Game Reviews
Tra la la
Hob – Review
Runic Games are best known for their Torchlight games, a fantastic take on the Diablo formula while making it more easier to dig into for newer players. Their latest release, Hob, is vastly different from what they have done before, though inklings of strong design elements and presentation are still found here. Played from an isometric fixed camera perspective, Hob is an action-adventure game with platforming elements, in a unique world that blends technology and wildlife in a fascinating manner. You play as a silent protagonist, who is given a magical arm of sorts by a giant robot, after losing their own due to an infection. The arm gives the characters special powers, both in combat and traversal, and you set about discovering the secrets of the mysterious world Hob is set in. You are e...
South Park: The Fractured But Whole – Review
Departing from its Dungeons & Dragons theme in The Stick Of Truth, South Park: The Fractured But Whole parodies the Superhero craze that’s been growing over the last few years. And, as much I miss the jabs at classic RPG elements in the previous game, The Fractured But Whole easily manages to deliver a hilarious South Park experience that remains true to the series’ roots. It’s not easy to notice a big visual improvement over the previous title, however, The Fractured But Whole does look overall sharper and vibrant in places. It’s no visual masterpiece, but looks exactly like the show, and can be easily mistaken for an actual episode for anyone passing by. The combat animations look great, and the overall presentation is top notch. The game carries over the adult humor from the shows, ...
Guns, Magic & Jetpacks – ELEX – Review
For many fans of early third person Role Playing Games, Piranha Bytes will be a familiar name. They were behind some of the best RPGs I played back then, especially the Gothic series. Sure, they may not hold up against today’s action RPGs, but back then they were a rare gem. Elex is now their latest project, and an ambitious one at that. It’s an action RPG with deep lore, tons of questing, a seamless and absolutely gorgeous massive world to explore, weighty dialogue choices, a lot of dialogues (I love that), great mix of fantasy and sci-fi, interesting post apocalyptic setting (well, technically it’s post-post apocalypse like Horizon: Zero Dawn), and a lot more that I really enjoy about it. The opening cut-scene sets the stage for the overarching story – a comet hits earth and decim...
Gran Turismo Sport – Review
In many ways Gran Turismo Sport feels like a blast from the past, with modern graphics acting as the fuel propelling it. While keeping the obsession with cars and the joy of tuning them intact, Gran Turismo Sport adds some new elements, both welcome and unwelcome. And there’s a reason why this game is called Gran Turismo ‘Sport’, instead of being a numbered Gran Turismo game – the focus is very much on the Sport aspect of driving, and the sportsmanship around it. Let’s talk about the good first, and there is definitely a lot to like here. The racing and simulation part of Gran Turismo still feels unmatched. You can tune the settings to exactly how you want the racing to feel. Hard assists make the driving really simplified, while turning all the assists off offers a deep simulation e...
Hitting Rock Bottom – WWE 2K18 – Review
2K’s WWE games have always been a mixed bag. They are easy enough to jump into and enjoy, but have failed to deliver a more compelling experience beyond that. Sadly, WWE 2K18 follows in the same footsteps. There’s a significant visual upgrade, and playing it is still fun for the most part. However, sticking with it for the long run also means having to bear with many of the game’s issues. Let’s discuss some of the positives first, since I did and still am having fun with the game. The visual upgrade is instantly noticeable. Wrestling superstars look more lifelike and realistic, and movement animations are vastly improved. Their likeness is stunningly recreated on screen, and it gives way to a more immersive experience overall. The player roster is also massive, with over 170 players availa...
Shots Fired at Nakatomi Plaza – Tokyo 42 – Review
Tokyo 42 definitely has style, and it has it in spades. It’s an isometric stealth shooter that takes you across the futuristic Tokyo, as you try to clear your name of a murder you did not commit. There are hints of inspiration from the presentation in older GTA games, and the game is littered with modern pop culture references. While all of this definitely gives way to a unique look, the game stumbles when it comes to feeling just right. You play as an average Joe framed for murder. The opening scenes of the game sets up its cyberpunk future, where the government has eyes inside your very home. After a short escape sequence, you are contacted by an unknown organization offering help in return for your services. In typical video games fashion, those services mean assassination, and you neve...
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony – Review
The Danganronpa series has reveled in the absurdity of throwing high school students in the most bizarre situations, rife with mystery, murder, and interpersonal relations. Oh, and there’s a bloodthirsty bear overlord. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony follows in the same tradition, and lives up to the franchise name that has given way to such a variety of pop culture media, including manga and anime. You play as a high school student, trapped in a school, and overseen by a bear named Monokuma. There are others trapped with you, and together you need to figure out how to survive, while the bear issues out orders stating that the only way to survive is by killing others without getting caught. The strength of the game are the fascinating cast, the mysterious setting, and the compelling ...
Making A Mordorer – Middle Earth: Shadow Of War – Review
Much like Middle Earth Shadow Of Mordor, Shadow Of War doesn’t try too hard to fit into Tolkien’s version of the Middle Earth lore. And that comes with its benefits and drawbacks. However, despite the inconsistent narrative, the core gameplay and the systems revolving around it are really strong, and the overall scope of the game is much larger than the predecessor. Minutes into the game you are thrown back into the shoes of Talion and Celebrimbor, intent on forging a new ring. Things go wrong almost immediately afterwards, and you spend the rest of Shadow of War trying to build up an army, and protect mankind against from the evil forces of Sauron and his minions. I would highly recommend not taking the main plot with much seriousness or try to hold it up against the canon lore. The game ...
The Solus Project – Review
Being humanity’s last hope of survival is a huge burden to bear. The Solus Project puts you in the shoes of the last surviving member of a rocket crash, while scouting a new planet for signs of sustainability. Earth has been destroyed, and it’s now on you to find out if the planet you’ve crashed on can be humanity’s new home, and if so, how do you get that message out to everyone else. The site of your crash landing is close to a beach, with alien planets and galaxies stretching out across the horizon. There are also some strange structures off to the distance. It’s a beautiful view, and it’s hard not to stop and stare in wonder. Unfortunately, your vitals are low, and survival is key. At the core of The Solus Project are two elements – Survival and Mystery. You’re constantly reminde...
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – Review
Dragon’s Dogma is a game that I personally enjoyed a lot back when it first released in 2012. It was punishingly hard, and had an excellent combat system that made the challenge all the more enticing and rewarding. It later got an updated release, in the form of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, with added content, an easy mode and some quality of life changes, which made the game an even more compelling package. And now, the game finally comes to consoles with updated visuals, while containing all the content from the Dark Arisen release. You start off in a prologue area, with an overpowered character, and get familiarized with some of the game’s combat and mechanics. This bit does a fair job as a tutorial, but there’s still a lot to learn. Later, after a few story events, you get to a charact...
Burly Men At Sea – Review
Burly Men At Sea is a tale that’s purely driven by a thirst for adventure. It puts you in the shoes of a bearded trio called the Brother Beard, who set out across the Scandinavian seas in search of adventure. Minimalist in design, yet beautiful and compelling, Burly Men At Sea is a great example of a brilliant idea executed exceptionally. Developed by a husband and wife dev team, Brain&Brain, the game is based on their own life experiences. Tired of the routine of daily life, you set off the well trodden path, and the story revolves around your encounters along the way. Each session is short though, roughly 15-30 mins at a time. However, every venture into the unknown is childishly gleeful and highly imaginative. Adventures happen in short bursts, and end quickly. The presentation is t...
Morphite – Review
Morphite claims to be a ‘casual atmospheric FPS, inspired by the classics’, and for the most part it delivers on that claim, offering a relaxing experience rooted in combat, exploration and discovery. You play as Myrah, and the story revolves around her setting forth into the universe in search of a valuable substance called Morphite. You helm a spaceship, and are tasked with venturing out into space, exploring new planets, encountering friendly and unfriendly characters, and uncovering the mystery behind Morphite. It’s essentially No Man’s Sky with better systems, a tighter focus, and a more compelling central plot. One of the things that drew me to this game was its clean low-poly look, which stood out starkly among most modern games. The minimal visual design still is imbued with vibran...