Review: Life is Strange: Reunion

Matt Cooper
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Review: Life is Strange: Reunion

It’s been 11 years since the first Life is Strange launched to critical acclaim, centred on the relationship between Max and Chloe. Now with Reunion, this relationship comes full circle. Is this really a worthy send off for these characters?

Time Heals All Wounds

When it comes to interactive dramas, I’ve played as about as many as you can possibly think of. However, none resonate with me quite as much as Life is Strange. I adore this series and every title. Thus, the return of Max Caulfield in Double Exposure helped elevate my love of the series to new heights. In my review I ended on needing more from this wonderful franchise. Thankfully, developers Deck Nine granted my wishes with Reunion. Reunion brings the franchise full circle and with fan favourite Chloe Price back into the fray, it has truly delivered.

The original Life is Strange is still one of my all time favourite games, thanks to the relationship between Max and Chloe. Their dynamic and evolving feelings towards one another struck a real chord with me; there have been few characters that feel as alive as these two. That being said, you can imagine my excitement for this game upon its announcement. However, there was also a hefty dose of scepticism on how Chloe would return to Max’s life.

Deck Nine needed to tread mighty carefully to appease fans. So, whilst some have accused this game of being pure fan service, I rather think they’ve crafted a superb thought provoking tale which is full of heart and laughter. I must say that it’s important to state how crucial it is that you have played Double Exposure before playing this title. Yes, there is a recap of events of the previous game but this really doesn’t do it justice. I would find it extremely hard to play this title and engage with characters like Moses and Lucas without playing the last title. Coupled with the fact this is billed as the end of Max and Chloe’s story, I felt it was imperative to make this point to fully understand and experience the emotional payoff.

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A Fitting Conclusion

The story of Life is Strange Reunion takes place nine months after the events of Double Exposure, with protagonist Max Caulfield returning to Caledon University. Upon arriving back on campus where Max works, she finds the university engulfed in flames. In desperation, Max uses her time rewinding powers to to try to stop this event taking place. After travelling back in time, she sets out to uncover the mystery of the fire, only to be met by old friend/lover (dependent on player choice in prologue) Chloe Price, who is searching for Max after experiencing visions of an alternative life.

What follows is a tale that I found thoroughly captivating throughout its 8-10 hour runtime. I adored the way in which the story brings these two characters back together; it feels organic and perfectly written. I’m hesitant to say too much about the plot itself, as it’s best to play this game blindly and let these characters take you on an emotional journey. It’s a mystery tale, as Max seeks to uncover the truth of the fire, whilst also presenting a real character study of herself and Chloe and their troubled past. Add in a superb supporting cast of characters, and you have the recipe for a brilliant tale which had me crying and then laughing within minutes. It blends strong themes of anxiety, friendship, mystery and romance.

The final moments I shared with these wonderful characters made me feel like I was truly losing family members. It’s a satisfying conclusion to Max and Chloe’s tale, regardless of the choices you make throughout the game. If you have played the other titles in the series, the emotional impact of the narrative will be stronger and more impactful. I was hooked from start to finish and these characters will stay with me forever. Life is Strange has fundamentally always been about its relationships, and none is more iconic than Max and Chloe. A fitting end.

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Interactive Intrigue

As with all games in this storied franchise, it’s important to remember what to expect when it comes to gameplay. At its core, the Life is Strange series is an interactive drama that places the main focus on the characters and the narrative in order to entice players. In this way, Reunion is no different. Choices remain a key element of the gameplay loop in Reunion; there are a multitude of different endings and scenarios, depending on the choices you make. These choices feel different enough from one another to allow real replay ability. In particular, the main choice at the start of the game surrounding Chloe’s fate at the end of the first title, drastically alters the events of the game. Your choices always have consequences.

Apart from choices, the main gameplay loop of Life is Strange Reunion focuses on exploration and discovery. As usual, you can control Max and now Chloe from a third person perspective, interacting with clues and collectibles around the campus. Taking photos returns in the form of pieces of collectibles, which are more than welcome. Optional evidence is a new aspect of exploration in this title; the more evidence you can find, the more of the narrative you can unravel. I loved this aspect of peeling back more and more layers of the story through my discoveries.

Unfortunately, gameplay is where I have some issues. Max’s rewinding ability returns from the first game and this is welcome. Bizarrely though, her reality shifting powers have been removed from the previous game. Using both sets of her powers could have been really unique and rewarding. Therefore, I’m astounded as to why they chose to remove these. The game also allows you to play as Chloe but her sections are linear and very small in comparison. She has a talk back ability that can be used in conversations but again it’s only used a handful of times.

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A Perfect (And Absolutely Beautiful) Storm

Like previous games in the series, I am blown away by the visual presentation. Whilst there are many reused areas of Caledon from the previous game, every area in Reunion looks breath taking. Colour illuminates rooms and locations so wonderfully that I couldn’t help but stand and admire it all at times. Lighting is also superb – in particular the moments at sunset. Similarly, facial animations and design remain industry leading, as every character looks almost life like. All the emotions these characters convey are perfectly animated and captured. Max and Chloe’s journals are wonderfully illustrated and styled. Deck Nine you have done it again; this is a visual masterpiece.

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The Power Of Sound

Sound design remains stellar. There is great emphasis put on the rewinding ablity, making it feel particularly powerful. Once again, the cast of voice actors have achieved greatness, with brilliant performances all around. Special mention obviously goes to Hannah Telle as Max and Rhianna DeVries as Chloe. These two have captured performances that will stay with me forever. They are perfect in completely encompassing the characters and breathing life into them. Outstanding!

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Life is Strange title without a killer soundtrack. Every song is tailored so perfectly to this franchise. Each song captures the tone, themes and mood as the story progresses. Once again the soundtrack is thrust into the spotlight during the moments Max can sit and reflect. I would often just place my controller down and listen to this music, captivated by its beauty. Special mention needs to go to original song Embers In The Sky which plays during a montage at the end of the game. This track by Holly Humberstone garnered such a strong emotional reaction from me that it’s hard to put into words how beautiful it is.

Interactive drama choice based game.
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Verdict

At the end of Life is Strange Reunion, I felt a true sense of loss and emotion, saying goodbye for the final time (for now!) to Max and Chloe. These two characters have been a part of my life for the last decade so to see their story end so fittingly was a joy. Life is Strange has always been a game which focuses on story and Reunion nails this with an emotional tale of friendship, loss, guilt and death. Coupled with stunning visuals, industry leading facial animations and a killer soundtrack, Deck Nine have done it again. I sincerely hope this is not the end of the series overall. Life is Strange will stay with me forever. See you in the mosh pit brah!

Review: The Run

Luke Hedingham
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Review: The Run

Choice-based horror games are a sub-genre we don’t get to see too often, simply because most people prefer the classic survival, and psychological horrors we constantly see when browsing through the store.

That’s not to say they aren’t loved or have produced any brilliant games we still remember to this day, because that would just be a plain lie. Most horror fans have undoubtedly heard of Until Dawn, which is without question the biggest game of the sub-genre. Supermassive games have made a few more after its release, though none have quite reached its level.

So we do get to see some of these titles albeit not often, but what we rarely get to see are FMV choice-based horror titles. Funnily enough, The Run was the first I ever played of its kind. I wasn’t expecting much, and at first glance assumed it would be an attempt at what would be a poorly executed FMV, whether that would be down to the bad acting, or painfully unrealistic scenes. However, I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really enjoying it, which is definitely not what I thought I would be saying after finishing it, but here we are.

Zanna Hendricks is a world-famous fitness influencer. To celebrate her recent milestone, she travels to Northern Italy, where she stays in a small and cosy village home to a remote running trail in the beautiful mountains. What was meant to just be a normal run, soon turns into a game of cat and mouse as she is relentlessly chased by a group of masked killers with no clear motives apart from killing her. All you have to do is make the correct choices and keep Zanna alive.

Simple, right?

The great acting really made it feel like a well-made short horror film

I went into The Run expecting the acting to ultimately let it down, but by the end of it I thought everyone did a fantastic job and delivered their lines really well. The two main leads, Roxanne Mckee, and George Blagden (who voiced Henri Clement in Amnesia: The Bunker), have both had pretty successful careers, so they naturally delivered great performances and were the standouts for me. They made the game a lot more enjoyable and immersive.

People often overlook the impact acting, particularly voice acting, has on games in general. I’ve come across many games where I was starting to get into it, only for the voice acting to completely ruin the immersion, and the experience. It’s a pretty important aspect of a game and does contribute massively to the overall quality of any titles. Luckily though, The Run had some great acting, which was mainly due to the fact that most of the people involved had some acting experience, in one way or another.

The voice acting wasn’t the only real and impressive part of the game, I was also surprised at the realistic death scenes too, which to be quite frank I was expecting some pretty unrealistic and downright awful scenes but they actually turned out very well, so much so that I found myself cringing at how gruesome some of the deaths actually were.

In short, I was expecting a game which tried to be good ending up being bad enough for me requesting a refund from Steam, but it ended up being well made and developed, which I was quite happy to see.

To live or to die, the choice is always yours

One thing almost everyone loves about choice-based games is having the power to save and kill specific characters, either purposely or accidentally. It’s knowing that their fate lies in your hands which can be both good and bad depending on the character you’re controlling. The old age debate people have of whether they could survive being in a horror game/film, is answered to a degree when playing any choice-based titles, which is why many people enjoy them.

Whilst this was quite different to most choice-based games, in the sense that you only really have to make decisions just for the survival of one person as opposed to a group of people, it was still engaging and tense, albeit a little less. The main character (Zanna) , was unlikable for the most parts of the game, especially towards the beginning where she came across as quite selfish and narcissistic, even when choosing the morally correct choices. This made me not particularly care if she lived or died, naturally to actually finish the game I made sure to keep her alive until then since if she died it would be game over, but if she was part of a group of characters we were controlling, I wouldn’t think even think twice about killing her off.

Naturally, it was a short game only taking around two hours to complete so there weren’t too many choices to be made, but the choices aren’t to be taken lightly, a decision which may seem unimportant could mean life or death for Zanna. Like most choice-based games, each choice led you down a different route, unlocking new locations, choices, and death scenes. There was also the option of picking between timed choices and paused ones, both of which allowing for different kinds of playthroughs, whether you want a tense and fast-paced experience, or a more relaxed one particularly if playing with friends.

It does have quite a bit of replayability which is always good for a game, I played through it twice and I absolutely would again just to see more of the scenery the beautiful Lake Garda, and Northern Italy has to offer.

Review: Don’t Mess with Bober

Daniel Waite
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Review: Don’t Mess with Bober

Don’t Mess with Bober is one of those ridiculous games that will attract cult status. Its ridiculous ways will make you laugh, but don’t let this fool you. There are some classic jump scares and interesting dated mechanics that’ll amuse and entertain you throughout.

This first-person horror adventure was developed by Peace Studio and published by Axyos Games. It is a single-player and dark, sinister affair that is punctuated by crazy moments. It is almost slapstick in its design, and I adored the retro approach and the often OTT ways.

Don’t mess with Bober proves that you shouldn’t poke the beaver.

The hero has hit the countryside for some much-needed rest. However, this city lover can’t quite take to the rugged nature of the woods. Instead of leaving nothing but footprints, the haphazard protagonist decides to destroy the local beaver’s home. Bober isn’t best pleased, and he goes insane as a consequence.

To make matters worse, your friend knows that the local beaver is a bit of an angry beast. When he hears what you’ve done, he advises you to run for your life. Sadly, that is easier said than done as the demented beaver is hellbent on getting revenge!

You can run, but you can’t hide.

Don’t mess with Bober combines exploration elements with a sense of hide and seek. Sadly, there is no rest for the wicked as you run from place to place. After all, you are being chased by a rabid beaver who is pretty pissed off. You’ll move through forests, caves, and cabins as you stay in the shadow and avoid his devilish glare.

Alongside the cruel and chilling stealth elements are some fun moments. There is a fishing mini-game and plenty of narrow pathways to navigate. These claustrophobic environmental puzzles add a layer of tension as you must traverse them carefully while avoiding Bober.

Don’t Mess with Bober is dated.

I love retro games, and Don’t Mess with Bober took me back to the 80s. The rough textures, basic colours, and simple animation are great to look at. Although they may not impress lovers of modern titles, I think it looks and works perfectly.

The audio blends classic jump scare silence and sudden noises with calm ambient sounds. What may annoy some people is the use of AI voice acting. Sadly, it is a little wooden and subtitles don’t always match what is being said. Consequently, it is a shortcut that didn’t hit the mark.

Simple controls.

This doesn’t mess around with complex controls and unnecessary nonsense. Instead, it uses basic inputs to access doors, pick up items, and solve puzzles. Furthermore, moving around the map is a cinch, and if you take a wrong step, you are pushed in the right direction. Therefore, it doesn’t take long to master.

Replay value isn’t a feature to shout about. Once you’ve worked through the madness, there is little reason to return. However, if you are a completionist, there are collectables to search for if you wish to make your trek from Bober a bit harder.

Don’t Mess with Bober is fun but limited.

I don’t usually moan about AI, but the acting was terrible. This should have been addressed by the developer, but it wasn’t. Other than this complaint, I enjoyed Don’t Mess with Bober. It is pretty silly, and the dated aesthetic won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed the change of pace. Accordingly, I think it’s good, and I recommend buying it here! Can you escape the wrath of the beaver? Avoid his gaze, hide in the shadows, and just keep running.

Review: Edifier G2000 Pro Gaming Speakers

Andrew Edney
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Review: Edifier G2000 Pro Gaming Speakers

Here is our review of the Edifier G2000 Pro Gaming Speakers.

Experience a new level of audiovisual immersion with the budget friendly Edifier G2000 Pro cutting-edge sound system, designed for both style and performance. Housed in a sleek transparent cabinet with customizable RGB ambient lighting, it seamlessly blends aesthetics with powerful 7.1 surround sound. Whether you’re gaming, watching movies, or listening to music, its versatile connectivity options and finely tuned sound modes ensure an optimised experience for every moment.

Features

  • Bottom size is only about the size of your palm.
  • 270° panoramic transparent acoustic enclosure offering a wide acoustic field and a futuristic aesthetic.
  • 3-inch Full-range internal magnet driver delivers crystal-clear audio with rich details and an immersive soundstage.
  • Precision Acoustic Architecture for a refined, high-fidelity listening experience.
  • 7.1 surround sound for cinematic audio with immersive surround sound calibrated to perfection.
  • TempoFlow™ Lighting Technology features 7 theme lighting effects, synced to sound.
  • Supports Bluetooth, USB-A, USB-C, and AUX input for seamless audio streaming from multiple sources.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The Edifier G2000 Pro Gaming Speakers are quite small, but they pack a punch, they also have a cool unique look – a 270° panoramic transparent acoustic enclosure offering a wide acoustic field. They fit perfectly on any desk or wherever you want to put them.

Connection wise you can use the 3.5mm port, the USB ports (both USB-A and USB-C) or use Bluetooth – the choice is yours. All of the options are easy to use and work very well and you can pretty much connect them up to any device.

All the controls are on the speaker and are very easy to use.

Sound quality wise, the G2000 Pro is really good. USB mode sounds better than using the 3.5mm port because USB mode uses a built-in sound card, but thats not to say using the 3.5mm isn’t good!  They speakers also provide 7.1 surround sound, powered by the DSP chip and HECATE Gaming Center software to make it a really immersive experience.

You can switch effortlessly between Music, Game, and Movie modes, each finely tuned to enhance your listening experience based on various different content.

The all-new TempoFlow dynamic lighting effect technology synchronises light with sound. The rear lighting design ensures that it enhances the gaming atmosphere without overwhelming your nighttime visual experience. Featuring 7 built-in dynamic lighting modes you can customise it all from the HECATE Gaming Center software.

If you are on the lookout for a great sounding set of gaming speakers with some cool visual enhancements, then look, and listen no further!

The Edifier G2000 Pro Gaming Speakers are available now in Pink, White or Black and sell for around £149.99.

You can learn more from the Edifier website.

Review: Cleaning Up!

Daniel Waite
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Review: Cleaning Up!

Cleaning Up! is one of those calm and cosy titles that can be enjoyed with no pressure. Additionally, it has a bit of a strange plot that adds a crazy element to the gameplay. However, at its core, it is nicely balanced, enjoyable to play, and wickedly rewarding.

Unbound Creations has developed and published this cleaning title. It is a single-player cartoon-inspired game in which every ounce of dirt must be cleaned and removed. The result is a spick and span world of strange levels and weird smiling properties. As I said, it has a crazy element.

Find your path in Cleaning Up!

Cleaning Up! explores some weird and wonderful ideas about AI, work, and cleaning some interesting locations. The protagonist doesn’t know what he wants to do, but an app called Kleiner helps him to become a professional cleaner. Assisted by Spongey, the talking sponge, he must take on cleaning jobs in some strange locations.

First, the tasks seem simple. Hoover up waste and scrub the floors with a brush. Yet, as things progress, you’ll notice that each stage becomes more complex. Whether it is a museum, a dungeon, or a library, you must find every ounce of dirt and clean it up.

This seems very straightforward, but there are hidden bonuses to discover and penalties to avoid. Some vases can break, TVs that can blow up, and cats that should not be soaked by water. Moreover, it’s best to avoid the ghosts as they will cost you money.

New items and upgrades.

As Cleaning Up! evolves, you are given new items to keep things interesting. This is where the star system for each stage comes into play. With limited tools at first, you’ll score 1 or 2 stars. However, once you unlock everything and finish the game, you are invited to tackle new game + and gather 5 stars per level. This was amazing as it adds new items to each stage and plenty of depth.

Alongside the new items is an upgrade system. Each cleaning tool can be improved in several ways. This makes cleaning the larger stages a walk in the park, and no one needs to struggle once they have a fully upgraded arsenal of tools.

Cleaning Up! looks great.

The fixed camera and isometric viewpoint work extremely well with this genre. Additionally, each stage is a wonderland of filth and mess. Whether it is dirty floors, crunchy grime, or never-ending rubbish, Cleaning Up! looks amazing. Furthermore, the developer has done a great job with every unique stage design.

The audio is loud and fun. The soundtrack brings energy to every level, and this prevents things from feeling tedious and mundane. Moreover, the sound effects are accurate and great to hear.

Tight controls.

If you want an easy-to-play, fun, and simple-to-understand game, then Cleaning Up! is for you. The opening elements serve as a tutorial, and you can play this with a mouse and keyboard or a gamepad. Consequently, it caters for many gamers.

I completed this in around 5 hours, and I wanted much more. The levels are filled with secrets and fun elements to discover. However, once you’ve grabbed every star and you’ve upgraded every tool, there is little reason to return.

Cleaning Up! is a great indie title.

Despite its lack of replay value, I think Cleaning Up! is a great indie title. It looks good, and the audio is fun and in your face. Additionally, the stage design is interesting and well-considered. Accordingly, I love it and recommend buying it here! Can you become a professional cleaner? Download the app, get to work, and let Spongey be your guide!

Review: Ember Island

Josh Blackburn
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Review: Ember Island

I’m going to throw Ember Island precisely one bone: it made me think of the time I played Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts (a browser version anyway) for the first time. I was in Uni, and a friend brought it up to me. He said he couldn’t beat the first level. I took that as a challenge and, with a not inconsiderate amount of rage, managed to beat the level. Died immediately on the next one, but I called it a win. So I was prepared for a controller-smashingly hard old-school platformer.

Ember Island is not that. Its blurb makes a big thing about a lack of ‘easy mode’ and that the only way through is true mastery. Except that’s not remotely true. There’s no great challenge here except for wonky mechanics. It highlights the difference between true difficulty, where skill is required, and fake difficulty, where everything is just barely holding together. It’s a little baffling. Ember Island wants to be seen as a true-blue hard game but the problem is: it really isn’t hard.

Ember Island

Ghouls ‘n’ Mosquitos

Ember Island has us pick from three characters, with the aim of playing through twelve stages and sending the final boss packing. First up is the Knight. He has a good bit of health, a big pointy sword and the ability to throw a fireball. Next is the Rogue, whose special ability is quitting to the menu and picking the Knight instead. Lastly is the Mage, who has a normal ranged attack and a big, heavy ranged attack. Her true special ability is completely breaking the entire difficulty.

See, Ember Island is apeing old school platformers where enemies hit hard and are numerous. For a melee character, this means picking the right moment to strike. But the majority of enemies are basic melee, so a ranged character completely trivialises them. Speaking of trivial, most enemies and bosses are completely helpless when repeatedly jump-struck by the Knight. Hell, some of the bosses have a little ledge you can sit on and cast spells where they can’t hit you. Or, as there’s no contact damage, you can just stand inside them and swing. On the other end of the scale is the Rogue, whose blows have a weird hitbox, meaning I kept sailing right through basic enemies. It’s absolutely bizarre.

Ember Island

Burnt To A Crisp

The best way to illustrate Ember Island‘s lack of challenge is this: my first victory came in sixty minutes of playing. The second was fifty minutes later. Most of my deaths in that time were due to being knocked down bottomless pits. Usually by enemies that would cluster at the edge of platforms, knowing that there’s a weird delay before the Mage can fire after landing. Ember Island tries to insert difficulty through its lives system – something that should have stayed in the past – but even that trivialises itself.

The idea is that when you run out of lives, you restart the level instead of spawning at a checkpoint. But the individual levels are extremely short, containing only one checkpoint apiece. So a Game Over isn’t devastating, just a mildly annoying setback. It also doesn’t help that the set levels never change, so there’s not much point replaying once you’re done. The blurb suggests going for a high score, but the game is too simplistic for that I feel. You might as well just enter a big number into the calculator on your phone. Even shuffling around enemy placements, or re-ordering levels for different characters, would give us a reason to go back to it.

Ember Island

Ember Island – Basic And Broken

Alright, alright. Let me calm down for a moment and think of some positives. Platforming feels okay, with jumps being relatively precise. Though it keeps putting in jumps that require you to be right at the very edge of the platform. Hm. The art’s cute. There are a fair few enemy variations, though the same ones are splattered over every level. Boss variation isn’t bad either. Though it starts re-using them towards the end, which is a bit weird. I wish I had a bit more context too, rather than a smattering of text right at the very end.

When I finished my second victory by effortlessly stunlocking the final boss with jump-strikes, I knew this wasn’t the game for me. It feels amateur and easily exploitable. I applaud an attempt to turn back the clock, but the old-school games that stood the test of time were very carefully designed. At the end of the day, £12.79 is a lot of quarters for a game that fell over after just an hour, and offered no real reason to suffer through it again.

(Ember Island‘s Steam Page)

Review: Project Songbird

Cody Monfredi
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Review: Project Songbird

Project Songbird is a psychological horror with an emotional story. Developed by Connor Rush and published by FYRE Games, Project Songbird was released on March 26th, 2026. Project Songbird focuses on creating an atmospheric horror rather than relying on cheap jumpscares. It is somewhat of a slow burn into the horror elements, but once it hits, it doesn’t slow down much until the end. If you’ve read my previous psychological horror review, you know that I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to this genre. I love watching people play and analyze these games for their stories and their hidden truths. However, I hate being in the driver seat myself because I scare way too easily. Even without cheap jumpscares, I still felt on-edge most of the time.

Alongside the horror is a story that is deep and emotional. Players play as Dakota, a musician that wants to change their style of music, specifically to work through a recent traumatic event, and is having trouble doing so. To help with their writer’s block, their producer sends them to a remote cabin in the woods. The story does cover sensitive topics that many might have a hard time with. The game warns you about these topics in the beginning, so please keep this in mind if you feel you might get triggered.

Overall, I can easily recommend Project Songbird to psychological horror fans, especially those who like a good story. The experience isn’t a very long one—roughly 4-5 hours—but I thought the pacing is well done. I like that the story has a message behind it, one that developer Connor Rush expresses to players through their work and sometimes directly. I like that the horror is more atmospheric and isn’t always in your face. Whereas puzzles are weaved in nicely, I felt that combat was a bit forced at times, but this is more so a personal preference. Overall, Project Songbird is a great game that deserves the recommendation and recognition for the indie horror genre.

Project Songbird is rich in story. I will keep my review as spoiler free as possible, including images taken only in the first hour before much of the horror. My review will only cover some basic mechanics, story and horror elements as I encourage you to go in to the game as spoiler-free as possible. So, let’s write some music, because its time to discuss Project Songbird!

Dakota, Neon Songbird

For the next few paragraphs, I am going to give the set up to the story. Nothing mentioned is a major spoiler, but feel free to skip this section if you would like to not have anything spoiled.

Dakota is a musician who has previously released music under the stage name Neon Songbird. They’ve found some success in previous songs, enough to land them a producer, Rob. However, after experiencing a traumatic event, Dakota is struggling with a mixed case of writer’s block and aspirations of changing. Dakota wants to write a song that will help them work through their trauma but struggles to find the words. And on the other hand, the fans don’t seem too fond of this new style of music. Rob encourages Dakota to go back to the original stuff, the stuff that sells, but Dakota is persistent.

Rob encourages Dakota to write one more album—one that is ‘true’ to Neon Songbird. To help Dakota, Rob recommends that they go to his friend’s cabin in West Virginia woods. The cabin is said to have helped many musicians with their music in the past. Dakota agrees and heads off. Before heading off though, be sure to take a look in the bathroom mirror.

(No reflection, so Dakota must be a vampire.)

Jokes aside, Project Songbird is quite pleasing visually, especially after arriving at the cabin. Everything in the forest seems peaceful despite the few boarded up paths, including one that warns ‘keep out’. With the field recorder, Dakota can record various sounds to use in their music, such as a running stream or a woodpecker. Dakota can also pull out a vintage camera to take photos, as well as use the flash for when things get dark. Dakota can also chop firewood with a nearby axe.

However, Dakota is here to work. They jump into writing the album’s first song, delivering a moment that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I know practically nothing when it comes to writing or producing music. The game lets you choose from three options a style of music for each instrument. The noise produced was so awful it actually made me laugh. With night drawing close, Dakota goes to get some water from the pipe. The black sludge that came out is probably not drinkable though, so Dakota decides that is a problem for tomorrow. That night, something can be heard going through the trash bin out back.

That’s just the beginning. From here, the story gets deeper and I would encourage you to go into the rest as spoiler free as possible. It is an emotional story that is well written. It did a fantastic job at catching my attention and keeping it as a player. I wanted to know what was going to happen next with each unexpected plot point. I think it could also be relatable to many, but I’ll discuss this a bit more later on.

Of course it wouldn’t be a song about a musician without music. Project Songbird has quite a decent soundtrack, including some original songs. I really liked the ‘main song’ of the game (you’ll know what I mean if you play) and would love to add it on my Youtube playlist. Other records can be listened to as well but are optional. This is great for anyone who plans to stream the game to avoid copyright concerns.

The last thing to mention are the puzzles. They had varying levels of trickiness, ranging from pretty easy to quite complicated. The first puzzle you’ll run into is fixing the water and the instructions to do so are practically handed to the player. Some later puzzles, such as one involving a piano, get a little more challenging. None of them felt impossible to figure out though and I never needed to rely on a walkthrough guide.

Horrors in the Forest

This section will focus on the horror elements, describing the two types of enemies, as well as the combat. I won’t include images of the monsters nor describe what they look like, but I do think it’s important to discuss their combat/gameplay styles for my review.

There are two types of monsters Dakota will run into. The first is more along the lines of something in a Resident Evil game. In certain sections of the game, usually in a maze-like area, these creatures wander around. Dakota will to need run and hide from them or face them in combat. Weapons Dakota can carry, such as the axe mentioned earlier or a few types of guns, can be improved on at workbenches. However, Dakota is by no means a weapons-expert. Upgrades can only do so much for combat and bullets are a rare find. Though more challenging, this makes combat feel a tad bit forced—not forced to fight, but a ‘forced into the game’ way, which is odd. I wouldn’t have minded the game being fully stealth, maybe with some light combat in the form of blocking attacks, but again, this is just a personal preference.

The second monster type is a tried and trusted Doctor Who‘s angels type—moving if you aren’t looking. These ones I will say are quite creepy as they breathe heavily moving closer towards you. It’s an equally helpful and chilling way to know when its time to turn around. I’m not entirely sure if these monsters can be combatted as personally, I never tried to hit them. I can imagine though that they cannot.

For combat, the HUD is pretty much blank. There is no visible health bar for Dakota other than the border of the screen getting red. They can take pain killers to heal, but players will need to guess when the best time to do so is. There is also no bullet count for guns either. Players will need to manually check the barrel to see how many bullets remain to know when its time to reload.

Another important aspect I think deserves mention is the saving system. Project Songbird relies solely on autosaving. There are no manual saves or exit saves. Though this approach heightens the tension in key moments, I did feel the spacing was a bit too wide. Players can sometimes lose 10 to 15 minutes of gameplay by a death, which isn’t much, but it can turn off some people—especially if much of that time is just walking around collecting items.

As mentioned, the horror in Project Songbird is a slow burn. It does not rely on cheap jumpscares to do the bulk of its scaring. Instead, it builds an atmosphere that keeps players tense and on edge. It wants to immerse players in the psychological horror, blending horror with the narrative. Between these two, it doesn’t feel one takes center-stage over the other. Despite my dislike for the combat, I was willing to put it aside in order to continue on in the journey.

A Personal Story

Before concluding, the last thing I’d like to discuss is Connor Rush’s decision to speak to players directly. The game opens with a handful of fourth‑wall breaks, where Rush talks directly to the player behind the screen. Rush states that this is their 7th game, having started developing Project Songbird during sophomore year of university as a way to “express and work through some difficult feelings I was having with regard to my identity and place in life.” Rush then states that “This game is nothing if not a labor of love and a deeply personal passion project.” This continues to happen a few times after as you play through the game.

Initially, I was a bit turned off about this. I thought it was an odd choice and a bit cheesy too. In some ways, I still do think this, but I think it’s similar to that of a creative non-fiction essay. Much like Connor Rush and Dakota, I too have worked through troubling moments in my life through my writing—particularly in my creative non-fiction essays where I needed to reflect on my own life experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Musicians often do similar things in their songs, with Dakota being a clear example. Why can’t game developers do the same with their games?

However, I think there could be a way to work it in a little better. The first thought that came to mind was Dr. Hill in Until Dawn. If you’re unfamiliar, Dr. Hill is a psychiatrist that appears throughout the game’s story, usually between chapters. For most of the game, he appears to break the fourth wall and address the players directly, commenting on their choices and reacting to their decisions. Near the end, the game reveals that he’s actually speaking to another character. I don’t think Project Songbird could have used the same setup, but it’s a good example of how a game can blur the fourth wall by weaving it more deliberately into the narrative. I also think just keeping the game as a metaphor rather than outright telling players that it is would have worked as well, but I digress.

Overall, Project Songbird deserves its very positive Steam rating. The game gets a lot right, particularly its horror and its narrative. The game’s flaws are too minor to outweigh its positives. I can easily recommend this one to anyone who is a fan of psychological horrors with a story. The narrative and deeper message perhaps aren’t life changing, but I do think many creatives will be able to relate in some way—hopefully without the trauma and the monsters. Just remember that your art, whatever that may look like, is for you. Even if there isn’t a whole lot of fans or popularity gained, don’t forget who the artist is—yourself.

Go out there and make some art and thank you for reading!

Review: Restore Your Island

Daniel Waite
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Review: Restore Your Island

Restore Your Island is a calm and cosy experience where time and stress are out of the window. Instead, they are replaced by a desert island that is filled with rubbish. This disgusting sight would put off many mere mortals, but you are willing to accept the challenge and clean everything you see. I have recently covered Clean Up Earth, and I enjoyed it despite its flaws. Thankfully, this is more polished, and it refrains from a sci-fi edge.

Paiband Game Studio has published and developed this cleaning simulation experience. It is a single-player title that uses a first-person perspective. This offers an immersive design that works with the filthy environment. On top of the beach cleaning, you must save the local wildlife and find treasure hidden deep beneath the sands.

Restore Your Island tells the tale of loss and discovery.

Losing a family member is a heartbreaking and troubling time. However, when you’ve already hit rock bottom, you can’t get any lower. The protagonist in Restore Your Island has inherited a small desert island. With no house and mountains of mess, this was an epic cleaning challenge.

Starting with limited tools and few skills, you must work methodically to clean each location. There are 4 categories of rubbish to collect, and plenty of upgrades to unlock. If you keep the food, glass, plastic, and metal separated, you’ll earn more money. Accordingly, some minor planning helps to line your pockets.

The cleaning element dominates proceedings, but there are some base building elements to restore the island. This was rudimentary, and any expansion was linked to rebuilding the piers and little else. Therefore, if you want a deep and rich building experience, this won’t be the game for you.

Help the environment and the animals.

The mountain of rubbish feels never-ending. However, as the game develops, you’ll unlock an automatic grabbing tool, a sand sifter, and other wacky items. The automatic tool eventually upgrades to a powerful hoover, and this is when the rubbish melts away. I liked the upgrade elements, but they made the game too easy. Therefore, I think the developer needs to balance things out.

As you clean the beaches, stranded animals appear. With plastic around their necks and other items hurting them, you must cut them free and assist them. This was nice to see, and it was good to help the seagulls, seals, and other sea creatures. Although this has little bearing on the action, it supported the theme and was heartwarming.

Restore Your Island looks fantastic.

Restore Your Island has a realistic edge with some nice visuals. The rescued animals were a treat to look at, and I liked the animations. Furthermore, the use of a day-night cycle and appropriate lighting worked incredibly well. I had no frame rate problems, and there were no glitches during my short playtime. Subsequently, it is nicely polished and pleasant to look at.

The audio is a relaxing blend of animal noises, crashing waves, and gentle winds. Additionally, you can purchase cassettes to listen to uplifting music if that takes your fancy. This was a nice edge, even though it wasn’t essential.

Excellent controls.

If you prefer a gamepad, Restore Your Island has you covered. I tested this with a mouse and keyboard, and controller, and I couldn’t find fault. Either way, the layout was easy to understand, and the inputs were responsive.

I think I invested around 4 to 5 hours, found every hidden treasure, and thoroughly cleaned every grain of sand. Consequently, there is no reason for me to return. This was disappointing because the base game was enjoyable and relaxing.

Restore Your Island is short but sweet.

If you want a deep indie game that offers hours of replay value, this won’t be for you. However, if you want a relaxing time and a heartwarming theme, Restore Your Island is a great game. It looks good, and I enjoyed the pleasant audio. Furthermore, it is easy to play and cleaning a filthy island is always good for your soul. Accordingly, I like it and recommend buying it here! Can you make this desert island your home? Grab your tools, organise the chaos, and rebuild your piece of paradise.

Review: Darts VR2: Bullseye

Daniel Waite
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Review: Darts VR2: Bullseye

Darts VR2: Bullseye has latched onto the modern revival of a once-considered “old-man’s” game. With younger stars making their way to the top of the darts world, this sport is now pretty darn cool. Accordingly, when you get the chance to play your friends in a virtual darting experience, you won’t want to miss the chance.

This fun and realistic sports game was developed by Gamitronics. It is a single-player or multiplayer experience. There are several game modes and online tournaments to take part in. Additionally, there is a party mode if you have plenty of friends who love to throw some virtual arrows. Whatever mode I selected, I fell for its charms. This game works perfectly for the Meta Quest 3, and I adore the lively atmosphere, interesting game modes, and the casual approach.

Darts VR2: Bullseye lets you become a star.

There is no story and no career mode. Instead, it is your skills, patience, and an online leaderboard that sit at the fore. Had the developer incorporated an offline NPC tournament, there could have been a plot to sink your teeth into. Instead, you let the darts do the talking.

With several game modes to tackle, there is plenty to keep you going. I spent my time playing 501, Around the World, Killstreak, and Zombie Hunting. Sadly, I didn’t tackle the party mode, nor did I experience an online tournament. Both of these elements will be played to death once the game is released.

A fun edge to each classic mode.

Darts VR2: Bullseye does a great job of adding some zing to each game mode. 501 is pretty standard as you aim to finish on a double. However, it was a little weird that you never busted your score. Instead, you can keep throwing for a double regardless of any poorly thrown darts. Despite this weird approach, 501 was great fun. Yet, I found myself practising on Around the World and Killstreak.

These game modes demand accuracy and consistency. If you cannot throw straight or you regularly miss your target, you’ll become extremely frustrated with either game mode. However, with a little practice, you’ll improve your accuracy and your score. Darts VR2: Bullseye changes tact with its high-octane Zombie Hunting mode. Here, you must hit zombies as they close in on your position. If you do not kill them, they’ll end your life and your run.

Each of these modes highlights the brilliance of the VR headset and how well the game plays. Every dart feels flighty and well-weighted. Moreover, once you get into your groove, there is a nice real-world momentum to the action.

Darts VR2: Bullseye has a great atmosphere.

The developer has incorporated a short walk-on for the core modes. This was amazing as you feel like a pro walking to the stage. Yet, I’d have loved them to make more of this. Maybe some custom music or settings to bring it to life. The graphics are pleasant, and the game flows nicely. There were no glitches, and I never suffered from a sense of motion sickness. 

The audio works incredibly well. There is some nice commentary from your scorer, and the darts make an almighty thud as they hit the board. This realistic element was appreciated, but I liked the fantasy nature of the zombie mode as well. I genuinely jumped as zombies groaned and ran toward me. This mode mixed things up while keeping you on your toes.

Amazing to play.

VR games can be a bit of a handful. Sadly, sometimes the balance of movement to on-screen action can suffer from latency problems. Fortunately, Darts VR2: Bullseye doesn’t have this issue. The darts fly nicely, and the simple inputs let you focus on your score or the horde of zombies who wish to eat your brains.

Once I tackle the online leaderboards and tournaments, this will be an addictive game with a competitive edge. Without these elements, it is more of a casual, fun game to enjoy alone or with friends. Therefore, replay value will depend on your love of the sport and competitive nature.

Darts VR2: Bullseye is a great sequel.

This is the sequel to a much-loved predecessor. Therefore, I know the fanbase will be eager to grab their virtual darts and get to work. They won’t be disappointed with what they see. The action is smooth, and the visuals add a sense of realism. Furthermore, there are plenty of game modes to keep you entertained. Accordingly, it is great, and I recommend buying it here! Can you master every game mode? Grab your darts, pick your poison, and aim for those treble 20s.

Review: Serafim S3

Daniel Waite
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Review: Serafim S3

The Serafim S3 is a fantastic alternative to the much-loved Backbone controller. It has a pleasant ergonomic design with a heavy gaming focus. Moreover, it has a dedicated app for button mapping and easy access to your favourite platforms and games.

This easy-to-use approach was appreciated. I’ve tried and tested many of these mobile phone conversion controllers, and I hate wasting my time. Accordingly, the plug-and-play and friendly design made me breathe a sigh of relief. Everything about this product is aimed towards gamers on the move. The durable build quality and the strong extending case ensure that many phones can be used with this controller.

Word of warning, though, if you have an older iPhone with the Lightning connector, this device will not work. It is USB-C only, and this may cause a few issues. If you have an older phone, check for compatibility or buy a specific model for your device.

What’s in the box of the Serafim S3?

  • The box is small but attractive. Furthermore, it is hard-wearing, and the contents were protected.
  • The Serafim S3 houses most modern phones. The extending case holds your device safely, and you can game with ease. There is a through-charging port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the buttons are well-positioned.
  • Learn the basics with the user manual.

Technical aspects.

The Serafim S3 has no built-in battery. This may annoy some people, but the through-charging point ensures that your phone never runs out of power. This worked extremely well, and I like the lighter and cleaner design choice. The USB-C port is positioned nicely, and many phones will be well-balanced.

This device is compact when in its “folded” state. It is approximately 26 x 9.4 x 3.4 cm in dimension. This was great as it can sit in your bag without causing an issue. Although it is compact, it can house up to a 17.9 cm long phone while supporting up to 3 mm cases. This is ideal if you want to keep your phone protected and you have one of the larger modern devices.

Once your phone is connected to the USB-C connection, you can start playing whatever game you have installed. Alternatively, you can use the free-to-download app to access a range of platforms and games. It must be noted that you must have any relevant subscription services to use PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, or GeForce Now.

The app.

This is a unified gaming hub that is compatible with Android 8.0+ and iOS 17.0+. The app automatically aggregates every game you install into an easy-to-use interface. Furthermore, everything remains faithful to its original platform, and this makes it easier to navigate.

Alongside this, you may use the content creation tools if you love to look at screenshots, video clips, or edit your media. Furthermore, there is an option to live stream to Twitch with integrated chat support. Although this wasn’t my go-to option, I love the freedom to use it, and many gamers will adore this feature.

Build quality.

Whenever there are moving parts, you need your controller to be durable. Thankfully, the Serafim S3 is unbelievably robust. The sliding mechanism is smooth and strong. Moreover, the areas that touch your phone clasp the case with minimal pressure. This reduces damage to your device while holding it firmly in place.

The USB-C connector isn’t as strong as its peers, but I wasn’t worried. If you connect your phone correctly, there will never be a risk of damage to your phone or the controller. I was impressed by the through-charging port. It is well-positioned and doesn’t impact the balance of the device.

If you want an ergonomic controller that looks great, the Serafim S3 should be on your radar. The carbon wrap offers a stylish and futuristic look. Moreover, the etched handles deliver a light friction grip that reduces the risk of accidents. The buttons are nicely positioned, and the analogue sticks have Hall Effect switches for accuracy and reduced stick drift.

Is the Serafim S3 worth it?

If you commute to work or love to game when others are watching TV, this is the perfect device. It is compact enough to sit in your bag and is suitable for many modern phones. Furthermore, it is lightweight, easy to handle, and the free-to-download software is a joy to use. Accordingly, I love it and recommend buying it here!

(More information on Serafim can be found here!)

The Serafim S3 has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold Award.

(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for an unbiased and free review!)

Review: The Rogue Prince of Persia

Daniel Waite
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Review: The Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia is one of those games that is good but not that good. It is enjoyable and vibrant, but it doesn’t really stick in the memory. This isn’t a bad thing as such, but it neither made me gawp in amazement, nor did it disappoint me to the point of wanting to rage quit. Sadly, this game sits in a saturated genre that has some huge titles to play. Therefore, it’s not unsurprising that it felt a little underwhelming.

This rogue-like adventure was developed by Evil Empire and published by UBISOFT. It is a single-player game that has many similarities to Dead Cells. This isn’t surprising as both games share the same development team. Accordingly, you can expect some nice mechanics, interesting elements, and well-polished moments. However, many of the greatest elements feel extremely familiar, and this unfortunately lacks originality as a consequence.

The Rogue Prince of Persia tells a suitable and enjoyable tale.

An unknown Prince and a Hun army are familiar tropes for this franchise. However, it is the time-bending mystical bola that supports the core genre mechanics. Whenever the hero dies, the action rewinds 3 days. This impressive time-looping power must be manipulated if you are to right the wrongs, rescue your family, and defeat the Hun overlord.

The story isn’t the best I’ve heard, but it works well with the franchise and the genre mechanics. Furthermore, it complements the free-flowing parkour moments. As you traverse the world, you’ll use acrobatic strengths, mind-boggling leaps of faith, and a handful of weapons to progress and face every boss. Alongside this, you’ll enjoy temporary and permanent buffs as you push on through each playthrough.

Acrobatics at its best.

The Rogue Prince of Persia excels as a buttery smooth side-scroller. The ability to leap chasms, climb walls, and use the tiniest of platforms to your advantage was phenomenal. This is where this game excels. I adored the traversal elements and the sense of freedom. Furthermore, searching for secrets and finding key items was a joy.

The combat was impressive, and using the environment to your benefit was wonderful. The use of your primary sword or secondary weapon was fantastic. Each must be used wisely, especially when facing faster and more aggressive opponents. Yet, it was great to kick your foes into traps or avoid conflict altogether if you wish to maximise your opportunities.

The Rogue Prince of Persia looks fantastic.

The smooth traversal elements relied on crisp and vibrant visuals. Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch version runs with limited issues. My only complaint was the painfully slow loading screens. This was a shame as it broke up the sense of immersion and made me frustrated on many occasions. 

The audio is a key element that adds drama to each segment. The responsive music and sound effects match the hectic and often high-octane on-screen moments. Furthermore, the soundtrack blends traditional Persian instrumentation with modern elements. The result is a vibrant soundscape that is great to listen to.

Grab a physical version on Nintendo Switch.

Exceptional controls.

I was blown away by the fluidity and the responsive nature of the control setup. I’m not the greatest fan of the tiny Joy-Cons, but I found The Rogue Prince of Persia a joy to play. A simple to understand layout helps you to master the fundamentals, and the responsive inputs let you tackle every foe and tight space with ease.

This has a “one more run” vibe. I died and failed more often than not. However, a small sliver of progress helped me to move towards the finale. Therefore, it is oddly addictive, and learning new permanent skills and experimenting with temporary buffs was fantastic.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a good indie title.

This franchise is filled with exceptional games. Sadly, The Rogue Prince of Persia doesn’t quite hit that height. However, I’m not too disappointed as I enjoyed it regardless. It has many positives without blowing you away. Moreover, its addictive nature and exceptional aesthetics are enough to keep you coming back for more. Accordingly, I love it and recommend buying it here! Can you master time and beat the Hun overlords? Understand your powers, traverse every stage, and rescue your family.

(A physical version of the game can be purchased for Nintendo Switch!)

Review: Grind Survivors

Daniel Waite
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Review: Grind Survivors

I wasn’t going to touch Grind Survivors with a bargepole. This isn’t because I thought it would be terrible, no, it’s because I knew that it would be super addictive and impossible to put down. This game has kept me up late at night. Moreover, it is my go-to whenever I get frustrated with other games I’m reviewing. In short, it’s my addictive crutch that prevents me from going to bed.

This action rogue-like was developed by Pushka Studios and published by Assemble Entertainment. It is a single-player game that demands you to explore each dark, dank, and dangerous location. There are multiple levels of difficulty to wade through, and plenty of runes and weapons to play with. On top of this, it has a skill tree, loads of temporary and permanent buffs, and it is hellishly addictive. Consequently, it has pushed this much-loved genre onto the next level.

Grind Survivors = Survival and no story.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have played at least one game from this genre. There are dark and sinister ones, pixelated and cruel ones, and some that opt for a colourful but evil approach. Either way, they all have one thing in common: there is no story. Instead, you are asked to focus on one major element…survival. This is easier said than done, as the balanced gameplay always keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Alongside this, you need a healthy dose of luck if you are to make it to the end of the wave and destroy the gargantuan boss. I’ll admit that this took me an awful long time to do on every level. I like to think of myself as reasonably adept with this genre, but Grind Survivors pushed me all of the way.

Many plates to spin.

At its core, Grind Survivors is reasonably easy to understand. Effectively, you have one hero who must choose his weapon and get to work. Each wave becomes harder, and the volume of monsters increases. This forces you into many tight corners as you slowly improve your weaponry and permanent skills. However, it is the temporary buffs and abilities that make this so special.

As you play each round, you are forced to move across the map. Unlike its peers, you are not rewarded for simply herding your foes and collecting XP. Instead, you must explore the world and find different alters to improve your skills and find resources. New weapons and ash piles are the key elements to keep an eye out for. Ash is used to improve your guns, and new weapons can be merged to improve your gun of choice.

With plenty of destructive tools on offer, you’re spoilt. I opted for a shotgun and machine guns as I liked the different styles. However, there are plenty of weapons and different stats to play with.

During a playthrough, you must choose attack or defence-based skills. Alternatively, you can increase your XP, magnetic powers, or curse your bullets. You must be wise with your decisions, as each small choice has a massive impact on your chances of survival.

Grind Survivors looks amazing.

With so much going on, Grind Survivors should have had performance issues. The screen fills up with bodies and projectiles, but it never stutters. Additionally, you’ll be firing off abilities, dashing, and shooting like hell, but it takes it in its stride. Alongside this, it looks fantastic. The post-apocalyptic world is grim, and the monsters are equally appalling. Yet, there is enough variety that repetition doesn’t set in.

If you dislike long and uncomfortable games, you will not like this genre. It is a cacophony that rarely ceases. With aggressive gunfire, weird sci-fi elements, and an OTT soundtrack, Grind Survivors will make your ears scream.

Exceptional controls.

I’m lazy, and I used the auto function for my abilities and my firing. However, if this isn’t for you, you can use manual controls. Either way, it is great to play, and everything is well explained. If you are new to the genre or want a different challenge, this is a game that can be mastered in no time at all.

If I didn’t have to work or sleep, I’d play Grind Survivors forever. It is so addictive that it should come with a warning. You’ll die, fail, and die some more, but it doesn’t matter. Instead, you’ll shout, cry, brush yourself off, and get to playing again.

Grind Survivors is a brilliant game.

I thought I had had enough of this genre. I love it, but everything feels familiar. Thankfully, Grind Survivors takes things to the next level. The action is fun, challenging, and refreshing. Moreover, it is nicely balanced, and you will get your ass kicked repeatedly. Accordingly, it is amazing, and I recommend buying it here! Can you make it through every wave? Pick your weapon, upgrade your hero, and expect to die every time.

Review: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (PC)

Josh Blackburn
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Review: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (PC)

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Hideo Kojima’s newest… thing, has hiked its way onto PC. It gave me something of a revelation. I’ve realised I really like games that are ninety percent slow and meditative, but will suddenly go off the rails. Stuff like Pacific Drive or The Long Dark. In this case, I hiked my way carefully up a big hill, only to realise I’d blundered into a region of giant ghosts that sent me running off the hilltop and rolling right down to the bottom. It was great.

Death Stranding 2 seems fully aware of its meditative qualities too. It’s full of grand vistas, and has a haunting soundtrack provided by artists like Woodkid. As a keen hiker, pulling myself up a steep hill and being rewarded with a view of the world beyond is fantastic. For those of us that prefer something a bit faster paced, though, there is a good deal of action. I will say it doesn’t marry the two particularly well, but it’s a lovely package overall. I just wish it would stop trivialising its main features.

Death Stranding 2

Going Down Under

I should say up front that Death Stranding 2 is my first proper Hideo Kojima game. I vaguely knew what to expect, but it feels very much like plugging into someone’s stream of consciousness. Here’s my best summing of the plot. After connecting up the whole of North America in the first game, Sam Porter Bridges is in hiding with his adopted baby, Lou. He’s soon tracked down though, and asked to connect up a chunk of Mexico and, after a great personal tragedy, do the same with Australia. His journey takes him across the continent linking up with friends and fighting against old enemies.

I love how weird everything is. Take the cast of characters that surround Sam. There’s Deadman, who is Frankenstein’s monster in a sharp suit; Heartman, a man whose heart cuts out at set intervals, Tarman, whose hand is lost and swimming through tar, and Dollman, who is a possessed doll. Meanwhile we’re constantly finding links to ‘Beaches’, which are similar to afterlives, and fighting giant, ghostly monsters. The first boss fight is against a giant slimy skull, with big tentacles coming off it. I love it.

That said, the writing is a bit weird too, and not in such a positive way. For one thing, you can basically separate all characters into good ones who are nice to each other, and bad ones that are not. There’s very little conflict within the group. Lots of emotions, but little friction. Sam himself mostly drifts about, with the vast majority of dialogue said at him, while he just nods along. It’s like everyone is vying for a turn to stand up and talk about themselves. Every time he links up a new node, the hologram there will vomit their backstory all over him. Bit odd, but the fascinating spin on the apocalypse makes it bearable.

Death Stranding 2

Best Foot Forward

Gameplay-wise, Death Stranding 2 is very similar to the first game. We’re tasked with transporting cargo from one area to another, and linking up new sections of the continent as we do so. The cargo goes on your back, you draw the route and off you go. The actual hiking is great. Things feel weighty, so walking over uneven terrain can knock you off balance and send the precious cargo tumbling. Picking a sensible route is vital, particularly in the late game when you’re scrambling over mountains. A lot of the later missions are just one long route, too, and I really enjoyed the long treks.

Picking a sensible route is key, because there are other dangers than stacking it over a cliff. BTs, akin to something like ghosts, will beset you if you come near to them. Bandits will try and shoot you up and take your cargo. Combat is fairly basic third-person fare. You sneak kill as many bandits as you can and when that goes wrong, you pull out your biggest gun and open fire. Shooting feels quite nice and there’s a dizzying range of weapons to choose from. BTs, on the other hand, feel quite tense as you generally need to sneak around them. Generally, the trekking and the combat is married well.

You can pick a route that avoids them to spare your cargo, or be brave and push through. Ever so often though, it forces you into combat, which I liked less. The boss fights especially, while functionally nice, felt a bit out of place. A lot just have you shooting giant glowing weak spots. An odd action focus for an otherwise slow paced game. Most annoying is a repeated section where you have to fight a Solid Snake cosplayer. I will stress that, mechanically, it’s not bad at all. Sam’s dodge is a little pathetic, but it’s serviceable otherwise. It just felt like another, more generic game kept intruding on my Death Stranding 2 experience.

Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding 2 – Calm And Chaotic

I don’t think Death Stranding 2 agrees with me though, as it keeps handing me tools that trivialise the bits I like. The massive range of guns and tools all felt redundant when pretty much every enemy went down to the basic assault rifle. What’s more, I was a little disappointed by the focus on vehicles. Balancing the load on my back felt like it had a sense of risk, but by the mid-game I was just loading things into my pick-up off roader and slowly trundling to my goal. It still felt meditative, but it almost felt like cheating. Especially when it came to hazardous materials.

Still, these gripes aside, I did very much enjoy Death Stranding 2. Giving us the overall aim of linking up Australia, and showing it all connect up on the map, made the deliveries a lot more fun. It even does the multiplayer well. Structures you build, like bridges and generators, can show up in other people’s worlds. As can their paths carved through the snow. It brought in a great unspoken feeling of camaraderie, which helps reinforce the themes brought across by the story’s characters.

In the end Death Stranding 2 really hit that note of calm-chaos I was looking for. Driving my pick-up through the torrential rain, listening to some of Woodkid’s finest, and seeing the lights of my destination grow closer was a great feeling. Then I’d be drawn into a firefight, or a desperate run from BTs and it would fall into chaos. I was never bored by Death Stranding 2 and the bonkers story kept me invested right to the end. While all its parts are not perfectly lashed together, Death Stranding 2 is one hell of a package.

(Death Stranding 2: On The Beach‘s Steam Page)

Review: The Coin Game

Daniel Waite
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Review: The Coin Game

I’m a huge fan of arcades. Obviously, I love video games, but I also enjoy low-wager slot machines and other silly endeavours. Therefore, when The Coin Game was sent my way, I was giddy with excitement. The opportunity to play an array of weird and wonderful arcade games from the comfort of my chair was too good to turn down.

This odd simulation title was developed by Devotid and published by Kwalee. It is a single-player experience that mashes together fairground rides, penny slots, and skill games. Furthermore, there is a survival mode, birthday mode, and quick play. Although I enjoyed the challenge of the survival option, I spent most of my time with unlimited cash in the birthday mode.

The Coin Game tells you to forget the story and get gaming. 

The Coin Game doesn’t really have a story. Instead, it thanks you for being part of the process. This was a nice touch, but the developer missed a trick. The world is full of odd robot NPCs, and a huge story and mountains of lore could have been introduced. Instead, you are left to your own devices as you explore the world. 

The core concept of this is simple. Pick 1 of 5 gaming locations, and try to win as many tickets as possible. The tickets can be exchanged for prizes, at quite frankly, a ridiculous rate. However, this is to be expected. Thankfully, it doesn’t really hold you back, and pushing for bigger and better prizes is a must. 

Survival vs birthday mode. 

The Coin Game offers depth if you fancy trying your luck. Survival mode demands that you look after yourself while managing your bank account. Sadly, this does mean that you’ll have to deliver papers, pizzas, or take on other remedial tasks. Yet, needs must, as those arcade games and fairground rides won’t pay for themselves. Although I’m not against this idea, per se, it did make experimenting with the games a little tricky.

This is where the birthday mode comes to the fore. Money is not a problem, and you can forget about riding your bike or taking the bus like a peasant. Instead, you have a limo to take you between each location. Additionally, if you run out of cash, fear not. Luckily, there is a “Crystal Dome” style cash-grabbing event to refill your coffers. 

The games vary from simple ball dropping and coin pushing moments to skill-based endeavours. This blend is fantastic, and there is bound to be a game for everyone. However, if I didn’t have unlimited funds, it would have been quite tricky, and this is one of the downsides of the survival option. 

The Coin Game has its issues. 

I’m not normally one to complain about frame rates. However, The Coin Game stutters and hangs horribly at times. This is a shame, as the world is fun to explore. It feels huge, and riding your bike across its streets was enjoyable. Additionally, once things had settled down, the games ran smoothly and winning every ticket was pleasurable.

The audio is as loud, energetic, and bizarre as you’d expect. This is juxtaposed by some calm ambient sounds. This intelligent soundscape matched the demands of the arcade moments. Furthermore, it offered some peace as you explored the world.

Rough controls. 

I enjoyed The Coin Game, but the UI feels like an afterthought. Moreover, the controls are clunky and badly ported. On top of this, there is little hand-holding, and this confuses. In short, a better tutorial and smoother controls would improve this title. 

Replay value depends on how much you enjoy the arcade games. The survival mode is good, but it doesn’t have enough depth to keep you going. Therefore, if you get bored with the large library of arcade machines, you’ll probably uninstall it. 

The Coin Game is a great concept. 

I adore what the developer has tried to achieve with The Coin Game. It is fun, silly, and a little out there. However, it has its faults, and that holds it back. Had it been ported better, or if there was more depth, it would be a cult masterpiece. Instead, it is a decent indie game, and I recommend buying it here! Can you get every prize you desire? Pick a machine, try your luck, and get those tickets. 

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