Review: SpiderHeck

Daniel Waite
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Review: SpiderHeck

I’m a sucker for a futuristic and neon-infused game. Yet, I wince at the thought of any twin-stick title. Accordingly, it was bittersweet when I received SpiderHeck. This visually striking game is breathtakingly beautiful, but undeniably simple at the same time. Furthermore, it has a hint of 80s magic and reminded me of the film Tron. However, its reliance on fiddly physics-based mechanics and a twin-stick control system filled me with dread. But, I’m a big boy and a professional and with a little practice, I knew I’d soon get the hang of it.

Developed by Neverjam and published by tinyBuild, this is an arcade and physics-based competitive and cooperative title. What’s more, it can be enjoyed solo or online with others. It has a handful of modes that include quick play, survival, and the Tiers of Heck. On top of this, the action is fast, brutal, and challenging. As such, it will push you hard, kick you harder, chew you up and spit you out. Subsequently, only the best players will complete every tier, and the worst players will be destroyed online.

If the aliens don't get you, the lava will.
Stay away from the lave.

SpiderHeck has no story, but it matters not. 

Now, a story would have been nice. However, the lack of one matters not. Instead, you are left to your own devices in this wonderfully tough and hectic arcade experience. You control a spider that must battle waves of foes in an array of arena-based encounters. Your enemies are crazy-flying assholes that despise spiders. As such, they’ll do whatever it takes to annihilate you as quickly as possible.

This is the depth of SpiderHeck’s action. Effectively, it’s a deadly game of cat and mouse that involves guns, chasms, spiderwebs, and an awful lot of lava. Each level comprises 3 waves of varying enemies. What’s more, as you progress, the stages become more complex and the monsters are stronger, tougher, and more aggressive. Alongside this, the weaponry is ever-changing; the obstacles become more convoluted, and navigating the space is a real challenge. In short, the further you go, the more likely it is that you’ll quit through frustration and disappointment.

However, this is what makes SpiderHeck so brilliant! Its casual gameplay is easy to understand, but it is undeniably tough to master. Consequently, it is addictive and rewarding, even if you are likely to scream, shout, and swear repeatedly.

SpiderHeck has some wonderful combat elements.
Have at you sir!

Guns, swords, and a weak as piss spider!

I’m not saying that a spider should be tough, but goddamn, this one is weak as piss. One little tap to its body and our hero folds quicker than a house of cards. Subsequently, you soon learn that jumping, dodging, and swinging are vital survival mechanics. However, running away only gets you so far and attack is often the best form of defence.

With a variety of guns, lasers, explosives, and swords at hand, our spider hero can shoot, slash, and explode its way to victory. Yet, it’s rarely that simple as your foes have shields and their own selection of weapons as well. Consequently, you must use your surroundings to best each enemy and overcome the 3 ensuing waves of monsters.

SpiderHeck looks incredible.

A good deal of indie games look great, but SpiderHeck is something altogether different. Thanks to its clean-cut lines and neon-infused imagery, it looks amazing. On top of this, the stage design is incredible, the creatures are interesting, and the action is flawless. Accordingly, this is one indie game that sets the bar extremely high, and visually, it won’t disappoint.

The gameplay is enhanced further thanks to the incredible audio. I adored the futuristic tones and electronic soundtrack. The upbeat and high-energy music pushes you to complete death-defying jumps whilst you hack up your enemies. This is then complemented by the loud and aggressive mix of OTT sound effects. The excellent blend of explosives, shrill electronics and cruel bludgeoning noises will make you smile. 

Use your weapon to attack and defend yourself.
So many things to avoid.

The controls hurt my mind. 

The controls are excellent. However, my skills and reactions are not. Accordingly, the learning curve was steep, and the controls hurt my mind and soul. But, more adept players will not struggle and veterans of twin-stick games will excel. Thanks to a basic layout, you’ll enjoy clambering on platforms, leaping through chasms, and swinging across vast gaps. Though I struggled with the controls, I soon found them enjoyable and rewarding once they clicked.

The good news continues, as this is addictive as hell. With many tiers to tackle, solo and online action to endure, and a tough but fair learning curve, this will entertain you for hours. The solo mode is phenomenal, but the online gameplay is better, still, as it is competitive, fun, and tough to put down.

SpiderHeck is a must-play title. 

The phrase “must-play” is done to death. However, once more won’t hurt. If you want a challenging, rewarding, and casual arcade title that is a little unusual, then SpiderHeck has to be on your radar. I loved its presentation, stage design and simple mechanics. Moreover, its cruelty makes it oh so moreish. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Don’t let your foes defeat you. Grab a weapon, navigate each stage, and destroy anything that stands in your way. 

Review: Jack Move

Devrim Kurt
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0
Review: Jack Move

INTRODUCTION

Did you ever want to play a short and to the point J-RPG with a cyberpunk theme? Well Jack Move is there to scratch that itch! Jack Move is developed by So Romantic and published by HypeTrain Digital. While the game itself has flaws, overall, Jack Move offers players a decent experience in 5 to 10 hours.

GAMEPLAY

As with most J-RPG’s the gameplay consists of moving from location to location while having turn-based battles between. There is also the occasional looting. The battle system is quite classic. You have normal attacks, abilities, and special moves. The general variety surrounding the battle system is not anything astounding but it does get the job done without becoming boring. I personally am not a huge fan of turn based combat so my opinion might possess bias.

Your characters levels up and gets increased stats with each battle, eventually becoming quite strong. I also felt that game became too easy after a certain point. Battles didn’t feel fatal or challenging. It is a bit disappointing to become overpowered in a very short game.

Enemy Variety

The enemy types don’t lack variety. Some of them even have different “forms” as the battle goes on. I was generally very happy with the enemy variety. Until you reach a point of becoming very strong, the difference in enemy types and their weaknesses do add a bit of spice to the gameplay.

There is also a good bit of diversity when it comes to the “decks” you can build for battle. You can customize your battle loadout before and in battle to keep things interesting. While most of the abilities are classic, there are a few cool ones.

Keeping in mind I am not a J-RPG fan, I still felt content with the assortment of gameplay and didn’t get too bored during my playtime.

VISUALS AND AUDIO

This is where Jack Move brings it home. Let us start with the visuals. Overall art direction in the game is very successful. The environments feel part of the world, enemies and characters look alive. The animations are very good as well as the sound effects that accompany them. I did not get tired of looking around the city and various locations throughout the game. Jack Move get’s a big A+ in the art department.

The trend of excellence continues with the music as well. The soundtrack of the game is really good. Whether it be to hype the player or convey the emotion of situation, it never failed. The music doesn’t lose sight of the overall theme, it even brings it up. There is a perfect harmony between the cyberpunk city and the game’s soundtrack.

CONCLUSION

Once again, I am not a fan of J-RPGs personally. However, I didn’t hate my time with Jack Move at all. I would credit this feeling mostly to the art and music. They were certainly excellent. The gameplay while staying true to the J-RPG roots, offers a bit of its own variety. I’m glad it’s a short game because if it were longer, it might’ve overstayed its welcome. I’d suggest Jack Move to anyone wanting to give a short to J-RPGs, since it could be too easy of a game for a fan of the genre.

News: EGX 2022

Daniel Waite
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News: EGX 2022

If you are a gamer, there is nothing better than annual gaming conferences. These special events showcase future gaming endeavours and allow participants to get hands-on. Consequently, if I’m free, I try to visit as many as I can. Last year I experienced the excellent, albeit stripped-back EGX 2021. This year, I’m returning to the Excel Centre in London for what should be an amazing time.

The organisers have gone all-out to increase the number of booths, as well as the interactive segments. As such, there will be something for everyone, and I know I’ll be spoiled by choice. With a massive indie zone, retro area, VR rooms, panel talks, the EGX theatre and live, and a Cosplay section, what’s not to like?

Join the crowds and enjoy the atmosphere at EGX 2022.
EGX 2022 will be awash with gamers.

When is EGX 2022?

I’ve left this article pretty late, but EGX 2022 takes place from Thursday 22nd of September through to Sunday 25th of September. During this time, there are special guests from the gaming industry, a plethora of influencers, and some juicy triple-A titles to play. What’s more, you can try out the Steam Deck, visit the Nintendo section, and play some existing and upcoming indie games.

Alongside all of this, there is a Gauntlet section, plenty of competitions, a scavenger hunt, and a bit of Pokemon fun. Moreover, there will be plenty of surprises in store for those that come along. With tickets still available across certain dates, you needn’t miss out. Check ticket availability here!

Get hands-on with some amazing tech.
Why not try the best tech around?

What am I looking forward to at EGX 2022?

EGX has always amazed me. No matter what I expect to see, there are always hidden gems to discover. Yet, I have a long list of games and developers I wish to see. Without boring you too much, here are some of my must-see exhibits.

Steam Deck. 

If, like me, you haven’t been able to buy one yet, why not give this excellent piece of tech a go? Furthermore, the helpful exhibitors will talk you through the minefield of questions and will convince you to preorder one ASAP.

COD Modern Warfare II Beta. 

Though I could happily play this at home, I want that competitive atmosphere with fellow gamers. As such, this will be a fantastic experience even if I have to queue for hours. It’ll go live at 18:00 hrs on Thursday, so be sure to get in line to give it a go.

Gravity Game Arise. 

I’ve been tracking this indie developer for some time. Subsequently, I’m eagerly waiting to get hands-on with their future titles. With 3 major games being unveiled, they could be the stars of the indie showcase.

Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom. 

I’m not a massive VR fan, but I love Peaky Blinders. Accordingly, I’ve arranged an appointment to test the game and interview the team. If everything goes according to plan, this will hit my review list in the future.

EGX 2022 will have some excellent competitive games to try.
Join the crowd and compete with the best.

Plenty more to see and do. 

What I’ve mentioned is just a snapshot of what awaits me. Like everyone else, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the doors to be opened as I battle the crowds to get to the best exhibits. Yet, I expect to find a long list of games that’ll tickle my fancy as I explore each booth. I can’t wait to cover my first-day experiences and give you feedback on my stars of the event. EGX 2022, I’m coming to get you!

(More information on EGX 2022 can be found here!) 

Review: Tip Top: Don’t Fall!

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Tip Top: Don’t Fall!

The rogue-lite genre is divisive. On one hand, it is moreish and demands you improve and keep playing. On the other, it is frustrating and demoralising when you lose everything. I’ve warmed to these games over the years and leapt at the chance to cover Tip Top: Don’t Fall! This simple indie title won’t tax your brain, but it can be enjoyed casually.

Developed by Tristan Dahl and Studio Huckepack and published by Sometimes You, this is a rogue-lite sports title. Furthermore, it has procedurally generated stages, and its mellow aesthetics juxtapose the permadeath mechanics. As such, you’ll love every moment until you die for the nth time. When this happens, you’ll bite your lip, groan, cry, and then start the madness all over again.

Tip Top: Don’t Fall! is wonderfully relaxing. 

A game that focuses on rock climbing shouldn’t be this beautiful or relaxing. Yet, somehow Tip Top: Don’t Fall! creates this atmosphere. You’ll take a trip across the globe as you attempt to climb a range of mountains. En route, you’ll encounter many problems and increasingly harder obstacles to overcome. As such, it’ll push you to your limits as you balance risk and reward.

You control an unnamed solo climber. It is your responsibility to traverse each rock face and tap the summit flag. Sounds easy, right? Well, in theory, it is, but many subtle mechanics make it harder than it first appears. If you can work quickly and ascend each climb safely, you’ll move to a new area to climb. However, if you hang around too long, or misplace a hand, you’ll fall to your death and your progress is wiped. Darn you, rogue-lite mechanics, darn you to hell!

You can choose to clip in, or you can gamble and increase your pace.
Clip in and stay safe.

Stamina, bolt points, and acrobatics.

Tip Top: Don’t Fall! perfectly captures the basics of rock climbing in its arcade approach. You must observe several key factors if you wish to succeed. Stamina, bolt points, and chalk are essential to climbing the mountain. The most important of these is stamina. Every time you grasp a rock, your stamina bar starts to drain. If it runs out, you lose grip and you die. However, this can be overcome with a handful of chalk. Consequently, as you climb, you must observe your stamina meters and use your chalk accordingly. 

Yet, it’s not that simple. No, you must also contemplate whether you use the handily located bolt points. These act as a checkpoint and remove the permadeath element from the action. But they come at a cost. Clipping in uses vital stamina and it takes time. Subsequently, you could run out of energy before you reach the summit. Here lies the gamble between risk and reward. Do you scramble up the mountain as quickly as possible, or do you take your time and risk being exhausted?

Whatever you decide, you must also contend with bad weather and moments of acrobatic madness. The weather element forms a key part of the obstacle system. Accordingly, your climb is never straightforward, and this enhances the difficulty while increasing the pressure. Alongside this, you’ll have to leap from grip to grip when the gap is too big. This is mighty impressive, but it drains your energy considerably. As such, you must plan two steps ahead or risk losing it all.

Tip Top: Don't Fall! has a simple but beautiful aesthetic.
Scanning the next mountain.

Tip Top: Don’t Fall! is a pastel dream. 

If you’ve been to the mountains, you’ll know how breathtaking they can be. Tip Top: Don’t Fall! has captured this with its soft pastel colours and minimalist approach. I adored the lack of complexity and the beautiful hand-drawn imagery. What’s more, each location is varied, and the procedurally generated levels keep things fresh. Alongside this, the climbing animation is great and the stamina bar is easy to observe. Though the sharp colours contrast the other elements, it made it much easier to see, and this improved the gameplay. 

The audio perfectly reflects the danger and tranquil setting. With dramatic undertones, but an upbeat pace, Tip Top: Don’t Fall! wonderfully represents the beauty of rock climbing. Alongside this, is a spectacular mix of environmental sound effects. Whether it is the howling of the wind or the noise of passing birds, it sets the scene. On top of this, I enjoyed the desperate noises of the climber. The shouts of “Ohhhhh” added extra pressure, and this was fantastic. 

Keep your hands warm and clamber up that mountain.
Brrrrrrrr.

Deceptive controls.

Tip Top: Don’t Fall! matches its straightforward action with a deceptively simple control setup. With a few buttons to master, you’ll be climbing in no time. However, this lulls you into a false sense of security! Instead of taking your time and contemplating your approach, you’ll clamber up each rock face. This sounds like a great idea, but it normally ends in failure. Yet, this is half of the fun and is one key element that makes it so enjoyable. Alongside the simple layout are responsive inputs and an excellent tutorial. Consequently, the developers have done a great job. 

In theory, this is a tiny game. There aren’t a vast amount of levels to overcome, nor is there an expansive world to explore. Yet, it still feels massive thanks to the procedurally generated levels. No attempt is ever the same, and this enhances the replay value. However, what this is missing is a competitive edge. If multiplayer action was incorporated, this would make this game spectacular. 

Tip Top: Don’t Fall! is an amazing arcade title. 

Thanks to its casual style and risk and reward ethos, Tip Top: Don’t Fall! is an amazing arcade title. You don’t get bulked down with challenging mechanics or an in-depth story. No, instead, it is just you and your wits against the mountain. With a beautiful and calm aesthetic and wonderful controls, this is a great game. Its only shortcoming is its lack of multiplayer or competitive action. Despite this, I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you beat the mountain? Balance your approach, avoid the obstacles, and make it to the top. 

Netflix’s Top Gambling And Casino Films

Andrew Edney
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0
Netflix’s Top Gambling And Casino Films

For many of us, gamblers, casual gamblers, or whatever you may class yourself when placing bets, seeing a movie is a fantastic way to get all the excitement of a trip to the casino without leaving home. If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied for a while, Netflix has a tonne of great gambling movies. 

Most depictions of the gambling world focus on the deceptive side, but there is more to it than that. Here is a rundown of the best Netflix movies about gambling. There are comedies and action movies among them but explore Amazon Slots Online for the best real-money slot experience if you’re looking for straightforward online gambling entertainment.

Fans of independent casino sites also love movies related to casinos, it inspires them to play their favorite games.

1.    Casino Royale

The tension builds as you watch this film and learn about its thrilling and action-packed plot. Even though it’s been a while since the film’s initial release, it still manages to pull in a respectable number of viewers every month on Netflix. It is said that after its release, the gambling industry gained popularity all over the world, so even Virginia online casino became possible.

2.    The Gambler

Some people develop dependencies and struggle to control their consumption. Jim Bennet, the protagonist of The Gambler, is an English professor with a gambling addiction. In his determination to repay his debts, he turned to gambling. Luckily, he wins big and escapes his financial obligations in this immersive movie.

3. Mississippi Grind 

When it comes to poker movies, Netflix’s Mississippi Grind is among the best. The film follows two gamblers as they travel across the country to a new state. The primary goal is to take part in a massive cash battle in New Orleans. Their goal is to compete against high-stakes players and win big.

4. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

The sportswriter and his lawyer’s shenanigans during their three-day gambling trip serve as the basis for the film. The trip begins in Los Angeles and concludes in Las Vegas. Journalist Raoul and his lawyer are in Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. Rather than focusing on their responsibilities, they choose to focus on pleasure, drugs, and leisure.

5. Casino

It was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Robert De Niro in 1995. Based on a true story, Rothstein, played by De Niro, is a professional gambler who is ordered by the Chicago Outfit to take charge of the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas. According to a research conducted by this Canadian gambling site, this is the most accurate movie about gambling based on real-life people. You can play in a Casino without leaving home.

6. Rounders

John Dahl’s film about high-stakes poker stars Mat Damon and Edward Norton. Mike McDermott lost big and vowed never to gamble again. Mike returns to gambling when his best friend gets in trouble with a ruthless nightclub owner. Two friends must win big to pay off a debt, so they travel from city to city.

7. Win It All

A Chicago criminal asks Eddie Garret to hold onto a large sum of cash while he goes to prison. Yet, here we have Eddie, who cannot resist the urge to gamble the money. The fact that he loses it may come as no surprise. Winning streaks, losing streaks, looking for loans, this movie has it all, but will Eddie get the money back in time? Want to try playing for real money – click here to get more info

8. Bugsy

This biographical drama depicts the relationship between gangster Bugsy Siegel and actress Virginia Hill. Siegel seized control of gambling dens and inevitably envisioned constructing a hotel and casino in Nevada. The beginning of Las Vegas is immortalised in this excellent film.

9. 21

Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, and Kate Bosworth star in the heist drama 21. Under Kevin Spacey’s guidance, they pulled off Las Vegas’s biggest card-counting heist. The team developed a card counting system to beat casinos. This true-life movie is awesome and takes you to all the casino hot spots.

10. Croupier

This unique masterpiece from 1998 depicts the peculiar aspects of the casino world. The story’s protagonist begins to see similarities between life and a casino game. Rather than attempting to predict the odds and the behaviour of others and write his football novel, he embarks on a new mission to write about his new passion, gambling.

Review: TickTime Cube

Andrew Edney
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0
Review: TickTime Cube

Here is our review of the TickTime Cube.

The timer that’s of its time. TickTime Cube is the timer born in the 21st Century, for the 21st Century. Forget sandtimers and stopwatches. Their time is up.Fans of this ultra-efficient approach to time management invented back in the 1980s definitely need some TickTime Cube in their life. Dividing your day to separate 25 minute phases is easy with TickTime Cube. 25 minutes is one of the preset countdowns built-in to TickTime Cube. 

Enhance your productivity, making your every day more than 24 hours!

Features

  • Clearer and bigger display
  • Tap Control
  • Pause and resume countdown
  • Multiple countdown duration (Max. 6x) by tapping
  • Memorize last countdown setting
  • Long press for 15/25/45/60 minutes countdown
  • New Vibration mode
  • Pomodoro technique countdown
  • Timing display

What’s in the box?

The box contains the TickTime cube, some instructions and a charging cable.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

You may be thinking that the TickTime Cube is just a timer – and well yes, it is a timer, but its a very cool timer, even cooler than the original TickTime!

All you need to do is charge up the battery with the supplied cable and you are ready to use it. 

You can select whatever amount of time you need for the reminder alarm to go off by using the buttons on it, which are very easy to use, or if you want to use of the preset times on the outside of the device you just have that number facing upwards and the timer will start counting down.

You can choose from one of the default timings – 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes just by flipping the Cube. One of the new features on the cube is the ability to easily add additional time just by pressing the fingerprint image on the relevant side of the cube – this will add the same amount of time per press as is displayed on that side – for example 5 minutes will be added each time you press it on the 5 minute side. You can add a maximum of 6 additional amounts of time this way.

The LED is easy to read and see the timer counting down.

When the timer has reached zero the alarm will go off, so whether you are using it as a reminder to take a break, or that something has finished cooking, using the TickTime Cube is very simple. You can change the volume of the alarm as well if it’s not loud enough or if it’s too loud.

The TickTime Cube is very small and very lightweight – it’s very easy to just slip it in your pocket and carry it around with you.

The TickTime Cube is the timer you never knew you needed but really must have!

At the time of the review the price had not been set for the TickTime Cube. Check out the website below for more information and for the Kickstarter. The TickTime Cube will come in a variety of colours too!

You can learn more from the TickTime Cube website.

Update: And the Kickstarter is now live – check it out!

Disclosure: This product was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Blood Waves

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Blood Waves

Many gamers love horde games. Sadly, I’m not a massive fan, but I enjoy them casually. Consequently, when I was offered the indie title Blood Waves, it piqued my interest. At this point, I hadn’t checked its current review score. However, on quick inspection, things looked dire! No one recommends you play it, and it gets slated for various reasons. So, have I made an error, or will I see it from a different point of view?

Developed by Light Road Games and published by Sometimes You, this is an over-the-shoulder horde survival game. What’s more, it is a single-player experience designed for hardcore gamers. Accordingly, it is tough, unforgiving, and often rage-inducing. Notably, its outstanding credentials are its lack of depth, underpowered weaponry, and overpowered zombies.

The later levels become hellish and hard work.
So many zombies.

Blood Waves has no story or depth.

When a game focuses on a simple and well-trodden genre, you expect some excellent and polished elements. Yet, Blood Waves fails to deliver. Practically every layer of this game is undercooked, poorly executed, or just plain wrong. Annoyingly, this starts with the lack of a story. 

You control a generic female protagonist who is stuck in a singular tomb-like arena. Think of Lara Croft but without the incredible backstory, excellent mechanics, great graphics, or enjoyable gameplay. For reasons unknown, she must annihilate wave after wave of angry zombies. These brain-chewing suckers hide behind locked doors between each deadly round. Therefore, maybe it is some form of sick and brutal entertainment. However, we never find out and I don’t believe anyone cares.

With no story, you are left to your own devices. The aim of the game is to survive, kill every zombie, collect money, health, and power-ups, and finally improve your hero and buy new gear. This is the extent of Blood Waves and the lack of depth will be disconcerting for many gamers. 

Bullet sponges and plenty of running around.

The thought of an unlimited zombie horde mode will appease many gamers. But, these bullet-sponge beasts are mindless, annoying, and tedious to take down. Because the gameplay is so poorly balanced, the action is cruelly skewed in the zombie’s favour. What’s more, with limited ammo for your guns, you’ll spend most of your time running around with your knife. Yet, this is problematic as well.

Thanks to the rapidly draining stamina bar, your character is out of breath quicker than a fat kid that smokes 80 fags a day. As such, you can attack 2 or 3 times and then you must roll and run. This stupid game of cat and mouse continues until you die, or the wave is exterminated. Accordingly, the action soon becomes tedious and disappointing.

The barriers and turrets make a massive difference, if you can afford them.
Arrange your turrets and watch hell break loose.

Upgrades, buildings, and more. 

Thankfully, the developers tried to spice things up with a progression and purchase system. In between rounds, you are invited to a side room of the arena. Here, you can purchase new equipment with money from the fallen zombies, upgrade existing gear, improve your skills, and buy defences.

Each of these elements makes the action more bearable, but they fail to balance the inequalities. No matter how much you improve your gear or your character, the flaws in the gameplay are always there. This was disappointing as there was potential for a fun and thrilling experience. Instead, you endure a gory title that’s a damp squib.

Blood Waves lacks a modern finish.

Graphics aren’t everything. However, when the action revolves around one mediocre arena, I expected much better. Subsequently, the level design is bland at best and the zombies are generic and lack variety. Furthermore, the animation is clunky, uncomfortable, and lacks fluidity. As a consequence, this impacts the aiming mechanic and makes the gameplay worse, still.

The disappointment continues within the audio. A vain attempt has been made to add drama and energy. But, the insipid heavy metal soundtrack leaves a bad taste in your mouth. This is further emphasised by the familiar but underwhelming sound effects. Sadly, the guns are lifeless and limp and so are the zombies. Unfortunately, every audio element falls short and this impacts the gameplay further.

Blood Waves has a fine selection of weapons to purchase.
Which weapon to buy?

Awful controls. 

To make matters worse, the controls are cumbersome, awkward, and just awful. The aiming is clumsy, reloading is slow and lethargic, and the dodging and rolling are uncomfortably delayed. In short, it makes an already unbalanced mess just a little worse. Other than this, the button layout is easy to understand and the radial submenus are simple to navigate. 

Theoretically, this should ooze replay value, but it doesn’t. The developers have missed a key component and this impacts its longevity. With no cooperative or online mode, and no sign of a leaderboard, there is no competitive edge. This was disappointing and removes any desire to return for more.

Blood Waves falls short. 

With few redeeming qualities, Blood Waves falls short. Its finish, mechanics, and ideas are woefully lacking and leave you angry and frustrated. It always upsets me to have to berate a game, but this one needs vast improvements before it can be considered enjoyable or playable. Unsurprisingly, I don’t recommend it, but more information can be found here! If you are a fan of horde games, there are much better examples available on various marketplaces. 

Review: ODD Ball

Andrew Edney
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0
Review: ODD Ball

Here is our review of the ODD Ball.

The first ball in the world to make music, ODD Ball makes playing with music easy and fun. Essentially, it’s a bouncy ball that you can bounce, tap or smash to make music. ODD Ball measures the intensity of the bounce, so the harder you bounce it, the higher the note or the louder the sound. With a silicone outer layer and a super strong protective core, ODD Ball is the most durable instrument in the world and challenges people to let loose and get creative to find their sound. 

This transforms the way players can approach making music and allows them to experiment with styles and beats that wouldn’t be obvious on traditional instruments. By encouraging the discovery of music through play, ODD Ball makes music more accessible and requires no prior instruction or musical ability. It is the perfect way to introduce those who may be apprehensive about learning an instrument to the art of making music. 

What’s in the box?

The box contains the ODD Ball in a really cool tin, a charging cable and some instructions.

A Closer Look

The ODD Ball App

Install the ODD Ball app to control the sounds coming from the ball.

Final Thoughts

The first thing to do is charge up the ODD Ball, so make sure that you do this before you are ready to play.

Once charged you need to pair the ODD Ball with your device (once the app has been downloaded). Just follow the steps to do this (including bouncing the ball to start the pairing sequence).

Then you are ready to go – you can add your own sounds to the ball or you can choose the quick play function. Whatever you choose you can start to make music and record your what you do for playback later. You can even add your own sounds to the ball.

The harder you bounce the ball, the higher the note or the louder the sound – it becomes a challenge to see just how loud you can get it.

The ODD Ball is so much fun and will bring hours of enjoyment – what music will you create?

The ODD Ball is available now priced around £99, although at the time of writing the review it was on-sale for £79. It also comes in four colours – Black, Punch, Turquoise and Cool Gray.

You can learn more and order one from the ODD Ball website.

Disclosure: This product was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Review: Commandos 3 -HD Remaster

Daniel Waite
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Review: Commandos 3 -HD Remaster

As a child, I was fascinated by warfare. Not the gore and loss of life, but the tactical nuance and meticulous planning for success. Consequently, whenever I could study classic battles or experience them in a computer game, I jumped at the opportunity. As such, when the Commandos franchise was released, I was swept up in its tough gameplay and precision mechanics. However, I haven’t looked at these games in years, until I was given Commandos 3 – HD Remaster to look at. This brutal title is available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC and allows a new generation to experience its tactical approach.

Developed by Raylight Games and published by Kalypso Media, this is a wartime strategy title. What’s more, it is historically accurate, horrendously tough, and requires pinpoint precision and a watchful eye. No matter how great you are at strategy games, this one will test you throughout. Accordingly, it can be frustrating and unfair and will cause many people to quit. However, I urge you to stay the course as the gameplay is fantastic even though it has some major game-breaking flaws.

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster explores some classic battles. 

Set in World War II, you must control a crack force of soldiers as you push for victory. Stealth and guile are a must if you wish to complete every goal. You’ll sneak through the trenches of Stalingrad, defeat the Third Reich in Berlin, and survive the storming of Normandy on D-day. Your squad of 6 elite soldiers must sabotage enemy supply chains, kill key targets, hide in the shadows, and collect mission-critical intel. Failure to do any of these tasks will hinder the Allies’ progress and will potentially hand the Nazis the upper hand.

The developers have promised a revamped game that improves on the original. With reworked 3D models, improved textures, better controls, a redefined UI, user-friendly tutorials and hints, this promised to be a massive step forward. However, having played the original, I failed to see the difference. If anything, much of the gameplay has gone backwards with the use of a gamepad. Disappointingly, the controls and camera angle are appalling, and this impacts every other element. Yet, if you can somehow get past these issues, you’ll enjoy a slow and methodical stealth game that is rewarding and challenging.

Swing your way to victory.
Hopefully they won’t look up.

The missions are tough. 

With 6 specific roles to master, finding the right solution isn’t always easy. Do you use the spy to infiltrate the enemy’s defences, or blow up a truck with the sapper? Alternatively, the thief can steal goods and sneak about in the shadows for the ultimate stealth approach. Whatever decision you make, there are always consequences to be aware of.

If you kill someone, you can’t leave their body lying around. No, instead, you must drag them to a darkened corner, so the alarm doesn’t get raised. Alongside this, there are vehicles to hide in, buildings to infiltrate, and, of course, uniforms to swipe. Be aware, though, that each disguise has a limited effect and wearing it too long will raise suspicions. As such, you must plan when to walk into the open, or when to creep into the dark. 

Now, this may sound slow and boring, but it isn’t. Whenever your plan is successful, the resulting victory is euphoric. There is genuinely no better feeling than completing a lengthy and arduous mission. This is enhanced further still, as any minor mistake will lead to failure. Therefore, you must scope out your enemy’s movement, study their field of view, and only move when necessary. Consider it a deadly game of chess. Accordingly, you must think many moves ahead and a mistake will lead to checkmate.

Stealth and guile are a must in Commandos 3 - HD Remaster.
Ha ha ha, you can’t see me.

Story-driven missions add to the drama. 

It would have been easy for the developers to create a cold and heartless game. Instead, each of the 6 specialists has a backstory that builds empathy towards them. The story-driven action is interesting while adding to the historic theme.

Alongside the great solo campaign is the opportunity to compete against friends. With lobbies of 2 to 8 players, you can take on Deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes. Now, this may not sound revolutionary or unique, but each lobby has a distinct set of victory conditions. Subsequently, it isn’t your run-of-the-mill online mode. Instead, it will test your tactical nuance and your flexibility in different scenarios.

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster looks great, but the camera is awful. 

The promise of new 3D models and improved textures is noticeable. With a richer colour palette and easier-to-identify character models, it is undeniably easier to play. Furthermore, the excellent UI is intuitive, easy to navigate, and a vast improvement on the original. However, the camera angle is so awful that the game really suffers. I struggled to traverse each of the levels because the camera is so clunky. What’s more, the action doesn’t flow as the viewpoint cuts from one perspective to the next. This made it jarring and much tougher to plan ahead.

Alongside this, the audio is filled with irritating one-liners. The gruff and rough heroes love to mutter cheesy and unnecessary sayings, and it’ll drive you insane. If you decide to move half a foot, they comment. Grab a gun, they comment. Shoot someone or throw a grenade, you guessed it; they comment. Argh!!!! It’ll drive you crazy and ruins the immersive nature of the action.

Sometimes you have to hide in plain sight.
Sneak in a complete your mission.

A mouse and keyboard would improve it, no end. 

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster and a gamepad = a rough and unappealing time. The controls are so cumbersome and sluggish that they will frustrate you. As a consequence, you’re likely to forget the excellent mission and wonderful tactical approach. Furthermore, it’ll lead to anger, frustration, and the game being removed from your hard drive. Disappointingly, the developers failed to port or improve the control system for this remastered version. 

Every one of the shortcomings reduces its appeal considerably. As such, you will probably stop playing well before exploring its interesting and in-depth missions. I can’t see many console players giving it the time it needs, which is disappointing. I assume the PC version will fare better, but I can’t guarantee it.

Commandos 3 – HD Remaster should have been better. 

It is with a heavy heart that I conclude this review. This fantastic franchise kept me entertained as a youngster but infuriates me beyond belief now. With many issues and shortcomings, it will only disappoint you. I can’t see how the developers can improve it and I don’t believe the problems will be rectified. As such, I won’t recommend you buy it. However, more information can be found here! A once great franchise has fallen by the wayside. If you are desperate to play this, perhaps a download on PC will make things better. 

Review: Tower Princess

Alex Chessun
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Review: Tower Princess

Question – What do you get when you combine the randomness of a rogue-lite with guaranteed game-crashing bugs? 

Answer – A game so rogue that it can never be beaten.

As much as I wish the above was just a poor dad joke, alas, it is not. Rather than being a charming Cinderella story, this is an endless loop of crash screens and error reports, a damsel in distress that is in desperate need of a patch on PS4.

Tower Princess is a bitesize rogue-lite filled with potential, where as a knight you must save the princess and beat the bosses in a death-reset adventure, but it is so filled with issues that I was not only prevented from progressing, but it corrupted my save file a little more than halfway through.

Although I was able to view the rest of the game played on different platforms, with my experience of it being shorter than expected, in the interest of fairness I’ll keep this review short.   

Once you realize that you can auto-aim, the difficulty of the game drops dramatically.

The game looks like every other fantasy Fortnite lookalike – I actually thought I was looking at Dungeon Defenders when it loaded up initially – with a cartoony design working well with the game’s sense of humour.  

Stringing together permanent sections with small dungeon-like areas that are few in number, the rogue-lite features of Tower Princess never quite endeared themselves the way I thought they should, and despite the action being relatively decent in execution, it’s so succinct for such a long period – due to the stinginess of the ability upgrade system – that monotony seeps into the experience not long after you’ve started. 

It’s not the greatest compliment when the tutorial is one of the best parts of the game….

Thankfully, you aren’t all on your lonesome during the journey, however, as you can liberate – and be joined by – 8 different princesses who all have their own abilities, providing some much-needed variety to the repetitive die-reset-repeat gameplay loop. The abilities of your companions can be upgraded by giving them presents, and supposedly, even by taking them on dates. 

A fun addition is that they chatter away during battle to mix up the cookie-cutter experience, but it would be nice if attacks were further integrated between partners. One partner, for example, will turn into a sword you can wield, which is great – if you happen to have chosen the rifleman knight (over the swordsman) – as it provides you with two different types of attacks, but outside of this happenstance, you are limited to separate standard single attacks.

The boss battles are really where the potential of the game comes together, with amusing boss designs and decent attack patterns, but with only three in total, it’s not something you can really hang your hat on for the core experience, which for the most part is either avoiding assault course obstacles or spamming the attack button to defeat minor enemies.  

One of the few – but admittedly fun – bosses.

The best moment of the game, for example, had me putting out a stove fire by keeping ingredients moving along a conveyer belt to initiate a boss battle with a pig, but said interesting level design is few and far between, with the largely mediocre action simply too monotonous to get overly excited about seeing the same sections over and over again.

Overall positivity was, unfortunately, in short order though because as soon as I progressed to the second area, game-crashing bugs plagued my experience. In most cases, an autosaved save file would load the area prior to the crash, but in one particular case, an area momentarily loaded and autosaved before crashing, creating a blue deathloop that permanently corrupted my save file. 

It’s hard to truly judge a title that won’t let you progress a little more than halfway, but what I know of the remainder of the experience, this a knight to forget; an average and repetitive title that is about as rewarding as the princesses’ throwaway comments as you adventure with them – by the 4th time, you’ve seen and heard enough. 

Review: The Dragoness: Command of the Flame

James Refelian
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Review: The Dragoness: Command of the Flame

The Dragoness: Command of the Flame pairs turn-based combat, world exploration, and empire-building in a Heroes of Might and Magic-style nostalgia trip that will leave you mostly satisfied. Developed by Crazy Goat Games and published by PQube, The Dragoness: Command of the Flame fills a market gap that many HOMM fans have been desperate for. Sure, there are plenty of imitators out there using the same gameplay style, but, despite its flaws, The Dragoness: Command of the Flame seems to come the closest to satisfying the market for this game style.

Gameplay

There are three elements to gameplay within The Dragoness: Command of the Flame. Firstly, you have HOMM-like exploration. This for the most part is probably the most fun. Turn-based exploring the maps, collecting resources, encountering villains, and completing side-quests. Along the way, you can replenish your health, mana, and troops by spending collected resources at taverns or using fountains and shrines. At the end of each turn, you consume one portion of rations, which if you run out will weaken your army. This gives movement an element of strategy as it’s vital to think carefully about your route and what enemies you’ll encounter. Each stage has a set objective to further the story.

In-between each area you will find yourself in the main city and able to upgrade buildings which can develop your skills. Resource management is very important in The Dragoness: Command of the Flame, and there are quite a lot of them to manage.

Finally, combat discussed later in a little more depth, is a turn-based grid system.

Combined, it makes for a steep learning curve, and I wish the UI was simpler and more intuitive so managing these three different aspects felt more cohesive. There is an amount of replayability, however, because you can go back to each stage and aim for different victory conditions and complete different challenges.

Combat in The Dragoness: Command of the Flame

One of the unfortunate issues with The Dragoness: Command of the Flame is the combat system. While I don’t normally have any issues with turn-based combat, the combat system in this game feels especially sluggish.

The range of movement is typically very small so traveling across the grid to the enemy takes a long time. The combat sadly only takes place on a square grid without any real obstacles or visual interest. Units attack each other, or you can use a spell per turn. While the animations aren’t that varied, the progression system very much is. Within combat, you can use spells and buffs in your turn which can aid you in combat against stronger enemies.

Story and Visuals

You play as the Commander, caught in the middle of a war between two dragon houses. You find yourself in Níwenborh, with the task of rebuilding the city and bringing peace to the world. Most of the story is told through static art and text, thankfully it is all voice acted as well. This is the same in the game world too. As you progress you will often find NPCs asking you to undertake side quests which can yield useful items for your quest. All these interactions have voiced dialogue. While the player character never speaks, a battle pangolin, your aide, does all the talking and will point things out along the way.

Is The Dragoness: Command of the Flame worth playing?

The Dragoness: Command of the Flame is just fine. With so many games out there, I would say you would need to be a huge fan of this game style to spend any amount of time on it. The city building is light, the combat is repetitive, and the UI needs simplifying and polishing. Despite all of that, however, the desire to take ‘just one more turn’ and learn more about the characters and the world is appealing. If you have an open slot in your game schedule, The Dragoness: Command of the Flame wouldn’t necessarily be a bad option.

Review: Kofi Quest

Natosha M
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Review: Kofi Quest

If an adventure game is what you are looking forward to playing, well look no further! Kofi Quest is a mystical and weapon-filled RPG-style game that doesn’t have you running around and just battling or exploring unique and original worlds. Instead, there are some humorous characters from all different clans, which you’ll meet and befriend, who may rely on you to help them along the way.

To be honest, the title of the game really gives you an idea about what this game is all about. Kofi Quest is a game where you play as you are this young hero Kofi, who has no desire to be a heroic fighter. Instead, he is a lazy child, just like many kids. So the game can feel quite relatable. Regardless, even with his weak and slothful approach to doing anything, Kofi still is helped and sometimes given support by many original friends pushing him to keep going and be the amazing hero he was meant to be.

⚔️ How Was The Game ⚔️

I felt Kofi Quest was a very eventful game that kept my interest for hours till I took a break and started playing again. However, to be honest, at first, I felt uncertain that I’d really enjoy the game as much as I did. It doesn’t really feel like many other RPG games. Especially, with the original characters and their spoken observations or how they communicate with each other. Even the artistic style and design are so different, a bit cartoony. Nevertheless, I was very mistaken, it was better than would have thought and humorous too!

The story of this game felt like it was well put together, with a good start to an immaculate ending. The way each character would react to each other felt like being in the real world and how the common amount of friends would speak to each other. In addition to their snarky comments and words, they have been very helpful throughout the game and really work like a great team to slay these devilish enemies.

Unfortunately, I felt the game seems to be a bit crowded, with so many characters like the good and bad in one location at a time. I don’t really think it is too much to make the game horrible, it just can be a bit tight when trying to keep an eye on who and where each of your team members may be located. Regardless, this only occurs in some parts of the game, when everyone is so close to each other.

However, I do feel that the weapon variety is really nice, not being extremely large, but just the right amount to choose from and decide upon, including the armor you can equip. One big reason I do enjoy this weapon thing is not how powerful and great the attacks are, but it only takes gold to buy them. You don’t have to worry about leveling up to a certain amount to gain access to use the weapon as in many other games. There is no right or wrong weapon for Kofi, each purchase is acceptable and useable once it’s equipped.

Ultimately, Kofi Quest has plenty to do that includes strategic battling action, side quests, and even some fun riding on an extinct creature, a direwolf through an enormous world map. I also have a few positive aspects that I did enjoy most about the game. One of them would be the option to adjust the level of difficulty modes. Therefore, anyone can learn to play the game with ease at first and work their way up to the most difficult mode if they want. You also can even adjust the gameplay during the pause screen and many other settings.

One of the other pleasurable features is the ability to speed through a conversation. Yes, there are parts that teach you how to play the game, but most of the time I do like to get right into the action. So even if you played the game for the first time, now you can adjust the difficult mode and know how to play the game already. It’s just great to be able to speed through each conversation to get to the action sooner and move on faster.

A few other positive features I found myself enjoying is that the objects or persons who you can interact with will be easy to know. There is a very clear bright light that surrounds the object and even a mark that becomes present when you get near it. So there is no way to be confused about what you can or can not do. Plus, if you want to just destroy objects, you can do so freely as there is no set time or limited amount of when you need to fulfill a goal and mainly have fun doing all you like on your own time.

Of course, these were just a few things I did enjoy about the game, which also include the snarky and quirky characters. Unfortunately, I do have some unpleasant parts during the game that could be better, and yet didn’t make me want to stop playing. They mainly were a little bit to do with the graphics, sound, and possibly the style of how the game is played. Again these will be my own opinion, some may enjoy these features.

So to start, the first one I felt was a little off, is how you can walk through a character or just push them freely. It’s almost as if they were invisible or just solid moveable objects you can push or go right through many of them. Even if they tend to be standing right in front of you or speak to them, they aren’t fully designed to be solid or something that the hero; Kofi will need to move around each one.

The second thing is especially how the hero and other characters may move a bit slower than I wish they could move while traveling. Also, I do wish the volume of each character as they speak would be louder. I have the game at the highest level of voice volume, sound effects, and background music, but it still comes out very low and hard to hear through the Nintendo Switch Lite game console. This also includes playing it in a very quiet room. So even if I can’t catch every word mentioned, which is probably another reason why I skip most of what is being said, I am thankful there is every word forming below making it easy to know what is being said.

A third thing is that I did realize is that with some of the quests or tasks seem to make you feel like you’re searching around each location, figuring out where you need to go. At least it won’t let you enter or exit one location if it’s not the right way, but I do feel I am getting lost most of the time in the game. It isn’t very easy or simple sometimes to know where you must go without searching a little bit around. Oh yes, a tip is to read the text or listen to the spoken words as they do help you realize what needs to occur next or you’ll also be confused about what to do next.

The fourth issue I came upon is during gameplay. Each character that is part of the team, seems to be hard to get to battle at times. Mostly they just stand still and It’s like I have to make Kofi fight by himself without the team’s supportive fighting. At least, it does seem to work finally once in a while or when I get the enemies near my team of fighters. I think once again I am mostly feeling lost or confused in this game.

Lastly, I felt that each character can only be seen from one forward-facing position with the same facial expressions even as they speak. So it doesn’t give the game a realistic feel, especially with the handing off of objects or when certain things appear. I don’t think this one is that big of a deal, but as a player, you’ll notice that there always facing forward even with the rotation of cameras. It might remove the realistic feel from the game, even if it’s a cartoon-designed character.

Now, these are nothing but small potatoes, as many might say. However, it really is a few issues that could probably be fixed or adjusted to make the game a little more visually and graphically excellent. Otherwise, the battles and the story of the game are fantastic, making this game quite an excellent RPG. Plus, a tip, if you go back into a home or location and break open an object, there will be the same items and even gold back in the same place. So you can easily earn some more gold faster for better weapons and even more supplies if you need them for free!

⚔️ Final Verdict ⚔️

Kofi Quest is such an interesting and original RPG-style game. It’s got plenty of great action-packed battles against a variety of monsters and creatures, heroic music playing in the background, an extensive world map to travel and explore, and plenty of unique friends to meet. I think, for the most part, the game brings such a wonderful array of side quests to tackle and can keep the player occupied as well as the freedom to do as you please. I just feel there are a few issues that aren’t easy to avoid and can wreck the joy of the gameplay because it doesn’t work out or plays as it should.

So what else can I say, I felt this game to be at times a little confusing, and sometimes it can be eventful and interesting. Yet, I don’t feel it was a horrible game, but one that could still be worked on and improved to repair a few minor issues to make it even better! Again, these are my own opinions and maybe you might find them to be better than I had.

Review: F1 Manager 2022

Daniel Waite
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Review: F1 Manager 2022

Formula 1 is a rich man’s game. No matter how you look at it, you have to have money to succeed. However, it somehow still resonates with ordinary people. As such, it has a massive following that adores every adrenaline-fuelled moment. The gaming community within this fanbase will be champing at the bit when they hear about F1 Manager 2022. No longer will they have to be a voyeur of this great sporting franchise. No, instead, they will lead from the front and rule the roost.

Developed and published by Frontier Developments, this is an ultra-realistic sports simulation title. What’s more, it relies heavily on a strategic mindset, a good understanding of F1 mechanics, and a love of facts and figures. Its action is a nice blend of slow methodical planning and fast-paced and exciting racing. Consequently, it’ll get your juices flowing and will make you feel ultra-competitive.

F1 Manager 2022 wasn’t overwhelming.

Whenever the term “ultra-realistic” is used in the description, I begin to worry. I always imagine an overbearing, information-heavy title that’ll confuse me instantly. Fortunately, F1 Manager 2022 wasn’t like that. Yes, there is a lot to do, and you can dive as deep as you like, but there is also a sweet spot where the action and information are nicely balanced.

The gameplay focuses on a new team principal, and that is you. As a rookie, you have a point to prove and a desire to succeed. Strangely, you are free to choose any team that takes your fancy. Accordingly, you don’t have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Of course, each particular team has goals and a budget that adds challenge and makes things more interesting.

Once your team is selected, you can run through the fundamentals or jump straight into the action. I went for the tutorial as there was a lot to learn and I wanted to succeed. Luckily, the tutorial is informative, well-delivered, and sets you up nicely. However, the fun starts once you start racing. 

Will you pick the underdogs?
Choose your team and race to win.

R&D, budgets, and the board. 

Racing is a massive part of the game. Yet, this management sim is all about the rounded experience. Subsequently, you have plenty of plates to spin if you wish to be successful. The key areas revolve around technology, money, and your bosses. 

R&D

Fans of F1 never tire of upgraded parts. Fortunately, F1 Manager 2022 allows you to create a competitive and dreamy car. With a hefty focus on performance and R&D, you can iron out your weaknesses and smash the field. However, you must plan wisely, otherwise, you’ll run out of time and your plans quickly turn to crap. Accordingly, you won’t be able to resolve every issue you have, and you must prioritise key areas.

Finances. 

Unsurprisingly, money is a big factor in any decision you make. You may wish to make a new chassis, engine, or suspension, but without funds, it’s a no-go. As such, you must race hard, appease your sponsors, and balance the books. Failure to do so will upset your bosses, and that isn’t good.

The board. 

The people at the top care not for excuses. Instead, they want results! If you deliver and keep everyone happy, they’ll fund your projects, and keep you employed. But if you make too many errors or have disgruntled staff, your reputation will be damaged and your career is over.

F1 Manager 2022 has every race on the calendar.
Which track is your favourite?

The race weekend. 

Though budgets and bosses weigh heavy on your mind, the thrill of F1 Manager 2022 is the race weekend. With tons of information to absorb, parts to trial, tracks to learn, and test drivers to bed in, it’s a crazy balancing act. Alongside this, there is qualifying to contend with, strategies to plan, and the all-important race to win.

Every session, bar the race, can be controlled or simulated. This was great, as you had as much or as little input as you like. However, once race day arrives, you need to be alert. Your strategy can go tits up immediately because things rarely go according to plan. Consequently, you must prepare to change everything at the last minute and this makes it exhilarating. Holding off your rivals to benefit your number 1 driver is sly, underhand, but oh so rewarding.

However, incidents ruin the greatest of plans. It was brilliantly infuriating when things fell apart and sponsor deals were lost. Your drivers can be wiped out by other racers, poor conditions, or ill planning. This was phenomenal, as it kept you on your toes. Furthermore, tyre wear, fuel consumption, and other elements play a big part. Subsequently, you can’t attack forever, and you must choose wisely. This made it a fascinating game of cat and mouse, even when things went wrong.

Pick your camera angle and watch the race unfold.
Watch as the race unfolds.

Improvements, improvements, improvements. 

Picking the best team with an elite driver is all well and good. But how about starting from the bottom and working your way up? Well, this is a real possibility for those invested in the long game. With an amazing scouting network, regulation changes, building upgrades, and driver skill points, you are constantly evolving. Therefore, starting as an underdog and being successful is obtainable.

To do this is much harder, but F1 Manager 2022 gives you the tools to be successful. The key elements here were the building improvements. Upgrading your HQ is essential, as it increases morale, your monthly income, and XP. Furthermore, it speeds up research, and that is never a bad thing.

Alongside this, the scouting system and driver skill points ensure you keep up with the best in the field. This was particularly interesting as your backroom staff would advise you where improvements could be made, and if rookies were worth hiring. 

Finally, the regulation changes are key to the long game. Balancing the playing field for money, development, and car parts is essential. Consequently, this mechanic plays a massive part in the lesser teams. 

F1 Manager 2022 is visually subpar.

To use the phrase, subpar, is potentially a little harsh. However, much of the in-race cinematic looks dated and is poorly executed. What’s more, the animation isn’t great and isn’t what you’d expect in a modern title. Fortunately, though, I didn’t expect it to look fantastic, so I wasn’t disappointed. Instead, I was more concerned with the UI. Luckily, F1 Manager 2022 excels in this department. With easy-to-access tabs and plenty of submenus, it’s easy to find what you desire.

Unsurprisingly, the audio focuses heavily on the loud engines and familiar F1 noises. Consequently, the racing and associated elements sound incredible. These fast-paced events are laced with drama and energy, and it perfectly juxtaposes the slower methodical management section.

Your engineers are your best friend.
Allow your team to help you.

Gloriously straightforward to play. 

A common misconception in this genre is it is better with a mouse and keyboard. However, F1 Manager 2022 is undeniably easy to play with a controller. Thanks to the aforementioned UI, you can navigate each section with ease. Moreover, the well-labelled submenus and responsive controls make it straightforward and enjoyable to play.

Thanks to the heavy focus on development and regulations, F1 Manager 2022 has both replay value and longevity. If you so wished, you could invest hours into multiple playthroughs that would all differ. Alongside this, there is a large and challenging achievement list to test every completionist’s resolve.

F1 Manager 2022 surprised me.

When F1 Manager 2022 hit my desk, my heart sank. Now, I love F1, but I thought this would be tedious, dull, and complicated. Thankfully, I was miles off the mark. The action brilliantly blends facts, figures, strategy, racing, and drama. You’ll adore it when you are winning, scream when you are losing, but love every minute nevertheless. It is for these reasons that I recommend you buy it here! Can you run the perfect team? Employ the best staff, improve your HQ and drivers, and hope for the best while you plan for the worst. 

Review: Maggie the Magnet

Daniel Waite
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Review: Maggie the Magnet

Physics-based puzzles normally make me scream! They are infuriating, hard work, and make you look a right fool. As such, I tend to give them a wide berth. However, Maggie the Magnet tickled my fancy because of its theme and its ridiculously simple approach. Yet, no matter how much I enjoyed it, its challenging ways pushed my buttons and made me bite my lip with rage.

Developed by Khud0 and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a colourful physics-based puzzle title. It comprises many stages and plenty of obstacles to avoid. What’s more, death and failure are guaranteed and your resolve, patience, and anger levels will be pushed to their limits.

Bounce and collect each of the gears.
Bounce, bounce, bounce.

Maggie the Magnet takes science to the next level. 

The simple but brilliant theme is fun, testing, and enjoyable throughout. With 150 challenging levels to complete and gravity-defying puzzles to overcome, you’ll need a deft touch and a calm mind. What was particularly impressive was the gentle learning curve of the 15 worlds. With new mechanics added regularly, the gameplay could have been messy and overwhelming. Instead, it was tough but comfortable as you tackled each problem.

You have been asked to observe the outlandish experiments in a high-tech laboratory. However, instead of your bulk standard and run-of-the-mill endeavours, you observe a magnet called Maggie. This horseshoe creation must traverse each fixed-screen stage while collecting gears and avoiding obstacles. As a magnet, she uses her power of magnetism and moves by attracting herself to a special central magnet. By doing this, she can fling herself around, collect every object and make it to the exit.

I loved the random stage names.
It is swinging time.

Maggie needs to toughen up. 

I may be wrong, but I thought magnets are pretty hardy. However, Maggie falls apart easily and needs to toughen up. Spikes kill her, propellers smash her to pieces, and don’t get me started on the laser beams. Yet, her piss-poor armour adds a layer of difficulty that improves Maggie the Magnet, to no end. Consequently, this tough element makes the action moreish and demands you to keep going.

During every stage, you must hunt for 3 gears. These can be hidden behind walls, hovering above spikes, or hanging just above moving blades. Where ever they are, you’ll need to grab them and stay alive. However, this is easier said than done as the central magnet moves. Consequently, this makes navigating tight spaces particularly tough. As such, you must find a rhythm and understand when to use your magnetic powers. If you mistimed your approach, you’ll lose all momentum, or die horribly. Either way, it isn’t great, and failure and frustration will follow. 

Maggie the Magnet is simple but striking. 

Thanks to the fixed-screen perspective and ever-changing colour palette, Maggie the Magnet looks unusual. The developers, for reasons unknown, change the aesthetics at random. One moment it is burnt orange, and then it is dusky blue or vivid green. To say this was strange is an understatement. Yet, I kinda liked the randomness, as it made it oddly alluring and somewhat striking to look at. What I also enjoyed was the wacky stage design. Each level has a unique look that’ll alter your approach and the difficulty of the challenge ahead. 

The hardcore nature of the gameplay didn’t match the audio. No, instead, you are treated to a lighthearted and frolicsome affair. The fun music and cheery sound effects juxtapose the ensuing madness. Furthermore, it alleviates a layer of the inevitable stress that the tough and meticulous gameplay delivers.

Maggie the Magnet has a small list of hidden levels.
Complete this odd hidden level.

One button but so much hate!

I applaud the developer’s simple control system. 1 button is all you need to complete this game. Maggie the Magnet focuses solely on magnetism and the associated forces. As such, you must fling yourself around by controlling your magnetic powers. It is wonderfully straightforward but difficult to master. Accordingly, when you get it right, the outcome is undeniably rewarding. 

150 levels are usually enough for anyone. However, the developers have hidden secrets in each world. These zany stages are tough, nauseating, and enjoyable at the same time. What’s more, the game demands you return as you’ll want to perfect every stage. However, this isn’t easy and is a task that’ll push many beyond their limits.

Maggie the Magnet sounded awful, but it turned out to be a triumph. 

I try not to judge a book by its cover, but Maggie the Magnet sounded and looked awful at first glance. Yet, I’m glad I gave it a chance, as every element surprised me. I adored its challenging ways, its tough but fair learning curve, and its bizarre aesthetics. Accordingly, it is one of those hidden gems that’ll be ignored by many gamers, and this is a tragedy. I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you help complete every experiment? Avoid the obstacles, collect the gears, and master your magnetic powers. 

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