Review: Fishing – North Atlantic

Daniel Waite
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Review: Fishing – North Atlantic

The ocean is a beautiful and alluring place; it hides many secrets and is home to billions of life forms. For all of us, it brings life and hope as the sea provides us with oxygen to breathe and food to eat. This is where our brave fishermen come in. They sail into dangers unknown with one goal: bring back a full quota of fish to feed hundreds and be paid handsomely in return. This is the reality in Fishing – North Atlantic. You are the captain of a vessel that aims to catch as many fish while making yourself rich.

Developed and published by Misc Games, this is a sandbox open-world simulation title. Set in the large ocean in Nova Scotia, you are free to explore the vast space in front of you. With an array of fishing methods to try, boats to purchase, and crew to hire, this is as advance or rudimentary as you like.

Fishing – North Atlantic is brilliant, addictive, but full of game-breaking bugs.

I can’t hide that I love this game! It’s addictive, full of intricate details, and brilliantly relaxing. But it’s also painful, unpolished, and full of game-breaking bugs. I’ve never saved so much in my life as I quickly discovered it can stop working at any time and with it, my progress was wiped. It tarnishes such a great experience and makes writing this review so much harder. Fishing – North Atlantic should be heaped with praise, and it will for its good elements, however, broken titles should not make it past the beta stage.

You will find issues with almost all elements of the gameplay. Whether it’s visual glitches, attempting to manage your crew, or trying to catch fish, they are all laced with bugs. Whenever anything goes wrong, you’ll have to save, force close the title, and reload in. This resolves every issue, but it’s painfully frustrating and breaks up both the fun and the immersive nature of this title. On top of this, you will encounter random crashes to the dashboard. You’ll be happily hauling in fish and suddenly the screen goes blank. The game has crashed and all your progress is lost, sad times indeed.

I will highlight specific issues as I cover this review, but for now, let’s look at what makes this great and why people put up with its many faults.

A rare moment of beauty.

So much detail!

When you take on a simulation title you want it to be realistic and to transport you into the protagonist’s role. Fishing – North Atlantic does just that! With vast amounts of details to take in, fishing spots to discover, and a large map to explore, you are spoilt for choice. You must understand how the seasons affect each species, manage how you fish each location to ensure it remains productive, and hire the right crew. Balancing the books is essential, as is purchasing the correct boat. You’ll feel you’re juggling a million balls, yet it’s not that complicated to play once you get over the steep learning curve.

Though you are given thorough tutorials for every aspect of the gameplay, you’ll still be in the dark about many of the fine details. There is an element of trial and error, but using the ports is key to early progress. Here you will be given helpful tips and missions to complete. The hints tell you of locations of different fish, simply load up your boat with the correct tackle and bait and try to land them. The missions, however, are time-consuming. Your slow vessel will chug from point a to b with no ability to speed things up. It’s a pleasant way to explore the ocean, but it takes forever!

Quotas and time-wasting.

I was amazed by the level of detail that Misc Games went into. With a large variety of fish to catch, you must make sure you have the correct tools at hand to be successful. Yet, having the right gear is only half the job as you must also complete a mini-game style challenge when landing the fish. With four outcomes you’ll aim for perfection each time. Red is a complete failure, orange is ok, green is good, and blue is perfect. The closer you are to blue, the better quality your fish are. Your boat only holds a finite amount of stock, so fishing willy-nilly is not advised! You will simply throw away excess stock if you exceed your quota or your storage. This was brilliant, as it forced you to plan each journey and added to the realism factor.

You quickly realise that Fishing – North Atlantic is a time-consuming beast. Everything takes time, from setting the lines, gutting the fish, to sailing. On top of this, you simply waste time waiting for fish to take the bait. It’s extremely slow-paced and relaxing and not the sort of game that can be played in short bursts. If you can get over the many issues, you’ll lose hours of your life catching virtual fish. It’s pretty mundane and repetitive, but I loved it.

Hook that swordfish.

Fishing – North Atlantic has sparks of beauty, but tons of rough patches!

There were moments where I was blown away by the beauty before me. The sun setting making the sky and sea appear on fire with burning hot amber. It was stunning to look at, especially when your small boat bobbed around on a vast ocean with no one else for miles around. Beware, though, as this beauty is short-lived!

The visual issues range from hilarious to downright appalling. Fish judder, making them impossible to catch, and when you haul them in, they are pulled through the side of the boat. Your crew complete their tasks, yet they never touch the fish. You get caught on every part of your boat and best of all once you land a fish using the deep line method your character becomes headless. These are but a small portion of the issues I encountered and some of them will amuse, but most ruin the game and desperately need to be resolved.

Unlike the graphics that are laced with problems, the audio was perfect. With limited music, you spend your days accompanied by the sounds of the sea. The relaxing sound effects are fantastic and range from the rainwater crashing down to the waves breaking on your hull. It never got tiresome and this is one element that Misc Games delivered to a high standard.

Who wants to be known as the King of Crabs?

Easy to understand controls but the bugs bite again.

With so much detail and having ported from PC, this had the potential to be a pig to play. Fortunately, it wasn’t, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to learn the basics. A clever radial menu and a well-labelled map ensure you know what you are doing from the start. The well-designed UI kept clutter to a minimum while giving you enough information to make important decisions. 

Frustratingly, the bugs undermine this element as well. Crew management failed regularly, preventing you from automating your endeavours. The jittery fish and poor hits boxes made some methods of fishing impossible. You were forced to use NPCs (when it worked) to complete these tasks, leaving you frustrated and annoyed regularly. Trying to select anything while the boat was moving was nearly impossible. I suspect using a mouse and keyboard would eliminate many of these issues as the controller is not accurate enough.

Even with its long list of faults and repetitive gameplay, I still wanted to keep playing. Its many complex layers make it moreish and you’ll want to try different approaches to maximise your yield. A large achievement list of over forty tasks will take a considerable amount of time to complete. If you plan on attempting the 100% status it’ll be difficult and will require many hours of grinding.

Fishing – North Atlantic is brilliant but you can’t ignore its bugs.

I desperately wanted to give this a high score, but I can’t. If it wasn’t riddled with bugs, it would be an easy 8 out of 10, sadly its problems drag it down. With addictive in-depth content, a large map to explore, plenty to discover, and lots of fishing methods you are spoilt for choice. But the glitches and bugs cannot be ignored and Misc Games need to work on updates to eliminate these issues. I loved it, but with so many problems I can’t recommend it. You can buy it here if you want to try it for yourself! Can you brave the ocean and bring home a massive haul? Beware the horrendous storms and game-breaking bugs while you land your catch! 

More Fun: How To Improve Your Gaming Experience

Andrew Edney
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More Fun: How To Improve Your Gaming Experience

Gaming is a lot of fun, but if there’s one thing to know about gaming — and in fact, about everything — it’s that things can always be improved upon! Unless you’ve already taken the time to perfect your gaming experience, then there’ll likely be many things you can do that’ll nudge it in the right direction. In this blog, we’re going to look at some useful tips for doing just that. If you take all of our tips, then it won’t be long before you’re having an awesome night of gaming!

Photo by Alexander Kovalev from Pexels

Create A New Space

If it’s been a while since you set up your gaming spot, then it’s likely that it’s become a little too lived in. it’ll have begun to feel a little jaded and unpleasant. You would redecorate your living room every so often, so why not give your gaming area a bit of a refresh? If you’ve just been gaming in any old place, then you could look at setting up a new space. This will allow you to create an area that has been designed specifically with your gaming experience in mind. 

Invest in a New Chair

Many gamers spend a whole bunch of time making sure that they have the latest games and so forth, but there’s something to be said for investing time and money into your comfort, too. You’ll find that you have fewer issues if you’re always feeling comfortable! A good chair can seem expensive, but it’s a worthy investment. After all, you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting on it — indeed, often, you’ll be there for hours at a time. It’s a good idea to read as many reviews as possible and even try out a few different options so that you can be sure that you’ll end up with the right one.

Aesthetically Pleasing

If you take a look at most people’s gaming area, you’ll find that it’s usually a bit dark and dingy. Well, that’s the cliche anyway. You might want it to be dark so you can see the screen better, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be aesthetically pleasing. There are plenty of dark interior decor choices that you could incorporate, for instance. There are other ways to up the aesthetic qualities of the space, too. For example, think about your hardware. You’ll need a PS5 controller charger — why not select one that not only functions well but which looks good? You could also set up your consoles in a specially created cabinet too. 

Feed the Senses

You’ll be locked into your gaming adventure. But while your mind is focused on the game, your body — and other parts of your mind — will be taking in your surroundings. So why not make sure that you’re giving it what it wants? There are incense candles that’ll put the body into a relaxed and comfortable state, for instance. You could also look at upgrading the lighting so that it’s calm and atmospheric. Your senses are interesting because they’re not something that you think about all that often. However, you’ll most definitely notice the difference if they’re “activated.”

Keep Things Tidy

We all know how easy it is to get lost in a few hours of gaming. When you’re done, you’ll be tempted to stand up and head elsewhere, probably outside, just to give yourself a bit of a break from the screen. However, it’ll be better if you spend some time tidying things up and getting everything into shape again. It’s a bit like when you go away on a trip. It’s always much nicer to return home to a tidy space! And that’ll be the case when you go back to gaming. A little five minute tidy up and sweep will make the space much more enjoyable to be in. 

Upgrade Your Hardware

The better your hardware is, the more enjoyable it’ll be to spend several hours gaming. This is probably more relevant if you’re a PC gamer; at that stage, you’ll likely need to make a few upgrades on what’s included as standard. A better graphics card, for instance, can make a huge difference. Of course, it could also apply if you have a regular console. If you’re still playing PS4, then why not make the shift to PS5? Also, remember that hardware won’t work well forever. The upgrades you made to your PC might have been great several years ago, but they may be outdated now. It’s always worthwhile reviewing performance from time to time and making any necessary changes.

Improve the Sound

We tend to think of gaming as something that we mostly look at. And that’s true. But it’s not the whole story. These days, gaming can be like a movie experience. But if you’re going to enjoy the experience to the max, then it’ll be important for you to have a sound system that’s highly capable! You could look at investing in new headphones or a soundbar. It won’t be a game-changer for every game that you play, but it will for the ones that really have a cinematic quality to them. 

Internet Boosts

If you’re playing online, then there’s no getting around it — you’ll need to have a good internet connection. There’s nothing worse than waiting for games to load or experiencing lag when you’re in the middle of playing. If you haven’t updated your internet in a while, then it’s likely that you don’t have as fast a connection as you could do. It’s one of those that improves all the time. It’ll be a good idea to call your internet company and see if it’s possible to get a faster connection. You should also look if there are any other providers in your area — you’ll want to have the fastest internet possible, but you’ll also want to get a good price.

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

Healthy Snacks

When people sit down to game, they usually mean business. They’re not sitting down for ten minutes — they’re going to dive deep into the game that they’re playing. That’s not always the case, but it is broadly true! But if you’re going to pay for hours on end, then you’ll need to have some snacks to keep you going. It’s not something that many of us think about, but the type of snack that you have can influence your overall enjoyment. You might like eating unhealthy snacks at the time, but they’ll make you feel a little sluggish and uninspired after you’ve finished. On the other hand, if you’re just eating healthy foods, then you’ll be much more likely to feel great once you’re finished!

Make it Social

Everything’s better with friends! While it can be fun to game all by yourself, the fun and excitement is taken to a whole new level when you’ve got your friends by your side, either in the same room or online. So the next time you want to have a really fun night of gaming, look at getting your pals involved. This could mean asking them to come round or just agreeing to meet online at the same time.

Take Breaks

Your console and the game aren’t going anywhere! Every hour or so, get up and take a break. 

Move Your Body

By and large, you’ll be sitting pretty still when you’re gaming. It is not an active hobby! But while that’s mostly harmless, it can make us feel a little sluggish, and our body a little stiff. As such, it’s a good idea to stretch your body every now and again. You could take ten minutes to do an online yoga class, for instance. When you’re sitting there for hours on end, that little bit of movement can have a really positive impact.

Mix it Up 

We all have our favorite games. But it’s important to remember that they won’t go anywhere just because we’re playing a different game for a little while. So why not look at mixing things up? You might just discover a new game that you love. In any case, you’ll likely find that you just get better at gaming by switching things up slightly.

Or why not try something completely different? For example, if you game on a PC, why not use your PC to learn some new skills such as creating immersive videos, music, or even your games? You still get to indulge in your hobby but do something different simultaneously. Using specialist equipment alongside your gaming setup, such as a Loop Pedal, can help you mix it up even more.

Improve Your Skills 

Everything’s more fun when you have a good sense of what you’re doing. So why not look at improving your gaming skills? This is recommended for all games, but especially those more difficult games that always prove to be a challenge. You could look up some tutorials online, read some tactics, or watch other people playing the game live on Twitch. It doesn’t matter what game you’re playing — it’ll be more fun when you feel confident in your abilities.

Conclusion

And there we have it. Gaming isn’t just gaming. There are different levels — sometimes, you’ll just have an OK time; at others, you’ll have an absolute ball. And very often, you’ll be in a position where you can influence how much of a good time you have. Take our tips above, and you’ll find that you have a great time each and every time you play.

Review: Super Destronaut DX-2

Daniel Waite
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Review: Super Destronaut DX-2

We all know that simplicity is king when it comes to addictive gameplay. Pong and Space Invaders prove this to be correct in their easy to pick up, but impossible to put down content. Super Destronaut DX-2 replicates this moreish action with its basic approach and arcade-style.

Developed by Petite Games and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a retro spaceship arcade shooter. You control a spaceship that has one goal in mind: destroy every alien in your path. The simple premise is like the arcade classic Space Invaders, but it has a unique twist on the much-loved title.

Dodge the jumping alien fish at the bottom of the screen.

Super Destronaut DX-2 will make you scream with rage and giddy with happiness.

It’s rare that a small indie game will make you experience a range of emotions. Yet, Super Destronaut DX-2 does just that. Completing each level and achieving a gold score is an exhilarating moment. Perfection has been achieved, and you have nailed that stage. However, this high is short-lived as you are defeated repeatedly on further stages and frustration and annoyance kick in. Oh, the joys of arcade gaming, and how we love it for it.

The gameplay is split into two modes: challenge and arcade. The challenge mode is the main story mode, and it has six worlds, each comprising five stages. You will tackle a range of challenging objectives, aiming to make it to the end alive while tallying up the highest score possible. The arenas don’t change, but the enemies and the goals do.

You must alter your approach depending on the objective. Will you go out all guns blazing when you have three lives to play with, or you’ll be tactical and limit your shots in bullet mode. Time attack forces you to think quick, learn the pattern of your enemies, and wipe each wave before the time runs out.

Each goal was as fun as the others and the arcade mode allowed you to select the one you like the best. You’ll pick your favourite and attempt to hit the highest score. Each stage is random, so luck and skill are required to reach the top of the leaderboard.

Which enemy to take down first?

Different enemies require different tactics.

Like Space Invaders, you will face an array of different foes who all have special attacks. You must plan to take out the most aggressive ones first, leaving the easy prey to last. But how you choose to tackle each stage is entirely your choice. You will juggle the stage goal with the enemies in front of you and create your plan from there. It’s fast-paced, hectic, and will force you to make errors.

Taking inspiration from the 80s arcade scene, I expected there to be power-ups and plenty of weapons to choose from. Sadly, this didn’t materialise. The best you get is when you destroy a battleship and you get a temporary power boost. It was disappointing and I think the gameplay would have benefited if more weapons were added.

Super Destronaut DX-2 is eye-catching and vivid.

The bright neon colours and simple ship models make Super Destronaut DX-2 eye-catching. The simple top-down fixed screen perspective allows you to follow the action with ease. Each enemy has a unique style and colour and is instantly recognisable. The striking arcade style was a joy to look at, and though it had little variety I never tired of what I was looking at. The gameplay runs smoothly and the ability to slow down time was a great feature that allows you to dodge projectiles and annihilate your foes.

As expected from an 80s inspired game, the soundtrack is full of upbeat tones and synthesised sounds. The loud music inspires you to blast away, while the standard shrill sound effects will tweak those nostalgia strings. The scream of lasers and the boom and crash of your enemies exploding was fantastic to listen to. It doesn’t offer more than you’d expect, but you’ll enjoy it, nonetheless.

Dodge the projectiles while defeating your foes.

Two buttons and an analogue stick.

This couldn’t be easier to play if the developers tried. With two buttons to press for shooting and slowing of time and the analogue to move you, you’ll master this in no time. Like the arcade greats, the difficulty never comes from how you play it, it is who, or what you come up against that makes it challenging. Super Destronaut DX-2 has captured that perfectly and you’ll know what you need to do long before you master it.

The simple indie titles do sometimes lack replay value, but this oozes replayability. With the arcade mode and quick gameplay, you’ll want to keep playing until you top each leaderboard. The simple achievement list requires a little work, but you’ll have the challenge mode completed and all achievements unlocked in a few hours.

Super Destronaut DX-2 is a great modern arcade shooter.

Quick, fun, colourful, and addictive gameplay ensures there is a lot to love about this wonderful modern arcade shooter. Super Destronaut DX-2 will have you hooked from the opening stage through to the end. I enjoyed it and recommend you to buy it here! Jump in your spaceship, destroy some aliens and hit the top of the leaderboard. 

Review: Mina and Michi

Daniel Waite
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Review: Mina and Michi

Every season is wonderful, and they all offer something to love and something to hate. We all have our favourite, but no matter yours, you’ll have stories you can tell about your adventures during each one. Mina and Michi take this idea and use it for their classic indie tale.

Developed by LightUp Games and Ratalaika Games and published by Eastasiasoft Limited, this is a puzzle inspired adventure title. A wholesome tale that has two friends working side by side to solve puzzles while defeating the enemies they face. This 2D title is full of indie vibes with its colourful nature, pixelated images, and far-fetched story.

The trio of autumn bosses.

Mina and Michi takes you back to early console titles.

This solo or couch co-op indie title takes inspiration from early console games. The simple stages, basic enemies, and straightforward puzzles allow you to enjoy the colourful world you explore. If you play this solo, you must control both characters independently, this can be tricky initially but you soon become used to controlling the pair. It excels as a co-op game and is much more enjoyable if you can find a gaming partner to take this on.

The game’s premise is straightforward. You take a journey across each of the seasons, solving simple puzzles that involve pushing boxes and triggering pressure plates. You collect silver keys to unlock gates, gold keys to open chests, and defeat each enemy to open purple doors. The enemies increase in difficulty the further you progress, becoming stronger and faster and each season culminates in a boss fight. These enormous creatures have a simple attack pattern and a little practice enables you to defeat them with ease.

A wholesome tale of friendship.

Without teamwork, you’ll fail to progress. Each of the characters brings unique skills that help you on your journey. Mina can unlock doors and chests, whereas Michi cannot be hurt. Using each one correctly is key to victory, and this is where co-op mode makes this a more pleasurable experience. 

During each level, you’ll collect gems, new powers, and stat upgrades. Your new abilities unlock new areas and help you defeat your opponents. They ensure the gameplay is balanced and at no point is it either too easy or difficult. It’s an entry-level puzzle adventure game that is accessible to gamers of all skill sets and is great for families to tackle together.

Summertime is a wonderful season to go exploring.

Mina and Michi lacks detail but is nice to look at.

With its basic style, and colourful vivid tones, this won’t wow you, but it is pleasant to look at. The sprites are all simple and scream early console influence. Your foes look like coloured blobs, but they are apparently ghosts….who’d have guessed. I liked the change in the landscapes that matched the season, this prevented the simplistic style from becoming tiresome. The basic labyrinthine worlds are fun to explore and offer a bit of a challenge to navigate.

The wholesome tale is reflected in the heartwarming music. The upbeat tunes follow you as you make your way across the seasons. They are not overpowering and offer a pleasant distraction from the action on the screen. The 8-Bit sound effects matched the game style and the old-school influences.

Neither the audio nor the graphics offer anything new, but they are well constructed and deliver a pleasant gaming experience.

It’s winter so wrap up warm.

New mechanics are added regularly, but it’s easy to play.

Once you get over the difficulty of controlling both characters, you’ll find this an easy game to play. Mina and Michi regularly add new mechanics, but this doesn’t complicate the gameplay. With a simple tutorial, you’ll understand how to use each power and what they do. The controls are responsive and the simple layout makes it easy to understand. 

Though most of its elements are well designed, it sadly lacks replay value. A small achievement list is easily unlocked and once you complete the story there are few reasons to return. Its first playthrough is enjoyable but short, and the option to play couch co-op adds an extra layer its peers’ lack. 

Mina and Michi is short and sweet but it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.

With so many indie games available, it’s unsurprising they follow a similar pattern. Mina and Michi is guilty of this and doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It’s fun, cute, and offers enough to make it worth your time. It’s inexpensive so I recommend you to buy it here! Take a colourful adventure across the seasons and work together to overcome your many foes. 

Review: Necromunda: Hired Gun

Christopher McNally
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Review: Necromunda: Hired Gun

Necromunda: Hired Gun is a first person shooter set in the darkest fathoms of Warhammer 40,000’s most famous hive city, For the uninitiated a hive city is basically a self contained area occupied by humans somewhat like a beehive. Within Necromunda: Hired Gun you are a bounty hunter who picks their contracts and hunt them until you get the reward. In what could be quite a lonely existence amongst all the killing you are lucky enough to have a companion, a dog to help you with your hunting, a dog you can……. upgrade!

The general plot of Necromunda: Hired Gun revolves around you playing as a mercenary who is trying to unravel a conspiracy involving one of the most powerful and organised gangs in Necromunda. The story starts of interestingly enough but after an hour or so you sort of lose the plot to an extent as it just doesn’t hold your attention a great deal whilst many of the characters are pretty forgettable. In between the missions which are set in a pretty linear way you can have some downtime and upgrade various attributes to help you kill more quickly, imagine Doom but with a lot more customisable skills.

In Necromunda: Hired Gun you spend a lot of time running and gunning, this is a very bloody and gore induced game. The actual violence and action is quite a lot of fun as you jump across large gaps using your hook or run along walls to your hearts content firing into hordes of enemies, some from Warhammer 40,000 lore. The weaponry on offer is suitable entertaining to use but the close up one hit kill is probably one you’ll use because you’ll be invincible whilst you perform it, which is especially useful when other enemies see you. Whether that invincibility was meant is up for discussion because it will often result in enemies running up to you unable to kill you, so when you perform one up close kill you just perform another. The enemy AI doesn’t have a lot going for it, they seem to have zero tactics and will just run close to you shooting, you won’t need to play much hide and seek to find them. There is a dog you can upgrade with cyber technology and it’s pretty useful in finding enemies and damaging them.

There are side missions you can take part in that are designed to help you garner more loot but they are not much deeper than killer a certain amount of enemies within a level you’ve already travelled through. the loot and credits allow you to either upgrade your various abilities or buy new weapons. This adds an RPG element to Necromunda: Hired Gun which some may find involving but you’ll find you don’t need to upgrade much because it doesn’t really matter as most are easy kills. The campaign in Necromunda: Hired Gun is fairly short whilst the ending lacks a fair bit of fanfare you may ask what was the point of it all.

Graphically Necromunda: Hired Gun gives a perfect dystopian perspective, all the mission environments look fantastic and suit the Warhammer 40,000 history it operates in. Art wise Necromunda: Hired Gun pulls you in with it’s dark and dingy world. On the PS4 I vary rarely have to experience clipping or a slowed down framerate, unfortunately Necromunda: Hired Gun suffers more than its fair share which is big shame, it’s not something I expect in 2021. Generally the sound in each mission is pretty scene setting. The dialogue and voice acting is a bit on the bland side, that probably explains why so many of the characters you come across are not engaging.

Necromunda: Hired Gun could have been a very good and extremely fun first person shooter, however there are a number of technical issues and forgettable characters which hinder it somewhat. If you’re looking for a no frills shooter then Necromunda: Hired Gun will keep you interested for a few hours, if you’re looking for something deeper and more challenging then Necromunda: Hired Gun will have you shooting blanks.

Review: Dragon’s Crown Pro

Alex Chessun
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Review: Dragon’s Crown Pro

Tis the season to be re-releasin’.

Throwing its hat back into the ring is Dragons Crown Pro, a 2D beat ’em up – a fantasy RPG version of Streets of Rage if you will – with addictive action and great 2D visuals, but does it hold up to the 2013 PS3 and PS Vita version and does it justify a repurchase for fans of the original?

Well, yes and no.    

First of all – and I say this as a hands-up disclaimer in every fantasy game review I’ve written – fantasy is not my cup of tea. It does not get me out of my seat and it does not grab my attention. Some games have overcome my general dislike of these stories with other aspects that excel – with enjoyable gameplay mechanics (i.e. Dragon Star Varnir) or character-led stories that it creates immersion or context, but most fall down the slippery slope of a repetitive story with characters whose entire personality consist of their role (i.e. a Knight or Wizard). This facet is something some enjoy, but for me is only a face a mother could love.

With that in mind, the story to restore the glory of a castle and land regardless of your chosen character is already stale and then made worse by a narrator commentating on the main character’s actions in the past tense ruining any feeling of freedom of choice or character building during the proceedings, even though you do have some – to a degree – with side missions and the occasional situational choice.

Commanding our ‘helper’ to open the door with the PS4 touchpad button. A nice touch.

Thankfully the story isn’t the main draw of the game though, as Dragon’s Crown Pro is an action game first and the core of which is genuinely good fun. With up to 6 characters of different fighting styles to choose from, there is an enticing variety added to the traditional beat ’em up fighting mechanic that can – in short bursts – provide a whale of a time. There is also relative depth in upgrades and up to 4 players can play in your party at the same time whether as CPU help or with 3 friends through local co-op.

While I was initially excited by the thought of 4 characters on my team, this feeling soon changed to slight bemusement as to why so many characters were made playable (and how PS Vita players could see anything at all on their small screens) as it soon becomes difficult to discern who is fighting who during battles too busy with enemies. This feeling is increased two-fold when there are two of the same warrior type on your team as you’ll not only not be able to see your character clearly, but you won’t know which one you are controlling.

Furthermore, this party feature does not allow you to switch characters mid-play (if playing single player) nor does it accrue experience for the felled warriors as they always remain at their experience level and require selecting after each mission. This, once again, makes the characters feel rather worthless within the story.

This limitation aside, the sharp responsive controls allow you to pull off some very satisfying combos – ending a combo of kicks that launch an enemy into the air before finishing them off with an arrow on the way down is awesome enough to keep you wanting to sink into the battle system through the sufficiently deep upgrade system.

When you aren’t sat two inches from your TV screen and when the screen isn’t swamped with minor enemies, it allows you to appreciate the great visuals on offer with a storybook-drawn art style that reminds me of the PS1’s Mickey Mouse and the more recent Cuphead. The huge bosses are the best part of this visual presentation and your battles with them represent the best of the game and cap off the levels with an appropriate level of epicness and sense of achievement.

The Link looking rip-off is the most enjoyable character that I played with.

There are also some interesting gameplay gimmicks in play both during battling gameplay and outside of it. The PS4 controller’s touchpad button can be used to point to and command your slightly useless – but immune to damage – pick locking sidekick to unlock doors and treasure chests. Your town area, where you have access to your standard load-out inn, shops and side mission guild, also has a temple where you can reanimate the bones of felled warriors found in each dungeon. They can be added to your team as you load out to each mission or you can choose to lay their bones to rest and potentially receive an item to act like a greedy grim reaper. Weapons can also be appraised or sold after the finishing of a mission which adds an interesting bit of decision-making as selling them straight away (when unsure of their worth) could be less than if you spend the initially larger appraisal fee and then sell them on afterwards.

These gimmicks perhaps should have been more focused on the battling itself, with co-operative moves between players missing and its online play, deceivingly hidden in the single-player mode, present but barely advertised.

Back to whether or not this game is worth the double-dip, and ultimately, it’s a tough sell as this is a near-exact replica of what has come before adding only a 4k resolution and including cross-play with those already playing online on PS Vita and PS3. Unfortunately, it’s also presented in such a ham-fisted way that it makes you wonder if the developer was even trying.

For those who haven’t played this before though, this is a well-made 2D action beat ’em up ride best suited to a multiplayer experience with friends but, in my mind, doesn’t book itself a place at the roundtable of must-play single-player experiences due to its rather inflexible gameplay mechanics and boring story.

Supernatural sensation WYNONNA EARP Season Four and Complete Seasons 1-4 boxset out now

Andrew Edney
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Supernatural sensation WYNONNA EARP Season Four and Complete Seasons 1-4 boxset out now

Dazzler Media proudly presents the supernatural cult sensation Wynonna Earp: Season Four and the Complete Seasons 1-4 boxset, available on Blu-ray, DVD & Download-to-Own from 5th July. Experience the action from the very beginning!

Based on the popular comic series, Wynonna Earp follows the life of the great-great granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. She inherits his famous gun ‘peacemaker’ and the demon-fighting family curse that comes with it. With the help of her younger sister Waverly, Agent Xavier Dolls, notorious gunslinger Doc Holliday and Officer Nicole Haught, Wynonna must rid her hometown of the Revenants, all 77 of them, to finally break the curse. 

Experience the adventures of Wynonna Earp from the very beginning in this critically acclaimed, supernatural cult smash hit series. 

Dazzler Media presents Wynonna Earp: Season Four on Blu-ray, DVD & Download-to-Own from 5th July

Find it on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Wynonna-Earp-Season-4-Blu-Ray/dp/B092JXH7QN

Wynonna Earp: Seasons 1-4 boxset also available on Blu-ray & DVD from 5th July

Find it on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Wynonna-Earp-Season-1-4-Blu-Ray/dp/B092JLCXS8

Review: Onirike

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Onirike
https://youtu.be/rdf9BKY7448

Dreams are a weird and wonderful thing. Some of us never remember where our subconscious takes us, and others are lucky to remember each beautiful or horrific moment. Have you ever wondered what happens to the wasted dreams, the ones that have never been seen? This is the narrative of Onirike. It’s a bizarre and creepy title that is both chilling and heartwarming.

Developed by Devilish Games, Spherical Pixel S L and BadLand Publishing and published by the latter two, this is a 3D platformer with a puzzle twist. Set in a surreal landscape, you control a strange creature. He wants to discover the truth about his existence, all while helping the residents of their home called the Orb.

Onirike is extremely unusual.

When a developer uses dreams as their core concept, there is always a risk it will be unusual. Onirike takes every opportunity to push the envelope and creates a strange landscape for you to explore. It’s an open-world game that has a non-linear structure to its narrative. You are free to wander the danger-filled lands, using your powers to avoid enemies while solving the many problems that you face.

You control Prieto, a confused fellow who doesn’t know the power he possesses. He can dash at lightning speed to avoid his foes, and he can also turn invisible. This allows him to use stealth to avoid conflict and to reach otherwise blocked areas. However, each of these abilities comes at a cost, and if Prieto doesn’t plant or collect the flower of the gypsophila plant, he sadly dies.

This isn’t the only problem you face. No, if dawn arrives and you have not found a checkpoint known as a “Memory Stone”, your memory is wiped and all the action for that day is lost. You must stay alert, observing your stats to ensure you only turn invisible when necessary, and you reach a Memory Stone when the time comes.

Time to visit the Putrid zone.

Basic platform elements.

Though the story and core concepts are unique, the platforming elements are well-trodden. Timing jumps, failing platforms, moving bridges, and plenty of collectables make up a familiar setting. However, it doesn’t get boring because of the requirement to be patient, knowing when to turn invisible, and the constant movement of the sun.

Onirike takes you on a journey across some strange locations; A maze filled with minotaurs, a deadly sea that kills you instantly, a miniature village with cardboard people, an enormous volcano, and more. You will explore these areas with the desire to find key fragments to open the Well of Truth. This powerful place will tell you how to keep your memory, but opening the lock is easier said than done.

As you venture around the Orb, you will encounter many foes who desire to take your life. Spiders, wasps, minotaurs, and the Devourers of Souls. You must think fast, use your powers, and have enough seeds to ensure you don’t lose your life. Your enemies hide behind walls and around corners, so you must be prepared to act quickly or you will lose your life repeatedly.

Ever fancied becoming a dentist?

The quests are varied, test your patience, but lack difficulty.

Onirike has tried to blend some light puzzle elements within its gameplay that add a nice layer of variety but doesn’t add difficulty. Most problems are solved with minor amounts of logical thinking and some keen observation skills. You’ll experience many of the same mechanics for each puzzle, but thankfully the settings all differ which prevents them from becoming repetitive.

The puzzles go hand in hand with each quest you must undertake. Whether you are saving the tiny cardboard people to restart a train, dropping pizza slices from the sky, or draining a poisonous ocean, they have a reoccurring theme. Most ask you to work with pressure plates and switches to solve the problems and to make the quest progress. The difficulty doesn’t arise from the puzzles. No, usually, the deadly environment or aggressive enemies hold you up. You are required to think on your feet, to create solutions with your abilities, and to use stealth to your advantage.

This pair talk in riddles.

Onirike has a striking aesthetic.

I’ve played some dark games, but Onirike is something else. The environment and earthy tones make this overbearing and oppressive, ensuring the Orb is a depressing place to explore. The characters add life and colour with their strange dreamlike looks, whereas Prieto has a bizarre puppet-like appearance that is creepy to look at. The NPCs are equally strange and the weirdness enhances the surreal nature of this dream world.

Each portion of the Orb is well designed, offering something different. The claustrophobic maze is difficult to navigate, the volcano is laced with danger, and the memory stone transports you to the wonderful gypsophila fields. The bright endless field represents hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.

The audio is equally strange, with eerie sounds and haunting music playing throughout. Each of the creatures shrieks and screams, filling you with fear. The story is punctuated with cutscenes and plenty of narration. The fairytale style is in keeping with the overall theme and was well delivered, mostly. Subtitles help you read along, but oddly they don’t match up with the dialogue. It was strange but didn’t impact the gameplay.

Where it all begins.

The camera is clumsy.

The simplicity of the game is reflected in the basic control setup. A well laid out mapping makes it easy to pick up and play even when new mechanics are added. You have control over the camera at all times, but it’s clumsy to use. Until you get used to it, you’ll crash into platforms, get caught by your enemies, and fall to your death. However, once you’ve mastered it, you’ll love exploring the Orb, taking in all it offers.

Open world adventure games usually offer a lot of replay value. Onirike follows this trend because of its non-linear style and the gypsophila spores that you must collect. Hundreds of these glowing dots are hidden around the Orb and you must collect them all if you wish to complete the game. With different quests to undertake and a large world to explore, this will keep you coming back for more.

Onirike: a weird but wonderful adventure.

If you, like me, don’t remember your dreams, now’s your chance to live through one repeatedly. With creepy aesthetics, a wonderfully bizarre story, and beautiful and horrendous characters to interact with, this is part dream and part nightmare. I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! Time is not on your side, and your memory is poor. Can you collect the key fragments to open the Well of Truth, or will you be stuck in this nightmare cycle forever? 

Review: Say No! More

Wil Raterman
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0
Review: Say No! More

Tired of toxic office environments? Are you being pushed to the edge without recognition or respect? Don’t want to be a “Yes” person anymore? Studio Fizbin, and Lux Games may have the right answer, then. Say No! More is, as the developers put it, the World’s first ever NPG (No-Playing Game). Customize your gender-friendly player and choose the language you want to hear “No!” in. Go on tirades from the bottom level, and climb your way up the corporate chain rejecting and refusing demands of all sizes. On paper this narrative title holds the recipe for a great playthrough. However, Say No! More is a bit of a one trick pony that won’t be funny to everyone, but it may lift some spirits for those with a little social anxiety.

The Magic Word

Getting some real Katamari Damacy vibes here

You begin the story as an intern at a some corporate office job, and immediately get your lunchbox taken by your new supervisor on day one. The workplace is vile and everyone is at each others’ throats for their own personal and professional gain. After being shown your workspace, you pick up a cassette tape and listen to some evangelical being tell you that it’s time to say no! With this new confidence begins the actual gameplay, broken up into 8 chapters. Say No! More is like a rail shooter almost, where you’re taken from one interaction to another finding new ways to say no!

“Grab me coffee please?”

“NO!”

“Fix the Printer, intern!”

“Nnnnoooooo!”

Is there any underlying issue about the message from this game?

And that’s the entire game, literally. There is no way to fail each confrontation. Just go A to B and follow the story. There may be a conversation where saying nothing is the best option, but that’s about it. You could theoretically blast through portions of the game saying the same firm “no!” the entire time without trying new ways. For experienced gamers, this playthrough will be a slog. Especially if the player doesn’t enjoy the story or get the humor.

Saying “No!” In Style

Since this is in-fact a story driven narrative, for those who want a light-hearted and easy experience this may be the right fit. The music pushes the positive message well, and the art style is clean and fun, albeit a bit strange and cringe at times. The characters walk funny and their faces are a bit creepy. If creating a sense of awkwardness was the developers’ main goal then I declare a job well done in this regard. For the use of simple voxels, Say No! More really does feel like it has it’s own swagger about it. There’s not really another game like this one.

Choose which expressions fit your demeanor the best to say no!

For a game with such simple mechanics, the character creation has a lot of options to fully realize your protagonist. You can choose which creepy face to roll with, or whether to rock overalls, or a leather jacket. Modern offices have a relatively relaxed dress code these days, so kudos to the game for being with the times.

Bottom Line

While I appreciate the attempt at a quirky new take on narrative games, I personally didn’t find the humor all that good, though the subject matter was very relatable. The first couple of chapters were entertaining enough, but the rest of the playthrough dragged on a bit, even though it’s only like a 1.5 hour story. If you’re not hooked from the beginning, you won’t find much the rest of the way. That’s not to say it’s a bad game, however. There are many out there who have praised and said good things about Say No! More. I apparently fall into the category of the players who just didn’t seem to get it, and for that I will say No [thank you]!

Review: Winds of Change

Charles Ombler
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0
Review: Winds of Change

This review has caused me difficulties. There’s a thing. The Thing. I can’t decide whether or not to talk about The Thing (for clarity: it’s a topic from the game which merits referring to with capital T-capital T, not to be confused with Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four). The Thing in question is fairly obvious from the screenshots surrounding this review and is used in a lot of the marketing for the game – the rather ‘distinctive’ art style, shall we say. While I understand that The Thing is inherently absolutely non-sexual, there are some associated sexual themes which it’s difficult to untangle and Winds of Change goes in a direction that leans into those themes at points. In an effort to avoid tarnishing the family-friendly non-sweary reputation of this particular reviewer, I’ve decided to go for this hopefully humourous and non-judgemental euphemistic approach as a bit of a balancing act which I hope isn’t pushing me too far into sounding like a prude and shaming people for their interests or even kink-shaming at an extreme.

Those efforts might have been in vain, however, as I’ve used the phrases ‘sexual themes’ and ‘kink-shaming’ in this opening paragraph, so the USS Family Friendly might have already sailed.

Winds of Change is a visual novel with a branching narrative that’s as grand and intricate as the great tree Yggdrasil. You play as the last Seer and it’s your job to use the gifts granted to you by the spirits to ensure peace and good prevail in the world of Alestia. You’ll do this by leading a rebellion against the Triumvirate, the sinister faction that leads the kingdom. In a fully voiced (by some seriously talented voice actors) story, you’ll explore a vibrant and detailed world and make decisions that will set Alestia on a path to a brighter tomorrow, building relationships along the way.

The core gameplay is dialogue choice based, with the novel playing out in front of you until you have a choice to make – standard interactive novel stuff, nobody is expecting a Devil May Cry hack-and-slash combat system from a game like this and those who are will be sorely disappointed thanks to their insane expectations. But beyond the main branching narrative there are a few other ways that you can interact with the game, to save it from the interactive novel pitfall of becoming a wall of text with a choice every twenty screens. There’s a map for you to direct your character towards the next bit of story and to give the game world a little more realism. There are some point-and-click areas with some side dialogue and world-building mixed in with The Item You Need To Click On To Progress The Story. You can get some additional optional perspectives on areas and events by seeing them from the perspective of your companions and you’ll also build relationships with those companions, as well as influencing the story, by your choices in the rest of the game.

Speaking of relationships, this is where The Thing moves from being an interesting and family-friendly genre choice to pushing into a more connotationally-laden area. You can 100% romance your way through your companions in the story, with ‘romance’ being a term for the system that’s earned the game a ‘Sexual Themes’ warning in the ESBR rating. On the really positive side, you can romance companions regardless of your/their gender as it’s always great to see no enforced heterosexuality in a game driven by the player’s choices. For me though, considering the heavy theming of the game towards The Thing, the romance system shifts Winds of Change along the scale from a game for general audiences to something more targeted towards people who are interested in The Thing.

The Thing means that Winds of Change has a very well defined, if niche, target audience who I’m sure will absolutely love it. After a very quick google, this is apparently about 3 million people worldwide that Winds of Change has got on-side immediately, which is nothing to sniff at. I’m also sure that those of us who aren’t into The Thing could get something from the game but, I personally don’t think it has a huge inherent mainstream appeal. Winds of Change is certainly a competent fantasy visual novel but with The Thing always loitering at the back of the player’s mind, it’s difficult to dissociate and be fully lost in the narrative. Or maybe after all my agonising over being furry-agnostic, I’m just an old prude after all.

Review: Treasure Hunter Simulator

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Treasure Hunter Simulator

Beep…….beep……..beep, beeeeeeeeeepppppppp. Crunch, crunch, crunch, clunk. Ahhhhh the joyous sounds of success when metal detecting. Have you struck gold, or is it another worthless rusty nail? Who knows, but finding it made your heart skip a beat. This is the excitement that you could have if you try Treasure Hunter Simulator.

Developed by Drago Entertainment and published by MD Games, this is a calm story-driven simulation title. You explore vast locations armed only with a spade, metal detector, and PDA. You’ll lose hours of your life searching for buried treasure in this fun arcade, take on the metal detecting hobby.

One of the many beautiful locations.

Treasure Hunter Simulator is more than just searching out gold.

You may worry that a simulation title that solely focuses on metal detecting would be boring. Worry not! This has more to do than simply digging up random patches of soil. You are asked to complete tasks and jobs in various historic locations around the globe. Completing each goal will earn you prestige that enhances your job prospects and allows you to purchase improved equipment. In short, the better you do, the better equipment you can buy. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want the biggest and best tools when they are searching for priceless treasure?

With two game modes available, you can choose from story or exploration. The exploration section allows you to select every location in the game. There are no jobs to take and you are detecting for the fun of it. The main portion of Treasure Hunter Simulator is the story mode, and this is where you’ll spend most of your time.

The story you experience is pretty far fetched and silly, but you go with it because of the rewards you receive. Your uncle has passed away, leaving you an inheritance. You are advised of this fortune via a rather dodgy looking email. It’s like those emails we all get from scammers that promise us twenty million US Dollars, but let’s roll with it. To get your share of the estate you must prove yourself in the metal detecting world, completing all missions while maximising your prestige. Like I said……really realistic!

Ohhhh a shiny penny

Plenty of missions and wonderful locations.

You soon forget the silly nature of the story as you take every job offered to you. You are asked to clean up locations by hunting out metal trash, find specific objects, take photos of monuments and plants/landscapes, and so forth. The missions have an underlying theme but there is enough variety to keep you interested at each job site.

Where ever you go, you are free to keep whatever you find. Nails, pegs, old bullets, coins, jewellery. You name it, it’s yours. This is important, as junk equals money. As you up your prestige better detectors become available to buy. These allow you to search for objects hidden deeper in the ground and without the newer equipment you can’t hope to find all the items.

The locations you visit are great and have historical significance and interesting facts for you to discover. Many of the objects you find are related specifically to that area and offer an educational insight into cultural impacts, showing the serious side of treasure hunting. Don’t worry if this isn’t your thing though as you can simply skip it and get back to digging. Like the new equipment, new locations become available once you level up. You are offered new tasks to complete but getting to these sites costs money. It quickly becomes a juggling act of choosing new equipment or new missions.

Treasure Hunter Simulator looks nice from afar but lacks polish.

Playing out from a first-person perspective you feel like you are the metal detecting enthusiast. The surrounding world looks beautiful from afar, but as you get closer, the textures become rougher, losing their polish. It doesn’t impact the gameplay, and the performance is smooth, it’s simply noticeable on every stage. There are a few glitches where the detector sweeps into the ground, or you look through the map when collecting items. This was a shame, as it gave the impression it needed a little longer on the development table.

Though the game takes a more arcade approach, it doesn’t skimp on the realism. The audio is key to this with some incredible atmospheric sounds that enhance each location. The noises from your equipment were great and the shrill beeps from your detector fill you with giddy excitement. I enjoyed how the serene and relaxing audio juxtaposed the thrill of the high-pitched equipment sounds. It made the effort of searching worthwhile.

Beep..beep..beeeppp

Digging for treasure is super addictive.

Whenever I play simulation games, there is a niggling worry that it’ll be complicated to control. I’m concerned that there will be loads of buttons to learn and it’ll feel like I’ve taken on another job, rather than playing a game. Treasure Hunter Simulator is remarkably easy to play and its straightforward tutorial eases any fears. Finding treasure is aided by visual and audio clues and digging requires one press of a button. It lacks complexity, and this made it fun from the first moment.

Searching in the dirt to find treasure is super addictive. From the moment you hear the first beep to the ear-piercing constant tone, it’s oddly exciting. You find tons of junk, but this doesn’t deter you because you know the good stuff can’t be far away. This is the main reason I kept playing and why I’ll return to play it repeatedly.

Treasure Hunter Simulator: A diamond in the rough.

There is no doubt this needed more time to be polished. It’s very rough around the edges but its core concept is sound and it’s playable. The variety of tasks, the ability to level up, and the new equipment kept things fresh throughout. I enjoyed Treasure Hunter Simulator, but it is a diamond in the rough. I liked its arcade approach and various locations and I recommend you to buy it here! Help people out, find priceless treasure, and inherit your share of the estate. 

Review: Wingspan

Daniel Waite
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0
Review: Wingspan

Wildlife is a wonderful thing. To watch and study creatures in their natural habitat should be cherished. People get hooked on watching animals and one such group is known as “Twitchers”. These bird watchers enthusiastically sit for hours spotting different species, studying their habitats, while observing their natural behaviour. Wingspan attempts to replicate this hobby by allowing players to learn about different birds while enjoying a competitive game.

Developed and published by Monster Couch, this is a deck-building tactical board game that is complex to master. Originally available as a board game, computer gamers can now enjoy the experience of local or online play from their living room. You must adhere to the same rules as the original, so if you’re a fan you’ll jump into this with no issues. New players are in for a rough ride but keep at it as there’s a lot to love about this title.

Eggs to score points and hatch new birds.

Wingspan: a challenging but calm experience.

Now, I love a difficult board game, but Wingspan is something else! With many rules to learn, powers to combine, and goals to aim for, it’s unique and pretty complex. I’ve tried it for many hours but still, the computer beats me. It’s annoying and frustrating, but it’s also addictive, wholesome, and will get under your skin.

The core concept revolves around hatching birds in their correct habitats. You’re required to select their favourite food from the feeding bowl and use collected eggs to bring them to life. Each bird has a value and special power that alters your approach. Playing them may increase your food level, automatically lay you eggs, or allow for additional actions per turn.

Each game takes place across four rounds, each with a specific goal for bonus points. The first round has eight turns which reduce by one for each subsequent round. Each turn you choose to; hatch birds, collect food, lay eggs, or draw cards. Once your turn is complete, other players can go and the scoreboard automatically shows who has won that round. Each player is then allocated their points based on their position and the game continues. Clear as mud, right? Don’t worry, it becomes clear with some practice.

It’s all about the tactics and the long game.


Though Wingspan is complicated at the start, its core concept is simple. Select the correct bird for each habitat (woodlands, grass, or water), hatch eggs, and feed your animals. To win, though, you need to study different tactics, understand the power moves, and focus on the bonus points. Using each bird’s power to your advantage is key to getting one “wing” ahead. You know that your computer opponent knows the rules perfectly, so no errors can be made.

It’s all about the long game, and players can move from last to first in the blink of an eye. Each habitat holds a maximum of five birds, these can be altered at any point from the cards you are holding. The more birds hatched, the bigger the bonus per habitat. In the woodlands you gain food, the more birds, the more food will you collect per term. The grasslands produce eggs and the more birds that live there the more they produce. Finally, the water habitat offers new bird cards to be used. You must decide which approach works for you, score the maximum points, and you will win the game. Your tactics must be fluid and playing the long game is vital. Still clear as mud? Honestly, it becomes clear while playing.

Make your selection at the start of every game.

Online is great but local gaming is flawed.

Half of the fun of board games is the mystery behind your tactics. Your opponent doesn’t know what you’re doing until you play your hand. Sadly, local play removes the secretive element. Your cards are there for everyone to see and this undermines the tactical advantage. It’s still enjoyable to play against family and friends and it retains the board game charm. But it’s hollow and removes the element of surprise as you lay down a match altering hand.

The online mode, however, keeps all these elements while allowing you to find gamers who are not as well versed as the computer opponents. Where the online mode falters is its lack of personality. Sessions feel cold and isolated and the sense of friends bonding across a table is removed. It’s very clinical and devoid of emotion unless your online buddies have invested in a copy.

Wingspan has simple graphics, original artwork, and a clean UI.

If you’ve played any of the board game to computer game deck-builders, you’ll know what to expect. The graphics lack complexity and present an easy on the eye simple finish. With original artwork and nice character models, this is a wholesome title to play. The pastel tones enhance the relaxed ambience, making it a pleasant experience. With so many elements, the screen could have looked messy. A simple clean UI with removable hints reduces clutter allowing you to enjoy the slow-paced action.

The lighthearted and gentle audio supports the visual presentation. The calm tunes play in the background quietly and they are nice to listen to. Like a piano in a high-end restaurant, you soon forget about them. It’s nice to have, and it enhances the mood. However, it knows its place, and it doesn’t overpower the situation.

The woodland where food is hunted.

It’s surprising how easy it is to play.

The mechanics may be complex with all the little parts working together, but it’s surprisingly easy to play. With a limited amount of buttons required to complete each activity, you’ll know how this works long before you master the finer points. The button mapping is well thought out and clear references on the screen help to clear up confusion.

People love board games because of the competitive and addictive gameplay. Wingspan the video game captures all of this so you’ll struggle to put it down. Even when you are being beaten mercifully by your opponents, you’ll still want to keep playing. Its challenging achievement list and many birds to study will ensure you keep playing for hours.

Wingspan will make you a virtual “Twitcher”!

With plenty to learn about each species, you’ll soon become a virtual “Twitcher”. You’ll need to understand; nesting requirements, favourite foods, and their desired habitats. There is a lot to learn, but you’ll have fun mastering the different tactics. I loved it, though it bested me many times. If you enjoy board games, then I recommend that you buy it here! Study the bonus points, remain flexible, and aim for the long game victory. 

Review: Xbox Wireless Headset

Sean McCarthy
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0
Review: Xbox Wireless Headset

By the time I was finally able to secure my own Xbox Series X at the end of April 2021, I already had my eyes on the just announced Xbox Wireless Headset. Hard as it is to imagine, but this is the first “first party” headset made by Xbox for quite some time, in fact for the entire seven-year length of the Xbox One Generation, Xbox never released their own headset but instead relied on partnering with third party headset makers. As someone who has used mid to low budget range Wireless gaming headsets in recent years, I was extremely interested in the many features the Xbox Wireless once would offer and though it also took quite a bit of effort to find a retailer with one in stock, having now used it for the last month, I can quite happily say, Xbox have followed up the Series X/S consoles launch with another hit.

What is in the box:

  • 1 X Xbox Wireless Headset
  • 1 X USB C Cable for Charging

The presentation of the Wireless Headset is exceptionally clean and precise with no fancy extra stylings as you see the box, open the box and the headset is presented with only the stand warranty and setup guides along with the USB C Charging cable. The first thing that struck me was the how the headset is clearly modelled in the standard black and green colour scheme of Xbox, and I really like it as it goes very nicely with my Xbox Series X but also not so bad if you have the Series S. The other thing you may notice if you have used other wireless headsets is that there is no USB dongle you must plug into your console’s USB port in order to connect your headset, something that has been a previous pet peeve of mine when using a wireless headset on console.

Instead, we are hit by the first lovely feature that this headset will use the same wireless connection technology that allows the Xbox Controller to pair with your console, which for me is a complete game changer because I already have quite enough things connected to the USB ports of my Series X. Now the headset itself is mostly plastic, which some may complain about given the not exactly cheap £90 asking price for the headset but I really do not mind as the headset looks nice and more importantly, it is comfortable to wear because it is quite light compared to other wireless headsets. The reason for this is because there are none of the usual digital button setups that would add quite a bit of weight to the ear cups, instead Xbox have decided to go with a classic dial system to control volume and party chat/game mixing. The refreshing design however means that the dials are on the outside of the ear cups, with the right dial controlling overall headset volume, with the word Xbox etched into the outside whilst the left ear cup dial manages party chat and game audio mixing. The Microphone is also different in that is is shorter, almost half the length of a conventional microphone bar and can be curled up to move it out of the way.

In fact, the only two buttons on this headset is the mute button for the microphone and the power on and pairing activation button also on the left side of the headset. There is a USB C port on the back of the right ear cup for charging and that is it, simplicity in design but incredible in performance which brings me to the microphone first, which is quite honestly the best microphone I have had on any gaming headset I have used. The clarity of the microphone is sharp and crisp which is perfect for those hectic party chatting when the action gets heated in MP games but also made a big difference when I stream from my Xbox Series X with the reaction from viewers believing I was actually using a studio mic plugged into my laptop rather than a console gaming headset, it really is a fantastic microphone and the bar being short was never an issue for me and was actually quite nice not to have a microphone constantly in my eyeline when gaming with an auto mute setting via the Xbox Accessories App so that when you are not speaking, the microphone will mute until you speak again.

The sound quality with the headset straight out of the box can be hit and miss at first due to the high level of bass the headset naturally has. With the Xbox Accessories App on console and PC, there is a basic equalizer that can be adjusted to personalize the sound, but the true power of this headset really is when you set it up to use any one of the three sound options the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles can use starting with the Windows Sonic tech and then either Dolby Atmos or DTS Headphone: X. Now the Dolby sound schemes require installing of their own apps to your console and they will require purchasing an additional license in order to keep having the option to use them. Now when I purchased mine and connected it to my Xbox Series X for the first time, it automatically installed the Dolby Atmos app and gave me a six-month trial of it without me manually installing the app or signing up to it though friends who picked this headset up after me have said they each received a lesser length trial, so perhaps this was a launch-based perk.

Of the three options I must admit that the Dolby Atmos impressed me the most and will be the main sound scheme I stick with going forward, it just works so well with the games and with streaming services like Disney + and watching videos on YouTube. I always raise the bass levels with my music and sound equalizers but with Dolby Atmos everything from the low end just sounded incredible when playing games like Warzone and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla whilst returning to Ori and the Will of the Wisps, GEARS 5 and the HALO Master Chief Collection all came to life whilst using this headset. I also found it to be amazingly comfortable over long gaming sessions lasting more than six hours in titles such as Sea of Thieves or just general party chatting, there was no heat buildup in the large well cushioned ear cups nor any head strain from wearing it with the very adjustable headband. So, to say that when you do see and feel that the plastic build might be off putting after paying £90, all the tech that is inside this well-designed headset is where you feel that price’s value.

One surprising feature is that this really is more than just a gaming headset due to the Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity that allows it to be paired to your phone, tablet and even to a PC with a wireless adaptor and they can all be connected at the same time so for example, when connected to your Xbox console it can also be paired with your smart phone enabling you to use Discord for chatting or a music app to play music as you drive around in a Forza title or take down teams in CoD Warzone. The versatility of this headset to be used beyond just your Xbox console, especially at a time when a good number of people are still working or communicating with family from home, provides a great additional solution for that.

The spatial or 3D Audio that was hyped up quite a bit before the Series X and S consoles launched works incredibly well with this headset and the game titles that are making use of it, hearing footsteps in a shooter and knowing what direction they came from is an added advantage with this headset. The control dials are so intuitive when wearing the headset that you will quickly be able to adjust game audio to levels you prefer but especially in controller the party chat to game mixing too. Battery life is also particularly good with this headset, though I have never gotten to the fifteen hours Xbox say you can get with a single full charge, I have had exceedingly long gaming sessions over a weekend for example where I have gamed up to twelve hours before instinctively putting the headset on charge. I will say I found the USB C Charging cable that comes with the Xbox Wireless Headset to be rather short, though you can purchase longer cables yourself, I was surprised to see just how short it was meaning that for my gaming setup, I must connect it to the front USB port on my Series X to leave to charge overnight which can take up to three hours to fully charge up. Due to it lacking a 3.5mm jack port, should it run out of power it will just turn off so do make sure to keep it charged for when you want to use it.

Final Verdict:

Quite honestly the Xbox Wireless Headset is the best gaming headset I have used, nudging past the Razor Kraken headset which I now use for my PS5. I love the design of it which is rather creative yet deceptive design because just looking at it, you would never know the amazing tech that is built into it from just the appearance. Performance wise it has not let me down on any of the games I have played over the last six weeks or so I have been using it as my main Xbox headset though I will say for those hoping to use it on their phone or laptop/PC just for music, it is clear this was designed for a good gaming experience first though I have no real complaints when I have used listened to music or watching a film of TV show via my Xbox but I am aware that this can be quite subjective which is why experimenting with the three main sound schemes to find one that suits your tastes is very important

This is the first time I have broken the nearly £100 price tier for a gaming headset, but the fact is has the versatility to be able to connect to different devices for use as well as the performance I am getting from it, means the £90 price makes this a top tier headset for the high mid-range price point. For the asking price you will not find a more diverse capable headset than the Wireless Xbox Headset and I am already looking at Xbox games still to come such as HALO Infinite, Forza Horizon 5 and Starfield in 2022 to really appreciate just how good this headset really is. If you are in the market to upgrade your audio game to meet the new generation consoles in the Series X/S or if you are still on an Xbox One, this headset is well worth the investment.

The Xbox Wireless Headset is available now from most retailers for the RRP of £89.99, an additional single license purchase will be needed for the Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone: X sound apps.

Review: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Daniel Waite
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Review: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Citius, Altius, Fortius! Faster, Higher, Stronger! These are the three words that athletes live and die by. Their whole life is spent building up to the pinnacle of their career. They train hard, eat healthily, and compete at the highest level to be crowned Olympic Champion. Hours of heartache melt away when a gold medal is draping from their neck. Do you wish to know that feeling but don’t want the hard work? Now you can by playing Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game.

Developed and published by Sega, this is the first official Olympic title since the London 2012 games. With an arcade approach and plenty of events to choose from, you’ll be laughing and smiling as you aim for gold. With single-player, co-op, and online modes, you’ll push yourself to be crowned number one in the world.

Ready, Set, Blast Off!

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has plenty of variety.

I’ve loved athletic games for as long as I can remember. I wore out several controllers playing International Track and Field and played it like my life depended on it. When I saw Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 advertised I couldn’t wait to get started. As I loaded in I was struck by the colourful graphics and cartoon style. It felt strange, as I expected a more realistic approach from an official title. However, once I got over my initial shock, I adored how the game was presented. It was bright, fun, and instantly makes you smile.

With a mixture of events to compete in, eighty countries to represent, and an array of custom options, you are spoilt for choice. Your athlete, your rules! Choose your hairstyle, skin colour, height, build and look. Pick your costume and change its colour. It was fantastic to line up against some whacky outfits. My first online race saw me compete against: Sonic the Hedgehog, a Caveman, a chap in a tweed jacket, and me in my pink suit of armour and tiara. It had no impact on gameplay, but it was pretty funny to look at.

Great fun but fundamental flaws.

From the first event, I fell for its charms. I loved learning the ropes, breaking records, and competing with the computer. Sega has done well to capture the essence of the Olympics in every event they chose. Sadly, though, some fundamental flaws hold it back. As a solo experience, it’s wonderful, but it quickly becomes lonely, especially when you are breaking every record. There is a choice to increase the computer’s difficulty, but even this plateaus once you master each event.

The easy way around this is to spend your time playing with a friend, or online with strangers. Yet, here is where the issue lies! Waiting for other gamers can take forever, you sit in a lobby hoping that someone of your skill level wants to play. Once the game starts you get that overwhelming sense of competition, and this is brilliant. There is tension and the desire to succeed as you compete, which is why we all play sports titles. However, this feeling is short-lived. You’re winning your event, the game stutters and your opponent quits. They are not penalised; you get no reward, and your time is wasted. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that doesn’t fade.

It ruined what should have been an amazing aspect of this title, yet; you avoid playing others because of this problem. It’s a vicious circle that Sega needs to address before it undermines their whole project.

Dive straight into the action.

The negatives are outweighed by the positives. 

Though I was disappointed with the negatives, they are outweighed by the overwhelming positives. When you had a good group to play with, the online mode was a joy to experience. Friendly chat through pre-written choices will make you smile, and there was a lack of toxicity. For solo gamers, you can compete against licenced official athletes to see if you can beat the best in the world. This was brilliant and tested you to your limits. There is also the chance to create custom medleys and alter your characters abilities. These elements increased the longevity and helped to keep the gameplay fresh.

The hearty mixture of track and field, swimming, fighting, team sports, and climbing was brilliant. With a unique approach to each sport, you’ll need to study what is required to be victorious. Helpful tips are hidden behind locked screens and only by competing will you be able to read them. This was a genius move as you must smash records, win events, or beat the pros to be told the tricks of the trade. This may not interest all gamers, but I was desperate to excel, so the more tips I could see, the better.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is brilliant to look at.

When I saw the cartoon style, I was initially disappointed. It concerned me it would impact the gameplay and make the whole thing childish. Luckily, my concerns were way off and the content was as competitive as any other Olympics game I’ve played. Other than the issues with connecting online, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 runs smoothly with no problems. The animation is spot on and the arenas and playing areas all appear as they should. It was a little OTT, but this is expected from the arcade style and won’t disappoint you.

No matter the sport title, you want the atmosphere to be electric! The ambience was created with wonderful crowd noises, the ability to interact with them, and the grunts from the athletes. There is genuine excitement from your character when you win an event, and disappointment when you fall short. Even with its arcade approach, the audio adds a sense of realism and drama and was well thought out.

Fast, furious, and guaranteed to make you shout!

You have plenty of sports to master.

I’m glad the developers created a varied system for each sport as it could have been easy to use a generic control setup and hope we didn’t care. Luckily, a unique approach for each one ensures it’s always interesting, it’s not too easy and for those that struggle a practice mode is available to improve your skills. Every event has a “how to play” section which is great as you have a lot of sports to master, but you are given every opportunity to do so. With little effort, you’ll be able to compete, but a gold medal is only achievable through practice and dedication.

Undoubtedly there is plenty of replay value to be had. With new sports added recently, I hope more will be included soon. With tips to unlock, medals to aim for, and pros to defeat, you’ll have lots to keep you busy. A moderate achievement list takes some time to unlock and increasing your online rank will challenge you. If Sega can improve the online experience, this will be an incredibly addictive title.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 hasn’t quite reached the top of the podium. 

With many positives, I wanted this to be awarded the gold medal, but sadly it hasn’t quite achieved that standard. It’s let down by its online play, and this has to be the priority to make it more appealing. If you love sports games, you’ll enjoy playing this. I had fun with it and recommend you to buy it here! Compete solo or with friends to become the number one athlete in the world. 

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