Reviews
The latest video game reviews for all platforms, including retro. Discover gems and must-have titles whilst also avoiding releases which have low entertainment value.
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PES 2018 Review
The FIFA vs PES debate is one of the longest-running and most bitterly-fought in video games. Far be it from us to wade in, but it can basically be summarized thus: FIFA always had all the licenses, including the official kits and team names, whilst PES was generally regarded as having superior gameplay. FIFA dramatically improved its gameplay in the late 2000’s/early 2010’s, while PES’s declined. At that stage, in the early 2010’s, FIFA unquestionably held the title belt. Things stayed that way for several years, with FIFA dominant. Then, in the mid-2010’s, PES started to make its comeback. PES 2017 was a watershed moment, with the gameplay the best it had been in years, and a whole section of…
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Sudden Strike 4 Review
For essentially as long as consoles have existed, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether or not strategy games can succeed on them. RTS games, in particular, are seen as more problematic than their turn-based counterparts, due to their high-paced nature and (sometimes) emphasis on micro-management. The crux of the argument, of course, comes down to the controls. The mouse-and-keyboard setup on a computer simply is more accurate than a console controller. In the heat of the action, if you need to order a single unit to attack a specific other unit, and you only have a split-second to do it, then it’s a heck of a lot easier to do with a mouse. Then again, couldn’t you…
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Rising Storm 2: Vietnam Review
There are countless video game titles that try to emulate the utter chaos of a war-zone; the combat, the fire-power, the explosions, the hum of helicopters overhead. Franchises such as Call of Duty and Battlefield do a decent job of capturing some of that atmosphere while providing a solid first-person shooter. But for true life or death realism, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam has got you covered. First things first, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is not a game for casuals or first-timers. It provides an intense, totally unforgiving gun-play experience for veterans of the genre. Rising Storm will do very little to help you complete your objectives, something that really gives this game its edge and helps it hit the sweet spot between first-person shooter fun and realistic war-zone thrill. Don’t expect…
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Goldeneye: Rogue Agent Review
Today I am looking at a rather interesting first-person shooter called Goldeneye: Rogue Agent. As the name may imply, it is a game based in part on the James Bond movies- but it doesn’t actually have anything to do with the famous Goldeneye video game, nor is James Bond himself your character- instead, you play as a former agent of MI6 that was kicked out of the organization for his brutal methods. The prologue explains that after being shot in the eye by the famous criminal Dr. No, the agent became increasingly aggressive and violent, until they had no choice but to remove him from their ranks. The first level bears this out, where he is working with James Bond…
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Duck Dynasty Review
Although it is a universally tacit understanding, it is worth emphasizing that Duck Dynasty is a game that should never have existed. With nothing going for it except for the fact that it is so laughably bad, it is actually fun to make fun of with friends. One wonders how this even passed the test to get the Sony seal of approval for an official release. The story in Duck Dynasty is so incoherent that as I played, the only reason I knew there was a story was that there were fifteen-minute scenes in-between gameplay of an attempt at furthering the plot. One thing confirmed is that Duck Dynasty the video game follows the same cast of the TV show.…
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Darkest Dungeon Review
Recently I’ve been playing a game called Darkest Dungeon- or as I’ve come to think of it, “Dark Souls, RPG edition”. The game is very difficult, or at least gives the feeling of difficulty- it is not that objectives and missions are hard to complete persay- they have been, but not terribly hard. No, the hard thing about this game is that even if it doesn’t kill you, it will weaken you. Let me explain. The setting itself is quite a dark one- there was once a rich estate owned by a wealthy family. They lived good lives, until one of them heard about something buried underneath the manor. Curious, they started digging, until they found something terrible. It unleashed…
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Throne: Kingdom at War Review: Taking Mobile Strategy to a New Level
Mobile strategy games are great, but have you ever felt like things could be a little bit more, well, interactive? Sure, the timed elements mean you have to make effective moves and continually stay engaged with the action if you want to succeed. However, when you’re on your own with no one else to turn to, this dynamic can become a little tedious over time. Fortunately, there is an answer and it comes in the form of Plarium’s Throne: Kingdom at War. Part of the company’s ever-expanding suite of mobile MMO strategy games, this medieval quest sees you assume the role of lord and take charge of a town. Your mission is to expand your empire, push back the forces…
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Mega Maker Review
Today I am looking at a very interesting Mega Man fangame, called Mega Maker. As the name implies, it is for Mega Man what Mario Maker is for that series- a way for you to create your own levels, hazards, and so on for Mega Man to traverse. While not an official Capcom work, I would still recommend it to any Mega Man fan. Firstly, the fact that you can make your own levels, with several elements taken from the first six Mega Man games is itself simply incredible. The game also has a very charming tutorial where Dr. Wily himself explains how to make a level- though Dr. Light appears partway through to try and temper his obvious intent…
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Elite Dangerous: Commander Deluxe Edition Review
Ever wanted to pilot your own star ship? Freely explore an expansive, unknown galaxy? Or fight your way through and conquer countless star systems? If the answer is yes, Elite Dangerous is Frontier Developments’ answer to your desires. With the ability to take control of your very own spacecraft, the ‘cutthroat galaxy’ setting of Elite Dangerous is the perfect place to live out your interstellar fantasies. Elite Dangerous is an epic open world, massively multiplayer game in which players can explore, fight and gather resources to craft various weapons and upgrades for their own spaceship. The more you upgrade, the easier it becomes to explore, the more your actions shape the galaxy, in which narrative is driven by the player…
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Psychonauts Review
Psychonauts is on many fronts a ground breaking game. In a review it would be easy to say that the witty dialogue is what makes this game stand out, but that would leave out the compelling assortment of collectibles. One could say the gorgeous art style is what makes this IP so unique, but that would undermine the fantastic platforming gameplay. The great thing about Psychonauts is that there is not just one compelling aspect about it that has created the cult following it has developed today. Psychonauts has, since its 2005 release, seen a massive following because of it’s unique range of quirky characters that could only be tangible in a Tim Schafer game, it’s deep platforming mechanics, and…
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Farming Simulator 18 Review
If you’re looking for a true to life farming experience, one need look no further than the Farming Simulator series. Its success on PC and Consoles is unrivalled, but what if you need that farming fix on the go? Luckily, Farming Simulator 18 is now available on Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, IOS and Android and it’s fair to say it’s a pleasant experience. But how does it hold up against it’s predecessors? First and foremost, Farming Simulator 18 is a mobile edition so don’t expect a fully fledged, full to the brim title like previous title Farming Simulator 17. While it doesn’t come close to 17’s over 250 strong roster of vehicles and tools, Farming Simulator 18 offers over 50 realistic vehicles to choose from, all featuring brand labels…
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Until Dawn: Rush of Blood Review
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is one of the first wave Playstation VR titles to release since the original release of October 2016. This second installment of Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn transforming the IP from it’s original “interactive movie” roots into an on-rails first person shooter. As some good aspects, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood gives the player a surreal sense they’re within a horror movie with a fun pick up and play style “story mode”. As some bad aspects, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood becomes incoherent at times. It can leave the player taking off their VR headset questioning what it could have been with more varied enemy types and scenery. The story in Until Dawn: Rush of Blood…
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The Golf Club 2 Review
In 2014 an independent developer rocked the market with their version of a golfing sim, The Golf Club, stealing the limelight from the usual suspects. Since then, players have been clamouring for a follow-up and three years on HB Studios have granted their wishes with The Golf Club 2. The success of the original title means that this time around, there’s a huge amount of anticipation about the gameplay, and a reputation to live up to. So how does The Golf Club 2 shape up compared to its predecessor? More than just golf Many players may buy this title on the lookout for a golfing sports game but HB Studios have opted to expand the remit to combine two different…
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Friday the 13th: The Game Review
Those who were a fan of the movie series, which began back in 1980, are sure to have garnered excitement when hearing about this title. I was one of those fans. However, it is fairly common knowledge within the gaming community that movie-tie in games are rarely successful. With that said, could Friday the 13th: The Game buck this trend? Continue to read on to find out. Once the game was installed on my PS4, I attempted to join an online game. Sadly, the servers were down, a real issue that many have experienced within the first week or so of release. Of course, you can only play this game online, so this was frustrating. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long before…
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Injustice 2 Review
When it comes to Netherealm you can’t expect anything less than an all-out war, and thankfully, Injustice 2 didn’t disappoint. Injustice 2’s fulfilling story mode mixes in the right amount of novelty and graphic novel grit to appease casual gamers and DC fanatics alike. The single player campaign stands as a complete who’s, who of DC characters just waiting to tear pieces into each other. Injustice 2’s story sees Earth come under attack from Brainiac, a powerful being who travels the universe with one purpose: to destroy cities. In an effort to save humanity, the justice League, Batman, Superman and Co team up to fight against Brainiac and his villainous associates. From the moment you open the box, the great…
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Prey Review
From the developers of the Dishonored series, Bioshock 2, and Call of Duty: World at War; Arkane Studios and publisher Bethesda Softworks; Prey is a first-person sci-fi survival game with enough unique qualities to set it apart from others within the genre. You play as Morgan Yu, with the option to choose between male and female, a scientist joining his, or her brother’s team aboard the Talos 1 space station on the morning of March 15th, 2032. After a beautiful introductory sequence helicopter ride, you arrive at a TransStar facility where you’re greeted by your brother Alex. He thanks you for agreeing to come on board and the security guard lets him know they are ready for you in the…
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