Pure Playstation
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Done the right way, this episodic approach to a VR game/app (I'm calling it a game) could work really well. That being said, it's very, very short. You'll be able to blast through this short tale in just a matter of minutes. Monkeying around the Firehouse HQ doesn't take too long either.
"I guess the ultimate question is did I feel relaxed in this space? I suppose so, but only for a few minutes at best. The graphics weren't good enough to sustain a truly beautiful location and the lack of positions to take in the sights didn't offer any complexity. More to the point, only three maps to "escape" to make this ten dollar purchase feel like a tech demo. Sure the PS4 Pro might enhance the experience but I doubt it would change anything major. Luckily, if you just want to listen to some peaceful music, Perfect has you covered. Plus, some of the nature effects are just lovely. This PSVR escapade is a decent starting point for what it's trying to do, but it's just that. A starting point."
Smash Hit Plunder has a great concept but it doesn’t do a whole lot with it. Smashing things is always fun and it’s even better with friends. Get this one for the multiplayer.
DeadCore is a Platformer/FPS hybrid that is not for the feint hearted or those lacking in patience. Testing, challenging and infuriating all in equal measure, be sure to have a spare controller handy should you decide to throw yours against the wall during the short but maddening campaign.
Crash Bandicoot N’Sane Trilogy is great if you enjoy a challenge and have lots of patience and tenacity. But it’s not without its many flaws and annoyances. Nevertheless, this game would make a great addition to any retro gaming aficionado’s collection.
FlatOut 4 is an over-the-top racer that's got the potential to entertain. However, the stingy payouts and an unrewarding unlock/progression system flattens a few tyres and holds back this decent game from being a great one.
"Lichtspeer had all the components for a great arcade “reverse angry birds” game. You predominately throw spears, while stationary, at hilariously designed Germanic creatures and try to eviscerate their faces with their own blood. Alright, I may have gone a bit too far but that is essentially the point of this game. Sadly, certain design choices and technical slip-ups kept Lichtspeer from being a title that wants you to play it for over one hundred hours. Yes, there is a trophy that requires you to play the title for that long."
They say you can't go home again, but that is just what Cyan Worlds attempted with Obduction, a modern day version of its iconic title Myst. It looks beautiful, and the puzzles are challenging and meaningful, but the technical bugs and lack of innovation hold it back.
Fated: The Silent Oath allowed me to live out a childhood fantasy of being Indiana Jones and offered solid graphics with an interesting art style. Even the required non-verbal interaction with NPC’s is a unique gameplay feature that works really well at making the player care for the other characters in the story. However, the narrative is weak, the story ends abruptly, and the “puzzles” are nothing more than a game of mimicry. It is by no means a poorly made game, but it feels like an under developed one.
Hardware: Rivals isn't the best game in the world, but it's certainly not terrible. There's a good selection of maps to play on, as well as some classic game modes that make up the bulk of multiplayer games. The combat is sketchy at times, but with a bit of practice (and a lot of patience) you'll find yourself racking up the points.
Overall, Planet of the Eyes is a decent platformer with a surprisingly enjoyable story. The world is sometimes too sparse, and the lack of challenge and short length will not satisfy hardcore platformer fans. However, if you are looking for a good sci-fi atmosphere and love some physics-based puzzles, you may want to give Planet of the Eyes a try.
"A Bastard's Tale is definitely for the old school and self-hating gamer. Its core design is good and can provide a nice, "screw you" challenge that some of us love. I just wish that it wasn't so hard to tell which way to defend sometimes. The complete experience isn't terribly long but for the price and what's included is fair. It's just up to you if you want to hit a roadblock on most levels and hope you get lucky one of the many, many, many times you retry a level."
Port Royale 4 is a dense trade and economy simulator that doubles as a harsh reminder that I'll probably never get to see the Caribbean in real life. Despite this cruel reminder about my personal station in life, building my own little corner of paradise in this digital world was a chill, if sometimes repetitive, experience. The learning curve is steep if it's your first time in the genre, but if navigating screens and crunching numbers is your thing, you'll be in heaven. For everyone else, it might not be for you.
Redout: Lightspeed Edition attempts to fill the void that the big guns aren't willing to. For the most part it does a great job: massive speed, funky anti-gravity racing ships, mind-bending tracks - even some electro music for those who're fans of it. That being said, it's let down by its poor technical performance. Apparently it runs fine on the PS4 Pro, but if you're rocking an OG or Slim PS4, you're gonna have to live with dodgy frame-rates until an update is released.
Mortal Blitz VR has enough shortcomings to fill a virtual swimming pool, but the shooting and ducking for cover work so well--not to mention the lack of other quality PSVR shooters--that it nearly makes this a must buy.
The gameplay is frantic but ultimately redundant. The short campaign may turn off some, but for a measly 10 bucks, fans of the genre, who don't have many bullet hell games to choose from on current consoles, will probably get their money's worth.
Pixel Gear is cheap and cheerful fun that won't break your digital wallet. The controls work well and the gameplay is top-notch, if only for the relatively short running time. A bit more content and a little more variety would have pushed this one to greater heights, but as it stands it's still a decent game.
"A lack of all-round polish means that DOGOS gets an average score from me, but I would like to re-iterate, this should be a definite purchase for genre fans or anyone who yearns for the simpler days of parallax scrolling (Google it)."
NHL 17 is more like the previous entry in that fun will mostly take a backseat to simulation/realism and the problems that entails. There is fun to be had when the cons keep to themselves but it happens a bit too much. However, all the customization and game modes will keep you busy for a very long time. Especially if you need to take breaks because you grow a little frustrated. In the same vein as those who enjoy racing simulators, sports fans will enjoy the latest entry into EA Sports' series but it will be another year that greatness wasn't achieved once again.
"The story and writing really let Final Fantasy XV down. Even the least favorite entries of the series have a coherent narrative albeit some unlikable ones. Characters are either here for no reason or haven't been developed in any way and certain actions/lack of knowledge between our main heroes really deprive this experience. I'm just glad the gameplay, combat, and interesting open world to explore redeemed Final Fantasy XV from obscurity. I take no pleasure in feeling this way about the highly anticipated title and I literally fell into a small depression after I beat the story. There are good ideas to like here but none of it comes together better than a high school literature project. If gameplay and exploration isn't enough to sate you (ala No Man's Sky) then this title may well be one to avoid."