Review: Mayhem in Single Valley

Davide Roriz
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Review: Mayhem in Single Valley

Mayhem in Single Valley is the second game developed by Fluxscopic Ltd., and published by the lovely folks over at tinyBuild. The developers describe their game as a “fast-paced, puzzle-loaded action adventure”, and although I completely agree with that description, I’d also add that a key part of Mayhem in Single Valley is its charm and loveliness.

In Mayhem in Single Valley, you play as Jack, a random kid from Single Valley. Now, what is it that makes Jack special? Truthfully, nothing, but it just so happens that he started the apocalypse, or at least that’s what pretty much everyone in town is led to believe. In an effort to both clear your name and save the world, you step out of your own backyard and venture into the world.

It all started with a spillage of a mysterious substance in the local water supply. Upon consumption, the local wildlife and the townsfolk immediately became vicious and attempted to kill or transform anything and anyone in their path. As you travel the surrounding areas, you’ll traverse a multitude of environments, bat-infested caves, a desert, a private zoo, your own school, the town itself, amongst a few places.

Throughout your journey, you’ll meet several quirky characters that will aid you in your quest to save the world. However, although your interactions with the various characters are funny and memorable, and even though the game has plenty of charming moments, overall, I, unfortunately, didn’t find the overarching story to be that interesting. The game definitely has its moments and surprising twists, sure, but it wasn’t really the driving force that pushed me to keep playing the game. What kept me going through the game was the fact that it constantly presents you with new challenges and small gameplay dynamics. Because of that, the gameplay manages to feel fresh throughout the whole game. 

Now, upon first glance, Mayhem in Single Valley might look like a game with some degree of combat, but actually, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there will be plenty of enemies in your way, you won’t actually be fighting them directly. Instead, you either run past them as fast as you can, dodging if necessary, or you distract them with bait. Most enemies have a unique kind of food that they like, and if you manage to drop or throw a piece of it, they will gladly leave you alone while they eat it. In any case, there isn’t any penalty to dying, other than just restarting at the last checkpoint, so you can easily try again.

Meanwhile, just as a huge part of the game revolves around avoiding enemies, another huge part of it is puzzle solving. Now, if we’re being real, the puzzles are very minor, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t play puzzle games at all. Most of them are pretty typical, requiring you to move boxes and hit switches with your slingshot, but, most importantly, none of them feel forced. That’s one of the main reasons why I had such a good time while playing the game. Pretty much every gameplay mechanic, no matter how small it is, feels natural within the game world.

It’s worth pointing out that the game features a huge amount of collectables, but the overwhelming majority of them are optional. With that said, there are upgrades that you can get if you manage to find duct tape. Still, it’s fairly easy to acquire all of the upgrades even if you’re not looking in every nook and cranny. The upgrades themselves are pretty useful, not because they do things like increasing the number of items that you can carry, but because they increase your movement speed. This is my biggest complaint about the game, the fact that, by default, you move extremely slow. Fortunately, this is only a real issue during the early phases of the game, because once you get the speed upgrades, the whole game becomes much more fluid.

In terms of how the game feels, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how great it plays with a keyboard and mouse. At the same time, I was also astonished by how good the game looks in motion. Based on the screenshots that I had seen prior to playing it, I was expecting Mayhem in Single Valley to feature some finely detailed pixel art, but it actually goes beyond that. The game also boasts some rather meticulous lighting effects and dynamic shadows and reflections. Sure, it’s no ray tracing, but I feel that the developers have definitely put in work to make their game look the best it could.

Mayhem in Single Valley is a great example of why I love indie games. It perfectly shows what video games can be when developers don’t have their creative freedom restricted. They can bring to life ridiculous premises that can end up being incredibly witty and fun to play. In an age where the overwhelming majority of games either focus way too much on action or whatever their genre is best known for, Mayhem in Single Valley feels like a breath of fresh air.

Although far from perfect and despite having a few, albeit minor, bugs and crashes, as a whole, I found Mayhem in Single Valley to be a compelling experience. It took me around 5 hours to beat it, but that could probably be stretched over the 6-hour mark if I went back and hunted down every single collectable and achievement. For 12,49€, I think that Mayhem in Single Valley is definitely worth your time. It has some pretty creative ideas which you don’t see on a lot of games, it’s funny and charismatic, it plays great, and the soundtrack is a banger.

Review: Legend of Keepers

Kara Phillips
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Review: Legend of Keepers

We are so used to playing as a ruthless hero, how often have you stopped to think about what it would be like to step forward as the enemy? Legend of Keepers presents this opportunity, and finally you get the redemption all villains crave. With a multitude of opportunities to slash and slay the heroes, you are tasked with protecting dungeons. A simple task, really. But it definitely doesn’t come easy. With dungeon crawlers rapidly becoming an overpopulated genre of game, Legend of Keepers provides a breath of fresh air. 

The game begins with a pretty blank tutorial. Obviously with practise it is pretty easy to pick up controls, but the tutorial is VERY fast. There isn’t much to explain, but this definitely misses out some key elements to the game. Each ‘run’ of a dungeon carries over the statistics of the previous, but you are still presented with a clean slate to work with. As far as enemies and tools are concerned. 

Monsters on monsters on monsters

As a fan and previous DM for Dungeons and Dragons, I felt like I was revisiting old campaigns within this game. Taking on the role of wreaking havoc to heroes, there’s something so refreshing about villainy. Turn based combat controls each encounter, and you must think strategically about how to defend your place and treasure. You’re presented with three open slots to assemble your crew of criminals, and a wide variety of characters is available for selection. Depending on your room or location within dungeons, the roster reflects. There are different villains for different places, so it’s rare you’ll get to assemble the same group time and time again. Every time a monster is successful in defence you are rewarded. This reward can then be used to buy more monsters or traps to continue your success. 

No method to your madness

Aside from defending deeply buried treasure, you do get some quality time with your cast. Each dungeon run (I am becoming extremely tempted to refer to this as a Rungeon.) lasts about two weeks. Not real life time, don’t you worry. But these ‘weeks’ tend to be spent with an assorted amount of tasks. In this time you can take your monsters to work out and gain skill levels, or give them a captured victim from the dungeon for a delightful boost of confidence. Like I said though, these tasks are randomly generated. So it is a little difficult to devise any sort of plan. Every six weeks a new hero shows up, letting you apply all your newly found skills. 

Every time you encounter a new hero, you can choose from a select few in correspondence to what reward you seek. Aside from payment, you can also gain new traps. These are vital in refusing the glorious return of the heroes as they encounter your evil teams. But with high reward comes high risk. Heroes differ in level the same way you’d expect enemies too. So don’t bite off more than you can chew. Although an extremely powerful shiny new trap seems super inviting, you won’t be able to win straight away. As you’d expect from any dungeon crawler, you need to grind to get there. 

Final thoughts

As a whole, the first 10 to 15 hours of Legend of Keeps is extremely fun. Learning move sets and utilising each monster’s abilities is exciting and new. But once you’ve gotten to a certain point, there seems to be a sense of repetition. It’s definitely fun for a few hours at a time, and I’d recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed D&D in the past. So why don’t you try and play the opposition for a change?

Review: Train Station Renovation

Daniel Waite
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Review: Train Station Renovation

Do you see dilapidated buildings and think how has this happened? Can you look at these wrecks and picture what they would look like in their heyday? They are beautiful structures that have been; burnt, smashed, and covered in graffiti! Can you restore these architectural masterpieces to their former glory, or will mother nature swallow them up? Train Station Renovation asks you to clean and repair old station buildings before it’s too late. Take your time, painstakingly restore and lovingly decorate each building.

Developed by Live Motion Games and published by Ultimate Games, this is a relaxing simulation title that expects you to have an eye for detail. With fifteen stations to look after and a grading system to perfect, this is no easy task. You will walk around rural halts and grand city locations, looking at the wonderful architecture and assessing the damage. Graffiti, dirt, rubbish, damage, and missing equipment all ruin these iconic structures. You must scan the local area, strip the buildings back to the brickwork, and rebuild each room. It’s time-consuming, hard work, but worth the effort when you see the final product.

Train Station Renovation taps into the House Flipper market.

If you’ve played a House Flipper game, you’ll feel very familiar with the mechanics found in this title. In Train Station Renovation you are given a tool belt loaded with equipment. You are a jack of all trades, and no job is too big for you. As you delve deeper into the renovation scene, new mechanics are added that require specialist tools. Luckily, these are explained to you in great depth and your truck is always on hand to help you carry the new equipment.

As you load into each stage, you will not know what to expect. A list of tasks is presented to you, but you are free to tackle each one as you see fit. Like all these types of games, the levels are graded in a percentage format. To simplify things, the developers added a star system where 100% will score you the maximum points. You need not aim for the maximum score and only perfectionists will attempt this. As long as you complete the main aims, you can move forward to the next station.

I liked this system as it allowed more adept players to focus on harder gameplay, whereas beginners or younger players can simply enjoy ticking the boxes and moving on. There is nothing complex about the renovation work, but the latter stages require a lot of micromanagement and this may overwhelm some players.

Breathe some life into this beautiful place.

Rubbish, recycling and upgrading your tools.

Live Motion Games has added a sense of morality to their gameplay with the insistence that recycling is key. You will bag up the rubbish, placing glass, plastic, and paper in their own bins. This wasn’t just great for the planet, no, it was also good for your bank balance. Keeping yourself cash-rich was essential, as renovating each station isn’t a cheap hobby. All the items you place down are expensive, so you must put some thought into what is essential to buy and what is nice to buy.

Some items can not be reused and these must simply be binned. Skips are purchased and filled with bulky items and this can be difficult to manage. You must plan what items to throw away first otherwise you’ll waste space and lose all-important money. Rubbish management, the unexpected task when renovating a site, great fun, eh! It’s not all doom and gloom though, as cash is awarded for progress on each level. The more stars you earn, the more money you are given. So pick out the easy jobs, place down cheap items, and increase that completion percentage slowly.

So why earn those stars? Our jack of all trades starts with basic equipment. A paintbrush, sponge, yard brush, and so on. As you earn stars, you can improve your equipment. Your sponge turns into a mop, paintbrush a roller, and yard brush a hoover. It makes each job easier and quicker to complete, and this is essential when you hit the later stages. Working alone is hard enough work as it is, but hand scrubbing graffiti is more bearable when the job is simplified.

So much rubbish to deal with.

Your tools are magical and the rubbish doesn’t quite add up.

The gameplay is pretty well thought out, and each task is well balanced. Yet, it was amusing how certain tools could be used for multiple reasons. The crowbar essentially smashes everything and anything; boarded windows, check. Broken doors, check. Massive vending machine needs destroying, check, check. It was a tad unrealistic, but amusing nonetheless.

This silliness continued with the non -recyclable rubbish. Your character has no problem with placing building blocks and large pots in his pocket but rightly has to carry pallets and oil containers straight to the skip. So far, so good. What was hilarious was the inability to bag up small toys such as rubber ducks. You’ll find one lying down and have to drag it across the map to heave into the bin. Bizarre, absurd, but it brought a wry smile to my face.

It didn’t break the game, but it reduced the realism factor that was otherwise pretty high. I would like to have seen the requirement to carry a toolbox, purchasing objects, and the need for a multitude of different tools. Though this would have made the gameplay harder and possibly tedious, I think it would have been the right way for this title to go.

Train Station Renovation works well on console.

Whenever I look at this genre of game, I automatically associate it with PC gaming. Yet, when one comes to console I’m instantly interested in trying it out. Fortunately, Train Station Renovation works well on console. Graphically it’s not the most advanced game that you’ll see, but the levels look great, the buildings have a nice layer of detail to them, and there is an array of furniture and equipment that looks lifelike. A nice mix of colours add depth to the images, and the gameplay runs smoothly with no issues.

A relaxing game requires a laid back and calm soundtrack and that is exactly what is presented. A mix of jazzy piano songs and airy tunes add variety to what is a slow-paced affair. You will enjoy the sounds of your footsteps as you walk around each station, and every task has appropriate noises attached to them. Like the graphics, it won’t wow you, but the amount of songs that play prevents the game from feeling monotonous.

Get out the mop and bucket and give that a scrub.

A great port from PC.

With many tasks to complete and lots of items to select, this could have easily been a mess to play. Luckily, it’s smooth and easy to understand. The radial menu makes tool selection simple. And I liked how it was aimed at gamers of all skill sets. The UI has been redesigned for console gaming and it shows straightaway. I applaud the developers for their consideration when porting this from PC and this makes it a much more enjoyable experience.

Can there be much replay value in cleaning up old stations? Yes, yes there can. There are loads of jobs, new mechanics, and five stars to collect on each level. So, there is plenty to make you keep playing. A large achievement list asks you to get every star and so this may be out of reach for younger gamers. If you love the railway, or you enjoy DIY this will keep you busy for hours.

Train Station Renovation; a welcome slow-paced break from the norm.

With so many shooters, sports, and all-action games, Train Station Renovation is a welcome break from the norm. There are plenty of tasks to complete and beautiful locations to renovate. It’s relaxing and can be played at a mellow pace. It was enjoyable and there is a market for it, so I recommend you to buy it here! Grab your tools, clear out the rubbish and bring these architectural beauties back to life.

Review: Sun Wukong VS Robot

Daniel Waite
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Review: Sun Wukong VS Robot

Game genres come in and out of fashion all the time. One that has been ever-popular and a mainstay around the indie world is platforming and Metroidvania. These tough precision titles ask you to wander around labyrinthine worlds with little guidance or knowledge of what you will encounter. The monsters you face are evil and love nothing more than to kill you on the spot. Sun Wukong VS Robot captures each of these elements in its pixelated gameplay.

Developed by Indienova and Bitca and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a mini retro pixelated Metroidvania game inspired by old-school classics. You must run, jump, fight and explore the dank surrounding dungeons. The world you live in is dangerous and every new corridor and room could be your last. You must observe each section, think fast, and make it out alive.

Sun Wukong VS Robot is short but horribly difficult.

Now, I’ve always enjoyed this genre of game, but sadly it’s not my forte. My lack of skills compound the difficulty and this probably took me much longer to play than the standard gamer. The precision, accuracy, and dexterity required to succeed evaded me. So I took a methodical approach, slowly annihilated my foes and patiently worked my way through the maze-like levels.

Metroidvania games are renowned for their difficulty, and this one is no different. With foes that shoot, smash, and crush you where you stand, you must learn their attack pattern and avoid their strikes. This is compounded further with gigantic bosses that require both accuracy and tactics to overcome. Add in the requirement to have unlocked certain skills and you will lose your mind as you constantly search the dungeon you are trapped in.

Duck and jump.

Wukong is trapped in a mechanical maze.

Having to fight for your life is one thing, but being trapped by four jewels attached to your head is something altogether different. Each gem represents one of the four bosses you must defeat. These gargantuan robots are the key to unlocking the mechanical maze you are trapped in. The aim is simple, but achieving it is anything but straightforward. This is a title that will push the best Metroidvania fans and one that will keep you playing for hours.

The gameplay follows the standard approach for this genre. An unmarked map gives you no hints to the direction to take. You are free to explore with no idea about which path is easier or harder. You will backtrack to find each ability and new routes to each of the bosses. It’s confusing, frustrating, but above all an enjoyable challenge that keeps you coming back for more.

The skills allow you to take down your foes from afar and using them at the right time is essential. Failure to make the most of the abilities bestowed on you makes the game much harder and you are unlikely to progress. Alongside the abilities, you can spend your experience points on power-ups. These expensive boosts are essential to defeating the overpowered bosses, so grind out the XP and make Wukong as strong as possible.

Can you defeat the boss and his pet?

Sun Wukong VS Robot is a wonderful to look at retro title.

For all the realistic games that are coming out, I still love retro pixelated titles. The garish colours, blocky graphics and simple yet varied worlds are always great to look at. The sprites vary in size and shape and contain enough details to make them interesting to watch. I loved each of the bosses as they were absurd in both appearance and stature. The OTT nature of their build made the tiny hero look even smaller, and it was terrifying and amusing to witness. Sun Wukong VS Robot is the perfect representation of the modern Metroidvania title, with smooth gameplay and interesting stage designs.

The audio worked brilliantly to support the dark atmosphere and the ominous graphics. A haunting minor toned soundtrack plays out constantly, giving you an eerie and uneasy feeling. The music breaks away from this when facing each of the bosses. The beat picks up, and the atmosphere becomes aggressive. This change in style is instantly noticeable and helps to set the main fights apart from the rest of the action. The sound effects, however, were as expected. Loud noises accompany each of your weapons, and your jumps are met with thuds as you slam to the floor. The audio is well delivered and is one of the key elements that make this work so well.

Bats, robots and lasers….

Typical straightforward control setup.

Though there are many skills and power-ups to unlock, this is straightforward to play. Flicking through your abilities is easy to achieve, and moving accurately from each surface is helped by responsive controls. If it wasn’t for the games overbearing difficulty level, Sun Wukong VS Robot would be an easy title to complete.

On the face of it, this is a short game to play. The maze isn’t massive, and each section you explore is relatively small. You are held up by the army of enemies you must slay or avoid, and the constant supply of dead ends. Once you overcome the bosses and break the mind locker, there is little else to do. The achievements will all be unlocked and the only reason to return is if you loved the first playthrough. Sadly, this affects the replay value but as it’s inexpensive, it’s still great value for money.

Sun Wukong VS Robot a great little indie title.

If I didn’t suck at Metroidvania games so much I would have loved this! As it is, I still enjoyed my time and the challenge that is presented. I strangely wanted it to last longer and was disappointed when I defeated each boss. It’s a great little indie title that will push the best of players in the genre. With an unusual story and nice mechanics, I recommend you to buy it here! Sun Wukong VS Robot is an old-school inspired title that will have you addicted to its retro charms. Defeat the bosses, remove the gems, and escape the mechanical maze.

Review: Zombie Driver Immortal Edition

Michael Hoade
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Review: Zombie Driver Immortal Edition

Zombie Driver: Immortal Edition provides the definitive Zombie Driver experience. But, just what is that experience, exactly?

A product of its time:

–

I want to preface this review by reiterating that, fundamentally, this is a videogame that was developed way back in 2009. This game was created before Instagram; youtube boxing; and it even has the unflattering honour of being within the same release year as the god awful Transformers 2. The point I am making is: this game is old. 

As such, all aspects of this game are dated in some way. Duh. Graphically and mechanically this edition provides some minor repairs, but not a brand new model(… that was my best attempt at a car metaphor, apologies). So, when it comes to reviewing this game, I am going to focus more so on the content on offer; and how that holds up all these years later.

Thankfully, Zombie Driver is packed full of content. Three modes – with defined differences – help keep the experience somewhat fresh. 

Story mode provides the bulk of gameplay, with 31 missions, a bunch of side quests and optional objectives all set within a large city. Unfortunately, the city itself is fairly drab, and the mission variety isn’t all that exciting. 

You start out with a basic taxi, going around the city trying to save as many people as you can, amidst a zombie outbreak. On the way, you’ll fight through waves and waves of zombies and bosses interspersed through missions. 

Between defending installations, transporting cargo and destroying enemy nests, mission objectives do some good in terms of keeping the experience from becoming repetitive. That being said, the overall gameplay loop doesn’t change from just driving around and killing a load of zombies.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just important to be aware that this is the core loop throughout the game. If you like the idea of that, then Zombie Driver has a certain endearing quality; cultivated through epic automotive violence. Some of the boss battles are pretty awesome, to.

Furthermore, the various new upgrades, vehicles and weapons that you can unlock as you progress, helps to add some variety and incentive to the experience. There is a power crawl here that is  definitely satisfying. 

Outside of the story:

–

Story mode – even for a lack of general narrative – is still the best part of Zombie Driver, for me. 

Blood race mode, which focuses on offering an arcade style racing experience, suffers from the jankiness of the driving, as well as less overall objectives.

Slaughter mode, Zombie Drivers equivalent to a horde mode found in other games, takes you through nine different arenas, as you look to take out hordes and hordes of enemies . 

The problem here is that this mode magnifies the core gameplay that you will have already spent a great deal of time with during story mode. And for someone who found the gameplay to be increasingly repetitive as the story progressed, this mode did little to reinvigorate my interest.

I appreciate the effort that the developers went to offer a diverse package for players, but the gameplay unfortunately struggles to hold up across all of these modes and the many, many hours of engagement that they demand.

Some positives and a missed opportunity:

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There is undeniably a certain niche that Zombie Driver fulfils. In small doses, Zombie Driver Immortal Edition provides a cathartic experience for players. 

The gameplay is serviceable, but the aged systems are stretched by the plethora of content that this game tries to offer. 

For better or worse, your enjoyment of the game is solely predicated on how much satisfaction you can derive from the core gameplay. 

Frustratingly, I think one area that would have definitely boosted this game’s longevity would have been multiplayer. The chaotic nature of the game lends itself to a shared experience, but unfortunately as a single player title, Zombie Driver doesn’t offer quite enough innovation or incentive.

Still, if you’re looking for some mindless fun, Zombie Driver Immortal Edition has it in abundance.

Preview: Nuke Zone

Daniel Waite
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Preview: Nuke Zone

No matter the era you live in, the secrets that the future holds are both worrying and intriguing. In the 80s we perceived our future selves as wiser beings who flew in hover cars and are healthier beyond measure. These ideas helped to form the plots for many much-loved films and video games. Nuke Zone takes inspiration from these titles with its destructive neon-filled robotic outlook.

Developed and published by Blue Wizard Digital, this is a sharp, vibrant strategy shooter title. You control a lone tank that must drive through danger-filled tunnels. You must fight wave after wave of robotic foes, collecting Nukonium while trying to survive for as long as possible.

Bide your time and destroy them as they spawn.

Nuke Zone is still in development.

Blue Wizard Digital kindly provided me with a demo key to give you this first look impression. Nuke Zone is currently a work in progress, so my one level taster gave me an idea of what we can come to expect. At this stage the gameplay is limited and the developers plan to add a lot more content. So with this being said, let’s look at what I saw, and then I’ll discuss the missing elements.

You are instantly struck by crisp lines and a Tron inspired look. The neon hues and symmetrical shapes make this a wonderfully retro title. Your weapons fire a trail of glowing lights and your enemies explode, leaving a fading pixelated cloud. It’s beautifully stylised and will capture arcade fan’s eyes immediately.

Another key feature is the synth-wave audio that pumps out banging beats in the background. The electronic sound was a true delight to listen to, and I was amazed at how well balanced it was. It’s loud enough to catch your attention, but it doesn’t overpower the glorious laser and explosive sound effects. The graphics and sound work in perfect harmony, helping to create an old-school title that pulls at those nostalgia loving heartstrings.

EMP and explosions.

Dexterity and limited use of weapons.

The action quickly becomes fast-paced and unbelievably hectic. It fuses tank driving, warfare, and tower defence under its arcade umbrella. This eclectic mix of genres complements one another, but your success will be measured by your dexterity as a gamer. Your nimble tank can strafe, dodge, boost, and turn on a sixpence. It really is a delight to control, and this is helped by the simple combination of mouse and keyboard inputs.

What isn’t so simple, however, is judging your use of each weapon. The demo allows you to use; rockets, lasers and an EMP. Each has a cooldown system that prevents you from spamming the attack button. When all hell breaks loose, it was easy to lose your head and burn out your guns. Doing this was a big mistake and left you open to failure. I loved this strategic approach even if it made the gameplay considerably harder.

The weapons were wonderful and left me dying to know what the developers had planned. The balance of agility to power was just right. If they continue in this vein, they will have both a challenging, varied and enjoyable game on their hands.

Kaboom!

What does the future hold for Nuke Zone?

Currently, this is a great addition to the indie genre, but it needs more meat on the bone. So, what does that look like? A deep and interesting story that grabs you and drives you forward. Tank customisation and the chance to alter abilities. Purchasing of new weapons with your Nukonium. A varying difficulty, including a hardcore mode. Random item collection and inventory system. Level and objective selection. And finally, new musical elements that bring the world to life.

Nuke Zone’s view of the future is bleak and damning! But its own prospects are as bright as its neon colour scheme. The demo was fantastic, addictive, and left me wanting more. It was the tip of the iceberg and I can’t wait to see this evolve. A demo is available, so give it a go here! (Demo available from June 16th 2021.)

Summary!

It’s a massive thumbs up from me. The 80s inspired aesthetic, wonderfully sharp lines, and vivid colours make this great to look at. Challenging enemies and fast-paced gameplay make this an addictive arcade title worth giving a go.

(Reviewed on PC. Currently in development so gameplay may differ on release.)

Review: Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay

Daniel Waite
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Review: Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay

Parents around the globe will groan in harmony when they hear the phrase children’s entertainment program. Whether its; Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, Bluey, In the Night Garden, Paw Patrol, or others, they fill us with dread. These programs no longer simply exist on screen, they have leaked into books, magazines, toys, and video games. Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay is one such title that aims to move its young audience from voyeurs to a player in its elaborate story and many missions.

Developed by Drakhar studio S.L. and published by Outright Games LTD, this is a colourful 3D open-world adventure title. Released in 2020, the second game in the series follows from the well-received Paw Patrol: On a Roll. Aimed primarily at families and a younger audience, there is little within the gameplay that will challenge the older player. But the difficulty is set just right to let the youngest family members have fun, and there is enough there to push older siblings.

Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay tries to emulate the TV series, but feels flat.

From the opening scene, my kids loved everything about Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay. The character models, the interaction with all the pups, and the ability to explore Adventure Bay. They were in their element, working through the basic missions, collecting every item, and ensuring that each chosen pup was doing his/her part. Sadly though, as an adult watching on it felt flat and lacked the energy that buzzes around each episode. The voice work sounded off, and it appeared very laid back and lethargic.

But what I thought mattered not! My three mini beasts couldn’t be swayed, and they were glued to it until I insisted that the fun had to end. Luckily, because of the simplicity of most of the tasks, I didn’t have to endure the action for very long. Offering my assistance was simply met with sighs and plenty of eye rolls (they must get that from their mother). The developers have gotten the balance within the missions just right, as my help was needed only a few times.

Don’t stop moving.

Little in the way of a story.

As I loaded in, I expected there to be some odd story that the kids would follow throughout. This wasn’t the case! A meteorite has crash-landed in Adventure Bay, the Paw Patrol are required to clean up the mess and help the locals, and here is where the ambiguous link between missions starts and ends. You’ll play through seven micro missions and several mini-games solo, or with another pup by your side in couch co-op mode. Each mission asks you to assist a character from the TV series with a selection of tasks. Different pups are chosen for their expertise and the player must choose which one completes each job. Each stage comprises a basic objective, pup treats, 3 badges to find, and a Mighty Pup mini-game.

The small open-world space gives you the impression that the world is vast. In reality, invisible walls keep you within the limited playing area. You will search high and low for each of the collectables, using basic platform mechanics to reach higher spots. This may be too difficult for the youngest of players, but missing out on anything doesn’t stop you from progressing. This was one element I liked as it allowed older gamers a challenge that could be ignored by anyone it didn’t interest.

Pup Pup Boogie.

Mighty Pups and mini-games.

Once you have completed the objective, you must use your Mighty Pup powers to finish the stage. The mini-game asks you to use a series of button presses to move objects, or fix items. The same method was used throughout, which made it repetitive from an adult’s perspective, but for the kids, it ensured that they had simple and familiar mechanics to fall back on.

Once the mission is complete, you will unlock mini-games specific to that stage. These comprise a fun game for each of the pups and some of the regular Paw Patrol characters. You will play “Pup Pup Boogie”, clear snow with Everest, search for food with Mr Porter, and more. Mastering the games is a must if you wish to collect all the pup treats, and I admit I had fun busting a move in “Pup Pup Boogie”.

Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay looks dated and doesn’t have the TV series polish.

For as long as I can remember, film and TV adaptations to games have fallen short on visual presentation. I’m sure there are exceptions, but mostly they don’t live up to the hype. It’s with regret that Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay falls into this trap. The kids didn’t seem bothered by the slightly dated looks and rough edges, yet they got to me instantly. The colourful imagery masks most problems, as do the nice environments you explore, but the finish belongs to an early Xbox One title. It’s fair to say it matched my expectation. I was just a little disappointed that the developers didn’t advance the presentation much further than Torus Games did for Paw Patrol: On a Roll.

The audio is where the game is most true to the TV series. With familiar phrases, the much-loved theme song, and upbeat tunes all coming along for the ride. You will hum along to each song, tap your feet to “Pup Pup Boogie” and hide a chuckle when Marshall acts the clown. Everything about the soundtrack and effects will make you smile, and the developers did a great job with this element.

Soar through the air as Skye the mighty pup.

A kids game needs a simple control setup, and that’s what you get.

My kids are very inexperienced with computer games. I rarely let them play as I have few child-friendly titles. So, when the chance arrived for them to give one a go, they did not know about the controller layout. Gladly this didn’t impact their ability to pick this up and play it. Only a few buttons are mapped for use, and each is clearly displayed on the screen. The mini-games all follow the same pattern, so all they have to do is remember a few buttons, and they can play. It was a relief as I expected to have to help throughout, and it was a joy to see them enjoying the freedom that this virtual world offers.

Depending on the age of the player and their ability, this will either be a quick completion or hours of fun. With many collectables to find, over seven thousand pup treats to collect, and many mini-games to master, there is plenty to keep you playing. The achievement list requires everything to be collected and all mini-games to be finished so this will be out of reach for the youngest players. You can expect to have this completed in a little under four to five hours for older gamers. Once you have everything polished off, there will still be the desire to return to play as your favourite pup. The addition of a co-op mode adds longevity and makes this a fun-filled game for all the family.

Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay hits the right mark.

Something is refreshing about playing a game specifically aimed at a younger audience. Your children are safe while playing because of a lack of violence, smut, innuendoes or inappropriate content. With reduced difficulty, you are free to allow gamers of all ages free to try to complete each stage, though very young players will still require some help. Staying familiar with the TV series, Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay does brilliantly to appease its fan base. My kids adored it and I recommend you buy it here because of their reaction! Clear up the aftermath of the meteorite strike and help the locals get back to normality.

Review: Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe

Daniel Waite
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Review: Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe

Football or soccer for our American friends has long been considered “The Beautiful Game”. Followed by millions of people the world over, it never surprises me when I see new football games being released. Euro 2020 is around the corner and fans are champing at the bit to see the action kickoff. Everyone takes the game so seriously so it is refreshing when an arcade title is released that is a lighthearted affair. Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe is all about quick matches and plenty of fun.

Developed and published by Unfinished Pixel, this is a colourful cartoon football experience. This one focuses on fun and scoring goals forgetting all the complexities that you find in the genre-leading titles. With no licence to fall back on, the developers have followed Pro Evo Soccer’s approach and made up the names of each player. This leads to some glorious and hilarious creations that serious fans will lap up.

What a glorious stadium.

Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe has strong foundations.

Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe isn’t Unfinished Pixel’s first attempt at a football game. In 2020 they released Super Soccer Blast which was well received by its audience. Using the main mechanics from this, their latest title has strong foundations to work from. With single-player gameplay and couch co-op options, this harks back to 80s and 90s gaming and I loved it because of that.

You won’t find in-depth career modes, Ultimate Team, or Pro Clubs. Instead, you’ll spend your time taking on the small number of preset tournaments or customising your own competitions. This is a no-thrills title that simply wants you to play as many matches as possible.

Worldy goals and a disregard of the rules.

The second you jump into a match you realise that there is little respect for the rules. Offside, forget that! VAR, who needs it? Yellow or red cards for fouls? Nah, leave them in the changing room. It’s insane! The action is quick and reminiscent of an under 10s game where no one knows what they are doing and everyone is chasing the ball.

On top of this, worldy goals are all but guaranteed. Shoot from forty yards out and watch as it hit the back of the net. There are no requirements to score sweaty cutbacks and a scoreline in double digits happens nearly every game. It’s mindless sporting fun where knowledge and skills can be shelved from the moment you switch it on.

Pick the right team for you.

A modern game with relevant ideas.

Equality is not an ugly word and I’m all for developers creating an inclusive environment for people to game in. Unfinished Pixels embraced the growing female following and player base by allowing gamers to create female avatars and mixed-sex teams. This was a brilliant move as it reflects the influence that women are having on the gaming industry and the sporting world.

Though, creating a male or female character had little impact on how the matches play out. Neither were more skilled than the other, and there were no signs of different attributes. Even so, this was definitely a step in the right direction.

Colourful cartoon players and vivid stadiums.

If it isn’t the bizarre disregard of the rules that hits you first, it’ll be the eye-watering vivid colours. The striking tones and cartoon imagery are fantastic to look at. What is also great is the caricatures of each major player. Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe may not have a licence for naming rights, but it has artistic licence to make you chuckle.

The audio is an energetic affair with realistic sound effects and marvellous stadium noises. The whole sound file has been lifted from Super Soccer Blast, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. I have to say, I was hoping for new material so this was a little disappointing. But I guess if it isn’t broken don’t fix it.

Can you hold your nerve?

Tackle, run, score!

This is all you must keep in your mind while playing. The few buttons you use are well laid out and learning the fundamentals takes seconds. Becoming a football master is easily achieved, and this is a joy to play. Yet, sadly, there is one massive game-breaking bug! Occasionally you’ll lose the ability to control, pass, or shoot the ball. No one can tackle you and the only way to resolve the issue is to run it out of play. It didn’t happen often, but when it occurred it ruined the affected match.

Sports games have ample replay value and this one is no different. The short matches hold your attention and each competition contain enough rounds to sink your teeth into. There is a small achievement list that won’t take long to finish, though it is glitched at the time of writing this review. Once the issue is resolved, this will be an achievement hunters dream, and it’ll take around four hours to complete.

Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe is such fun to play.

If you are going to give this a go, you’ll have great fun. Goals galore, plenty of fouls, and quick action is all found in this not so serious football title. Excellent to play both alone and with a friend, this is a game that’ll keep you entertained for hours. A brilliant addition to the series and I recommend you buy it here! Pick your favourite team, score some beautiful goals, and win everything.

Review: Bunny Factory

Daniel Waite
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Review: Bunny Factory

Whenever I think of a factory production line I picture lots of workers, robots, and plenty of frantic action. What I don’t imagine is a slow-paced environment filled with one rabbit walking around while wearing a giant robotic suit. Yet, this is exactly what you experience when you play Bunny Factory.

Developed and published by DillyFrame, this is a 3D puzzle game with bunnies, lots and lots of bunnies. You must work solo or with friends to fill puzzles with coloured boxes. The premise lacks a sense of complexity, but the puzzles quickly become more and more difficult. You must use a bit of luck and an awful lot of logical thinking to overcome each problem you face.

Change the colour and solve the problem.

Bunny Factory is the latest in a long line of Bunny games.

I have been fortunate to play and review most of DillyFrame’s games, and Bunny Factory is the latest iteration in a long list of titles. They normally focus on classic problem-solving ideas, such as; Mahjong, Sudoku, and more. This time they have broken their familiar pattern and focussed on a completely original concept.

The gameplay starts pretty easy. A pattern is shown on the floor and you must place the relevant coloured blocks to light up each portion. The blocks have arrows that highlight the path that they will fill, and you must jostle each one around until no tile is left unlit. It tests your spatial awareness and ability to plan. Its simplicity makes it so fantastic and each stage has that “just one more try” element to it.

The difficulty quickly ramps up.

As you complete each puzzle, you are awarded with a yellow cube that has a number on it. You must follow the arrows, place the cube down, and start the next problem. This doesn’t just work as a method to move the game forward. No, it encourages you to explore the factory, activate the equipment, and find the collectables that hide in plain sight.

The further you progress the more complex the puzzles become! Extra colours are added to the mix, and plain cubes must be painted to fill the pattern. It quickly becomes very difficult and you have to use more trial and error and forward-thinking to be successful. The higher the level, the longer each stage takes, so this forced me to only play a few levels at a time. The constant back and forth made playing this for long periods quite tiresome, so to ease this I played it in short bursts.

Work together to solve the massive puzzles.

Bunny Factory is the best game in the series.

With one hundred challenging levels, a massive factory to explore, and a reliable server to play with friends, Bunny Factory is by far the best game in the series. The original idea has allowed DillyFrame to shine and they have learnt from their previous mistakes. Whenever I played their previous games, they were all full of bugs, issues, and graphically they were a bit of a mess. Fortunately, I didn’t experience any of these issues and other than the time it took to complete the later stages, I loved every minute of this.

I was, however, disappointed that they removed the NPC bunnies and mindless sports from the game. Previous iterations allowed you to play football, attack passing rabbits, and cause general mayhem. Bunny Factory has some cool extracurricular activities that relate to the factory, but they sadly lack the immature nature found in previous games.

Standard indie graphics.

Compared to previous titles, Bunny Factory looks great! It’s more polished, the world is larger and has a lot more detail. The blend of neutral colours and bright tones make the puzzles interesting to observe and the bunnies have smooth animations. It is much better than what they have previously produced, but it doesn’t stand out against others in the field. It is nice, but it just won’t wow you.

The audio follows suit. It delivers an expected lighthearted soundtrack with an industrial edge. It matches the theme nicely and delivers a pace that doesn’t add pressure to the gameplay. The sound effects are amusing, especially when multiple people are playing. Kicking each other never gets old, nor do the noises each rabbit makes.

No puzzle is too difficult for this bunny.

A well thought out setup.

I appreciate it when developers create games that are simple to play, and this one is as straightforward as they come. You open with an image of the control layout, and with a little practice, it quickly becomes second nature. Everything is responsive, and moving the blocks was an easy task. Taking the role of a robot bunny factory worker has never been so easy.

With one hundred levels to complete, and a challenging learning curve, this will keep you playing. The multiplayer option was a great idea as it reduced the constant back and forth when sorting blocks. A small achievement list requires you to complete half the puzzles and to explore the whole factory looking for collectables. This can be achieved in around four hours, with the same again required to finish it.

Bunny Factory, the diamond in the series.

If you’ve not played the series, you’ll have to take my word for this, but this is by far the best one yet. A thoroughly polished endeavour that tests you mentally from start to finish. Yes, I was disappointed about the lack of NPCs and without them, it felt devoid of life. Yet, the overall package is very good, and this is an enjoyable puzzle experience. If you are a fan of the genre, buy your copy here! Solve each problem and get the factory back up and running. 

Review: SwitchBot Curtain

Andrew Edney
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Review: SwitchBot Curtain

Here is our review of the SwitchBot Curtain.

SwitchBot Curtain is a small wireless robot that makes any curtains motorized and smart with a 30-second installation. After attaching to your curtain, you can then open and close your curtain with your smartphone. Or, just set a schedule to automatically open or close the curtain.

No matter it is Rod, U Rail track, or I Rail track, SwitchBot Curtain can always fit. Make sure you select the right type and measure the dimensions of your curtain rails, so it can work smoothly on your curtains.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the SmartBot Curtain body and hook pair and top lid, USB-C charging cable, rod connector, plastic strip and clips, plus some instructions.

A Closer Look

Setting up the SwitchBot Curtain

Download the SwitchBot app and follow the instructions to both install and configure the Curtain.

The Optional SwitchBot Solar Panel

Final Thoughts

The most important thing you need to do when getting the SwitchBot Curtain is to make sure that you buy the correct one for the type of curtain type you have. The versions are Rod, U Rail and I Rail and each one is different. There are also white and black versions so make sure to get the one that fits in best for you.

Fitting the SwitchBot Curtain was very simple – it took less than a minute. Everything you need is included in the box for your type of curtains. Just download the app and follow the instructions. As part of the configuration process the app gets you to move the device to the left then to the right and does various configuration test. These are really simple and only take a few minutes, then you are ready to use it.

There are different ways of having the device open your curtains – you can use the app to move it left or right, use the app to fully open or close the curtains, set up a schedule so that at certain times of the day selected sequences happen, you can open or close the curtains when the device detects movement on the curtains or you can have it open when the device detects sunlight. There are so many options for you to choose from, however you want to use it will be easy.

The battery lasts for around 8 months depending the number of times per day it’s used, however you can also fit the optional Solar Panel which just fits on the back of the SwitchBot Curtain meaning you will never have to charge the battery again (assuming it gets sunlight).

Over the SwitchBot Curtain is a great gadget for opening and closing your curtains without the need for doing it yourself. Sometimes at the end of a long day, or first thing in the morning, who wants to be bothered doing that – well now you can have it done for you.

The SwitchBot Curtain is available now priced around £55 for a single unit, £106 for a starter pack (which includes two units) and £197 for a home pack (which includes four units). The type of curtain you have also affects the price. The SwitchBot Solar Panel is also available now priced around £17.

You can learn more from the SwitchBot website.

Review: Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight

Charles Ombler
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Review: Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight

What are games for? Ask 100 different gamers and you’ll get 100 different answers. It’s why we, as a species, have made more than 100 games. I mean, probably. I haven’t actually counted. I thought I’d make a good start by counting up the games in the Fifa franchise but quickly lost the will to live. But back to the original question. If you want a cinematic experience, with action and violence and spectacle then you want Red Dead Redemption, The Last of Us, God of War. If you want a compelling narrative with a story to rival a classic novel then you want Spec Ops: The Line, Life is Strange, God of War. If you want a game with incredible feeling combat with a Mjolnir-like axe then… Okay, I might be biased towards a particular game there. But, what do you play if you just want to chill out, if you want to sit down, relax and unwind while a game dances on your retina like Anton Du Beke dancing on a giant pink marshmallow? Well, in that case, you might just want to play Tasomachi.

In Tasomachi you play as Yukumo, a young airship captain whose airship goes a bit crash-ey in the opening of the game. To repair Yukumo’s ship you’ll need to collect Sources of Earth (little paper lanterns) from around the town. With enough lanterns, you’ll unlock new areas and challenges which, in turn, allow you to earn even more lanterns and, in the process, dispel the fog that has settled around the town and restore it to its former brilliance.

That’s the whole game. Explore one of the most beautiful worlds in video games and collect lanterns at your leisure, with relaxing bird song serenading you through your journey. Zero time pressure. Zero stress. Zero worries at all. And as a completely accidental by-product of your chilled-out chocolate-free Easter Egg hunt, you get to help out the locals of the town – adorable tiny anthropomorphic cat creatures who deeply need your help with their mysterious fog problem.

And when I say ‘one of the most beautiful worlds in video games’ I really mean it. It’s stunning to look at. There are screenshots around here somewhere – look at them. It’s vibrant, it’s saturated, it’s colourful. It’s gorgeous.

The way collecting Sources of Earth works conjures some hazy half-forgotten memories of Jak and Daxter (to age myself, potentially the first game I ever played) where the main thrust of the game is collecting Power Cells that are dotted all over the map, some of which can be found and collected in the world and some of which require the completion of challenges. I also remember Jak and Daxter being punishingly difficult and one of the most stressful things on earth (at least to my idiot 12-year-old self) so that is where the parallel ends.

You need 90 Sources of Earth in Tasomachi to fix your airship and a further 60 to completely banish the fog. I believe there are around 200 for completionists. Many of these can be found in the world by wandering around town or doing some very gentle platforming. To find more you’ll need to work your way through Sanctuaries, which require you to complete 4 platforming challenges to gather 5 lanterns and unlock a new skill. The new skill will allow you to go back to areas you’ve already explored and gather more Sources of Earth, along with assisting you in future Sanctuaries. The first one of these is a ‘Ground Pound’ style move.

These platforming challenges are where the only slight cracks in the peaceful facade of Tasomachi start to appear, as the platforming is a little floaty and imprecise, with some difficult keyboard combinations to hit for Yukumo to do exactly what you need. These struggles are likely lessened if you play on a controller but the Sanctuaries are where I started to feel the rage that fuels my normal waking existence bubble up beyond the point it had been suppressed to by the calming influence of Tasomachi. It’s a mild thing but it is a little disappointing when the third person movement and camera controls feel really nice the rest of the time.

To conclude this review I could wax poetic about how great Tasomachi is but that seems a little vulgar and to-the-point for such a graceful and peaceful game. So instead I’m going to round this off in the style of Bob Ross, but if he were a video games journalist. This is a happy little game. The world is your world and you can find freedom in its streets. We can fix anything that happens here. We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents. We’ve got all the time in the world.

Review: REKT: High Octane Stunts

Daniel Waite
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Review: REKT: High Octane Stunts

Being a stuntman sounds like a cool job! Fast vehicles, the smell of petrol, adrenaline rushing through your veins, and hordes of adoring fans. Yes, it’s dangerous and there is every chance you’ll lose your life, but I’m sure the risk is worth it. REKT: High Octane Stunts puts you in the driving seat and asks you to flip, roll, and spin.

Developed by Little Chicken Game Company and published by No Gravity Games, you’ll play this casually, aiming for a high score. Set across four arenas this high-energy racing game can be enjoyed solo or with three others locally.

Get that pickup going.

REKT: High Octane Stunts is a fun, casual experience.

When Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 first hit the scene people were addicted to its arcade-style. REKT: High Octane Stunts aims to replicate this experience. With simple tasks to focus on and many cars to unlock, you’ll have plenty to do as you perform endless tricks in each arena.

The gameplay is split between solo and local multiplayer modes. Both maintain the same high-energy focus and will keep you playing for hours.

Solo allows you to play Challenge and Practice events. Both are effectively the same and you will race around each level, leaping from ramps, flying through hoops, and collecting clocks to extend your time. The premise is extremely straightforward; land on your wheels to increase your multiplier or crash and get REKT.

Multiplayer makes this game what it is, and it’s a shame it’s local only.

I’m not surprised that this is local multiplayer only, because of the indie developers budget. It’s a shame though as this mode is fun and enhances the entertainment factor. With four events to select, there is something for everyone. Score, Virus, Checkpoint and Capture the Crown are your options.

You race against one another trying to gain the highest score. Crash into each other to pass on the virus and the last car standing wins. Speed through checkpoints the first there gets one point, and it’s first to five. Finally, keep the crown for ninety seconds to be the victor. It was fun, childish, exhilarating, and super addictive.

Thrash that beetle.

REKT: High Octane Stunts is all about new cars, RP, and upgrades.

All these stunts and tricks aren’t just mindless fun. No, they help you explore and complete each of the three set tasks. REKT: High Octane Stunts gives you random missions to attempt; drifting a set distance, X amount of spins or flips, collect clocks to increase your time, and so forth. If you are successful you’ll earn RP, the in-game currency.

RP is used to unlock arenas and to upgrade your vehicle of choice. Improve its grip, speed, spin and flipability. It’s easy to earn RP, yet it focuses your mind and each completed task gives you a sense of achievement.

A long list of cars awaits to be unlocked. Getting them all is simple enough, but it requires dedication, lots of tricks, and precision to land on your wheels. Every point you score in the arena tallies up and automatically adds each vehicle to your garage. At the start, you’ll gain a new car with every visit to the arena, but as the required score increases, as does the challenge.

Dated, but nice to look at.

This is one indie title that won’t blow you away with its graphical quality. The blocky world and bright colours give this a dated finish. Yet, this matters not as it’s still nice to look at. The cars all vary in style and this is helped by an array of custom options at your disposal. A lack of detail to the final product gives this an early 2000 aesthetic. The gameplay is smooth in its handling, and the tricks and stunts seamlessly flow into one another. 

As you’d expect from the theme, the audio blasts out some aggressive tunes. The loud soundtracks are a brilliant accompaniment to the fast-paced action on the screen. It pains me to say that the sound effects weren’t as good. The engine noises lacked oomph and there is a distinct lack of arena ambience. I was desperate for OTT commentary and crowd noises, yet what you get is a bit of a damp squib.

So many cars to pick.

Landing on your wheels every time is easier said than done.

Focusing simply on spinning, flipping, and rolling, you know the controls are going to be straightforward. Every trick is performed using the analogue sticks and nailing them was a fun and easy task. What wasn’t so forgiving, however, was landing on your wheels every time. This takes practice, timing, and finesse. Learning to get this right is a challenging but enjoyable part of REKT: High Octane Stunts.

As a premise, it’s quite repetitive, and this holds the solo mode back. Where the game excels is the local multiplayer option. Here you’ll have great fun as you fight with friends for hours. If the developers added an online mode, this would increase the replay value and longevity. A moderate achievement list lacks difficulty but completionists must invest time into this to get their 100% status.

REKT: High Octane Stunts is fun, but needs more meat on the bone.

I love casual arcade games as they serve a purpose and fill a void. REKT: High Octane Stunts does just that, but to fulfil its potential it needs more meat on the bone. If the developers added more solo events or tasks to try, then this would be a much more rounded experience. Its multiplayer mode is excellent, and I enjoyed playing solo, but I simply craved more from it. I had fun with this and recommend you buy it here! Jump in your vehicle and flip, leap, and spin your way to victory. 

Review: Death Crown

Alex Chessun
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Review: Death Crown

Death Crown is a 1-bit real-time strategy/tower defense game that acts as a call-back to two-tone gaming, a cry for simpler times where video games cost an arm and a leg and their difficulty would cause the destruction of controllers the world around. Unfortunately for Death Crown it wasn’t made in the 1970s however, and no matter what angle you look at it from, a more modern standpoint looks poorly upon it, proving that sometimes simple isn’t best, with an inefficient map design and overly simple gameplay mechanics that fail to achieve even its most basic goals.

Like any strategy/ tower defense game, you attempt to gain territory and create an army with mined resources while protecting yourself from the enemy. It’s the basic premise of the well-trodden genre, but sadly for the player, the game’s ambitions begin and end there with a gameplay loop and game length sufficient enough for a modern-day free demo. 

The view can’t be expanded, spun or shrunk and is only marginally easier to look at while playing.

Sending your units on the attack places lines on the map to indicate their route and the movement of circles along those lines show the speed and number of units attacking, but it’s far from an effective representation of attacks as the tiles are – ironically – overly detailed within the game’s small maps and there is far too much happening in such a small area with the two-tone design helping very little to discern between the details. You also can’t tell if your units are causing any damage to the enemy, which is always frustrating as conquering the enemy is supposed to be the best part of the game, but instead, it barely registers visually. Even extra effort has to be made to figure out whether you or the enemy control the tiles you are attempting to places units on, playing needlessly into the enemy’s hands. 

It’s odd that the developer couldn’t make the map bigger to ease this problem, but these interface and functionality issues are far from an island on their lonesome and are accompanied by few attacking options and strategies that the tower defense genre is known for, largely due to their only being one enemy. 

What could be considered an admission of fault is the inclusion of different colour schemes, which begs the question – Why was the standard black and white design chosen when it causes so many issues? After you’ve changed the scheme and have gotten used to the crowded map, some satisfaction can be had in the campaign mode but it does little to encourage repeat playthroughs. 

A slightly better colour scheme that gave me a second wind to continue with the campaign mode…

Addictive gameplay loops don’t always require a great deal of variety, but what is essential is that the game provides a satisfying and rewarding interaction for the player. Death Crown has so little interactivity that you’d think it would be possible to make it enjoyable, but with the visuals already causing issues, repetitive and redundant actions add to the player’s woes. After defeating an enemy that you assigned numerous units to defeat, your units simply become idle instead of automatically shifting focus to another unit. This then requires you to individually assign orders to each of them over and over again, when surely a shortcut key could assign attacking units to one enemy unit, or at least the enemy’s base. It is, after all, one of only two actions the game provides you – attack route plotting and unit creation/destruction – and it still trips itself up over it. 

Why you are punishing mortals – or for that matter who you even are – is a mystery.

The laundry list of issues continues with a story that provides more questions than answers and a looped soundtrack that attempts to build tension and drama only for it to be a victim of my mute button. All of this is to say that Death Crown is about as bland as a mouth of crackers without anything to wash it down with. 

While it’s debatable whether greater functionality and larger maps would’ve saved the day – or your patience – what is certain is that the poor interface and the overly simplistic gameplay loop provide no substance or reason to return other than to complete its short campaign. The question then is whether or not it’s even worth one playthrough. Unless you’ve never played a tower defense game, I’d say it’s not, but the stylish design – its only redeeming feature apart from functioning gameplay – could attract those looking for something nostalgic.

Review: Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection

Daniel Waite
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Review: Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection

Brutally difficult games are nothing new. There are an array of ball-breaking titles for you to choose from, each will make you frustrated and angry. Most of these harsh beauties are influenced or are sequels to early gaming franchises. The 80s tended to create unnecessarily tough games and the Ghosts ‘n Goblins franchise was born from this horrible cesspool. Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is a modern take on its previous iterations and is a love letter to every great aspect of these much-loved classics.

Developed and published by Capcom, this is a borderline sadomasochistic 2D platform title. Unfairly cruel at times, this once exclusive Nintendo Switch title has been given the green light for a full console release. Everyone now has the chance to rage quit, scream expletives, and generally hate life.

An army of zombies.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection made me want to cry! 

This thirty-year-old franchise was a mainstay in my household when I was growing up. I loved watching my brother playing it and dying repeatedly. I’d chuckle to myself thinking he was useless and wondered how he could be so terrible at a game. Roll on a few decades and who is laughing now? Certainly not me! The gameplay is so tough that it verges on torture and I admit failing it for the nth time made me want to cry.

Fortunately, Capcom isn’t all bad as they allowed a range of difficulty settings to be selected. You can start at the bottom and have unlimited lives and the option to spawn from where you died. Or you can up the difficulty and slowly remove the player aids. Unless you want to smash several controllers, I suggest starting low and working your way up.

If you have a friend who wishes to play, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection has got that covered too! In a first for the franchise, couch co-op has been introduced which vastly reduces the overall challenge. With a choice of three spirits to help you, you can overcome obstacles and hellish monsters with relative ease. Well, at least compared to the solo game that is.

A traditional story for an old-school series.

You control Arthur, a heroic and famous Knight. He’s relaxing with the princess after his latest endeavour and it quickly becomes apparent that something is wrong. The town is ablaze and a black cloud is forming. The fruit of the divine Umbral Tree dies and loses its colour. Worst of all, the princess is kidnapped by the Demon Lord. Arthur will not sit by in his underpants and let this happen! He puts on his armour, forms a plan, and goes after the princess who hides in the Demon Realm.

How terribly dramatic, eh? The fairytale-like theme helps to form the world you explore. The brilliantly detailed picturesque storybook land is a pleasure to traverse. You’ll face five stages of sheer hell before you rescue the princess, though I fear many will not bother as the challenge is so great. The first two stages allow you to select which path you’d like to take. After that, the game dictates the route to the Demon Lord.

Avoid the fire breath.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is all about sprites, magic, and an arsenal of weapons. 

Like all platform games, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is all about the collectables. Luckily, these aren’t merely ornaments that show how committed you are. No, they help improve Arthur temporarily and in the long run. Golden chests contain new weapons that improve your chances immediately. Ignoring these valuable assets is foolish and unwise, so collect each one you can. If you are agile enough, you can collect magical sprites that help to reinvigorate the Umbral Tree. These magical beings disappear as quickly as they appear, so you must be quick to gather them all.

The divine Umbral Tree is a game-changer as it gifts you magical powers and attributes that assist you in your adventure. You gain the ability to shoot lightning bolts, create shields, increase your inventory slots, and more. Which skill or spell you wish to equip is your choice. Capturing each of the limited sprites is the only thing standing between you and ultimate power.

Retro gaming with a modern look.

I’m not willing to bad mouth the Nintendo Switch, but allowing this to be played on more powerful machines was the right move. On the Xbox Series X, this looks incredible and runs buttery smooth. The level of detail across each stage was unbelievable, as was the variety in look and style. The eerie gothic theme is enhanced by the use of sultry tones and the fairy tale imagery supports the clichéd but well thought out story.

The audio met my expectations with a soundtrack that will meet the approval of its many fans. Each stage has an eerie song accompanying the action, and every boss fight has an upbeat, overbearing tune to match the situation. The sound effects are good with a mixture of retro noises that ties in with the original titles.

Dodge that cyclops.

Why is Arthur so God damn slow!

I’ve seen pensioners on zimmer frames that move faster than Arthur. No wonder the guy survives wars, every time one happens he ambles to the battlefield to arrive as it’s over. His meandering is infuriating and causes many deaths. This combined with the lame ability to jump, gives you a recipe for disaster. Capcom could have and should have done better with the controls. Weapons can only be thrown horizontally or vertically and attack is the only form of defence. These oversights make a tough game much harder.

For those of you who can stomach it, this has plenty of reasons to return. With multiple difficulties, couch co-op, a tough achievement list, lots of spells to find, and a shadow mode to explore, this has ample replay value. Sadly though, I’m not sure many will experience much of this because of its cruel difficulty level.

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is brilliant, it’s just too hard! 

A tough game is one thing, but this is borderline sadistic and is something altogether different. There is a lot to like about Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection, but equally, there is a lot to hate. If you a fan of the franchise and love its brutality, then you’ll adore this. Or, if you like extremely challenging games such as OkunoKA Madness or Super Meat Boy, then this will be fun for you as well. I recommend you buy it here, but it should come with a health warning! Grab your armour, save the princess, and defeat the Demon Lord. Do all this and don’t smash your controller, best of luck! 

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