Jordan Campbell's Reviews
I was initially excited to see if Tate Multimedia had done something drastically different with this DLC to extend its longevity. When it boils down to it though, it is five short levels tacked on to the game to extend it to twenty overall. Unfortunately, it is one of those one-and-done events though with little reason to go back through any of the levels unless you’re trading back through for extra collectables.
It is early days for Warzone 2.0 and I imagine this early phase will be all about listening to the community and engaging in their feedback. I do have some things I’d love to see changed or altered over time, but the gameplay loop is absolutely perfect for me. It feels less about players constantly rushing for loadouts and more about fighting with a mixture of what you can find on the ground.
Football Manager 2023 Console Edition is perhaps one of those games that many look at and say it’s the same every time. I can tell you that it has drastically improved year after year with controller functionality and its incredible performance on Xbox Series X.
Vampire Survivors is not only my game of 2022, but it is also my biggest surprise of the year. It has a moreish gameplay loop like I have never experienced before, and it really has the opportunity for endless replayability and longevity. The levelling process and the spontaneous nature of what abilities the game throws at you each time you can make a choice makes for a different experience each and every time.
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers is genuinely one of the better simulation games I’ve played in terms of the game’s mechanics, open world and the amount of content on offer. What I really enjoyed about the game was the fact it was me choosing how I dealt with the criminals out there, instead of being told how to. My day job consists of law enforcement, and I really felt the vibe of being given the freedom to explore and make my own decisions out on the streets.
For its price point, it provides a good 15-20 hours of gameplay at a steady pace through some vibrantly rich and beautifully illustrated dioramas. The best part was seeing my son’s face when we returned to the endgame of piecing the theme park together and hearing him shout “YES” at the end was what made it a wholesome and memorable experience. Whilst it is a casual adventure, it is one that absolutely will scratch an itch for all LEGO fans of any age.
I had a lot of fun with PGA Pro Bowling 2023, but it required a lot of patience and practice to master the techniques and craft of bowling to score consistent strikes. From the little research I did on PGA Pro Bowling 2021, it appears that there aren’t many significant changes to the game overall with the aesthetics of the menu system and everything else being largely the same. I spoke with a friend who played the 2021 version for hundreds of hours and he explained that the difficulty level especially for newcomers to the game, has increased.
The Last Oricru has a great storyline to back up the experience in an atmosphere that echoes the impact of the choices you make. For my playthrough, I decided to join the rats and the rat-volution. The most enjoyable aspect for me was pondering on some of the choices I made, and I was always left wondering what would have happened if I did the alternative option.
If you’re looking for a platformer that goes beyond just jumping from A to B and just collecting stuff, then Trifox will test your brainpower and allow you to fight waves of enemies with twin-stick shooter elements. With an addictive upgrade system and a beautifully illustrated nostalgic feel to the entire package, it is a game I genuinely really got sucked into and wanted to complete. With a dozen or so hours at a reasonable price point, it is well worth a punt.
It’s a sad shame that Winter Games 2023 doesn’t quite hit the mark. The concept of playing across the ten events is exciting and intriguing but its execution is disappointing. There are glimmers of fun to be had in some of the events, but the lack of online multiplayer makes for limited longevity and replayability once you’ve achieved gold medals across the game.
FIFA 23 is super polished across the board and has a huge transitional shift in how the game plays in comparison to the 2021-2022 versions. The gameplay has slowed down significantly, and matches have more spontaneous moments throughout.
Unusual Findings is truly a special indie game, especially if you’re an 80’s kid like me. Playing this genuinely made me feel like I was back in my childhood era all over again. It is a fantastic success story of a three-man team who have created a stunning package which has it all. The voice acting is absolutely superb across the board with interesting engagements with likeable characters.
Spiderheck joins the meaty list of indie highlights of 2022 for me. Whilst the visuals may look fairly basic, the cascade of carnage from the neon lighting from laser guns, light sabres and explosions compliment an enthralling and compelling gameplay loop. Despite myself and my four-year-old son being absolutely petrified of spiders in real life, we had a blast playing this together for hours.
Hokko Life is usually a game that I would dismiss immediately, as when I look at titles like this normally, they don’t really cater to my gaming preferences. But I really enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I was slightly concerned at the beginning about whether there would be enough content to remain interested, as the first few hours doesn’t really have a lot of discovering or exploration involved.
Overwatch 2 is simply a clever nudge into the free-to-play space. Bringing with this some questionable paywalls and the norm of a battle pass system. Those who absolutely adore the Overwatch brand will be instantly at home as change is minimal. Newcomers will now have the opportunity to dive in without opening their wallets if they don’t mind missing out on a couple of the new heroes.
Weedcraft Inc is a great concept with a fairly addictive gameplay loop, but its conversion from PC to console isn’t great. The control scheme for the controller is very clunky and it is extremely frustrating to navigate around the entire game.
I found it incredibly difficult when to stop playing and start writing about Construction Simulator. It is truly one of those games where hours will feel like minutes and before you know it, it’s 4 am in the morning and you should have been in bed a long time ago. Whilst some of the controls are difficult to master with some of the machinery, it is fine-tuned and it feels natural when you’re operating every aspect of your vehicle. Whether it is operating a crane, hauling a heavy load from one side of town to the other or flattening the terrain with a compactor, the mechanics of everything here are absolutely nailed on.
Potion Permit is absolutely outstanding and instantly consumed me with its excellent storyline and character-building elements. It’s a game that isn’t overly complicated and had perfect pacing to suit casual and hardcore RPG fans alike. It never becomes overly confusing and keeps inventory management simplistic. You get a real feel for the atmosphere during this game, and you can genuinely feel the shift of mood throughout Moonbury as you progress.
Aquadine is one of the better visual novels I’ve had the pleasure of sitting through and I have played a fair few. The fantastic art design and backdrops really prop up an interesting and compelling storyline with some believable characters. The plot and storytelling may not be for everyone, but you can tell some thought and effort has been poured into the writing.
After Wave: Downfall was a game I enjoyed much more than I thought I would. It was chaotic and challenging and whilst some will love the fact achievements pop so quickly, I kind of wished they were a bit more difficult to get. The reason for this is some may simply get the 1000 gamerscore and then leave the game alone, and it deserves better than this.