Umair Khalid's Reviews
Cat and Ghostly Road is a fun point-and-click adventure with simple puzzles that will barely tickle your brain. The main charm of the game lies within its cute little cat as the main character and the haunting world all around you. Looking at the same location from two different perspectives offers a unique experience, especially if you are a fan of both point-and-click games and horror games. After getting used to the controls, it is all smooth sailing to the end with this simple yet captivating adventure that will see you exploring a diverse set of environments. It is highly recommended if you love unique concepts and are currently looking for a decent point-and-click title on the PS5.
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a must-have game for all PS5 owners because it takes you back to the PS1 era when we used to have simple platforming games with open sandbox worlds like Ratchet & Clank, Spyro the Dragon, and similar titles. It offers a charmful world, combined with solid gameplay mechanics and no-brainer puzzles that suit players of every age and skill level. You do not need to think about playing this game, and anyone can just pick up a controller and join in the fun. If you miss the nostalgic open-world sandbox gameplay of those early PS1 titles, Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is here with its gorgeous level design and visuals and stellar gameplay mechanics to keep you entertained for hours. If you own a PS5, you must give this game a shot because, with the next-gen upgrade, you can now watch the destruction in silky smooth frames in the best possible resolution.
There is no doubt that the original Tomb Raider trilogy was a masterpiece in its own time, and everyone, including me, loved playing them on our older systems. However, compared to what sort of remasters we have been getting in the past, Tomb Raider I – III Remastered caters to hardcore fans of the franchise instead of trying to pull in new players. It is very difficult for modern players to get accustomed to these dated mechanics, and while the visuals and modern controls do provide some respite to the troubles of the original, they still fall short in a lot of ways, which makes this a tough choice to recommend. If you played and loved the original games, you will want to jump back into them to experience the trilogy with modern visuals. However, if you started gaming with modern Tomb Raider titles, you may want to steer clear of them because you may end up hating them.
Last Epoch may not have a AAA brand name attached to it, but the level of optimization and content found in the game takes it beyond what most AAA developers deliver today. While a lot of players are already comparing it with Diablo 4 and Path of Exile, it may not have the complexity level of Path of Exile, but it easily overtakes Diablo 4 in my eyes to sit below Path of Exile in the top three ARPG spots. The accessible skill trees, diverse classes to play around, and tons of loot keep things interesting long after you have completed the main story. I would appreciate it if Last Epoch received more Endgame content in the coming months, but even if it stays the same, there is enough to keep you busy for tons of hours. If you are tired of Diablo 4, jump into Last Epoch, and you will have a solid time exploring dungeons, collecting loot, and creating some epic builds. Highly recommended for ARPG fans, even if you are just curious to explore this genre.
I absolutely loved playing the Sport Mode in Offroad Truck Simulation: Heavy Duty Challenge, but anything beyond that is a hit-or-miss for me. The Cargo Mode feels limited and rushed, while the maps in Off-Road Trips are too buggy to enjoy. This, coupled with choppy visuals and poor framerates, raises serious concerns for the Xbox Series X version of the game. While it has a strong base underneath, it requires more optimization work and speed because otherwise the game will continue to lose its player base and will not be able to establish a strong foothold in its genre. If you are a fan of the Europa Truck Trial, you are going to love this game because the trucks in the game are amazing, and the courses are challenging as well. However, I would wait a little longer to give developers more time to optimize it before jumping into the game. If you want to jump right now, it is still a fun game, nonetheless, but be ready to face multiple glitches, bugs, and poor performance.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a breath of fresh air for this long-forgotten franchise, and if the 2D visuals and the Metroidvania game design are not looking appealing, you should first try it out at least. Good thing it comes with a free demo, and I am sure that if you love classic titles such as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will deliver the same experience with a brand-new look and feel. The gameplay mechanics are solid, and the world design is gorgeous. Whether you are a fan of Metroidvania titles or just want to get back into the Prince of Persia franchise, The Lost Crown is a brilliant title that satisfies both niches and will be considered one of the best titles in the franchise.
While Arizona Sunshine 2 is still miles away from normal PC zombie shooters, it is a massive improvement over the first title in the franchise and is bloody good fun as well. The shooting feels good, and the headshots are especially satisfying. Every time you pop a zombie’s head with a single shot, you will feel it in your entire body. The art style, the gameplay, and the overall gameplay combine together to deliver one of the best VR zombie shooting titles. Just make sure not to mess up the controls because that happens a lot when a whole horde is about to land right in your face. If you love VR shooters and are currently looking for a decent zombie shooter, Arizona Sunshine 2 is the perfect title for you to spend your holidays.
Lake: Season’s Greetings is a great prequel to an already amazing game. While the original Lake was a delightful experience on its own, Season’s Greetings makes it even cozier with a holiday theme and delivers a brand-new perspective on Providence Oaks and its people. The only problem with it is that it ends too soon and does not come with any post-completion content. The little town of Providence Oaks is a delight to explore in winter, and if you enjoyed the base game, you would certainly love the new prequel. It is the perfect game to tuck into on a cold evening and enjoy as you can easily complete it in one sitting. If you are looking for some cozy and enjoyable games to play this Christmas, Lake: Season’s Greetings should be on your list.
DAVE THE DIVER is an astonishingly addictive game, and the best bit is that every time you think that you have seen everything from the game, it comes out and throws something new your way to experience. The subtle mix of RPG mechanics with deep-diving and restaurant management sim is really good, and it keeps the gameplay loop fresh. While playing DAVE THE DIVER, it feels like you are in a completely new world as it has lovable characters, a fully functional social media platform, an underground environment that feels alive, and a thriving restaurant that looks really cool. DAVE THE DIVER is literally the best single-player experience for me since the beginning of this year, and I am sure that you are going to love it as well. If you are looking for a casual yet highly addictive game to burn off hours of your time, and you have a PC, look no further than DAVE THE DIVER on Steam.
The Sinking City is easily the best investigation game you can purchase at this point, and it will make you forget all investigation games of the past as well because of its unique and solid mechanics. The environment and setting of the game are excellent, and how the story unfolds right in front of you is really amazing. The game starts slow; however, it quickly builds up its pace, and it never makes you lose interest throughout to the end. Despite its weak combat and other performance hiccups, it will surely keep you entertained from the start to the finish.