Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Capcom Arcade Stadium took me right back to my early days as a gamer. It really brings back an appreciation of where gaming first started to excel. For us older players out there it is a chance to show our own children what we used to play. There are endless hours of exhilarating fun to be had here depending on your taste.
I always have mixed feelings about turn-based games because if they don’t hit right then they turn me off almost immediately. It’s only natural to compare every game in the genre to the greats such as XCOM and the Shadowrun Trilogy is almost within touching distance. If you’re looking for some turn-based goodness that isn’t overly complicated and complex with simplistic controls in a beautiful Cyberpunk setting, then this will be right up your street.
Rush Rally Origins actually stunned me with the overall package. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy a rally game with a top-down perspective but I was genuinely hooked from the first second I played. With 48 different rally tracks to work through across time trials, competitions and races, it presents the opportunity for several runs to achieve the best scores and times possible.
For a game of such a low price point, I was staggered at how much fun I had with Ravenous Devils. Even after playing for around eight or so hours, I couldn’t help but think why they are charging so little for such a unique take on the genre. Fans of games like this will quickly become hooked on the rinse and repeat mechanics but increasingly utilising the upgrades to turn more profit and a successful business.
Injection π23 Ars Regia had me in two different mindsets throughout my time with it. One part of me was extremely impressed with how the atmosphere was presented with its petrifying, gloomy and grainy visuals and the fact only one person developed this experience. The other side of me was disappointed and frustrated with zero sense of direction.
Renzo Racer was not a great experience whatsoever. Whilst it has a large range of tracks and a nice variety of endearing animal drivers, the rest of the game is poorly designed. With dreadful vehicle handling, terrible mechanics and zero incentive to continue playing after an hour or two, I just can’t recommend this to anyone.
Remote Life was an adventure I absolutely adored from start to finish. To think a one-man team created this entire package is just insane and he should be absolutely proud of the end product. If you’re a side-scrolling shooter junkie then it is an absolute must-buy.
Matchpoint: Tennis Championships gets one key area of the game spot-on and that is the solid gameplay mechanics and how the game feels to play in the hands. I loved how much concentration I required to outdo my opponents to work for winning results. It’s clear to see that Torus Games were working with a limited budget and resources as there is quite a bit lacking here to make it a fully immersive sports title. Some work needs to be done on more options for character customisation, in-depth commentary, the lack of doubles and a shallow multiplayer package. The absence of a doubles mode is baffling and noticeable, the inclusion of this could have created longevity and replayability to bring friends into the mix.
Cricket 22 is a good entry into the genre. Would I say it has improved on the last instalment? Yes is the answer, but clearly, it hasn’t exceeded the 2019 version massively. The addition of more modes, licencing and online options does make it a much better game overall.
Studio MDHR has done it again and blasted it out of the park. Whilst it has taken a fair amount of time to get it out there, it just goes to show that you should only ever really release something when it is truly ready.
House Flipper was an absolute joy to invest my time in. When I say time, minutes literally become hours. The game consumed me with its huge versatility in tasks, properties to invest in and the range of decisions and choices you can make. The financial juggling and being responsible for your own empire is wonderfully satisfying.
Super Perils of Baking caught me off guard in a great way. For the low price point, you have a detailed and content-rich 2D platformer which possesses enough nostalgic zest to keep us older gamers happy whilst giving casual newcomers a solid and varied entry to the platforming genre.
Personally, I ploughed through over thirty hours of gameplay for this review and I’m still wanting to put more time in. The longevity and replayability are huge here; I’d estimate I could probably pump another 100 hours in to reach where I wanted to be and I am still not sure whether I’d achieve everything the game has to offer.
Disc Room is not a game that should be overlooked, especially if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, then you have no excuse to not give it a go. No matter how many attempts I had at several of the rooms and how much it was making me frustrated, it spurred me on to keep playing over and over again. The gameplay is consistently moreish and before you know it, minutes have turned into hours.
Barn Finders consumed me almost immediately with its addictive and intriguing gameplay loop. Not only did I enjoy the managerial aspects of running my own store. I adored exploring the several locations spread across the world map and exploring and discovering everything on offer.
I went into Roller Champions with minimal expectations. Ubisoft appears to be desperate to imbed themselves with a successful live service game alongside EA, Epic Games and Activision. They have already tried and failed miserably with Hyperscape. Recently Ubi has also shown some concepts for future free to play projects that suffered hugely negative feedback from the gaming community. With those factors in mind, I do believe that this game has some strong legs if it can filter through fresh ideas, playlists and interesting, affordable cosmetics.
Naraka Bladepoint has the biggest learning curve of any battle royale game I’ve ever played, yet it is the most satisfying and rewarding when performing well. It is a mechanically solid and enjoyable experience mostly with some clunky bits and bobs here and there. The game definitely grew on me as time passed by, but sadly I think the majority who play this will drop out fairly early due to needing to absorb and continually learn.
WWE2K22 is quite possibly the most complete wrestling game we have seen in many years. Surprisingly I piled in over 30 hours over the course of three or four days and I still want to go and experience everything I haven’t seen. With a roster of over 160 wrestlers and 29 on the way as DLC, you’ll never run out of options on who to choose.
Fall Guys is insanely fun on your own or with a group of friends. It breaks apart from the hardcore battle royale titles and caters to casual and experienced gamers alike. Even my partner who has next to no interest in video games was consumed in watching and playing this one.
Dotemu and Tribute Games have not only beautifully re-energised and crafted a well-loved retro title, but quite possibly have created one of the best games of 2022 already. Whilst the game can be clocked in 2-3 hours, it is a reminder that sometimes quality eclipses quantity, and that rings so true here.