For many years, Apple and Xbox didn’t see eye to eye. Consequently, when Game Pass and Cloud gaming were invented, only Android users got a look in. Understandably, this was a big risk, as mobile gaming is now a huge market. Accordingly, the hostile walls have dropped, and manufacturers are now accommodating the latest iPhone models in their plans. As such, Nacon has released an updated version of its MG-X Pro controller. Now, Apple users can purchase the MG-X Pro Made For iPhone.
I reviewed the Android version of this wonderful device and loved everything about it. Its ergonomic design is comfortable for extended gaming sessions, and it has a battery life to match. Furthermore, the responsive inputs and excellent analogue design ensure that you’ll easily keep up with your competition. However, word of warning, it has no pass-through charging, nor does it have an audio jack. Consequently, you’ll need a charged phone and wireless headphones to get the most out of this device.
Technical aspects for the MG-X Pro Made For iPhone.
The Xbox experience wherever you are: Designed for Xbox and Made For iPhone® – ideal for playing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate™ games and other compatible games in the Apple Store.
Ergonomic handles: ergonomically designed, and a textured surface for optimal comfort.
Fully secure: the adjustable holder holds the smartphone securely and ensures maximum stability.
Wireless connection: easy to pair an iPhone® with the MG-X Pro Made For iPhone® via Bluetooth®.
20 hours battery life*: powerful rechargeable battery for long gaming sessions, charges via the included USB-C cable. LED indicator shows the battery level.
Universal compatibility: compatible with all iPhone® models from the 6S to recent models running iOS 14.
* Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not included. Battery life will vary according to the game being played.
A great Christmas idea.
With Christmas fast approaching, maybe you are stuck for ideas. Well, if you have a gamer in your life, or you simply want to treat yourself, then look no further. This excellent mobile gaming peripheral is well worth the investment as it will change your Xbox experience. My time with the MG-X Pro Made For Android has been incredible. Subsequently, the MG-X Pro Made For iPhone will be just as good. As such, I’d recommend you buy it here!
Love them or loathe them, Soulsborne games are here to stay. Consequently, it highlights gamers’ desires for a tough and often sadomasochistic approach to life. As such, Elden Ring has taken the world by storm, but can The Last Oricru do the same?
Developed by Goldknights and published by Prime Matter, this is an RPG with Soulsborne mechanics. Moreover, it is story-rich, has an excellent roster of characters, and will impress you with its meaningful dialogue choices. Moreover, it also has some familiar Souls-like tropes for veteran gamers. Unfortunately, though, it isn’t perfect as its combat is somewhat lacking, its acting is hilariously bad, and the graphics are a little wayward at times.
The Last Oricru is a story of conflict, death, and rebirth.
You control Silver, a human that has been held in suspended animation. When awakened, he is confronted by two strange races. The Naboru are reminiscent of the aliens in Prometheus, and Ratkins are giant rats. Each of these beings despises the other, and an almighty war is unfolding. Subsequently, you are forced to pick a side as the story unfolds.
Set in an odd medieval/sci-fi world, you’ll explore a range of small but exciting locations. Along the way, you’ll make many decisions that influence your reputation with each species. This interesting mechanic creates many missions as well as oodles of replay value. On top of this, there is a fantastic and deep skill tree, a large inventory of weapons and a mixture of trinkets and gadgets to improve your attributes.
Though this may seem familiar, the well-balanced approach ensures that the protagonist is suited to each zone. Therefore, no situation is too easy, and the amount of “grind” is comfortably reduced.
What could this image depict?
A magic belt with a Souls-lite touch.
Soulsborne games are all about challenge and reward. Thankfully, The Last Oricru has this in abundance. Thanks to the never-ending combat encounters, death is almost guaranteed. However, this is irrelevant, as your magic belt ensures you are immortal. Therefore, if you die, and you will, you simply respawn at the last terminal and try again (think Dark Souls Bonfires and you know what to expect). However, this also respawns every foe, and there is only one terminal per zone. Consequently, it means there is a lot of back and forth if you die too many times.
The Soulsborne mechanics don’t end there. No, both the combat and character levelling are familiar. Dive, roll, block, heavy/light attack, and so on and so forth. To increase your level, you must kill every monster and creature in sight. Accordingly, this will award you with “essence” from any fallen foe. It is then used to improve your stats and allows you to select different weapons. This was great, as there is a sense of progression and reward as you move up the ranks. Furthermore, you can tailor your character to your approach.
Word of warning!
Shockingly, there is no way to reset your skills. Therefore, what you pick is what you are stuck with. This was ridiculous, as it is annoyingly restrictive and prevents you from experimenting. Subsequently, this was a big mistake from Goldknights as the only way to test out different builds was to restart the game.
This looks daunting.
The Last Oricru performs well.
One area where The Last Oricru excels is its presentation. Thanks to its blend of sci-fi and medieval settings, and strange aliens, it was nice to explore. Furthermore, the 60 FPS made the action smooth, and the game performed extremely well. Yet, there were issues with lip-syncing, poor lighting, awful haircuts, and the camera angle during combat was woeful. It was a shame, as it undermines many of the good points while leaving you with a sour taste in your mouth.
Another underwhelming element was the audio. Silver tries to be a burly, carefree hero. However, in reality, he’s a bit of an OTT dick with an odd camp voice. Alongside this, the repetitive one-liners, overused sound effects, and flat music create a dull and insipid atmosphere. As such, it doesn’t take long to become sick and tired of the repetitive soundbites and annoying dialogue.
Dodge, roll and smite your foe.
Serviceable controls.
The prologue is a lengthy beast that is a bit of a jack of all trades. Therefore, you get to know the lie of the land while experiencing a full-on tutorial. Consequently, you’ll be comfortable with every minor point before you are allowed to roam freely. When this happens, you’ll enjoy the responsive and serviceable controls as you complete each fight and search every location. Moreover, if you are comfortable with the genre, then you’ll experience no curveballs or unique mechanics.
Though there are some lacklustre moments, the inclusion of local and online competitive action spices things up. This is one of the outstanding elements of The Last Oricru. Other than this, it has some longevity and replay value thanks to the dialogue choices and the Souls-like mechanics.
The Last Oricru is a mixed bag.
There is an awful lot to like about The Last Oricru. Sadly, though, there is a lot to dislike as well. Accordingly, it is a bit of a mixed bag and will definitely not dethrone Elden Ring. Even though I enjoyed the cooperative action, many elements prevent it from excelling. As such, I won’t recommend that you buy it. However, more information can be found here! Immortality comes at a price, and it’s a heavy burden to bear. Can you use this power for good? Pick a side, stop the war, and try to understand what has happened.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, we review the Scalextric Back to the Future vs Knight Rider Race Set.
Get ready for the ultimate Scalextric battle with the new Back to the Future vs Knight Rider Race Set. Buckle up as the iconic Michael Knight racing K.I.T.T or imagine travelling in the Back to the Future Time Machine as Doc or Marty McFly. Combining retro Scalextric branding with the high detailed and functional film inspired vehicles, as well as everything you need to begin your Scalextric journey in one box.
Two of the most iconic film cars ever go head-to-head in this brand-new set from Scalextric! Will you be Michael Knight in K.I.T.T.? Or Doc or Marty McFly in the Back to the Future Time Machine? Whether you are doing 88MPH or chasing down bad guys, red LED lights flashing on either car is a guaranteed winner on the big screen, small screen or Scalextric track! This set contains everything you need to race Scalextric, including two cars, power, over 5.3 metres of track including a crossover, side swipe and 2 easy speed limiting hand controllers.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Back to the Future Delorean Car, KITT car, 2 hand controllers, a transformer, a powerbase, 20 Track pieces and a braid pack.
Final Thoughts
This new set brings together two of the 1980s most iconic vehicles, K.I.T.T. and the Delorean.
The attention to detail on both K.I.T.T. and the Delorean is amazing – K.I.T.T. is being driven by Michael Knight and the Delorean is being driven by Marty McFly (just as they both should be). K.I.T.T. has a working red strobe light and the Delorean has front and rear lights, including a working Flux Capacitor.
Putting together the track was simple and fun, and the anticipation of getting to race these two vehicles was high, to say the least. There are instructions that give you some ideas of the track layout, or you can just make your own track too!
This set utilises Scalextric Magnatraction, which basically means it helps keep the cars on the track. There is nothing worse than racing and the cars just keep coming off! That said, there are a few parts of the track that if you time it just right you can knock the other car off – now that is fun!
There is also a dual-lane crossover part of the track which gives you the opportunity to literally knock the other car flying!
The Scalextric Back to the Future vs Knight Rider Race Set is available now priced around £159.99 and it would make a fantastic Christmas present for any fan of the 80s! I’m off to play with it again!
Gaming is a popular pastime, and this rings no truer than in Canada, where research and studies have shown that the Great White North is one of the biggest markets for this type of gaming.
However, while Canadians are enjoying a number of different types of gaming experiences, it is impossible to ignore the free-to-play market, with this niche type of gaming only expected to expand further in 2023.
Why has the free-to-play market started to expand in Canada?
Naturally, there are a number of reasons that can help to explain why the Canadian market has seen an exponential amount of growth in regard to the free-to-play gaming sector, although when delving into the reasons why this is the case, it perhaps does not come as a real surprise.
For instance, much of the country’s population are turning to these games because of the opportunities that they provide them with when it comes to getting the most satisfaction out of one of their most popular pastimes. This is because they are free to play, and with the continued increase in the cost of living been felt by many throughout the nation’s provinces, these types of gaming titles have come as a welcomed breath of fresh air.
Another reason this particular type of gaming market has started to take off in Canada is perhaps because there is a vast portion of players who would perhaps consider themselves to be casual gamers. These individuals are not necessarily looking to invest a significant amount of money into the gaming market, but still want to enjoy the gaming experience. They may feel that they do not want to play the game enough and get their money’s worth, while they may simply only want to play it once every now and again.
Of course, with that said, the fact that there is a market for free-to-play games in Canada has perhaps provided some new and interesting opportunities for those that make the games. Indeed, there are developers out there that may feel that they have had the door opened to them that now allows them to be able to create and share some of the most interesting and innovative titles possible.
Canada’s gaming market is clearly shifting
When taking a look at the reasons highlighted above, it is perhaps clear to see that the Canadian gaming market is now starting to look a little different from how it once was, with many of the attitudes and behaviors held by players starting to change with the times.
Indeed, we have seen this happen in the past, with certain markets undergoing changes that result in new and innovative titles being made available. While certain genres and types of games tend to remain popular in Canada, it is important to note that other styles are also starting to make their presence felt within the industry.
One instance where this has clearly happened in recent memory in the Great White North is in the online gambling industry. Canada’s online casinos and slots offer a vast variety of free spins that are among the many bonuses that can now be available to obtain, and with the regulations in places such as Ontario have since changed, they are more accessible than ever before.
Admittedly, gambling games such as slots have always been a popular pastime for many Canadians, however with the shift in the landscape, and the possibility to enjoy a regulated experience with the opportunity to use some incredible bonuses, it would not be a surprise if we were to see more and more gamers look to utilize these options and incorporate them into their gaming sessions in the future.
Free-to-play games to check out in 2023
As mentioned already, there are a number of different reasons why these types of games have grown in popularity across Canada in recent years.
The free-to-play market is something that can be spotted in the online iGaming market, as it is a popular playing method for many as it gives them the chance to test the title out before committing to spending real money on it.
However, it is also possible to find a number of Canadian gaming developers now looking to incorporate this method of playing into the titles that they have created. As there are many that are now starting to appear, it is perhaps worth taking the time to see which three are perhaps the best worth checking out in 2023:
1. Goldfish Go-Karts
This is a free-to-play game developed by Canadian game studio Sarbakan, and it involves playing as one of four fish that are all competing against each other in karting races. It features a number of different tracks, environments, and powerups to keep the action exciting. The game is playable on Android devices and features a number of ways in which players are able to get battle their opponents in order to win the races that they compete in.
2. Super Hit Baseball
This free-to-play title, developed by Vancouver-based game studio Hothead Games, is a great option for those looking to take part in some baseball action. It features plenty of different modes, customization options, and a fully featured career mode with player growth potential. It is a game that is available to download on both the App Store and Google Play, thus giving fans of baseball the opportunity to enjoy a free gaming session!
3. Mighty Battles
Developed by Hothead Games and based on their popular Might & Magic series, Mighty Battles sees players competing in strategic battles with others. Players can collect an array of different characters to use in battle, as well as access a number of different upgrades to increase the power of their team considerably.
Expect more in the future!
As you can see from these titles alone, free-to-play games are becoming more popular for Canadian gamers to enjoy. With the variety of titles available, there is something for everyone, which shows that the gaming market in Canada is certainly looking up right now and it could well be worth keeping an eye on what new and innovative titles might become available in the future!
Here is our review of the new Seagate FireCuda God of War Ragnarök External Hard Drive.
Confront the end of days with God of War Ragnarök Limited Edition Game Drive for PlayStation consoles. Featuring an ice-cold design, this HDD stores your PS5 (or PS4) games, then transfer them to the console when it’s time to play. Plus, with a 2 TB capacity, you have enough space to wield all your favourite games.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the God of War Ragnarök FireCuda hard drive, USB cable, quick start guide and some cool stickers.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
External hard drives are always useful, whether for backing up your files, storing games and saves, or anything else really. Why not have a drive that looks good and not just performs well. In this case, the drive is used to expand the storage on your PS5 or PS4 and really looks good!
Just plug the drive into your PS5 or PS4 and follow the onscreen steps to set it up – it really is as simple as that.
The drive itself is very lightweight and can easily be carried in a pocket or a bag if you need to take it places with you.
Add the God of War Ragnarök drive to your PS5 or PS4 today – you won’t be disappointed.
The Seagate FireCuda God of War Ragnarök Hard Drive is available now priced around $109.99 .
Here is our review of the new Seagate FireCuda Black Panther External Hard Drive.
From the nation of Wakanda, enrich your collection with the officially licensed Black Panther Drive. Designed with the honour and strength of T’Challa himself, this Special Edition FireCuda External Hard Drive glows with magenta LED lighting out of the box. Plus, with up to 2 TB of capacity, you can accumulate a wealth of games, files and media.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Black Panther FireCuda hard drive, USB cable, quick start guide and some cool stickers.
A Closer Look
Setting Up The Drive
When you first connect the drive to your computer you can click on either a Windows app or a Mac app. In my case I clicked on the Mac app and it brought up the registration box and also a link to download Toolkit (which you will need if you want to change the colours on the drive or set up file protection – in my case I already had it installed).
Once Toolkit was installed I could see the drive.
Once the reboot was completed it was just a case of clicking the plus sign in the RGB option to go into that feature. From there you can change the intensity of the illumination, or turn it off all together. You can also set up your own colour options, including rainbow options if you so wish. It’s all really quick and easy to do.
The other option in Toolkit is called Mirror. Basically this enables you to set up a 2-way sync folder between the user folder (or any other folder you select) and the drive. Anything added or removed from those folders will automatically be mirrored to the other. This saves you having to do it all manually – which saves a bit of time and hassle and ensures whatever folder you select to mirror will always be backed up.
Final Thoughts
External hard drives are always useful, whether for backing up your files, storing games and saves, or anything else really. Why not have a drive that looks good and not just performs well.
That’s where the Seagate FireCuda Black Panther Hard Drive comes into play. The drive itself is black and has an embossed image of Black Panther himself on it, along with an LED strip that lights up when in use.
The drive itself is very lightweight and can easily be carried in a pocket or a bag if you need to take it places with you.
The drive also comes with a two year warranty and three years of Seagate Rescue Data Recovery which enables you to have Seagate attempt a data recovery on your behalf if something happens to the drive. This is a really great addition to the drive and one of those things you hope you never have to use, but you’ll be glad you had the option if the worst happens.
I found the drive to be easy to use, looks great and have great features, including the mirror option for my really important files. The 2TB’s quickly got filed up – but that’s a good excuse to get the other Black Panther drives too!
Add the Black Panther drive to your setup today – you won’t be disappointed.
The Seagate FireCuda Black Panther Hard Drive is available now priced around £124.99. There are also other Black Panther versions too! All three drives are 2TB and are compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Here is our review of the new Seagate FireCuda Han Solo External Hard Drive.
Get your hands on the ultimate collectible — the officially licensed Han Solo Drive. Designed with the confidence of the infamous smuggler and pilot, this Special Edition FireCuda External Hard Drive flies into your system with white LED lighting out of the box. Plus, you can gather a bounty of games, files, and media thanks to its massive capacity.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Han Solo FireCuda hard drive, USB cable, quick start guide and some cool stickers.
A Closer Look
Setting Up the Drive
When you first connect the drive to your computer you can click on either a Windows app or a Mac app. In my case I clicked on the Mac app and it brought up the registration box and also a link to download Toolkit (which you will need if you want to change the colours on the drive or set up file protection).
Once Toolkit was installed I could see the drive, and also a notification that I needed to perform some updates in order to use the RGB features – so all I had to do was click a button and then reboot my Mac.
Once the reboot was completed it was just a case of clicking the plus sign in the RGB option to go into that feature. From there you can change the intensity of the illumination, or turn it off all together. You can also set up your own colour options, including rainbow options if you so wish. It’s all really quick and easy to do.
The other option in Toolkit is called Mirror. Basically this enables you to set up a 2-way sync folder between the user folder (or any other folder you select) and the drive. Anything added or removed from those folders will automatically be mirrored to the other. This saves you having to do it all manually – which saves a bit of time and hassle and ensures whatever folder you select to mirror will always be backed up.
Final Thoughts
External hard drives are always useful, whether for backing up your files, storing games and saves, or anything else really. Why not have a drive that looks good and not just performs well.
That’s where the Seagate FireCuda Han Solo Hard Drive comes into play. The drive itself is black and has an embossed image of Han himself on it, along with an LED strip that lights up when in use.
The drive itself is very lightweight and can easily be carried in a pocket or a bag if you need to take it places with you.
The drive also comes with a two year warranty and three years of Seagate Rescue Data Recovery which enables you to have Seagate attempt a data recovery on your behalf if something happens to the drive. This is a really great addition to the drive and one of those things you hope you never have to use, but you’ll be glad you had the option if the worst happens.
I found the drive to be easy to use, looks great and have great features, including the mirror option for my really important files. The 2TB’s quickly got filed up – but that’s a good excuse to get the other Star Wars drives too!
Add the Han Solo drive to your setup today – you won’t be disappointed.
The Seagate FireCuda Han Solo Hard Drive is available now priced around £124.99. There are also a number of other Star Wars versions too! All three drives are 2TB and are compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Strictly Limited Games welcomes two new Shoot ‘em up titles in one ‘hot’ combo physical releases for the Nintendo Switch to their store. In collaboration with Hanaji Games, this is the only physical version of these two gems available.
Two Different Styled Shooters, One Great Collection
Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo is a vertically scrolling ‘score’ focused shooter set in an apocalyptic mechanised world. With seven different ships to choose from, each with different attack and movement properties, this frantic paced shooter delivers deep and satisfying combat. Exciting unlockables – 14 playable mechas, branching paths, multiple endings, and much more will be unveiled as you delve deeper into the game. Quickly clearing enemies and raising your rank is key to unlocking the final stage and is just one ongoing task to complete.
In Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo, not only does the score hunt and challenging gameplay provide plenty of replay value, but also the branching stage paths will influence the ending. Paired with the quirky story and popping graphics, you sure won’t get bored playing this one.
Dezatopia is a classic arcade styled horizontal shooter with a huge assortment of content, which offers both value and an amazing experience. 24 different stages with 21 bosses arranged in 21 routes, with intuitive and simple controls that will please both experienced and novice gamers. Unique enemies, bosses, weapons galore and interactive components are supplemented with great art and visual backdrops.
Strange and unusual creatures inhabited Earth’s underground. These unknown to humankind until Momoko, a fashion-obsessed high school girl, accidentally discovered them; but now she plans to create a new world: Dezatopia. Akane and Aoba, Momoko’s schoolmates, are hired to help achieve her directive but things don’t go to plan. The backdrop story could soon become a distant memory, as the all out colourful and non stop, over the top, but compelling, fire and hail explosive onscreen action ramps up!
The craft you control has four unique, intuitive weapons which can each be fired in one direction to halt the enemy onslaught. Upgrades and items can also be purchased from a mid-flight shop, but these advantages are countered by a dynamic difficulty system that automatically adjusts to match the player’s skill level to ensure their experience, strategy, technique and luck are always tested.
Both Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo and Dezatopia present great and amusing backdrop stories which set the scene for the action and challenges that gamers will encounter once they are ready to face the enemy forces, along with some awesome Bosses and cast that will materialise!
ABOUT THE SLG BOXED VERSIONS The SLG Dezatopia & Mecha Ritz Limited Editions will come in two versions, each featuring a cover artwork focusing on one of the games in the collection, named Momoko and Veloce Edition as well as reversible cover artwork featuring both. Included is a colored manual for both games. The game cartridge included is the same. These are limited to 999 units each.
The Special Limited Edition will accordingly also be featured in 2 versions, with the artwork on the outer box being the same. These will be limited to 500 units each and contain the following items.Game for Nintendo SwitchSpecial Limited Edition BoxColorful Game ManualStaff Book, approx. 80 pages containing developer insights for both games2 CD Original SoundtrackDouble-Sided Poster, A3 Size
Mecha Ritz and Dezatopia are out now on the Nintendo eShop. Pre-Orders for the physical editions can be placed from 4th of December 2022 exclusively onStrictlyLimitedGames.com.
I’ve always adored arcade shmups. These simple but addictive games draw you in, chew you up, and spit you out. Furthermore, the pixelated graphics, rudimentary designs, and absurd plots are always enjoyable to experience. Consequently, when Sophstar landed on my desk, it filled me with a giddy sense of nostalgia.
Developed by Banana Bytes and published by RED ART GAMES, this is a vertical shmup title. Furthermore, it is jam-packed with game modes, has a distinctly retro look, and is addictive, straightforward, and damn good fun to play. Accordingly, this basic game can be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers alike.
Sophstar has an unconvincing plot.
You control Sub-Lieutenant Soph in what can only be described as an unconvincing story. She is military through and through and has lived in Galanian her whole life. However, somehow, this well-trained individual has a massive gap in their memory. Subsequently, she doesn’t know when her existence started or how she learned to teleport. Yet, this matters not, as she is valuable to her bosses. During her latest recon mission, she encounters cruel aliens and discovers more about herself than she ever wanted to.
This silly story makes little sense, but it strangely works with the hectic action that unfolds. Taking inspiration from major 90s titles, Sophstar comprises some familiar shmup tropes. As such, you’ll need to avoid a continuous flurry of projectiles as you collect power-ups, kill never-ending aliens, and destroy gargantuan bosses. Furthermore, each level has a unique look and there is a fleet of ships with unique strengths and weaknesses.
Dodge the never-ending bullets.
Choose your game mode, pick your ship, and pray that luck is on your side.
Where Sophstar excels is its volume of game modes and an incredible choice of spaceships. With 9 vehicles to choose from, you can select the perfect ship for your game style. What’s more, each one has a unique range of weapons, sub-weapons, and differing abilities. Consequently, one may be extremely agile, but weak. Whereas another could be slow but armoured to the teeth. No matter which one you pick, each adds a special touch to every playthrough.
Alongside this, there are 6 difficulty settings and 6 different game modes. You can take on the arcade mode, cadet school, score attack, timed challenge, endless mode, or tutorial. On top of this, there are local and online leaderboards to enhance the competitive nature of the gameplay. During each mode, you are expected to kill wave after wave of alien vessels while collecting tokens to increase your score or your timer. Alongside this, you’ll power your secondary weapon by killing your foes and avoiding damage. If you can successfully avoid being hit, you’ll increase your multiplier and you’ll improve your score considerably.
Another enormous boss to destroy.
Sophstar looks wonderfully dated.
Thanks to its 240×320 resolution, Sophstar looks wonderfully dated. What’s more, its pixelated look and grubby colour palette are amazingly old-school. On top of this, the simple sprites and rudimentary animation are incredible. I adored the fast-paced nature of the action and the basic imagery and simple stage design. Consequently, older gamers will love the trip down memory lane. Whereas younger players will enjoy every element of 90s gaming.
This is complemented by the shrill audio. The banging tunes and loud sound effects are fantastic. Accordingly, it is a little uncomfortable to listen to. However, this isn’t a problem, as the bitesize stages allow you some respite between the ear-splitting sounds.
Teleport, shoot, and avoid each projectile.
Simple controls.
Arcade gaming is renowned for its simple controls. Fortunately, Sophstar is no different. With a few buttons to focus on and an excellent tutorial, you’ll master this immediately. Alongside this, I enjoyed the accurate movement, the ability to teleport, and the use of a primary and secondary weapon.
Like its peers, Sophstar is uncomfortably addictive. Not only will you want to beat each game mode, but you’ll need to top each leaderboard. As such, you won’t be able to put down this simple but stupidly moreish title.
Sophstar is a great casual experience.
What makes this title particularly great is its casual approach. Consequently, it is easy to play between more in-depth games. Moreover, it takes little practice to get back into the swing of things. Therefore, it’s the perfect option if you want some downtime from COD, FIFA, or Elden Ring. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and I recommend you buy it here! Your memory may be poor, but your skills are anything but. As such, choose a ship, study the loadout, and destroy every alien you encounter.
With Christmas only a few weeks away now, we take a closer look at GraviTrax The Game Flow.
Get your puzzle-solving juices percolating with progressively problematic challenges in “GraviTrax The Game: Flow”!
How does the ball get from start to finish when, for example, only 4 height stones, 3 curves and 2 rails are available to build the railway? 30 task cards show the start and finish point of the track to be built. If at the end the ball rolls from start to finish and all parts are used, the puzzle is solved. Hexagonal base plates, which can be variably placed next to each other, enable tricky and varied puzzle fun with the interactive marble run system.
This STEM system [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths] is an ideal one to teach kids about gravity, magnetism, kinetic energy and fun. Hit a snag? Freestyle with your own track design or use the tasks and blueprints included to help you to get started in the world of GraviTrax! Are the gravity spheres stopping or flying off before reaching the end target? Time for some problem solving. Rebuild and try something different! The GraviTrax track system can be extended indefinitely with extra track packs and add-on’s – each sold separately.
GraviTrax The Game Flow is available now priced around £17.99.
With Christmas only a few weeks away now, we take a closer look at Disney Villains Labyrinth from Ravensburger.
Unleash the Villains and their Henchmen! The Villains and their Henchmen find themselves trapped in a magical maze! Journey around the maze and gather a team to help you escape!
Together you are stronger! In Labyrinth, Ravensburger’s hugely popular family board game, you have to find the shortest route through the Labyrinth to win!
The game is for 2-4 players aged 7 and up, and the aim is to reach all your treasures and targets as you move through the Labyrinth.
Disney Villains Labyrinth from Ravensburger is available now priced around £27.99.
With Christmas only a few weeks away now, we take a closer look at Enchanted Forest Sagaland from Ravensburger.
Ariel, Moana, Belle and Tiana are excited to join the other princess for afternoon tea at the castle, but the other princess have got lost in the forest! Help find her so they can be reunited again and enjoy a magical afternoon together. Fun play experience – How to play the game; roll the dice and race around the enchanted landscape. Search under the decorative sculpts and then race to the finish space when you’ve found them and win their cards.
Easy to understand instructions make it possible to start playing right away.
Great replay value – Reveal the Character card and the hunt begins. Each time a treasure is found, a new card is revealed, until all the Disney Princesses have been found. The player who finds the most friends is the winner.
For 2 to 4 Players aged 6 years and up.
Enchanted Forest Sagaland from Ravensburger is available now priced around £19.99.
With Christmas only a few weeks away now, we take a closer look at Bugs in the Kitchen from Ravensburger.
There’s a pesky little bug in the kitchen! And it’s not just any bug – it’s a HEXBUG nano, scuttling around the game board! Quick – can you catch it in the trap? By turning knives, forks and spoons you can direct the bug into the trap.
Throw the die to discover which utensils you can turn. Catch the bug in the trap and earn a token – the first player to collect 5 tokens wins the game.
A fun-to-play family game suitable for 2-4 players, aged 6 years and upwards.
Bugs in the Kitchen from Ravensburger is available now priced around £28.99.
The horror genre often throws up some unusual and interesting experiences. However, occasionally it is too reliant on clichés and well-trodden elements. As such, there is a very real risk of déjà vu and a disinterested audience. When I was given Saint Kotar to review, I had no idea of what to expect. Consequently, much of the action took me by surprise, and I was shocked by the gruesome images and uncomfortable story. Unfortunately, though, its laboured opening was confusing and tough to wade through.
Developed by Red Martyr Entertainment and published by SOEDESCO, this is a horror adventure title. What’s more, it has a blend of point-and-click and interactive story mechanics, and it incorporates some puzzle elements. Accordingly, it is a bit of a hybrid that has its fingers in many pies. Now, this focus on multiple genres dilutes the approach somewhat, but I still believe it works.
Saint Kotar focuses on religion and witchcraft.
Using witchcraft and religion as your core themes can be tricky. Not only can it alienate your audience, but it can be so ridiculous that you are instantly turned off. However, Saint Kotar does a great job of blending the polar opposite ideas within its shifting story. On top of this, its grim settings and unusual characters work well with the strange plot.
The story is set in Croatia and focuses on two priests. These individuals are invited to an ancient, God-devoted town called Sveti Kotar. However, once they enter this creepy location, things go quickly awry. Benedek and Nikolay are abandoned by Viktoria as she undertakes an alleged demonic ritual. Accordingly, the God-fearing community is up in arms about the situation and the two priests are being held responsible.
By exploring the local area and questioning the residents, maybe the pair can understand what is happening. Yet, the more they press for answers, the greater the danger that they face. Therefore, it is a continuous balancing act as the truth is unfortunately revealed.
Burn the outsiders.
Far too slow.
Now, I love an atmospheric tale that absorbs its grim surroundings. However, Saint Kotar is too slow. The first two hours or so are confusing, arduous, and off-putting. Yet, once you battle through it, you experience some grisly sights. Furthermore, the mysterious backgrounds of the protagonists come to the fore.
The core mechanics focus on dialogue, puzzles, and exploration. As such, you’ll investigate weird locations while searching for clues and interacting with the creepy locals. On top of this, your decisions often have consequences where many of the key players meet their demise. Accordingly, you must consider your questions and actions before you act.
This element of the gameplay was often uncomfortable and gave the story a twisted psychological edge. However, this is where the depth of the dialogue ends. Mostly, each interaction serves as a gateway to the new locations or acts as the ability to send you on multiple side quests. Now, this isn’t a complaint, as I enjoyed exploring the horrific world. Instead, I would have liked there to be more variety in the tasks on offer, and some more mystery surrounding the central story.
That’s not a welcoming sight.
Two unique stories intertwined.
Saint Kotar runs multiple stories simultaneously. As such, you experience each playable character’s backstories and gruesome ordeals side by side. At pivotal moments, you will flit between each character as they use their strengths and weaknesses to proceed. Subsequently, you’ll interact with particular residents multiple times and their responses will alter the flow of the story.
This was fascinating, as it gave the gameplay real depth while enhancing the unusual and uncomfortable nature of the plot. Disappointingly, though, the puzzles lacked any sort of difficulty. Therefore, it took limited consideration to overcome each situation. This was frustrating, as I’d have loved the problems to be much harder to solve.
Saint Kotar: a grim but rough world.
You have to applaud the developers for their depressing and ominous work. The dark and earthy colours and claustrophobic areas create an oppressive atmosphere. However, the walking animation is terrible and the dialogue inexplicably flickers. These issues, though minor, break up the immersion and are extremely off-putting. However, thankfully, they aren’t game-breaking and I’m sure they will be ironed out at a later date.
On the other hand, the audio does well to enhance the sultry and moody atmosphere. With sombre music and creepy acting, the story will make your skin crawl. Furthermore, the incredible environmental sounds are the icing on the cake. I adored the strange and grim noises that accompanied the uncomfortable and eerie images.
Can you get to the bottom of the mystery?
It shouldn’t handle so well.
Point-and-click games and consoles = frustration. Yet, Saint Kotar breaks this rule! The combination of free-flowing movement and point-and-click mechanics works beautifully. Moreover, the intelligent but stripped-back UI helps further still. Yes, there are times when it gets a bit niggly, but it wasn’t ever a problem. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by how well-considered the control setup was.
Though the game isn’t particularly long, there is plenty of longevity and replay value. Thanks to the branching storylines and consequential dialogue, you can experience multiple versions of each protagonist’s plot. What’s more, the hefty achievement list will be a challenge for every completionist.
Saint Kotar won’t appeal to everyone.
Religion, witchcraft, and the horror genre are divisive categories. As such, the combination of all three will put off some gamers. But, in this instance, it shouldn’t. The excellent but strange story, sinister characters, and weird locations override the slow and arduous start. What’s more, the creepy imagery and interesting backstories make this an uncomfortable but captivating experience. Accordingly, I recommend you buy it here! Can you solve the mystery and save yourself? Explore, interact, and above all else, survive.
