Project CARS fans can get their hands on digital pre-orders for Project CARS 2, this in addition to the physical pre-orders announced on 9th May. Gamers will now be able to choose between two editions when pre-ordering their digital edition of Project CARS 2:
STANDARD EDITION:
Includes the full game plus the exclusive Japanese Cars Pack that features 4 cars from iconic Japanese manufacturers Honda and Nissan—the Honda Euro Spec Civic Type-R, the fastest hot hatch to have ever lapped the Nordschleife
The thrill-a-second Honda Project 2&4 with its stratospheric redline at 14,000rpm; the original and one-and-only “Godzilla”, the Skyline GT-R (R32) Group A; and the brutal and raw twin-turbo V8 Nissan 280ZX IMSA GTX. This limited edition is available on PS4 & Xbox One and PC.
DELUXE EDITION:
Includes the full game and the Japanese Cars Pack, plus the Season Pass (that includes all 4 additional contents that will enhance and extend the overall Project CARS 2 experience after release) as well as the Motorsport Pack that includes 4 enthralling racing cars curated from 40 years of motoring history.
The Deluxe Edition will be available on PS4 & Xbox One and PC.
Project CARS 2 will be released on 22nd September, 2017 for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PC
Honor announced today in Berlin, Honor announced three exciting new additions to its current accessory portfolio. The online smartphone brand for digital natives presented the Honor Band 3, the Honor Sport Bluetooth earphones and a partnership with headphone pioneer Monster, resulting in the Honor Monster earphones. With the new devices, Honor provides sports fans some must-have gadgets to both improve their fitness and be entertained during training.
The Honor Monster earphones will make every music lover’s heart beat faster.
A perfect fit – Honor Band 3
The Honor Band 3 is the perfect companion for today’s active lifestyle. Its puristic design is perfectly fitted to the wrist and with only 18g comfortably to wear. The 0.19” PMOLED display is neatly integrated into the smooth surface of the device, providing all essential information at only one glance. Whether it is running, swimming or any other sports – the Honor Band 3 keeps its users on track.
The 3-axis accelerometer and PPG cardio tachometer precisely monitor and record all activities, enabling analysis of calories burned and distances in real-time. Continuous heart rate monitoring helps sports enthusiasts to find their perfect training level. The Honor Band 3 is also 5 ATM water resistant.
With the HUAWEI TruSleeptechnology, user can easily monitor their sleep quality. They also have the option to activate personalised sleep suggestions, provided by the Center for Dynamical Biomarkers of Harvard Medical School.
On the go, the wristband informs about incoming calls, SMS, e-mails or SNS with notifications and vibration alerts.
Honor Band 3 – key technical data:
Body: 43 mm (H) x 16.5 mm (W) x 10.3 mm (D) – translucent polycarbonate
Band: 16.3 mm (W), 115.12 mm + 107.26 mm (L) – TPU75
Running on devices with Android 4.4 (or later) or iOS 8.8 (or later)
105 mAh battery, runtime up to 30 days
256 KB RAM, 1 MB ROM, 16 MB Flash
91-inches PMOLED black-and-white screen (128 x 32 px)
Supports running and swimming (waterproof level: 5 ATM)
Bluetooth 4.2
18 grams
The 105mAh lithium-ion battery makes it an endurance athlete with up to 30 days in battery life. The device is compatible with Android 4.4 or higher or iOS 8.0 or higher and will be available in Dynamic Orange, Classic Navy Blue and Carbon Black, for €69.
Genuine sound – Honor Monster earphones
A truly immersive premium sound experience has been in Honor’s focus for quite some time. Now, to bring the experience on the next level, Honor teamed up with headphone giant Monster and co-developed the Honor Monster earphones. The customized earphones combine cutting-edge Monster hardware with the Pure Monster Sound™ and HUAWEI’s self-developed Super Wide Sound (SWS) technology. The world-class 3D audio and video technology ensures accurate measures of headphones’ audio quality, deviation analysis compared to HiFi audio quality, sound compensation and enhancement as well as master tone tuning. The result: true mind-blowing and crystal-clear sound.
For wearing comfort, the lightweight earphones come in three sizes of soft silicon earplugs with in-ear design and are suitable for different wearing requests. Their semi-transparent style makes them a perfect match with the current Honor smartphone flagships. The adjustable cable as well as the three-button control ensure a fast and easy volume adjusting; the HiFi microphone provides a clear calling quality – music on, world off. The stylish earphones will be available in the trend colours Dark Blue, Pearl White and Red with Black, for €49.
Honor Sport Bluetooth earphones
Honor Sport Bluetooth earphones, Honor celebrates a unique premiere and introduces its first sports Bluetooth earphones to the market and consumers. The sleek and lightweight must-have gadget is the perfect workout companion and has a lot to offer: comfortable to wear, stable Bluetooth connection, long battery life, crisp premium sound quality, and – of course – wireless design which means no more tangled cables during workout sessions.
The earphones are a true highlight in sports fashion: Honor Sport Bluetooth earphones will be available in the three colours Black, Red and Blue and are manufactured with high-precision diamond-cut process and high-density CD pattern, presenting the beauty of light. They are equipped with IPX5 water and sweat resistance so that they will not be damaged during training. The 137 mAh lithium polymer battery runs up to eleven hours of music playback and phone calling for €69.
Meet the new smart phone from Honor hear it the new the Honor 9, with a Full HD 5.15-inch screen, Kirin 960 octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, and Android 7 (Nougat) and 64GB of storage.
The Honor 9 has dual camera set up, with one 12MP colour sensor and one 20MP monochrome sensor for improved low-light performance.
Honor has also partnered with headphone specialists Monster, to develop the Honor Purity equalizer and a pair of earbuds. It’s currently unclear whether these buds will be bundled with the phone.
Screen: 5.15 inch, 1.920×1.080 FHD display, 428 ppi, 2.5D glass front Processor: Kirin 960 octa-core (4x 2.4 GHz + 4x 1.8 GHz) Memory: 4 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM + microSD card up to 256 GB
PPI of 428
OS: Android 7 (Nougat) with EMUI 5.1 Camera: 12 MP RGB + 20 MP monochrome dual-lens camera Battery: 3,200 mAh battery with Fast Charging Technology Bluetooth: 4.2 Charging: USB Type-C supporting USB OTG, Huawei Fast charge Weight: 155 grams
What can we expect from the upgraded dual-lens camera?
Low-light photography: Thanks to a special pixel-binning algorithm, the Honor 9 offers low-light shooting capabilities of up to 200% brighter than previous generation cameras. This technology kicks in automatically when the lenses identify low-light situations.
Expressive portraits can be captured with the main and front camera – with or without bokeh effect.
The Moving Pictures mode captures immersive moments, giving a glimpse of what happened 1 second before and 1 second after the picture was taken (with audio).
The dual-camera provides hybrid zooming up to 2x whilst achieving superior image quality.
Panorama photos are even more impressive through the Honor 9 3D panorama function powered by FYUSE, capturing objects, selfies and scenery in 3D panorama.
The Honor 9 also supports 9V2A fast charging technology, which allows consumers to charge from 0% up to 40% within just 30 minutes.
“With the new Honor 9, we take manufacturing excellence to the next level”, said Eva Wimmers, President of Honor Western Europe. “Our world today is filled with pictures and moments we want to capture – Honor 9 does not only stand out through its elegant 3D curved glass back design, it also incorporates the newest camera features, easy to use for any proficiency level, and market-leading smartphone technologies – we build technology for people.”
The Honor 9 is available for pre-order now for £379.99 on vMall and Amazon. You can get it on a contract with Three in early July. The Honor 9 will be available in three colours – Glacier Grey, Sapphire Blue, and Midnight Black.
Today Vodafone has announced there newest smart phone called the Vodafone Smart V8 thats runs Android v7.1 Nougat powered by Octa core 1.4 GHz Processor and it comes to 3 GB RAM with 32 GB of internal Memory and 256 GB of Expandable Memory via Micro SD card.
Vodafone Smart V8 is a 5.5″ smart phone priced at £160 on pay as you go
The Vodafone Smart V8 is available in Vodafone start at £160 for pay as you go, or £19 per month) which includes unlimited texts, 500 minutes and 500MB of data.
quick look at the specs of the Smart V8
The review of the Vodafone Smart V8 will be up early next week after a long review time.
The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System contains 21 pre-installed classic games, can easily be plugged into any high-definition TV using the included HDMI cable. For the first time, players who pick up the system can enjoy the intergalactic adventure Star Fox 2, the sequel to the original Star Fox (originally titled Starwing upon release in Europe) game that was created during the Super Nintendo era but never released … anywhere!
The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System has the same look and feel of the original system – only smaller – and comes pre-loaded with 21 games:
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Donkey Kong Country
EarthBound
Final Fantasy III
F-ZERO
Kirby Super Star
Kirby’s Dream Course
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Mega Man X
Secret of Mana
Star Fox
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
Super Castlevania IV
Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out!!
Yoshi’s Island
All of these games would be considered classics by anyone’s standards, and some of them in particular – Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy III, EarthBound and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars – are massive role-playing games that can take dozens of hours to complete. Even for super fans who have played all of these games multiple times, the inclusion of the never-before-released Star Fox 2 will offer them something entirely new to enjoy (players must prove their skill by completing the first level of the original Star Fox before Star Fox 2 is unlocked to play).
Included with the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System are one HDMI cable, one USB power cable, and two wired Super NES Classic Controllers – perfect for players to dive into multiplayer action right away. Some of the games with multiplayer options include Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Mario Kart, Contra III: The Alien Wars and Secret of Mana.
Step back into the 90s and re-experience some timeless classics when the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System launches in Europe on 29th September.
Don’t be fooled by Joule’s beautiful, sweet exterior; behind the high fashion lies a mind of robotic engineering genius that makes her equally as comfortable walking the runways in stilettoes as engineering deployable murder turrets. With her Master Programmer ability, Joule is the perfect complement to Rama.
As the world’s foremost immunologist, Rama uses her deadshot ability gaining precision the more she charges her bow. As a shield buster Rama deals bonus damage to shields and pierces targets protected by hard shields.
No team is complete without a resident, football obsessed lunatic. Redcard wields his Hooligan weapon to pierce the skin of his unfortunate enemies, precisely hitting them with his close range charge attacks to clear the crowd.
When circumstances are at their most dire, when the pressure is at its absolute utmost, when the only solution is to send in the big guns, call in the Bomb Shells.
With the teleport technology capability of MAYHEM, agents in your squad are able to instantly teleport into and out of combat.
This allows on-the-fly swapping of agents in the field, allowing one to heal while another takes their place, or allowing the best agent for a particular fight or task in your squad of three to replace the currently active one.
Agents of MAYHEM is a single-player, open-world, third-person action game for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC gaming systems releasing on 18th August.
Vertigo Games and Jaywalkers Interactive have today announced that Arizona Sunshine, the zombie VR FPS, will be available for PlayStation VR (PS VR) in the PlayStation Store from tomorrow, 27th June 2017.
The PS VR version takes advantage of the PS4 Pro with enhanced visuals and includes a challenging additional game mode designed for use with the PS VR Aim Controller.
To celebrate the launch on PS VR, for a limited time only the Arizona Sunshine Launch Edition will be on offer.
From launch day through 4th July 2017, the game will come with an exclusive Arizona Sunshine PS4 theme. Additionally, PlayStation Plus members benefit from 10% launch discount during this time.
To begin with Streets of Rogue is such a huge mash up of different genre’s that it would be difficult to pin point exactly what route its coming from, however if there is one thing for sure, the gameplay is absolutely hilarious and surprisingly deep.
Streets of Rogue begin with a city in desperate need of saving as a ruthless and dictatorial mayor has taken over, making everyone’s lives complete hell; including banning all alcohol! Before long the city had fallen into a state of chaos, but there is still hope! A secretive organisation known only as the Resistance has been formed to fight back against the mayor’s tyrannical leader ship and that is where our tale begins.
Just from playing the initial tutorial, allowing me a grasp of the controls and certain actions I knew what I was getting myself into and boy did I enjoy every minute of it. The great thing about Streets of Rogue is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which lends well to its comedic touch when certain actions happen in the world and when interacting with the AI.
Each level is always different from the last and the main goal is to complete the tasks and get out of there once done, however unless your super careful, chaos is more than likely to ensue. Missions can vary from collecting a certain item, freeing a prisoner or destroying objects. In most cases this is covered by a few guards, the actual police or a really angry shopkeeper, you never actually know what you’re going to get. The missions themselves can feel a little repetitive after a while as there isn’t much variety to them. The main difference you will probably see is the difficulty in completing them.
There is both a main and side mission for each level and while the side mission is obviously not mandatory, you can get some cool bonuses for completing them in the form of new weapons, items or experience which you can use to further develop your character and gain even better skills.
Speaking of characters, there are a ton of them and some of which you can access by helping them in the actual game. Want to be a thug, gorilla or straight up naked? Nothing seems to be off limits here, however some of them are locked behind certain conditions that you’ll need to complete, giving you something to work towards.
One of my favourite aspects of the game (hopefully I’m not seen as a violent person for this) is when a new level loads and the whole area is having a riot; its mass chaos as all the citizens are against each other. I remember just starting the level and the AI sees and decides to rush me in which I run past a police officer who then attacks the person who was after me. It just adds a whole other dynamic to the level itself rather than just having the AI walking around constantly and not really making an impact other than when you engage them.
During the game you will pick up coins and these are pretty useful, so get as many as you can. These will help when it comes to buying potential new weapons, drinks and food for your health or drugs. They can be retrieved by beating up certain individuals in the world, opening chests or by simply breaking things and getting lucky.
At this point it’s hard to pinpoint what Streets of Rogue is working towards. The game is getting a regular stream of updates and the gameplay is already so varied, it’s hard to think what else the developers could possibly add at this point, but at the same time that’s the beauty of it as there no creative restraints.
For me personally it’s attractive just due to the fact that it’s a game that I don’t need to think so hard about and instead focus more on just enjoying the experience. Whether I play the villain and take out all the innocents or beat up the shopkeeper, so I can take his key and access the back room where the chest is, it has a real go with the flow kind of vibe, but yet not so unfocused due to mission objectives and actually having a beginning and end goal.
When it comes down to it, Streets of Rogue is definitely a fun game to play and when you first boot it up, can throw you for a loop just based on how out there it actually is. It’s a good laugh and I look forward to seeing what other zany updates will be added to it in the future.
Here is our review of the Britax ADVANSAFIX III SICT Car Seat.
The ADVANSAFIX III SICT is our new seat for growing children from 9 kg up to 36 kg. The 5-point harness safely secures small children up to 18 kg in the car seat. For larger children, who are secured with the car’s 3-point seat belt, the SecureGuard provides an additional 4th contact point keeping the lap belt at the correct position. The seat also features removable SICT for additional side impact protection. What’s also unique are the multiple recline positions for all ages up to 36 kg. Advanced safety and comfort for your growing child.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the car seat and various instructions, along with some ISOFIX clips and a flexible SICT.
A Closer Look
Fitting the Car Seat
The ADVANSAFIX III SICT comes with some ISOFIX insert guides.
There is also a guard protecting the mechanism you need to remove.
Then it’s just a case of fitting into your car which only takes a few moments.
Britax also provide a number of videos on their website detailing fitting, including this one:
Final Thoughts
The Britax ADVANSAFIX III SICT is available in a wide variety of colours, including Cosmos Black (the one we are reviewing here), Flame Red, Storm Grey, Ocean Blue, Mineral Purple, Black Marble and Green Marble.
The ADVANSAFIX III SICT car seat is designed for babies and children from 9 months all the way up to 12 years old, so you should get quite a lot of use out of it!
I found fitting the seat into the car very simple and easy – it only took a few moments.
To ensure that the ADVANSAFIX III SICT will work with your car, Britax have a list of cars and their various models so you can easily tell if the seat is compatible. It is worth checking this out before you purchase the seat.
Depending on the age of the child sitting in the seat, you will either be using the integrated 5-point harness or your cars 3-point seat belt. The integrated harness was easy to use and adjust.
Along with seat comes a SICT. This SICT is actually reduces impact forces by minimising the distance between the car and the car seat and deforms to absorb the energy before it reaches your child. All you do is fit it between the seat and the door – very simple and adds yet more piece of mind.
There is also a V-Tether which attaches to the seat in order to provide even greater protection.
The seat can also recline into three different positions ensuring a more comfortable journey.
I can highly recommend the ADVANSAFIX III SICT if you want a high quality, safe and secure car seat that is very easy to fit and is one that you can get around 11 years of use out of – how’s that for value for money!
The Britax ADVANSAFIX III SICT car seat is available now for around £250, but as usual look around for the best deal.
To celebrate the release of Taboo on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital download, we have 3 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
Gritty, atmospheric, and visually stunning, TABOO is a thrilling and immersive journey into a world of 19th century political and psychological intrigue, as Academy Award®夐-nominated actor Tom Hardy leads an all-star cast on a descent into pre-Victorian London’s heart of darkness.
Set in 1814, TABOO follows James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy), a man who has been to the ends of the earth and returns irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father’s legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories and assemble his very own delinquent league of the damned to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.
The series is collectively brought to life by a talented, international ensemble cast that, in addition to Hardy, includes Jonathan Pryce, Oona Chaplin, Stephen Graham, Michael Kelly, Jessie Buckley, David Hayman, Tom Hollander, Jason Watkins, Franke Potente, Jefferson Hall, Ed Hogg, Leo Bill, Christopher Fairbank, Richard Dixon, Mark Gatiss, Nicholas Woodeson, Lucian Msamati, and introducing Robert Parker.
Unlike anything to receive a Saturday evening prime time slot on BBC1, the gripping eight-part series is a dark, moody, and subversive take on the classic period drama that paints Georgian London at its grisly best. Based on an original story by Tom and his father, Chips Hardy, the series reunites Hardy with Academy Award®-nominated writer Steven Knight for their third collaboration following Locke and Peaky Blinders.
TABOO is created by Steven Knight with Tom Hardy, and Chips Hardy, who is also the show’s consulting producer. Executive producers are Ridley Scott and Kate Crowe for Scott Free London, Tom Hardy and Dean Baker for Hardy Son & Baker, and Steven Knight. The series is produced by Scott Free London and Hardy Son & Baker for BBC One and FX with Sonar Entertainment distributing worldwide outside the UK.
With a second season of TABOO already confirmed, now is the time to catch up on 2017’s most addictive new series.
How to enter to win
We have three copies of Taboo to give away on Blu-ray.
It’s time for another two minute review – this time it’s the Little Red Rider from Hape.
This is how Hape describe the Little Red Rider:
“This wooden car transforms from a balanced walker to a foot-powered ride-on. There’s room to stow essentials in the “trunk.”
Once your child is comfortable pushing the walker, encourage pretend play by transporting animals, dolls, or blocks.”
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Little Red Rider (in two pieces), a manual and some screws.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Little Red Rider comes packed in two pieces – the main bike and the handle bars. To fit them you just slide them into the holes and put in the 4 screws. The lower set of 2 screws are actually really quite fiddly to get tighten because they are right next to the wheel. They are also very tight and if you don’t do them up fully they can move around which means the handle bars more slightly.
There is a little bottom rest to stop your child from slipping off the back of the bike when they are sitting on it, and this keeps them in place.
There is room for small toys under the seat too if they want to take something for a ride along.
The bike moves along by the child walking it along rather than with peddles.
The Little Red Rider is very well constructed and looks great too and should provide your child with hours of fun!
The Little Red Rider from Hape is available now priced £49.95 and is aimed at children aged 12 months and older.
Listen along as Scout reads to you, and answer his questions as he completes each page – here is our review of the LeapFrog Read With Me Scout.
The most effective way to read with your child is by actively asking and answering questions and making predictions. Read With Me Scout features 5 different book genres that promote a range of strategies for an educational, cuddly intro to reading.
What’s in the box?
The box contains Scout, a guide and five books.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The idea behind the Read With Me Scout is to make reading fun, and that’s exactly what this delivers. There are 5 interactive books that deal with different skills. They are pattern, narrative, concept, rhyming and learn-about. Each one helps with that particular skill and makes it fun.
To choose which of the books you want to read with your child, just press the corresponding button on Scout’s collar.
When you want to turn the page of the book, you just give Scout a little pat on the head.
There are also a number of other ways to interact with Scout. If you press his right paw you hear learning songs, if you squeeze his left paw he will respond to you. If you pet him on his back you can answer questions, and if you give him a kiss on his cheek you will hear various friendship phrases.
There is also an option to listen to 8 minutes of lullabies to help your child go to sleep.
Once again LeapFrog have developed an interactive learning toy that both teaches your child new skills but it also fun to play with an cuddle!
Read With Me Scout from LeapFrog is available now priced around £23 and is available in both green and purple and is suitable for children ages 2 – 5 years old.
It’s time for another two minute review – this time it’s the Maple Blocks from Hape.
This is how Hape describe the Maple Blocks:
“These sturdy blocks will inspire hours of play and generations of builders.
Explore how different shapes can make towers higher or wider. How high can you build without toppling over?”
What’s in the Box?
The box contains the blocks and a carry bag.
Final Thoughts
The box may seem quite small when you first look at it, but it’s also quite heavy and contains 50 individual blocks of different shapes and colours.
There is also a carry bag included which you can put the blocks into once you have finished playing in order to keep them all together.
The blocks can be used to build pretty much whatever your child can imagine from towers to a house, or whatever they really want to build.
The different shapes, sizes and colours gives a lot of different options for playing with, and Hape aim to help your child develop their fine motor skills, physical skills and problem solving amongst other things. Which as Hape state “learning is at the heart of our toys” and that is something that is obvious with these blocks.
Maple Blocks from Hape are available now, priced around £10 and are for children aged 12 months and older.
There are three now iconic fighting game series that shaped my love and fondness of this genre of gaming; Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tekken. Tekken was the very first game I purchased with my brand new PlayStation console and was my first real look into 3D fighting games after not really being a fan of Virtua Fighter. It was a very different experience to the 2D fighters I had known before and it became a must buy through out the series up until Tekken Tag Tournament when it slipped off my gaming radar. Since then, the reboot to Mortal Kombat and evolution of Injustice has shown how NetherRealm have changed the fighting genre the most in recent years and especially with Street Fighter V failing so terribly, it will be interesting to see how Tekken makes its console return after so many years.
Hard to think it has been over five years since I last played a Tekken game but I can honestly say I have been patiently waiting for Tekken 7 to jump over to console since it debuted in the arcades of Japan and tournaments almost two years ago. I consider myself spoiled as a fighting genre fan in recent years with the reboot of Mortal Kombat and introduction of Injustice. They both deliver challenging online and offline battles. I was very disappointed, just as many were, with how Street Fighter V launched and in the year of patching and additions, it still fails to grab my attention as it once did. Tekken lost my attention as well, but it is part of my gaming DNA so firing it up finally after so much time was genuinely exciting.
Tekken 7 has one of the largest rosters for the series yet, with returning legends from previous games but also brand new fighters. The variety of fighting styles is rich and diverse with a little of something for everyone and can be overwhelming to newcomers but certainly offers a lot of promise for experienced players. Visually Tekken has never looked better, the fighters are big on screen and the camera in close so all the attention is on the two fighters bringing a real arcade feel to your home console, especially if you have a big TV. The audio and soundtrack immediately puts you right back into the Tekken universe.
Just as other fighting titles available today, Tekken 7 has a main story mode called ‘The Mishima Saga’, a single player campaign that tells the story of the Mishima family from the viewpoint of a journalist who is directly affected by the family fued. It takes the player right through all the previous Tekken game storylines, fills in some of the holes and attempts to tie up all the loose ends to explain the history of the now iconic ‘King of Iron Fist’ tournament and battle between the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation. The story is told via cut scenes with occasional breaks for mini games and fights for the player to do. Whilst I really enjoyed the story being told via the cinematic cut-scenes despite finding some of the ‘Journalist’ narration rather naff at times, the player interaction element just fell flat for me. The mini game sections were almost tutorial in nature but grew very tiresome quickly and the fights were enjoyable until you reached a boss level which saw the difficulty spike to unforgiving levels adding a frustration that killed the experience at times, enough to make me put the campaign down for a while and count to ten.
Progress and completion of the main campaign will unlock ‘Character Episodes’, these will give a little back story to each character on the roster before having a single fight to tie up their part of the story. It was strange to have this as part of the Mishima Saga mainly because the offline Arcade mode lacks any story ending for completing it with each fighter and would have been served far better if the Character Episodes had been tied into the arcade making it a more complete arcade mode but alas not.
As well as the Mishima Saga and arcade mode there is the Treasure Battle mode, an endurance mode of sorts where the more you win the further you progress and tougher it becomes. Each win rewards you with a treasure box giving more customisation items to use from character specific items to generic ones for all characters. The more difficult a match, the better quality of item is given. This is a tough mode but very fulfilling and I found it served as a great training mode to learn fighters whilst also gaining rewards for doing so. The boss fights after a win streak, just as with the Mishima Saga, can spike in difficulty and with the only option to restart your run again, can be harsh when the AI simply throws insane combo strings at you, even very early in your run attempt.
The customisation options in Tekken 7 are to put it simply, bat crap crazy. Each fighter can be customised cosmetically to change their look how the player desires and the choices are insane. From clothing to accessories, the sheer volume of what you can change can lead to some very ‘interesting’ looks indeed, especially if you take the game online against others. Now I am all for changing how a fighter looks but some of the options available are just a little out there for me personally but having such a system for fans to go all out is a great way of giving players something to do, this is especially because it is all attainable within the game through playing Treasure Battle mode or from the in game currency earned to unlock new items for fighter customisation as well as right down to your own player card. Not a necessary feature but certainly adds something for those who are interested in this.
The online was smooth all the times I tried, finding matchups easily and I am a big fan of the online Tournament mode which once enough players have joined creates random match ups with the winners progressing forward. It is a great feature though I have yet to win one at time of writing. The online is really where Tekken 7 comes alive, playing straight to its Arcade machine origins and works really fluidly. I do feel that the lack of any real substantial tutorial system will be harsh on new players wanting to dive right into the online rather than the offline modes, the traditional button mashing style Tekken has always had is very much still here and the random mashing of face buttons can still lead to some impressive looking hits even if you are new.
T button mashing style still feels clumsy, and compared to recent fighters can also feel very clunky at times. It took a while to get used to having a traditional fighting game health bar, all be it a very short health bar in Tekken 7. Rounds can last mere seconds if the right combo is used or if you fail to block an attack therefore leaving you option to major damage. Tekken 7 does have additions to the fighting with the new Rage Art and Power Crush moves. Rage Art is a last gasp move that can be triggered by players once their health hits 25% or lower and is an easy to activate move that can put a player back into the fight but is can also be easily blocked so it never feels too over powered. Power Crushes allow a player to rain down moves on an opponent whilst still taking damage from their blows, which to me feels a little like Hulking out during a fight. It still feels very much like a Tekken game and I was soon remembering combos for fighters I remember despite the years of absence from playing the series.
Tekken 7 brings the series back to consoles in a big way and does an excellent job of wrapping up all the story from previous games in a way that fans of Tekken can appreciate and those coming to Tekken 7 and the series as newcomers will get the history told well for them to catch up. It has plenty of offline content for players to get to grips with the game before going online though the story campaign itself failed to live up to the quality of Injustice 2 for me. Online is smooth enough but the imbalance of experienced players and newcomers can make it very challenging indeed, not so bad for those experienced with Tekken games but for new players it could be very over powering to start with.
But Tekken is back and is back in a strong way that puts this series right back on the console gaming map. With NetherRealm currently king of fighters with Mortal Kombat and Injustice leading the charge, Tekken 7 has done enough to launch with strength and solidity and is worth your attention if you are a fighting game fan or if like me, you put the series down years ago, there is no better time to see if you have what it takes to be “King of Iron Fist”.
