Review: Dragon Ball: The Breakers

Daniel Waite
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Review: Dragon Ball: The Breakers

Dragon Ball: The Breakers attempts to bring colour to an otherwise grim horror genre. This asymmetrical 7V1 survival multiplayer steps on the toes of Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th. However, can something as loud and in your face as Dragon Ball excel in this niche arena?

Developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco, this is a multiplayer experience. What’s more, it brilliantly incorporates the Dragon Ball lore, has some incredibly unusual ideas, and is thoroughly enjoyable with the right audience. Yet, sadly, its player base is fading and trying to connect to an online match is arduous, tedious, and definitely lacking in fun. Consequently, no matter how much you love this game, its connectivity issues hold it back.

One of the survivors hides from a raider.
Hide from the raider and stay alive.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers gets off to a bad start.

Learning the fundamentals is nobody’s idea of fun. But somehow Dragon Ball: The Breakers makes it a little more horrendous. With tricky controls, mental ideas, and a linear approach, it is extremely tiresome. Thankfully, though, once you break through the learning curve, the action improves vastly.

The game can be played solo or online with up to 7 others. Each endeavour comprises 7 human survivors and a Dragon Ball villain as the raider. The aim of each round never changes as a mashup of resource gathering and combative moments culminates in a fight to the death or an ingenious escape.

The 7 survivors are sucked into a temporal rift where they must face off against some grandiose Dragon Ball characters. By utilising the massive environment, scavenging for supplies, and working together, each hero must stop Frieza, Cell, and more villains from destroying the world.

A survivor rides a police vehicle from a raider.
Best escape any way you can.

Simple concept.

Though each arena is a great sandbox world, the concept is relatively simple. The raider must skulk around the place while hunting its next victim. Whereas the survivors must collect power keys to start a time machine or fill energy cells to annihilate the raider. Alongside this, there are supplies to harvest, and some interesting combat mechanics to use.

Effectively, Dragon Ball: The Breakers is a game of cat and mouse. Each of the survivors must search marked-out zones to find key items. All the while, the raider will try to pick you off one by one. The idea isn’t new to the genre, but the crazy nature of the theme pushes it into a surreal realm.

Alongside this, transpheres can be unlocked to empower every survivor with the spirit of a fallen warrior. As such, the combination of this idea and the ability to work as a team gives the survivors some interesting tactical ideas and an advantage over the overpowered raider.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers looks dated.

Dragon Ball has such a fine pedigree that I expected Dragon Ball: The Breakers to blow me away. However: the textures aren’t great, the landscapes lack detail, and it is visually lacklustre. What’s more, minimal arenas and raiders make it unfortunately repetitive. Alongside this, it didn’t perform as smoothly as I’d have liked and this taints things further still.

I expected the audio to be loud, in your face, and distinct. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed or let down. The cliched approach added to the theme while enhancing the drama and madness. Additionally, the loud sound effects and unique noises for each action were interesting and enjoyable to hear.

The team escape their fate.
Well done for escaping the hunter.

Confusing controls.

I don’t mind a tough learning curve, but Dragon Ball: The Breakers took the biscuit! With manic combat, large levels, and an all-powerful raider, shit hits the fan all the time. Consequently, I expected the layout to be more intuitive and better considered. Alongside this, the tutorial is as dull as dishwater. Subsequently, this doesn’t help matters.

Because of its rapidly fading player base, this lacks replay value and longevity. However, if you can find a lobby, you’ll enjoy the challenging and insane action as well as the opportunity to level up. On top of this, you can customise your hero while selecting unique features from the key characters of the franchise. Disappointingly, a lack of content and dead servers hold this back, though.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers is an interesting concept that has failed to take off.

I applaud the developers for their efforts, but the asymmetrical survival genre is best suited to horror. Now, I enjoyed the mashup of ideas and the Dragon Ball theme. Yet, confusing mechanics, poor visuals, and a lack of content prevent it from excelling. Accordingly, I don’t recommend that you buy it. However, more information can be found here! Will you survive, or will the overpowered raider take all the glory?

Review: Tricky Thief

Daniel Waite
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Review: Tricky Thief

Tricky Thief lets gamers forget about hectic action and violence. Instead, it asks you to test your mind as well as your logical thinking. As such, it is a casual experience that is good for completionists and players of all ages.

Developed by YeTa Games, and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a top-down puzzle title. What’s more, its art style and audio make it a captivating experience as well. Alongside this, its simple approach and tongue-in-cheek nature are safe and can be enjoyed by everyone.

The thief avoids the attention of two guards.
A nice way to learn the fundamentals.

Tricky Thief has no story.

Rarely does this genre incorporate a story. Consequently, the action can feel shallow and there is no empathy towards the protagonists. Disappointingly, Tricky Thief follows this pattern and there is no explanation for what is happening. Accordingly, this could have been easily resolved had cutscenes and a basic plot been introduced.

However, these elements never appeared, and you are left to form your own conclusions. Yet, let us not dwell on this shortcoming, as the core concept is well-conceived, enjoyable, and mentally taxing (in the latter stages). The action resolves around the “hero”, a thief who wishes to steal the gold and avoid detection. If he is spotted by the roaming security personnel, he is arrested and you must start the level again. However, if you are successful, you’ll escape and live to steal more treasure.

Sensors, guards, and a heck of a lot of treasure.
Things are getting a little harder.

Create your path.

Though the concept is easy to understand, solving each puzzle isn’t a walk in the park. The thief can only move in 4 directions and they stop whenever they collide with a wall, crate, or special tile. As such, you must create a path to the treasure by running at walls and adjusting your plan accordingly. By doing this, you’ll carve a path through each stage and collect all the treasure.

Additionally, you must be aware of the security guards, pulsing beacons, explosive boxes, and crates. The guards walk a set route that is marked on the floor. Furthermore, they have a restricted field of view, and both elements must be manipulated if you wish to succeed.

This being said, the early stages of Tricky Thief are far too easy. Consequently, your focus will wane. Yet, once you tackle these levels, the action is testing, and the gameplay improves vastly. Had the developers incorporated more mechanics or a harder option, I believe the game would have been much better.

Tricky Thief: A nice whimsy art style.

Tricky Thief has a bright colour palette and a charming art style. The whimsy character models and simple stage design allow you to focus on the puzzles. What’s more, the animation is basic but smooth, and this is more than acceptable. Subsequently, I wasn’t blown away, but I appreciated the end product nonetheless.

The audio complements the visuals. With a charming and upbeat soundtrack, it isn’t impressive, but it is serviceable. What’s more, there is a mischievous edge to proceedings, and that enhances the sneaky theme further still.

The final stage definitely tests you.
I did say that things get harder.

Basic controls.

Unsurprisingly, a straightforward concept has a basic control layout. Yet, this is so refined that I was shocked. With no action button or switches to select, all you must do is move the thief. Thankfully, the navigation controls are responsive and accurate and this improves the gameplay.

Tricky Thief unfortunately lacks both longevity and replay value. Because the opening levels are so easy, you fly through 50% of the game without concern. Furthermore, a lack of additional game modes holds it back as well. However, this is perfect for completionists and is still good value for money.

Tricky Thief is a pleasant and casual title.

This isn’t a game that will wow you, nor is it bad enough for you to voice a complaint. Instead, it is a pleasant and casual title that is inexpensive to buy. Furthermore, once you navigate the easy levels, it will test your grey matter, and that was fantastic. I loved its charming way, but the lack of cinematic and story disappointed me. Accordingly, despite its shortcomings, I recommend that you buy it here! The treasure is yours for the taking. However, you must avoid the guards, beacons, and explosions if you wish to carve a path and be successful.

Best Types of Poker Games to Play Online

Christopher John
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Best Types of Poker Games to Play Online

Poker has been around as an evergreen pastime for centuries, and with the rise of online casinos, there are more ways than ever to play this classic game. But, with so many variations, how do you know which ones to try? In this article, we’ll look at some of the best poker games you can play online so that you can find the perfect fit for your playing style. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer to online poker, there’s a game out there for you!

Texas Hold’em: The Classic Poker Game.

When it comes to poker, Texas Hold’em is the undisputed king. As the most popular and widely played variation, you’ll find no shortage of online games and tournaments to join. Here’s why Texas Hold’em is a must-try:

  • Easy to learn: With simple rules and a clear structure, Texas Hold’em is an excellent starting point for beginners.
  • Wide range of strategies: As your skills progress, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to develop strategies and outwit your opponents.
  • Huge online community: With millions of players worldwide, you’ll never struggle to find a game or make new friends who share your passion for poker.

Omaha: A Twist on Texas Hold’em

Omaha is a great choice if you’re looking for a poker game similar to Texas Hold’em, but it offers more complexity. Here are some reasons to give Omaha a try:

  • More hole cards: In Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two, making for more interesting hands and decision-making.
  • Pot-Limit format: Most online Omaha games are played in Pot-Limit format, adding another layer of strategy to your betting.
  • Variety: Omaha comes in several variations, such as Omaha Hi-Lo, where the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands.

Seven Card Stud: A Classic Favorite

Though it has waned in popularity compared to Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Seven Card Stud remains a favorite among poker enthusiasts. Here’s why you should give this classic game a shot:

No community cards: Seven Card Stud has no community cards, making it a more individualized game where you’re not sharing cards with other players.

  • Up and down cards: Players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards, providing a unique blend of visible and hidden information.
  • Strong memory skills: With more cards and no community cards, Seven Card Stud requires good memory and observational skills to read your opponents and make the best decisions.

Razz: Lowball Poker Fun

Razz might be right up your alley if you’re looking for something different. This lowball variant of Seven Card Stud rewards the lowest hand, making for a fun change of pace. Here’s what sets Razz apart:

  • The lowest hand wins: The objective of Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand, flipping the traditional poker mindset on its head.
  • Unique strategy: Razz requires players to adjust their strategies and think differently, making it a great challenge for experienced poker players.
  • Less popular: Since Razz isn’t as well-known as other poker games, you might find softer competition, giving you a better chance to win.

Triple Draw Lowball: Three Chances to Win

Another exciting lowball option, Triple Draw Lowball, offers players three opportunities to draw and improve their hands. Here’s why you should consider trying Triple Draw Lowball:

  • Multiple draws: In this game, you’ll have three chances to exchange cards and improve your hand, allowing for more strategic play.
  • Two popular variations: Triple Draw Lowball comes in two flavors: Deuce-to-Seven and Ace-to-Five, giving you options for your preferred lowball style.
  • Less mainstream: Similar to Razz, Triple Draw Lowball’s lower popularity might mean weaker competition, making it a potentially profitable option for skilled players.

Zoom Poker: Fast-Paced Action

For those who crave a quicker pace, Zoom Poker is a thrilling, high-speed alternative to traditional poker games. Here’s why you should check out Zoom Poker:

  • Rapid gameplay: In Zoom Poker, you’re instantly moved to a new table with new opponents after each hand, keeping the action non-stop.
  • Less waiting: You won’t have to wait for slow players or sit through boring hands; you’ll always be in the thick of the action.
  • More hands per hour: With the fast pace of Zoom Poker, you’ll play significantly more hands per hour, perfect for players looking to gain experience quickly.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, there are tons of thrilling poker titles to choose from online. Whether it’s the traditional Texas Hold’em or something more dynamic like Zoom Poker, everyone can find a game that fits their taste and capabilities. So why not try out all these options and discover your ideal match?Best Types of Poker Games to Play Online

Review: Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone.

Daniel Waite
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Review: Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone.

Streaming and video reviews are great ways to get your point of view heard. However, if you have an awful microphone, people will run for the hills. Consequently, you want to buy something that sounds incredible, is easy to use, and looks amazing. Luckily, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone offers all of these elements and plenty more besides.

Designed with build and audio quality in mind, this microphone blew me away. Furthermore, its metal casing and simple effective lighting system were fantastic. On top of this, there are 4 recording modes that are easy to select and straightforward to understand. As such, this is the perfect accessory for those that are starting out, and those that want a little more versatility in their set-up.

What’s in the box of the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone?

  • The simple but effective packaging is professional and striking. Furthermore, it is adorned with key selling points and can be recycled.
  • The Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone comes in three parts. You have the microphone, a small fixed tripod stand, and a 5/8″ universal lug. Each of these items is made from metal and has a brushed black finish. What’s more, the mic has a mode button at the top, gain and headphone volume knobs at the front, and a USB-C port and LED switch at the bottom.
  • The USB-C cable is relatively short, but it can be replaced with any standard cable of the same fitment. 
  • The basic user manual highlights the fundamentals. Alongside this, it tells you the use of each of the 4 recording modes. 

Technical aspects. 

Microphone TypeBack electret condenser
Pickup/Polar PatternsCardioid, Bidirectional, Stereo, Omnidirectional
Audio ConnectionUSB 1.0 or 2.0
Frequency Response20Hz ~ 20kHz
Sensitivity‑36dB ±2dB (0dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz)
Maximum SPL130dB
Microphone Gain‑12dB, 12dB maximum
Output Impedance32 ohms
Sampling RateUp to 96kHz
Bit Depth24‑bit
LED Accent Lighting ColoursPink, yellow, white, blue, green, off (no lighting)
Compatible Operating SystemsWindows® XP/Vista®/7/8/10, macOS® 10.x or later, Linux®

If you are looking for a new microphone, then you’ll want to prioritise usability and sound recording over looks. However, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone does look great, so you won’t have to discount too much, fortunately. We can forget its style for one moment as we focus on its excellent recording facilities. 

Designed with 4 recording settings, you are spoilt for choice. Monoprice has incorporated Cardioid, Stereo, Bidirectional, and Omnidirectional as standard. Luckily, each of these options is easily identifiable thanks to the excellent mode LED system. With the press of a button, the microphone flicks between settings while automatically adjusting the pickup and cancellation. This was incredible, as this makes it a truly versatile accessory that works on many levels.

Compared to its peers, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone can be used for a range of tasks. You may wish to record musical instruments, interviews with one other person, a podcast situation, or a large group of friends. Whatever the event, this microphone will work perfectly. Moreover, thanks to the excellent frequency range, this device easily records a selection of vocal tones. On top of this, the sound quality was crystal clear, and I never struggled with distortion or unwanted background noises.

Build quality. 

So, we know it is easy to use and has exceptional recording facilities, but what about the build quality? Well, this weighty microphone excels in this department as well. With a brushed metal finish and a wired grid cover, it is built to last. What’s more, a delightful LED omits a coloured hue to improve the show. On top of this, the universal 5/8″ connection allows you to use the supplied mount or a boom arm. This was incredible, as it adds to its already versatile nature.

The control system is straightforward and the gain and headphone knobs are tactile and simple to adjust. Furthermore, adjusting the recording settings or the colour was easy to do. Thanks to the easily identifiable buttons, you can set up the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone in no time at all. Additionally, Monoprice has utilised a USB-C system to power the device. This was a wise choice, as I believe it makes it more accessible to standard gamers and streamers.

Is the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone worth it?

Having reviewed the ROCCAT Torch, the Ampligame A8 microphone, and the Shure MV7X, I know what a good microphone looks like. Consequently, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone compares nicely to its peers. With exceptional build quality, a fancy LED display, and simple controls, this is a user-friendly device. Moreover, the 4 preset recording modes are exceptional! As such, this makes this microphone stand out from its peers.

I absolutely adored its usability, the sound quality, and how great it looks. On top of this, the plug-and-play approach and USB-C setup make it the perfect accessory for newbies and veterans alike. Accordingly, it is for all these reasons that I recommend you buy it here!

(More information on Monoprice can be found here!)

Review: Anthology Of Fear

Josh Blackburn
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Review: Anthology Of Fear

I’ve always found horror and comedy to be two sides of the same coin. Both seek to probe the emotional core of the mind, with links back to past experiences. They’re also both incredibly hard to pull off. Ever tell a joke and have it fall completely flat? It takes a proper set of ingredients to make people laugh or, as Anthology of Fear is trying to do, scare them. Fear is a primal, near-inexplicable emotion that’s hard to pin down.

Both horror and comedy tend to fall back on stock tropes, too. Look at how many zombies are in popular culture these days. In both genres, actually. Still, the rules of comedy tend to be easier to lay out, so let’s flip those rules to horror and run Anthology of Fear through the gauntlet.

Anthology of Fear - Peeking Mannequins!

Ghosts of Redundant Media

First rule, a good scare requires a good setup. Anthology of Fear does alright on this one. The story starts off fairly routine, but gets more interesting as time goes on. We play as a chap looking for his missing brother, which leads us to (what else) a creepy hospital. From there, the plot takes a sharp left turn as we discover that the hospital staff have been experimenting with dream therapy, which has led to some disastrous results. To uncover the truth, we begin to watch some mysterious VHS tapes that relate to these incidents and, ultimately, the whereabouts of our brother. As setups for horror goes, it’s not too bad.

Anthology of Fear isn’t too shabby at setting up atmosphere either. It’s well paced in the beginning, with a lot of walking through creaking corridors and flickering lights. I found myself looking over my shoulder quite a bit for the first half hour, which was a positive sign. Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite keep it up. A suspensful atmosphere isn’t worth much if there’s no payoff, which is distinctly lacking. Anthology of Fear is like a rollercoaster where the big climb just ends with the photo kiosk and a long walk down a staircase. Well, alright, there is some pay off but that leads us to the second rule…

Second rule, the audience shouldn’t be able to guess what scare is coming. Let me conduct an experiment. If you’re playing a horror game and you turn a corner to see a mannequin, do you think it’s going to A) model fashionable clothing or B) appear behind you when you do something important? It dropped the bottom out of the atmosphere for me, because I guessed (correctly) exactly what was going to happen. So when they did inevitably move, I just nodded slightly and carried on. A whole half of the game is built around these things, turning a harrowing experience into a humdrum one.

Threat Not Found

It’s particularly frustrating because Anthology of Fear‘s story is hitting interesting beats. The second chapter seemed to be building up around the idea of survivor’s guilt, paired with themes of suicide. Its a brutal story that doesn’t pull any punches. It even competently links together the different chapters. It’s an absolute gold mine for horror, but Anthology of Fear only starts to dig in right towards the end. There’s a giant eye that’s saying mean things, I keep getting locked in rooms and someone’s crying over my shoulder. Spooky stuff. It’s trying its best to get under my skin, but the entire thing is completely undermined by the next rule..

Rule three, the best scares are the risky ones. Anthology of Fear is desperately lacking in any sort of threat. It’s one of those games where ninety percent of game time is spent walking down a corridor and the other ten percent is on easy little puzzles. Even when a monster did appear, all he did was make my screen wobble for a bit and then disappear. I did get a gun at one point, which gave me hope that we were about to throw some tension in the mix. It even had a unique mechanic where you could only fire it when a phone was ringing. But then it disappeared after about five minutes and it was back to holding up the left stick. Knowing that nothing bad could happen to me rather killed what tension was left.

It’s not helped by the slightly wonky execution. For one thing, Anthology of Fear makes you hold the right shoulder button and then press A to examine things. A small problem, granted, but given that I ended up holding down RB almost constantly, I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t set examine to just the A button. It’s also not great at explaining its mechanics. At one point it wanted me to yank out some of my teeth (don’t ask), but was weirdly reticient about telling me to how to do it. Add in some wonky writing and voice acting and you’re left with a slight unfinished feel. That said, let me give some credit: it does look rather nice. The lighting and general graphics hold up Anthology of Fear a great deal, even if it is weirdly insistent on smearing Vaseline over the camera.

Post-It Note of Fear

The last rule is an important one – don’t charge a premium price if you’re only going to be on stage for five minutes. Anthology of Fear‘s full playtime clocked in at just over two hours. For £13, that’s pretty painful. Layers of Fear, a comparable game, is two quid more and about twice as long. I wouldn’t mind as much if the story wrapped up well, but it just meanders about. The missing brother plot is concluded about an hour in. We’re left exploring the brain of a tangentially related woman and then it just ends. There’s no interesting climax or even any characterisation to speak of. Two stories does not an anthology make.

I do feel a little bad for bashing it because there is some grain of potential buried here. But it’s buried in handfuls of dirt from other, stronger titles. Mannequins, looping buildings and impossible architecture. It’s all been done before. I’m glad we all agree that PT was an interesting experiment but it’s time to move on. Dig deeper into that interesting plot, perhaps explore those gun mechanics a bit and then you’ll have something a lot more interesting. As it stands, Anthology of Fear is trying its best but the curtain hook is already extending to yank it off.

(Anthology of Fear’s Steam Page)

Review: Peppa Pig: World Adventures

Daniel Waite
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Review: Peppa Pig: World Adventures

If you have young children, the words Peppa Pig will be all too familiar. This annoying yet loveable character brings joy to many youngsters’ hearts. However, as an adult, you’ll despise her chirpy and repetitive ways. Consequently, when Peppa Pig: World Adventures was installed on to my Xbox Series X, I could have cried. My children, on the other hand, couldn’t have been happier with the situation.

Developed by Petoons Studio and published by Outright Games, this is a family-friendly title. What’s more, it has some basic adventure elements and plenty of simple but enjoyable tasks to complete. Therefore, it is the perfect endeavour for your children to undertake by themselves or with their siblings.

The Pig family head to the harbour to start their adventure.
Go to the harbour and pick a trip.

Peppa Pig: World Adventures is a great sequel. 

Having reviewed My Friend Peppa Pig, I didn’t know how a sequel would work. In the first instalment, the developers incorporated some fun tasks and a healthy spattering of recognisable characters. Moreover, the Peppa world was vibrant and enjoyable to explore. However, reviewers slammed the game and users didn’t appreciate its charms. I, though, identified its key audience and respected this fact. Accordingly, I’ll do the same with Peppa Pig: World Adventures. 

This vivid game won’t impress adults. In fact, it’ll drive you insane as the inane gameplay is repetitive, mundane, and lacking in any sort of difficulty. Yet, Peppa Pig: World Adventures isn’t aimed at an older audience. As such, it hits the right mark with younger gamers. What’s more, it has a delightful educative element, it can be tackled without adult intervention, and it’s a safe environment for your munchkins to explore. Therefore, what’s not to like about that?

A cruise around the world, why not?

Like the first instalment, this game asks you to complete rudimentary tasks. You’ll be expected to jump up and down in muddy puddles, swing on swings, find items, play with toys, and interact with the cast of the TV series. Furthermore, you’ll learn facts about each country you visit and gather nik-naks to decorate your house with.

You’ll visit the Eiffel Tower, play football in Barcelona, see the skyscrapers of New York, drink hot chocolate in Germany, make pizza in Italy, and much more. During every expedition, Peppa and her new friend, that’s you, will explore freely or until the cruise ship captain demands you return. Once you leave each place, the story nicely highlights key points from each trip and this reinforces the subtle educational undertones. This was excellent, as the game neither feels moralistic nor preachy. As such, kids will learn subliminally, and that was wonderful.

A rhino serves pizza when Peppa and her friend visit Italy.
mmmm pizza time.

One step further. 

Where Peppa Pig: World Adventures excels is its ability to make you feel part of the colourful world. Unlike My Friend Peppa Pig, this one lets you build a house and decorate it with all the nik-naks you bring back.

Now, this may seem like a minor element, but my kids adored this small mechanic. Furthermore, it was a clever touch that makes you want to explore each location thoroughly. Alongside this, your character has an array of costumes to change into, and you are able to create the family of your dreams. As such, you can live alone with one parent, or you can make a massive family of cats, dogs, rabbits, and so forth. 

Peppa Pig: World Adventures is a colour explosion. 

Like its predecessor and the TV series, Peppa Pig: World Adventures is eye-wateringly vivid to look at. Additionally, the characters are simple, clean-cut, and well-animated. What’s more, the varied backdrops are bright, fun to look at, and capture each scene perfectly. However, there were occasional issues as the game transitioned from one area to another. Furthermore, characters would unnecessarily appear or disappear randomly. Luckily, these are minor faults that will be rectified with a day one patch.

Fans of the franchise will adore the chirpy audio. With familiar music and sound bites, your kids will go wild for the experience. On top of this, the script is easy to follow, safe, and amusing. My children loved interacting with each character while learning key facts about every location. 

A mass outing to the moon.
I wonder if there is any cheese here?

Easy to control. 

As it is aimed towards younger players, the controls are understandably stripped back. Accordingly, each action can be easily executed and minimal explanation is needed to learn the fundamentals. What’s more, young children can master it and little guidance is needed. 

On the surface, this lacks replay value and longevity. Yet, my kids returned over and over again. They couldn’t get enough of travelling the world or decorating their house. Furthermore, they adored the basic activities. Consequently, I was amazed by how much it held their attention. 

Peppa Pig: World Adventures won’t disappoint your sprogs. 

If your munchkins love this annoying pig as much as mine, then they will cherish Peppa Pig: World Adventures. Additionally, you won’t have to help unless you want to enjoy the vivid and OTT experience. As such, it is a fantastic, yet simple endeavour that entertains and educates young gamers. Moreover, the environment is safe; the dialogue is clean and amusing, and the activities are perfectly balanced. Accordingly, it is a great title and I recommend that you buy it here! Moving to Peppa’s world was a stroke of genius. Now, you can make new friends, enjoy new activities, and travel the globe. 

Review: Sanctuary Saga

Samuel Beattie
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Review: Sanctuary Saga

RPGs lend themselves to beautiful, diverse environments with fantastic stories and engaging tactical combat. While there is an interesting battle system in Sanctuary Saga, it fails to deliver an enthralling narrative. This RPG Rogue-lite hybrid is developed by Boomer’s Workshop and published by V Publishing and features a lot of fantastic ideas. That being said, some of these ideas fall flat, leading to a fairly average game.

A Tale of Survival

Sanctuary Saga takes place 6 months after a failed foundation in a continent known as the Untamed Wilds; a bountiful land that happens to be very dangerous, with monsters and the undead inhabiting it. After being overworked, Syrena and her guild try again to settle in the Untamed Wilds. She joins with other guilds from across the nation such as the thief guild led by the sly Ethan and the Dwarrodwarf clan led by the brute Dolgrim to name a few. They adopt a Caravan lifestyle and help her settle in this foreign land until they can find a suitable foundation for their Sanctuary.

Sanctuary Saga exhibits a great premise but fails in the execution. Most of the story progression is done off-screen by random NPCs, rather than being shown to the player through the cutscenes or the gameplay. In the later parts of the story, the party is told that the lands are becoming corrupt. However, because of how few environments there are, we don’t see this through our expeditions. The world and the story don’t feel connected, which breaks the immersion of this story for me, unfortunately.

While the story may be lackluster, the interactions between the party members grant an entertaining experience. By fighting alongside each other, characters gain relationship points (Or RP for short). Gaining enough relationship points levels up the relationship level between characters. Upon leveling up a relationship between two characters, a small heart-to-heart appears, showing us more of this cast of characters. These conversations feel very real, detailing the emotions of the characters as they traverse the dangerous landscapes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each one of these conversations and I personally believe this to be the highlight of the story.

A good relationship is the key to success

Life in the Caravan

Sanctuary Saga is split into two sections. The expeditions where you explore the Untamed wilds, and the Caravan. The Caravan acts as a hub for the main party. Although it is quite bare with little to do, it houses very important aspects of the game. It is here where the party can upgrade their gear with resources found on expeditions. Each character requires two different resources to upgrade their equipment. Furthermore, each resource has different drop rates depending on the biome, for example, it is easier to find hides in the cavern’s biome. While this may be the case, there is a trader that allows the player to exchange resources for a small fee. Also in the Caravan are NPCs that will give you side quests. Each one of these must be accepted before going on an expedition and can reward you with relationship points, upgraded skills, or resources.

The Caravan is a very interesting place, showcasing some of this game’s more interesting choices. This includes the lack of experience points. In this case, your party’s level is tied to your equipment. The stronger your equipment the higher your level becomes. Furthermore, your progress is tied to your level. Once you have four party members at the next level and complete an expedition, the story will progress. Additionally, your party will face the same enemies throughout the adventure. While this system works well, it’s hard to see any visible improvement with your characters due to the same enemies leveling up alongside the player. I also wish there were more ways to prepare other than leveling up. Still, it’s a nice resting spot after the expeditions.

Setting out on an expedition

Life in the Wilds

Upon completing your preparations in the Caravan, you will want to set out on an expedition. An expedition takes place in one of four biomes, each having its own diverse set of enemies, puzzles, and bosses. Each expedition consists of three areas and at the end of areas two and three you will fight a boss. While all this sounds exciting, unfortunately you are most likely to repeat areas, as well as bosses and puzzles. This makes the grind for resources a slog, which causes expeditions to become very repetitive. Additionally, resources aren’t plentiful enough to where you can skip battles either, so you must be prepared to fight every single battle.

Fortunately, while the game has many grinding aspects, the game’s battle system itself is very fun. The game takes place in rows. Using attacks and defending will move your position in the row, affecting what skills you can and can’t use. On top of this, the enemy can push your allies back and forth through the row as well, making it necessary to adapt to an ever-changing situation. I love this combat system. I found it satisfying to make it through difficult battles, and it forced me to use every resource available to me. However, the hit rate of attacks feels low, causing me several turns of missed attacks.

Finally, in combat, you have the ARG meter. Getting hit by enemy attacks will cause this meter to go up. You can lower it by healing, avoiding attacks, or using ARG meter healing skills. This is the main combat feature highlighted in the promotional material. Having a high ARG meter will cause the character to argue. What does arguing do? Well, you miss a turn. This is a huge disappointment due to how fixated the trailer was on this feature.

Cool the first time. Not so much the fifth.

Sanctuary Saga, Concepts lost in translation

Overall I had fun with Sanctuary Saga thanks to its great battle system and charming pixel art visuals. However, the lackluster story and the repeat walkthroughs of every area hurt the experience for me. If there were more enemies to fight, more dungeons to go through, or even more story sequences to play through I feel as though I would have had a better time as is. Fortunately, the developers are continuing to work on this game, even after its launch, but as it is now, this game is simply a decent experience.

Review: Smurfs Kart

Natosha M
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Review: <strong>Smurfs Kart</strong>

There are so many racing games that can be found, but not every game is suited for every single player. Some are meant for serious and experienced racers who are committed to keeping up with their vehicles and making sure they have everything equipped or at its max, so they will always be one of the top racers ranked. However, not everyone is that experienced and many just want to play for fun with their family or friends. Especially, not to be troubled by difficult controls to learn, complicated routes to race, and buying extra equipment to boost their vehicles.

Perfect Chance To Win At A Racing Game

Thankfully, Smurfs Kart has been created for just that purpose! It’s been fun, easy, and way more relaxing than most competitive racing games. Of course, it’s not hard to forget those adorable blue Smurfs with their presence practically everywhere from TV series, to movies, or even in many other video games. No matter the way you remember them, you’ll be pleased to know that every game I’ve played in the past, including playing this one is very easy to understand and win.

Even better yet, the game allows you the opportunity to play any of the different 12 tracks and 12 characters to choose from. Right away, you’ll be granted full access to everything, so there is no waiting to unlock or earn another character or track to play. It’s all readily available from the very start of the game, including the many different racing styles you’d like to play.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a great game if there was nothing to achieve. So there are a few challenges you can try to achieve. Even if the game is meant to be fun and easy to play, there are a few bonus items to be rewarded and unlock, such as extra races, stickers, and rewards for being a top racer player to reach the finish line. So if you are looking for some challenge, there are a few you can enjoy reaching while playing.

Now a few things I really love about the game and a few I wish could be added. The first thing is how easy it is to control the karts. Even if they can be adjusted slightly to suit a player’s personal needs, I felt that if played without any change it was the easiest. However, if changes are needed, it’s possible. The other feature I loved is that it’s a game that is suited for every type of player. Anyone can just join in and race on the screen without fear of failing or needing to take a tutorial course. However, it could be a bit too easy for some who are normal players in racing games.

The two main features I felt were incomplete or unexpected not to be part of the Smurfs game to have, are the music and sound effects. None of them sound realistic to their true character and are limited to the number of sound effects they have to say. Some just sound reused from one Smurf to the next. The other thing is hoping for some music to play or at least a familiar, happy theme song I’m used to. In some way, it feels like the game was quickly put together, removing all that little bit of joy you recall the Smurfs bring.

Final Thoughts

Smurf Kart is a perfect family-style game that anyone can play! It’s amusing and easy, just what I expect from the Smurfs. The karts are all unique and have their own character that rides them, allowing the player a choice between 12 to decide upon. There is no wait to unlock a character, you get to enjoy all of them right away, which I love. Plus, even for an easy game, it could use some more classic Smurf sound effects from the characters and add a few new fun tracks or rewards to be achieved. Otherwise, it’s not a bad game, and maybe a bit easy for everyone to win a race for the first time.

Review: Company of Heroes 3

Josh Blackburn
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Review: Company of Heroes 3

How do you convert the Second World War into a video game? After all, World War II was essentially a throng of brave young men charging headlong into a Nazi meat-grinder. Quite the far cry from right-clicking on the thing that you want dead. Of all attempts, Relic Entertainment’s Company of Heroes series gets about as close as you can get. Its battles are tense, grueling stalemates that prioritise tactics above all. There’s no building seven hundred riflemen and marching into the enemy base here.

Enter: Company of Heroes 3, which brings us to the Italian and North African theaters, with the promise of beautiful sunshine over battle-scarred terrain. These new theaters come with a heaping helping of ambition. Company of Heroes 3 is far bigger than its predecessors but, unfortunately, it seems that it can’t quite fill those larger shoes.

Company of Heroes 3 - Skirmish

A War on Two Fronts

Company of Heroes 3 is split into two areas: skirmishes and campaigns. Let’s take skirmishes first, as these hark back to Company of Heroes of old. This is the ground-level combat, where you control individual squads and vehicles. It’s largely territory based. In order to recruit more squads, you need resources which are gained from holding specific points on the map. As you progressively capture territory, and bolster your troops, you’ll inevitably come in contact with the enemy doing the same thing. It creates a pleasant arc of conflict, as you clash around key contested points.

The combat maintains its emphasis on tactics, with the biggest focus being on cover. To keep your plucky fellows alive, you have to to move from cover to cover. Otherwise they’ll be cut down in seconds. If you and your foes are both behind cover then things slow right down. Your troops are left picking at each other, taking no casualties and wondering if they should have brought a sleeping bag. Flanking and fortifying are your best bets, following by destroying the cover with a particularly big gun. I frequently used Gurkha rifle squadrons to pin enemies down, then flanked them with riflemen. It rewards creative and tactical thinking, which I appreciated. I do wish the camera would let me zoom out a wee bit though.

The other side of the coin is the campaign map. This changes from real-time to turn-based, as you zoom right out to see the theater as a whole. The first campaign is a crawl through southern Italy, with a landing in Serrano and a vague objective to take Rome. From Serrano, you spread out across Italy, capturing towns, wiping out enemy companies and liaising with partisan forces where you can. When you meet another company, the conflict is resolved in a skirmish, which neatly connects the two. Depending on your choice of company, you get different bonuses. I went with the UK Indian Artillery, giving me access to trusty Gurkhas and a lot of explosions. There’s even a loyalty system, where you can buddy up with three seperate commanders, each with their own unique skills. It’s an ambitious system.

Company of Heroes 3 - Campaign Map

Company of Zeroes

Unfortunately, ambition doesn’t mean much without execution and that’s where Company of Heroes 3 struggles. Let’s start with the biggest elephant in the room: the AI. It’s as thick as a tank’s armour. It constantly makes poor decisions, both on the campaign map (where it barely shows up for work) and in skirmishes. I wondered if this might have something to do with the difficulty setting, so I tried a 1v1 skirmish against a hard enemy. Then I watched as the AI ran directly at my MG emplacement, retreated for a minute, then ran straight back in again. Checking if they were on a smoke break, perhaps? The only change the difficulty made was that the game seemed to be slipping the AI a few extra squads under the table, which would explain why they could churn them out faster than I could.

Even then, the AI was slow to capture key points. In the king-of-the-hill style Victory Point skirmishes, they’d lose a quarter of their points before they’d even showed up to the fight. Set two alarms if you keep sleeping through, lads. It makes the difficulty curve all over the place, something it shares with the campaign. Core missions are generally reserved for taking cities, while enemy companies roam around the map. The necessity of having all fights resolve through skirmishes means that for every interesting, tense battle you’ll have three or four completely trivial ones. There is auto-resolve, but you get better rewards by doing it yourself. A mission where you have to desperately hold off an approaching army of heavy armour should be the exciting climax. It should not be followed by a contingent of Gurkhas playing tiddlywinks in the town square while the enemy’s victory points tick away.

It’s not helped by the campaign map being a little threadbare. I wasn’t expecting Civilization, of course, and there are some nice water effects going on but nearly everything else is just a flat texture. There aren’t many animations to speak of either. When I captured a city with my artillery, there was just a brief pause then everything turned blue. It’s just not that interesting to look at, which isn’t helped by the graphical glitches. It has a weird habit of zooming me really far out after missions for one, turning the entire map into strangely orange fog-of-war. It’s in the skirmishes too. My favourite was a cutscene panning over a Panzer tank and showing it violently vibrating, like it was so gosh darned excited to be here. It reflects a slight lack of polish.

Company of Heroes 3 - Skirmish

Not So Finest Hour

It’s odd really, because other areas of the game make me feel like some real love has gone in. On all the campaign loading screens, there are little snippets of letters that soldiers are sending home. They do all tend to blend together after a while but it’s a neat touch. So too is the voice acting, which has a number of memorable lines. Soldiers will talk to each other about their wives back home and crack jokes to alleviate the tension. Granted, the British soldiers are cursed to either be cockney or posh, but that’s par for the course. Just once I’d like to hear orders barked in a thick Cornish accent.

It’s these sort of touches that made me wonder if I’m perhaps going too hard on Company of Heroes 3. The core skirmish gameplay is still as interesting as it ever was, after all. My final thinking came down to something simple. If you play a game like Company of Heroes 3 that prizes strategy, having an AI that cannot strategise means it cannot be given a high score. That’s half the game that isn’t standing up on its own. The other issues dogpile on top of that one central failing. The fun I had with Company of Heroes 3 was entirely because of the fun I had with the original Company of Heroes.

What Relic have done with Company of Heroes 3 is very ambitious. The campaign boasts forty hours of playtime and I can believe it. But length is not what makes a game good. While I see its ambition as a positive thing, and it’s an interesting title, Company of Heroes 3 falls down in the execution. If you must play it, play it with a friend in multiplayer. Otherwise, Company of Heroes 3 isn’t quite making it to VE-Day.

(Company of Heroes 3 Steam Page)

Review: Resident Evil 4 (2023)

Daniel Waite
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Review: Resident Evil 4 (2023)

Resident Evil 4 (2023) adds to the ever-increasing lineup of remasters and remakes. Now, some may say that a lack of originality and new IPs have driven this trend. However, I don’t entirely agree. Instead, fans drive demand for their much-loved games to get a modern lick of paint. Consequently, when this game was announced, I had high hopes that it would perform extremely well.

Developed and published by Capcom, this is a survival horror title. What’s more, it heavily relies on gunplay and is fast-paced, hectic, and genuinely scary. Moreover, the story is phenomenal, and the characters, enemies, and settings are breathtaking.

Originally released on GameCube in 2005, this addition to the franchise was well-received. However, a change of pace and a lack of zombies confused both journalists and gamers alike. Yet, once you got used to the wholesale changes within the gameplay, you discovered an incredibly rich experience that was well thought out and terrifying to play.

Resident Evil 4 (2023) is great for newcomers and veterans.

Remaking a fantastic game is all well and good. But if you have played it to death, are there any reasons to return? Yes, the graphics will be better, and many issues are likely to be removed. Yet, it is still the same old title, following a well-trodden path. Thankfully, this is where Resident Evil 4 (2023) is different. Capcom has shrouded its plot twists and reimagined the story for everyone, and this was a great move. Why? Well, veteran gamers will have no idea of what changes are afoot, and I’m not going to ruin that for you. Furthermore, newcomers will adore the brutality of the situation, the grim setting, and the excellent cinematic.

Resident Evil 4 (2023) is set 6 years after the horrific events in Raccoon City. The Umbrella Corporation has gone into hiding, and the US Government has severed all ties. Additionally, unsung hero Leon S. Kennedy has been recruited as a highly trained agent for a secret service. Though the ink hasn’t dried on his new contract, this mercenary is sent on his first mission. The President’s daughter has been kidnapped and Leon has been sent in to solve the problem.

As you can guess, this won’t end well for everyone involved. Moreover, things are never as simple as they seem and Leon has his work cut out for him if he wishes to succeed. Yet, with deadly skills at his disposal, and an arsenal of weapons to use, he stands a pretty good chance of surviving a relentless onslaught.

A creepy and rundown house.
Would you explore this creepy house?

A shift from its predecessors.

Though the third-person perspective remains, Resident Evil 4 (2023) focuses on a closer over the shoulder viewpoint. This excellent choice tightens down your vision and makes even the largest of spaces seem claustrophobic and uncomfortable to navigate. On top of this, the environment is brought to life with windows to leap through, doors to kick down, and crates to smash. Furthermore, Leon is helped by a merchant who is only too happy to take every treasure and coin you have found. Without spoiling it for you, this shop is a game-changer, as new weapons, equipment, and upgrades can be purchased from it.

Another massive change in the series is the lack of zombies. Yep, unlike Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3, Resident Evil 4 (2023) steers clear of the zombie hordes. Now, traditionalists may be disappointed, but the introduction of chanting and demonic villagers was a breath of fresh air. What’s more, the story brilliantly explains their presence through pieces of lore and excellent cinematic. Additionally, the hulking bosses steer away from the cliched past and create a rounded plot that returns to key moments within each chapter.

Fantastic gunplay.

I always fondly remember the 2005 version of this title. What stood out for me was the smooth action and excellent combat. Yes, there was an argument for a better dodge mechanic, but this mattered not. Roll on 17/18 years, and the action is as rewarding now as it ever was. Consequently, it has aged extremely well, and I adored the combat mechanics even more in this remake.

The hectic gunplay and marauding villagers create an uneasy dynamic that is scary as f*%k! Being chased across bridges, through buildings, and past burning pyres never gets old. What’s more, mines, grenades, knives, guns, and much more are at your disposal. Alongside this, there is a new feature to improve your weapons with charms. Sadly, I cannot discuss this further, but it enhances the previous system with some incredible surprises for veteran gamers.

A breakdown of the crafting menu.
Craft your gear and increase your chances of survival.

Familiar puzzles and something new.

The Resident Evil franchise is known for its brutality, horror, and puzzles. Thankfully, Resident Evil 4 (2023) has included some excellent new side quests to its vocabulary. Subsequently, you can now “enjoy” the chance to complete Blue Request Missions! These simple on-the-surface tasks ask you to focus on strange jobs. Furthermore, they can be ignored if you wish, but the reward for completing each is well worth the effort.

Disappointingly, though, this remake hasn’t included the familiar and usually enjoyable mechanic of QTEs. Now, I know some of you will let out a sigh of relief, but I think the action would have complemented this approach. Therefore, you don’t get to dodge lunging monsters, avoid moving barrels, or leap from burning buildings at the perfectly timed touch of a button, upsetting, I know.

Resident Evil 4 (2023) is unbelievably good to look at.

Visually, the original still holds its own. Consequently, giving a stunning game a modern polish is always going to generate positive results. With seamless cinematic, incredible locations, and gut-wrenching villagers to witness, this is disgustingly beautiful. Moreover, the animation of your foes is simply wonderful. This is then enhanced when you shoot off a limb or decapitate them with your gun. Alongside this, I adored how the cinematic brilliantly tied in every element like a seamstress sewing together two bloodied bandages. Accordingly, Capcom has created a visual masterpiece that performs brilliantly on the Xbox Series X.

The graphics are supported by incredible audio. With amazing acting, divine music, and heart-stopping sound effects, this is an audiophile’s dream. The horror element of the gameplay is enhanced thanks to the wonderful atmospheric sounds and the groans of every opponent. Subsequently, there are many brown trouser moments caused not by jump scares, but by the feeling of impending doom. On top of this, the boss encounters are brilliantly arranged, and every moment is spectacularly orchestrated. As such, these standout sections are deservedly placed on a pedestal.

The chainsaw guy is a pain in the arse.
Ughhhh bloody chainsaw guy!!!

Amazing controls.

Capcom has worked hard to create an easy-to-play title that feels and acts like the original. However, they have included a new parry defence which is a game-changer. Once you are familiar with the timing and the buttons, every fight can be manipulated to create a fair tactical outcome. Whether you shoot from a distance, use traps and explosives to your advantage, or sneak around silently, the choice is yours. However, with the parry option at hand, each close-quarter encounter feels more fair and rounded.

Can a remake ooze replay value? Hell yeah, it can! Each chapter comprises a scoring matrix that can be retried and beaten. Alongside this, there are treasures to find, locks to open, and plenty of enemies to kill. Moreover, there is an NG+ mode waiting to be explored as well. You must also consider the upgrade system, charms, and each side quest. Consequently, there is plenty to see and do if you tackle Resident Evil 4 (2023).

Resident Evil 4 (2023) lives up to the hype.

Plenty of remake titles are hyped up within an inch of their lives. Sadly, many of them fail to impress and this market is hit-and-miss. Thankfully, though, Resident Evil 4 (2023) exceeds every promise it makes and delivers so much more. I adored the fresh take on the story, the incredible bosses, the phenomenal environments, and the plethora of new mechanics. Additionally, the characters are great, the cinematic works perfectly, and the inclusion of the parry combat move was perfect. However, my dry cleaning bill is astronomical as this game made me soil myself repeatedly, so thanks for that Capcom! Yet, some soiled underwear is a small price to pay for an incredible experience. Accordingly, though I was petrified, I still recommend that you buy it here! Can you save the President’s daughter? Grab your guns, plan your approach, and stay alive in this incredible horror survival remake.

How to Work Promotions Effectively Into Apps and Software

Christopher John
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How to Work Promotions Effectively Into Apps and Software

Promotions, offers, and special deals are about as natural to apps as a tail is to a dog. Most apps in particular follow the free-to-use model, making their money instead through in-app subscriptions and purchases. 

The execution of special offers is critical as it isn’t simply enough anymore to throw a random promotion up and hope it works. Here’s a guide to getting the most out of your own promotions.

Research Your Audience

When they say that knowing your audience is important for business, that no longer just means having a target age range. Ask any app expert and they’ll tell you that, before even one line of code is written, knowing exactly how your users will make use of the software is essential. 

Source: Unsplash

For promotions, knowing exactly what your users will be excited about helps form the concept more precisely, which will make it more effective overall. For instance, online casinos know that account verification and deposit rules on bonuses are two common pain points for players. That’s why extremely focused offers, like free spins no deposit with mobile verification by casinos like MrQ, can see better returns than just offering general free spins. 

Themed Promotions

While it may seem obvious to some, this is an aspect that many overlook in app design. It is particularly relevant for games and branded media properties that can more easily draw on concepts and assets from their properties. It is unusual in that, if done correctly it is something that blends seamlessly into the overall flow and will be unnoticed. On the other hand, a generic implementation can stick out badly and take users out of the experience.

One overlooked example of excellent design in this aspect is the coins of TikTok. At first glance, it’s a minor detail, but given that TikTok has generated so much revenue from in-app purchases with next-to-no push on the company’s part. As for theming, coins simply make sense for the app, as users can use them to tip creators in the same way as buskers on the street.

Timing is Everything

When it comes to timing your promotions correctly, this isn’t as simple as putting up something with hearts on Valentine’s Day or running pumpkin-covered competitions and events for Halloween. Timing in modern app promotion is much more involved. and comes down to much finer timescales.

Source: Unsplash

For instance, if you have a promotion targeting the ultra-healthy for a subscription, sending the notifications out earlier in the morning to fit the early-riser lifestyle may work better. For apps selling luxury products, perhaps aiming for 6 pm on payday would be the peak time. These are all factors to consider for maximum effectiveness.

Which factors you make use of will depend very much on your exact product however some combination of all the factors above will almost always apply in some way. Experiment, explore and test out all the combinations you can for success.

Review: Fights in Tight Spaces

Daniel Waite
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Review: Fights in Tight Spaces

The desire to be a badass secret agent is everyone’s guilty pleasure. Whether you are travelling the world or annihilating bad guys, it would never get old. Alongside this, you have super cool gadgets and some kick-ass martial arts training to unleash. Therefore, when I was given Fights in Tight Spaces to review, I couldn’t wait to experience this secret agent-inspired experience.

Developed by Ground Shatter and published by Mode 7, this is a deck-building title. What’s more, it has turn-based combat, rogue-like elements, and demands a tactical mindset. Moreover, it is wonderfully stylish, and it’s brutally hard as well. Consequently, you must plan your approach while hoping that luck and your cards are on your side. 

Take that!

Fights in Tight Spaces makes you feel all-powerful. 

What’s excellent about Fights in Tight Spaces is how empowering the action is. No matter how much you fail, and you will a lot, you always feel all-powerful, regardless of your errors. 

You control a special agent for a top-secret corporation known as Section Eleven. These highly trained operatives risk life and limb to prevent terrorist threats. However, this is easier said than done, as every goon is out to get you. What’s more, success relies heavily on the luck of the draw. Subsequently, failure and frustration are all but assured in this tough but addictive, terrorist fighting strategy title. 

Violence, environment, and a deck of cards. 

The action plays out across multiple chapters. If you are familiar with Slay the Spire or Cult of the Lamb, the structure will be reassuringly comfortable. Effectively, the aim is to move from point A to B by following a branching pathway. En route, you’ll encounter special rooms for healing, shopping, or upgrading/exchanging cards. In between, each node acts as a standalone arena with unique goals and special foes. 

The goal for each encounter revolves around violence, manipulating your opponents and the environment. You must utilise open spaces to move your foes while making the most of your surroundings. As such, balconies, walls, and tables are effective tools to kill your enemies. However, with many foes to tackle, making the right decisions isn’t easy.

Why use your fists when you can use your head?

Action points, combos, and your cards. 

Though Fights in Tight Spaces is predominantly a deck builder, the turn-based combat and rogue-like mechanics complement the core concept. The hero has limited AP to use and must carefully select every move he makes. With 3 categories to choose from, you can create a plan with relative ease. You may either attack, move, or block/counter. However, it wasn’t so straightforward as each card unleashes different effects on your foes. Consequently, you must consider this as well as your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

Alongside this, there is your combo meter to fill, your environment to be aware of, and you know exactly what your opponent will do during their turn. Accordingly, you can use this information to your advantage as you balance every element, as well as the cards in your hand.

Talking of cards, you are free to upgrade, buy, and swap out your base deck as much as you wish. By doing this, you can increase your chances of survival and extend each run that bit further. However, you still need plenty of luck to be successful. 

Fights in Tight Spaces is simplicity personified. 

Superhot was adored for its simple but stylish approach. Fortunately, Fights in Tight Spaces follows suit with its silhouetted protagonists, striking cutscenes, and interesting stage design. Moreover, I admired how the strategy elements evolved based on the traps and pitfalls of each level. On top of this, the basic animation worked perfectly with the simple character models and the minimalist colour palette. 

The audio complemented the action with its varied but dramatic soundtrack. Alongside this, I cherished the booming sound of each shotgun blast, the rasping noise of a pistol being fired, and the bone-crunching sound of each punch and kick. In short, the audio captures the theme and brutality without being OTT or crass.

Can you keep the ambassador alive?

Excellent controls. 

Who’d have thought such a high-energy idea would be improved by the slow and methodical nature of the deck-building genre? However, Fights in Tight Spaces makes it work. With an excellent tutorial and an amazing control layout, this is easy to pick up but wonderfully tough to master. 

Rogue-like gaming and replay value go hand-in-hand. Accordingly, Fights in Tight Spaces has longevity and replay value. With plenty of chapters to complete, and the ability to watch every battle on completion, there is plenty to see and do. My only complaint is that there is potentially too much reliance on luck, which is frustrating. As such, at times you can have a powerful deck of cards, make the right moves, and still fail. Consequently, this will test your patience and resolve to the limits.

Fights in Tight Spaces took me by surprise. 

This genre is saturated and there are some remarkable titles to experience. Accordingly, I didn’t expect Fights in Tight Spaces to impress. However, its interesting style, dramatic story, and combination of mechanics took me by surprise. Yes, the element of luck frustrated me, as did the level of difficulty, but this also made it rewarding and moreish. Subsequently, I loved it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you make the perfect plan and tackle every threat? Pick your cards, study your environment, and pray that luck is on your side. 

Review: Bittle Open-source Bionic Robot Dog from Petoi

Andrew Edney
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Review: Bittle Open-source Bionic Robot Dog from Petoi

Here is our review of the Bittle Open-source Bionic Robot Dog from Petoi.

Small but agile, Bittle is a powerful robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Bittle is operated in OpenCat, an open-sourced quadrupled robot platform that offers endless programming and customisation possibilities and can be controlled using an app that’s compatible with iOS and Android.  

Users bring Bittle to life by assembling its puzzle-like frame which is made up of 3D interlocking components, eliminating the need for screws (it’s also available pre-assembled). The bionic construction of legs rather than wheels means that Bittle is able to move more freely over unstructured terrain. 

Evolving with an open-source gene, Bittle is built on Petoi’s OpenCat open-source platform specifically for quadrupled robots. Bittle’s dynamic manoeuvrability and behaviours are features typically seen on luxury robots but Petoi’s technology is now making it accessible to more consumers. With a customised Arduino board coordinating all instinctive and sophisticated movements, users are able to clip various smart sensors onto Bittle or mount a Raspberry Pi or other AI chips through wired/wireless connections to inject perception and artificial intelligence capabilities. Bittle can be configured and controlled using Petoi’s official mobile app.

What’s in the box?

The box contains everything you need to build, control and program Bittle.

Building Bittle

Building Bittle takes a while, you need to not only put all the pieces together you need to program it as well.

Final Thoughts

I’ve always wanted a robot dog ever since I first saw K-9 in Doctor Who, so now was my chance to finally get my hands on one.

I chose the build it yourself kit as I thought it would be more fun. And it was, but it was also a lot of work, was quite fiddly at times, and the instructions were not as clear as I would have liked (they are web based, along with a YouTube video rather than anything in the box). For the most part they work very well, however there were times where I had to keep replaying the same few seconds over and over again to try and figure out what they were trying to show. But I got there in the end, and there was a real sense of accomplishment when I did it. For someone who likes building things or playing with electronics, this will be something that really peaks their interest.

You also need to install some software on your computer in order to upload commands and firmware to Bittle. This is a fairly straightforward process but can take some time.

Then the fun really begins – you can program Bittle to do all sorts of things, the possibilities are endless. There is also a remote control you can use to control Bittle or an app on your smartphone. This is a really good opportunity to learn coding in a fun and fairly straightforward way.

The battery, when fully charged lasts about an hour, so keep that in mind.

Bittle is available now from Amazon priced around £299.99 for the kit you put together yourself, or £309.99 for a pre-assembled kit and is aimed at ages 14 years and up and is a really great introduction into electronics and robotics and Bittle also comes in three different colours. There are also additional components that you can buy and fit, including a camera module.

You can learn more from the Petoi website.

Review: Fight’N Rage

Daniel Waite
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Review: Fight’N Rage

Side-scrolling beat ’em-ups used to be a big deal. As such, early console gamers will remember Streets of Rage fondly. Yet, it has been a while since this genre has grabbed my attention. Accordingly, I didn’t have high hopes when I was given Fight’N Rage to review. This old-school-inspired experience should tick many boxes. However, I’ll reserve judgement until the end of this article.

Developed by Sebagamesdev and Blitworks and published by the latter, this is a side-scrolling beat ’em up. What’s more, it is inspired by Streets of Rage and has a fantastic retro feel. Subsequently, it is overflowing with nostalgia, badass music, and hard-hitting moments. Therefore, it is the perfect game for a trip down memory lane.

The trio take on an army of monsters.
Such madness.

Fight’N Rage tells a story of rebellious survival. 

The best thing about 90s games was the audacious stories. Additionally, the simple stage design, rudimentary sprites, and garish colours add to the madness. Thankfully, Fight’N Rage has these elements in abundance, and I cherished this fact! With OTT characters, ridiculous fight scenes, and an unbelievably eccentric plot, it was easy to fall for its charms.

The action is set in a futuristic and dangerous world. Humans have been enslaved by mutants and little hope of freedom can be found. Yet, things are about to change as 2 humans and a mutant rebel have had enough. What follows is a sequence of mind-boggling events that are full of fights, cheesy one-liners, and massive bosses. Furthermore, this 90s-inspired title captures the best elements from the era while taking you on an unbelievable but enjoyably nostalgic plot.

Basic mechanics. 

What makes Fight’N Rage so great is its simplicity. Effectively, you must choose your fighter, learn the fundamentals, and hope to survive. The developers set you up with the basics while allowing you to experiment along the way. If you are successful, you’ll learn different methods of combat and ways to dodge your opponent’s advances. However, if you are not so lucky, you’ll get your ass handed to you repeatedly, and you’ll die over and over again. 

Whatever happens, you are destined to have a great time. Why? Well, this genre is extremely fun, and the action is rewarding. What’s more, it isn’t a walk in the park and this makes it better still. Each stage comprises waves of enemies that must be slaughtered. You can either punch or kick them or use any weapons you find. Alongside this, you’ll find food to increase your health. As each stage concludes, you’ll tackle a gargantuan boss. These assholes need to be taught a lesson, but that’s not always easy. Consequently, you must study their attacks, learn their moves, and overcome any weaknesses.

The team are surfing while fighting monsters.
Surfing monsters, what’s that all about?

Choose your hero and pick a path.

With 3 heroes to choose from, picking the right one can be tough. Gal is nimble but lacks reach and this impacts her fighting. F. Norris has a small health bar but serves as an all-rounder. Finally, Ricardo, the mutant is your slow-paced ‘tank’. Each character requires a different approach, and they bring something new to each playthrough. This is particularly important when you play as 3 players in cooperative mode. The team must work together to maximise their chances. Consequently, understanding the best way to tackle each foe will be the only way to succeed.

Alongside this, there are many collectables to find and branching storylines to witness. This was fantastic, as it enhances longevity and can make the gameplay much harder. Furthermore, the right choice isn’t always obvious, and this leads to some classic moral dilemmas and many poor choices.

Fight’N Rage looks amazing. 

If you love early console gaming, you’ll adore Fight’N Rage. The garish colours, simple sprites, and rinse-and-repeat backdrops were all phenomenal. On top of this, the ridiculous bosses and combat animation were fantastic to witness. As such, the developers got the 16-Bit visuals spot on, and I can’t fault their eye for detail.

The audio enhances the charm further still. With loud synth music and jarring sound effects, it’s an uncomfortable cacophony of noises. Moreover, the OTT sounds were borderline annoying and headache-inducing. Now, this may sound like a complaint, but it isn’t. Instead, it highlights how accurately the sound effects reflect a much-loved era of gaming history. 

Ricardo is taking down the monsters.
Take them down, Ricardo.

Simple controls that were tough to master. 

The 3 button inputs should have been simple to master. Yet, with little explanation, and plenty of combos and attacks to learn, there is an awful lot of trial and error. What’s more, your foes follow a set pattern that can be manipulated. As such, you can overcome many of your enemies by studying their movements and pinpointing their weaknesses.

Fight’N Rage oozes both replay value and longevity. However, a lack of online play tarnishes the experience. Yes, I can play locally with 2 others, but I wanted to play online with my friends. Subsequently, I was a little disappointed, but not enough to put me off altogether. This issue to one side, you’ll return repeatedly to witness each finale for each character. This was fantastic, as it padded out the main story while giving you something to work towards. 

Fight’N Rage is a wonderful addition to the genre. 

I’ll always remember Streets of Rage fondly. However, times move on and the industry changes. Yet, a trip down memory lane is never a bad thing. Luckily, Fight’N Rage does just that, as it ticks plenty of boxes. With fast-paced action and a ridiculous plot, it secretes retro charm from every orifice. Accordingly, I adored it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you overthrow your mutant overlords? Work together, defeat the monsters, and save mankind. 

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