John Werner
"Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2" is a very successful remake of two cult classic games, bringing life into a long-lost genre of gaming. While there have been skating games since their original release, the "Tony Hawk Pro Skater" games have always been in a league of their own, and this remake further proves just how awesome they are. Players of all ages and skill levels will have hours of fun exploring the fully modernized skate parks, trying their best to complete the list of challenges in each level. I recommend this game to anyone who wants something different that is also challenging and might be limited to how much continuous game time they have available.
“Borderlands 3: Psycho Krieg and the fantastic Fustercluck” may not be the longest DLC in the franchise but it still sticks true to what you’d expect for a Borderlands DLC. While the concept is very similar to past DLC’s of previous games from within the series, the underlying message about mental health, coping, the loss of a loved one, and depression make for excellent talking points between friends and families. I’m not sure if that was the original intention of the DLC but given the global pandemic we currently find ourselves in, I think it’s an appropriate method for gamers of all ages to self-reflect on how they’re holding up.
'Battlefield 2042' is a huge disappointment for gamers and the Battlefield franchise. Had this been the product of an indie developer, then this might be a different story as it would be understandable how a game like this could be the product of an independent studio that doesn't have enormous corporate backing. Instead, EA pumped more resources into creating a CGI film that acts as the only real source of storyline context than ensuring the game was going to live up to the enormous amount of hype they were trying to create. I hate saying such negative things in my reviews, but when a game developer can't be bothered to even try and live up to it's own legacy, then I have to call it as I see it and for that very reason, I don't recommend this game. Not even the nostalgia or temptation of 'Battlefield Portal' is enough to save this game from itself.
Without sounding cynical, ‘Narcos: Rise of the Cartels’ suffers from the same curse that looms over most video games that derive from TV shows and movies.
Still very much the same game from nineteen years ago but sadly, it has not aged well.
"Warhammer 40k: Mechanicus" is definitely a game for those who are familiar with the Warhammer 40k universe from playing the table top game, reading the books, or having previously played other video games such as the "Dawn of War" series.
At the end of the day, I will gladly call ‘Generation Zero’ a good game. It brings new elements and ideas together in a unique setting that hasn’t been seen before. However, the game’s point of difference is also its biggest downfall due to a lack of consistency across all elements of gameplay.
Over all, Rage 2 is a good game, but not worth buying if you’re already an established fan of open world games.
"Disintegration" has so much potential but due to being such a radical approach to combining two very different gaming genres, I believe that more work needs to be done in order to balance and strengthen the core mechanics. However, in saying that, I have found myself quite intrigued by the developing story and wanting to know what happens next. I wouldn't call "Disintegration" a bad game, but I would like to see what the developers do with possible future titles. I also believe that "Disintegration" would have made a brilliant VR game but perhaps that is something we might be able to experience at a later date.
'Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour: Viking Age' is the self-guided, interactive, behind-the-scenes museum tour for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Without the violence, combat, or fictional elements of Valhalla, 'Viking Age' is basically an education tool showcasing how much hard work the team at Ubisoft did to make the AAA title. On its own, Viking Age is incredible and could quite easily contribute to the future of education. However, as it is a by-product of such a critically acclaimed game, 'Viking Age' is left standing in Valhalla's very large shadow. Had things been the other way around with 'Viking Age' as the original title and Valhalla filling the role of its successor, then things would have been completely different. I don't mean to draw such a heavy comparison between the two titles, but I've got to call it as it is. That said, 'Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour: Viking Age' is still an amazing experience and worth checking out. I have more respect for the Assassin's Creed games and Ubisoft for playing 'Viking Age' and cannot emphasise its value as an educational tool.
What "The Pillar: Puzzle Escape" lacks in length, it makes up for in creativity and easily a fun experience for younger gamers. Players will get to explore a unique open world map as they search for clues and complete simple puzzles to progress to the next level. Older players won't find any real value in this game and are better off investing their time in something a bit more challenging. However, parents who want to help their children's creative problem solving and memory skills should look into this game as an educational and development tool to stimulate young minds.
Overall, ‘Death Stranding’ is a good game but not quite something that I’d really recommend. Yet, at the same time, ‘Death Stranding’ is still an incredibly unique game and worth having a go at if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
‘Age of Wonders: Planetfall’ is truly an awesome game and is excellent value for money.
'The Touryst' offers players a unique gameplay opportunity by combining beautiful graphics with challenging depth perception puzzles, and a captivating story. I found the game to be quite relaxing but at the same time frustrating due to the overall lack of direction. Players will need to do quite a bit of exploring to gain guidance and to figure out what the next step is in order to progress further. This offers a large amount of additional gameplay as many players will easily become distracted by the numerous amounts of side activities that are to be enjoyed. I was particularly surprised by the games ending and enjoyed the twist even though I had my own suspicions regarding what was in store for me. Overall, this is a fun game but obviously targeted at players looking for a more casual puzzle experience that can be played at their own pace. Definitely a good game for when you've got a limited amount of time to kill but don't want to comit to anything time consuming.
Station to Station has come a long way since the demo and it's clear to see that the team at Galaxy Grove have big plans for the game. I'm quite impressed by just how challenging Station to Station is, and highly recommend any gamer looking for a good (but not impossible) challenge to give this game a red-hot crack. Even if the puzzles stump you, the graphics alone will make the headache worth it, especially when you watch a spider-train crawl its way around the map!
It is without a doubt that both the 'Making History' and 'Breaking Ground' expansions bring a lot to 'Kerbal Space Program'. The addition of new features, game mechanics and parts have been well thought out and add an enormous amount of gameplay possibilities. One thing I really like about these expansions is that there is something for everyone regardless of what skill level or how long they've been playing for. I do highly recommend these expansions for anyone who is a fan of KSP and want to get the most out of the game. My only issue is that KSP is still a really tricky game and I feel that a bit more could have been done to improve the tutorial and how to use these new features.
It is without a doubt that both the ‘Making History’ and ‘Breaking Ground’ expansions bring a lot to ‘Kerbal Space Program’. The addition of new features, game mechanics and parts have been well thought out and add an enormous amount of gameplay possibilities.
It is without a doubt that both the ‘Making History’ and ‘Breaking Ground’ expansions bring a lot to ‘Kerbal Space Program’. The addition of new features, game mechanics and parts have been well thought out and add an enormous amount of gameplay possibilities.
'Sparklite' is a surprisingly fun game considering that it utilizes simple game mechanics to make it more targeted to young gamers. Older gamers will also find this quite enjoyable as it offers some resemblance to those beloved top-down games played on hand-held systems such as the Game Boy and Nintendo DS. 'Sparklite' offers an enormous amount of replay value and is very much ideal for playing as a group despite been predominately a single player game. Co-op is available but I recommend sharing the controller for the most enjoyment.
Double Cross is unique on many levels and is strongly recommended for young kids and parents.