Your childhood should be a wonderful thing. The world is still full of mystery and wonderment, and you should have a carefree existence. Unfortunately, however, what is supposed to happen rarely does and many obstacles stand in the way of true happiness. The Prince of Landis explores the cruel and dark side of child neglect and bullying. This may seem heavy and depressing, but there is a light at the end of this miserable tunnel.
Developed by Lorestrome and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a horror exploration adventure title. Utilising visual novel dialogue and a sci-fi theme, this odd game will confuse and intrigue you. It opens with a warning about culturally appropriate language that players may turn off if this offends them. I loved this sensible approach and applaud the developers for allowing their player base to decide.
The Prince of Landis blends its elements brilliantly.
When an indie game experiments with multiple genres, it usually ends in disaster. Fortunately, though, The Prince of Landis blends its elements perfectly. Its dark story is brilliantly juxtaposed by the sci-fi theme, while the story-driven exploration distracts you from the oppressive plot. The mechanics are cleverly intertwined and they create a challenging, chilling, and well-paced story. You must unravel the mystery by listening to the clues while searching for quest critical objects.
Set in America in the 1980s, the choice of language and social relationships is a painful experience. Yet, they work brilliantly with the theme and story. The use of the words “Fag and Pussy”, and other derogatory terms, belittles the protagonist and this helps to build rapport and empathy. This was an intelligent move, as the heavy sci-fi influences could have undermined the touching and hard-hitting moments.
I’d probably run away.
You are not alone.
The Prince of Landis has taught me to always be kind, no matter the situation. When an alien crash lands into your backyard, most people would run a mile. Evan, on the other hand, has other ideas! He assists the extraterrestrial in his quest to repair his ship. You soon discover that one good deed deserves another as the alien helps Evan to overcome his bullies.
Sadly, the alien’s advice isn’t free and here is where the puzzle and exploration moments kick in. You must explore the small wintry map to scour for objects that’ll progress the story. The game cleverly drip-feeds new items into each area and this ensures that you’ll search each location with fresh eyes. This simple idea prevented the gameplay from becoming stale and increased longevity.
Sleep, wake, go to school, repeat.
The story revolves around Evan’s everyday routine and this potentially could have been boring. However, the brilliantly written story and touching subject stopped it from becoming tiresome. The early sympathy and rapport created for the protagonist ensure you want to see him defeat his bullies, or discover whether the alien is more sinister than it appears.
The combination of every element shouldn’t have worked, yet I couldn’t put it down. Though there was a considerable amount of back and forth as you gathered quest items, this never bothered me. However, the complexities of the puzzles were low, so this balanced the high amount of wandering to and fro. If you are looking for a challenging puzzle title, you’ll be disappointed. But, if you want a story-driven adventure with light puzzling moments, then The Prince of Landis is for you.
Someone looks pleased with themselves.
The Prince of Landis takes simplicity to another level.
I admire the developers’ love of the 80s and their pixelated world with dated imagery captures it perfectly. The Prince of Landis lacks detail and finesse, but it’s still great to look at. Its simplicity is taken to another level, as its minimalist approach dominates proceedings. The wintry world is beautifully presented and the isolation of this small town is evident from the off.
The presentation may have been basic, but the cinematic and dialogue stood out for me. It was fascinating to watch the relationship evolve between the alien and Evan, even though it was a little bizarre. I also enjoyed the Spectrum style text that delivers the dialogue in an old-school visual novel manner.
The eerie isolation and minimalist approach weren’t restricted to just the graphics. No, the audio joined in too. With vast moments of nothingness, you have plenty of time to think. Its empty world is uncomfortable to explore and the lack of acting works brilliantly. Using only written words to convey the speech could have been a step too far. Yet, ThePrince of Landis balances every layer appropriately to deliver its raw and powerful message.
Can you find anything useful here?
Old-school game, retro controls.
With rigid movement and limited controls, this captures old-school gaming to a tee. Subsequently, it’s a little uncomfortable to play, and the responsiveness is reduced considerably. These issues could be perceived as problematic, yet they don’t impact the game and they somehow add to the dated charm.
If you have a logical mind, you’ll fly through this! Its short playtime was disappointing, though there is some replay value thanks to the missable achievements. Moreover, this list is unusually large for an indie title, yet it detracts from the main story. Sadly, many of the achievements are gained through random interactions that force you to spam the A button. This undermines much of the brilliance of the game and adds to the lack of finesse.
The Prince of Landis is surprisingly touching despite its heavy theme.
With such a heavy theme, I expected this to be dull and depressing. I was wrong. Instead, it was refreshing and insightful with a brilliant sci-fi twist. Saving an alien to help yourself is cathartic and oddly enjoyable. I didn’t expect to like this, however, I really did and I recommend you to buy it here! Being bullied is soul-destroying, but only you can stop it! Uncover your inner strengths and take that bully down once and for all.
Indigo 7 Quest for love is a competitive and challenging game, which can be played by one player or four others through the multiplayer option. However, it can easily be played against the CPU as well. It’s also an original-style puzzle game that is quite challenging and played fast. It’s not super hard to learn or figure out how to play. So if you are looking for a game that is easy to get a hang of right from the start, this game can provide that request. However, it’s not going to be super easy to win, as this game really puts your mind to work requiring you to concentrate and strategize what color to play next.
The other thing that is quite different and adorable about this game is that its story is done in a comic style and the characters are cartoon in style. It sort of makes it a very interesting and pleasing visual design for all ages. In addition to the game’s design, there is that fully energetic style of music that plays in the background. Honestly, it really fits the story as it’s like these characters are in a band and the sound that you hear is upbeat and even makes one feel a bit pumped to go and take on a puzzle challenge.
From my first experience, starting with just turning on the game. I felt a bit ready to play by the music and couldn’t wait to see what this game had to offer. I was intrigued by the options and many other modes that can be played within each choice. I started with the adventure game, which is honestly the smart option when starting this game for the first time. Since in the adventure mode you will learn how to play the game through the tutorial stage. Unlike many, this tutorial stage is quite quick and you will pick up the game fast. Plus, get to meet each of the characters such as the 4 main ones, which are Nathan, Amelia, Guille, and Raven. They are the first players you can even choose in the multiplayer or single-player verse game.
What the puzzle is like when you actually play it. The design may remind you of Tetris in a rectangular-shaped box. Now for the puzzle, it will have you changing the color of a grey hexagon style piece, which has no color like the rest of the pieces in the puzzle. It just has this cute smiley face, that is related to the character you are playing. It normally is positioned in the lower left-hand corner, but in some games, it will or can be on another side of the box. So while playing the tutorial stage and first game against another in the adventure stage, you’ll start with 4 colors to choose from for the grey smile face, hexagon shape. The colors are either red, yellow, green, or orange and each time you choose a color it chains or connects the pieces together.
Basically, you keep changing between the 4 different colors, until you completely change each colorfully to just one color. So the board can only be cleared when you finally have the entire board in one color. However, there are some difficulties, like energy may run out and you can play anymore, allowing the other challenger a chance to win. You don’t change the colors to connect fast enough and the other player wins.
Also, you can be too slow and time runs out. It really is a bit challenging even if it’s easy to play, so don’t feel that you won’t be challenged, because there are so many ways to play and so much going on that you won’t always win the game. I found this out after playing my first challenger, a skeleton-style Grim Reaper. I did the game quickly and actually thought I was winning but I lost. There is so much you really need to keep an eye on and so much that can go wrong. The score can play a big part in winning, even if you think you’re doing quite well during the gameplay itself.
Again, those can be a big factor and one other, which I should tell you about the adventure story mode gameplay. If you are going through each level of the adventure, there are stars you would want to earn to move on to the next one. Each will have a few challenges and I guess you can call them missions to accomplish to get these stars. They make the game a bit more entertaining while playing. So if you don’t win it could be because you didn’t earn the stars you needed and have to replay the level again. However, if you achieve the amount needed, you can move on and try the next challenging puzzle.
The colors and style of the puzzles are always different, just like the missions or challenges you need to complete. So be prepared to have something exciting to play as there are many unique and original puzzles to enjoy. Plus, an adorable comic story to watch after each completed stage.
In conclusion, this is an excellent game. Not super easy or super hard, but just right! It’s got a cute and unique styled story, with a character that has their own personality and is playable options. Plus, many more fun characters and levels to unlock. Making this game is extremely fun to play and reveals something new as you move along each challenging level!
There are only several things you can be sure of in life, and one of them is that technology will continue to advance all the time. Technology is arguably the one thing that can positively impact multiple areas as it progresses, and one sector where its presence is felt the most is gaming. Gaming had advanced alongside tech at breakneck speed, and even traditional games have adapted.
Right now, gaming is in a fantastic place. Some of the content released onto console, PC, and other devices is out of this world visually, and the gameplay is right up there. But, then, when you bring the multiplayer aspect into the equation, you could suggest that gaming has never been better. And a lot of this is down to technology advancing remarkably fast.
But, while developers are keen to produce new content that takes advantage of all the tech advancements available, we also see traditional games adapt to what’s out there. Yes, new and fresh is exciting, and it will always be the number one choice for the majority of gamers. However, sometimes, a dose of nostalgia is more than welcome, and it can be delivered with modern twists.
One of the first examples of traditional games adapting to tech and becoming a modern version of itself is content that started on arcade floors around the world. Games such as Pac Man, Tetris and Streetfighter are all excellent in their own right and in their original guises, but they have adapted to stay relevant over the years. There has been an embracing of the new, and with modern twists applied, they have never been more popular.
Using Pac Man as an example, the game’s original release was in 1980, which is over forty years ago. And when you consider the latest Pac Man release was April 2021, you can see how essential adapting to advancements in technology has been for this award-winning game series. Of course, Pac Man isn’t alone in this, either, as multiple old school video games have travelled this path.
It’s not just video games that this applies to from the traditional games category. Board games, which were hugely popular decades ago, have also embraced technology to become relevant and popular in different guises. You can look at games such as chess, counters and battleships, as a trio of traditional offline titles that are now very much online across multiple disciplines.
The rise of Monopoly is arguably the most impressive, however. It’s undoubtedly one of, if not the most popular board game of all time. And, it’s gone from this setting to console, handheld devices, mobile, and as far as appearing at online casinos as Monopoly Live created by Evolution Gaming, where players can enjoy an interactive experience and win money.
None of the above would be possible if traditional hadn’t adapted to and worked with the latest technology. Games such as Monopoly and others would have remained as offline games that, over time, found themselves stuffed in a cupboard and forgotten about. So thankfully, those who make the games and developers decided to ensure this would never be the case.
Are you looking for a game that allows you to follow a passion you may have, a farming lifestyle? Then you’ve found the perfect game that puts you in that position! Real Farm is all about being able to take on the career life as a farmer, riding around in big vehicles, planting crops, taking care of animals, and doing what you must to keep your farm thriving through all weather conditions and as the days go by.
Real Farm is also a game filled with realistic vehicles, buildings, environmental style background, and even the sounds that you hear perfectly compliments the game. I felt like I was transported to a realistic farming lifestyle, a countryside with clear fields and paths, trees, and everything you’d see on a professional, large-style farm. Not many loud noises, just that of the birds and wind, and it just made me feel even more relaxed.
Additionally, knowing that it’s not all about sitting back and enjoying the scenery, I do need to learn the ropes of farming. So as a sim-style farming game, there are skills to be learned and new challenges to come my way. However, after all the work and learning to do things, it’s honestly become a very relaxing game. As long as you follow a routine.
Also, don’t expect to complete this game super fast or rely on this to be a game you can play quickly when you need to play something for a short time. Instead, this is a game that needs you to take your time, get to know the work that a farmer needs to do and keep up with any issues that may occur unexpectedly. The missions required by you as part of the career gameplay will require you to complete them before you can do anything else. It’s another way to learn the ropes of the game and understand how the mechanics of each machine and vehicle needs to be used.
You will notice these missions being nicely listed on the right side of the screen and can be also accessed in the menu section of the game. The one thing you will probably find enjoyable as I have is that the controls are quite easy. It’s not as complicated as many simulated games and still has some difficulties, but it does seem still a bit easier to move and control everything on the screen while focusing on the task you have to do next. It is a challenge and this is where the practice and learning come in handy, but after getting everything figured out and used a bit, it becomes simple from thereon. So that each time you need to use a certain contraption it’s going to be like you’ve ridden and worked with them for years.
One thing I want to return to. When I mentioned you shouldn’t play if you are limited on time or want to play something fast. Well, it is true it is required you play it as if you’ve got time to enjoy the game and work as if you were on a real farm. As the time in the game is as long as it would be in real life. It’s not meant to be faster or quicker. There is a time that tells you how much should be spent on an activity, which might push you to work harder, but it is a very slow count as in real-life. Its time seems to go as it would if you were using a real clock.
Therefore, don’t expect that you can prepare the field in 5 minutes, especially if it’s a large area that needs to be worked upon. This is another reason I really loved and still love this game. It’s so real and builds that true experience for those who live in the city or nowhere near a farm and want to enjoy that type of lifestyle.
After figuring out how to work everything and do the job as a farmer through the career mode. There are a few new additional things you can have added to the farm. This could be purchasing new farm animals, crops to plant and grow, and even more farming equipment and upgrades. So this game can change and be as unique as you want your farm to be. It all depends on the work of the gamer; you.
There was one problem for me when playing this game. So please don’t get discouraged, since it may just be annoying to me, but may not be for others. However, when playing Real Farm on the Nintendo Switch, I found that the game squeezes in the map and the missions on one side. They tend to be a bit small and hard to see when everything appears to show with tiny images on the map. It can be a bit hard to see or understand where you need to go.
I felt this made it a bit crammed together and I couldn’t find any way to adjust or change the camera’s focus. Just enough that I can see what I’m doing and the map, as well as the mission list, is easier to read. Plus, not being too squished on one small screen.
Lastly, if it’s farming you are interested in, working as a farmer. Possibly if it’s the joy of taking this position as a career or remember what you once did before moving to the big city, well now you can jump back into that driver’s seat, doing everything a farmer would need to just by playing this awesome game! Oh yes, one other thing to be happy about when playing Real Farm. There is no need to get dirty or smell like you’ve worked all day on a farm when you can just play this game!
Chess. The game of kings. The game of queens. The game of explosions?
Chess is a game as old as your standard geology professor and as dry as the conversation at a geology department’s Christmas party. So, it’s about time something was done to shake things up a bit in the way that geologists are always shaking upon their rocks. Cue Chessplosion, the game that surgically grafts the concept of explosions onto the concept of chess, except the surgeon is completely unconcerned whether the patient survives the procedure.
Chessplosion borrows quite a lot from Bomberman, the bomb-laying and friendship-ruining arcade game. The main innovation that Chessplosion makes is swapping out the bombs for chess pieces, which are also bombs. This change is more than just cosmetic, as the pattern of the explosion generated by one of these bombs matches the direction in which the chess piece moves (rooks explode horizontally, bishops blow up diagonally and the queen just nukes the whole postcode). This allows for some genuine strategy, control and skill, which is sometimes missing in the game’s spiritual predecessor.
There are a few different modes in Chessplosion, each of which plays as an almost completely different game. As such, we’re going to go through each of the modes in turn and undertake a mini-review of each. Unfortunately, I’m burdened with the crushing reality of only being one person, despite the assumptions you might make from the size of the ego. As such, I haven’t dived into the tasty chunk of the game that is the multiplayer. However, the final mode I’m going to talk about is basically a multiplayer mode with bots instead of real people, so feel free to draw some conclusions about the multiplayer from there. Anyway, without further ado, here are some mini-reviews of the modes in Chessplosion for your perusal.
Mode 1: Adventure Mode
Adventure mode is interesting because it feels like the ‘default’ mode of the game due to being the first option you come to on the main menu – ‘the way the game was meant to be played’ if you like. The reason this is interesting is because it is the worst mode in the game. In this mode, you need to kill some little dudes on the chessboard by planting the chess-based bombs. The little dudes can kill you by charging into you, so you need to explode them before they smash you to death with rocks that they probably acquired from those blasted geologists. The problem here is that the bombs take a few seconds to explode and the little dudes move randomly and in real-time. This means you can’t really apply any strategy, as placing a bomb to attack a specific square is pointless because the little dude could be in a different hemisphere by the time the bomb explodes. In the end, you need to spam bombs in a way that won’t kill you and hope that the explosions eventually take out the little dudes.
Mode 2: Puzzle Mode
Puzzle mode is probably my favourite mode of the game as it strips out some of the randomness of the explosions and breaks the game down into a purer skill-based art form. In puzzle mode, you have a specific set of bombs that you need to place in such a way that the first bomb will set off the subsequent bombs in a chain and, more importantly, so that the combined effects of the bombs will destroy the targets placed around the arena. This starts quite simply where you’re only using rooks and all the targets are perpendicular from each other, but quickly ramps up into genuine puzzle territory where you have to study the placement of the targets to reverse engineer the correct places to put your bombs. This mode pairs satisfying puzzle-solving and gratuitous explosions in a package that leaves a nice, if gunpowder-y, taste in your mouth.
Mode 3: Survival Mode
In this mode, the exploder becomes the explodee. All your bombs are taken away and you’re put on the back foot, needing to avoid explosions rather than cause them. Bombs will appear on the chessboard and you’ll need to move your little dude to a square that won’t be hit by the inevitable explosions. This combines some elements of puzzle-solving with the mad panic of being in a room full of short-delay explosives. You’ll need to make quick and accurate decisions to determine where the plethora of bombs on the board are going to destroy and where it will be safe for your little dude to cower. You’ll be bathed in sweat by the time you manage to successfully navigate through the increasingly deadly waves of bombs and manage to use some tricksy manoeuvres to survive for the requisite minute.
Mode 4: Arcade Mode
Here it is, what all your training has been leading to. In true Marvel movie fashion, it’s time for a same versus same boss battle. It’s you versus another you in a 1v1 battle to the death. Armed with only your wits (and a lot of high explosives), you’ll need to carefully place bombs to trap and kill your enemy without blowing yourself up, all while your enemy tries to do exactly the same thing to you. This is the mode that channels that real Bomberman energy and feels the most like the multiplayer. Unlike Bomberman there is some real skill to be deployed here, assessing the bombs you’re randomly given and placing them strategically to outmanoeuvre and outmurder your enemy. It’s almost like chess or something.
Chessplosion is a lot of fun. It’s got a real party-game feeling and the range of different modes on offer means there’s almost certainly something in there for you to get your teeth sunk into, no matter where you sit on the spectrum between chess and explosions. I love the way that all the modes train you up in a different skill that you’ll need in the arcade/multiplayer. You feel like you’re getting abilities pumped directly into your brain like Neo in the Matrix except it’s less “I know Kung Fu” and more “I know adventure mode”. If you’re a fan of Bomberman, this is definitely one for you to give a try. If you’re a fan of chess, maybe not so much – you may even weep at the Frankenstein’s monster of a game that your beloved chess has become. Probably blame a geologist.
The clocks have gone back, Halloween has come and gone, and every firework has sizzled. So now it’s time to relax, and take a moment for yourself. Wrong! You have 6 weeks until Christmas, and every retailer, including LucidSound, want you to buy their products.
So, are you one of those super organised people who has Christmas planned in January, or will you be running around on the 24th panicking about what to buy? Whichever you are, there is always room to add some more computing peripherals to your list. Now, I know what you are thinking. It’s an absolute minefield to get the right item, and technology can be very confusing. How about I help you with a short guide to LucidSound’s latest products?
LucidSound offers something at every price point.
No matter your budget, you’ll find something suitable to gift your loved ones. With an array of headsets available, I’ll do my best to keep things simple and easy to understand.
Great quality sound and comfortable headphones are key when you are immersed in your favourite game. Subsequently, poor audio or crackly microphones just won’t make the grade and will ruin the experience. With a price point starting at under £50 rising to £240, younger or casual players and pro or veteran gamers can get a headset to suit their needs.
This entry-level wired headset is as vivid as it is comfortable. With high fidelity surround sound and a detachable boom mic, it’s not restricted to just the gaming world. Moreover, it has long-lasting comfort with memory foam over-ear design earpads. This means you can use them for hours with no discomfort. Subsequently, these are great to wear without breaking the bank.
The big brother to the LS10X, this bright blue wireless headset, offers crystal-clear chat, lightweight comfort, and all the other positives from its entry-level sibling. It’s perfect for PlayStation and PC gaming.
Rechargeable batteries offer up to 15 hours of gaming.
Windows Sonic Surround Sound.
Detachable boom mic.
LucidSound LS35X Wireless Surround Sound Stereo Gaming Headset for Xbox Series S/X£174.99
Designed for wireless freedom using Xbox Wireless technology, there are no cables, dongles, or set up required as you switch on and start to game. Experience crystal-clear chat thanks to the precision-tuned 50mm drivers. Alongside this, they are supplied with the next step in comfort, thanks to the gel-cooled cushioned earpads. No longer will your ears overheat while you game the night away.
Rechargeable batteries offer up to 15 hours of gaming.
Detachable boom mic and LED indicator for mute option.
Quick-Access Audio Controls to focus on the action.
The pièce de résistance and the flagship headset from LucidSound is the LS50X. This premium Hybrid Wireless and Bluetooth Gaming headset for Xbox is a head-turner. It features lag-free wireless audio for Xbox gaming and simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity for total wireless freedom. You experience the gel-cooled earpads combined with dual noise-cancelling mics and powerful custom-tuned drivers. This is a headset that’ll compete with the best and is a welcome addition for pro and veteran gamers.
Rechargeable batteries offer up to 20 hours of battery life when gaming.
Intuitive Quick-Action controls allow you to focus on the game and not the controls.
The choice is yours!
With many similarities and excellent build quality, you won’t go wrong with any of these headsets. The intuitive controls are a must-have for serious FPS gamers. Therefore, fans of COD or Battlefield should look no further. The wireless option is the ultimate extravagance, but the freedom is worth every penny. Enhance your gaming experience while taking it to the next level by treating yourself or a loved one to any of these headsets.
Christmas is just around the corner, and the cost is already mounting up. When your loved ones ask for gaming paraphernalia, you begin to sweat. How much will the latest tech set you back? That is exactly what you worry about! Stress no more as PowerA has you covered with its stocking fillers.
Coming in at under £25 PowerA has made shopping for gaming mad people a little easier. Let me talk you through three of their latest products and why you may need them.
MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 for Xbox controllers. £14.99
Mobile gaming has blown up this year and will only get bigger. It’s much-loved as it’s convenient, fun, and lets you play on the move. However, holding a phone and your controller is tricky business! Let that be a problem of the past with the MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0. With adjustable grips, this handy tool will hold a Bluetooth ready controller and an array of phones. Lose yourself in the action with this convenient and inexpensive accessory.
Twin Charging Station for DualSense Wireless Controllers. £19.99
Are you fed up with hearing the moaning of the controller running flat? Your gaming loved ones have forgotten to charge their pad again and now they have nothing to do! This needs no longer apply if you fill their stocking with the Twin Charging Station for DualSense Wireless Controllers. A convenient method of juicing your controllers and it looks stylish alongside your machine. Place your pads onto the connectors, lock them into place, and be ready to game whenever you want. Charge two controllers at once and never run empty thanks to the helpful LED indicator.
PowerA Dual Charging Station for Xbox One and Series X/S controllers.£19.99
Ploughing through batteries at an alarming rate, or running flat during a hectic all-out battle? Let these frustrations melt away with the awesome PowerA Dual Charging Station for Xbox One and Series X/S controllers. Each station has 4 charge-thru battery doors and 2 rechargeable battery packs. Get up to 40 hours of gaming fun from one charge, allowing you to focus on the action, not the batteries. A convenient LED indicator changes from amber to white when the pack is at optimum performance.
PowerA focuses on the little things.
These inexpensive peripherals will not break the bank but will enhance a gamer’s experience considerably. Take away the stress of battery life, or improve your mobile session with any of these stocking stuffers from PowerA.
Choosing the right controller for your Xbox has always been tricky. Do you stick with a wired connection for convenience, or go for a wireless/Bluetooth option? Then there is the list of brands to choose from! Do you pick top-end products such as the Wolverine V2 or the Elite pad, or do you slum it and pick up an unnamed brand? Whatever your choice, I urge you to considerPowerAbefore you make your decision.
This consumer-focused company loves nothing more than to help its loyal fanbase while delivering high-quality goods. Moreover, it offers an array of great value price points and some funky designs along the way. With Christmas 2021 around the corner, perhaps one of their latest controllers will take your fancy.
Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X/S£39.99
This officially licensed pad for Xbox is a one-of-a-kind controller. It offers a ton of customisable colours across three regions as well as two mappable buttons you can program on the fly. Its lightweight design won’t weigh you down and its three-way trigger lock offers super-precise action. You can plug in any headphones in the 3.5mm audio jack, but I recommend the LucidSound LS10X – Shock Blue. Enjoy a one-touch mute mic button, easy-to-use share button and dual rumble motors. This entry-level pad offers great value for money and is packed with features.
Fusion Pro 2 Wired Controller for Xbox Series X/S£79.99
This premium and well-constructed pad offers Elite-style customisation without breaking the bank. A large 9-foot braided cable allows you to play in comfort while forgetting the need for batteries. Mix things up with the interchangeable black and white faceplates with anti-friction rings. There is also a mappable Pro pack comprising four removable paddles, a three-way trigger lock, swappable sticks and a protective case. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack, an easy-to-use share button and is officially licensed by Xbox. This weighty pad feels well made and robust and screams high-end quality. Get all the features of a pro pad but at the fraction of the cost without skimping on the finish.
MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile Devices. £40.00
Gaming on the go is big business. However, the only way to do it successfully is with a great Bluetooth controller and gaming clip. There are many on the market but look no further than the MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile Devices. This goes perfectly with the MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip 2.0 for the ultimate convenience and experience! It is the newest addition to the PowerA lineup, and it delivers versatility to play Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on a mobile device. Its wonderful ergonomic design and a similar approach to the Xbox pad enhances your gaming adventures. Map the controller to your liking with two customisable buttons that can be switched on the fly. Moreover, you can play via Bluetooth or wired with the supplied USB-C cable. Subsequently, this is a truly versatile controller that will be a game-changer for mobile gamers.
PowerA offers quality and comfort.
PowerA offers the quality of high-end products while focusing on a low to mid-budget. These well-constructed controllers will amaze you with the features on offer and the build quality. Furthermore, the exceptional customer service team is on hand if anything was to go wrong! Therefore, overlooking one of these pads for Christmas could be a big mistake. Why not treat yourself or someone else to a PowerA accessory this year?
OH MY! This is so much better and more exciting to play than the first Jurassic World Evolution for Xbox One! I was and still am a big fan of the first one, but when I tried playing the Jurassic World Evolution 2, there are just so many things that they did better when making this game. Now I can’t stop raving about how much I prefer this game to play over the first one.
I don’t want to discourage anyone, but maybe if you felt something was lacking in the first Jurassic World Evolution, you may just be impressed by the second. It’s funny, sometimes in movies, it’s the first one created that is always better than any others made. The second is never that good. However, in games it’s like the next and newer games to come out are always going to be better and support better graphics and entertaining challenges. Also, fix problems that caused many to not like the game to begin with. So in the case of Jurassic World Evolution 2, this game really outdoes the first one in so many ways!
First I have to start off by explaining how much I enjoy having the ability to start from scratch during the original campaign mode. It’s the most helpful way to understand the game. Especially, it is very helpful for anyone beginning a simulated game just like this and wants a little idea on how to build up one’s park, the facilities, and have your own Jurassic World thriving.
I find this to be a major part of the game; I always find myself playing this part of any simulated game the most. Even if there are other modes and yet I do enjoy those, but the understanding and learning of how to play the game start with the campaign mode. Also, it opens up other activities when you complete this mode as well! Plus, don’t you want to know how to play the game correctly and build the best environment for all these dinos, or even how you’ll be able to find and add them to your park?
I felt so excited just after trying the game for a few minutes. By the changes in the way the game plays, and how to use different objects or build the park up, well it’s just so much easier! I feel I can do much more and understand the game so much easier. Moving things around to the location I need them to be positioned at and see everything from all angles and views, close or far with the zoom in and out button on the controller. When you do play the first campaign they have you on the first task working in Arizona. This is where you’ll be given directions on how to add certain buildings that need to help run every facility and keep things working as they should.
To be honest, I first had a few mistakes when I started. I can’t tell you I knew how to play right away, because I didn’t. One thing that I didn’t realize till I pressed a few buttons and tested each one, was how to zoom in. Especially, to zoom in during the first location and to make sure there is a path going from the power building and to others for electricity so each location on your park can have it evenly distributed. Another change from the first game that I do like and noticed is that there is no need for adding these annoying power poles all over. Just put down the path; a simple walking path and have it connect to each building by aiming towards the door. That’s all it takes!
Additionally, the path is very flexible, in a way that you can easily build a path that goes in all different angles. However, this can be a bit tricky, and it’s best to zoom in on the screen, as I’m finding out. Nevertheless, I did need to do this a few times, practice and it all made sense. I do think this is a feature I’m finding to be way better than what it used to be.
The second big change that was even nicer is that you’ll be able to still see the dinos in action and get super close, even as close to seeing them destroy your vehicle or attack you. Though, the part that really is awesome is that you can go all the way to find these dinos. Even traveling out in a helicopter! This is something you get to drive and let me tell you, it’s so easy to drive. No mechanical knowledge is needed and you actually take your tranquilizer dart and go to shoot them down. That way you can bring them to the habitat in the park you have set up for them. Now that is so much better than having it done in the background and you really don’t get to play rescue team or use any vehicle in any other location to retrieve these dinosaurs from all over.
I actually had fun capturing this type of raptor, it was so much better to actually do it myself and the helicopter is super easy to use with not many buttons to press, but everything is explained on the screen if you do get confused. Therefore, it’s nothing but easy peasy, even if you take a few times to understand. Of course, the screen will tell you the buttons on the controller to use and what you need to do. That is why I love the campaign as a start when playing the game. It’s always a great way to learn what you can do and how to play the game so you don’t get lost in the future modes or other tasks you may need to complete.
There was one issue I did have with the game. I don’t think it really is a big issue, but when you do play, you might notice this as well. The ability to take the tranquilized dinosaur by air and lift them to the location you’ve designed in the park for them. However, the odd way to do it, where you don’t drive the plane to lift the dino, but it follows the path you put down can seem a bit strange and would have been done if you could fly the vehicle and bring it over, or it just is automatic, by the team that works in your park. Though this is a small issue, I don’t think it takes away from the fun and exciting things you can do in the game. I just thought it stood out to me and felt a bit odd, that they didn’t do it a different way.
Again, everything is so much easier than in the past game; the first Jurassic World Evolution. Plus, it doesn’t just give you an easier way to play, but it also is still full of great graphics and realistic sound! Another major reason I love, LOVE this game is that the dinosaurs are still as real in how they look and how they act. Nothing is reduced and nothing is subtracted from the game, just because it’s been made WAY BETTER!
Undoubtedly, this game is everything a realistic simulated game should be! Nothing is left out with its detailed and perfect close-up to each dinosaur-creature that you have inside your park! I’ve always loved games like these. Just like if I was playing a zoo tycoon or zoo simulated type of game that uses animals. There is always something extraordinary with all the real-life quality that is provided in this game. So realistic in everything even with the major part of the game, the dinosaurs.
Plus, one can just enjoy some new discoveries, new dino-creatures to put inside your park, and even learn to take care of the dinosaurs you have captured. It really is even a great way to feel like you are really in the movies, doing what they did to keep the dinosaurs you can find and have lived in the park, alive and surviving anything! Plus, helping this park or environment strive by making money to fund and help replenish what needs to be built, supplied for the dinos, and much more! It’s a real-life simulated game that feels just like the movie Jurassic Park. Really makes the game so much fun with much to do and so much more to see and accomplish.
Before I forget to mention the obvious, there is one other feature that the creators of this game made clear to be heard when you begin the game. If it wasn’t that soundtrack from Jurassic Park that will get you excited, they added the familiar character voices. One in particular really stood out to me, Jeff Goldblum as he tells you what had gone on. In the beginning, you hear his voice. Plus, many other familiar voices with their images will appear on the screen. This also can make anyone, as it has for me, feel connected or as if you are taking part in something real, just like the movies!
Lastly, This is one terrific game! I am very much happy to have tried it. I possibly can consider it to be the neverending game. The ability to start over and recreate the park anyway I like, even in sandbox mode is what makes this worth playing! I will continue to play and can’t wait for what else I will discover or learn as I go further through the campaigns and tasks I need to complete.
First of all, before anything else, I should point out that my familiarity with Pathfinder before playing Wrath of the Righteous was pretty much next to none. Furthermore, I played the game on one of its easiest difficulties. As such, my experience with combat isn’t probably going to be representative of most people’s experience.
In Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, players take on the role of the Commander of the Fifth Crusade against the Worldwound. To put it simply, the Worldwound is this massive rift in the material plane that connects the real world with the Abyss, the realm of pain and suffering that is ruled by various demon lords. It’s your typical epic RPG quest, where the main character goes against impossible odds to save the world, all while meeting new people along the way and stopping to do something else whenever they have the chance. It’s not like the world is at risk of ending or anything like that.
Regardless of some of its tropes, Wrath of the Righteous is a great game on its own. Even though it might often feel like the developers played safe with it, it’s still a pretty thorough journey overall. Furthermore, it’s a CRPG in every aspect of the word. There’s plenty of character customization options, both cosmetic and build-wise, there’s an entire skill-check and dice rolling system as you’d expect from a Pathfinder game, and there’s obviously also a myriad of quests with branching paths whose outcome completely changes depending on the path that you take.
If you tend to spend a lot of time creating your own character, then this will surely be a game where you can easily spend up to 2 hours figuring out who you want to be. However, funnily enough, what you pick at the start doesn’t really dictate who your character will be throughout the game. One of the cool things about Wrath of the Righteous is that the game allows you to continuously build upon your character and create its own Mythic Path throughout the entire game.
These Mythic Paths manifest themselves through your decisions, and each of them not only grants you access to a distinct set of abilities, but they also give you access to completely unique dialogue options that will drastically change the way that the story plays out. Whether you seek to become a living legend that aims to drive back the invading demonic hordes of the Abyss, a Lich, a Demon, an Angel, or an Aeon whose goal is to restore balance to the world, the game will always provide you with a pretty engaging approach to the events of the entire game.
The game features a pretty diverse cast of characters, ranging from demon lords, goddesses, the odd ally here and there, and obviously quite a few companions that come from various backgrounds. Each character has their own aspirations and something that haunts them, and everyone plays a part in the grand scheme of things. Wrath of the Righteous also has its healthy dose of political intrigue, treachery, twists, and mysteries waiting to be solved. There are just as many moments of comical respite as there are grim and more mature moments. Overall, the writing is pretty great, but, as a whole, it’s hard to talk about the story of the game without spoiling things, but I honestly found it to be the driving factor that kept me playing the game all the way until the way.
It’s also worth noting that, even though the entire game isn’t voice-acted, there’s plenty of the main dialogues that are, and masterfully so. Pretty much all the voice actors have done a wonderful job in portraying their characters. It just adds a whole new layer to the game and being able to put a voice to all the characters that will accompany you throughout your journey really makes the whole game much more immersive. Unfortunately, I guess it would be ridiculously costly to have voice acting in the entire game. Nevertheless, the game certainly doesn’t suffer from the lack of it.
It’s both an extremely complex game with lots of mechanics, but it’s also an extremely accessible one. Wrath of the Righteous offers plenty of difficulty modes and custom difficulty configurations that you can tweak to your liking. Personally, I couldn’t be more thankful for this, as I’m someone who likes to enjoy RPGs mostly for their story and characters, rather for how extremely challenging they can be. What matters is that, whether you just want to let yourself sink into Pathfinder’s world and its story, or whether you’re looking for a challenging CRPG, then Wrath of the Righteous has got you covered.
In terms of combat, you also have the option to play it in two completely different forms, in real-time with pause, or in turns, and you can switch between them as you see fit. The game feels pretty different depending on which mode you choose to play, but I never felt like one was better or worse than the other. It all comes down to personal preference, though I imagine that on higher difficulties the game is much more manageable if you play it in turn-based mode.
If you’ve played the previous game Pathfinder:Kingmaker, or any other CRPG, then you should know what you expect when it comes to combat. There’s a ridiculous amount of abilities, spells and scrolls, weapons, trinkets, and potions, that all interact in their own way and provide all sorts of different gameplay opportunities. Still, if you play the game on one of the easiest settings, then you probably won’t have to worry too much about what you’re using. Meanwhile, if you’re a hardcore RPG player, you’ll have plenty of options and ways to minmax your builds and come up with the ultimate party.
While a huge part of the game involves reading countless lines of dialogue, making your way through numerous dungeons, and slaying innumerable enemies, there’s also another huge part of the game that is completely separate from all that. As the commander of the Fifth Crusade, it’s also your job to manage your armies, expand your territory, establish outposts, and issue decrees to help further the Crusade. This is all done via the world map, where you can recruit new troops to bolster your armies, send your armies to explore along predetermined paths, face enemy armies in battle, as well as capture fortifications that will then serve as outposts for your endeavours.
In theory, this all sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. While I find the prospect of managing your armies and waging war against the demonic hordes to be interesting, this isn’t done in great detail like, let’s say, Crusader Kings or Total War. The crusading aspect is extremely limited in terms of gameplay, but I can appreciate the fact that it’s a part of the game that is easy to grasp. I’m sure that other people would have loved to have something more in-depth, but, alas, that isn’t the case.
The fact that you can only move your party and your armies along predetermined paths isn’t really an issue, as this is done so that, no matter where you go, you’ll always end up finding new locations that you can visit. What bothers me about this part of the game are the army battles. These are turn-based and take place in a square grid, which resembles Heroes of Might and Magic quite a lot. No matter how many units of each type you have on your army, they’re always placed on the board on a stack, so everything ultimately boils down to a game of numbers.
The premise of managing your crusader armies might be enticing at first, but after about 30 hours, I was starting to get really tired of it. Most of it just boils down to slowly building up a powerful army, whose growth is limited by the weekly flow of recruits. Afterwards, you’re just throwing yourself at the enemy hoping that your numbers are sufficient to beat them without suffering too many casualties. It’s tiring and time-consuming, mostly because these battles involve almost no tactics at all.
Also, fortress “sieges” aren’t actually sieges at all, as they play out exactly like any other aspect, rendering the whole idea of attacking an enemy fortification completely trivial. It also doesn’t help that a lot of units that are available to you are just cannon fodder and can barely do anything to a lot of enemies. Unfortunately, there are only about a handful of unit types that are worth getting in your army, which doesn’t help in making things interesting.
The best part about the whole crusade management aspect is actually completely unrelated to combat. As a commander, you also get to engage in council meetings to decide on various matters related to the crusade, whether that be how to assure a steady supply of troops and resources, or to figure out how to deal with a rebellious group within the army. These instances provide quite a lot of worldbuilding, but each decision that you make at these meetings also has its pros and cons and can affect how the game plays out in some way.
Still, although there are a lot of ways in which your choices can drastically change the outcome of the story, there are also a few choices in the crusade management part of the game that just feel hollow. It’s almost as if they’re only there for roleplaying purposes, which I guess is fine. In the moment, they might sound like they’ll have a huge impact on how the game plays out based on what other characters are saying, but, gameplay-wise, barely anything, if anything, changes at all.
Unfortunately, even though there’s a lot of good to be said about the game, the game has plenty of issues. While I was lucky enough to not run into any game-breaking bugs, I still had to face my fair share of problems. Thankfully, a lot of them seem to have been fixed as I played through the game, but I still experience things such as, not being able to loot or interact with certain items with my main character, or being unable to loot specific enemy bodies.
Besides that, there are also your typical pathfinding issues, where characters can often just keep going in circles when there isn’t a way for them to reach their target, and when you order someone to disable a trap, they can also just run into the trap, as the AI seems to be unable to simply avoid stepping on it. Still, I also have this really odd issue where the game keeps disabling the media keys on my keyboard, even after I close the game. Sometimes my keyboard also just completely stops working, and the only thing that can fix both of these problems is to unplug and replug the keyboard.
After almost 158 hours I finally reached the end of the game, and despite a few hurdles along the way, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m even considering going back to it eventually and opting out for an entirely different path, just to see how much my decisions can really change the outcome of the story. However, this is such a time commitment that it will probably take a while for me to get back to it.
I have to admit that, although there were times where the game felt like it was dragging itself for too long, there were also just as many occasions where I wished that the game would allow me to explore certain scenarios for a little bit longer. I’ve just finished my playthrough a few hours ago, but I’m already missing some of my dearest companions. While I found the ending to be appropriate and the playtime to be more than enough to satisfy me, I still wish there was more. It’s just that good.
Whether you’re looking for a captivating narrative with relatable characters, or whether you’re looking for your next dose of challenging combat in Pathfinder fashion, you probably won’t be disappointed by what you’ll find here. Also, the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, it’s so good that I’ve repeatedly found myself humming parts of it ever since I started playing the game. Nevertheless, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is an astronomical CRPG that is, unfortunately, plagued by bugs.
Having said all that, I should point out that ever since the game was released, it has received numerous updates, so it’s clear that Owlcat Games are committed to fixing the game. However, unless you’re really craving some Pathfinder, or if you don’t have anything else to play at the moment, I’d honestly recommend waiting however long it takes to fix most of the bugs.
Time Loader is a 2D platformer starring a little robot that tries to change the past by meddling with some time travel shenanigans. At first, it seems just a bit somber, with a sad soundtrack and some cutscenes that present the core story which is about saving a kid from dying. It really gets sadder as it goes, diving into darker themes and involving a house fire that burns everything to a crisp. It is strange to see such a narrative woven into a game of this type, but it is also interesting and gives meaning to your actions in the gameplay moments.
Sadly, the presentation fails to maintain the intended spirit of the story, with some of the dialogue coming off too chipper to be fitting. All in all, though, it is a welcome approach, brought down a bit by the very simple cutscenes that don’t convey the appropriate feeling in full. Additionally, the visual design of the main character, the robot, is bold in its simplicity. It’s not a “mascot” protagonist, it doesn’t have cute features -or any features to be honest. It just looks like a little machine, a metal tool created to assist in everyday tasks around the house. Because of its design, the robot isn’t allowed to showcase emotions or any kind of personality, and therefore can’t create a bond with the player. However, Time Loader is more about the overarching story and less about its main character.
The gameplay is based on physics, as the little robot you control has to take into account the textures it stands on as it moves, the angle, its stance, and really everything that has to do with gravity and movement. The physics are well-implemented in general, with some aspects lacking polish that can lead to frustration. For instance, if the robot is standing on a surface that has gaps on it, it is not entirely clear how it’ll behave when it attempts to jump.
Another issue that arises has to do with perspective; it is not always apparent if a platform is reachable or if it’s a part of the background. Apart from moving and jumping, you can grab things using the robot’s built-in pincers, but this mechanic needed a lot more work to be satisfying. As it stands, it is very clunky and leads to annoying parts where you can’t grab something even though you should be able to. Going further, you will unlock some more features, some additional skills for your robot, and their acquisition is well-paced so that you’re never bored with your available skill-set. Annoyances aside, Time Loader presents some excellent platforming puzzles that are well-designed and interesting, albeit very easy to solve. If you enjoy this type of games, you will surely have fun for the 2-3 hours it takes to finish this one.
Visually, this game is a little treat. You will explore a house that is detailed enough to seem lived-in, and every different part of it is designed fittingly to simulate the various rooms and environments. The basement is moody, dark and a bit scary, the kitchen is full of everyday items that are used as platforms or barriers, the garage seems huge compared to the small robot you’re controlling and, generally speaking, this is a pretty and visually effective game. The music is eerie, melancholic and can get somewhat tiring after a while, but it fits the theme of the story and creates an appropriate atmosphere. The sound effects are very nice, simulating distinct textures as you roll on them and bringing to life the home you’re exploring through some realistic everyday noises.
The biggest problem, that impacts the experience a lot, is the frequent occurrence of bugs and glitches that hamper your progress, making you restart from a checkpoint and replay the same parts two or three times. Some items get stuck in the environment and cannot be used as needed, while others trigger the next scene when they shouldn’t and lead to never-ending glitches that force you to restart. If some of those hiccups get ironed out, Time Loader could really shine and offer a unique platforming experience that is fun as it is engaging.
In the final parts of the story, we see some ideas that are overly ambitious and don’t manage to hit as hard as the developers intended them to. Still, it’s better as it is, because the story gives you a sense of purpose and it is interesting enough to keep your attention until the credits roll. It’s easy to recommend this little game to anyone that’s interested in puzzle platformers with a focus on physics, but it’s a little disappointing that Time Loader’s unique approach is brought down by technical problems.
Your gaming library is loaded with hectic and fast-paced titles, and that’s fantastic. You can join friends on a battlefield or race strangers across the globe. However, occasionally you want something a little more relaxed and slower-paced. You don’t want blood to fly, or people to lose their limbs. No, all you desire is a calm and cute environment. Alchemic Cutie delivers this and much more in its vivid yet laid back gameplay.
Developed by Sebastien Vakerics and Thomas Cashman and published by PM Studios, this is an adventure RPG. Set on a colourful and whimsical island, this slow-paced title demands you explore and care for your jelly farm. Fans of Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon will adore the style and premise. Subsequently, this has the opportunity to become a time sink and a cult favourite.
Alchemic Cutie breaks no new ground.
Thanks to its strong influences, Alchemic Cutie has the chance to be an excellent title. Sadly, however, it relies heavily on the key concepts from Stardew Valley and this stunts its creative flow. Moreover, every task has a deja vu feeling to it and this, unfortunately, doesn’t break new ground. This, however, doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. No, I was merely hoping for a slight twist in the action.
So, it’s not that original, but I’m not willing to write it off because of that. The story revolves around a delicious little island called Wimba. This beautiful tropical paradise hides secrets in plain sight and hosts a few residents. Subsequently, it houses an array of shops and restaurants, but most importantly, it’s the home to an impressive collection of wild jellies. These gelatinous beasts are the key to progressing the story and they are cute as hell.
You control the protagonist who is newly qualified in the alchemic arts. This skill is essential when it comes to taming jellies and exploring the island. Luckily, using these powers is extremely straightforward! All you must do is aim your cursor and click, and your only restriction is a generous stamina bar. You’ll capture jellies to send to your farm, harvest fauna, and cut down grasses. Completing these tasks will drop essential items and gems that can be spent in any of the shops or restaurants.
Time to spend your cash.
Loads of quests, but very little guidance.
One thing that Alchemic Cutie isn’t lacking is quests and objects to collect. I would normally be screaming about how great this is however, I can’t! Annoyingly, a lack of guidance leaves you confused and stabbing around in the dark. This is further compounded by the exploration elements. This should be phenomenal, yet I couldn’t comprehend how to progress.
Wimba’s secrets are locked behind shrines that require crystallised jelly relics to open them. Your tamed jellies need care and attention to survive, and a mixture of happiness and overfeeding forces them to end their lives and turn into a statue. Bizarre, I know, but let’s go with the flow. It sounds simple to manage, yet I rarely succeeded. Failure wouldn’t normally bother me, yet, without the relics, you can’t progress the story. So, unfortunately, I experienced a mundane cycle of jelly farming, side quests, and resource gathering, only to fail again.
The vicious cycle of minor tasks and failure are Alchemic Cutie’s Achilles heel. What should make it an enjoyable and in-depth game full of lore and interesting twists and turns undermines it. If the developers had been more forthcoming with a tutorial, then this cloud of confusion would have been lifted. Subsequently, players are left disappointed and frustrated by the lack of guidance.
What secrets does this jelly hide?
Alchemic Cutie is very similar to Stardew Valley.
Alchemic Cutie unashamedly wears its influences on its sleeve. Its uncanny resemblance to Stardew Valley was a little too close for comfort. However, I have no issue with it per se, it simply reduced the originality. Other than that, it was nice to look at with the standard vivid colours and pixelated imagery. Wimba island has a nice variety of regions to explore and the bird’s-eye perspective made it easier to see all the action. You won’t be wowed by its style, but equally, it won’t disappoint you.
The same can be said for the cutesy and lighthearted audio. The upbeat tunes help to break up the monotony of each day, but they offer nothing new. Both the audio and graphics were serviceable, but I wanted them to deliver so much more.
Winter has hit the island.
A well-constructed UI.
There is plenty of content to contend with, so a well-constructed UI was essential. Luckily, the developers hid the menu system behind a clever notebook. Your journal covers every aspect of the gameplay and provides you with jelly information, a map of the island, and so forth. This was an excellent move, as I’d have been turned off by anything more complex. This is also supported by responsive controls and an easy to learn button layout. Therefore, if you can get to grips with the fundamentals, you’ll experience an easy to handle title.
The action may not be as clear as I’d liked, but it’s moreish and demands you keep playing. Caring for your jellies takes time, resources, and an eye for detail. Completing quests and unlocking the secrets is easier said than done and you’ll lose hours to finishing these tasks. Moreover, a thorough achievement list will require dedication if you wish to get them all.
Alchemic Cutie is good, but it’s sadly lacking in key areas.
I enjoyed what Alchemic Cutie offered, but it was sadly lacking in key areas. Its lack of explanation damages its potential and I think this will put many gamers off. I liked it despite its shortcomings and recommend you to buy it here! Can you unlock the secrets of Wimba Island? Tame some jellies, complete the quests, and help the residents.
Card games can be fun, especially if you’re using them to defeat an enemy or another group of players, can even be a friend! Monster Train First Class is just as it sounds, monsters on a train. You as the player are given a variety of cards to pull from the deck and play against the other enemies that are attacking.
The game starts off very easy, perfect for one to get a hang of how to play the game. If you happen to be a first-time player of any card game such as ones that require you to build a strategy to fight the other teams or enemies, this game will be a perfect one to try out! The entire card game is easy to learn, with a high chance of winning right on the first battle! That is even if you never played a card game like this or didn’t have much of an idea how to play.
It honestly isn’t too difficult to play, but this is true for the first few rounds. So even if you make a mistake it’s very easy to get back on track and defeat the enemies attacking you. When I first tried, I might have come close while playing to being defeated. However, to my surprise, I still was able to win the game and this is going in a bit uncertain what I needed to do. Plus, it only took a few minutes to play the first round.
Oh yes, there is no need to worry about concentrating as much when it comes to playing the right card. True again for the first few rounds, but as you move on, it’s time to get thinking and focusing on what you’ll need or what to have ready for a winning attack. No matter where you’re at in this game, you’ll be granted access to know about each of the cards you are about to play. Everyone is very well explained, and it’s easy to understand what the card will do to the enemies or your own team created from the cards played.
Additionally, with the small number of cards to look through on each turn, you can decide which to play and how many you can play till you have to end your turn. Each time a card is played it’s put in another pile, the discard pile. For those starting out, a tip I can suggest about the cards is if one is said to cause damage when used on the enemy, that is a card one must play first or sometime during your turn. Especially, if you have others in your hand, it’s best to play these when you can and on the enemies that have the least amount to go to be destroyed. Always aiming for the same player will reduce the hits they can give you as it will reduce the number of enemies on one side, faster.
To be honest, when I started playing for the first time, I didn’t really understand the cards. I learned by playing that there are plenty of unique cards, with different abilities to use in the game. So it took time to understand, and yet can be difficult for anyone to understand a few that really don’t tell you much or if you need to recall what a card can do.
Thankfully, there is a button you can push on the console to make the details of what the card is meant to do, appear right in front of you. Instead of just using the card on an enemy, to heal, and provide a protective team of monsters on your side, you can easily reveal what the card or cards will do for you once played. Plus, when you do finally play the card if it’s attacking the enemy, or adding a new member to defend you, these actions happen right away!
Like many games, even those that are RPG-style, when you battle in those games just as you are doing in this game, but with cards. You can see the special effect, attack/hit, or anything else you choose to occur right away. No waiting or having to plan each attack before it takes place on the screen. Additionally, this goes the same for the opposite side, if you’re using an attack card it could cause the attack granted on any member of that team you are trying to aim for.
While talking about the cards, there is a limit of cards one can play on their turn. After you finally played enough cards that your points will allow you to. You will then have to end your turn. This is where the enemies you are fighting will begin to play and try to defeat you and any of the monster-style team members you have placed on the screen.
The background scene design where you are battling is that of the title of the game. The battles take place on a moving train. So as you’re trying to defeat the enemies boarding the train, it will appear as if it’s moving in the background. It doesn’t add or do anything to cause you to feel rushed, as it’s just the scene not to be a distraction or cause another obstacle for you to work through. Plus, being a game that uses the word Hell a bunch of times, it’s clear that its theme revolves around a devilishly dark and monstrous or Hellish-style game. This must be why it’s a game that features horned and devilish-style monsters with fire-style attacks.
The other thing to understand about this game, which is a big part of the game. You will have to be aware of the fire that’s lit on the top level of the train. This is what decides if you’ll win or lose. Now I at first was scared because the boss, the last to arrive on the train, got up there quite quickly and so did many other enemies that I had to defeat. However, I didn’t realize that the fire I’m trying to keep protected is very much a weapon too. Since the cards I did play weren’t as powerful, especially to defeat many of these enemies arriving on the train.
Being still the first time playing, I did notice, how my cards weren’t as powerful as the fire I have to keep from being destroyed on the top floor of the train. It is one powerful fighter! The best part is that the fire on that floor doesn’t require any buttons or activation to set it off. It will begin attacking freely on its own and can take the most points from the enemy aiming for it. Instantly defeating them!
A few times when I was playing, I honestly felt GAME OVER was going to occur, but it didn’t! That blazing fire I’m protecting is way more powerful than the cards I can play. I found that to be a bit strange but I guess it’s a blessing I won’t be ending the game so soon.
Nevertheless, the major part of winning this game is trying to protect the fire from being destroyed, that is if they can really destroy it. Another relatable design to fit the theme of the underworld and these devilish monsters battling. Additionally, since I haven’t yet mentioned it, but the music is also quite fitting with the scenery, theme, and characters. Everything seems to play right together.
Another thing about the game is that the train can take different paths as you view the map. This is something you’ll notice at the end of each battle. It’s also able to be seen on a map, a route you can travel before entering another battle. There is either a choice of moving to the left or right as you go down the tracks. While it doesn’t make much of a difference, but there is a reason to know which side you’d like to travel on.
They all have a few different merchants and places to purchase or sell items, as well as upgrade a few too! Two of these buildings for example that you can visit are called PyreRemains and Merchant of Magic. These markets do different things and knowing which side you want to travel, as there are other locations to visit can aid in the cards you’ll play and how much more equipped you’ll be in the next battle.
Other than all I’ve mentioned, this game is basically the same throughout. You practically can get a routine going and keep moving down the tracks on the map as you fight your way to win! As mentioned before, it’s not too hard to understand or difficult to play. Everything is explained clearly as you play, and there are even a few additional features that help you speed through the opposite sides’ battle time and get you to yours quicker.
Lastly, this game provides plenty of battles, multiplayer challenges, and plenty of shops to visit for items to buy or upgrades to help aid you in this card-style battle. Plus, like many card games, it takes a bit of planning to make sure you use the right card at the time of the battle, leaving room to use those for the next attacks and invaders boarding the train. So it just can be a perfect strategy card game for beginners who never have played anything like this before and wants to move on towards the more challenging battles that require one to be a bit clever to win the round, as they do get challenging!
We are in a very interesting time for the FPS genre as for the first time in years, especially on consoles, we have all the big hitters releasing with CoD Vanguard and Battlefield 2042 both having releases just a week apart and then the return of HALO with Infinite in early December. The intriguing part is that each franchise is daring to do something different but also similar. In terms of CoD Vanguard, the series has headed back to where it began with a World War setting rather than Modern or Future warfare. The question is whether Vanguard can return CoD to its former glory which the other franchises are also trying to do. The answer is simply, not quite.
It really is that simple an answer as CoD Vanguard does exactly what you expect a CoD game to do and, in some ways, the “no need to fix what is not broken” has become the mantra almost for each release with only the popularity of Warzone, the free to play Battle Royale, changing the way in which releases of Call of Duty now interact together. I came to Vanguard hoping for something different as Battlefield took a short break to reinvent itself and HALO Infinite is back to try and reclaim the crown of FPS king, something it has not been able to really achieve since 343 Industries took over from Bungie. Call of Duty on the other hand has almost been unchallenged in recent years and therefore has not had a reason to try to do anything new outside of Warzone.
The campaign, which used to be a big part of a CoD release is very much scaled back in Vanguard but as always is my first mode to play. Disappointingly, the campaign only runs for 5hrs, it is very short and quite frankly a play once and forgettable experience despite the story being quite novel. In the early days of CoD, the WW setting would have players replaying big set pieces of historical moments of the wars, most commonly the D-Day landings on Normandy. Vanguard however focuses very much on the final days of WW2 and sees the formation of a “Special Forces” team, sent on a mission to capture documents on a Nazi war project known as Phoenix. Each member of the team has a unique skill and history but are brought together for the first time in the opening mission or prologue to the campaign.
As to be expected, the campaign relies on gameplay that leads to a big set piece whilst cutscenes tell the narrative of the story so cased by the opening which sees the team on board a train, working their way through taking down numerous Nazi soldiers to reach the depot where the documents are held, but it ends with the team’s capture that leads to the interrogation of each member. The result is that the player will then experience an almost origin story to explain why that character is part of this unique team up as the story of the end of WW2 unfolds. I really like this angle as we experience the end of the war from the viewpoint of the Nazi’s, even using the reaction to learning of the suicide of Hitler to see how the Nazi leadership deal with that and the impending loss to the allied forces.
Where the campaign does fall flat is in the imbalance of the tone of the story at times which can range from very personal stories of the characters and how they came to be a part of the war and this team to over-the-top set pieces that imply this six-person team could have single handedly wiped out the Nazi forces if conveniently placed ammo crates were stashed every 20 meters. The narrative does showcase the brutality of the Nazi regime, even looking at the racist element to it with some very straight to the point moments and even suggesting Hitler was inspired by Madison Grant and early American racism. It can be uncomfortable to see such themes used but then when it comes to Nazism, there really is no way to do it and not water it down to a degree and Vanguard at least tries to keep that part of the narrative on track. Though only around the five-hour mark, it was a satisfying ending to the story but as the very long credits rolled, nothing about it made me want to revisit or replay it and I am unlikely to return to the story campaign at all, but it was nice to know the story of some of the operators players will then get to use in the MP.
The MP of Vanguard truly is the break and butter of this game and will be the Multiplayer and this is where I have dropped a lot of hours in the last week since Vanguard released and I am happy to say I have really enjoyed my time with this so far despite some server issues. Across the 16 maps, the usual MP match types return with Team Deathmatch, Domination, Search and Destroy, Free for All, Kill Confirmed along with new mode Patrol. The variety that Vanguard brings to these modes is the ability to have a traditional smaller Team Vs Team experience or you can opt in for much larger big team battles of 24 Vs 24. In Cold War I used the filter to actually trim down the modes I wanted to play over the ones I did not enjoy but so far in this first week since release I have dived into any mode possible, including the Duo Team of Champions Hill, which sees teams of 2 taking on other teams to become the last team standing, which is a mode I was not very impressed with in the PS5 beta but now actually enjoying it a little more.
The Armory is also a nice touch, allowing players to truly customize their weapons and loadouts as you would in Warzone with the ability to build a weapon pretty much to your own gameplay taste with components that can boost aspects of the gun but also some that might have a negative impact to finetune it how you want. This also brings a big weapon grind and when the vast number of weapons available to be unlocked and then grinded through to unlock the various component types to customize it, you could really lose yourself in that grind, not to mention the natural grind for all the gun camos to unlock as well. This might be a factor that the hardcore CoD MP fan will relish but for me, I found I gravitated towards a gun in each class and worked on it to try and find the build I was happy with but can see it will take a very long time if there is a desire to have every gun in every class ready to go.
Gameplay is fast, with quick deaths and quick respawns to keep the kinetic energy high whilst playing. I am not a big fan of forced crossplay but so far on Xbox Series X I have not felt too disadvantaged against PC players with M&K and have really enjoyed going into big matches and doing quite well. The speed of the action can be thrilling but also frustrating as the quick respawns can be helpful and a hinderance and too many times the player or players I have just taken out will instantly respawn behind me to get their revenge. Many maps have pure camping spots and whilst I have no real issue with strategic “zone defending”, when I have opted to have full game chat audio on, the reaction to it from others can be funny and shocking. Some server issues have plagued the launch sadly, which is now common and especially in recent days the “Server Snapshot Error” problem has been a pain so hoping in the weeks and months to come these issues can be ironed out.
The most forgettable mode for me in Vanguard is easily the Zombies mode, which in previous games I have dabbled in but mostly ignored unless friends wanted to play it and here it is even more lackluster for me. To players who do enjoy the Zombies mode than this will probably be quite disappointing. Played on the map called The Beginning or Der Anfang, teams will travel through one of seven portals to complete an objective mission such as harvesting crystals, defending a moving relic or trying to survive an attack. Compared to previous Zombie modes, this feels very disjointed and very much cobbled together from other games to have it included even if there really is not connection to the rest of the game other than it being a good place to level up guns to be used in the MP. Much like the campaign, this mode feels like an aside to the MP, something to have because players expect it to be there but for now, just a week after release, it fails to other anything to make it the reason you fired up Vanguard to play in the first place. But it is there as something to do, which is better than not having it, it just fails to offer the same gameplay fun as MP.
Vanguard is an interesting enter to the series, it tries to tap into where Call of Duty started by having a World War setting but it fails to do anything to really stand out. You can even launch the more recent COD games from it if you own and play them which is a strange move if you want new players to play Vanguard by offering them other CoD Games to play. Of course, there will be the interactivity with Warzone as weapons and the new map will encourage and feature more Vanguard in the free to play mode and come December 2nd, the battle pass will fully unlock so fans can collect all the items they are currently unlocking with MP play.
Visually Vanguard does make great use of the new gen console power in terms of loading times and how great it looks and sounds on Xbox Series X and the Series S, with a sensible installation size, for now at least but Vanguard is exactly what you would expect from a Call of Duty game but it is very much more of the same, a short story campaign that you can play once and never feel the need to return to, a MP based on massive weapon grind to get the best out of it but is still fun but not amazing to play and a Zombie mode that wouldn’t have been missed if it was not included but because it is, it provides something else to do until you get bored and return to the MP.
The problem with Call of Duty sticking to this tired formula is that its rivals in Battlefield 2042 and HALO Infinite are now back and both are looking to do what they do best but better, and Vanguard is Call of Duty doing the Call of Duty you already know which may not be enough to satisfy more than just the CoD Faithful.
