Fading Afternoon is a 2D beat-em-up game developed and published by Yeo. The game follows Seiji Maruyama, a Yakuza member recently released from prison and looking to return to his old life. The game examines Maruyama’s battle with age and the nuances of being an older Yakuza in a changing world.
Returning to the Family
The game starts as you leave prison and return to the Azuma family, where you hope to resume your duties as a family member. After a lengthy combat tutorial, you have a map with several locations to explore. You can start gang wars to gain territory for the Azuma family or go to different locations to talk to different people. A big factor in this game is time management. You can only go to an area once a day and three zones total for the day. Managing your time is key to progress throughout the story.
Gang wars make up a big portion of the game. On your map, you pick an area controlled by one of the various gangs, go up to one of their henchmen, and hit them. This will trigger a brawl where a bunch of gang members will come in, and you have to fight them off. After clearing a fight, you have to kill one of the lieutenants. Which can be difficult, but once you sneak up on them, you can pull out your gun and quickly dispatch them. From there, you have to fend off the territories from gangs as they attempt to take back what was once theirs.
Waiting for the end
Fading Afternoon has a very strong story. I think the way the game tells the story is interesting. Interactions with different characters talking about how they are getting lost in time, flashbacks to Seiji’s past, and little character interactions with your friends brings depth to the game. There are also multiple endings to explore, giving the game replayability and different paths to explore. One thing that I like is how the health bar tells the story about Seiji. The maximum health Seiji has is 999, but it is not possible to have that health. The game starts you at around 400 health, and as the game progresses, the lower your health gets. I think it is a brilliant way to tell how Seiji, a once prominent Yakuza, is aging and getting weaker. I also want to commend the soundtrack of the game. The music is very good at immersing you in Seiji’s world. I’ve also put down the controller to listen to the music before remembering that there is a game to play.
Unfortunately, the downside to all of this is the combat. Most of your time in the game is spent fighting rival gangs. You’re fighting on a 2D plane as waves of enemies appear on the screen. Sometimes, they throw glass bottles at you; sometimes, they jump-kick at you; and sometimes, they have weapons. You only have a punch and kick button, and pressing those buttons can block and counterattack. Unfortunately, most of these encounters can be button-mashed, and they become repetitive after the first few encounters. Also, I have gone a few in-game days without seeing any progression in the story. Sometimes, I’m just wandering, hoping to trigger a story beat. Most of the time, it feels like I’m fighting without a purpose.
The Life Of Seiji
Fading Afternoon tells the interesting story of Seiji Maruyama, an older Yakuza trying to re-establish himself in the newer world. There is a lot of interesting commentary on aging and reflections on the life you live, which I liked. To get to these moments, you have to battle through repetitive encounters. The game doesn’t give you much direction, so sometimes you aimlessly explore, hoping to trigger another cutscene on Seiji’s journey. If you can get through the repetitive combat, Fading Afternoon is worth checking out.
Lost in Tropics instantly piqued my interest. I love the survival genre and the idea of getting my Robinson Crusoe on. However, a lack of depth and ideas reduces creativity. Moreover, the action lacks oomph and quality. The result is a tepid experience that leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Additionally, the exciting blurb gets your heart racing. In reality, it’s a slow and cumbersome adventure across a lifeless, sandy island.
This tropical survival experience was developed by Lukas GameLabs and published by SIG Publishing. It is a single-player title that plays out from a first-person perspective. What’s more, there are some randomly generated assets and in-game events to endure. Accordingly, it attempts to mix things up to prevent monotony from setting in. Sadly, though, it fails miserably.
Lost in Tropics will bore you to death.
Surviving on a desert island should be an exciting and challenging time. Deadly animals, the heat, and a desperate search for a way home should all be at the fore. However, this sense of despair and danger is rarely present. Instead, the grind of resource gathering and the inane statistics drag you down.
Alongside this, there is no backstory, and you feel no sense of rapport with your NPC survival buddy. This lazy individual sits around your rudimentary campsite as you gather food, water, and resources. They occasionally help if they are in the mood. Yet, their happiness is short-lived, and you have to beg them to find a leaf or the odd larvae to eat. When you combine this with no plot and droll gameplay, things turn sour very quickly.
Basic mechanics.
Lost in Tropics demands that you survive 21 days on your tropical island. You must explore your tiny piece of land and scavenge any useful resources. Alongside this, you must build a shelter, a fire, and some basic workstations. Once this is complete, there is little else to do. This was frustrating, as the developers should have added more crafting elements and the ability to expand your base. As it is, you may unlock every item in less than 30 minutes and hope to survive.
The inclusion of random in-game events should have been interesting. However, they are so far-fetched, that they are laughable rather than interesting. For example, I hunted numerous crabs, and suddenly they were after revenge. I’m not entirely sure how the living crabs knew about my slaughtering ways, but they were pissed off nonetheless. Alongside this, I picked up deadly parasites from the water, but I never touched the water… It was very strange, unhinged, and badly implemented.
Lost in Tropics looks great.
Though the core mechanics are questionable, visually, Lost in Tropics looks great. The island setting was realistic, and the water had a glorious shimmer. Moreover, the lighting was great and I admired the crab animation. Furthermore, I liked the rendering distance and this helped you to explore new and unique locations. Alongside this, I experienced no glitches or frame rate problems.
The audio wasn’t so good. Sadly, there is no depth to the action as the developers haven’t incorporated footsteps or any swimming sounds. This flat and unrealistic approach was laughable and disappointing. Furthermore, the sound bites of your NPC companion are repetitive and annoying. In short, the soundtrack and sound effects fall way below modern standards.
Simple controls.
Lost in Tropics utilises a simple UI and basic controls. Yet, an inability to expand your inventory space annoyed the hell out of me. Accordingly, whenever you went exploring, you were stuck between taking supplies or risking your life. This was problematic as death ends your run. As such, I rarely ventured too far as I didn’t want to start again.
Theoretically, there is plenty of replay value. In-game events mix things up and finding the correct resources can be challenging. However, there is not enough depth or items to craft. Furthermore, it is repetitive and unrealistic. Consequently, you’ll become bored long before you complete each of the difficulty settings.
Lost in Tropics is a massive let-down.
I had high hopes when I first installed Lost in Tropics. However, things quickly went south as the gameplay and core ideas ran dry. The lack of depth and the missing elements will leave you wanting. Moreover, the audio was so poor that it undermined any potential. Subsequently, this is a massive let down and I don’t recommend it. Yet, more information can be found here! Can you survive for 21 days? Gather food, build a shelter, and cross your fingers.
Here we take a closer look at the Minecraft Nano Metalfigs from Jada.
Build your own adventure with all of your favourite characters from the world of Minecraft in Nano size! Featuring authentic character likeness, these die-cast figures are sure to be a standout in any collection!
Add these Series 8 figures to your Minecraft collection
100% die-cast
Authentic character likeness
Contents: 18x Minecraft Nano figures
Dimensions: 4H cm (varies slightly by character)
If you are a fan of Minecraft, or you know someone who is, then this is a great set to get them!
The Minecraft Nano Metalfigs from Jada are available now priced around £19.99.
A year-and-a-bit ago, I started learning how to drive. Being rather late to the party and juggling both a full-time job and a part-time degree (not to mention this reviewing lark), it was slow going. Lots of stalls and near misses. Heart palpitations when approaching a roundabout. So I approached Pacific Drive with a bit of hesitation. Afraid that I would get behind the wheel and then just sort of lock up, which wouldn’t make for an exciting video game.
Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened. Instead, I found myself on an otherwordly road trip where my survival depended on a creaky old station wagon. The necessity of keeping it greased and in one piece really added to the atmosphere. Loneliness just barely kept at bay. You can’t be lonely when you’ve got a lengthy to-do list. While I find the survival gameplay a little lacking in areas, Pacific Drive‘s atmosphere and world are second to none.
Roadtrip Picnic
Pacific Drive opens with an inadvisable move. It begins with our hero driving into the Olympic Exclusion Zone. In the real world, best case scenario is all your skin falling off and joining the dropped Werther’s Original under the driver’s seat. In this case though, a bunch of wibbly-wobbly anomalies teleport you to a pocket of the zone and dismantle your car. Your only means of safety comes in the form of a discarded jalopy, which you bundle into and drive to the nearest garage. Soon, a gaggle of scientists come on the radio and tell you that you’ve just turned the key of a ‘remnant’.
This is an artifact that binds itself to you, preventing you from leaving. It’s shelter in the same way that brick walls and metal bars are shelter. Still, it gives us a nice excuse to poke around in the zone. This ‘zone’ is Pacific Drive‘s best character. A slice of Washington countryside that’s beset by strange anamolies. It’s full of beautiful vistas and terrifying exploding mannequins. I’d place Pacific Drive‘s general feeling at a perfect midpoint between cosy and horror. You could spend an hour on a leisurely drive, only to stop for supplies and be beset by acid or weird machines dragging your car around. I adore it.
As you can tell, Pacific Drive is a mish-mash of genres. More than you can imagine. Not only survival, with a dash of horror, but it’s also a roguelite of sorts. The general loop is that you pick a ‘junction’ in the zone to travel to. These are randomly generated levels, full of buildings to pick through. You explore until it’s time to leave, whereupon you collect ‘anchors’ – balls of energy. Collect enough and you can create a gate back to the garage. Doing so causes the entire junction to collapse, though, so you have to put the pedal to the metal to escape. It’s a lovely shift from calm to chaos.
Kitting Out
The non-story goal of these excursions is to dig out enough materials to upgrade your banger. You start off with doors made from spit and cardboard, but as you scrounge up scrap metal and a few choice unique materials you begin to kit yourself out. A spare fuel tank here, armour plating there. It’s an enjoyable progression tree. What’s more, the general act of kitting out your car is quite relaxing. I’d come back from a tense and frustrating run, with my car on the verge of falling apart, and spend the next half-hour methodically piecing it back together, which dissolved all anger.
The upgrades have an immediate gameplay effect too. Better wheels make for less punctures; better doors for less irradiation. It’s nice to see hard work pay off. That said, I’m not as enthused about the actual hunt for materials. I feel like Pacific Drive simplifies a bit too much. All the upgrade components are broken down to basic items, like rubber or electronics. While it makes for easy recipes, it means that exploration is usually poorly rewarded. The randomly generated nature means that a tough to reach location could net you nothing more than a T-shirt and a scrap of paper.
Still, the plot does a decent job of keeping us in drive. It’s dictated by three people that come through our radio. Oppy, a grumpy old scientist who’s deeply connected with the zone. Francis, a young disgraced scientist trying to regain his self-esteem. Tobias, a maintenance man with a healthy respect for both science and superstition. I started off almost disliking them, but they won me over. They all bicker, but in a very human way. A bunch of colleagues in a hellish situation. The writing – and acting, which is equally important – are top notch. The emotional notes hit like a car crash.
Pacific Drive – Calming Chaos
Perhaps the weakest point of Pacific Drive‘s writing is the driver themselves. I can see the advantage of a silent protagonist, but the constant referral to the ‘Driver’, without any response, felt continually awkward. I’m no Ryan Gosling, I assure you. If I could dream for a moment, I’d have liked a system akin to Firewatch, where our hero expresses personality through a radio. Some ability to share in the emotional moments would have gone down well. As it is, we have all the personality of a steering wheel.
I’ve a couple of other tiny notes too. Car maintenance seems a bit too streamlined for me. Repairing most scuffs comes down to slathering on ‘Repair Putty’, which heals all damage. Anything more specific and you just create the corresponding repair kit and off you go. I might be alone here, but I was kind of hoping for more in-depth engine maintenance. As such, the difficulty drops off rather fast. I didn’t even bother going for top shelf armour, as I could repair most damage in seconds.
Still, what struck me most about Pacific Drive was the atmosphere. I would flick on the radio and cruise down the road to my next exit, drinking in the vistas and the general bizarre nature. Every now and then, I’d wrestle against anamolies that would send my car spinning out or threaten to dissolve it. Moments of pure panic interlaced with peaceful serenity. It’s a gorgeous, thoughtful and idiosyncratic game that perfectly blends mundane engine maintenance with otherworldly anamolies. Still, the station wagon is an automatic so when it comes to learning to drive? Absolutely useless.
A decade ago, Neko Atsume took the mobile game community by storm. Significantly more relaxing than Pokémon GO and simpler than Bugsnax, this title served as an adorable creature collector where players could attract and collect a variety of cats. The mechanics are simple: offer food, buy toys and furniture, then wait for cats to come over so you can take snapshots of them and receive mementos!
Now, as of June 2024, creature collecting fans (and more specifically frog lovers) can turn their attention towards Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge. Developed by Humble Reeds and published by Armor Game Studios, Kamaeru gives players a cozy experience of decorating and developing a frog sanctuary to attract all sorts of froggies . . . and of course, feed them and take pictures of them!
This game can be played on Steam, PC, the Nintendo Switch, and the Xbox Series X/S.
A cozy creature collector
A young woman named Cleo reunites with her childhood best friend, Axel, after learning that Axel is on a mission to restore the wetlands the two used to visit and play in. Now, the wetlands are barren and lacking biodiversity, harmed by a changing climate. Axel wants to restore the area to its former glory. Simultaneously, the two protagonists decide to develop a frog sanctuary based on their mutual love of frogs. They will be able to retrieve necessary materials from the wetlands in order to foster the growth of the sanctuary.
The story will progress as players complete main objectives and level up their sanctuary. As the plot moves along, new blueprints and abilities will be unlocked and a unique cast of characters will join Axel and Cleo on their mission. Characters include the frog breeder Annabelle, the bug catcher Dylan, the craftswoman Djena, among others. Each person is quite unique in appearance and even personality-wise, which makes the added aid fun and interesting!
Kamaeru is not very deep story-wise, but it does bring necessary attention to wetland conservation and restoration. As someone who lives near wetlands myself, I continuously notice the withering ecosystem around me. Props to the developers for this hands-on advocacy approach!
Gotta catch ’em all
The process of paludiculture is used to restore the wetlands in the game. Players will need to add ponds, reeds, berry bushes, cattails, and more flora to increase the wetlands’ biodiversity and carbon capture. You can harvest these resources to produce foodstuff, like berry jam and lollypops. Sell these goods to receive funds so you can buy more resources as well as furniture and decor for the frog sanctuary.
Players can also catch flies, caterpillars, dragonflies, and other insects from the wetlands. These bugs are used to feed and tame potential frogs that visit your sanctuary. There are over 500 species of frogs in the game for you to befriend! Take snapshots of each new frog and add them to the Frogdex for record keeping.
The more decorations you add to the sanctuary, the greater the chance that frogs will appear. These froggies will quickly blip in and out of view so players have to move quickly to feed and take pictures of them. If you feed a frog four times with their insect of choice, they become “tamed.” Players can manually breed tamed frogs for new color and pattern combinations. You can also name each tamed frog whatever you please!
Fast and furious frogs
The frogs themselves are absolutely adorable, but a huge downside is that they all look the same. Each species has the same body model but may come in pink, green, blue, yellow, or multicolored. There are several different patterns as well, but it all starts blurring together quickly. I wish that there was more diversity with frog appearances, and perhaps more clearly-defined varying species of frog. Due to the repetitiveness, each new frog find was not that exciting.
As stated, the frogs just blip in and out of existence. While this method is quick and efficient for logging new data in the Frogdex, it is a bit too fast. Before I could whip out my camera to take pictures, the new frog was often already gone. Kamaeru could benefit if the frogs lingered just a tad longer. The game is supposed to be cozy and slow-paced, but it becomes overwhelming trying to account for each new frog.
The breeding mechanic of Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is strange. You unlock this ability once an older woman named Anabelle joins the team. The breeding “minigame” operates like a tic-tac-toe Punnett square. Regardless of how methodical you are, Annabelle’s trait placements are so random it is insanely difficult to produce what you want, or produce something new. Most often you will only breed one desired trait, and there will be lots of repeated frog combinations.
Saving the wetlands
Despite being called Kamaeru: A Frog Sanctuary, the biggest focus seems to be on wetland restoration. This is where players will spend most of their time planting and harvesting resources, pulling nettles, catching bugs, making edible goods, and frogs will indeed show up there too lounging around. While the focus is meaningful, it can take away from the actual frog sanctuary aspect of the game. It will take a good amount of time before players can accrue loads of funds and resources to just sit back and casually decorate their sanctuary with furniture, plants, pathways, and fencing. Talking to Djena will allow you to paint certain items different colors as well, so there is room for customization!
Overall, the game operates at a steady, personalized pace. While there is a day and night cycle, in which players can choose to rest overnight, there are no deadlines or cutoffs. You do not have to sleep, and you can do whatever you want when you want. I am unsure of why the day to night cycle even exists–perhaps to give the game a more realistic feel–but I can appreciate the flexibility.
Click for conservation
The game’s UI is rather clunky. To do anything and everything, players have to click, click, click. This can feel a bit unnatural with the computer mouse or with console controls, because it is noticeably less efficient than touchscreen. It feels slow to toggle between the camera, the journal, the editing screen, and the Frogdex. I am compelled to just touch these buttons to move things along faster.
While Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is meant to be simple and cozy, a lot of the time players are just waiting for things to happen. There is also a lot of traveling back and forth between the frog sanctuary and the wetlands, which adds lots of unnecessary loading screen time. Why can’t the two locations be right next to each other? Some events are so quick and random too, like bug and frog spawning, so attempting to achieve certain captures can be tedious and irritating. I am not always quick enough at taking pictures or collecting rarer bugs.
Final thoughts
A huge positive for Kamaeru is its art style. The game has dreamy, sketch-like visuals with anime-ish elements. The characters and the frogs are incredibly cute and charming; the visuals alone are one of the biggest factors that encouraged me to keep playing the game.
Overall, Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is cute, simple, and kind of addicting, though it comes with a poor UI, a plot that becomes stagnated, and ironically . . . a lack of frog diversity.
If you enjoy games like Neko Atsume, are a lover of frogs, or are interested in wetland conservation, Kamaeru offers an enjoyable, adorable, and meaningful experience. One can appreciate the diversity of the characters and the way they interact with each other, as well as learn more about the mechanics of paludiculture and how to raise carbon capture. While there are some features that can be expanded upon, Kamaeru is without a doubt a worthy creature collector title.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is a fun-filled, repetitive child-friendly title. This zany but simple experience will make 6-10-year-olds giddy with excitement. However, adults will roll their eyes, and huff and puff as the gameplay loop painfully rolls by. Yet, it would be best to remember that this is aimed towards lower-skilled munchkins. As such, don’t expect it to have multi-branching storylines and highbrow moments. Instead, it is straightforward, fun, and perfect for MLP enthusiasts.
This child-friendly adventure title was developed by Drakhar Studios and published by Outright Games. Furthermore, it can be played alone or cooperatively with another. If you tackle this solo, you can flit between every magical pony in your stable. However, cooperative action is somewhat tricky. My kids argued over their favourite ponies and this was equally amusing and annoying. Yet, if you can iron out that problem, you’ll have a stress-free and enjoyable gaming experience.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery lacks complexity.
The story is about as deep as a puddle. Moreover, the missions are paper thin and the tasks are weaker still. Now, this may seem like a complaint, but it isn’t. Whenever I get a game for my 3 girls, I don’t want to be in charge. Instead, I want them to work out the problems and enjoy the adventure. Thankfully, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery allows this to happen as every layer is undeniably easy to navigate. Accordingly, your youngsters will feel like they have achieved something without adult supervision.
The plot follows a linear path around the colourful and dreamy world of Zephyr Heights. This Cloud Kingdom has gone wrong and magical anomalies are taking over. Consequently, Sunny, Hitch, and the other ponies must work together to save the day. Alongside the main plot are some fun and mindless side quests. These simple endeavours add some depth and intrigue to an otherwise-level experience.
It’s perfect for munchkins.
The action funnels the player from point A to B with little fuss. Additionally, the side quests are straightforward and require little guidance. This rudimentary style allows each child to excel as they banish the magical anomalies. Yet, younger gamers may struggle with the platform elements. There is a need to leap from surfaces and glide between platforms. This isn’t particularly difficult, but younger players may struggle. Luckily, a little practice goes a long way and there is plenty of room for error.
Alongside this, there is a smattering of fun party games to unlock. These activities are integrated within the story and can be accessed at any time from the main menu. Subsequently, if your kids adore each game, they can play them to their heart’s content.
The simple level design is fun to explore. There are some collectables to find en route and plenty of power-specific items to activate. Each element is highlighted with a glowing light and this ensures that they won’t be missed. Though collectables can be ignored, your kids will want to collect everything, so they can customise their ponies. This mindless layer will have them giggling and smiling as they try on new hats, glasses, and other items of clothing.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery looks great.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery can’t be considered a next-gen title. However, I loved the crisp graphics and the vivid colours. Furthermore, the world is fun to explore and there is some variety in the dreamy fantasy world. Moreover, the animation is smooth and the cinematic is eye-catching and interesting to watch.
The audio is as loud and punchy as you’d expect. One-liners and piercing sound effects punctuate the upbeat soundtrack. Understandably, there is no sense of realism as your ponies roller-skate, glide, and cast magic. Yet, the lack of realism mattered not. My kids screamed, chuckled, and smiled throughout because of the light-hearted atmosphere.
Simple controls.
A kid-friendly title would fail if the controls were shocking. Luckily, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is pretty darn easy to play. The simple UI complements the straightforward controls. Furthermore, handy labels tell your children what button to press. My only complaint, however, is Hitch’s special skill. The hit zone is appalling and this causes issues. My whole household became agitated whenever his headbutting skill was needed. Consequently, the developers should adjust this to improve the end product.
Replay value and longevity aren’t at the fore. Disappointingly, once you’ve exhausted every avenue, there is little reason to return. Thankfully, the mini-games add some replay value, but this is limited at best.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is safe and perfect for kids.
I cannot emphasise enough how good My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is for your children. It has no violence, cussing, or gore. Additionally, the action is straightforward and the mechanics are simple to understand. What’s more, they can customise their ponies and there are fun mini-games to play. Yes, there are minor complaints, but they fade into insignificance. Ideally, this is aimed at 6 years plus. However, my 5-year-old could play it with minimal guidance. Subsequently, I adore it and I recommend buying it here! Can you save the Cloud Kingdom? Find your friends, explore the world, and remove the anomalies.
I have to be honest, Visual Novel Still Joking did not give me much hope in its gameplay theory. With the animation straight out of that cash-grab android game, ‘Episode’ and the Steam description sounding a little pretentious, this game proved to be a waste of time… Joking. There is actually something here and I was quite surprised.
Trailer of Still Joking
When the characters first interacted, using a default text box that comes with the software, everything felt low effort and maybe even a little generated but colour me surprised when things took a large turn. It turned out to be a bawdy perverted showcase of obscenities…. Still joking. About the porn bit, not the game surprising me, a bit. There really was more to explore than I first expected.
Grew on me
Without spoiling, I shall try to give an idea of what to expect from Just Kidding…. I meant Still Joking. (You’d think it would be an easy-to-remember title).
Anyway, Still Joking is a mix between Visual Novel, Point and Click and a puzzler. (Level of priority in that order)
You play as Iris, a reflection of the famous actress murdered in front of the mirror. Instantly, we are thrown into the world of reflections and their afterlife when we have no one to reflect. Thrown into the mix is our main Character’s quest or more so desire, to find out who the killer was and why they did what they did.
As the story progressed, a large variety of characters ranging from cliche to actually interesting were introduced. It is up to the player to decide how to react with these characters and our choices will determine how the game plays. Trust me, there are a lot of ways it can play out.
My Theory of Story
No joke, the start of this really sucked. From word one, I developed a hatred for the main character Iris and the info dumps after every third paragraph did not help. However, things started to fall into place a few scenes later. It makes you wonder if it was part of the plan.
No…
I know what this was…
Purple Brick Games or whoever was in charge of writing the scripts, you were learning on the job, weren’t you? You began without a proper grasp of writing principles and never went back to fix things. So, as the game went on, the quality went up simply because that is the truth of craft.
Damn!
If I am wrong about this then there are some insanely mind-bending choices being made at Purple Brick Games.
My Theory of Creation
Still joking is nothing short of an intense experience. With 1000 choices and interactions to delve into, it does not hold back.
At one point in the game, A cliche love angle started to bare itself. Going back to the ‘Episode’ comparison, I expected things to get uncomfortable but I was quite surprised at the amount of choices at play before me. Every choice I made in that little scene had forever-lasting ramifications for the rest of the story.
This was not the only scene either. At many points, you will find yourself making choices that feel very natural and unbearing but end with a different outcome to other points of the game.
My Theory of Fun
If you’re a fan of Visual Novels, then Still Joking is a must-play. It offers an intriguing mix of narrative depth, point-and-click mechanics, and puzzle-solving elements that keep you engaged from start to finish.
While the gameplay might not appeal to those looking for more traditional or action-oriented experiences, the story’s complexity and the numerous choices available make it a standout in its genre. If you’re up for a surprising and engaging experience, give Still Joking a try.
Garten of Banban was released in January 2023 for smartphones and PC, its developer and publisher on smartphones and PC are euphoric brothers.
This game has reached five million players on smartphones in a short period of time, which is a good number, but considering the fact that it is free and the number of mobile players is not a unbelievable number. So when a game is successful on one platform, why not release it on other platforms as well?
Garten of Banban was released in May 2024 for PS5 and PS4 and is published by feardemic, a well-known horror game publisher.
When a game is released for mobile, PC and consoles, the biggest question is which platform was the main target. If PC and console were the main platforms and it was made with their standards, then it is good for mobile too and It can satisfy mobile players too, but is the reverse the same? If the main target was mobile, can it satisfy PC and console players as well?
STORY
The story is so little and lacking in detail that it is clear that the slightest importance has not been given to it, only at the time of starting the game in a one-line text you realize that you are playing as someone who has lost your child and then the game starts in the kindergarten.
All that is added to the story after that one-line story is a letter written in a child’s handwriting, saying that he/she is hidden in a room but must fight a monster to save his/her friend, and in the letter there was a drawing of the bird in the kindergarten playroom as a monster.
This is the whole story of the game and it has no beginning and no end.
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is very simple and unchallenging and not even scary, at the beginning of the game you find a keycard and use it to open a door to a small room which you find a drone and its controller that has no battery.
so you go to another room to find the batteries and there is no challenge in finding the batteries, you just walk up to them and pick them up, then using the drone you can press buttons on the walls that your hand can’t reach.
After this, all the puzzles in the game are just finding parts or pressing buttons with the drone, none of them are difficult and they are very easy, there is one puzzle in a part of the game that is different from the rest and that It is not difficult, but after completing it, the only part of the game that is a bit scary and is a bit thrilling happens , which lasts under a minute and the game returns to the previous state, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete this game.
The gameplay is short and not horror at all.
VISUALS
Visually, Garten of Banban is an mediocre mobile game and it is not at all compatible with the visual standards of console and PC, and the only difference between the console version and the mobile version is its resolution, which is higher on the console.
The game map is very empty and without details, and the same empty and without details map is very small, if the doors are unlocked, you can go through it in about 50 seconds.
The only thing that makes the atmosphere of the game a little scary is the empty kindergarten.
CONCLUSION
In the end, Garten of Banban is a game without story that gives you a one-line story at the beginning of the game, a very short gameplay that lasts between 15 to 20 minutes, the puzzles are very easy and without challenges, apart from a short section there is no excitement or fear in the game, visually it is an mediocre mobile game. The game is free on mobile and PC, but it is 2 dollars on PlayStation and I do not recommend buying it on PlayStation.
It’s been seven years since the last release in the now iconic Outlast franchise and now it’s back with The Outlast Trials. Does it deliver the classic Outlast experience with a twist? Or should it have been left back in the test lab?
The Mad House
It’s now over ten years ago since Red Barrels developed and released Outlast and after a superb sequel they have returned to the franchise with a new twist. Instead of the single player focused previous games, The Outlast Trials is a fully fledged multiplayer experience which has without doubt been designed with playing with friends in mind. On the surface, the aim of the game is simple: you and up to three other players team up and try to escape the horrors you find within. Solve puzzles, complete objectives and run for your damn life-just some of the absolute chaos that occurs within this wonderful game. The game begins with classic Outlast– a grotesque cutscene showing your character being kidnapped by orderlies and doctors. From there, you create your character with a fairly robust system of customisation tools. Once you have kitted out your ‘patient’, it’s time to take on the tutorial. This perfectly encapsulates what you have to achieve in this game to survive. You are taught all the basic and advanced mechanics, whilst being on edge as enemies hunt and track you. I found this tutorial to be wonderful as it reminds you what Outlast truly is, and that is survival horror. Being a multiplayer focused game, the developers could have made the tutorial co-op but I think it works well solo as it forces the player to understand the stakes at hand before relying on friends.
The story in The Outlast Trials is deliberately vague and mysterious. It is a prequel to the previous games, now set in 1959, with the world at the height of the Cold War. The Murkhoff Corporation has taken extreme measures to find test subjects, such as taking the homeless off the streets. It’s a strong start for the story but as with a lot of multiplayer games, the gameplay takes precedent and the narrative is pushed to the side. The story is there for the player to find if they want, discovering notes and files hidden in the levels that give the backstory. Upon completing the trials, a single player trial unlocks which serves as an ambiguous and mysterious ending. This is welcomed as the game itself launched in early access last year, showing the clear focus by the developers to add and innovate over the years. I liked the handling of the story and the narrative as most players will not be playing for a rich story and in-depth narrative. I think Red Barrels have managed to balance the fine line between story and gameplay.
The Hub Of Wonders
Upon completing the tutorial, you arrive at the ‘Sleep Room’ which serves as the games online hub. Waking up in a bed and exiting my room, I felt nervous and terrified, but when I entered the main hub area I became blown away. Within this hub are situated random players online, allowing you to partner up with players to face the madness. But it’s the detail I love here. Want to have a game of chess against a random player? Or arm wrestle someone? Yes, these are real online minigames on offer; they’re small touches but ones that are so welcome. From this moment, I knew the developers had poured love and care into this game. Along with the minigames, the hub also serves as your customisation base for your player character and their inpatient room. Decorating your room with disgusting and outright weird ornaments and showing them to other players created unique and hilarious moments for myself and my friends. Who doesn’t want a bowl of teeth on their desk?
The hub itself also serves as the progression and upgrade base. You can gain abilities such as making no noise or powering up one of four rigs. These rigs act as the four gameplay styles. Do you want to tiptoe your way around and see where enemies are approaching? Then use the rig that lets you see through walls. Or if you want to be the player who acts as the bait, you can use the stun rig to temporarily halt the monsters that chase you. Be the team medic using the healing rig or use the blind rig to help confuse the enemies- the choice is yours. These rigs keep the game feeling fresh and offer different avenues to explore. It’s important that the gameplay is fun in cooperative games like this, and The Outlast Trials does not disappoint.
Co-op Chaos
As someone who is definitely not a horror fan, I thought I would hate this game but I truly had an absolute blast. Gameplay is fairly simple: sneak your way around one of the five main trials across unique locations and complete the tasks at hand. Gather equipment and health to survive and find everyday items to help stun the enemies which roam furiously around the level. It is a simple gameplay loop but it’s such damn fun to be exploring these wonderful trials with your friends. Getting chased feels thrilling and intense, with the look back over the shoulder option when running a particular useful technique. Movement and traversal feel smooth and natural like the previous games and easy to pick up for newcomers of the franchise. The trials themselves are both amazing and grotesque. Whether it’s going through an abandoned amusement park or sneaking through an old police station, this game has nailed the bizarre and vulgar tone Outlast is known for.
The objectives found within each trial are both brilliant in design and absolutely disgusting at times. Having to literally carve up a human attached to a cross with my friends is something unfortunately that will stay with me for a long time. There are other disgusting and downright sick moments found within the game but that is what you sign up for when you play Outlast, and fans of the series wouldn’t have it any other way. The way in which the game uses Outlast’s classic psychological horror ensures that the players fear levels are vital to surviving. Get too scared or induce to many chemicals and you’ll have a fully fledged skinner man chasing you that only you can see. My absolute favourites are the evil versions of yourself and friends that can suddenly appear. These alternate versions of yourself attempt to hurt and scare you and this addition truly leaves every player on edge, wondering who is a friend or who is a foe. The only downside to the game is the lack of levels as only five are available at launch but hopefully more will be added overtime.
What makes these levels special is the enemy design. Each level has the standard grunt type enemies who roam particular parts of the map, and these alone are scary in their own right. However it’s the bosses and special enemies that steal the show. Hearing the elevator siren go off near you or your friends is something like no other, as you know a special enemy is appearing and you have to make yourself scarce. Enemies like the wonderfully twisted Mother Gooseberry appears with a drill puppet for a hand or the wicked police officer Leland Coyle violently roams the police station with an electric baton. These two enemies in particular cause you absolute chaos as they can appear virtually anywhere in the trial which constantly means you are on your toes. Foes hiding in barrels can leap out at you causing hilarious and terrifying jump scares for you and your friends. Seeing a big hulking monster strolling past the bed me and my friends were hiding under, was a personal favourite of mine! An incredible achievement by Red Barrels in gameplay design.
Beauty In The Horror
The Outlast Trials oozes horror through presentation and sound. Each trial looks stunning, with their twisted aspects that help make every location unique. Blood spatters are vibrant and unnerving, whilst bodies and body parts are deliberately grotesque and outlandish. Lighting is also key in this game with the return of the iconic night vision goggles and I’m happy to say it does not disappoint. Rooms look beautiful in night vision and nightmarish when not lit up. But it’s the design of the levels that truly blew me away. Ample hiding spaces, escape options and routes at your disposal in every room; The Outlast Trials has nailed map design to a tee. Enemies look horrifying and are truly stuff of nightmares. The way they have been designed and animated to roam the maps so wonderfully, is perfection in enemy design. I am blown away by the presentation and design of this game.
In addition, the sound design in this game is top notch. It’s crucial in this genre for sound to play its role and it certainly does. Hearing a grunt lumber their way round the corner to you is spinetingling and unnerving but serves as the audio cue for the player to alert them to danger. Crunching over broken glass is brutal and effective whilst smash doors never sounded so good. The voice acting of the named enemies is also wonderfully done; it is downright terrifying hearing Mother Gooseberry laughing manically as she chases you. Music plays a subdued role in this game, but that is intentional as silence is your ally in this game. In the single player prologue and epilogue, the music ramps up to a nail biting score. Its use during chases also really exacerbates the players’ fears and tensions. A perfect horror experience.
Verdict
The Outlast Trials is a masterpiece in blending cooperative gameplay with the disgusting outrageous horror of the iconic series. Gameplay feels both exhilarating and terrifying, creating unique moments for me and my friends that I will remember for a long time. Whilst the game doesn’t have a memorable story to tell, its characters and enemies are truly unforgettable. Stunning presentation and design help to keep me coming back for more and a fairly robust progression helps to create longevity. I just wish I could experience the trials again for the first time. See you in the madhouse.
This Father’s Day Round-up 2024 aims to highlight some of the best tech around. These massive brands deliver some of the most impressive and in-demand products available. As such, we know that you and your father will love each one of them. This guide aims to highlight an array of items from gamepads, sound systems, storage solutions, and much more. Luckily, we’ve reviewed many of these items. Furthermore, each suggestion comes from a trusted brand with an exceptional reputation. Accordingly, our ideas are based on our thoughts and the reviews of their customer base. Majority Audio, SK Hynix, GameSir, Boulies, Turtle Beach, JLab and more make up this comprehensive guide. Consequently, with a wide range of products on offer, you are spoilt for choice. Moreover, your dad will adore any of these items if you surprise him with a gift from this Father’s Day Round-up 2024.
The Bowfell is a powerful 50-watt TV sound bar packed with the latest audio technology and compatible with a wide range of household items such as your TV, PC, laptop, or projector.
Majority Bowfell Plus 2.1 Bluetooth Soundbar & Subwoofer.
Sleek and understated, the Bowfell Plus is the home audio system every budding audiophile needs! The clutter-free design not only uses minimal space, it delivers rich and deep audio, from a small but mighty soundbar and a powerful subwoofer.
Majority D40X Active Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers.
Discover the D40X bookshelf speakers, featuring advanced Kevlar technology. Whether it’s your CDs, vinyl, films, or digital media, these speakers handle it all. Designed for music lovers, audiophiles, and film enthusiasts, the D40X offers 4-inch bass drivers and integrated amplifiers, delivering a powerful, clear sound. The Kevlar speaker cone ensures accurate sound reproduction and minimal distortion, even at high volumes. Elevate your audio experience with the D40X and enjoy every detail with unparalleled quality.
Majority Homerton 2 Bluetooth Internet Radio & CD Player Music System.
Upgrade your home entertainment experience with the Majority Homerton 2 Bluetooth Internet, DAB & FM Radio with CD Player, Spotify Connect and Podcast Player. Delivering a world of radio stations tune into everything from sports updates to chat shows. Revitalise the house party with Spotify Connect and blast out your favourite tunes. Simply search by continent, country, genre, and station name, and soon you’ll be connecting to over 25,000 radio stations to explore a wide range of listening! Once you’ve found your favourite stations, take advantage of the 40+ radio pre-sets to save the best of the airwaves.
This internal storage drive improves the speed of laptops or desktops, making it useful for the multitasking Dad. Edit videos, respond to emails, and watch a Netflix show simultaneously with smoother performance than ever.
The fastest flash drive in the world makes it easy to store and access large files anywhere. Dads who like to play can save and transport games, letting families seamlessly switch between games on the PlayStation, XBOX or PC without filling up internal storage. This USB drive also boasts fast loading times for games, meaning more time to play during those short breaks from fatherhood.
The CS3140 M.2 NVMe Gen4 x4 Solid State Drive is designed to be an extreme high-performance SSD to deliver the performance you demand for your laptop or desktop system. Furthermore, it is ideal for PC enthusiasts, gamers, and video rendering professionals to upgrade to the latest NVMe technology.
The NVMe Gen4 x4 interface delivers incredible performance of up to 7,500MB/s seq. read and 6,850MB/s seq. write speeds and the optional integrated extruded aluminium heatsink offer improved thermal performance for demanding applications, high-end games, and intense workloads. Boot up in seconds, enjoy lightning-fast application launches, and incredible system performance. The PNY XLR8 CS3140 is highly durable, less likely to fail, and supports a 5-year limited warranty or TBW.
Available from Walmart for $279.99. Saving $59.01.
Couchmaster.
Cycon2.
The new CYCON² represents the current flagship of the available Couchmaster models. Thanks to the six integrated USB 3.0 ports, all required input devices such as keyboards, mice, gamepads and headsets can be connected directly to the Couchmaster. Of course, mobile devices like smartphones or tablets can also be connected and charged at the fast-charging USB port. To keep the cables of the connected devices out of the way, the Couchmaster CYCON² has a modified and now even more easily accessible cable management system.
Turtle Beach has revealed a newly redesigned version of its best-selling Stealth 600 wireless multiplatform headset series, now entering its third generation. This newest Stealth 600 offers low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity and now features the brand’s powerful signature 50mm Nanoclear drivers.
Turtle Beach is also expanding its best-selling wireless multiplatform Stealth headset series with the introduction of the new Stealth 500, providing gamers with the brand’s signature high-quality gaming audio, plus low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, an adjustable floating headband, and best-in-class 40-hour battery life.
For groundbreaking PC gaming audio, Turtle Beach has unveiled the Atlas Air – the first wireless open-back PC gaming headset supporting high-fidelity 24-bit audio. The Atlas Air’s precision 40mm drivers pair with its revolutionary open-back earcup design to produce ultra-clear natural audio quality for total immersion on PC.
This keyboard delivers pro-level performance in a compact TenKeyLess (TKL) footprint. Equipped with magnetic Hall Effect switches for reliable, silky smooth key presses rated at a 150M click lifecycle, the Vulcan II TKL Pro’s keys feature a fully adjustable actuation point from 0.1mm to 4mm. Plus, with the Rapid Trigger setting, PC gamers have faster, more precise movement control with less downtime between key presses.
Available to preorder fromTurtle Beach for £149.99.
Burst II Air Ultra-Lightweight mouse.
This gaming mouse satisfies PC gamers’ need for speed with an incredible, best-in-class 47g weight. The Burst II Air is designed for quick flick shots and the fastest players with Turtle Beach’s smooth yet precise Owl-Eye 26K DPI optical sensor with 650 IPS (16.5m/s) tracking speed.
LIMITED-EDITION DESTINY 2: THE FINAL SHAPE COLLECTION.
Arctis Nova 7 | Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition Bundle.
The award-winning Arctis Nova Series headsets are donned with custom Destiny 2: The Final Shape-themed speaker plates and headband, for the ultimate immersion into the Destiny universe. $219.99.
Nova Booster Pack | Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition.
Customise the award-winning line of Arctis Nova headsets with a signature design inspired by The Final Shape. Proudly display the themes of Destiny 2 for your next venture and communicate with your fire team equipped with awesome sound. $39.99.
QcK Heavy XXL Mousepad | Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition.
Transform any battle station into the portal to The Pale Heart with a panoramic QcK Heavy XXL mousepad depicting the visual themes of Destiny 2: The Final Shape. $49.99.
Artisan Keycap | Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition.
Socket this unique Artisan Keycap onto a keyboard and proudly display one of the most recognisable symbols of your epic adventure across the solar system. $79.99.
KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks | Destiny 2: The Final Shape Edition.
Gamers can control Darkness and Light with the Destiny 2: The Final Shape Performance Thumbsticks – Collector’s Edition with Portal Case. $29.99 (4th June 2024).
With an eco-friendly design made from 85% recycled plastics, the Forta allows gamers to play with added peace of mind. Powerful 50mm drivers and 3D audio enable players to fully immerse themselves in the game, transporting them to the centre of the action. A detachable noise-reducing microphone ensures crisp and clear communication with teammates, whilst a padded headband, moveable earcups and durable soft over-ear pads offer hours of gaming comfort.
The Boulies Master Series gaming chair boasts a sleek and ergonomic design that prioritises both style and comfort. Built with premium materials, it features high-density cold-cured foam padding that moulds to your body shape, providing exceptional support and minimising discomfort during long gaming sessions. The adjustable 4D armrests allow for personalised arm positioning, while the Class 4 hydraulic piston enables smooth height adjustment. The Master Series also comes equipped with a multifunctional tilt mechanism, allowing users to recline the chair between 90 and 135 degrees for a comfortable resting position. The breathable, stain-resistant, and abrasion-resistant fabric ensures a durable and easy-to-maintain chair.
The GameSir Nova wireless switch controller is compatible with Switch/Lite/OLED, Windows 10/11, Android, iOS and Steam Deck. The RGB LED light on the switch controller joystick has 6 different lights, and 5 different light modes, perfect for customising the gaming experience to suit a gamer’s environment, mood or style. Furthermore, it is equipped with Hall Effect joysticks that ensure an anti-drift, no-dead zone performance.
Compact and lightweight at less than 40 grams, making it highly portable for daily use. With an industry-leading battery life of up to 42 hours, including over 9 hours on a single charge, it ensures uninterrupted listening. Customise your audio experience with the JLab App, offering features like Safe Hearing Mode and EQ controls. Bluetooth Multipoint enables seamless transitions between devices, perfect for multitasking.
Follow the steps of GUNNAR and Task Force 141 and embark on a mission to protect all eyes. Equipped with a quality precision-engineered polymer frame material, sturdy multi-barrel hinges and fixed nose bridge, wearing the Call of Duty Alpha Edition is the perfect load out.
Embark on epic quests with World of Warcraft, Alliance Edition glasses. Featuring a precision-engineered polymer front with hybrid metal temples, flexible spring hinges, and advanced lens technology, these glasses elevate your gaming experience. For the Alliance! Honour, Unity, and Victory!
Discover the beauty of nature with Muir, a key style in the innovative ARBOR Collection. Inspired by the primaeval forest, Muir Woods, these glasses combine elegance and essence. Featuring genuine ebony wood reinforced with an internal carbon fibre layer, this frame delivers firmness, tensile and compressive strength in a lightweight, ultra-durable configuration.
Buying the perfect gift is no mean feat. We all know that dads are notoriously tough to buy for. Moreover, they rarely want you to spend your hard-earned cash. As such, why not surprise them with one of the many phenomenal items in this Father’s Day Round-up 2024? You can improve their PC setup or enhance their audio experience. Additionally, a new gaming chair will make their body happy and each working or gaming session a relaxing endeavour. Furthermore, maybe you wish to be the “favourite” child. Well, now is your chance, as one of these items is guaranteed to bring a smile to their face.
(Full disclosure! This guide was written for free. All suggestions are made with no bias. Unless stated, no products were provided for this article.)
Tour de France 2024, the latest installment in the long-running cycling simulation series, delivers exactly what fans have come to expect. While it remains faithful to the genre, offering an array of game modes and realistic cycling mechanics, it also suffers from a lack of innovation and feels too similar to its predecessor.
Tour de France 2024 captures the essence of professional cycling with its detailed simulation of races. Players can manage their team’s stamina, condition, and strategy, ensuring that each race is both engaging and challenging. The controls feel intuitive, allowing players to focus on the strategic elements rather than grappling with complex commands. This balance makes the game accessible to both newcomers and seasoned players.
The game offers a fast forward feature, a much-needed addition for getting through the monotonous stretches of the 150km races. This feature helps maintain the pace and keeps players engaged without feeling bogged down by the lengthy nature of real-life cycling events.
One of the game’s strengths is its variety of modes. The “Create a Rider” mode allows players to craft their own cyclist and guide them through a career, providing a personalized experience. Pro races and quick races offer immediate action for those who prefer to jump right into the competition. These modes cater to different play styles, from those who enjoy detailed management to those who want quick, exhilarating races.
Despite the diversity in game modes, the core experience remains largely unchanged from previous editions. Fans of the series might find the familiarity comforting, but it also highlights the game’s lack of evolution. There are no significant innovations or improvements that set this year’s edition apart from Tour de France 2023, making it feel like more of an annual update than a fresh, new game. Of course this is the issue with a lot of these style of games. Any game that has an annual release will struggle to innovate but that’s more of a question if we really need them annually, or are these the sort of games that should be done as ‘live service’ games. But this is a topic for a whole other article.
Visually, Tour de France 2024 does a decent job of portraying the scenic beauty of the race courses. The landscapes are detailed, and the cyclists’ animations are smooth, adding to the realism. However, the graphics engine hasn’t seen any major upgrades, and it shows. While the game looks good, it doesn’t push the boundaries of what’s possible on modern hardware, leaving it visually comparable to last year’s instalment.
The user interface is clean and functional. The menus are easy to navigate, and information is presented clearly, which is crucial for managing teams and races. The sound design, including the ambient noises of the crowd and the peloton, adds to the immersion but doesn’t stand out as a highlight.
As someone who isn’t a huge fan of cycling, I can still see the charm in Tour de France 2024. The gameplay is solid, and the strategic depth in managing stamina and condition is engaging. For fans of the Tour de France and cycling enthusiasts, this game offers countless hours of content. The familiar mechanics and detailed simulation can be incredibly addictive for those who are passionate about the sport However, the lack of new features and the overwhelming similarity to previous editions make it hard to recommend to fans as a full priced game. I would recommend staying with the previous installation in the franchise as you can pick it up for a fraction of the price and not miss out on anything.
Tour de France 2024 is a competent and enjoyable cycling simulation that caters well to its target audience. However, its failure to innovate and distinguish itself from last year’s edition limits its appeal. While it offers everything fans of the genre would expect, it doesn’t push any boundaries or introduce significant new features. For cycling aficionados, it’s a solid choice, but for still, it might feel like a ride they’ve taken one too many times.
Tour de France 2024 is available on current and last gen of Playstation and Xbox as well as Windows PC from 6th June 2024
ArcRunner is a stylish and addictive title. This cyberpunk-infused experience gets under your skin thanks to its simple concept. Furthermore, the fast-paced action and array of weaponry and playstyles is fascinating. Consequently, once you open Pandora’s box, it is tough to put the lid back on.
This rogue-like shooter was developed by Trickjump Games Ltd and published by PQube Limited. Moreover, it can be enjoyed alone or with 2 other warriors. The casual action takes place across numerous compact arenas. Additionally, there are plenty of weapons to find and unlock, augmentations to install, and an army of robotic menaces to destroy. Consequently, there is plenty to do during every bite-sized playthrough.
ArcRunner doesn’t tell an original tale.
Though much of ArcRunner is fresh and interesting, the story is all too familiar. Now, this wasn’t a problem as such. However, it would have been pleasant to experience something slightly original. The result is a tale that fades into insignificance as the excellent action stands at the fore.
A meta-virus has infected KORE. Subsequently, this awakens the ArcRunner protocols. These soulless entities must explore each arena whilst defeating the robotic guardians. The further they progress, the closer they get to completing their mission. Can the ArcRunner overcome every obstacle and reset the KORE?
Simple mechanics.
The action focuses on short, sharp arena combat. During each stage, the protagonist must slay waves of robotic foes as they dodge and weave past projectiles. Furthermore, they must collect secondary weapons and any primary tool at their disposal. This flexibility and random nature ensures that no playthrough is ever the same.
As you progress past each level, you may use the Autodoc to install an augmentation. This temporary buff improves your character for that playthrough. What’s more, you may stack abilities to improve speed, accuracy, health, and much more. These additional skills give you a match-winning edge. Furthermore, they complement your permanent upgrades and help you to delve deeper into the madness.
The permanent upgrades are installed when you unlock Nanites. These rare items are unlocked at the end of each stage, and they can be found by completing challenges. The latter option isn’t that difficult. Yet, this mattered not as it added a layer of depth that improved exploration and each run.
Different builds.
ArcRunner’s surprises keep on coming. The wonderful devs have incorporated several playstyles into the core action. You may pick from 3 unique heroes to complement your playstyle. Whether you wish to go for an all-rounder, a stealthy assassin, or a hacking deviant, the choice is yours.
Each character has an array of special skills as well as a powerful ability unique to their class. These well-considered ideas mix up the action whilst preventing it from becoming tedious. Word of warning, however, if you attempt each of the characters’ builds, you will need to collect mountains of Nanites. Accordingly, this will be time-consuming and potentially repetitive.
ArcRunner looks fantastic.
ArcRunner uses a 3rd person perspective to great effect. The cyberpunk world is neon-infused, industrial, and cold. Furthermore, the robots are unique, faceless, and devoid of personality. This detached view of the future is uncomfortable and lacking in emotion. Yet, I didn’t like the aiming system. Though a crosshair is always present, the accuracy is pretty low. Moreover, you cannot look down the sight of your gun and this makes things problematic.
If you use a machine gun or any rapid-fire weapon, you can get away with firing from the hip. However, the slower and more precise weapons were painful to use. Your enemies move so quickly that it is tough to keep up. No matter which build I tried, the problem remained. Maybe it’s something I missed, but I could not select a 1st person viewpoint and that was frustrating.
The audio uses a synth soundtrack for a futuristic edge. The upbeat electronic sounds were great. But the repetitive loop and the poor cutting between tracks weren’t so good. Had the developers increased their music library, it would have been vastly improved. The sound effects were much better. The zip, twang, and crash of every Sci-fi weapon were impressive. Moreover, the noise of the explosions was loud and uncomfortable.
Excellent controls.
Though the aiming was challenging, the control system was good. The excellent UI combined with the responsive inputs makes this an accessible title. Alongside this, the layout was well-considered, and it took no time to master. Where you may struggle, though, is remembering the pros and cons of each weapon. Things can get pretty hectic, and trying to find time to pick up the best tool wasn’t easy. Consequently, this can be somewhat tiresome.
If you don’t mind losing your progress and a sense of repetition, then you’ll adore ArcRunner. The rogue-like elements create almost unlimited replay value and longevity. However, tackling the opening stages for the nth time can be hard to swallow. As such, causal gamers may become annoyed at the rate of progression.
ArcRunner is tough but enjoyable.
I died repeatedly, swore a lot, and tried plenty of different load-outs. I had a great time during each playthrough even though I knew failure was just around the corner. This sense of impending doom adds a layer of risk vs reward. Additionally, the opportunity to test new builds and permanently improve your hero was hard to turn down. Consequently, I like it and I recommend buying it here! Don’t let the virus win. Pick your hero, unlock new skills, and reset the KORE.
Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight is a game by Aquastyle, set in the Touhou universe. The story follows Reimu Hakurei, who has just woken up from a mysterious battle and found her memories to have all but disappeared. Accompanied by her friend Marisa, Reimu sets off on an adventure across the land, with a rather curious sense of unease that she’s already done this all before.
Anyone who has played a Mystery Dungeon game will feel very at home with this set-up. Dungeon crawling, memory loss, partners to recruit and bosses to take down are just a few things that await you in this sprawling world. Take down your enemies and level up to challenge more powerful and dangerous foes. Fuse weapons, upgrade your shrine and invest points into the Izanagi link to specialise your skills and develop Reimu into an unstoppable force.
A Treat for the Eyes and Ears
Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight is a gorgeous game to look at. With a mix of chibi art style, some great full-hd splash artworks and colourful vibrant dungeons, one can’t help but feel attracted to the Touhou world and its weird and wacky characters. The majority of the dungeons feel unique and exciting to explore and each new NPC has a standout design that makes each one feel authentic and distinctive. Whether it’s vampiric maids in imposing castles, or eerie spirits under blooming violet trees, the presentation here is top-notch, making you anticipate meeting new people and finding new locations.
Keeping on topic, there’s a fantastic soundtrack here, enchanting music that’ll put your mind at ease or tense battle themes that will set your nerves alight. I never felt the need to turn my volume down even once, as the music never gets stale or boring, which is a clear sign of good pacing and well-thought-out track selection. In addition, the voice acting is bold and quirky, with each character having special expressions that help to develop their character and cause them to be even more endearing to the player.
Where did the Story go?!
Unfortunately, this is ultimately where the majority of the praise stops. To say that Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight is plagued by a bad story would be remiss, for in this regard there seems to be very little story at all. After making your way through the introduction and learning the mechanics, things seem to happen around Reimu, with very little explanation. Whether it’s red mist, sudden cold or a random castle appearing out of thin air, none of these seem connected and throughout the quest, we’re left wondering – what’s the point of all this?
Reimu is left to wander around solving problems for the sole reason of protecting the shrine. And while the characters you meet along the way are fun, they don’t stop the overarching feeling of pointlessness weighing down on the whole adventure. This doesn’t help when Marisa is irritatingly aloof and never answers any questions that Reimu answers. I can understand that Aquastyle wanted to tie everything together at the end, but by the time that comes, it’s difficult to rekindle the interest that we had at the beginning.
I can’t help but draw comparisons to the rest of the Mystery Dungeon franchise on which this experience is based. Let’s take, for example, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness, two utterly groundbreaking games released way back in 2007. These titles had a brilliant story that weaved its way through the entire adventure, full of dramatic twists and turns that kept us on the edges of our seats and kooky characters that we came to adore. It had stakes, it had character development and even (let’s be honest) made most of us shed a tear.
Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight does very little of this. Not once did I feel any tension in the story or that anything of value was going to be lost. It’s just a mish-mash of events with Reimu coming to save the day over and over again. Compare this to the stopping of time in the Explorers titles, the villains that double cross us and the struggles we face, to go from nothing to a revered exploration team. The difference is stark. And remember this game came out in 2007. Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight does little to justify its price tag compared to a little Nintendo DS game from way back when.
A Solid Foundation, Yet Lacking Polish
But before we completely melt down, let’s get into the actual gameplay. There is certainly promise here. The combat is tight and the action is fluid. There’s very little waiting around and the floors pass swiftly. However, one thing you’ll quickly notice is the sheer lack of enemy diversity. Once you’ve seen a couple of fairies with different coloured hair well… yeah it’s pretty much that for the rest of the game. Add in the bosses you’ve already defeated, who appear randomly as normal enemies and it just feels barebones. These guys may do a special attack, or may just bop you instead, but they all go down the same. Flavourless and bland.
But how about the bosses? Well, get your refined green teas ready, because it’s time to get chugging my friend. Some of these enemies, despite their great presentation, have horrible gameplay designs. Often bosses seem like more of a DPS/level check rather than something that requires a lot of strategy. More often than not you will find yourself spamming potions and medicines instead of relying on abilities. Some bosses’ attacks just deal absurd amounts of damage unless you respec or prepare very specific equipment. Part of this is great, changing your equipment, but when you need to do this every single time there is a new boss, it gets a bit tedious. This, coupled with how random your partner can be leads to some very frustrating circumstances.
Unfortunately, Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight can seem like more of a menu game than a dungeon crawler. Say hello to the new Izanagi system, which on paper sounds great! Loads of individual skill trees tailored around the new characters that you meet: Sign me up! But skill trees often change the way you play and interact with the world. These in comparison are just stat buffs. ‘Deal more damage to Lunar monsters’, ‘Take less damage from Vampire monsters.’ And the thing is, if you want to improve your chances against the next bosses, you ought to respec your entire skill tree every time a new enemy type comes along. This is tedium to the extreme. And add on the fact that few of the skill trees reflect the personality or attributes of the characters on which they’re based. It feels a bit tacked on.
More Foresight, Less Hindsight
Touhou Genso Wanderer – Foresight can be a lot of fun, but you have to try and ignore a lot of things that other Dungeon games just do better. Whether it’s weird translation errors in the items, hub areas feeling dull and lifeless or even the main story, this title truly feels unfinished, as though Aquastyle rushed it out to make a quick buck from the diehard Touhou fans. And that’s a shame because there’s some great potential here.
If you’re looking for a similar experience then try out Touhou Genso Wanderer – Reloaded, a grander, more polished title that fixes many of the flaws that Foresight has, despite coming out in 2018. It seems Aquastyle made too many steps back here, but that’s not to say they can’t redeem themselves in the future. Whatever the case, I’ll be paying attention to what comes next in the series.
Anthology of Fear is a strange title that will leave you confused. The lack of guidance and the often misleading moments cast a web of deceit and a fog of doubt. However, it is this sense of mystery that fans the horror spark. Though the action is slower than a snail and the gameplay lasts no more than 3 hours, there is enough here to capture your interest.
This horror experience was developed by OhDear Studio, GAMES and published by Ultimate Games. Furthermore, it is a single-player experience that intertwines many viewpoints. Accordingly, it can be tough to keep up, and it isn’t until the game ends that things truly unravel. This arduous approach will annoy gamers. The sense of confusion and the borderline insane pacing will put many people off. Yet, if you can stick with it and enjoy the creepy atmosphere, you’ll get plenty out of it.
Anthology of Fear twists and turns.
Horror requires a high sense of anticipation and an element of the unknown. In this respect, Anthology of Fear does a great job. Each character enters the fray and outlines their influence on the protagonist’s life. Yet, the lack of explanation makes the water somewhat muddy. Furthermore, the repetitive gameplay only adds to the confusion.
Your brother, Nathan, is missing. No one can explain his disappearance and hopes of finding him alive are fading. However, your hopes are fuelled when a mysterious phone call highlights a mental health clinic as a possible lead. Yet, this facility mysteriously closed as your brother disappeared. Is this a coincidence, or will you uncover the truth?
Corridor, corridor, corridor.
If you love endless corridors and empty rooms, then Anthology of Fear will make you smile. Every level of this odd horror title explores a small array of labyrinthine corridors. Furthermore, many of the rooms are empty and there are minor changes as the game progresses. Matters are made worse as new characters are introduced.
The thinly layered introduction of key protagonists enhances the weirdness. As rooms shift and puzzles are introduced, you have little idea of what is happening and how the story evolves. Moreover, a mysterious individual tries to help you, or not, depending on how you read the situation.
What is clear, though, is the sense of atmosphere. Though much of the action is slow, you expect to be scared out of your skin. Now, the jump scares are minimal, but they are timed perfectly so as not to outstay their welcome. Additionally, the odd puzzle breaks up the walking monotony even if the complexity is lacking.
What will annoy gamers is the sense of emptiness. I’d love to link this with Nathan’s mental state and a feeling of loneliness, but I think I may be overreaching. Either way, don’t expect Anthology of Fear to be action-packed or challenging.
Anthology of Fear looks great.
The action may have left me wanting. However, I adored the creepy atmosphere and the claustrophobia. The rooms are dark, eerie, and uncomfortable to explore. Furthermore, you are free to open doors, cupboards, and other storage items. This simple tool added to the anticipation as I expected creepy crawlies and ghouls to slap me in the face.
The minor changes to each level were interesting. Though the impact was minimal, it meant that you could focus on the new problems or the enhanced layers of fear. Furthermore, the introduction of sinister entities adds to the drama. As such, you never quite get comfortable.
The audio complements the atmosphere. The wonderful sound effects are daunting. Moreover, the hushed sounds and uncomfortable noises keep you glancing over your shoulder. In short, though there is little going on, you won’t be able to relax.
Simple controls.
Exploring a slow-paced world filled with edgy entities can be tiresome. Thankfully, the decent controls ensure that you can navigate the corridors with ease. Moreover, the responsive inputs and well-labelled items make each compact area easier to explore.
Sadly, another shortcoming is the sense of replay value and longevity. Anthology of Fear is far too short! Additionally, there are limited reasons to return once you reach the abrupt finale. Consequently, once you come to the strange end, you will not play it again.
Anthology of Fear won’t impress everyone.
There are plenty of fine elements to this horror experience. However, I believe the developer has tried to push the envelope too much. Their out-of-the-box thinking muddies the water and the lack of cohesion makes things tough to follow. As such, it doesn’t reach its potential and I cannot recommend it. If you are interested, more information can be found here! Will you get to the bottom of the mystery? Follow the clues, explore the clinic, and reveal the truth.
