What is Windows Home Server?

Review: Tell Me Your Story

Khloe Turner

-

May 6, 2024

This is a title image to Tell Me Your Story.

One of the greatest treasures of life comes from the wisdom of our elders. Many of us at some point in time have sat down with an elder, family or stranger, and respectfully listened to their wise tales, adventures, and generational experiences. If you have yet to behold such a wonder, I highly recommend seeking out these stories. The lifetimes of our fellow humans will never cease to be amazing.

In Tell Me Your Story, a young girl named Amelia visits her Grandmother Rose’s cottage in the summer. Amelia discovers all sorts of unique artifacts and mementos in Rose’s home, and as it turns out, her grandmother was quite the world traveler in her youth! Rose journeyed to marvelous locations within Asia, Europe, and the Amazon. Players visually sift through Rose’s adventures in Tell Me Your Story, experiencing the beautiful bonding of generations and receiving the wisdom of a well-traveled lifetime.

RedDeer Games is the developer of Tell Me Your Story, and is available on the Nintendo Switch and on Steam. The game was published on April 26th, 2024.

Unraveling the adventures of Grandma Rose

The introduction to the story, Amelia going to visit Grandma Rose.

Tell Me Your Story is purely a visual experience, lacking any voice-acted or text-based dialogue. As Amelia and her pet corgi–named Peanut–visit her Grandmother, players immediately begin to discover Rose’s acquired artifacts and learn about their origins.

Through beautifully drawn artwork, Grandma Rose chronicles about her youthful adventures in search of Aztec legends in the Amazon; her travels from Paris to Istanbul; and journey within the Yunnan region of China. In order to advance through the memories, players must solve series of puzzles. These puzzles involve finding and clicking objects and/or moving them around in a certain order or pattern.

It is a short and sweet narrative that perhaps takes no longer than an hour or two. This is about the same length of time it took for my own grandparent, in real life, to recount their own personal life journeys to me!

Curl up with a handheld puzzle

Tell Me Your Story is a relaxing puzzle game and picture-based adventure, fully relying on its artistically drawn scenes to guide you. There are virtually no hints aside from image-based cues . . . and even though there is a “hint” button, it probably will not aid you too much. The hints tell you what most players can already easily infer. The puzzles themselves do not take too long in theory, and there is a good amount of variety and creativity to them.

This is an image of Grandma Rose's adventures to the Amazon.

The artwork of the game is mesmerizing. Amelia and Rose are very sweet-looking and fun characters to see on the screen. The game makes a great use of vivid, dreamy colors and mini animations as you solve puzzles. Its soundtrack is also rather cozy, enough to relax players without distracting them from the puzzle-based challenges.

The “guessing game”

The biggest issue with Tell Me Your Story is that while it is considered a puzzle game, at times it feels more like a “guessing game” . . .

This is an image of a puzzle in Tell Me Your Story.

This title throws you to the wolves: there is absolutely no explanation at the start of the game. Tell Me Your Story, well, does not tell you the story, it shows you. Players must make inferences on both the narrative as well as to the solutions to the puzzles based on imagery and visual cues. There is a complete lack of text and dialogue for context.

Perhaps for some players, these elements make the game more immersive and cozy. You can hold your laptop or Switch close to you as you cuddle up on a couch; the music is softly playing and you can feast your eyes on wonderous graphics and blast through the puzzles.

On the other hand, this could prove to be frustrating. Some of the puzzles are honestly not intuitive at all, or require an awkwardly strict solution. The first puzzle, for example, is insanely particular about the way players must move the boxes and pots around. Even if you know the solution, you have to finesse the items around very specifically. If the game does not like the way you moved them, the object resets to its original position. The hints are no help at all, and if you are one to struggle with visual cues, the puzzles can be downright impossible. Since there is no context for the mechanics of the game, sometimes I just erratically clicked the screen until something happened. A “guessing game” at its core.

This is a picture of the first puzzle in Tell Me Your Story.

For some people, the lack of sound can be rather boring. Personally, I feel more immersed in a globetrotting tale like this one when something is spoken. At least some more sound effects would do. I was the type of kid who loved to be read to as I imagined the visual settings, as opposed to looking at wordless picture books. But, that is just me. This game will appeal to a particular audience.

Final thoughts

Tell Me Your Story is a very short romp with an interesting storyline, full of eye-catching elements. I wish the game was a tad longer to get more bang for your buck, but it is what it is. While I have my personal gripes, I think that this title can appeal to enjoyers of puzzles and picture-based stories.

A picture of all the characters in Tell Me Your Story.

This title has a lot of potential–it is relaxing, offers creative puzzles and solutions, and the characters are vivacious. However, there were many sluggish and frustrating moments. Overall, it is an adequate, cozy puzzle game, just do not expect too much.

Review: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Daniel Waite

-

May 6, 2024

0

Review: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a stupidly addictive title that got under my skin. Every aspect of this game made me grin from ear to ear. Furthermore, its spectacularly straightforward mechanics ensure that it is as casual as they come. Yet, there is a sense of repetition and the classic JRPG quirks will annoy some players. However, I was having none of that as I lost myself in its awe-inspiring story and world.

If you have played Suikoden or Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, you’ll know exactly what you are getting. There is a vast, sprawling world to explore, a ridiculous number of heroes to recruit, and endless turn-based battles to tackle. Alongside this, there is a truly emotional story that is wonderfully narrated, and some tactical elements that will test your resolve. Consequently, it ticks many boxes for many people.

This JRPG was developed by Rabbit and Bear Studios and published by 505 Games. Moreover, this superb title is a spiritual successor to the much-loved Suikoden franchise. Accordingly, it has some fantastic old-school mechanics that are approachable and user-friendly. Additionally, the exceptional story unfolds at a comfortable pace. As such, you never feel out of your depth.

Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes tells a tale of deceit.

Trust and honesty are 2 characteristics that many people favour. However, when power and control are at the fore, these soon fall by the wayside. Sadly, this is exactly what happens in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. The protagonists face a deadly decision that will change their lives as they know it. Yet, with a plucky team at his side, the hero of this tale can right the wrongs and save the day.

The story unfolds in a territory called Allraan. This dangerous place is split between different people and the Galdean Empire rules the roost. However, the Watch, a bunch of mercenaries with special powers, help to maintain balance. The leader of the empire, Dux Alric, wishes to control every region in the territory. Accordingly, he utilises the power of the rune lenses and a campaign of destruction and deception to trick his enemies. Yet, he hadn’t planned on the resolve of the Watch and their plucky leader, Nowa.

So much going on!

If you want a game that combines base building, mini-games, fishing, and fighting, then look no further! Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes packs so many layers into its gameplay that it should be impossible to play. However, the perfectly balanced story and drip-fed mechanics ensure that it is easy to follow and straightforward to master. Alongside this, the main story is divided into 3 key components. Each element tells the plot from a different perspective. Now, this could have been horrific. However, each bite-sized encounter and perfectly timed cinematic keeps you on track.

As the story unravels, you must venture from point A to B whilst completing quest after quest. The gameplay is punctuated by dungeon-crawling moments and an impressive 3D world map. The latter is traversed with an oversized Nowa model. This simple perspective gives the impression that great distances are covered in a matter of moments. I adore the quick and easy navigation and the beautiful environments you encounter.

Alongside this, there are plenty of heroes to recruit and a massive castle to redevelop. This base represents your in-game achievements. Furthermore, it allows you to kick back and relax with your army of warriors. It was a nice addition to the core gameplay and a perfect distraction from the never-ending adventures.

Turn-based combat.

Though exploration and the subsequent dungeon crawling are essential, you’ll enjoy a never-ending stream of fighting. This random mechanic will drive some people insane. Yet, I loved the repetitive battles and the ability to test out new tactical ideas. Your party is made up of up to 6 heroes. 3 may stand to the front and 3 hold the rear position. Each has a strength and weakness, and you must plan your party accordingly. In typical turn-based fashion, you will select your action of choice and watch the round evolve. Alternatively, you can select auto and let the computer take the burden.

The auto mode was great when you wanted no input into your teams’ actions. However, this wasn’t the best approach when you tackled a gargantuan boss. During these encounters, you have “gimmicks” that must be manipulated to improve your chances of winning. Additionally, you’ll need to maximise your rune abilities and your combo attacks to decimate your foes and be victorious. Sadly though, each foe has no weaknesses that can be targeted for a further advantage. This somewhat undermines the tactical layers and this was unfortunate.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is retro with a modern edge.

Pixelated games are two a penny. However, when the developer gets it right, it is divine to look at. This title gets every visual aspect spot on. The lush environments are juxtaposed with grim landscapes. Moreover, the character models are larger than life and wonderfully animated. On top of this, I loved the OTT combat and the impressive rune lens power. This captures every aspect of a fantasy RPG perfectly. Subsequently, I was impressed from beginning to end.

The audio is the glue that holds every layer together. Thanks to the awesome acting and the fantastic writing, every piece of cinematic and dialogue is fascinating. Alongside this, the music delivers a range of emotions. This varied soundtrack is superb! Whether it is the upbeat sound of success or a minor-laced song of doom, you will not get bored.

So much replay value.

I expected this to be challenging to master. Yet, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a cinch to play. The excellent tutorial is complemented by the well-considered controller layout. Furthermore, the impressive UI ensures that party management and every fine detail are straightforward to navigate.

I expected this to be all-consuming. However, I am so addicted to this title that I’ve struggled to put it down. Moreover, it has so much longevity and replay value. Consequently, you will lose hours of your life to this beautiful fantasy JRPG.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes gets it right.

I may be biased, but Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is practically perfect. The story is wonderfully absurd whilst being emotive and interesting. The volume of recruitable heroes is impressive and levelling them to a useful standard isn’t too challenging. Alongside this, I loved the blend of tactics and the minions and bosses you face. If you then consider the excellent base building and the mini-games, there is plenty to keep you busy. Accordingly, this is a superb JRPG and I recommend buying it here! Can you become a hero? Gather your party, hone your skills, and right the wrongs.

News: Mother’s Day 2024 in America

News
Tech

Daniel Waite

-

May 6, 2024

0

It is almost time for Mother’s Day 2024 in America. We’ve had our fill here in the UK, so our friends across the pond may wonder what to get for their “mom”. Well, if they are busy, smoothie-loving individuals, the deals from BlendJet could be right up their street. Alternatively, maybe they need a practical data solution. If this is the case, PNY has you covered with their phenomenal flash drives.

Each of these brands is offering incredible savings on their lead products. However, I’m going to highlight the ones that caught my attention. Additionally, I’ve reviewed the BlendJet 2 device and know it is a brilliant product. Accordingly, if you purchase that blender, you will make someone happy. Furthermore, their storage devices’ robust and secure nature is reassuring and impressive.

What’s available this Mother’s Day 2024 in America?

PNY 256GB Duo Link iOS USB 3.2 Dual Flash Drive.

The PNY DUO LINK iOS USB 3.2 Dual Flash Drive bridges the gap between mobile and desktop. Consequently, it is the ideal mobile storage solution for file management on the go. Moreover, it is the perfect tool to free up space on iOS-equipped mobile devices. What’s more, the DUO LINK Dual Flash Drive allows for the transfer of content to full-size devices. From there, users can take their content to the next level, or save their files on a permanent storage device.

The free DUO LINK 4 app allows users to stream their media and backup contacts directly from DUO LINK. No Wi-Fi is needed. Furthermore, the DUO Link iOS USB 3.2 Dual Flash Drive is ideal for use across operating systems and host devices. With multiple connections, it has the potential for content creation and its file management is near limitless.

_{Mother’s Day 2024 in America Sale Price: $29.99 (50% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $59.99.}

PNY 32GB Elite Class 10 U1 micro SDHC Flash Memory Card (3 pack).

PNY Elite class 10 U1 microSD flash memory cards are perfect for the latest smartphones, tablets, action cameras, surveillance cameras, and drones. These microSD cards expand the onboard memory of mobile devices, allowing you to free up space to enjoy more digital content such as apps, images, videos, movies and music.

U1 technology is ideal for continuous HD photography and full HD videography, allowing you to capture high-quality HD video and photos with your action camera, drone, or other mobile device. PNY Elite microSD cards are Rated class 10, U1, so you can quickly transfer and share your content while you’re on the go.

_{Mother’s Day 2024 in America Sale Price: $12.99 (15% Off) | MSRP: Starting at $14.99.}

BlendJet 2.

BlendJet 2 serves up big blender power on the go. The BlendJet 2 portable blender was created so you can make anything you want, anywhere in the world — from a mountaintop to your kitchen worktop. It’s easy and convenient to use at home, at work, outdoors, at the gym, in the car, at the beach, on holiday or wherever the day takes you.

Traditional blenders only use their blades to blend, but we invented a new method that makes every other blender obsolete. Our secret weapon? BlendJet 2’s stainless steel blades are offset from the centre of the base, which creates a tornado effect that blasts ingredients into the back of the jar 275 times per second, resulting in dramatically better blending. This technology — combined with a more powerful motor and doubled battery capacity — makes BlendJet 2 five times more powerful than BlendJet One.

_{Mother’s Day 2024 in America Deal: Save up to 12% off one BlendJet 2, 15% off two, and 20% off 3 or more.}

_{(More information on PNY can be found here!)}

_{(More information on BlendJet can be found here!)}

_{(Full disclosure! BlendJet provided a sample for my original product review!)}

Review: Evil Nun: The Broken Mask

Mani Naghshbandi

-

May 6, 2024

0

Evil Nun is a popular smartphone franchise, the first game of this franchise was released in 2018 with the name the nun, and due to legal problems and the similarity of the name of the game with the name of a movie, it was removed from the stores and became available to download again in August with the name Evil Nun: Horror at School.

The next game of this franchise was released in 2020 named Evil Nun 2: Origins for smartphones, which was a prequel to the first game, the next game of this franchise was a spin-off of Evil Nun called Evil Nun Maze: Endless Escape, which was released in 2021 for smartphones. The fourth game called Evil Nun Rush was released for smartphones in 2022, which was actually a version of Evil Nun Maze: Endless Escape with extra content.

These 4 games have been released for free for smartphones, and the first game has been downloaded 50 million times, the second game 10 million, and the third game and the fourth game have been downloaded 1 million times each, these numbers show the success of the game on smartphones.

In December 2023, for the first time, a game from this franchise was released for PC and gaming consoles called Evil Nun: The Broken Mask, which is actually a version of Evil Nun: Horror at School that has been completely rebuilt and is a remake of this popular game. this game was made with unreal engine 5 and not with unity like other games of this franchise.

STORY

The story is very simple and it’s just a general story that you know almost all of it from the beginning of the game and not much is added during the game, you go to a religious summer camp and as soon as you arrive, Sister Madeline imprisons you and you find out that this summer camp is a trick and you have to escape, on the way you find out that other children are also imprisoned in this school and you have to save them with the help of the blue handed child’s guides that are around the map.

Around the school, there are letters from parents or imprisoned children that you can find, and after each time you find the magic cup, a sign will appear showing how the imprisoned children feel about the school and sister Madeline.

The story is very simple and without twists and it takes almost 3 hours to finish, and even though the game is not very expensive and is 20 dollars, it still does not make 3 hours enough and its still considered short.

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay is smooth and in my experience there were no annoying bugs in it, the game starts from the room that sister Madeline took you to, you have to open the door and you will see a letter that is your first quest log, in this early part of the game you can only move around in a small part of the school and escaping from sister Madeline in that small and labyrinth-like space is very scary and gives the player a sense of fear, this part may take 10 minutes and after that you will get to the new and bigger part of the school, in this part you can easily escape from sister Madeline and the feeling of fear in the game is almost completely gone, the player is busy solving puzzles and sometimes encounters sister Madeline, and loses her after only a few seconds of walking away and continues his/her work again, the gameplay becomes extremely repetitive after half an hour and you are just solving puzzles that are not at all challenging or varied, you just have to find the item you are told and take it to another place, all the puzzles in the game are the same and only the locations and items change, in general the only thing that is varied during the game is the map, and in every chapter you can get to a new part of the map.

You can finish this game in almost 3 hours, and after 30 minutes it becomes very repetitive, and only in the last few minutes you get a new ability to move around.

There is no manual save feature in the game and the game is saved after finishing each chapter, so if you close the game before the end of a chapter, you have to start that chapter again from the beginning.

MAP DESIGN

The best part of the game is its map design, a large school filled with religious books and crosses, darkness and loneliness can be felt in the map and it creates a scary atmosphere, some signs or crosses on the walls can fall on the floor if the player touch them and draws the attention of sister Madeline towards the player, the shortcuts are amazing and will surprise the player.

VISUALS

When we hear that a game is being developed with unreal engine 5, we are sure that it is going to be a good game visually, and Evil Nun: The Broken Mask is no exception, all the textures are high quality and realistic. which convey fear to the player, the facial design for sister Madeline is good although it could have been a bit more detailed, the resolution and performance were fine and stable in my experience.

SOUND DESIGN

The sounds of objects falling and scary effects are acceptable, but the sound of sister Madeline’s footsteps is not clear at all, and it is almost impossible to know her location based on the sound of her footsteps.
Sister Madeline’s voice acting is not very scary and is not very good at creating fear, and of course the number of sentences that Sister Madeline repeats is very few and repeated.
The soundtracks of the game are extremely pleasant and convey the sense of fear well.

CONCLUSION

The story is very simple and without twist, it does not make you curious about it and it is short.
The gameplay is very repetitive and you only solve repetitive puzzles and sometimes you encounter sister Madeline.
The map design is great and its shortcuts will surprise you.
Visually, it is good and has stable resolution and performance.
The sound design is not good and you can’t tell where Sister Madeline is walking by the sound of her footsteps.

Review: Final Factory

Phant0m

-

May 6, 2024

0

I remember when first launching this game I accidentally kept calling it final fantasy, although being not related at all. Then after a few hours I can gladly say this game held up its Identity strongly as a fun game I’ll remember! Hi my name is phant0m and these are my thoughts on… Final Factory!

Visuals

First thing I’d like to mention is the cute art style this game carries, it’s a sci-fi survival adventure and the atmosphere or art style don’t match it, instead you get more of a sandbox small mobile game type of art which actually works in this games favor as it enhances the indie game feel. There also aren’t many tiny details that surprised or excited me, it was just simple which added to the relaxed vibe of the game.

Gameplay

The gameplay of this game is what surprised me most, the survival of a small spacecraft increasing in size and power is actually super entertaining and more in depth than I thought it’d be, as a matter of fact I believed this would be a strategy based building game and being surprised by its actual well made survival content was astounding to me. Gathering items is fun and creating items is also fun! There’s also barely any confusion on how to pull these things off because of the tutorial being useful and actually teaching you what you need, it’s got a step by step system too for those who can’t figure things out on their own. It makes the game super simple even for those who might be thinking they have no chance entering the game.

Combat

The combat of this game was another one of the highlights, at first when getting into my first few fights I thought it wasn’t anything too crazy up until I managed to have some of the coolest moments ever, when getting into combat it’s pretty important to have allies, these allies can be created by gathering materials and making little tiny robot friends that will follow you everywhere and fight with you, these robots are easily one of the best mechanics of the game as they effortlessly make the game 10 times more interesting. One small complaint is that I wish some of the enemies were more difficult, as I’m not feeling the pain, not even on the hardest difficulty, instead they make the enemies more bullet spongy so you’ll need more tinny robots to take care of it!

Story/Characters

There isn’t really much of a story here or characters, and by not much I mean that it doesn’t exist. The only form of one is the narrator explaining to you certain ideas almost as if you were talking to a developer. I do think it benefits by the emptiness of life though; almost like Wall-E.

Music

This is honestly the lowest low of the game, the music just isn’t interesting or exciting, I honestly decided that a Spotify playlist would do( specifically I listened to some mass effect ost) . I don’t think it’s bad music, just music that wouldn’t bring me back to the game. And another gripe that I had with it is that the track would sometimes stop and I would be sitting in empty space with no audio besides the basic blaster sounds of my weapons, which was very disappointing.

Performance

The game performed nicely on PC and there was truly nothing to complain about, the game never crashed, it never even dropped frames in my experience (from looking not from testing) and I didn’t have any issues with audio or visuals, so great work on making this game run absolutely well!

Verdict

If you’re wondering, I do recommend this game. It quickly made an identity for survival space games in my head, it isn’t the best but it’s certainly one of the most unique, it’s combat felt nice, exploration and crafting felt great, and having lots of tiny robots combining to make a powerful force is some of the most fun I’ve had in an indie title. I give this game a 7.5/10 the only drawbacks being in it’s music, enemies being big bullet sponges, also the personal problems I have with the emptiness sometimes making me feel uncomfortable. Anyways those were my thoughts on Final Factory! Thx For Reading! Keep doing great things! You’re good at them. Bye 🙂

Side Notes

The PC I used carries an RX 6750 XT Power color fighter and an Intel i5 13400F.

Preview: No Rest for the Wicked

Daniel Waite

-

May 5, 2024

0

No Rest for the Wicked proves that Early Access titles can be polished and enjoyable from the off. Furthermore, this title highlights the benefits of development experience as the team behind Ori brings their A-game to this genre-defying experience. Though everything isn’t rosy and perfect, it is damn near it in this ever-evolving, ball-breaking fantasy endeavour.

This action RPG was developed by Moon Studios and published by Private Division. Moreover, it has the painful precision of a souls-like and a story that is so captivating that you’ll be disappointed when you stumble into its awe-inspiring conclusion. In short, this is one preview title that impressed me! This game has it all, whether it is the character customisation, interesting quests, methodical combat, or jaw-dropping scenery. However, its tough nature and methodical fighting will put off less battle-hardened gamers. Additionally, weaker gaming rigs will be punished as this requires a surprisingly powerful PC/laptop.

No Rest for the Wicked tells a dramatic tale.

The island of Sacra was a pleasant and quiet place. However, the Pestilence, an unholy plague, runs wild across these lands. Consequently, the church and one of its holy warriors see this as an opportunity to prove itself in the eyes of God. By exploring this once-beautiful place and helping the residents, you will banish the monsters, undermine the Pestilence, and confirm that Madrigal Seline, a ruthlessly ambitious leader, is worthy of her position.

You are a Cerim, a holy warrior endowed with incredible strength and abilities. As your journey evolves, you will grow stronger and develop your skills. It is this classic RPG element that will feel familiar to veteran gamers. Yet, the combination of precision combat and death-inducing souls-like moments will cause you to wince. As you delve deeper into the mire that is Sacra, you will discover special equipment, new weapons, and upgradeable items. Additionally, you may adjust your approach by altering your gear and lightening your load. This sense of variety and character creativity allows gamers to deep-dive every playthrough they experience. Moreover, when the going gets tough, you can adjust your approach to suit any situation.

Save the world in more than one way.

Sacra desperately needs a hero to slay the monsters who dwell within. Yet, they require someone to help them rebuild their crumbling society. Thankfully, you are free to explore either element as you wish. Subsequently, you may help to rebuild Sacrament and benefit in the long term. Alternatively, you may explore the sprawling surroundings whilst searching for treasure and creatures to destroy.

When you blend both of these mechanics, you get a hearty mixture of rewarding gameplay that focuses your mind. As you explore for resources, thwart creatures, and discover secret locations, you put your life on the line. But it is this risk vs reward gameplay that reflects the Diablo/Soulsborne influences that we all know and love.

A taste of things to come.

No Rest for the Wicked currently has around 10 hours of main story quests to enjoy. As you reach the finale, the plot heats up and you crave the next instalment. This wonderful cliffhanger design creates a sense of desire that ensures its player base will come back for more. Additionally, you are free to explore Sacra as much as you wish. With hidden caves and grim dwellings to discover, you will encounter plenty of secrets and new items/resources to grab.

As you venture into the murky but alluring world, you will stumble across an array of disgusting brutes and cruel monsters. Each creature has strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited if you wish to survive. Alongside this, you must understand the power of your weapons and your abilities if you want to manipulate each situation in your favour. This slow and precise combat experience will annoy hack ‘n slash gamers. Moreover, if you do not have patience, then you will struggle with the finer moments.

Alongside the minions, No Rest for the Wicked promises an array of heinous boss battles to test your resolve. In its current state, you enjoy a slither of what will come. Without spoiling anything for you, these encounters require an eye for detail, an impressive hero, and the right level of resources, food, and patience to complete the job.

No Rest for the Wicked is grim but stunning.

Moon Studios’ experience shines through! Their ability to build truly stunning landscapes is put to the test with this isometric title. However, they have excelled themselves as this is a grim but stunning world to explore. Furthermore, every resource node is easy to identify and though navigation isn’t always straightforward, it makes discovering secrets and hidden areas that bit more rewarding. I adored the character customisation and the strange human-like figures. Each person has elongated limbs that make them appear as if they are the missing link. Though this is strange at first, it suits the incredible art style perfectly. Alongside this, I was amazed by the buttery smooth animation.

The audio is dreamy and screams fantasy adventure. The rich mixture of dramatic tunes and upbeat songs fills you with dread and energy in equal measure. Alongside this, the sound effects will make you wince. The crunching melee weaponry is brutal and uncomfortable. Moreover, the shrill sounds of magic and the interesting sound bites punctuate the wonderful exploration elements.

Spectacular controls.

A PC game that puts gamepad controls at the fore is normally frowned upon. Consequently, No Rest for the Wicked will divide its audience. However, I felt free and closer to the action thanks to the incredible controller layout. Alongside this, the superb UI and intuitive inputs help to keep you in command of every combat encounter. If you wish, you can use a mouse and keyboard. Yet, this approach feels more restrictive. Subsequently, I recommend sticking with the gamepad for the ultimate experience.

If you can cope with the brutality, you will discover an expansive world that is a joy to explore. Furthermore, if you enjoy finding hidden locations whilst tackling cruel entities, then this is the game for you. Where this differs from its souls-like cousins, is the lack of enemy respawn. As such, when they are killed, you can safely explore those areas without fear. This was a great choice from the developer as it balances the action RPG and cruel soulsborne elements.

No Rest for the Wicked is a spectacular indie game.

Though No Rest for the Wicked tested me to my limit, I adored every aspect. My only complaint, and I know I’ve left this late, is the inventory management system. With limited space and plenty of resources to gather, you quickly run out of space. When a game demands that you explore every nook and cranny, you expect it to be much better. However, I’m sure the developers will adjust this mechanic and improve the game further.

Despite this issue, the rest of the action is fantastic! I cherished the brutal and precise combat, the varied weapons, and how balanced the gameplay is. The boss encounters are tough and will test your knowledge, patience, and skills. Moreover, the world is such a joy to explore. Accordingly, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Will you become a hero and save the day? Grab a weapon, explore the world, and banish the Pestilence.

Review: LEGO Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama

Andrew Edney

-

May 5, 2024

0

Review: LEGO Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama

Here we review the newly released LEGO Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama set.

Freeze-frame a moment from the thrilling Mos Espa Podrace with this LEGO Star Wars Diorama (75380) buildable model kit for adults. This collectible building set invites you to channel the force, as Anakin Skywalker did in the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace adventure, to create a LEGO brick-built snapshot of his Podracer powering through Arch Canyon in hot pursuit of his racing rival Sebulba.

The impressive build-and-display model comes with a plaque bearing Qui-Gon Jinn’s advice (“Remember. Concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don’t think. Trust your instincts.”) and a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick.

Enhance your creative building experience with the LEGO Builder app, which lets you zoom in and rotate a 3D digital version of this construction model as you build – and more.

This buildable model is part of a collection of LEGO Star Wars sets for adults, including other dioramas depicting epic scenes, and makes a top gift for yourself and other adult Star Wars fans.

Detailed LEGO Star Wars Diorama build-and-display set – Capture a moment from the Mos Espa Podrace in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace with this buildable model kit for adults
Brick-built Star Wars Podracers – This unique set includes authentically detailed LEGO brick models of Anakin Skywalker’s Podracer and his rival Sebulba’s Podracer

Made for display – The set features the Arch Canyon part of Tatooine’s Mos Espa Podracing circuit, plus a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick and a plaque with a Qui-Gon Jinn quotation
Build your collection – This set is part of a series of collectible, buildable LEGO Star Wars diorama models (sold separately) that depict iconic Star Wars moments

Star Wars gift for adults – Treat yourself or give this premium-quality set as a gift to another Star Wars fan or a collector of LEGO Star Wars dioramas
3D building instructions – With the LEGO Builder app, you can zoom in and rotate a 3D digital version of this construction model as you build, track your progress and more
LEGO Star Wars sets for adults – From a galaxy far, far away to your home, LEGO Star Wars building sets for adults are designed for people like you who enjoy relaxing, creative activities
Build and display – This 718-piece LEGO Star Wars buildable model measures over 4.5 in. (12 cm) high, 12 in. (30 cm) wide and 5.5 in. (14 cm) deep

The LEGO Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama set is available now priced around £69.99. For those interested, the set number is 75380, there are 718 pieces and it’s aimed at ages 18 and up, although my trusty 7 1/2 year old helper built this set and loved it.

You can learn more from the LEGO website.

Review: LEGO Star Wars Droideka

Andrew Edney

-

May 4, 2024

0

Here we review the newly released LEGO Star Wars Droideka set.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and LEGO Star Wars sets with this collectible Droideka LEGO droid figure (75381). The buildable destroyer LEGO droid figure in this playful display set for adults inspires memories of the Invasion of Naboo in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars fantasy adventure. Realistic details include the Droideka’s arms, which can be moved back and forth in a shooting motion, and you can reattach the legs to transform it into its iconic ball shape.

To complete a striking centrepiece, this creative building set also has a stand with an information plaque, a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick and space for the included small LEGO figure of a Droideka.

This buildable model is part of a collection of LEGO Star Wars sets that offer relaxing activities for adults. It comes with step-by-step instructions, and you can also check out the LEGO Builder app for zoom and rotate viewing tools.

Buildable Droideka LEGO droid figure – Create a fun display with a collectible brick-built model of a Droideka destroyer droid, as seen in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
LEGO Star Wars fantasy-adventure display set with playful details – Move the Droideka’s arms back and forth in a realistic shooting motion, and reattach the legs to transform it into a ball shape
A Droideka LEGO droid figure – The main buildable model of a destroyer droid in this set comes with a small Droideka LEGO droid figure

25th anniversary centerpiece – This unique set includes a stand with space for the small LEGO droid figure of a Droideka, a Droideka information plaque and a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick

LEGO Star Wars gift for adults – Treat yourself or gift this premium-quality set to another adult Star Wars fan or keen collector of LEGO Star Wars sets
3D building instructions – Using the LEGO Builder app, you can zoom in and rotate a 3D digital version of this construction model as you build, track your progress, save sets and more
LEGO Star Wars sets for adults – From a galaxy far, far away to your living room, LEGO Star Wars building sets for adults are designed for people like you who enjoy relaxing, creative activities

Build, display and play – The brick-built Droideka LEGO droid figure in this 583-piece set stands over 8 in. (21 cm) tall

The LEGO Star Wars Droideka set is available now priced around £59.99. For those interested, the set number is 75381, there are 583 pieces and it’s aimed at ages 18 and up, although my trusty 7 1/2 year old helper built this set and loved it.

One really nice thing is that this is one of the first LEGO sets to replace the plastic bags with paper ones – great job LEGO!

You can learn more from the LEGO website.

Review: ONI(2001) | The Art of Difficult Video Games

Saim Khurshid

-

May 4, 2024

0

Review: ONI(2001) | The Art of Difficult Video Games

For a long time, I wondered what a Souls-like game without weapons would play like. Games like Sifu took me a few steps closer to that painful difficulty feel, but they never really made me feel the same way as any FromSoftware classic. With Oni, I can finally say I felt the torturous potential, and I can safely say, “goddamn, Oni is one hard game!”

ONI Trailer from RetroGameTrailers

Oni is a third-person action game released in 2001 and developed by Bungie West, a former division of Bungie. The game introduced engagingly difficult yet unique gameplay styles based on hand-to-hand combat with just a hint of bullet combat.

The Tale of Oni

Taking place in the heavily armoured and robot-filled year of 2032, Oni follows the tale of Konoko, a half-orphan, half-cyborg, set on a mission by the TCTF to find and destroy the Musashi manufacturing company, also known as the Syndicate.

The game progresses mission by mission, where you run through different bases and buildings, getting into fistfights with members of the Syndicate.

Oni! Chung is dead!

Throughout the game, numerous twists and turns unravel as new information surfaces about Konoko’s past, her ties with the TCTF, and Shinatama, another cyborg girl who communicates through your earpiece, aiding you during most of your battles.

There are numerous captivating moments in this story that are sure to draw you in, while the gameplay, with its blood-boiling challenges and profanity-inducing difficulty, evokes nostalgic memories of playing through Souls-like games, and to a lesser extent, Cuphead.

Who is Chung?…. Well, You need to play the game to know the answer to that!

Robo Oni Cop

Everyone in this game is dressed as if a kid in the 90s was asked how people would look-like in the future. His answer… ‘With heavily round armoured shoulder pads and helmets, hair that looks straight out of anime and increasingly weird weaponry’

One cannot deny this game has personality.

Konoko changes her clothes multiple times in the game, going from looking like a Robot to a member of a biker gang in the process. That combined with the fact that her dialogue ranges from professional cop to angst teen, makes it a very memorable time playing through the story of Oni.

An actual Gymnast

Something I have discussed with associates in the past is the lack of actual acrobatic gameplay in modern games. These days every game has that rugged, strong MC. Does not matter what gender or body size, the best you get is a body roll dodge or in the case of Uncharted, the new Lara Croft and Assassins Creed, A little bit of extremely heavy parkour.

If any of you reading this had the chance to look at the new Lara Croft remake/remaster you saw that in the game she can do handsprings, flips and evades that are beyond anything that we can find in today’s games. Especially in the AAA market.

Oni brings that concept into play with its take. From the tutorial level at the start, we are taught ways to dodge attacks. While yes, there is a dodge roll, Oni takes things to a whole new level. By jumping before rolling, you can flip in any direction. There is a leg sweep attack to drop enemies, and a lot of capoeira. (Eddy’s moves from Tekken for those who don’t know what this martial art is)

This is only the beginning

Oni has one of the best hit detection I have ever seen, past or present. You will find yourself doing insane stunts to dodge attacks where enemy punches and kicks just miss by an inch. The same is true in reverse, where enemies will attempt to dodge you.

You can grab your enemies and hit them with professional wrestling moves like Ricochet or Rey Mysterio. I am talking hurricanrana, drop kicks, leg scissors, back breakers, leg pulls, etc. The enemies in return grab you to hit suplexes, backdrops, and spears. It is insane how much this game has to offer in its combat. It blew me away!

Hard as Oni Nails

Throughout your gameplay, the game maintains a consistently high level of quality. This applies equally to the difficulty, for better or worse.

When I began my playthrough, I chose medium. There were 3 options and I am always the middle difficulty man. 3 hours after being bashed and whacked on stage 2, I changed it back to easy difficulty.

Did that fix the problem, you ask? Smurfs No!

The only thing that changes with the difficulty is how many hits it will take to defeat an enemy. Which is not helpful if hitting them is in itself a monumental task.

You see, the enemies in this game don’t take turns. This isn’t a Batman game, nor is it Assassin’s Creed. Like I said earlier, it’s Dark Souls with fists. If you get into combat, every enemy in the radius with even an inkling of your existence will come running.

These enemies not only pile on you, but they do it with strategy.

Giving No Oni-inch

On more than one occasion, I found myself surrounded by four enemies at once. Two would charge from one side, and the third would attempt to tackle my legs. Jump out of the way and the 4th will clothesline your flying body, sending you blasting off like team rocket. Before you even finish landing on the floor though, all the enemies huddle around get onto their knees and start pounding you into chutney with their bare hands.

Try to run and they chase you. 90% of this game was me running with a conga line of bloodthirsty soldiers behind me.

Congaline of enemies — Conga line of enemies

Try to sneak and you realise that eventually you have to face the buggers. It does not matter how many you pass, when one spots you, the rest are sure to follow. It gets even worse when they raise the bloody alarm!

From the tutorial to the last mission of this game, you’ll experience relentless pursuit, attacks, and massacres in ways you never imagined possible. And don’t even get me started on those dreadful cloaked enemies…

So taking all this in and giving myself a moment to think, I believe I can clearly say, from the bottom of my heart, I love it!

The Art of Difficult Games

While yes, the enemies can be a pain in the posterior and the save game system is far from perfect, I still cannot put this difficult game away.

For every area filled with enemies and every spongy boss fight, Oni has those great moments.

I tried to figure out why I always came back, why was it this game that received so much of my time while many others could have been well covered twice in the time this took?

Well, it is because this game had that one thing I believe very few games, past or present, have…. Lessons to teach.

The difficulty, while draining, always leads you to learn more about how the game works. What moves are better against which type of enemy, when to run, and when to fight. All these things not only make you better understand the mechanics of the game but also of real life.

When it shined an optional collectable among a horde of armed guards, Oni taught me when to say no.

When it blocked my path to progression with 10 guards standing in the same corridor, it taught me about never giving up.

At times, when instead of charging in and the only way forward was to scope out the enemy walking patterns, it taught me the importance of patience and planning.

These were just some of the ways this game changed my outlook on things, and for that, it will forever stay on my list of very important games.

A Game I Will Never Forget

To wrap this up, all I can say is Oni is one draining game from the 2000s. It is insanely difficult, the graphics are quite dated, and the dialogue is a little cringe-worthy. However, despite all that, I have to request that anyone who can, should play this game.

Play this game not because I said so but because it will change you. It will show you what games are capable of, it will teach you how hard a game can be and it will change you as a person.

My highest praise for a difficult game like this is that while Oni might not be considered a masterpiece, it certainly deserves to be praised and played as if it were one!

Review: Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller

Daniel Waite

-

May 3, 2024

0

Review: Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller

The Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller has been available since December. Consequently, I have had to wait patiently to get my hands on this premium device. Needless to say, the wait was worthwhile. Designed for use with Xbox and PC/laptop, this versatile controller ticks many boxes. Yet, some elements are still a little glitchy and this was a shame. But I certainly wasn’t disheartened, nor did it undermine the high-end finish.

This review comes at a time when ROCCAT and Turtle Beach have merged into a gaming superpower. This combined experience and knowledge is hard to beat. Accordingly, whenever I’ve handled one of their products, I’ve always been impressed. They are the leading light for 3^rd party Xbox peripherals, and I had high expectations before this controller landed on my desk. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed as this beastly accessory looks great and feels even better. As such, if you love an elite edge whenever you game, this is the device for you.

What’s in the box of the Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller?

The packaging is colourful and robust. It highlights its Xbox credentials and demands to be opened.
The Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller is divine! The sci-fi finish is laced with RGB lighting. Moreover, it has an advanced display screen and mappable rear buttons. Furthermore, there is a USB-C and audio port.
A docking station allows you to charge the controller in no time. It matches the aesthetic and looks phenomenal on your desk.
A tough but tactile carry case is included. This luxury item has pass-through charging and a delightful velvet finish.
A USB-C to USB-A cable charges the device.
Use the USB-A dongle to wirelessly connect the device to your PC or Xbox.
Spare thumb caps let you change the profile of the analogue stick.
A quick start guide helps you understand the fundamentals.

Technical aspects.

The Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller is unbelievably jam-packed with technology. Subsequently, I’m worried that it has a higher IQ than me. However, I won’t let this put me off as this has to be one of the best controllers I’ve ever handled. This smart device has an impressive 30-hour battery life, a low-latency wireless connection, and Bluetooth for social media connectivity. Additionally, thanks to the external dongle, you can seamlessly connect to your PC and Xbox with no problems whatsoever. Yes, you have to move the dongle from one machine to another, but this wasn’t exactly taxing or hard work.

Alongside the impressive connectivity settings, you’ll experience some of the most responsive switches you’ve ever tried. The mechanical buttons are lightning-fast and spectacular to use. The wonderful tactile nature feels responsive and comfortable at all times. Moreover, the rear mappable buttons merge into the shell of the controller to create an intuitive layout that destroys other pro controllers. Furthermore, there are trigger depth switches to improve your FPS gaming.

The display screen.

If you have an all-singing and all-dancing controller, you want to be able to alter things as and when you like. Thankfully, the Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller deals with this issue in 2 ways. First, there is the impressive and versatile app (more on this in a moment.) Second, the vivid on-board display screen takes the sci-fi edge to the next level. This awesome piece of tech allows you to change your EQ, check your socials (when it works), and play with the lighting effects. Moreover, you may alter your profile on the fly to match any genre you play.

This spectacular addition to an elite controller makes this stand head and shoulders above its peers. However, things are improved further when you consider the user-friendly and free-to-download “Control Center 2” app. This piece of software is available for your phone, PC, or Xbox. Once connected, it allows you to update the firmware, change your settings, and play with every aspect of your device. What’s more, you can test the dead zone of your analogue stick and switch on the pro-aim feature.

Pro-aim isn’t a magic wand. Yet, it helps smooth out those juddery moments when aiming a precise weapon. Accordingly, poor FPS gamers will see minor improvements. However, pros and veterans will love the support that this additional tool delivers.

The ugly!

I’d love to smooth over the minor issues, but sadly, I cannot. Now, I have to emphasise that the shortcomings are negligible, and Turtle Beach has started working on solutions to most of the issues. But when you are paying a premium, it’s fair to expect near perfection. The 2 areas of concern were the battery life and the social media notifications. The advertised 30-hour battery life can only be achieved when the device is set up for the lowest power consumption. Accordingly, a realistic 18 to 20 hours should be expected and is certainly achievable. This reduction in battery power may seem a lot, but it is negated by the fast-charge docking station. Within 2 hours, you’ll have the device juiced up and ready to go. Alternatively, you can play wired if you sit near your system of choice.

My major complaint is the social media notifications. No matter how hard I tried, I struggled to get this element to work reliably. When it did work, it was a fun, albeit niche idea that kept you in contact with your friends and family. Sadly, though, an array of permissions, connections, and other hurdles trip you up throughout. Consequently, I dumped the idea of this flashy feature and stuck to using my phone. I’m sure it will get ironed out, but at the time of this review, this feature is somewhat glitchy.

Usability of the Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller.

A gamepad can have all the bells and whistles. However, that means nothing if it is terrible to use. Luckily, the Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller is spectacular to use. It is an officially certified Microsoft product, so you won’t have issues with the latest Microsoft T&Cs. Every part of this device is phenomenal. The design matches the official layout except for the home button. What’s more, there is an additional button to connect with the screen and the trigger depth switches as well. This familiar layout will impress hardcore Xbox gamers. Moreover, the comfortable shapes and ergonomic design are perfect for gaming on your PC.

There are up to 10 profiles that can be programmed and stored in the controller’s memory. This was a great design choice that ensured you could be prepared for an array of genres with the flick of a button. Whether you wish to adjust your rear mappable inputs or simply change the lighting effects, it can be done with ease. Furthermore, the ability to tweak your profile to maximise your potential for FPS, platformers, or racing was impressive.

Build quality.

Balancing weight distribution, ergonomic designs, and a premium finish isn’t an easy task. Additionally, gamers are a fussy bunch, and they’ll make their feelings known if something doesn’t match their expectations. Thankfully, this controller delivers on every aspect. Though it is lighter than its peers, weighing in at 246g, it still feels substantial and well-built. The rubberised grips and tactile mechanical switches deliver a professional edge that is rarely seen.

Alongside this, the low friction rings for the Hall Effect sticks and triggers eliminate the risk of stick drift. This is an issue that has plagued many of its competitors, and Turtle Beach doesn’t wish to be tarnished with that brush. Luckily, the high-end components remove that issue whilst delivering precise movement and game-changing accuracy. The adjustable trigger switches are mechanical and easy to operate. Alongside this, you can use the software to adjust the sensitivity to maximise your potential.

Finally, I turn my attention to the accessories. The case is ideal if you wish to store your product, or you want to use it while you commute. The hardened exterior keeps the controller safe, and it is wonderfully understated. Consequently, it won’t attract unwanted attention. Moreover, it has a handy pass-through charging port so you can charge your device on the move. Talking of charging, the low-profile docking station is fantastic. It has a magnetic connection that magically attracts your device. Furthermore, once it is docked, the gamepad switches off almost immediately.

Is the Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller worth it?

My 5-month wait to test this product was arduous but worthwhile. The Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller is a dream product that leaves its peers in its wake. Not only does it look amazing, but this highly versatile beast will improve every aspect of your gaming. Moreover, if you are a streamer, you’ll love the discreet but impressive RGB and the comfortable ergonomic design. Yes, I had some minor issues, but these pale into insignificance when you consider the mountain of plus points. Accordingly, this is a phenomenal elite device that I recommend buying here!

_{(More information on Turtle Beach can be found here!)}

The Stealth Ultra Wireless Controller has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold award.

_{(Full disclosure! Turtle Beach provided a sample for this review!)}

Review: Gardener Plant Creator

Saim Khurshid

-

May 3, 2024

0

When I first stepped into Gardener: Plant Creator, I was excited to dive into a world of growing plants but as I played, that excitement quickly faded.

TRAILER: Gardener: Plant Creator

Gardener: Plant Creator is a game where you grow plants… but not really. It’s actually a menu where you click and things pop up on screen. There is no challenge, no game, nothing. Just a screen with a piece of land where you can place parts of a flower by clicking an option in a menu.

Gardener: insult of a concept

You can’t do anything fun with your plants, like taste the fruit or have them battle each other. You also can’t turn them into monsters or have romantic conversations with them. It’s all just watching them grow, which gets boring fast.

The entire gameplay of Gardener: Plant Creator is just clicking through a list of flower parts and setting their sizes, the game will then show you said plant on top of some rendered landscape designed to look as good as your graphics processor will allow.

You click a part and it shows up on the screen. There is no gameplay interaction, no real task. Just push a button and the thing is there.

When the game begins you have only a handful of things you can put together. To get more you must enter the crystal menu and click on one of the unlimited crystals. Each crystal will be given a random item from the game. That is all. No story, no further gameplay, just this… empty garden.

While the graphics and music are pleasant, they simply aren’t enough to compensate for the dearth of activities within the game. Additionally, the requirement to play daily to unlock new content feels less like an enjoyable experience and more akin to a tedious obligation.

Okay… Now what?

Well, that is all I could have said about this disappointing game. It’s disheartening to see potential squandered in such a way. But rather than dwell on the negative, let’s take a moment for a little rant to lighten the day. Sometimes, expressing frustration can be cathartic, even if it’s just about a game.

I cannot get why any developer would spend time, effort and money to make something not worth showing to anyone else. I disagree with believing there was any real love behind the creation of Gardener: Plant Creator. It just feels too thrown together at the last minute to me.

This should have been a simulator or something magical but instead, it feels like an image creator to occupy babies with a short attention span.

And don’t hit me with the ‘it is free’ nonsense. The fact that it’s free doesn’t excuse any of its shortcomings; quality should never be sacrificed, especially when there are examples of superior games crafted by developers at single-day game jams.

My stance is final!

If the position of this article went over your head, let me make it clear. Gardener: Plant Creator isn’t very good. It doesn’t have much to offer and it’s not very fun. If you want something relaxing to play, there are lots of other games you can try. I thought this game would be fun, but it’s not. I wanted to enjoy taking care of plants, but I didn’t. Instead, I’m disappointed and I want to tell everyone how bad it is. I went into this game hoping to get my hands dirty in the garden and am leaving with a frown and a desire to write a scathing review.

Gardener: Plant Creator doesn’t live up to its promise. It’s not worth playing if you’re looking for something enjoyable.

Review: Hero’s Hour

Josh Blackburn

-

May 3, 2024

0

Normally, I find it bad form to compare one game to another. It’s like describing Van Gogh’s sunflowers by saying ‘Well, you know Monet’s lillies…’. Still, my hands are a little tied here. Hero’s Hour isn’t just like Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It’s cut out holes in the box art and is wearing it as a mask. Normally, I’d strike it down for something like that but Heroes 3 is something of a trigger for me. It’s one of those cornerstone games that formed my childhood.

That does mean that Hero’s Hour has some awfully big shoes to fill. We’ve reviewed it before around these parts, but it’s just made its way onto the Switch. This, on paper, seems like a brilliant move. One of the main features of games like this is hotseat. Being able to physically toss the console to the other player makes life easier. At least when compared to constantly getting up and down from the computer chair. Still, it’s a rather clunky Switch port, but thankfully that doesn’t dampen the game’s best parts.

The Hour and The Hero

Let me start by recapping some of Hero’s Hour‘s main points. It’s a strategy game through and through, being largely turn-based outside of the combat. In the overworld, it’s all about gathering resources and building your army. There’s quite a dizzying array of factions to choose from, each with their own skills. The undead can raise skeletons, for instance. Beastmasters have the ability to summon dragons, which I enjoyed immensely. The overworld is one big arms race against the AI and is quite good fun. City-building is as basic as its major inspiration, but watching a tiny hamlet grow to a metropolis is a nice feeling.

I’m less warm about the combat. To be fair, Heroes 3‘s combat felt like playing chess against someone who kept rolling a dice to decide whether you could actually take their pieces. So maybe a change was necessary. This feels a little too much in the other direction. You field your units and they handle the fighting for you, so a lot of battles just involved me folding my arms and waiting. Casting spells adds some interaction though, and I do like that you can only field a set number of units at a time. I eventually learned to send out some chaff first to break up the enemy ranks, then launch the heavy hitters. Still, it feels a little hands-off for me.

Switching Things Up

Hero’s Hour‘s transition from PC to Switch brings a lot of promise, especially in the local mutliplayer department. I will applaud any game that puts in local multiplayer, and it’s a natural fit both for the genre and the console. What’s more, a title like this works well on the go. It’s something you can play a few rounds of on the bus. The fairly simple graphics suit the smaller screen of the Switch too. The art’s not too bad, by the way. Little on the minimalist side, but the variety of creature designs is frankly nuts.

There are difficulties with the Switch though. For one, it commits the cardinal sin of just mapping mouse movement to the analog sticks. So moving the cursor over to a button feels laborious. Strangely, it doesn’t incorporate the touch screen controls on the Switch, which feels like an odd misstep. Particularly when directing troops in battle. Would have been the perfect opportunity to make me feel like I’m at the war table. It also had frequent frame rate drops, which was a little disappointing. Optimisation seems a little rough in general. If you’re playing a game with many AI players, for instance, you might want to bring a packed lunch while they take their turns.

Hero’s Hour – An Odd Fit For Switch

Thinking over this review, I feel like there is an ideal place for Hero’s Hour: mobile. The relatively minimalist graphics and hands-off combat would work really well in that format. Not to mention, the increased portability would allow the hotseat to shine. It would certainly be a more attractive prospect than a million games of UNO on a long train ride. The port to the Switch is a good step, but feels a little fumbled. Changing things to another console requires more than just tying the mouse to the analog sticks and calling it a day.

As a result, I can’t really recommend the Switch as your first choice. It’s a game worth playing, regardless. After all, Ubisoft has no time for anything that it can’t force open-world mechanics into, so Heroes has long since been hung, drawn and quartered. I admire any developer that can look at that and decide they want to do something about it. Hero’s Hour is a solid attempt to carry on that legacy but, for now, it’s probably worth playing it on PC.

(Hero’s Hour Nintendo Page)

Review: Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters

Thomas Hopkinson

-

May 3, 2024

0

Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters is an open world adventure game set in a sci-fi world. It’s actually a port of a game called Star Control II that was originally released in 1992. The team behind this port are Pistol Shrimp, who are the developers and the publisher. The release date of this port was February 19th 2024.

When looking into Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters, I was intrigued to see how well the game stood the test of time. However, upon playing, I was let down quite a bit. There are a few ways it still remains a solid game but the ways it doesn’t really hurt the experience. If you where a fan of the game back then then I can see you being excited for this but anyone else not really.

Exploring The Many Planets

Most of your time with this game will be exploring the vast open world of the game. This exploration accounts for about 90% of the game and can get a bit boring, so I would recommend taking breaks. It is cool though how each small dot you see on the map is somewhere you can go to, it’s that full.

The controls for exploring are in tank control style. I really personally dislike this style of controlling but on top of this the ship can go really fast making it hard to land on a planet. There where several times I had to spend some time trying just to land on a planet. This is even more frustrating knowing that there is a time limit the game puts on you. Most people will not complete the game in one run due to this pressuring timer. For me, this timer goes against what the game wants you to do…. spend time exploring.

When exploring, you can land on planets and salvage materials from them as well as encounter other lifeforms. Materials are important to collect as they give you currency to use for fuel and ship upgrades. Speaking of which, you can upgrade and add many things to your ship to allow you to have an easier time while exploring. It’s essential you do this if you want to get far. While, the encounters with other lifeforms provide you with vital information, which you will need to make note of in order to get through the game.

Exploring is what this game is all about and there is a lot to explore, but sadly you feel rushed and need to put up with the controls.

PRIORITY OVERRIDE

Screenshot of an encounter, showing dialogue options.

The other main part to this game is it’s combat, though realistically, this accounts for about 10% of the game. Sometimes, when you explore the open world of the game, other lifeforms can attack you. Though, other times, battles can happen through specific story moments. The random encounters seemingly give you a chance to try and be friendly with the other lifeform, though I only tried to do this once and a battle ended up happening anyway. So, I am unsure if you can actually avoid battle.

While in combat it’s your job to come out on top and be the last ship standing. Before entering the combat arena you get to choose which ship to deploy into battle, from the ones you have collected. Each ship plays differently so choose well. Once you chose a ship, you are then able to start the encounter. The tank controls really hurt the combat for me as it’s quite hard to manoeuvre around and shoot well. There is an auto combat mode, though this takes away any fun you could of had with combat away and basically makes the game just about exploring. I put up with the controls for most battles, as I still wanted some variety in gameplay.

I do want to make note that this game does feature online pvp but I didn’t get to test it out myself. As well as, this there is a mode that lets you test out different ships in a series of battles against an AI opponent. I found this to be a useful tool to get the hang of different ships and figure out strategies to fight them.

There are some neat ideas here but combat is hurt by the controls and makes it not very enjoyable.

Colorful Planets, Colorful Characters

Screenshot of one of the funny lines I came across in the early game.

The writing for this game is pretty good. The characters have tons of personality and feel really well made. I also really like the dialogue choices you get when talking with them, some of choices have great humour. There are also choices that do influence what happens in the story, so it’s important to choose well. This allows you to have quite a different experience on multiple playthroughs and to have a more personalised experience in general.

The narrative as a whole is quite interesting and made me want to know more. It doesn’t feel overpowering with information but it has enough substance to it to get your invested. The main goal of the game stays the same the whole way through, but what you find out between that is intriguing. I do wish there was more narrative as a whole though, since what is here is quite good.

The writing helps get you through the game for sure, I particularly like characters of the game.

Superb Sci-fi Style

Screenshot of one of the images in the opening sequence of the game.

The presentation for this game is another good aspect to it. The animation and artwork were absolutely stellar for the time and still hold up well. All the characters look particularly full of life and I love the 3d effect to them. You can tell a lot of hard work is in this area of the game for sure.

I want to also shout out the soundtrack here. It’s really good. It fits the vibe of the game really well and is full of jamming tracks. I can see myself listening to some of these tracks even outside the game. The tracks that aren’t as jamming still fit the theme really well. The hyperspace theme is my go to track, can listen to it on repeat.

Conclusion

Screenshot of a successful encounter, with the enemy ship blowing up

Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters is a game definitely of it’s era, showing the very origins of open world games. It would have been nice to see some changes for this version to modernise it, but it is a very faithful port and that’s what the aim was from what I gather. I respect this, but it makes me sad knowing I could have enjoyed this game more if they hadn’t been so faithful. I feel this is a great nostalgia trip for anyone who played the original game though. It is probably like this as these people were in mind first and foremost.

The game is free so you can always give it a try yourself and see what you think. If you would like to do that you can go here.

Review: Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami

Sam Butler

-

May 3, 2024

0

Review: Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami is a roguelike dungeon crawler game developed by FuRyu. It is based on the anime Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs. Unfortunately, this game fails to deliver engaging gameplay, a story, or anything engaging outside of fan service moments.

Another Anime, Another World

Yuuna and the gang find a mysterious box calling out to them. Suddenly, all the characters are warped into the Dreamy Miniature Garden. Yuuna wakes up and has to find her friends. She runs into a talking stone, which she calls Mr. Droppy, who explains about the world and the creatures inside it. Yuuna must go through various dungeons to retrieve her friends and find a way to solve the mysteries of the Dreamy Miniature Garden. Clearing dungeons retrieves more characters and unlocks side stories to flesh out the characters further.

You load into randomly generated dungeons, and as you move through the dungeons, enemies move as well. The characters and enemies take turns hitting each other. You repeat this process until someone is dead. You can pick up armor, weapons, items, and special power-ups as you progress through the dungeon. If you die, you lose your items, but you can find them again by re-entering the dungeon and heading to the same floor to pick them up. As you unlock more characters, they can join you on your adventures. Unfortunately, having a second character with you makes the game almost too easy. There are options to go in alone if you are looking for a challenge.

There is the hub world in between the dungeons. You have access to a shop where you can buy items and unlockables with the currency you collect. The other part of the game is the bathhouse. It is a mini-game where your characters can bathe while spirits attempt to disrupt them. You have a mini spirit that pushes the spirits away so the characters can enjoy their bath peacefully. The longer the bath goes, the more you can level up these characters and unlock new powers to use in the dungeons. While leveling up your characters is a bonus, this mode is a button-mashing fiesta.

Easy Steamy

When I think of dungeon crawlers, I think of how I will navigate the dungeons efficiently. What items do I need to pick up to survive? I stopped asking questions because I did not have to think in this game. If I got low enough on health, I would level up and restore all my health. The only difficult part of this game is entering ghost zones, which are large rooms with many enemies. These rooms felt like an RNG fiesta because of bad spawns. However, most of the time, I took a companion with me, and I was able to clear the room eventually with little strategy to clear these rooms. Its core gameplay is mind-numbingly easy, which makes for a boring experience.

The other thing that this video game offers is that it is very horny. The bathhouse mini-game is the prime example, with just enough censorship mist to keep this game from being rated AO. The characters make suggestive moans when they get hit by enemies. Armor sets you get in this game are old gym clothes, school outfits, and maid costumes. There is also the power-up, where you can level up faster in exchange for the character’s clothes to rip apart over time. The game knows what it is and does not shy away from it.

Trouble in Paradise?

You can look at Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs The Thrilling Steamy Maze Kiwami in two ways. The game is either a bad dungeon crawler or a horny anime game. It’s a game that offers little in story or gameplay, and it just feels like fan service for fans of the show. Unless you are a fan of the show and want more Yuuna content, or you want a video game with a lewder tone, this is not a game worth checking out.