Review: Ghosts and Apples

Derren Bennett
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Review: Ghosts and Apples

Ghosts And Apples is a frantic action-puzzler with mighty ghosts, combining action, strategy, reasoning, and memory. You must accumulate golden apples and gems to buy the keys of every room within the mysterious house to escape. To achieve your goal, you must catch devious ghosts and swoosh them at stacks of other ghosts to clear the screen!

Worthplaying.com

Gameplay

On its face the gameplay in Ghosts and Apples looks unique but if you were to strip it back to its core it would just be another colour match game with core elements similar to the likes of candy crush and many many others. Games like this are very popular on the mobile scene due to its ‘pick up and play’ style and addictive gameplay. Ghosts and Apples takes this winning formula, tweaks it a little bit and puts a nice hand drawn art style over the top.

Players must use strategy and memory in this hectic puzzle game to accumulate apples and gems which can be used to buy keys. The player must then use these keys to unlock rooms in a mysterious house in an attempt to escape.

The player is tasked with catching ghosts and placing them at either side of the screen in stacks. Matching these ghosts by colour will reward the player with more points and the end goal is to clear the screen and catch a certain amount of ghosts to proceed.

There are over 150 different levels to play, all with similar goals. After playing around 10 levels I noticed that the speed in which the ghosts appear becomes much quicker, causing the player to make quicker decisions and this truly becomes a test of strategy and memory. I did notice that beyond this speed increase the gameplay itself didn’t deviate too much in the time that I played and some players may even find the gameplay slightly repetitive.

Visuals

Just like many other indie games on the market, Ghosts and Apples has a very unique and imaginative art style. As soon as you boot up the game you can tell that a lot of heart went in to hand drawing most of the elements and personally I think this is very inviting and fun and makes a nice change from the usual drawn out realistic generated scenery that is present in most games.

Although a lot of the game has been designed with ‘dark and gloomy’ in mind there are instances were there are some great colour pops, especially in regards to the ghosts. 

One thing I will say is that the main playable character does sometimes give me the creeps!

Replay Value

Ghosts and Apples has 150 unique levels to play all with increasing speeds and difficulty. The gameplay within the first portion of levels doesn’t differentiate much though, meaning eventual repetitiveness.

In terms of replay value, players can technically play the same levels again and in some instances achieve a higher score but otherwise I personally do not see much need to replay the game after all 150 levels have been completed.

Verdict

Ghosts and Apples has many of the same core elements as many popular and addictive mobile games. This formula has been used for many years and luckily Ghosts and Apples has managed to put enough of a spin on that formula to still stand out amongst the crowd. Addictive gameplay and great visuals make for a great experience however some players may not like the repetitive nature of these types of games. This game is still a must play for anyone that wants something addictive to pick up and play.

Update: After speaking with a member of the team who worked on the game they have pointed out that there are further gameplay elements and another character later on in the game

(All subjects touched upon in this review are based on my experiences in the small portion of the game that I was able to play in my review time)

Review: Creepy Tale

Michael Hoade
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Review: Creepy Tale

Creepy Tale, a ‘point and click’ puzzle game, with elements of horror and platforming, certainly remains faithful to its name.

A simple premise: you and your brother walking in the woods, turns quickly into a tale of dread and discomfort – where something just isn’t quite right – at all times. 

Within moments of playing the game – and after a bit of peaceful mushroom picking – your brother is lured away by a seemingly innocent butterfly and quickly snatched by some hairy bright-eyed monsters. 

Left all alone, the onus is on the brother to explore the creepy woods and try and save his brother. 

Whilst not outright terrifying like the likes of the Outlast games (shudders), Creepy Tale never fails to make the player feel on edge. 

An appropriate atmosphere:

The world and general atmosphere of Creepy Tale is excellent. The 2D art direction is visually striking, with a sort of ‘soft’ look that juxtaposes greatly with the ominous ambience that follows you wherever you go.

The gloomy colour palette and absence of sound evoke a sense of hopelessness and dread. This is especially effective when you’re attacked and even the slightest noise – such as the sudden grunt of an underground monster – feels that much more impactful. 

Because everything in this forest is out to get you, even with the softer monster designs and lack of jump scares, the game’s atmosphere still shines. 

Whilst I didn’t find the game particularly frightening, the game’s ending absolutely raised the bar and felt genuinely horrifying. 

A puzzling experience:

Your character, unsurprisingly, cannot fight back against the monsters in the forest. As such, you will have to carefully hide and avoid monsters and traps to survive.

To successfully make your way through each level you will have to deal with a number of puzzles. There are also different items that you can interact with in the forest, such as the aforementioned mushrooms or objects such as buckets and keys. Each item has certain uses and it is left completely up to you, the player, to figure out what to do.

This is where the game started to frustrate me. The complete absence of sign-posting or clues means that puzzles are often more of an exercise in tedium and frustration, than actual challenge (some would argue that is part of the challenge, I would kindly disagree). I somewhat understand the ethos behind this stripped-down approach, and the foreboding threat of monsters does add a sense of urgency to puzzle solving. 

Thankfully there is the option to turn on hints, which I found considerably improved the experience for me, but the need for this reflects the lacklustre game design. 

The puzzles themselves are also rarely interesting, save for a few exceptions, which do involve you needing full awareness of your surroundings. Most of the time, it feels like time is wasted and because the majority of the gameplay loop is centred around puzzle solving, the experience really starts to drag.

The game is also very short (once you figure out what you’re supposed to do).

On a more positive note, the game’s generous save system and almost instant respawns felt encouraging and allowed me to see the fascinating ending.

A game of two halves:

For all the praise that I am happy to give to the game’s excellent atmosphere and visual design, the frustrating gameplay fails to hold up. At a discount I’d say the game is worth playing for the visuals alone, provided you have a considerable amount of patience and composure.

Also the ending, provided the gameplay is improved upon, could lead to a really interesting sequel. 

Review: Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Happy Home Paradise

Kara Phillips
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Review: Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Happy Home Paradise

The release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020 took the world by storm, and rapidly became everyone’s obsession for the majority of the year. People all around the world came together for a turnip selling, fruit exchanging frenzy. But myself, amongst the thousands, hit burnout very quickly. The game lost it’s flair and appeal, leaving me feeling quite lost. My island fell silent, with villagers questioning where their resident representative had gone. 

Amongst this silence, Nintendo finally listened to players’ desperate pleas for something new. Something fresh and exciting. Scheduling a direct, excitement began to bubble in the fanbase. A certain coffee brewing pigeon sparked a little something, but the direct and release of New Horizon’s first (and only) paid DLC ignited the love for this game again. Suddenly every time I sign in to any social media, my timeline and feeds are blessed with a continuous stream of excited Animal Crossing fans. Once again, the community of ACNH is buzzing and alive. 

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Paradise is a paid DLC, so a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is required to play. 

Lottie hosts team parties to celebrate decorating milestones, and they are just far too adorable.

Meet me in paradise

Happy Home Paradise is a refreshing take on Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, tying in neatly with New Horizons. Players extend their resident representative skills to a distant island, where you meet a cast of new NPC’s to complete the task of creating another island paradise for others to enjoy. Rather than being a standalone game and not having any storyline like Happy Home Designer, HHP is an extension to the original game and there are a lot of links and cross references in the story. Additionally, I loved that you can invite your islanders from New Horizons to visit your work, and potentially build a holiday home for them. 

Essentially, if you look at the bones of the DLC it is pretty much an interior designing simulator. But in doing so, you unlock new elements which can be applied to your original island. I was absolutely outraged by how beautiful players got their islands when New Horizons was initially released. Design has never really been my strong point in any game. As much as I love it, nothing ever looks quite right. So as you can imagine, I have spent hours on certain houses in this DLC to make sure they look absolutely perfect. There’s something incredibly gratifying when your hard work is praised by your client, and you snap a perfect photo for your portfolio. It honestly feels like you are genuinely working, but without the frustrating tiredness that follows a 9-5.

Meet new friends and let them help you discover brand new features to implement in design.

Deja Vu?

My one fault with this DLC is that the majority of prompts from visitors are pretty similar. When you first pick it up, it’s all very exciting and new. Each prompt unlocks new items, but after a couple hours you’ll realise you’ve made about fourteen tearooms and one too many campsites. After a certain amount of happy clients, you unlock the ability to create your own prompts for islanders. This is great for when you run out of drive for another convenient store, but also feels slightly like cheating. Maybe I’m just overly attached. I’ve spent the majority of my upbringing alongside these characters. But I didn’t want to jeopardise any of the ideas they have. 

A sunshine state of mind

A breath of fresh air comes in the fact you don’t have to solely decorate homes either. The island is covered from shore to shore with abandoned facilities. Which you unlock as you go on. I absolutely loved decorating these, and adored the fact island visitors actually utilise them. There is nothing more wholesome than spending ages making a cafe, and then walking in the next day to see it filled with tourists stopping for a coffee.

Especially with the new food update in 2.0, a whole new world of flavour can be experienced by all. The island as a whole is explored by all inhabitants as well. If you stop for a chat they might give you a gift from their own abode. You really see the island grow as you work hard. Which is fulfilling after spending so long on one island where everyone has the same routine daily. As I mentioned previously, it genuinely does feel like a job. Which pays off when you see genuine enjoyment from your clients. 

Put all your designing skills to the test to create a beautiful abode for everyone.

Final thoughts

Happy Home Paradise alongside the 2.0 update is definitely the burst of energy the Animal Crossing fan base needed. I feel as though this has reignited a burnt out community of wholesome gaming. Whilst providing a constant source of things to do in case you do find yourself getting bored. There’s no limit to how much decorating you can do in a day. And there’s always a beach full of clients ready to find their paradise. All you need to do is jump right in.

Review: Vault of the Void

Brendan Freeman
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Review: Vault of the Void

A card battling game with a difference. Vault of the Void is a rogue-like card game that is available on Steam. Spider Nest Games developed and published the title

Vault of the Void Plot

The premise is very simple. You make your way through the levels beating various beings collecting the cards.

Vault of the Void Gameplay

The card game is simple to follow and makes the game easy to play. The player has to navigate their way through a series of rooms that can contain various things. It can be enemies, shops, or treasures. When you die you are sent right back to stage 1. But with all the cards the player has unlocked.

The card game is easy to follow. The player draws five cards at the beginning of their turn. The player has three energy points that can be used to activate card abilities. These can be offensive or defensive spells. After the enemy’s first turn, the player is warned of their attack power. On the player’s next turn they must use the defense cards to prevent damage. Most of the time this is an easy decision to make, it’s worth defending to survive the rooms.

Once the player gets to the latter stages of the dungeon. The decision to use defense cards instead of attack cards becomes a difficult decision. I found myself having to take damage to beat the enemies. It makes the game a lot more interesting and far more difficult.

Vault of the Void Presentation

The game is beautiful to look at. The cards are well designed and beautiful. There are various battlefields available that serve as backgrounds of the game. But these are unlockable either by using vault points or completing achievements. The special effects are also pretty.

The music fits the theme of the game. Not that you need to listen to it. I’ve had it on mute for around 50% of the time and I never felt like I was missing out on anything. The sound effects are also what you would expect from a battle card game.

Final Verdict

From my time playing Vault of the Void, I did have fun. But I didn’t enjoy the rogue-like aspect of the game. Unlike most roguelike games, it takes a lot of skill to get to the end of the dungeon. But you don’t seem to get rewarded as much as you do in other rogue-like games like Everspace or Rogue Legacy.

For a card game, it is pretty simple which suits a roguelike title. But the battles last far too long and for most of the early card battles, you don’t need to think much. Then all of a sudden the difficulty level rises and you’re then defeated quickly. It would have felt fairer if you could restart a battle at least once without going all the way back through the levels.

I would recommend playing Vault of the Void if you want a simple card game. And can stomach the frustration of being sent all the way back to the beginning. I would even pay for a feature to give me one more try.

Review: The Riftbreaker

Daniel Waite
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Review: The Riftbreaker

Will mankind ever learn? If science fiction has taught me anything, it’s that we don’t mess with alien worlds. However, we’re stupid, destructive, and greedy! Our desire to find the next big thing keeps us going, no matter the risks. The Riftbreaker has this dangerous and exciting Sci-fi concept at the core of everything it does.

Developed and published by Exor Studios, this is a mishmash of genres set in the distant future. The fun and hectic gameplay demand a cool head, an eye for detail, and a smidgen of luck. With a weak story and laughable characters, you’d be forgiven for overlooking this, yet I strongly recommend you reconsider.

The Riftbreaker is phenomenal, even with its shortcomings. 

Now, I love a fantastic protagonist and gripping story as much as the next person, but I didn’t let this define my opinion. Sadly, The Riftbreaker is seriously lacking a deep and interesting story. Moreover, Ashley, the lead character, is so boring I occasionally let them die just to spice things up. However, every other mechanic pastes over these gaping cracks to create a worthy, albeit random genre title. 

With moments of RTS, Tower Defence, resource management, survival, and top-down shooter, you get a lot of game for your money. The gist of the story is that a company wants to colonise an alien planet called Galatea 37. This hostile world is filled with inhospitable environments and rare resources. You must build bases, defend them from swarms of enemies, and overcome each catastrophic event you encounter. If you survive long enough, you can build a rift to return to Earth and complete your mission.

Battle the swarm.

A standard approach, but so many variables. 

What makes The Riftbreaker so great is the simple core gameplay that runs through every playthrough. Once you have the fundamentals nailed, you can enjoy experimenting with the finer details. With every biome offering a unique challenge and different technology required to tackle each problem, you must be flexible throughout. Whether you are evading the superheat of the desert or trekking through volcanic ash, you’ll have to invest in new tech if you wish to succeed.

However, the exploration elements are but a small piece of this complex puzzle. Base building and Tower Defence are key components. How you design your home and the way you defend it will define your levels of success. Regretfully, the alien swarm likes nothing more than to wipe out your progress. This will infuriate you as they attempt to undermine your power. 

This is where the RPG elements of upgraded equipment and new technology are key! You must research and improve your tech to level out the playing field. I loved how this kept you on your toes and every region and swarm requires a different approach.

Teleport between each region.

The end game is testing. 

I state that I love the constant challenges that each region creates. However, the end game is so testing that I struggled to keep up. With resources to mine, bases to protect, and swarms to destroy, it’s the perfect storm that requires precise planning. You’ll teleport between bases while trying to manage your limited time, and this was stressful. No matter your level of expertise, you’ll find this a tough but rewarding experience.

Though the difficulty will punish many players, the blend of mechanics and the theme work in harmony. Failing in the latter stages isn’t shameful, as it’s all but guaranteed. But with precise planning and a methodical mind, you’ll get the best out of this in-depth title.

The Riftbreaker looks like Halo Wars. 

I’m not sure if it’s the grimy and earthy colour palette or the futuristic edge that reminds me of Halo Wars. I loved its top-down perspective and alien world. The varied biomes and details of the fauna and flora were brilliant to look at. The action is mostly great, however; I experienced some serious crashes when the screen was overwhelmed. This often occurred in the swamp biome where the Series X and other machines struggle to handle the workload. This was disappointing and infuriating as progress was lost repeatedly. This sadly tarnished the final product and needs addressing ASAP.

The energetic and loud audio was excellent until the protagonist spoke. The acting is dull and leaves a lot to be desired. The dialogue isn’t helped by the lifeless plot, but fortunately, it’s overshadowed by the excellent sound effects. The metallic sounds have a futuristic edge that enhances the brutal nature of the gameplay. The booming explosions, thuds of bullets, and whoosh of your flame thrower bring life to every battle.

Upgrade your Mech.

Many elements = complex controls. 

An eclectic blend of genres ensures that there are plenty of elements to understand. This multi-layered approach is challenging to learn, but a thorough tutorial assists the learning curve. There is no escaping the complexity of the controls, but these are supported by a well-designed UI that helps to reduce screen clutter. Though it wasn’t the most straightforward title to get to grips with, it could have been much harder to play.

Don’t let the learning curve put you off this addictive and rich multi-genre title. The gameplay is moreish and will attract fans from an array of backgrounds. Furthermore, the challenging end game and large achievement list will keep you playing for hours.

The Riftbreaker grew on me.

I didn’t know what to expect when I saw the challenging gameplay and the soulless story. Yet, I’m glad I gave it a chance. The Riftbreaker is a slow-burner that requires patience. Once I understood the fundamentals, I adored what was on offer. If you enjoy any of the aforementioned genres, then you’ll want this. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Invading an alien planet was never going to be easy. It’s time to build a base, overcome your foes, and return to Earth safely. 

Review: RiMS Racing

Natosha M
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Review: RiMS Racing

Have you ever thought about owning an authentic motorcycle in the future or possibly right now? Well, no more daydreaming or wishing for this to be true, as you can have it all in a digital world, anytime you like! RiMs Racing makes that possible and allows you to have it all, and many more than you ever could imagine. Including all the labor that a real mechanic would endure, and a bike owner will be required to learn to do as well as if it’s for the purpose of racing, as in this game!

RiMs Racing, which is now out for Nintendo Switch is quite a great game and worth playing on the go, especially since the Console makes it portable and playable anywhere! Have all the bikes you want whenever you want to ride them. Plus, the game doesn’t lack any brilliant design, it’s still as lively and lucid as it would be on the big screen. Half of the game focuses on driving one’s dream machine, the motorbike you want, and how you want it to appear. The second portion of the game is the action and racing fun, putting that motorbike to work!

What I have to point out is that this game does deliver! You aren’t left with a lack of excellence when it comes to the motorcycles you can choose. Plus, the ability to work the gears and have the ability to be seated behind the actual bike can be exciting and just exhilarating! The many different focuses you can choose from with the camera just make for an excellent feature. It’s giving the player the ability to drive in comfort from a distance of viewing their rider or being in the actual rider’s seat, where you can view the road upfront. This is one of the features I found that makes this game suitable for many players. Some have different preferences of how they like to view the screen in a game. For this racing game, it’s going to be the road in front of you.

For the bikes themselves, well there are plenty of brands that you can choose from; top quality, elite name brands. I’ve tried the game with the Yamaha, as it’s one name I am very familiar with, but there are even other great ones to choose from, like the Suzuki and BMW. Plus, many more!

When you do start to play the game you are given a freebie, a choice of motorbike. Allowing you a choice of any bike you desire, no need to have a certain amount of cash to choose the one you would like to have. The buying of any other motorbike or the additional parts to add or upgrade a bike will come later. For right now, just choosing a pricy bike is a joy. Plus, this to me was a very charming addition to the game as it’s not just limiting you to choose one type of bike, the lowest cost and less spectacular ride, which is normal in many other racing games. Instead, you get to choose freely, no matter the brand or how pricy and powerful it may be!

Also, for a sim-style game, it may seem to be just focused on the customizing of a motorcycle. However, this is not the only thing that gets to be customized. As the bike needs a rider, which you can customize as well! Even if this is the smallest part of the game, it is still pretty neat to have the ability to dress and design your own rider. Make sure you have a look to fit the bike or just suit your preferences. This is just another way this game makes you feel as if you are really in control, riding on each track, with those wheels burning through concrete.

For a quick view of what I’ve noticed during my gameplay, especially when starting the game, from the beginning is that it may seem quite long till you get to the real races. There is a good reason to appreciate the beginning, as it will set you up and give you that much-needed practice with your bike so you can move forward and become a better racer, like a Pro. After a few times during my gameplay, of course, enjoying the playback of flipping my bike or crashing, I was able to get a hang of the brake and gas pedal so I could move around the track with ease. Each corner gets a bit tough and requires you to go at a certain speed to make the turn. Just like a real motorcycle or if you were driving a vehicle of any sort.

The time spent training and finishing up the few tasks before facing off with the actual racing part of the game has allowed me, the beginner to get a clear idea of how to control and ride my chosen bike. Additionally, it provided me with a clear idea of what to expect on the many circuits I will be racing on. Also, there are these arrows in the beginning. They actually help one control the bike a bit better by using the right speed needed throughout the track. For example, the green is the go as you like, while the yellow and red direct you to slow down and be cautious as the road may require you to turn.

For me, I might have fallen off my bike more than I should have, and still, it’s quite funny to watch over and over. Though, if one wants to achieve the best score possible, the rider must be prepared and ready to take those sharp turns at a slower pace and speed up when necessary while not overdoing it. Really feels like I’m driving an actual bike, even if it’s a game. In addition to driving, you get to utilize a pitstop before continuing on your way.

Another thing I’d like to mention about myself and my experience with this game, I’m not a person who knows much about motorcycles or in other words, motorbikes. However, this game is still quite amazing in how realistic the game feels and what you must do to ride and be a great racer to surpass other players! It takes a lot of work for a beginner and even at the easiest setting, it can still be a lot to take in with the gears and different areas of focus as well as controls needed to ride the bike. Well, I was never great at driving games, but I try to do my best. So for myself to stay inside the path of the tracks while racing can be tricky. However, with some patients and time practicing, I’m getting the hang of it. Additionally, the realistic feature of riding a real bike and controlling one, well that is what it’s all about and if it was easy it wouldn’t feel or be as real.

After all of the racing, it’s just more mechanical stuff with the bike. Taking the time to repair what was used and worn on the bike, which will need replacing and repair. Plus, any new purchases, selling parts you don’t want to keep or need to make money for future upgrades. Also, with each race comes level-ups and earn rewards that can help afford some new additions for your bike or bikes that you’ve got stored in your garage.

Lastly, as mentioned in the beginning, one may daydream or wish they had many bikes or at least one. However, that doesn’t need to be, as this game allows you all the glory of owning all the bikes you want and the space to place them. Plus, top that with becoming a great racer! So that is one giant perk of playing the game RiMs Racing and not to mention you will be able to race in many different circuits all over the world!

Faraday Protocol Out Now

Andrew Edney
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Faraday Protocol Out Now

Publisher Deck 13, who last year released the globally acclaimed RPG blockbuster CrossCode, delivers another genre breakthrough with a redefined and enhanced first-person puzzler & explorer with a mysterious backdrop story to intrigue. Faraday Protocol is an experience that is not to be missed. – Out Now! PS/XB/NSW –  $24.99/€24.99/£20.99 – PC Steam – $19.99/€19.99/£15.99.

Emergence  / Evolution

After a low profile soft launch and focused feedback from the gaming community, a number of major updates have been initiated in Faraday Protocol. With its unique and challenging gameplay, which adds that extra spark to ensuring it shines brightly, this game reemerges  on Microsoft Xbox, Steam PC, Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4 /5 with a triumphant boost of creativity.

The first puzzle pyramid awaits

Setting New Boundaries

This beautifully crafted first person puzzle journey conjures up intrigue, mystery, and a number of unsettling moments as you experience the atmospheric delights as an interstellar archaeologist who researches the abandoned space station OPIS and its enigmatic governing A.I. IRIS. Developed by the talented Italian developers, Red Koi Box, utilizing the Unreal Engine 4, they have crafted and designed methods unique to this game genre.

Brainy Stuff

All of the mechanics rotate around the Bia-Tool, an original object capable of absorbing and re-distributing specific types of energy. The simple mechanics  evolve over time and allow for increasingly complex and mind-bending puzzles.

Doors open and puzzlement awaits

Breaking New Ground

“Faraday Protocol moves from the traditional ways and follows rules and uses mechanics never used before, and will challenge the grey matter of the player to lateral and logical thinking. The unique puzzle elements combined with the linear game and story progression make this game enjoyable for almost everyone.”, Giacomo Sala, Red Koi Box.

The Story Unfolds and Scene setting – The Challenge Set in a sterile and futuristic world, you are soon thrust into an organic forest-like environment after leaving your spacecraft. In this strange unnerving environment the player will see three Ziggurats (pyramid buildings) and will be led into one, where your intuitive powers of logic and expertise will start. The first building looks clean, sterile and in very good condition, with strong tones of black and gold. Here the player will learn the basic mechanics, and will experiment with them until he will reach the top of Ziqqurat One. Outside night has now come, and more, new mechanics will be introduced. The next building will be decaying, and will comprise a combination of all the player has previously learned. He will then face two other environments, with different tones and feels, which will bring him to the end of the game. Throughout the game, the storyline will progressively grow, as in the beginning it is limited to pre-recorded messages, it will unfold into full conversations with multiple choices.

Ziggurat

Features – Outside the Box

  • Multiple Solutions to succeed.
  • Hidden Collectables – Deviously Hidden
  • Immersive Soundtrack 
  • Puzzle your way through a number of “Escape Room”- like puzzle rooms
  • Absorb and redistribute energy using the Bia-Tool
  • Unravel the mysteries of the abandoned space station OPIS
  • A unique blend of retrofuturism

Faraday Protocol – Its Essence – is a first person puzzler that will test your wits and intelligence. Use the Bia-Tool, an ancient pistol-like relic of an alien civilization, to solve puzzles by bending energy and manipulating enigmatic machinery. Explore the mysterious and abandoned space station OPIS and unravel the mysteries of its governing A.I. IRIS, which slumbers deep at the core of the station. 

Review: The Alien Cube

Vasilis Tatsiopoulos
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Review: The Alien Cube

Lovecraftian horror has a big influence in gaming, as should be expected. The writer’s work is fitting and seems to translate well in video game horror. Also, the weird nature of Lovecraftian stories offers video game writers a free pass to take some creative liberties that make their work easier. For instance, when you are writing a story about alien gods, strange dimensions, visions of otherworldly places and huge tentacles, you don’t have to stick to traditional storytelling methods; you can tell your story any way you want.

Study the Ancient Ones, lose your mind

This new Lovecraftian game, The Alien Cube, takes full advantage of its surreal nature. It’s a very typical story about a man, the protagonist’s uncle, who studies strange things that may or may not have something to do with the Ancient Ones (they do). You control a person who inherits some other strange things from his now dead uncle, and you find out that there’s something eerie going on in his house. The narrative doesn’t really make much sense, and it throws everything it’s got at you without any buildup. You go to the uncle’s house, you find an alien cube, you wake up in another dimension, you learn about a cult that wants eternal life or to merge with their god, you solve some random puzzles and you hear/read a huge amount of exposition.

In the face of your doom, write a letter

It is disappointing that a writer using a setting as otherworldly as this cannot find ways to advance the narrative apart from letters and journals scattered around the place. You find a sunken, derelict place, full of dangers and creepy undertones, only to discover that it’s littered with pages full of information about everything regarding the plot. It’s really as if you are reading letters written by the game itself, addressed to you, the player, so that you understand what’s going on.

The Alien Cube’s environmental storytelling is lacking, but its visuals are excellent; very fitting, atmospheric and just plain beautiful. The game is made by a single developer, who really did a great job in the graphics department. Lighting effects, fog and many types of image filters are utilized to induce the appropriate feelings, and it works more times than not. You’ll explore some dark forests, you’ll visit surreal greenly-lit landscapes, you’ll descend in snowy dungeons and in all instances you’ll want to take some time to admire the visuals. Also, when you’re indoors, in everyday places or otherworldly ones, you’ll appreciate the amount of work done to bring them to life, with many details in the background adding meaning and a sense of place.

Should I run or should I hide?

Sadly, this sense is lost in the narrative, which doesn’t give you a clear purpose and you end up feeling like you’re just skipping from one story segment to the next one, without properly understanding why the character does what he does. Also, the detailed environments create a distraction when you’re looking for a particular object, like a small key, and this sadly leads to pixel-hunting scenarios -the puzzles’ simple, too typical nature doesn’t help: “oh, this generator is empty, find some gasoline!”.

Additionally, the developer has added jump and crouch mechanics that are annoying and underutilized. There are not that many scenarios in which you’ll have to use those moves; you just crouch to activate a button prompt and you jump in frustrating light-platforming bits. The controls are not made for such mechanics, as the input lag is strong and the movement not very tight. Thankfully, you will not find many such instances in The Alien Cube.

Another gameplay mechanic you’ll have to tackle comes in the form of chase sequences that seem totally random. The rules are not clear and are never explicitly laid out, and so you just know that you have to run because the music gets intense and the screen blurs out. In general, most of this game’s rules are left unexplained. You lose health sometimes, but it’s not clear if you made a mistake or not. You are suddenly chased by a creature and you die when caught, without knowing how to respond, where to go, if you should hide or run. This random aspect gives a level of unpredictability to the gameplay, but it also gets annoying after a while. The visual feedback provided in such occasions is just not enough to actually guide the player, and so the game would be better off without these chase-scenes.

A feature that could and should be omitted, unexpectedly, is the voice acting. Most of the narrative unfolds through written text and the protagonist doesn’t speak much, so in most cases you are reading what the character is supposed to be saying. Then, at random, some lines are spoken out loud. The actor portraying our character is very dramatic, even when he shouldn’t be, and the result is a bit campy, especially when you can go for 30 minutes without hearing a word, only to listen to him saying: “I can’t believe this! It’s just like in my dream!” randomly. The inconsistent voice acting creates a disparity that damages the believably of the whole narrative.

Is it scary?

Nevertheless, The Alien Cube doesn’t overstay its welcome. The game’s runtime sits at around 3 hours, with some optional secrets to uncover here and there, and it manages to keep things interesting until the end, albeit based on an incoherent narrative that’s filled with overused genre tropes. If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian stories, there’s a lot to like here, mostly in the audiovisual representation which is excellent. There are some scary parts, many of them consisting of jump scares, but others going the cosmic horror route, trying to give you nightmares through storytelling. It doesn’t always work, but it’s a worthy effort that will scratch your cosmic horror itch, if you have it.

Review: Okinawa Rush

Kara Phillips
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Review: Okinawa Rush

Okinawa Rush is a frantic, fast paced, almost nostalgic game following one simple motive. At first glance it feels like a classic side-scrolling arcade game. With smooth graphics and a niche appearance, but the controls stray from being anything like those in an arcade. Tasked with taking on the role of Hiro, Meilin or Shin, you are responsible for facing off against the Black Mantis Clan. 

And so the story begins

From the moment you start this game the story is put out for you through a backstory animation. You know exactly what and who you are fighting for. Then you get thrown head first into the deep end. I will admit, it took me longer than I expected to understand the controls of Okinawa Rush. At first I just relied on a series of button mashing. Basically any combos I had picked up from Tekken. But after a few rounds and a few frustrating deaths followed by having to start over, I got the hang of what was most effective. 

Combat tends to be fast and fluid, with each character having a multitude of moves. All of which lead to combos, juggles, anything you need to appear a smooth fighter really. There’s also an intuitive parrying system. And the depth to level design makes for some easy escapes in a tricky situation. For a game solely focussing on combat, it definitely meets the mark and has enough substance to keep players engaged. Even when the story is so basic, the combat really keeps it engaging. You can also take on these adventures with a companion, which makes it a lot easier. 

Boss battles and button delays

A few times I definitely experienced a delay between pressing a button to either initiate a move or pick something up which, when you’re swamped with enemies, is far from ideal. As fluid as Okinawa Rush felt, there were definitely delays. Inputs took a few moments to really process and execute. Resulting in me quietly putting my controller down before attempting a level again. Death seems so imminent in this title, but luckily it doesn’t result in being sent back to the very beginning of a level. Plus – once all enemies are defeated that’s them gone for a little bit. 

There are also several conveniently integrated boss battles to really put your skills to the test. Which are admittedly very challenging. I got overwhelmed when fighting a crowd of enemies, let alone a towering boss amongst the rest. Also, watch your step for projectiles and traps as they are very well hidden. Especially if you’re too busy memorising combos to watch your step… (I definitely don’t speak from experience…)

Final Thoughts

The soundtrack for this game is extremely reflective of the nostalgic appearance as well. It all wraps up into a perfect arcade game package. So playing on the Nintendo Switch is just an added extra. In some cases I definitely think Okinawa Rush would’ve been easier if there were a few buttons rather than a whole set of Joycons. It’s definitely a fun game, frustrating in parts, but fun. If you are searching for a fast paced game for a party or just a new adventure with some friends, then I definitely recommend it.

Preview: Priest Simulator

Daniel Waite
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Preview: Priest Simulator

I have played some strange and mind-boggling games in the past. Yet, none have left me quite as confused as Priest Simulator. After investing many hours into its free Steam demo I was left reeling. The core simulation concept is sound, however, the story is so absurd I was left scratching my head.

Developed by Asmodev and published by Ultimate Games, this is a sim game combined with other genres. This single-player, FPS, hack ‘n slash title will make you chuckle while wondering what the heck is going on. The village of San De Ville is quaint but not quiet. Its residents stand up for what they believe in, and this causes friction between the factions that reside there.

Priest Simulator is unbelievably weird. 

I’ve played an eclectic array of simulator titles, so one about being a priest didn’t phase me. Yet, I couldn’t have guessed quite how bizarre my gaming experience was about to be. With lashings of gratuitous violence, begging for funds, and racing around in a small Eastern European car, I clearly don’t know a lot about the priesthood. 

The story is set in a tiny village that is Christian at its core. Yet, not everyone agrees with this religious view and factions begin to form. Christians, Satanists and ‘bums’ (atheists) all share this small community. You control Orlok – a cunning vampire who accidentally becomes the village priest. Moreover, this would be weird enough until you discover what the village is famous for. San De Ville is inexplicably renowned for a deadly chilli eating contest! People flock from around the country to enter and become famous.

The exploits of this event and the village are captured by an ‘influencer’. She wishes to capture every juicy moment while boosting her fame. As I said, it’s bloody odd and makes little sense, but don’t let that put you off.

Watch out for the Satanists.

Just a day in the life of a priest. 

Because it’s a simulation title, there are standard mechanics at play. You must complete tasks, renovate areas, and perform your godly duties. Yet, even these mundane elements have a surreal twist to them. Subsequently, the weirdness increases and so does the laughter. 

Orlok isn’t your normal priest, however, you can’t blame him for being a little unorthodox. After all, he stumbled into the job by accident. Whenever trouble strikes, and this happens regularly, you must use a multitude of tools at your disposal. You may bludgeon your foes to death, lift objects with your powers of telekinesis, shoot them with your shotgun glove, and more. These items can be upgraded on your journey and this improves their durability, power, and strength. 

Alongside the murder, there are some standard housekeeping moments. You will renovate the village or church, clean up graffiti, and complete other mundane tasks. You are also required to collect funds from your followers, quell any uprisings from the Satanists, and spread the word of God.

Once you have completed those tasks, you must tackle exorcisms alongside other jobs. These wonderfully strange tasks make up the core storyline as well as the side quests. Taking on every mission allows you to enjoy a rich and surreal experience. Its blend of genres works well, and though it is strange, and it may confuse you, it’s a brutal and fun ride while it lasts. 

Use the power of telekinesis.

Priest Simulator has great cinematic. 

I don’t play simulator games to be wowed by the graphics, though Microsoft Flight Sim did impress me. Priest Simulator, on the other hand, is a very standard affair. Its world is nice and colourful and great to explore, but that’s about it! The characters are weird but serviceable, yet they are not amazing. Subsequently, it’s pleasant to look at, but it could easily be mistaken for any other sim title. However, one element does stand out, and that’s the docusoap cinematic. The grainy and jittery footage captures the amateur efforts of the would-be ‘influencer’ perfectly. These short scenes broke up the gameplay nicely and were a welcome addition.

Though the graphics didn’t surprise me, the audio fared much better. The excellent combination of voice acting and unusual sound effects will make you chuckle. You’ll love listening to the dialogue and following orders as the creepy voices fill the air. Furthermore, the sound of crunching bones, crashing furniture, and brutal bludgeoning never got old.

 

The church where it all begins.

A great UI, but the controls are clumsy.

In typical sim fashion, there are plenty of mechanics to understand and buttons to press. Fortunately, Priest Simulator has this covered thanks to its great user interface. The combination of radial menus makes selecting objects and tools an easy task. However, what was noticeable were the clumsy controls. They weren’t as responsive as I’d hoped and this is noticeable when you drive your car. Trying to steer your hatchback was a tedious and unenjoyable task. This was disappointing, as zooming around the village while running down your foes should have been a highlight.

Simulation titles have a tendency to become stale and boring, yet Priest Simulator didn’t. Helped by its absurd story and variety of missions, I found it captivating throughout. In its current build, I cannot say if it’ll have replay value. Yet, if the rest of the gameplay follows suit, it’ll have a niche audience who’ll love its absurdities.

Priest Simulator proves that the righteous path is anything but boring. 

No one would have guessed the Holy path in life would be so exciting. Yet, Priest Simulator proves that being righteous is anything but boring. Its odd story, weird missions, and colourful characters make this a bizarre game you won’t forget in a hurry. It’s free to try on Steam, so you have nothing to lose by playing it. Can you restore the faith in the Catholic Church, or will the Satanists win? Grab your holy water and complete every mission in the name of the Lord.

Summary. 

Priest Simulator will leave you reeling! Its odd story, strange characters and unusual missions aren’t what I expected from the priesthood. Can you convert everyone onto the righteous path? If not, don’t worry, just eradicate the infidels with whatever tool is on hand. 

(Reviewed on PC using Steam. Only available on PC.)

Review: Jetboard Joust

Natosha M
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Review: Jetboard Joust

Have you ever tried or possibly enjoyed a game called Joust? Well, if you happen to have tried this game, which was playable on a game console with the cartridge or CD; one of the games in the Williams Arcade’s Greatest Hits game collection, You will notice a similarity in the style of how you move about in this game, Jetboard Joust. Additionally, this game also made me think of another classic. Plus, taking into consideration of the alien and space-related theme and visual aspects of the worlds. I get a similar feeling of the game, Defender. These two I’ve played growing up and loved as it’s simple yet like this game, it’s all about shooting and saving the planet from enemies.

When I first tried this game, I already felt intrigued by the introduction. It gives such a clear visual view of how to play the game. Also, it explains how you, the hero of this game, can stop the invasion of these monstrous, alien creatures. What I did want to point out about the game, which was hard not to notice, is the beautifully pixelated scenery and character design, evil or good, were well created! Additionally, music plays an important part. It’s energetic and entertaining, keeping you pumped up and excited to blast those enemies while flying around on a jet board. Just a few levels are all it takes, and the game grows on you. Plus, you can figure out the pattern-style routine and task one must accomplish to get to the next level.

Honestly, it took me a bit of gameplay to realize how this game will keep the gamer entertained. It provides more than just a simple and easy game to play. So prepare yourself for a bit of a challenge and new treasures to be revealed!

I have a few reasons why I feel this game would keep the attention of many players, especially mine. One is the exciting choices of weapons to choose from. The second would have to be the ability to defeat these uniquely designed and challenging bosses, always better with some difficult features they possess and stunning creature appearance to beat. Third, plenty of levels to travel and play through. Lastly, there is always something keeping you going, as there is always a civilian that needs rescuing and many villains to defeat, as you will always be shooting and occupied from left to right of the screen.

While in the game, there are a few different worlds that we will be entering, 5 in total. Each has an original, scary-looking boss we must defeat. Nevertheless, before even defeating the big boss of the world, you must fight a few smaller ones and many other enemies. Your eyes will be working to keep an eye on the left or right of the screen, trying to make sure no other enemy is abducting any of the citizens and changing them into monstrous enemies as well. There is so much going on, which one can’t take some time to slow down! You need to keep on moving and blasting everyone in your way as you jet board all over to save the civilians and the planet! Remember one thing there is no time to slow down or it will be GAME OVER!

The many things that help in this game are the different weapons one may earn when playing the game. The ability to get some upgraded-style weapons to help you defeat the enemies is a pleasure and makes for some fun! I felt that this made the game quite exciting. Having the ability to blast the enemies with more than just a single shooter. I’ve found from the beginning my fave to be the Pulse Cannon. It has this unique ability to come out like a ninja star once fired and even blast into separate pieces to attack and defeat others, causing a better defeat in less time.

I know the game has many others, such as the Phase Mutator, Ion Splitter, and others! All that you need to do is continue through each level and have the reward of accessing many more new weapons that you have to choose. However, it doesn’t just stop there! You can even buy some extra goodies by defeating enemies. Plus, the many diamonds one may obtain when winning a level. It adds up and allows you to buy even more at the end of the level, before starting the next.

I occasionally find myself not buying right away. I always prefer saving my coins till I can afford something big and brilliant. However, there was one thing I’ve noticed, which is a big deal too! You will lose money instantly after each final death, or in other words game over. This is when you lose every life you have, leaving none left, you end up with the choice to pay a fee and get yourself back up or end the game. Even if your game automatically saves after completing each level, There are some issues where you won’t be able to continue if you’ve gotten far and almost finished.

Another thing to note, this game will take longer than just one hour. However, there may be some very clever gamers out there that can figure out each pattern that would keep you from the destruction of your jet board and even yourself. On the other hand, it may take us longer because there are many levels to play through. Plus, different obstacles we must shoot our way through. Each enemy as there is one at the end of each level. Let me say, the small bosses before the giant ones are still difficult.

I find myself intrigued that a few levels are more challenging as you go on verse just a simple shoot and move on the game that doesn’t have anything else to find, gain or even upgrade while playing. It definitely won’t bore or keep you feeling a lack of interest to play. It will always push you to keep going and discovering something new and defeating so many enemies with unique designs and abilities.

Finally, if it’s a game that takes action, classic and pixelated style to suit your gaming needs, this is it! It’s packed with such enjoyment and vigor that you will feel pumped to continue and play for hours. It’s a brilliant action-packed game in my opinion. Also perfect for everyone and very easy to learn what is going on and how to play. I would suggest this to be a fun action gaming fix for a fast-paced action and shooting game!

Review: NEOGEO POCKET COLOUR SELECTION VOL. 1: Steam Edition

Jonah Ehlers
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Review: NEOGEO POCKET COLOUR SELECTION VOL. 1: Steam Edition

Origin Story

Before I could get my hands on my own console (the lovely PS2) my best bet to play a video game was on an arcade machine. Sometimes it was the odd machine sporting King of Fighters in the corner stores of my town. Other times I had to convince my parents to take me to the arcade at the mall and bless me with tokens. 

NEOGEO, without me even realising it, was a part of my love for gaming’s origin story. King of Fighters was the source of some great afternoons. Getting out of school and heading to the store to get a packet of chips, a popsicle and a couple rounds with the change. And then there was one of the titles that really did guide me onto this path, Metal Gear. My absolute number one go-to whenever a machine had it loaded. So imagine my surprise when I see that three entries from these certified classics are part of the NEOGEO Pocket Colour Selection Volume 1: Steam Edition. What a mouthful that name is.

The Lineup

The Pocket Colour Selection is packing ten of it’s classic titles. Namely, SNK Gals’ Fighters, Samurai Shodown 2, King of Fighters R-2, The Last Blade: Beyond the Destiny, Fatal Fury First Contact, Metal Slug 1st Mission, Metal Slug 2nd Mission, Big Tournament Golf, Dark Arms: Beast Buster, and Crush Roller. So clearly you’ve got a lot to look forward to playing, and rest assured there are a few great games to enjoy in this collection. 

However, this brings us to our first problem. Half of these games are fighters. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoy playing a good fighter. But in a bundle of ten entries, what one might expect is variety. When five out of ten belong to the same genre there will inevitably be overlap in experiences, gameplay and mechanics. What doesn’t help this aspect is the fact that it’s a classic set of games from a system with only two buttons used to play. While two buttons aren’t inherently bad, they make that fighter overlap painfully obvious. 

Choose Your Fighter

Although, even with my complaints of an overabundance of fighting games I still can’t help but enjoy myself. They are some well made classics, and it’s easy to see why they were included in the collection. After all, SNK the manufacturer and publisher of the NEOGEO line did excel at pumping out fighting titles. However, the stand outs for me have to be Fatal Fury First Contact and Samurai Shodown 2. Fatal Fury felt like the culmination of the previous entries in the collection coming together. Lending their strengths and sweet combo animations, while being improved upon as well, to become the best version of themselves. Plus it had Geese Howard as a playable character, who had become a favourite of mine not too long ago as a DLC fighter in TEKKEN 7. 

Samurai Shodown stood out to me as it had a bit of a different feel to the other fighters in the collection. I’m also a sucker for the whole Samurai theme and combat style, so that may have played a part. Fights feel more technical, restrained and just a tad tactical. I mean, you’ve got a button dedicated to fake outs that, against a real player, can come in real handy to bait an approach in order to counter attack. 

Speaking of real players, you can also play through many of the games in the NEOGEO collection with a friend via remote or local co-op. This is where the range of fighting titles really makes sense. Out of all the games here, these would be the most fun with a friend. Especially if the two of you played some of these titles back in the day. The nostalgia alone could be worth the purchase.

I Love You, Metal Slug

My favourite game out of the entire Pocket Colour Selection has to be Metal Slug. I may have played more King of Fighters with friends. But Metal Slug will always trump that as my favourite. When I was a kid we’d go to this family restaurant called Spur that had a play area for children. Inside this play area they had set up some games. There were couple of PS2 titles which was great of course, but there was always a line. So instead of waiting in line, I opted to go to some of the less crowded arcade games. This lead me to the holy grail. Metal Slug (though I can’t remember which). I swear I enjoyed Spur for this game more than the food. As soon as we’d grab a table I’d ask if I could go play. 

Therefore, I more than enjoyed playing through a childhood classic again. And honestly, both Metal Slug 1st and 2nd Mission really hold up well. It was and still is a great run-and-gun game, with a surprising amount of variety to it. When your boots are not on the ground, you can find yourself in a jet, tank, boat, submarine, or even rocking a jetpack. The game is just non-stop frantic action that rewards careful maneuvering and quick decision making. It’s safe to say that Metal Slug elevates my score for this collection. However, we still have a couple more games to look at.

Golf, Tentacle Guns and (not)Pacman

Big Tournament Golf really surprised me. I was so ready to just write it off. It’s just golf. There’s not too much to write home about. You pick the best golf club for the distance of the hole, adjust your angle for the wind conditions and shape of the course, and swing. From that description alone, I’m already yawning. And yet, there was something that drew me in. It’s a really simple, but really fun and relaxing experience. I put on some good music, and lost an hour trying to shave a couple of strokes off my game. 

And then there were two. Dark Arms: Beast Buster and Crush Roller. Let’s begin with Dark Arms. When I first loaded it up and saw that it was an action-RPG with firearms I was genuinely excited. It starts off a little slow. In fact, at first I was convinced that the game just wasn’t for me. However, as you progress and gather the resources to develop and improve new weapons, it starts to really come into its own. It’s definitely different compared to the other games, which makes it a breath of fresh air after the plethora of fighters and the side-scrolling Metal Slug. And it’s got a tentacle arm weapon, so that’s a plus.

Finally there’s Crush Roller, which was probably my least favourite game. Not necessarily bad, but nothing you haven’t seen before. It’s essentially a Pacman variant. It does take a couple steps in a different direction, such as paths that overlap like an underpass and bridge. This makes for a bit more variance in maneuverability. However, it didn’t feel all that enticing, especially when you could just go play Pacman.


Overall the NEOGEO Pocket Colour Selection is a solid lineup of some classics that you may have missed, or played a bunch when they first released. Sure half of these are fighting games, and there may be one or two games that don’t interest you at all. But those that do may be enough to check this collection out. Metal Slug alone is enough to convince me, if that wasn’t already clear. Either way you should be in for a reasonably good time, which might turn into a great time with a friend.

Review: Globber Flow 125 Scooter

Andrew Edney
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Review: Globber Flow 125 Scooter

With Christmas not that far away, we take a look at the Globber Flow 125 Scooter from Plum.

Previously known as the My Too Fix Up.

The Flow 125 is a stylish scooter for 6 years plus. The robust materials and 360° front wheel spin make the scooter ideal for stunts and intensive use.

The adjustable handlebar allows the scooter to grow up with your child. The non-slip deck and handlebar grips ensure your children are in full control of the scooter and stay safe as they ride.

• 4-height adjustable T-bar with super-wide curved aluminium handlebars
• EVA foam grip tape
• Triple reinforced deck structure (aluminium supported & bi-injection composite deck with EVA soft foam grip tape

The revolutionary design of the Flow 125 scooter makes it perfect for intensive use. The ultra-reinforced structure, high-density grip, front fender, double clamps, and high quality ball bearing wheels ensure a smooth riding experience.

The scooter deck is made from a non-slip EVA foam giving you maximum grip.

Designed for older children, the Flow 125 comes with a longer covered rear brake than the three wheeled models.

The height adjustable Y-bar (curved) makes this scooter suitable for children from 6 years old up to teenage years.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the scooter – in two pieces, two hex keys and instructions.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

Putting the scooter together was really simple – just slot the T bar into the base and tighten up with the included hex keys.

Then raise the T bar to the correct height for your child and that’s it – all in all took less than 5 minutes to get ready to go!

And go my trusty review assistant did – he loved riding around on it – he said it was fun to use, easy to control and he could do some “stunts” on it.

The scooter itself felt very sturdy and was easy to carry around.

If your child is looking for a fun scooter than you really should take a look at the Globber Flow 125 – it’s a lot of fun – it’s a shame I can’t have a go on it!

The Globber Flow 125 Scooter is aimed at children aged 6 years old and up, is available in Black, Blue, Lime Green, Red and Ruby and retails for around £74.99.

You can learn more from the Plum website.

Disclaimer: The Globber Flow 125 Scooter sent to us for the purposes of an honest review. All opinions are the opinions of our reviewer.

Review: PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night

Daniel Waite
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Review: PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night

Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes and their antics span many genres and platforms. Their hard-hitting work ethic, colourful or sexy outfits, and witty one-liners attract the attention of fans from many generations. I admit, I love a good superhero tale and I’m desperate for my children to follow suit. I’m hopeful that PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night is the key to getting them hooked! It should be the perfect option thanks to its simple gameplay, vivid colours, and lighthearted plot.

Developed by Petoons Studio and published by Outright Games, this is a side-scrolling adventure title. Its single-player action allows your little ones to put on their PJs, gain superpowers, and save the world. Though this is perfect for a younger audience, more mature children and adults will find the action tedious, stripped back, and repetitive. However, keep in mind that it was created primarily for a very younger audience, so complexity is out of the question.

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night was a hit with the kids.

If you are familiar with the franchise, bear with me while I cover the basics. The cartoon comprises three children who are ordinary by day but gain superpowers at night. They are Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko, and between them, they quash evil plots and save the unsuspecting city. PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night captures their heroic exploits as they stop Romeo, Luna Girl, and Night Ninja’s dastardly plots.

So, the story isn’t going to win an Oscar for originality, but it matters not. My kids loved exploring the familiar locations while tackling the well-known villains. Each level is easy to overcome thanks to the simple objectives and repetitive structure. This deja vu approach was painful to watch, yet my kids adored the rigidity and basic gameplay. 

Enjoy the break from side-scrolling action.

Faithful adventure mechanics with a basic twist. 

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night stays faithful to many much-loved adventuring mechanics. You must explore, collect items, and overcome bosses while using your special powers and teamwork. The developers have cleverly incorporated each of these elements while maintaining a simplistic approach. Every task has a clear UI associated with it, and verbal commands guide you throughout. Sadly, however, as an observer, this made the action tedious and mind-numbing! But my kids loved the user-friendly style and the lack of parental guidance.

The gameplay reminded me of the Paw Patrol franchise, as the similarities are uncanny. In this, you must collect two hundred gems and three hero symbols. In PP it’s pup treats and dog tags. There is also a focus on basic movement and the need for certain characters to perform specific tasks. Subsequently, there were smiles all around, as each playable character was used equally on every stage.

Disappointingly, though, every key task was either automated or restricted to one-button mini-games. Now, I know Petoon Studios is focused on a child-friendly approach, but this was perhaps a step too far. An option to adjust the gameplay would have been welcomed, especially for older siblings. Furthermore, there was a fun inclusion of vehicular levels. These character-specific rides broke up the standard side-scrolling approach and added some much-needed variety. 

Use your super cat speed.

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night is not “Next Gen”, but it looks good regardless. 

Gamers are screaming out for ultra-realistic or movie quality graphics. Unfortunately, PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night is nowhere near that level, yet it looks good, regardless. Utilising the familiar cartoon style, fans of the franchise will love controlling their favourite characters. Sadly, though, each level is painfully repetitive in both look and design. Fortunately, however, the developers attempted to counteract this with minor theme changes, but the lack of complexity was alarmingly obvious on every stage. 

Unfortunately, ‘Groundhog Day’ didn’t stop at the graphics. No, the audio was pretty repetitive as well! The characters keep repeating the same instructions about collecting gems or climbing walls. It was infuriating to listen to, yet my kids loved the encouragement and gentle reminders. Moreover, they also enjoyed the similarities to the TV series thanks to the excellent action and high-energy soundtrack. Though I wasn’t its biggest fan, some of the dialogue was witty and it made me chuckle many times.

Work together and take down the baddies.

Straightforward controls. 

The developer’s understanding of its key audience was spot on! How they approached the button layout and the simplicity of the controls was excellent. Unlike some kids games that require parental guidance, PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night, does not. The on-screen reminders and barrage of audio commands assist the little player’s abilities in playing this unaided.

Though the gameplay was repetitive and easy, my kids cared not and they’d have played this for hours if allowed. Fortunately for more skilled gamers, there is some replay value thanks to the collectables and stage scoring system. Furthermore, the achievement list demands perfection, so it will require you to invest many hours even though it’s not challenging. 

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night is simple, colourful, and perfect for kids. 

I wasn’t a massive fan of PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night, however, what I think matters not. This isn’t a game aimed at adults and its key audience in my household adored it. They loved the colourful graphics, loud audio, and silly story. Becoming a superhero was great fun and I’m sure your kids will love it too. Therefore, I recommend you buy it here! Put on your PJs, become a hero, and stop those supervillains.

My video review with footage captured from my Xbox Series X, enjoy!
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