LLC is advertised as a relaxing brain-teasing game with over 1400 word-solving problems. This is the kind of game that you initially think should be a quick timewaster you enjoy on mobile while on the train or something similar. But strangely, on PC, it works.

The game opens in a window, right off the bat it feels that Anagrams is supposed to be enjoyed throughout the day when you just need that break from the daily humdrum of work. Be careful though, it gets very addictive very quickly! The game has four game modes that you unlock by collecting ‘keys’ during playing the Classic Mode. The other three are Zen, Blitz and Free.

The main menu of Anagrams showing the different game modes.

Anagrams Classic Mode

This is the main mode of the game. There are a wide range of categories, but most will be locked when you start playing. I started with Food and Drink. Firstly, you must fill up coloured meters by matching tiles that make letters. You do this by clicking and dragging the letter in any direction around it by one tile. Some tiles will have symbols on that unlock powers. These include things like reshuffling the board, unlocking locked tiles, resetting tiles with a countdown timer, and showing an available move you can make. Of course, by not using these abilities you can get extra points. Some tiles can also do different things like switch places without making a match, moving anywhere on the board where a match can be made and so on. You get used to these pretty quick and building up abilities for the challenging stages is worthwhile doing.

Part 1: fill the meters by matching letter pieces.

When you fill the meters, you get to the anagram itself, made up from the letters you’ve been matching. The word will relate to the category you’ve selected. On successful completion you’ll see your score and gain progress to gain a key. You can unlock other game modes or categories with these keys. Lastly, each category increases in difficulty the more stages you complete.

It’s all very basic but nicely put together with a very clean and simple UI. Tiles move smoothly and everything is pleasing on the eye as you play. I honestly lost a lot of hours matching tiles and solving anagrams without a single crash, glitch, or error.

Zen Mode in Anagrams

Zen Mode is all about relaxation. You can pick your favourite colours and play endless puzzles or solve anagrams with limitless hints. This mode is exactly what it says it is, and endless stream of the letter piece matching game or anagrams for you to relax to. This is implemented well, and you can quite easily endlessly play the matching game or give yourself something to think about with the anagram mode and before you realise it, hours have passed.

Can you guess the anagram in Anagrams?

Blitz Mode

If you don’t feel like relaxing, then Anagrams also gives you a far more challenging mode. This is like the main game, in that the letter matching and anagram solving are the puzzles to be completed, but you’re against the clock.

Free Mode

If you want a bit more flexibility in your play, then Free Mode is the one for you. In Free Mode you pick the difficulty that you want to play at. This is especially fun if you want to practice for the difficult stages in Classic Mode or just want a bit more of a challenge in your puzzle-based gameplay.

Clean UI is a welcome addition to Anagrams.

Conclusion: Is Anagrams worthwhile?

Anagrams is an addictive puzzle game that focuses on matching symbols (letters) and then solving an anagram. If you like either of these, you’ll enjoy Anagrams. If you aren’t a fan, try it, it is bizarrely addictive to have going on when you work on other things at the same time. I can’t help but feel this should be a mobile game, however.

Review: B.ARK

Natosha M
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Review: B.ARK

If you’re looking to enjoy a good cartoon, shoot’em up style game, and one that involves pets that team up to save the day, this is one you should try! Team B.ARK is an excellent game that will have your right hand’s finger on the trigger button or dashing to avoid attacks, while the left is constantly rotating the analog controller stick. Let’s just say, there won’t be any opportunity to take a break with this fast pace, keep on moving style game.

What you can expect, is a group of 4 cute and adorable pets, which appear so harmless and that there can’t be any way they are able to cause harm. However, this isn’t true! These four furries which are a rabbit, cat, dog, and even a bear team up together to show everyone what they are really made of. Each of these characters, in addition to being playable, has their own specially designed ship to fly through the different levels while defeating the evil group known as the Dark Tide.

It’s absolutely an entertaining, gaming experience that can be played with a total of 4 players. However, playing it as a single-player game is fine too! All you need to know is, either way, it’s played, it’s still the same, without any worries that you’ll be challenging each other; going head to head. Instead, it is just a bit more about working together as a real team, Team B.ARK, and helping each other win the levels with ease. As with many more players the easier it may become. Nevertheless, for each player, all 4 of these characters are available and ready to be selected to take on the mission to stop the evil Dark Tide, an evil armada of fish creatures.

Additionally, this game includes so many levels filled with dangerous obstacles to avoid, enemies coming from all different areas, and bosses, plenty and plenty of them on a single level. All of these things are worthy of blasting and shooting at, till they are all defeated. Plus, you never know what might be found behind these objects that stick out and are easy to detect. When it comes down to what you get when you play this game, well it’s engaging, entertaining, the music is excellent, and it’s full of color. You’ll be exhausting your two fingers, as it will have you playing nonstop!

Severeal Diverse Character Options

The game itself is quite amazing! Now, I must tell you about the different character choices. As with any game, one character is great, but multiple choices are so much better! Thankfully that is what this endless shooting game brings you! A cute cartoon-style story with four adorably cute and animated creatures. Each with a name and a uniquely powerful ability, making it worthwhile to try each of them out!

The four pets; animated creatures go by the names of Barker the dog, Felicity the cat, Marv the white rabbit, and Lucio the brown bear. At first, they all appear like household pets, until you add the bear into the group, which may be hard to see as a pet, but who knows anything is possible! Either way, they all have some wonderful abilities that I found to be astonishing and made me realize I do have a favorite, not just by the animal or their personality, but what they can do!

The first character I’ve tried from the members of Team B.ARK, and it wasn’t Barker the dog. I first tried Marv the cute, white rabbit first. This rabbit’s ability to shoot and have an additional aim, that automatically aims towards the enemy at any location the ship is placed, is what really had me adoring the rabbit a bit more. He may come off a bit scared and possibly not as fierce as the bear or others would be, but for a small bunny rabbit, he can knock out a bunch more of the enemies in no time!

The next one I’ve tried was Felicity the cat, which looks frisky, and one cat who isn’t scared to show her claws! She actually had a fast-paced shooting capability. Yet, I didn’t notice too much of a difference from the others, but I did notice that she shoots straight ahead. Not much of a unique ability, but it does supply plenty of damage on many in just one single stream ahead. So she does provide a nice range of coverage with her special ability and normal shooting power.

Barker the dog, the third to be played, and even though it would feel as if he would be the first and with the most spectacular ability, I didn’t feel this way! Not to say that the dog isn’t great at defeating enemies, but the dog might have just an average or not as compelling ability as the others. Don’t get me wrong, Barker can really kick butt, but with the ability of a little fishy guy who shoots along with him, it doesn’t feel like you get so much more damage done than the rest can cause. It’s providing less range to defeat enemies, but it still is quite useful!

Lastly, Lucio the bear. A more of a protective team member against attacks. Not your strongest ally, but one that will prevent damage and in return, is a bit stronger in away. Being that you are able to protect yourself longer, causing less damage to you as the player and more chances to defeat the enemy, even the bosses. It may just give you an extra chance to last longer and fight the enemies without losing so easily.

There you have it! Four different characters, with unique abilities. Honestly, it can be hard to decide who to like best! Yet for me, there are two I treasure the most. First is the bunny, but after playing the bear, I might consider the bear, Lucio as my top choice, and the second character I’d choose to play. Still, a bit of a mix of feelings, because I like both of them. Even if I just rather try them all over and over again, as it’s fun to mix it up and see how I can make them all work in a way to be awesome players no matter what they lack or feel they don’t perform great at.

Nonstop Action and Adventure!

There is so much action that you really have no time to stop triggering at least one of the action buttons even just to control the ship. This goes for each of the characters chosen. They all are nicely safe inside a ship, which has plenty of the basic abilities, from dodging, shooting, and even an easy to control movement from either left, right, up, down, and even diagonals.

There is one thing about this game that I find quite alluring. I know it’s all about hitting as many enemies as possible, there is no limit or a minimum to worry about. However, if you do have a little patience and do not keep your finger on the trigger button, you can also allow for a super blast just by not shooting and waiting a few seconds. It can wipe clean a few enemies in a line or two if hit in the right area.

The game is fully loaded with obstacles so it just gets more enjoyable when you aren’t stopping and always awaiting the next enemy wave or dangerous obstacle to come your way. I actually believe that is what makes this game unbelievably awesome! The nonstop action and challenges await. If it just was too simple or didn’t include a variety of obstacles, coming from every which way, it wouldn’t be anything more than something that would cause one to get bored or be done with it in a few hours.

Lastly, I’d like to say that this game just continues to bring challenging battles and plenty of reasons to shoot! If it is nonstop action you desire, this is a game that brings just that, even though it is cute pets that are doing all of the hero work. I honestly love to think that this game could make you believe your own pet or any animal of the wild could be a hero. It’s quite entertaining, really nothing negative I could find about the game, just how much fun it is to use one’s shooting power and figure out patterns to avoid attacks and defeat enemies.

Review: Armello

Natosha M
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Review: Armello

Armello is a game like no other, but it does require plenty of understanding before one can master it! It’s a one-of-a-kind game that has the appeal of a board game played on a digital platform, for me this is the Xbox One. Plus with the charming action-adventure design, it can be quite hypnotic and enticing! However, this game takes a bit of time devoted to learning it completely, as well as some time for the brain to plan the next move on the board as it is a strategy game.

Sometimes, a little difficulty and some confusion in a game can be fun, since you have to figure it out like a puzzle. Otherwise, it may be a bit off-putting for those who aren’t into something that can’t be mastered in minutes. For me, trying to understand something that no one else can, until they play the game just like many board games or card games out there, can be delightful! That is probably why I find this game to have a charming attachment that has me playing constantly. Oh and don’t get me wrong, it did take a while to master, but who wouldn’t want to. If you take the combination of a journey that involves magic, mayhem, kingdoms, battles, and so much many other exciting fantasy-style gameplay, you would have a marvelous game and that is what you get here!

Well Worth The Time To Master!

The one thing that becomes super transparent when you first begin playing Armello, is that it’s not an easy game. There are many attributes that won’t become clear for a bit of time, as well as the difficulty to learn the controls to orchestrate the next move. I still sometimes get a bit confused, with the buttons mapped out on the controller. Thankfully, there are a few reminders on the screen and honestly, it begins to grow on you after playing the game often. Nevertheless, that can be part of the fun! Sometimes those mistakes can be helpful during the learning process or even give you an advantage.

I do want to also point out that the game lights up with its animated, mystical character-style design and fantastic music that plays lightly in the background. It just transports you into a realm where you are one of the mystical creatures, we’re a place of magic is possible and a legendary journey awaits. The action pack battle scenes are amazing and happen in the form of card gameplay as well as done between the two characters right afterward. So that you can view it on the beautiful environmentally designed world; gameboard. It’s got such a great visual appeal that works for those who love that RPG-style fighting and a normal strategy-style game fight that happens first, in front of you.

All the battles begin with the card game, which is really in the form of dice, but cards can be chosen. I still get confused on how to roll the dice, but after getting it down it becomes a bit easy to set up. Also, choosing cards is another part I forget I can use anytime during the game, but it’s another button I need to remember, some just require money to use. It can be a bit confusing, but like I said it’s a complex game with much to learn before it can be mastered and won in the first few times played.

I do find that having a game, like a family night or game night of any type is always fun and this is a great thing to enjoy anytime one wants. It’s absolutely a wonderful animation to view playing it as a digital-style board game. Plus, it’s even more entertaining to see the animation react on screen, which you don’t get during a tabletop game. It’s got plenty of marvelous, graphical experiences to see for oneself as the game progresses. Even the scenes of one winning, even if it isn’t me, is just as astonishing as the battle against the king and seeing if the player, either a computer or real one could become the next king or queen.

Final Words

There really is no end when you can continue to challenge others from all over. Even just the computer; AI. It’s completely a game you need to have your mindset just on too, without any other things disturbing you. As every move will require a little more planning. If you want to come out on top; become the king or queen, it’s the brain that will need to be on and taking in all of what is going on around you.

Nevertheless, this game is interesting from start to end, and all over again! If you try any of the other characters of course all playable, it is always great to see what you can accomplish or who might become a true favorite. My increased enjoyment of the game comes down to its unique mixture of graphics and gameplay. This is a great skill-building game, including excellent music, beautiful scenes, and enjoyable planning. It really is one that surpasses many of the strategy games I’ve played thus far!

Review: Cake Invaders

Daniel Waite
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Review: Cake Invaders

I don’t know about you, but I love cake and will pretty much do anything to have some. However, my adoration would cease to exist the moment violence was mentioned. You may think I’m weak, but I’m not risking my existence for some yummy treats. Cake Invaders is different! Its protagonists will risk life and limb for every morsel on offer.

Developed by ZOO Corporation and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a casual arcade shooter. Its colourful aesthetic and odd theme are heavily influenced by Japanese culture and subsequently, it’s an eyebrow-raiser. Playing out from a fixed-screen perspective it is reminiscent of Space Invaders and is equally addictive.

Cake Invaders makes no sense.

I never worry whether a game makes sense or not, yet Cake Invaders is utterly absurd. Its loose story and repetitive action could turn off many gamers. However, I suggest you get accustomed to the madness. See, once you allow the stupidity to wash over you, you won’t want to put it down!

The story revolves around the famous German Baumkuchen cake and the Japanese people’s love of this Bavarian delicacy. Allegedly, they will stop at nothing to protect their treats, even if this involves killing invading aliens. A never-ending army of intergalactic warriors swarm you and you must shoot until they fall from the sky. As I said, it has a strange plot but its simplicity gets under your skin.

Ah…the rainbow Baumkuchen cake.

Arcade action at its best.

Normally I despise simple titles. A lack of complexity usually annoys me and I get bored easily. However, Cake Invaders is different. Its straightforward approach and hectic nature make it the perfect arcade title. Once you understand the fundamentals, you’ll nail your foes with a barrage of projectiles. From this moment, you’ll learn how to thwart your opponents while protecting your precious snacks.

You can select from only one game mode and this was slightly disappointing. The developers could have taken inspiration from Atari’s “Recharge” series and added some enjoyable challenges. However, this wasn’t to be and all the fun was experienced in one place.

The never-ending survival action asks you to defend the Baumkuchen cake from unrelenting invaders. Wave after wave will attack and you must use your minigun and power-ups to defend your land. As you progress, you’ll find new weapons, add defenders to your team, and face faster, stronger, and more aggressive aliens. It relies on some skill but mainly luck and consequently it’ll drive you mad.

Don’t let them get to the cake.

Cake Invaders is gloriously retro.

I love garish and vivid arcade games as their retro ways are always charming. Luckily, Cake Invaders goes one step further with its ever-changing backdrops and glorious sprites. The pixelated imagery is a little rough, but this matter not as the fast-paced action is all a blur. Furthermore, the variety of weapons and enemies ensures that it doesn’t become tiresome.

Where I wasn’t so impressed was the audio. Its upbeat music and loud sound effects were serviceable, but they offered nothing new. It was very generic and could have been plucked from any other game. Subsequently, it lacks that memorable edge that most retro titles are famous for.

Kill those alien fish!

Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.

With no character movement and a fixed-screen perspective, this is easy to play. You simply stand proudly upon your cake while aiming your crosshairs. Ammo is easily selected with a push of a button and you focus on little else. Therefore, you’ll have this mastered in minutes thanks to its basic layout and responsive controls. The straightforward to understand approach goes a long way to help you top both the local and global leaderboard.

This is where the replay value is enhanced! Without the leaderboard, you may tire of the conceptually repetitive gameplay. Fortunately, your competitive juices will flow as you compete for the highest score. Moreover, this is a completionist’s dream, as it is completed in under 20 minutes.

Cake Invaders is so bizarre that it’s great.

I’ll admit that my opening moments with this were full of regret. I didn’t see the point in it as its bizarre, lacks direction, and I wanted to explore the surrounding world. But I’m glad I put my doubts to one side as this is a great arcade title. Yes, it lacks depth, it’s bizarre, and it’s repetitive, yet I loved it. It’s moreish, childish, but I didn’t care. If you want something easy, casual, and competitive, then I recommend you to buy it here! Aliens are welcome whenever they wish, but not if it’s for our cake. If they come for this, then it’s war!

LEGO Ideas: Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone

Andrew Edney
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LEGO Ideas: Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone

LEGO have just released a Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone Ideas set, and this is definitely one for both LEGO and Sonic fans alike.

Conceived by 24-year-old, UK based LEGO superfan Viv Grannell, through the LEGO Ideas platform, this new analogue version of the Green Hill Zone gives fans the chance to build and display a piece of gaming history. 

Sonic the Hedgehog™ blasted onto the screens of gamers worldwide in 1991, racing to grab gold rings as he ran through the first level of the game — the now-iconic Green Hill Zone — a bright-green landscape with a look inspired by the California hills. Sonic has kept up the tradition of featuring the much-loved Green Hill Zone in many new versions of the game over the past 30 years — and now the zone can be tackled in a new way; a “real life” LEGO version.

Lots of fun details and easter eggs have been incorporated into 1,125-piece set including five minifigures – an updated version of Sonic, Crabmeat, Moto Bug, Dr. Eggman and the Phantom Ruby.  Also included are 10 boxes of golden-coloured Rings and a Technic lever to spring Sonic and friends into the air. And just like in the game, you can earn a gem reward as you build the set! This fun-filled LEGO build results in a dynamic display set or one that can be played with by any Sonic or LEGO fan for years to come.

  • Age – 18+
  • Model measures: 
  • Height:  17cm/7” 
  • Width: 36cm / 14”
  • Depth: 6cm / 2.5”
  • 1125 pieces
  • The latest LEGO x SEGA set, which features:
    •  5 minifigures, including a new version of Sonic and also Crab, Motobug, Dr. Eggman, and Phantom Ruby
    • 10 ring boxes 
    • Modular build, which can be linked to other architecture sets
    • Interactive elements and easter eggs, such as:
      • A Technic lever on the spring module to launch Sonic and his friends into the air 
      • Sit Dr Eggman inside the Egg Robot 
      • Just like in the game – get a gem reward as you build the set 
      • Super speed and shied TV screens also included
  • Price: £59.99 

You can learn more about the Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone Ideas set from the LEGO website.

Review: Sky Fleet

Jordan Kirkpatrick
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Review: Sky Fleet

High above civilisation lies Aerth, a land of floating cities and islands amongst the clouds. Once a sprawling landscape of beautiful islands has now been reduced to desolate land thanks to enemy airships invading, and it’s now up to you to save the last remaining islands from destruction.

Sky Fleet is a top-down action RTS and tower-defence game with all the mechanics you would expect to find in classic RTS games as well as some new refreshing features to the genre. The idea of Sky Fleet is simple: enemies nicknamed Binocs are invading and draining the islands of minerals and you and your fleet of armed ships need to stop them. Depending on the objective of the level, you may simply need to survive long enough for the win, or you may need to actively seek out Binoc bases and destroy them all.

Seek out enemy bases and take them down before they do the same to you

Sky Fleet has both a campaign as well as an online PVP mode to choose from. Both modes are fundamentally the same mechanically, with the only major difference being the ability to play with friends in one. The campaign itself has eight levels to work through ranging in objectives. Each level progressively increases in difficulty as expected, and the objectives can range from simple survival for a set amount of time to capturing several enemy bases within a time limit. There is enough of a challenge within these objectives, however, the campaign does severely lack a story and plot. Any plot points regarding the lore of the islands are learned from help menus and the tutorial which is unfortunate. Without the involvement of any major storyline throughout the levels, they do tend to blend together as one large level afterwards which is unfortunate as the potential is there.

Eight levels to choose from
The enemy approaches

Another detail I came across which I found strange was the fact that you can’t play solely offline. Oddly enough, the campaign requires you to be always connected to the internet which then brings forth a multitude of issues. The ship you are piloting tends to be quite clunky in movements and will often fly much further than you intended, and this becomes even more noticeable with the lag that the servers produce. In-game progress also isn’t saved periodically like most campaigns, so having your base ambushed when you’re close to level completion and having to start a 20+ minute level over again will become more than frustrating if you don’t strategically plan your base.

Despite this, the mechanics are rather simple and very easy to understand after a few minutes of flying. Even if you’re not the best at coming up with full defence strategies, it’s easy to gain enough coins and material to overload your base with turrets, shields and generators to allow you to focus on flying out to enemy bases instead of worrying about your base. As for customisation of your defences, it really is completely up to you how you place your builds, and options are plentiful. The only downside to the customisation would be not being able to stack your weaponry and skills for your ship to create upgraded defences and instead you’re stuck with the base options. Whichever way you do decide to play, whether a full defence, full damage route or a mix of both, they all bring a fun challenge regardless.

How you defend your base is up to you

The art style and visuals are definitely some of Sky Fleet’s stronger points. The menu interfaces are clean and clear, and you have all the information you require on your screen at all times regarding your stats, enemy locations and island health. The islands themselves each have their own unique details to distinguish them from mineral islands to enemy bases, so it’s always easy to tell at a glance what islands you need to keep an eye on. The addition of Sky Fleet being a top-down game is being able to make out the smaller details of houses and civilisation on the ground, which adds a tonne of depth and detail to the gameplay as you fly around. The designs of enemy fleets are also easily distinguishable from your own builds, so you probably won’t be mistaking your turrets for enemy ships.

Aside from the single-player campaign needing some development plot-wise to distinguish it from the online mode, Sky Fleet is an enjoyable, engaging and challenging action RTS game. With co-op being one of the main focuses of Sky Fleet, the addition of friends would absolutely improve any experience with this game and solve a lot of the issues regarding plot and storylines. With lots of room to grow in the future, Sky Fleet is one to watch if you’re a fan of co-op tower defence titles.

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