Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Pure Pool Pro is a technical masterpiece in this genre. The moment you load up the game, you’ll see the strengths of the experience from the get-go. Exceptional presentation right across the board, deep focus on the mechanics of ball and cue movement makes for the most realistic pool simulation on the market today. The teams have taken on board lots of feedback so far and have been making fixes and tweaks consistently. Since I wrote my review for the Playstation 5 version, the game has seen the introduction of ranked mode with online leaderboards, allowing players to stay constantly competitive if they wish. Games If you’re into Pool or even Snooker, then I can highly recommend Pure Pool Pro, especially with a Snooker DLC very much in the works. You can pick up a copy on Xbox Series X/S HERE for £20.99 | $24.99 | €24.99, with a 20% launch discount in place for the first two weeks. The score has improved slightly versus my Playstation 5 review due to the addition of ranked modes and online leaderboards
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a beautiful rework which retains the legacy of the original game whilst bringing some meaningful additions and upgrades. Does it mimic the magic of the 2013 outing, however? I’d say that if you have never played Black Flag, then this will feel like a fresh game to you. If you completed it 13 years ago, then you’ll still find fun in reliving the memories with around six hours of new content. With a visual overhaul, updated combat and parkour mechanics, reworked naval combat and lots of quality-of-life improvements, this is an exceptional remake and not just a quick cash grab. For Assassin’s Creed fans out there, it is a must-buy. Alternatively, you could subscribe to Ubisoft Plus and try to smash out the campaign without investing in the game fully.
Sodaman is a fantastic entry into the genre, and the small team should be very proud of their creation. It’s one of those games where you can dip in for a quick run or keep ploughing through for hours on end, as there is plenty to do. There is lots of bang for your buck, and after over 20 hours of gameplay, I still haven’t ticked everything I want to do with this experience just yet. The spontaneity of being able to pick and choose upgrades throughout your runs, with permanent unlocks in between, brings great longevity. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself on Xbox Series X/S, you can do so HERE.
There is no doubt about it, NBA The Run is fun, but I do believe in its current state that replayability and longevity have limited scope. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to engage in online competitive multiplayer, then this won’t be your bag. For hardcore basketball fans, though, you’ll likely love it, and the 3v3 aspect makes it so easy to jump into with friends. Short, snappy matches which are fluid, fun and fast make it a very appealing game. Time will only tell how it carries itself over time with the player base. That said, the developers are listening to feedback and no doubt there will be plenty of additions and tweaks in the future as long as there is demand
GOALS gets the gameplay aspect spot on, it’s fast, fluid and handles quite well as football games go. As you may have guessed, though, there is a big question mark of a pay-to-win element hanging over its shoulders. Yes, the game is totally free to download and play, but if you’re someone who sinks some money in early on, you may have an advantage over opponents. Think of the squad building as Ultimate Team, but with randomised players; you can buy packs of cards and potentially pull higher-rated players. Computer& Video Games If you don’t want to spend money, though, there appear to be enough players diving in and getting into the grind. Rewards are fruitful if you invest heavily in playing matches and hitting challenges. There does seem to be a potential to build a great squad without spending if you keep playing. Personally, I do feel that GOALS has some serious legs if they keep events, matches and cosmetics interesting enough to keep smashing the hours in. With more modes en route in the near future, they need to keep it fresh and not do what Rematch did and drop the ball.
007 First Light is a good Bond game, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is a game-of-the-year contender. Did I have fun with the experience? Absolutely, i had fun time, playing as Bond, but it could have been better in several areas. IO Interactive has done a great job with the presentation, voice acting, and the overall feel of the adventure. If you’re a James Bond fan, or even a fan of games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider, this will be right up your street. I was pleased with the length of the game, clocking it at just under 20 hours, and I did take my time, dying on multiple occasions during my playthrough. Whilst I had some gripes with the lazy AI, clunky combat and some of the repetitive nature of the game, I’d love to see IO Interactive continue with the series. From what I’ve read, additional content is likely en route, and that is fantastic news. For a studio that has mostly had its toes in the Hitman franchise, though, it’s a bloody good attempt at diving into the world of Mr Bond. If you fancy picking up a copy on Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE.
WILL: Follow The Light isn’t the most memorable game I’ve played, and I found parts of the game pretty tedious. But there are plenty of great factors to be found here, both in atmosphere and presentation, in the eight hours or so you’ll have with the game. For those on Xbox, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Xbox Play Anywhere functionality is available for this one. So if you’d like to play it on the fly, you can do so on console, handheld and PC. It’s a great first outing from Tomorrowhead Studios, and if you’d like to pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S, you can do so HERE
Sudden Strike 5 is a mammoth package that certainly delivers a well polished real-time strategy experience to console. I’m happy to say that it handles really well with a controller and whilst the mechanics do take a little getting used to, it does click pretty quickly. We don’t see many RTS games set in the World War II era, so to see a polished one with enough content to keep you going for a steady chunk of hours is fantastic. Replayability and longevity extends through the online multiplayer modes on offer. For enthuisasts it could keep you coming back time and time again. If you fancy a copy on Xbox Series X/S, you can bag the game HERE.
TerraTech Legion is fantastic fun, and whilst I found it a tad difficult to start with, it’s one of those that become more enjoyable the more you play. What I adored with this experience is that each run can feel hugely different depending on how you build your vehicle. There is a decent sense of progression in building up your character’s skill trees and then hitting another run to come back stronger when you fall. Having played this for in excess of twenty hours or so across Xbox Series X, Lenovo Legion Go and a gaming laptop, I have to say it handled well across all of them. It’s well worth a buy if you love the survivors-esque genre, and you can pick up a copy HERE for Xbox Series X/S. For less than a tenner, you’re getting your money’s worth for sure. If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, though, grab it right now and try it for yourself.
There is a lot of fun to be had with Pragmata and I really enjoyed my twelve or so hours in the campaign. Completionists may exceed this playtime if you want to run through and find all the hidden collectibles. The blend of hacking and gunplay is extremely satisfying and when you stack that alongside Hugh and Diana’s intriguing partnership, it becomes a unique experience. Capcom continues to fire on all cylinders when it comes to their roster of games. This is one you won’t want to miss if you enjoy third-person action adventure shooters. Whilst it does seem on the short side, I felt it was just about right and it really is quality over quantity here. If you fancy purchasing a copy on Xbox Series X/S for yourself, you can do so HERE.
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss was an enjoyable experience that will click with some but won’t be for everyone. The atmosphere of the game and the puzzle-solving really clicked with me. Parts of the game require some brainpower to get around, but that is the most engaging part. From a horror perspective, it’s quite tame, so if you’re looking for jump scare action, this might not be your jam. If you’re looking for tense, eerie and an uneasy time with great dialogue, clever puzzles and decent storytelling, then it’s worth a buy. You can pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S HERE.
I just want to put out there that I’m not just scoring this exceptionally well because I love the creators of the game, but because it’s genuinely a bloody great game. Anyone who knows me understands that I am obsessed with roguelike games in any form. Beyond Words is a game that has endless hours of replayability and is one of those games where hours genuinely feel like minutes. The only downside for me personally is that the game does not have Xbox Play Anywhere functionality. So instead, I went and purchased a copy on Steam as well; that’s how much I loved this one. Don’t sleep on this game if you’re into word-puzzlers and rougelikes. If you’d like to pick up the game on Xbox Series X/S for the absolute steal price of £12.99, you can do so HERE. For a limited time, though, you can pick it up for 20% discount, so pounce on that deal quickly.
Super Meat Boy 3D does a great job of capturing the moments that made the original game so memorable. The same ingredients are very much here and cleverly designed in 3D. Attempting to wade through each level as quickly as possible is where the addictive gameplay seeps in. There are, however, the same levels of frustration as the original, and your enjoyment will very much depend on your personal patience levels. My eight-year-old son adored the aesthetics and the fact that it was ‘a bit like Astrobot’, but ultimately the difficulty turned him off almost immediately. That said, I don’t think this game is suited to the younger crowd, so you may want to try before you buy on Xbox Game Pass. If you do want to bag a copy for Xbox Series X/S with that lovely Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, then you can do so HERE.
Royal Revolt Survivors is a surprisingly deep and addictive roguelite that blends in well with the rest of the catalogue of similar games. If you’re into the gameplay loop of surviving as long as you can and building stronger after each run, then you’ll easily get your moneys worth out of this one. The added bonus here though is the local and online multiplayer co-op options which are quite rare in the survivors-style roster. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself for Xbox you can do so HERE.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 on Xbox Series X is a brilliant remake that preserves the tone and atmosphere of the franchise, whilst modernising the experience. If you’re a die-hard Yakuza fan like myself, then you’ll love this one. Having this as a double release with two different angles shows just how talented and strong Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are. Kiwami 3 will offer you a huge feast of content with an engaging storyline, plenty of action, turf wars, and more. Dark Ties is a shorter campaign, which will take around 15-20 hours to finish, which is a welcome addition when Kiwami 3 takes around 60-70 hours.
Rage Swarm is clearly a port from mobile devices to consoles. It’s a competent port which works well on Xbox; there are still grindy elements that are prominent from the transition. That said, if you’re someone who loves auto-shooter games that are pretty casual and not too serious, then you may find fun here. There is a good amount of content and potential replayability for the very low cost of £4.19. If you fancy it for that bargain price, you can pick up a copy on Xbox HERE!
Once the gameplay loop of Marathon clicks with you, it is a fantastically polished experience with exceptional gunplay. Sure, there is a big learning curve, and a lot doesn’t make sense at first. What I enjoyed about the fact that your hand isn’t held here whatsoever is that you’re left to learn it all alone or with friends. Whilst the gameplay does have some Destiny similarities, it isn’t a direct clone and stands on its own feet. Aesthetically, it’ll please most, while others dislike how it’s presented. Diving into runs, ticking off challenges, unlocking rewards, and gathering currency for unwanted loot is an addictive, rinse-and-repeat loop. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a promising start to a solid shooter with well-grounded foundations. Playing with your mates is obviously the way to go here. But you can go lone soldier as a rook, or see out runs with randoms. The atmosphere of constant tension, chaotic gunfights and exploring the small but detailed worlds on offer is an enjoyable feat. My only concern is how long the fun lasts before it becomes stale, but after 30 hours, I’m still plugging away and enjoying it. Fingers crossed, Bungie will support this one for the long haul, but this will only be with Sony’s blessing.
High On Life 2 takes all the exceptional qualities from the first game and expands on them. I adored my time with the 2o hours, or so I had with this sequel, and it’s such a unique and clever game. There aren’t many games out there that have you constantly chuckling and beaming from ear to ear consistently throughout. Squanch Games has a very talented team behind them, and what they have created again is a hilarious romp in another bizarre yet intriguing setting full of comedic moments, satisfying gameplay and just a bloody great time. If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, I urge you to give it your time; it’s simply brilliant. New to the game? Not an issue, since it’s accessible even if you missed the original adventure. The story and mechanics will introduce themselves so you’re not left confused in any way. If you have the time, though, I would recommend giving High On Life a go; it isn’t a necessity, however. Fancy buying a copy of High On Life 2 instead of playing with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate? Then you can purchase a copy of the game for Xbox Series X|S right HERE!
Cash Cleaner Simulator is a clever and surprisingly addictive experience. It’s the perfect game to zone out to, thanks to its methodical play. Once you get used to the slightly awkward controls, it is an engaging and enjoyable time. If you’re on PC, I’d say this is the best place to play, as the game seems more suited to mouse and keyboard, despite being controller-friendly. For a very reasonable cost of £16.74 for the base edition of the game, it is well worth your time if you are into a low-pressure and casual sim that is perfect with a podcast or a bit of background music. If you fancy it, you can purchase a copy of the game for Xbox Series X|S HERE.
Pure Pool Pro is a technical masterpiece in this genre. The moment you load up the game, you’ll see the strengths of the experience from the get-go. Exceptional presentation right across the board, deep focus on the mechanics of ball and cue movement makes for the most realistic pool simulation on the market today. I’d love to see a little more love go into the online competitive side of the game, but I’m sure the close-knit team will take all feedback into account going forward. I can easily recommend this game at its extremely reasonable cost of £19.99. If you purchase the game in the first couple of weeks, you’ll get a nice 20% discount. You can purchase the game on Steam HERE or Playstation 5 HERE. We, as a team, are looking forward to the game arriving on Xbox Series X|S in the near future. For our Xbox readers, keep your eyes peeled for this one, as Pure Pool Pro has racked up and sunk this entry with style.