Playtime can be fun with the Magicube from Geomag, here is our two minute review.
Free your creativity with Magicube Free Building! Available in sets of 8, 16, 27 and 64 coloured cubes, you can build to your heart’s content as the magnetic cubes attach to each other on every side. This simple, fun and creative play activity encourages even the youngest of kids to develop their dexterity.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Magicube we were set was the free building 27 magnetic cubes set.
All of the Magicubes are made of 100% recycled plastic. They easily pull apart and easily snap back together. You can make whatever you want, whatever shape, size, colour, the choice is yours.
These are a lot of fun and very easy to play with and will bring hours of fun. All you need is your imagination.
The Magicube 27 Magnetics Cubes Free Building set is available now priced around £48. There are different sized sets, so have a look and see which one fits you best.
Yesterday was a big day for Xbox fans eagerly awaiting more information on the soon to release next generation of Xbox console in the Xbox Series X. But what came as an extra bonus surprise for fans was a tweet from CD Projekt Red piggy backing on an official Xbox tweet to reveal this:
Gamers should never be forced to purchase the same game twice or pay for upgrades. Owners of #Cyberpunk2077 for Xbox One will receive the Xbox Series X upgrade for free when available. https://t.co/nfkfFLj85w
This confirms perhaps that there will be no “Xbox Series X” only retail version of Cyberpunk 2077 but instead when you buy it for Xbox One when it releases in September, possibly two months before the Series X comes out and then do pick up the Xbox Series X console, you will get the full upgrade to the game for free to run on the Series X.
I remember just before the PlayStation 4 and original Xbox One consoles released, some games would have two separate retail versions, one for the last generation of consoles and one for the new so Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag had a Xbox 360/PS3 version of the game and then a PS4/Xbox One version and HALO 5 only released on the Xbox One and not the Xbox 360. The Last of Us as another example, was released on PS3 originally and then a “remastered” version was then released for the PlayStation 4 but had to be purchased ‘again’ by PS3 owners wanting to play it on the next gen PS4.
This announcement shows just how self aware CD Projekt Red are when it comes to how much money they want or expect fans to spend on their games with their views on DLC already wildly known. To have this announcement certainly sets a precedent going forward and it will be interesting to see if other game publishers/developers follow the same principle and only release one retail version of the game with one price and that any upgrades to add the features of a more powerful Xbox console will be free.
*Update 25/02/2020: Microsoft has now also confirmed that purchasing HALO: Infinity for Xbox One will also be given a free update to enhance it for ‘Xbox Series X’ for free*
Cyberpunk 2077 will release for Xbox One family of consoles, PlayStation 4 and PC on September 17th 2020.
I am absolutely fascinated by the marketing direction Microsoft are taking with the next generation of the Xbox gaming console, the Xbox Series X. Starting with the surprise reveal of how the console will look along with the sequel to ‘Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice’ being a launch title for the new console along with ‘HALO: Infinity’ at the Game Awards in December 2019, and now today just randomly date dumping a lot of information about the specifications of the console via Xbox Wire, the official news website for all things Xbox.
What was revealed today also confirmed many of the reports that have been doing the rounds in recent weeks about the power and storage that the Series X is going to have such as moving to the much faster loading SSD drives instead of the usual HDD drive. This is revealed to be the ongoing plan to make loading times a thing of the past and therefore increasing the immersion you can have with your Xbox Series X experience, even going as far as having multiple games running and instantly being able to switch to anyone of them.
From Xbox Wire:
Next Generation Custom Processor: Xbox Series X is our most powerful console ever powered by our custom designed processor leveraging AMD’s latest Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures. Delivering four times the processing power of an Xbox One and enabling developers to leverage 12 TFLOPS of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance – twice that of an Xbox One X and more than eight times the original Xbox One. Xbox Series X delivers a true generational leap in processing and graphics power with cutting edge techniques resulting in higher framerates, larger, more sophisticated game worlds, and an immersive experience unlike anything seen in console gaming.
Variable Rate Shading (VRS): Our patented form of VRS empowers developers to more efficiently utilize the full power of the Xbox Series X. Rather than spending GPU cycles uniformly to every single pixel on the screen, they can prioritize individual effects on specific game characters or important environmental objects. This technique results in more stable frame rates and higher resolution, with no impact on the final image quality.
Hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing: You can expect more dynamic and realistic environments powered by hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing – a first for console gaming. This means true-to-life lighting, accurate reflections and realistic acoustics in real time as you explore the game world.
SSD Storage: With our next-generation SSD, nearly every aspect of playing games is improved. Game worlds are larger, more dynamic and load in a flash and fast travel is just that – fast.
Quick Resume: The new Quick Resume feature lets you continue multiple games from a suspended state almost instantly, returning you to where you were and what you were doing, without waiting through long loading screens.
Dynamic Latency Input (DLI): We’re optimizing latency in the player-to-console pipeline starting with our Xbox Wireless Controller, which leverages our high bandwidth, proprietary wireless communication protocol when connected to the console. With Dynamic Latency Input (DLI), a new feature which synchronizes input immediately with what is displayed, controls are even more precise and responsive.
HDMI 2.1 Innovation: We’ve partnered with the HDMI forum and TV manufacturers to enable the best gaming experience through features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). ALLM allows Xbox One and Xbox Series X to automatically set the connected display to its lowest latency mode. VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate, maintaining smooth visuals without tearing. Ensuring minimal lag and the most responsive gaming experience.
120 fps Support: With support for up to 120 fps, Xbox Series X allows developers to exceed standard 60 fps output in favor of heightened realism or fast-paced action.
The specs are something we have known for a while but for me it is the tone in the manner in which the specs have been described and to me, this is an Xbox under Phil Spencer that has learned the lessons of how the Xbox One was originally launched and how they got so many things wrong but each mistake has brought them to how they want the entire Xbox experience to be seen and felt by both players and developers going forward. The Series X has twice the power of the Xbox One X and an incredible 8 times that of the original Xbox One console.
But there is also an appreciation that not everyone will be able to or choose to jump into the next generation on launch and to that end, Microsoft are making it known that everything Xbox is as important to enjoy no matter which console you choose or can play on. With that in mind, every game on Xbox One, including backward compatible games from the Xbox 360 and original Xbox consoles will all work on the Series X, four generations of Xbox brought together in one console. That includes Xbox One hardware as well such as controllers will all work on the Series X from day one.
From Xbox Wire:
Four generations of gaming: Our commitment to compatibility means existing Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, look and play better than ever before. Your favorite games, including titles in Xbox Game Pass, benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity – all with no developer work required. Your Xbox One gaming accessories also come forward with you.
Smart Delivery: This technology empowers you to buy a game once and know that – whether you are playing it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X – you are getting the right version of that game on whatever Xbox you’re playing on. We’re making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite, ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console they choose to play on. This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be release on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later.
Xbox Game Pass: In addition to games from across four generations of consoles, our leading game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, will continue to have our first party games, like Halo Infinite, included at their launch. We look forward to millions of you experiencing the Xbox Game Pass portfolio and immersing yourselves in a deep library of high-quality games, playing those you love now and also discovering your next great adventure.
Right now there are a lot of reasons to be excited for the Xbox Series X, and right now the complete silence from Sony about the PlayStation 5 is very noticeable. Microsoft are bold and confident in coming out with the specifications and build information for the Xbox Series X and that is refreshing. None of this feels like the arrogance that made the Xbox One such a mess on its own reveal and launch and with more information promised as we approach E3 in a few months….so far, Xbox are making all the right noise!
Watch the Next Time trailer for the final episode of this series, The Timeless Children!
More behind the scenes content as we get to see how the new Cyber Drones, Ships and Warriors came together from the costume designer Ray Holman and learn about some of the exciting new designs that appeared in Ascension of the Cybermen!
The moment is finally here as the big two part Series 12 finale begins with ‘Ascension of the Cybermen’. What started with a warning from a surprise return from Captain Jack Harkness in Fugitive of the Judoon came true last week as the Lone Cyberman appeared and the Doctor gave him what he wanted, the Cyberium, a strange AI construct containing all the knowledge of the Cybermen. Now the Doctor and Team TARDIS have travelled to a perilled future in an attempt to stop the Lone Cyberman from using it to create a new Cybermen Army.
There is a hell of a lot that this two-parter has to deliver on with Chris Chibnall making so many huge lore changing moments this series so it comes as little actual surprise that rather than getting right to the point of the Master’s return, the destroyed Gallifrey and explaining who this other “Ruth Doctor” is, we are going to do what a normal series finale would do…have the Doctor have an old enemy and attempt to save the Earth and humanity. I am more than a little nervous given how awful Chibnall managed the first meeting of the 13th Doctor and the DALEK last year but there was promise in how this was gently lead into by the use of Episode 8. We ended with a Doctor reluctant to take the “fam” with her on this dangerous mission but they as always refused to do anything but stand by her yet, the teases that not all was happy with Team TARDIS and this life travelling with the Doctor have been threaded throughout Series 12.
I loved how this episode opened with a short narration coming from none other than the Lone Cyberman himself as he deliver a monologue that really sets the theme for this episode as he appears to be talking about the Cybermen and how their weakness are constantly exploited and their failings in battle lead to their defeat time and time again. It was an interesting deconstruction of an old Doctor Who enemy and seems the practice that Chris Chibnall had in creating a new type of DALEK for last year’s New Years Day special has paid off, as the final chilling line is spoken:
“Every empire has it’s time and every empire falls. But that which is dead can live again, in the hands of a believer…”
The surprise was in a seemingly flashback follow up as we see what looked to be a 50s or 60s period and an Irish faming couple where the father has found a baby in a basket floating in river who then brings it home and throughout the episode the story returns to this family as we see them adopt the baby and see the boy grow from child to grown man where he joins the Irish Garda which is their police force. Named Brendan, we never really discover who he is but my instinct is that he is the human within the Lone Cyberman and that perhaps the flashbacks are a hint at his own Cyber Conversion attempt as we know from Episode 8 that his conversion was only half completed and that he still retains his full human emotions. It will be interesting to see if this is the case before the series ends.
We then quickly jump to the future where the very last of humanity are running from the very last remaining Cybermen forces as we learn that a war between the Cybermen and humanity had left both on the brink of extinction. The Doctor and Team TARDIS arrive to try and save the very last of humanity by using the very weaknesses that the Lone Cyberman had mentioned such as a device that would knock out the inhibitor forcing them to feel all their emotions leading to their self destruction and a device that would create Gold in the air which Cybermen are allergic too. All tried and tested defences against the Cybermen but then a twist as a Cyberdrone fleet, which are just a bunch of Cybermen heads flying, target and destroy the weapons.
The reaction of the Doctor and her “Fam” is again the most interesting aspect to this series and one more, we see the classic “Team TARDIS” optimism belief that the Doctor can accomplish anything and always save the day that made Series 11 a painful watch for me at time. Series 12 has gone to great lengths to almost undo this as we have seen Graham, Ryan and Yaz all start to question their relationship with the Doctor and the very real consequences that a life travelling with her actually means. Following the attack each one makes the observation that the weapons where destroyed, turning to the Doctor for the Plan B but instead we have the angry reaction of the Doctor. This Doctor has actively distanced herself at times from Team TARDIS following Spyfall, often returning to the remains of Gallifrey without them, not revealing anything about herself to them until cornered and pushed.
This continues as the story then splits into two parts as Graham and Yaz are left adrift in space after escaping with the final human survivors as Ryan is left with the Doctor after she had ordered them to flee with the other survivors, blaming herself for being so wreckless as to keep them with her due to their one weakness against the Cybermen, that they are human. By splitting the two groups off the story is able to keep a steady pace, learning that there is something known as the “Boundary”, a place where other human survivors are rumoured to have used to travel to a different part of the universe and away from the Cybermen. At the same time, the Doctor Ryan and a young human survivor make their escape in a Cyber Fighter where the young survivor reveals that he was born in the war with the Cybermen and that he was trained from the age of 4, how to hack and fly Cyber ships.
More seeds were sown as to how Team TARDIS might be coming to an end after this series with some interesting flirtation occurring between Graham and the lead of the human survivors Ravio, played brilliantly by guest actor Julie Graham. The writing has been strong this series by Chris Chibnall when it comes to laying the foundation for possible changes to the current dynamic of Team TARDIS With Yaz being the clear favourite to become the true ‘Companion’ to the Doctor with Ryan and Graham either returning home or moving away from TARDIS life, right now there are many possibilities for this to happen so if the final episode goes that way, I would not be surprised to see any or even all of Team TARDIS depart.
The strongest element of this story for me has to be the Lone Cyberman and the way we saw how this singular character has been used so spectacularly way to pretty much reboot the Cybermen as enemies. This half human half Cyberman is very different to any Cyberman any Doctor has faced for he is not just the leader of the Cybermen, he is exactly what he said in his opening monologue, a believer. Having a leader that retains their human emotions yet is driven by the Cyberium itself to bring the Cybermen back to glory and power is something to be afraid of. He is menacing when talking with the Doctor where the standard go to Doctor line of “I have stopped you before and will always stop you” fell flat with the Lone Cyberman, in fact he is so driven in what he believes, that he is able to retain leadership of the other Cybermen despite him not being a fully converted Cyberman. The Cyberium seems to be the main source of their obedience but there is an interesting scene where Graham, Yaz and their group end up crashing on a derelict ship which turns out to be a CyberWarship Carrier which is storing an entire army of a new class of Cyberman, the ‘Warrior Class’ which I love the look of, the new Ironman style body but with the larger traditional Cyberman head seen in the 80s.
We see the Lone Cyberman attacking a dormant Warrior Cyberman, perhaps reprogramming them to obey him or to force install the Cyberium connection but the very sight and the sound of screaming from the Cybermen he was targeting certainly changes everything we know and thought we knew about them as an enemy. For me, they never seemed like a credible threat, just a large force but they have been defeated so many way and in so many weak ways that they really never felt like a real threat. This time however they actually do or at least, the Lone Cyberman feels like a true threat and something new that the Doctor has not faced and currently has no answer in how to stop.
For the opener to a two part finale, Episode 9 packs in a hell of a lot of story whilst managing to keep a very quick pace as it builds up to the final 10th episode. So much is happening all at once that it can get a little confusing but there are small subtle moments alluding to how things might end up by the end of this series. The Cybermen finally feel like a true threat to the Doctor but it is that closing 5 minutes that yet again just hammer home that something very game changing is on its way for Doctor Who. The Doctor comes face to face with this mysterious “boundary” that turns out to be a massive portal but as the portal remains open, it suddenly reveals that Gallifrey is on the over side and with mouth open and in shock, none other than the Master himself comes through the portal with the episode ending on his final words “this is where everything changes”.
Now that is a rather nice nod to the first series of Torchwood where Jack says to Gwen Cooper that “the 21st Century is where everything changes”, but here is where my trepidation for the big lore moments of Series 12 comes full charge to my mind. We have had another Doctor in “Ruth” shown, Captain Jack Harkness returned to deliver the warning about the Lone Cyberman and The Master is back having claimed responsibility for laying waste to Gallifrey and telling the Doctor that everything they thought they knew about Time Lords including the “Timeless Child” legend. What happens in the final episode of this series is no doubt going to have a big impact on everything Doctor Who and it does have me nervous.
The lead into it with this episode does have me excited for next week but I am still worried about what Chris Chibnall has in store for what is now 57 years of Doctor Who. One thing is for sure, I am more intrigued by how this series might end than I was for Series 11!
Milestone and Dorna Sports S.L. are proud to announce that MotoGP 20, the latest chapter in the beloved MotoGP franchise, will be released on 23 April on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC/STEAM, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch.
For the first time in its history, the game will be released a few weeks after the official MotoGP Championship kick off; a big effort from the development team, to allow players to fully enjoy the current season racing together with their legends. With MotoGP 20, players can participate in the 2020 season, racing against MotoGP champions, or they can get into the boots of a young rider, climbing ladders from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to reach the top class.
After the great success of the previous chapter, very well received from critics and players thanks to both revolutionary and highly requested features, the MotoGP™ videogame now goes beyond with even more exciting news and features. The traditional adrenaline-filled gameplay, cherished by the community, is now packed with a more strategic and realistic approach to races. A pure MotoGP experience, from the box to the track!
Strategy is key
In MotoGP™20 players are now able to take the full control of their careers, taking decisions that can make the difference on track. The Managerial Career is finally back with a lot of new features that will put players’ riding and strategic skills to the test! Joining an official 2020 team or a new team sponsored by real brands of the MotoGP world, players will have a full Entourage to manage, that will support them in selecting a new team, analyzing races’ data or developing the bike. Just like in the real MotoGP™, players will need to take the best decisions to find a winning strategy to master the Championship.
Experience a real MotoGP race
The most important thing during a race is going the fastest, and every detail counts when it comes to gaining a few precious milliseconds. In MotoGP 20 players will play a key role in the bike development. They will be able to improve performance of different bike parts, earning and spending development points and allocating their R&D staff to reach the highest level. Aerodynamic, electronic, engine power, fuel consumption, are just an example of the many technical parts that players can now manage to improve their bikes.
The development team worked really hard to make the gameplay much more strategic and realistic, with brand new features boosting realism such as fuel management, asymmetrical tires’ consumptionand, last but not least, for the first time in franchise history,aerodynamic damagesthat will impact bike’s aesthetic and performances. Continuously looking for an extreme realism, the game physics has been completely re-worked to make gameplay more technical and skill based.Many of the features that made the success of the previous chapter of the franchise, return this year with a lot of improvements coming from the precious feedback that Milestone received from its passionate community:
· A renowned historical mode. One of the communities favorite game modes will be back in a brand-new format, with full races randomly generated that players need to win to unlock and collect the most iconic riders and bikes.
· Neural AI goes 2.0. What many thought was utopic, became a reality. Last year A.N.N.A. (an acronym for Artificial Neural Network Agent) brought a more fast, natural and fair AI. This year Milestone developers further enhanced its capabilities, to allow her to strategically manage tire and fuel consumption, as real riders do.
· New Editors. Together with Stickers, Helmets, Racing Numbers and Lower-back patches, in MotoGP 20 players will be able also to customize bikes’ liveries of their Custom Team, to race on track with a unique style.
· The best online experience. Dedicated Servers for the Multiplayer mode have continued to enable a more reliable and fun online experience. Now we added quality of life improvements that will further enhance online gameplay in all modes: Public Matches, Private Matches and Race Director Mode.
After three successful editions, Dorna and Milestone also confirm this year’s MotoGP eSport Championship, where players will come from all over the world, with the challenge to win the World Champion title. The fourth edition of the MotoGP eSport Championship will have a renewed formula, for more information: https://esport.motogp.com
MotoGP 20 will be released on 23April on PlayStation 4, Xbox One,Windows PC /STEAM, Google Stadia andNintendo Switch.
Two Point Hospital is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in just six days, in stores and for download. Designing and building these beautiful – and functional – hospitals seems easy, but keeping them afloat and developing them is much less. Two Point StudioBrand Director Craig Laycock and Community Manager Mark “Steggs” Steggall share their top five tips, as experts on these console versions, to help you become the Game Manager of the Year.
Two Point Hospital will be released on consoles on February 25, 2020. It is available for digital pre-order on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in their respective stores, it will also launch into the Xbox Game Pass on release.
To pre-order the physical edition of Two Point Hospital on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, go to www.twopointhospital.com where you will also find other information about the game, and can subscribe to the famous Hospital Pass.
With recent events on the Sea of Thieves really heating things up, it seems the fiery temper of a certain Skeleton Lord glimpsed in the most recent Tall Tale is having an impact in unexpected ways. In the free Crews of Rage update, now live for all Sea of Thieves players across Xbox One, Windows 10 PC and with Xbox Game Pass, players can begin fighting back against their skeleton foes with a new and explosive type of treasure.
Treasure with a Temper
Cursed Chests are tricky things for pirates to encounter at the best of times: they contain great loot but behave in unpredictable ways. The new Chest of Rage is no exception, bound by the furious souls of lost crews and liable to explode with incandescent rage! Keeping one of these chests from blowing its lid will require some skill and teamwork – but canny pirates might also consider stoking the fires and using the chest’s wave of flame as a weapon or trap.
Chests of Rage will earn you a red-hot payday and reputation boost from the Gold Hoarders, but can also be traded at The Reaper’s Hideout for double the gold at the expense of rep. This offer is only available during the Crews of Rage update, making it a great time for players to boost their coffers and pick up new cosmetics.
Burned to Ash
As part of the free Crews of Rage update, Duke has several special Bounty Voyages for pirates to tackle. Each one involves obtaining a new Chest of Rage and using it (or the recently introduced firebombs) to take the fight to the skeleton hordes!
These Voyages will lead crews to the deadly Devil’s Roar region and back out to a target island, so prepare for a heated encounter. Players are sure to notice that many skeletons in this region have taken on a new look, either becoming accustomed to the hostile environment or just dressing to impress their Skeleton Lord. Either way, these new Ashen Skeletons cannot be destroyed by fire and will make life trickier for pyromaniacal pirates.
Fortress of Fahrenheit
Meanwhile, all the Fort activity this month focuses on Molten Sands Fortress, also located in The Devil’s Roar. Prepare to experience a real hotspot of activity with plenty of chances to earn new fire-flinging Commendations.
You’ll find a Chest of Rage among the tempting treasures inside the Fort’s vault, along with a high likelihood of lost volumes from the latest and last set of Ashen Tomes. Each Tome (itself locked in an Ashen Chest) unlocks a special Ashen cosmetic, so try to find them in the Fort, in the aftermath of Skeleton Ship battles, through Duke’s Black Market Voyages and of course emergently in the world.
The Sea’s Most Generous Thieves
Finally, it’s with great pride that we can announce that sales of the Noble Pathfinder Sails in our in-game store raised an astonishing $76,205.90 for SpecialEffect! Rare and the Sea of Thieves team wish to extend our heartiest thanks to all the players who purchased a set of these sails and, in doing so, contributed to this staggering haul. The Noble Pathfinder Sails were designed by Rare’s own Art team and sold in the Pirate Emporium, with the proceeds from each sale donated to SpecialEffect.
This charity, which uses innovative technology and software to help people with disabilities, makes gaming accessible to those who might otherwise never be able to enjoy these experiences or connect with gaming communities. A big thank you to SpecialEffect for working with us and ensuring that even more pirates can sail together in 2020. Find out more about this charity’s amazing work at https://www.specialeffect.org.uk.
For more information on the Crews of Rage update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. The update is available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Xbox One or on Windows 10 PC, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. Simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.
New to Sea of Thieves? Join the fun with our all-new Maiden Voyage, a narrative-driven tutorial experience separate from Adventure and Arena modes. New Sea of Thieves players will begin their travels within this scenario, which provides guidance and information to fledgling sailors.
Sports games in general have to walk a very fine line when
trying to recreate the thrill of the sport but also in making it fun for the
player. Go too far in either direction and the balance can be thrown off enough
that the intended experience is lost. It can happen in any sports game and when
the mix is right it can be amazing to play from football to basketball to racing
games. With Tennis there is surprisingly very little titles to really call on
other than Top Sin and more arcade style games. The first AO Tennis game failed
to get the balance right and was quite a disappointing mess. But now 2020 kicks
off with the second attempt to get things right but the question is, did they
finally get the balance right?
Starting off it has to be said that this title really likes
the financial punch that you can see in titles likes FIFA, PES or NBA2K games so
the presentation is rather basic and to the point from the moment you fire the
games up. It is also very noticeable and it is still very jarring to see the
engine struggle both in the actual matches with animation and player models,
something that the first game suffered from and sadly have not been ironed out
for this sequel. Whilst I will always be more focused on the actual gameplay
and the modes a game has over the quality of the visuals but here the visuals
are almost last generation level and even playing on my Xbox One X, it was very
noticeable.
The next noticeable aspect is the roster of real-world
talent and sadly, it is missing some of the biggest names in the sport in its
limited line up of 25 real world stars. Though you have Rafael Nadal as your
cover star, the absence of iconic players such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams
or Maria Sharapova does make an impact on the game though this is no doubt down
to licensing issues, it prevents some of the dream matches that fans of Tennis
would realistically expect to be able to have in a video game. Where the game
does try to counter this is by having a robust creator mode which allows
players to create their own tennis stars and even stadiums to hold matches and
tournaments in which also allows the ability to download the creations made by
the community, with some very hit and miss versions of the missing star players,
into their own game.
The create a player system really tries to offer a truly deep
system where not only can you adjust the physical look of a player but you can
micromanage every detail of the clothing, bags used and tennis rackets. Depending
on how much you enjoy digging around in such systems, you can quickly make your
own tennis star to take into career mode or the online mode of the game. For me,
this system felt like a stripped-down version of the creator system used in
WWE2K games, but it does offer something to make up for the lack of real-world
players. I never ended up with a created player I was really happy with and
making adjustments to physical attributes using the sliders often felt as if
they were doing very little, in the hands of someone experienced it could be
used to fine tune a creation. Being able to share your own creation with the
community and to download someone else’s is a welcome aspect and adds a little
extra to this system.
The game mode that you will find yourself in the most will
be the Career mode which allows you to pick either a real-world tennis star or
to create your own to take on the road. You can really see the amount of effort
that has gone into the design of this mode as it takes into account what a tennis
pro would actually do during the professional year. This means that in-between major
tournaments you will need to do training in order to prepare but it also
requires knowing when to rest your player as well which is a nice little bit of
attention to detail and actually has an impact on your performance in matches
if you were to over train or even suffer jetlag from travelling to each
tournament. It might seem a little over the top to have that level of detail
but in a career mode especially in Tennis it is something that adds an element
of reality to the mode which I appreciate in sports titles.
Gameplay has been improved a little since the first game with a system
that using the controller face buttons to decide the type of shot you want to make
but where it still struggles however is walking that fine line between trying
to recreate an authentic tennis pro experience and still making it accessible
and fun for the player. It still feels far too much on the simulation side which
makes the punishment for failing to grasp the control system very frustrating. It
also suffers from moments where it fails to respond to button presses, the
number of times my player refused to even swing his racket just left me staring
at the screen in disbelief. One aspect to the more simulation focus of the
gameplay is the ability to emotionally react to a point, win or lose you can
show happiness by waving to the fans or you can be angry and show your
frustration by throwing your racket down in true tennis pro fashion. This will
impact on your reputation and can have an effect on sponsorship deals for your
career.
Sadly, there are too many niggles that jump out of the game
stopping this from being the smooth tennis game experience it should be. As
well as issues with animation and control system being unresponsive at times,
the sound in the game constantly feels like something is actually wrong with
the game, when the crowd sounds are triggered, they just feel like it was
recorded via a box around the microphone. Not to mention a crazy save icon that
pops up on screen after every single point, I mean I get it in as far as
replays need to be saved but just make it less obvious rather than an eye
catching and distracting.
Overall AO Tennis 2 is able to enjoy being the only tennis
game available right now that could be seen as ‘up to date’ but that really is
because the competition in Tennis video games just isn’t there. Though it is a
better experience than the first attempt, it still suffers a lot from having a low
production budget which can be seen in the less than stellar visuals and
underwhelming roster of real-world tennis stars. The depth in career mode and
the custom creator systems offer something that a fan of tennis can sink their
teeth into but this still fails to walk the fine line needed to create a really
good sports game.
It does enough but it also fails to do enough to really
stand out as anything but an average tennis game experience.
There’s no better way to honor the decade milestone of two pulse-pounding, action-packed titles than with the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle, available starting today for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One!
Running at 4K resolution at 60 FPS on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, you’d think you were dreaming when you see both Sam Gideon and Bayonetta in action!
Armature Studio has partnered with PlatinumGames and Sega of America to port Bayonetta and Vanquish to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles, keeping the stylized, intense action and unique visuals of each game intact while increasing the framerate to 60 FPS, and supporting 4K resolutions on the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro.
As part of porting the game, Armature has updated both games to a modern 64-bit architecture, including the middleware used by the games. Armature worked closely with the original creators to realize their vision for the games on modern hardware, as well as updating each title with visual improvements and polish.
Collectors, take note! Those who opt for the physical release of our first-run Launch Edition will get both games packed inside an embossed SteelBook case featuring brand-new cover art produced by Weapons Van and supervised by Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya and SEGA.
Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle: Launch Edition for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is now available through all major retailers.
A One-Two Punch of PlayStation 4 Themes
For PlayStation 4 players who prefer to build their digital library, two themes are available for purchasing the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle on the PlayStation Store:
Bayonetta & Vanquish Theme: Show some love for the original Bayonetta and Vanquish cover art with this theme – available for all digital pre-orders.
Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle Theme: Celebrate the 10th anniversary with a theme featuring the brand-new cover art shown above. Available for a limited time for all digital pre-orders and purchases up to March 3, 2020, two weeks after launch.
Get ready to tear through countless hordes of enemies in two of gaming’s most celebrated (and stylish!) action games starting today. Both Bayonetta and Vanquish are remastered in 4K resolution at 60 FPS on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X for the first time.
About Bayonetta:
Experience the genesis of the Bayonetta series with the cult classic, original action-adventure game. The tantalizing Umbra Witch rises from the depths after half a millennium in slumber with no recollection of her mysterious past. Immediately thrust into battle, she must vanquish her countless enemies to piece together the truth.
Take advantage of Bayonetta’s arsenal of skills including shapeshifting into various animal forms, summoning demons with her hair, and exercising her mastery of the bullet arts. Hack, slash, and open fire upon hordes of celestial foes in this wickedly charming action-packed adventure.
About Vanquish:
The hit sci-fi shooter returns. An overpopulated Earth suffocating under limited resources looks to Providence, the solar-powered space colony for support. When Providence is suddenly taken over by terrorists and its technology used to devastate cities, it’s up to a specially trained unit of space marines to reclaim the colony.
Equipped with BLADE, the experimental weapon system that can scan, copy, and save up to three existing weapons, DARPA agent Sam Gideon must infiltrate Providence, defeat legions of future-tech foes, and disable the weapons of mass destruction threatening life on Earth.
About PlatinumGames Inc.
PlatinumGames Inc. is an independent video game developer based in Osaka, Japan, dedicated to making high-quality, next-generation games for a variety of platforms.PlatinumGames’ website is located at www.platinumgames.com
Here is our review of the Gioteck WX4 Premium Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, PS3 and PC.
Go Pro and swap the Joy-Con Controllers for a handheld Switch controller, providing you with even more gaming control than ever before. The ergonomic traditional pro-controller design lets you game for hours in comfort. The WX4 offers the ultimate in Pro Switch gaming control.
Features
BLUETOOTH (WIRELESS VERSION ONLY)
ERGONOMIC DESIGN
TRADITIONAL BUTTON LAYOUT
LED’s FOR POWER & PLAYER NUMBER
What’s in the box?
The box contains the controller, a user manual and a cable.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The WX4 is aimed squarely at Nintendo Switch users who would prefer the use of a controller instead of the joy cons. And as a controller it’s very good. It looks and feels like a normal controller and connecting it to your Switch is very simple.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced, good quality controller for use on a Nintendo Switch (or PS3 or even PC), then take a look at this one – it might just be your next one! I can’t go back to the joy cons now!
The Gioteck WX4 Premium Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, PS3 and PC is available now priced around £19.99 .
SQUARE ENIX and Disney today released the popular KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX and KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue compilations for the Xbox One family of devices. Introducing nine unforgettable adventures to Xbox players for the first time, the expansive compilations collectively include over 100 hours of KINGDOM HEARTS adventures, paving the way for new players to experience the journey leading up to the release of the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS III.
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX includes the following games:
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories
KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD remastered cinematics)
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue includes the following games:
KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD
KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –
KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover (movie)
Additionally, Keyblade wielders that have completed KINGDOM HEARTS III on Xbox One can look forward to the KINGDOM HEARTS III Re Mind DLC* that will release for the Xbox One family of devices on February 25 for $29.99. The KINGDOM HEARTS III Re Mind + Concert Video package, which includes all KINGDOM HEARTS III Re Mind content as well as footage from the KINGDOM HEARTS – World of Tres – Orchestra concert recorded in Osaka, Japan on Nov. 30, 2019 will also be available for $39.99.
Finally, Xbox Game Pass members that have yet to experience the adventures in the award-winning RPG may download KINGDOM HEARTS III as part of their monthly subscription starting February 25. Xbox Game Pass members must purchase the KINGDOM HEARTS III Re Mind DLC separately in order to access the new content.
Back in September 2019, the LEGO Group launched its first-ever mixed reality range called LEGO Hidden Side, here is our review of the new Jack’s Beach Buggy set that just launched.
Youngsters love the amazing Hidden Side universe, where physical and digital worlds merge! This LEGO® Hidden Side Jack’s Beach Buggy (70428) toy combines a buildable LEGO model with an app to provide a single or multiplayer mixed-reality play experience, where interaction with the toy triggers events in the digital world. Awesome interactive LEGO building toy Jack’s beach buggy reveals a haunted digital world when viewed through a smartphone or tablet equipped with the LEGO Hidden Side AR app. Kids then get to explore, solve mysteries, hunt ghosts and battle boss ghost Trucker Dale, either alone or online with friends. And with 3 minifigures, there’s also room for imaginative role-play fun! About the ever-changing Hidden Side LEGO Hidden Side toys bring interactive augmented reality (AR) play to LEGO models. This play experience is constantly enhanced through new content, ghosts and special events. Simply install the free Hidden Side AR app for smart devices and scan this model to bring it to life!
What’s in the Box?
The box contains all the pieces of LEGO and an instruction booklet.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
For this review we were sent the Jack’s Beach Buggy which contains the beach buggy plus Jack, Parker and possessed mechanic Scott Francis minifigures.
When built, this LEGO Hidden Side Jack’s Beach Buggy (70428) model measures over 3″ (10cm) high, 4″ (11cm) long and 3″ (8cm) wide.
These new sets from LEGO are great. Not only do you have the fun of building and playing with the LEGO (which by itself is always great fun), but you also get the fun that comes with the mixed reality app for iOS and Android. Simply download it, build the LEGO set and hold up your phone or tablet and play!
Using the app is very simple and really adds to playtime with the set, I look forward to seeing what LEGO do next!
There are various Hidden Sides sets to choose from, why not take a look?
The LEGO Hidden Sides sets are available now priced from £17.99 and are aimed at ages 7 and above. The Jack’s Beach Buggy playset (70428) is priced at £17.99.
Crytek and Koch Media happily announce that the highly acclaimed online multi-player bounty hunting game Hunt: Showdown is now available physically and digitally for PlayStation 4 and physically for Xbox family of consoles.
Hunt: Showdown is a competitive first-person bounty hunting game that packs the thrill of survival games into a match-based format. Set in Louisiana in 1895, the game boasts a mixture of PvP and PvE elements that creates a uniquely tense experience. It’s not just the creatures who are a threat—it’s every Hunter on the map. In the classic game mode, a match of Hunt pits ten players—playing solo or in teams of two—against each other as they race to take out gruesome beasts for a bounty they must collect and get off of the map, while Hunt’s quickplay mode offers a shorter match for solo players to scavenge for weapons as they compete for a diminishing pool of bounty.
The higher the risk, the higher the reward–but a single mistake could cost everything.
