Deep Silver and Volition have announced that Saints Row , an absolute reboot of the bestseller franchise whose eponymous game is due to be released worldwide on February 25, 2022 : Players should get ready to shake the foundations of a larger-than-life criminal world that all satisfies their secret preferences. With a little luck, they will become self-made crime bosses and take power in the city. Now is the time to get the party started!
The highly anticipated Saints Row was live during the Gamescom Opening Night(ONL) unveiled with an exciting, official CGI announcement trailer featuring the game on Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S, , PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well as in the Epic Games Store for PC.
The Saints Row recipe for action, crime, and humor remains a strong and relevant concept; it’s a game that will delight existing fans and new players, and developer Deep Silver Volition is back at the helm of the franchise they love.
” This complete restart is the most fun and exhilarating experience we’ve ever wrapped in a Saints Row experience, ” said Jim Boone, chief creative officer, Volition. ” The iconic new location offers so many exciting ways to delight players – whether they’re long-time fans of the series or they’re new to the show .”
“Saints Row is one of the most popular and highly acclaimed game series and this is the reboot we’ve all been waiting for, “added Paul Nicholls, Global Brand & Marketing Director at Deep Silver.” We are excited about Volition’s bold new vision and can’t wait to get this new Saints Row into the hands of gamers in 2022. “
More information on Saints Row are on the website available in the game. News and updates will also be on Twitter and Instagram(@SaintsRow) and announced on Facebook .
Watch the Far Cry 6 Official Story Trailer. Discover the story of Yaran Dictator Antón Castillo (Giancarlo Esposito) and the modern guerrillas rising up against him. A revolution is not won by the fearless – it is won by the feared.
Welcome to Libertad. Far Cry 6 will be available 7th October 2021 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Ubisoft Connect, Ubisoft+, Epic Games and Stadia.
Pre-order now at: https://farcry.com/buy Pre-order now and get access to the Libertad Pack which includes the “Libertad Outfit” for your loyal Chorizo and the state-of-the-art “Discos Locos”, a weaponised disc launcher that will make your enemies dance on their own graves.
Mankind loves to decimate natural beauty, and green and pleasant landscapes are turned grey overnight! It’s heartbreaking and shames humanity, yet nature sometimes fights back, and beauty and wonderment come from disaster. Pripyat near Chernobyl shows how resilient our planet can be when given a chance. The apocalyptic event of the nuclear powerplant disaster killed and maimed thousands, and the area was declared deadly and was evacuated soon after. However, this vacant space allowed wildlife to flourish, and plants, trees, and animals roam in this long-abandoned city. Cloud Gardens uses this juxtaposed idea to discover that beauty is found in the most desolate of places.
Developed by Thomas van den Berg and published by Noio, this is a Lo-Fi puzzle title. Set in cold and dank environments, you are charged with bringing beauty and life to the world. You plant a variety of flowers on long-abandoned structures and help them flourish.
Cloud Gardens turns nightmare worlds into a thing of beauty.
Set across six worlds, you must use existing buildings and decaying waste to support and grow beautiful plants. The premise is strange but captivating, and you’ll love the simplicity and challenge that each level brings. With a logical approach and some loose planning, you’ll build wonderful bright spaces while advancing through the stages.
The brilliance of the main mode is found in the choice of plants on offer, and you’ll learn that each seed benefits from specific structures. You’ll choose whether to grow sprawling climbers, compact flowering bushes, and more, with the surrounding buildings in mind. The negative, however, is if you cannot select the ideal environment, your plants’ wilt and the stage is failed.
Allow nature to reclaim the land.
Junk and waste are all you need.
Normally, vegetation requires nutrients and sunlight to grow, however, Cloud Gardens enhances its surreal state by asking you to use waste products instead. You’ll place tyres, cars, street signs, trolleys, and more to power the growth of your fauna. It was weird but supported the theme in an odd and heartless way. Generating chaos to create beauty was strange, but it added to the logical puzzle elements.
As your plant’s blossom, they bear fruits and seeds that can be harvested. These are used to increase your garden and to cover different structures. You are free to select any unlocked seeds you’ve found, which increases each stage’s complexity. You must analyse the unused space and plant the correct species to be successful.
This created head-scratching moments as you searched for each solution. Small mistakes have mighty consequences, so you must think before you act.
From cold and heartless to vivid and full of life.
Cloud Gardens utilises a minimalistic approach.
The broken and abandoned environments are strangely beautiful, and the post-apocalyptic scenes are shown through a minimalist approach. The use of Lo-Fi imagery captures the game’s simplicity and enhances the beauty created when the plants grow and flourish. I adored the cold harsh reality of the industrial world and the vivid colours that brightened the dull sterile landscape. Each small stage was easy to manage, and navigating them was straightforward thanks to the free-flowing camera angle. The camera panned and zoomed freely, allowing you to inspect the action from all angles.
The bleakness of the gameplay was at odds with the heavenly and airy soundtrack. This uplifting music was calming and enjoyable to listen to but didn’t match the grey and bland terrain. I would have liked a reactive soundtrack that responded to the success of your problem-solving. This would have matched any in-game success and would have added variety to the action.
A small and lonesome place.
A clear UI makes it easy to play.
The clear and well laid out UI makes learning the basics enjoyable. The difficulty increases across the six chapters, but you’ll understand exactly what is required of you. With smooth controls and a simple button layout, I found little to complain about.
Thanks to its large campaign mode, you’ll be entertained for hours and you won’t want to put it down. A creative sandbox mode also allows you to create the perfect combination of greenery and industrial structures. Extra elements are unlocked the further you progress, and this made sure you kept playing. The small achievement list isn’t demanding, but it requires a considerable amount of grind and time. Completing this may be tiresome and will be reserved for hardcore completionists only.
Cloud Gardens finds beauty in the strangest of places.
Watching life bloom before your eyes is a fantastic experience and Cloud Gardens has captured it beautifully. Thanks to its interesting puzzles and testing logic-based mechanics, this slow-paced title will fill you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! A post-apocalyptic world is cold and harsh, however, you’ll find beauty and colour in the strangest of places.
The review in video form with gameplay captured on my Xbox Series X, enjoy!
In news that was honestly expected by all PlayStation fans, it has been announced that Horizon Forbidden West will now be releasing on the 18th February 2022 with pre-orders to go live on September 2nd 2021:
For owners of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition a surprise patch that allows the games to run at 60 frames-per-second on PlayStation 5. It will still be running the game in backwards compatibility, but update 1.53 enables the feature and can be downloaded right now.
There was no new trailer with gameplay so just this news, we can probably expect to see more later this year perhaps but this does leave a very massive hole in the PlayStation release schedule for the rest of 2021, with only the Death Stranding: Director’s Cut Edition, Deathloop and Kena: Bridge of Spirits all releasing in September, the release schedule for Sony Studio exclusives to round out 2021 is rather seriously lacking.
The wait for this LEGO title is almost as long as the Saga itself with a good few delays being reported before no news at all. But during the ONL Gamescom Stream we finally got an update on its release as well as a new trailer, which is the good news.
The bad news is that we still do not have a fixed release date but a new release window of early 2022 to experience a galaxy far, far away like never before.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga features the biggest roster of playable characters in the LEGO Star Wars series and players will engage in new ways of combat as they wield lightsabers, fire blasters, and chain different attacks with the greatest legends from every era of the Skywalker saga. Players can fight against the forces of evil as favourite characters such as Luke Skywalker, Rey, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Finn, BB-8 and a legion of other heroes. The greatest space and land vehicles are also available to command. Players can jump to lightspeed in the Millennium Falcon to outrun Imperial starships, battle First Order TIE fighters in Resistance X-wings, or podrace on Tatooine. Players will be able to travel through hyperspace and explore planets that can be unlocked during their adventures. From the jungle moon of Ajan Kloss to the vibrant, city-covered planet Coruscant, the LEGO Star Wars galaxy is yours to discover and play in.
The moment HALO fans have been waiting for has finally arrived as during the ONL Gamescom Stream, it was announced that HALO Infinite will launch on December 8th 2021:
Commander Agryna knows firsthand the difference a Spartan can make—a difference never more important than now. Humanity’s forces are scattered. Desperate resistance efforts have continued to fall short on multiple fronts, from Cortana’s relentless martial law to the expanding power and ambition of Atriox and the Banished. But there is hope: a new generation of Spartans, training in secret to become unstoppable. In this cinematic introduction to Season 1 of Halo Infinite Multiplayer, get a glimpse into the Academy Commander’s own heroic journey and what it truly means to be a Spartan.
Not only that but the very first Custom Design Xbox Series X console bundle was announced as the incredible 20th Anniversary HALO Infinite Xbox Series X as well as a very beautiful HALO Infinite: Master Chief inspired Custom Elite Series 2 controller:
Celebrate Halo’s 20th anniversary and confront the most ruthless foe the Master Chief has ever faced with Xbox Series X – Halo Infinite Limited Edition Bundle.
Step inside the armour of humanity’s greatest hero with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Halo Infinite Limited Edition.
Both are available to pre-order from today and I will say that demand is going to be extremely high for both. Finally having a release date for HALO Infinite does take away some of the sting about it launching without campaign Co-Op at launch as well as Forge, both 3 months and 6 months post launch respectively.
But now the run to HALO Infinite has begun and I love the look of the custom Series X but as a HALO Fanboy, dear god I really, really love the Master Chief Elite Series 2 Controller!
For more information check out Xbox Wire, the official news site for all things Xbox!
ININ Games together with Raw Fury are looking forward to the upcoming release of Star Renegades as boxed versions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4! The rogue-lite strategy RPG – created by the masterminds and makers of Halycon 6: Starbase Commander at developer studio Massive Damage – will be available from Friday, August 27th in North America and Europe.
Resist. Reclaim. Revive. Repeat.
Join the rebellion and lead a ragtag rebel squad to fight against The Imperium – a merciless adversary in fast-paced, tactical turn-based interplanetary battles. Unlock, trade and upgrade the rebels with tons of weapons, loot, and gear – but beware! Your enemies won’t go easy on you. Will you be able to save the universe?
Star Renegades features:
Fast-paced tactical turn-based timeline battle system
Hauntingly beautiful landscapes and ruins
Pretty pixel art style
Procedurally generated dungeons
Unique enemies and bosses
Epic synth-wave compositions and excellent sound design
In addition to the retail versions, there are two premium limited editions available for pre-order, exclusively at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store.
The Limited Edition comes individually numbered and includes a manual. The Collector’s Edition comes in a special box including a modular diorama, a beautiful artbook, the superior soundtrack and a lot more. Visit the Partner Store for more information!
To celebrate the release of A Quiet Place Part II, we have a prize bundle set to give away.
To celebrate the home entertainment release of A Quiet Place Part II, written and directed by John Krasinski and starring Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy, we’re giving away an A Quiet Place Part II prize bundle to one lucky winner!
Hailed by critics and audiences alike and Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes®, John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place: Part II is available on digital to Download & Keep now and on 4K Ultra HD+Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on the 30th August from Paramount Home Entertainment.
The release also boasts exclusive special features that take viewers deeper into the world originated in the global smash hit A Quiet Place. Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realise that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.
How to enter to win
For a chance to own the highly rated thriller on Blu-ray™, along with an assortment of film merchandise, including an A Quiet Place Part II T-shirt, mug and survival kit, enter below:
I love it when I stumble upon an indie game created by a small team. These intimate projects are normally unique and small endeavours that explore some bizarre concepts. Alveole comes from a tiny two-person team and delivers a minimalistic experience.
Developed by Emil Ismaylov and Denis Petrov and published by Sometimes You, this is a basic puzzle title. Conceived during a two-day hackathon, the theme was “cage” and the pair didn’t want to take this literally. They created a metaphorical image to represent their thoughts. A simple game was generated where one mechanic was used! The repetitive nature highlights the feeling of being trapped and thus they stay true to their theme.
Focus your mind and aim for the win!
Alveole uses deja vu to hammer home its concept.
When a game explores the same mechanic repeatedly, you expect it to go somewhere. Alveole doesn’t, and this deja vu feeling serves to hammer home its concept. The game revolves around a man on a hamster wheel who must run until he’s exhausted. His only goal is to jump over a spike that appears randomly. If you fail, you’ll stumble, but will continue to run (you don’t get to escape your fate that easily).
This is the basis of the game, a continual treadmill that you can’t get off! You are trapped in this perpetual loop until you understand the cryptic clues before you. You guess their meaning as you stumble and jump your way to each solution. Perfection, failure, finishing, returning, and more must be achieved. It’s undeniably weird, and it took a while to understand what was happening. I expected more, but somehow I was hooked and determined to unravel the hidden meaning.
Can you unravel the clues?
It won’t be for everyone!
The artsy concept and odd nature of Alveole played on my mind. I don’t know what I’ve experienced, and I’m not sure I even liked it. I struggled to grasp its meaning but couldn’t put it down. Repeatedly leaping the spikes sent me a little insane, and I felt trapped inside a game that gave minimal hints.
The limited gameplay and unusual premise won’t be for everyone! On console, the following will be niche even amongst the puzzle genres hardcore fan base. With a minor amount of logical thinking, and mainly trial and error leading the way, it’s more of an experiment than a puzzle, per se. This will limit its appeal and stunt the recognition this odd title deserves.
Alveole uses minimalist imagery and a monochromatic palette.
I may not have fully understood the concept, but the presentation resonated with me. The simple monochromatic colour palette was as striking as the sharp lines and basic imagery. A large wheel sits in the middle of an almost empty room. Visual clues are dotted around the screen that disappear as you solve each mystery. The protagonist is an outline of a man who moves smoothly within his rolling prison. The game lacks complexity, and what you see is what you get. I loved its straightforward approach, and it proves that less is more.
The feeling of deja vu is also apparent in the repetitive audio. The lethargic piano music creates a serene atmosphere that’s calming and pleasant. The constant loop of one track was, however, tedious, but it emphasised the theme perfectly.
How on earth do you unlock this?
Jump, stumble, jump, jump……
Unsurprisingly, Alveole is easy to play! You focus on timing your jump, and that’s it. The game revolves around the pressing of one button, so its simplicity, personified. The challenge arises from working out the cryptic clues and not the control method.
Sadly, the game’s definitive style ensures that the replay value is kept to a minimum. Once you solve each clue, there is nothing else to do, and this limits the gameplay. Fortunately, it’s inexpensive and if the premise intrigues you, it will be an enjoyable couple of hours.
Alveole is a strange artistic experiment.
The idea of being trapped on a treadmill repeating the same task is a daunting prospect. Yet, Alveole has constructed its whole premise around this simple concept. It’s a strange artistic experiment that won’t appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed unravelling the clues. It’s weird, but I liked it and recommend you to buy it here! No one wants to feel trapped, so unravel the clues and escape your mundane existence.
Boy the time is just flying past in 2021 as I swear the last time I looked we were in E3 mode and now here we are at the end of August 2021 ready for another Gamescom 2021 which again is digital due to the ongoing Pandemic and COVID. Now the E3 Xbox Showcase was just incredible but we have been told by top Xbox peeps like Aaron Greenberg not to expect any big reveals or new information from tonight’s 90minute show but you never know, I do feel if any surprises are to come then they will be Xbox Game Pass Ultimate news and additions.
But here we are, below you will find all the news and trailers as it happened during the stream and my final thoughts afterwards:
Dying Light 2: Stay Human – New Gameplay Trailer
Villedor was one of the first few places where the infection started. Walls surrounding the city were supposed to lock the danger inside, now, they protect from what’s out there. Check out the brand new gameplay trailer for Dying Light 2: Stay Human
MS Flight Simulator: Spotlight with Jorg Neumann, Head of MS Flight Simulator, mentioning the Top Gun content but no details as the film itself has not released, but did talk about the monthly updates schedule that will still continue for the game on PC and Xbox Series X and S consoles and we also got some new trailers for content to come including Air Races which brings competitive MP to Flight Simulator:
COMING SOON! Microsoft Flight Simulator is partnering with the Reno Air Racing Association to bring the famous STIHL National Championship Air Races, the world’s fastest motorsport, to the sim! The Reno Air Races represent the first major expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Humble Games coming to Xbox Game Pass Trailer
Humble Games is excited to announce that these indie games are available to play day one on PC, console, and cloud with Xbox Game Pass: Archvale, Bushiden, Chinatown Detective Agency, Dodgeball Academia, Flynn: Son of Crimson, Midnight Fight Express, Next Space Rebels, Signalis, Unpacking, and Unsighted. Learn more at humblegames.com
In to the Pit – Gamescom Trailer (Day One Game Pass)
A fast-paced retro-FPS roguelite! As a member of a family of lore-hunting mystics you are summoned to a cursed village, drawn by rumors of a demonic portal. Dark magics have overwhelmed the village, It’s up to you to rescue the survivors, grow your powers, and journey forth INTO THE PIT.
Age of Empires IV – Sit Down chat with Adam Isgreen, Creative Director and a new gameplay trailer
Play Age of Empires IV day one with Xbox Game Pass for PC on October 28, 2021. The pages of history are filled with defining moments. What will yours be? One of the most beloved real-time strategy games returns to glory with Age of Empires IV on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows Store, and Steam, putting you at the center of epic historical battles that shaped the world. Featuring both familiar and innovative new ways to expand your empire in vast landscapes with stunning 4K visual fidelity, Age of Empires IV brings an evolved real-time strategy game to a new generation.
Xbox Cloud Gaming for Xbox Console – Coming Holiday 2021
Play right from the cloud on your console with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Join friends faster, easily discover new games without waiting for downloads, and experience next gen games on Xbox One.* Xbox Cloud Gaming coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One holiday 2021. *Supported games only. Game features and availability will vary by console. Occasional wait times may occur.
Wasteland 3: The Cult of the Holy Detonation Trailer
Wasteland 3: Cult of the Holy Detonation Cult of the Holy Detonation expands the Wasteland 3 experience with entry into the Cheyenne Mountain complex, crammed with new characters, enemies, challenging combat encounters, and powerful new weapons and armor. Your squad of Rangers will be tested like never before in objective-based encounters that put a creative spin on the already deeply tactical turn-based combat. As they face overwhelming odds, the Rangers will need to shut down reactors, clear ventilation systems, and engage defensive countermeasures to stem an unending tide of dangerous mutants and machines within the dilapidated military bunker.
Sea of Thieves: Borderlands Crossover
Explosion noise here! Fans of death, explosions, quality workmanship and explosions can sail the seas with some Pandorian panache thanks to the Mayhem Ship Set, available to earn now in Sea of Thieves. Pirates and bandits alike can earn this sunny symbol of chaos by accruing enough Favour in the Making Mayhem Event before 10am BST Sept 7th 2021.
State of Decay 2: Homecoming Trailer
The original Trumbull Valley map is coming to State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition. Available September 1st in the Homecoming update.
Stray Blade: Gamescom Trailer
Prove yourself in this action RPG and master intense combat while exploring the ancient ruins of a mysterious civilization. Legends tell of Acrea the Lost Valley, a wild and overgrown place but unmistakably powerful. You found this forgotten land yet died. Time passes, and miraculously you are brought back to life. The price you pay: You are bound to this land.
Crusader Kings III: Gamescom Trailer
Paradox Interactive’s hit grand strategy role playing game Crusader Kings III is coming to Xbox for the first time in franchise history. Paradox will bring the majesty and intrigue of medieval court politics to an entirely new audience on Xbox Series X|S. Coming Soon!
Psychonauts 2: Launch Trailer
Play Psychonauts 2 from August 25th With Xbox Game Pass! https://www.xbox.com/games/psychonauts-2 Combining quirky missions and mysterious conspiracies, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game with cinematic style and tons of customizable psychic powers. Psychonauts 2 serves up danger, excitement, and laughs in equal measure as players guide Raz on a journey through the minds of friends and foes on a quest to defeat a murderous psychic villain. Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
The Gunk: Gameplay Gamescom Trailer
Get a first look at The Gunk gameplay – A new Xbox exclusive from the makers of SteamWorld. Hits day one on Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC December 2021.
Forza Horizon 5: Custom Xbox Wireless Controller
Grab the Xbox Wireless Controller – Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition for the ultimate Horizon adventure, featuring racing inspired custom grips and a first-ever transparent yellow finish.
Forza Horizon 5: Cover Art Reveal
Introducing the cover cars of Forza Horizon 5, the Mercedes-AMG ONE and the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands. Whether in the Mercedes-AMG One with its Formula 1 hybrid technology or the rugged, off-roading experience of the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands, we wanted to bring diverse vehicles to the game to take advantage of what the beautiful land of Mexico has to offer.
Forza Horizon 5: 8 Minutes of New Gameplay
Presenting the first eight minutes of Forza Horizon 5, exploring our expansive version of Mexico. Featuring Forza Horizon 5’s cover cars, the Mercedes-AMG ONE and the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands, and landscapes such as the active, snow-capped Gran Caldera volcano, a dust storm in the Mexican farmland, and dense jungle tree canopy. Forza Horizon 5 is available November 9 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC on Windows and Steam, and Xbox Game Pass including console, PC and Cloud Gaming (Beta).
and that is a wrap…..
…. My Thoughts
Just as Aaron Greenberg said in his tweets and in the preshow intro, there was nothing massive or huge revealed in this show. Other than updating on the titles coming to Game Pass and Xbox for the rest of the year, the only real big focus was on Forza Horizon 5 with the ending dedicated to it before handing over to their very own showcase stream right as this show ended and boy does it look amazing, also really like the Custom Controller which can be pre-ordered now.
Xbox Cloud Gaming coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series Consoles for December this year will please many who have been unable to secure Xbox’s New Generation of consoles which will please many. This was a fairly low-key, slow paced showcase which was expected but the biggest surprise to me was still no release date for HALO Infinite, which considering the backlash from the news of no Co-Op campaign until 3 months after launch and no Forge until 6 months post launch, maybe they chose to just let HALO news rest before revealing anything else but it was disappointing none the less.
So yeah, rather lacklustre but a solid show that did exactly what Xbox said it would do just without any bells and whistles yet Xbox is still in a very healthy place right now for fans with Xbox Game Pass fuelling gaming on Xbox brand for months and maybe years to come!
There are some things in this world that we’re not supposed to understand – why earphone wires magically create knots when you’re not looking, the plot of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and why this title exists.
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound and Debriefed, or perhaps more accurately ‘Akiba Strip’, is a re-master of the 2011 PSP release, Akiba’s Trip, and is exactly what it sounds like – an anime strip game – existing as one big in-joke for those ‘not just your average bear’ anime fans.
There is a plot – believe it or not – which sets you and your freedom fighting team against vampire-like creatures. To eradicate this threat, you must kill them in broad daylight by stripping them of their clothes and letting the sun do the rest.
Before we transition to the ‘what’ and the ‘oh god why’, let’s address the appeal of this title’s more innocent features – its map and visuals. Akihabara – the Otaku holy ground – is represented well with the main streets explorable and the remastered visuals and 60fps giving the general aesthetic a nice warm hue to bumble about in. Like a mini segmented open-world, you are able to access each area as you wish via menu screen, and can complete side missions, play mini-games or just randomly attack pedestrians. NPCs such a police officer, a charity worker, tourists and office workers fill the map and interact with each other bringing a realistic-ish tone to the accurate map.
A setting in which to enjoy a story is far from a reason to run to the stores and scream for the brown paper bag that should accompany this though. Unable to escape the lake of perversion it’s been cast in, the redeeming features are soon absorbed into a monster that I, personally, couldn’t wait to be rid of. I also should add that I’m not particularly averse to games that go against the norm, I gave Date a Live: Rio Reincarnation – an anime dating simulator – 10/10, as an example, and have visited Akihabara many a time for anime and video game memorabilia – just not for things as extreme as this.
Comparing it to an existing title you’d probably say that it’s like a poor man’s Persona mixed with GTA NPC mechanics due to its location, anime visuals and ability to attack anyone walking on the map. Even the battle system, which contains plenty of normal attacks seems reasonable enough, but its purpose is more than a little bit suspect.
Turning part-vampire after being bitten by a fanged beast, you – like in every vampire drama ever made – decide that your attacker is now a potential love interest all the while a shadowy organization forcibly enlists you to their cause to unclothe the undead. All above board up to this point, I’m sure you’ll agree, and to play devil’s advocate, it should also be noted that with violence – context is everything. A fight with intentions to tell a story, regardless of how violent, is easy to get behind, but facilitating the senseless and random attacks on unsuspecting and defenseless characters is quite the opposite and is something I’ve never understood the appeal of, despite being a huge fan of city-based open-world games.
This brings us to the elephant in the room and the gameplay mechanic the entire game is built around – stripping young girls (enemies or NPCs) of their clothes completely against their will. As if that’s not bad enough, the worst part is actually the way it’s portrayed as there isn’t a single acknowledgment of how obscene these actions or predicaments are, instead it’s embraced like a badge of honor and played straight, like its barely hidden hentai references and explanations for manly uses of used anime girl figurines – it’s as normal as asking about the weather.
The lengths the game takes to try to convince you that there is context for this behavior is impressive, but needless to say, it’s painfully obvious that this game was made with this mechanic in mind and everything else is secondary. Missions mostly involve the putting on and taking off of clothing – the former in the form of disguises/cosplaying and the latter in the form of indecent assault amidst the rise of the geeky vampires.
The strange thing is, if the declothing mechanic/random violence against women and perverted conversation were to be removed, due to its absurdity, this could have actually been an amusing anime game. Memorizing the backstory of a fictitious anime, and cosplaying to get into a top-secret meeting with vampires, there is potential for 4th wall-breaking humor and blatant self-deprecating laughs, but instead, you get to do things like flirt with your sister.
I’ll admit that there are games and an age rating for everyone. You know what you’re in for with an ‘M for Mature’, but this title has seemingly done everything it can to make it seem acceptable and ‘cool’. Even one of the worst offenders of gratuitous violence in GTA pales in comparison here. To GTA‘s credit, it used a fake city and made its most enjoyable weapons ones that most of the world’s population couldn’t acquire, but most importantly of all, it’s clear as day that the main characters are awful human beings, which most would find hard to relate to and consider emulating. Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound and Debriefed, on the other hand, bases itself in a real place, encourages behavior that anyone can copy and makes seemingly sane characters – who you can customize to look like yourself – carry out the actions, making the proposition of copying said actions seem far from strange.
Fans will likely be too giddy that this ‘niche of the niche’ title has made it to the west at all (it was previously a Japan-exclusive release), but the remaster does little to improve the poor loading times and outdated elements. Every element has been bettered and surpassed elsewhere. Akiba’s Beat, the most recent game in the Akiba series, expands the Akihabara map and adds many more shops, if you’re looking for Tokyo-based action then Persona 5 Strikers or Neo – The World Ends With You has it beat, and finally if you are looking for a genuine Tokyo atmosphere then the Yakuza series is your best bet. Unless you’ve been looking for this specific stripping mechanic, there’s very little of value here.
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed is the embodiment of fan service, trying to combine as many extreme and deviant otaku culture elements in one ‘cute and cuddly’ anime wrapper. With any potential drowned out by the noise of the shockingly appalling gameplay mechanic and the atmosphere it produces, this – in addition to the objectively aged elements – make it impossible to recommend. Because despite how much we wouldn’t like to admit it, the games we play reflect ourselves in some way and admitting that this is part of your gaming collection could be rather damning.
Growing up, we all had our favourite games, and your love for them would never waver, no matter what people say. For me, I fell for many wonderful franchises, but I became addicted to King’s Bounty! I was fascinated with the fantasy world, the freedom to build an army, and the exploration mechanics. So, unsurprisingly, I was super excited when the sequel, King’s Bounty II, was announced.
Developed by 1C Publishing EU and published by Koch Media, this is a fantasy turn-based strategy title. Combining open-world elements and plenty of tactical nuances, I couldn’t wait to get my teeth into the latest instalment.
King’s Bounty II captures the essence of previous iterations, but is it enough?
Set in the sprawling realm of Nostria, King’s Bounty II spoils you with its expansive landscapes. You will venture freely across the kingdom, completing tasks, accepting side quests, and looting boxes. It utilises many dated mechanics and has a comfortable, if not tired, feel to the gameplay. This isn’t a bad thing, it merely lacks originality. You’ll instantly note the Dungeon and Dragons’ influences and the splashes of Xcom within the combat elements.
Having played the original to death, I felt right at home with the lore and story. The latest rendition captures the essence of its predecessor perfectly and I admired the developer’s work. However, is a thirty-plus-year-old concept going to be enough for modern gamers? Only time will tell!
Let the brutal festivities commence.
Three characters, a large army, and game-changing beliefs.
How you wish to approach King’s Bounty II is up to you! Mainly because each of the three characters has unique characteristics that guide the gameplay. You pick between Warrior Aivar, Mage Katherine, and Paladin Elisa. Each follows a different path and uses their skills to manipulate situations. Will you use power and brawn to overcome a problem, or guile, magic, and stealth to get the correct result. Whatever route you choose, you may select abilities that support your character.
You may create an all-powerful warrior who has no magical skills, or you can blend each ability to become an all-rounder. Whatever you decide, it matters not, as all decisions ultimately lead to the same result. The main premise revolves around turn-based battles and the subtle tactical advantages. Each fight uses a hexagonal grid system where the armies take turns to attack and defend themselves. The normal strength, weapons, and defence stats must be considered during battle. You’ll select between ranged attacks, magic, or melee. Moreover, you must analyse your opponent’s weaknesses, position your troops accordingly, and capitalise on their frailties. Sadly, however, strategy fans will experience nothing new.
Nonetheless, you’ll soon note that the fighting is brutal, hard as hell, and unforgiving. Your army will fall by the wayside and replacing them is costly and time-consuming. Now, I loved the meticulous nature of the gameplay and enjoyed selecting the best force for each encounter. Yet, mistakes set you back hours and losing your high-end group of bears, ghouls, or bowmen was horrific.
Command your forces across the battlefield.
Money makes the world go round.
Nostria is a wealthy land, and its high society will pay handsomely. This is extremely fortunate, as everything costs a ridiculous amount of gold. Weapons will break the bank, spells are astronomically priced, and new units for your army will cost you an arm and a leg. It’s borderline sadistic how the developers have balanced the gameplay, and you’ll feel the pinch every time a mistake is made.
To fund your adventure, you undertake quest after quest to build up your coffers and explore the kingdom. It’s therefore disappointing that much of it feels devoid of life. The towns and villages appear empty, cold, and heartless, and traversing the world to complete menial tasks was more a chore than a pleasure. The desire to rake in money luckily overwhelmed the negative grind element, but I couldn’t help noticing the immense amounts of padding. I was desperate for the game to evolve and grab my attention, sadly; it plateaued early on.
The tasks follow a similar pattern and you’ll quickly experience the small rendition available. This was frustrating as I wanted an array of missions to try, yet, strangely, my attention rarely faded. Thanks in part to the varied landscapes, but helped mainly by the selection of foes to overcome. The fine balance between open-world exploration and combat ensured the game flowed nicely.
King’s Bounty II comprises moments of beauty, but it fails to use modern graphics to their fullest.
With the introduction of “next-gen” consoles and powerful graphics cards, I had high hopes for King’s Bounty II. However, the developers failed to utilise the power on offer and only glimpses looked fantastic. With visual glitches, low-quality textures, and character models appearing identical, I was disappointed. It reminded me of an Xbox 360 title and was, therefore, closer to original than I truly hoped for. Fortunately, though, it’s perfectly serviceable, and once you overcome the initial impact, you’ll enjoy it on a basic level.
1C Publishing EU has excelled with the audio, however. The medieval soundtrack matches the emotion and drama that unfolds before you. Calming music highlights the serene moments before high energy and sharp sounds drag you back into battle. The lifeless world would have been much duller if it wasn’t for the fantastic acting. The NPCs chatter amongst themselves and you’ll listen to their inane ramblings with glee. The story is presented and acted to a high standard and it was great to listen to. I wish the developers had put as much effort into the visual elements. It’s clear that the potential for a great game was there, yet, sadly, it didn’t quite reach that height.
Everyone needs the help of a hero.
A fantastic tutorial, and the world’s slowest horse.
With many elements working together, King’s Bounty II had to have a thorough and simple tutorial. Fortunately, this is what you get, and learning the fundamentals was surprisingly easy. It was pleasurable to play, even when the difficulty was agonisingly tough.
No matter how good the controls were, though, you can’t avoid how bad your horse is! It’s slow, has zero turning circle, and crashes into everything. Exploring the map wouldn’t be so bad if your equine companion wasn’t such a donkey. This issue needs addressing, otherwise, all the enjoyment will be sucked out of the game.
If you can cope with the difficulty, the appalling horse, and the dated graphics, you’ll experience an addictive game. With many storylines to explore and skills to unlock, the possibilities are endless. The plot is fantastic, if not a little hammy, and the combat is great and worthy of your time. There is plenty of replay value if you fall for its charms, and I can’t wait to try the other classes.
King’s Bounty II let its roots monopolise the gameplay.
The original was a resounding hit, so there was no surprise that it would stick to its roots. However, King’s Bounty II needed to loosen the shackles and evolve from its well-laid foundations. There is much to love about it, but you must accept its shortcomings to appreciate its concept. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! The realm of Nostria needs a hero. Will you step up and be counted?
The 3D puzzle platform genre is absolutely saturated. To stand out in this market, you have to do something unique and interesting. Collectables must be plentiful and challenges must push me to my limits. Scrap Garden is another title that tries to penetrate this much-loved genre. Does it have what it takes to be different, or will it be forgettable?
Developed by Flazm and published by ChiliDog Interactive, this is a classic 3D puzzle platform title. Using many tried and tested mechanics and tricks, I wasn’t too hopeful it would stand out from its peers. You control a bin-like robot who must collect gems, defeat monsters and bosses while saving his fellow robots. This sadly could be the plot of any game in this field, but I have to keep an open mind and remain ever hopeful.
Scrap Garden has a cute story but holds no surprises.
You are Canny, a robot that has a solar-powered energy core. The world, as you know it has shut down! A dreadful event involving the central power crystal and a dragon causes the end of robot kind. Only Canny and a handful of other machines have survived. Together, you must reconnect the four power lines, defeat the foul beast, and bring energy back to the world.
It’s a cute story full of interesting characters and humourous moments, but it’s old hat. I could have heard this story in any other game and I’d know what to expect. Even though I wasn’t captivated by the storyline, this doesn’t mean I disliked the gameplay. With a handful of worlds to explore and evil bosses to overcome, there is plenty to keep you busy. You’ll face an octopus, gorilla, worm, toad, and dragon. None of them poses much of a threat, but it was a nice change from the minor puzzles and collecting of gems.
Avoid the spikes and solve the puzzles.
Basic puzzles and small worlds.
Where Scrap Garden falls down is its basic concept and failure to evolve past it. There are an array of monsters to defeat, yet each follows the same movement and one hit kills them. Overcoming your foes was painfully easy and quickly became tedious. This was followed up with extremely easy puzzles that require no logical thinking to solve. Hitting a combination of buttons or moving blocks from A to B was the extent of the challenge. I desperately wanted more, but sadly, it never appeared.
These problems were then compounded by the tiny and basic worlds you explore. They increase in complexities as you progress, but they don’t amount to much more than basic jumping mechanics. I hoped that the game would explore its well-laid foundations, but the developers never pushed the game past its comfortable opening set-up.
Where Scrap Garden should have excelled was its many boss battles. Flazm had the chance to make a difficult end to each easy level, but they opted for uninspiring battle mechanics and a quick gateway to the next chapter. The simplicity of every element is fantastic for inexperienced players, but for anyone desperate for a challenge, this is somewhat lacklustre.
Search the volcano and find the dragon.
Scrap Garden comprises colourful worlds, nice sprites, but it’s hard to judge depth.
I liked the colourful presentation and variety of worlds on offer. The bright imagery was contrasted by the cold grey steel of the shutdown robots, and this was a constant reminder of Canny’s plight. The variety of NPC robots was interesting, and the developers have invested a lot of time to create some interesting characters. I appreciated the effort, and it stood out as one of the strongest elements. However, the ability to understand the depth and jumping between platforms was challenging. This led to many frustrating moments, and many profanities expressed. When a game is this simple, it shouldn’t be so problematic to traverse the environment.
The serious nature of the robot’s plight is emphasised in the sombre piano music. This slow-paced soundtrack accompanies much of the action. I loved its calming tones, and it suited every level. The sound effects, however, were as expected. The serviceable noises were okay, but I wanted much more. Luckily, the cutscenes between chapters fulfilled this desire. With well-delivered lines and comical undertones, it’s a welcome break from the oppressive atmosphere.
Where could this box possibly go?
Canny completes every task with ease.
To match the simplicity of the gameplay, the control system is equally straightforward. With easy to master controls and only a few commands to issue, Canny completes each task with ease. This is certainly a title for beginners and is suited to a younger audience.
Scrap Garden also sadly lacks replay value. With limited collectables to locate and no additional gameplay upon completion, there is no reason to return. An arcade machine is located early on and this offers a fun distraction. I would have liked to have seen more of this throughout as it was enjoyable and matched the robotic theme.
Scrap Garden is a relaxing and easy game, but I wanted much more.
It was always going to be a challenge for Scrap Garden to stand out, and it failed to impress me. With lacklustre puzzles, small stages, and low difficulty, it never pushed on from its solid foundations. I enjoyed the story, the colourful characters, and the audio, but this wasn’t enough to make me fall for it. I can’t recommend it, but you can buy it here! Help Canny to save his fellow robots by going on a simple and short adventure. Kill monsters, solve puzzles, and fix the energy crystal.
Here is my review with footage captured from my Xbox Series X, enjoy.
It has been a rather dismal time for me as a Doctor Who fan in recent years with the TV show at its lowest quality and popularity yet since the show was rebooted and brought back to TV and just 2 years away from the 60th Anniversary. For a while now, and if you have read any of my Reviews of the more recent series, Doctor Who just has failed to feel very “Who” at all. One aspect to the show that has always surprised me is that in this time when gaming has never been better with multiple gaming platforms now excelling over previous generations yet, Doctor Who has enjoyed very little presence if at all on them. Thankfully this has now changed with the release on main consoles and PC of a previously only mobile game for Android and iOS game “The Lonely Assassins”.
I must admit, when this released as a mobile game, I did completely dismiss it with the reason simply being the poor quality of other Who games in recent years so with this finally arriving on Xbox and PlayStation platforms it was time to give it a chance and I am very glad I did. The Lonely Assassins is at its core, a detective game and it is a very good one which uses the setting of the Doctor Who universe incredibly well to bridge at least four Doctor eras. From the marketing poster for this game you will already know that the big bad in this story are the Weeping Angels but it is the superb way in which the story ties in to perhaps one of the best written and executed episodes in “Blink” that really lifts this puzzle solving game up above any other Doctor Who title to date.
This story is set 14 years after the events of Blink and focuses on one of the main characters of that story, Lawrence Nightingale who has gone missing. You the player, have somehow come into possession of his mobile phone which is where all the gameplay takes place as all you see is this phone on your TV/Monitor as you use a cursor to navigate around the different menus of the phone from Chat, Emails, Call history and web browser, finding clues and trying to connect the dots to unlock more of the story and mystery as to how you got the phone in the first place and what has happened to “Larry” himself. Thankfully you are not alone in this mystery as popular character and UNIT Scientist, Petronella Osgood, is also on the case helping as you both work together to piece together what has happened.
I want to avoid talking too much of the story so not to spoil it so will focus on the actual gameplay and I am happy to say, as a detective and puzzle solving game, The Lonely Assassins delivers far more than you would expect from a mobile game ported to a main console platform. The puzzles are very straightforward so this is not one that will leave you making notes and sticking post it notes on the wall to figure out solutions but instead manages to allow the flow of the story and discovery by the player to a very sensible pace and should you lose track of what you need to do or what you should try next, there is a helpful checklist of objectives that will quickly help you get back on course which is great and helps this game be accessible to Who fans of all ages really.
There are times when this will feel a little dated whilst using the phone which is not quite as “smart” as current mobile phones but it does add a certain charm such as when using the web browser to search the history of websites Larry was looking at, it will actually have a loading bar as the screen slowly loads into view, very pre 4G and 5G but does add a quaintness to the feel of the gameplay. Most of the interaction between you the player and Osgood is via text message and usually once you have found a clue to upload to her to progress the story. Solutions often involve the reading of text messages and chat history to reading the websites previously searched on the phone to find a clue that may unlock another item to investigate.
The strength of this game alongside the detective side must be the writing and how it brings together so many elements of Doctor Who that many fans will really get a kick out of, for me personally this has been more Doctor Who story telling in this game that then last series on TV, which I do not say lightly. It uses the lore so incredibly well and often in subtle ways from a simple reference to clever use of a still from an episode to add to this new story. I love how it follows up on the ending of Blink and though The Doctor is not really a massive part of the story, The Doctor is present all the way through it as you work your way through the mystery. I went into playing this game with many doubts and came away from it smiling and rather satisfied.
The Lonely Assassins really is a fantastic bit of Doctor Who at a time when it really is most needed with the current state of the onscreen Who is a bit of a flux with the current showrunner Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker getting set to depart with uncertainty about the TV future for Who. This game however is a delightful way to engage in the lore and universe in a fun way and at a quite reasonable asking price. For me, this transfers to a console and PC setting than a mobile phone and uses the point and click style impressively well.
A must for any Who fan and just remember…..DON’T Blink!
