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‘Wrath of the Druids’ marks a triumphant return for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, with the luscious landscapes but eerie vibe making for a unique and enjoyable adventure. It definitely takes a much darker turn than what players faced in the base game, especially when it comes to dealing with the titular Druids themselves… With its more streamlined approach, its wonderful world, and the enjoyable missions, ‘Wrath of the Druids’ is a fantastic piece of content. It sends Eivor on a journey that feels unlike anything experienced in England, and it makes for a damn good time.
The Longing is a real test of patience thanks to its slow sense of progression, but there’s no doubting that it offers a unique and intriguing experience. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy some of my time with the game, with the clever time-based puzzling and the mysteries of the world certainly keeping me invested in Shade’s long wait. However, it didn’t take long for that appeal to wear thin. I didn’t have the patience to fully appreciate The Longing for the long term, but instead find myself waiting for those four-hundred days to be up just to see how it ends. I completely appreciate what the developer was trying to do here, but it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t hate the game or think that it was necessarily bad… I just struggled with the amount of time it takes to do anything. But hey, who knows, The Longing could be the perfect game for you. There’s nothing quite like it out there and it deserves praise for that. Just bring some form of extra entertainment with you if you’re planning out a long trek in the game… you’ll need it.
When played with friends, Hood: Outlaws & Legends is a whole lot of fun. When played with strangers, it’s just a bit tedious and dull. It really is a multiplayer game that demands strategy and player coordination and, when played right, it can really make for a thrilling experience. If you end up with players who don’t want to chat and just do their own thing, though? Expect to be left frustrated. The lack of content doesn’t help either, with the one game mode and five maps growing repetitive the more you play. It’s clear that there’s Hood: Outlaws & Legends is doing something right (I can vouch for that with the fun I’ve had with friends), but it does lack that special *something* right now. With the right amount of support and content though, I can see it being a game I’ll come back to again… well… as long as my teammates are willing to communicate with me, that is.
Save Me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition is a charming and nostalgic platforming romp that was a lot of fun to play through. Between the neat abilities and the slick level design, there was plenty to appreciate in Tako’s wacky world. Add to that a myriad of collectibles and levels to complete, and it’s easy to find yourself completely invested in the meaty Game Boy-inspired adventure.
Star Wars Pinball VR is the best representation of pinball you’ll find in virtual reality, with its brilliant pinball tables and iconic collectibles making for one heck of a fun experience. There’s no doubting that it’s going to be appreciated more by fans of Star Wars, but even those who simply enjoy playing pinball will find themselves very impressed by the selection of tables on offer and their wild moments of interactivity. Add to that the elements of progression with the Career Mode and the Fan Cave that’s packed to the brim with Star Wars memorabilia to unlock, and you’ll quickly find yourself losing hours on end in this pinball experience from a galaxy far, far away. There’s no doubting it: the force is STRONG with Star Wars Pinball VR.
Judgement was already a brilliant game on last-gen consoles, but the PlayStation 5 enhancements see it moving close to perfection. It is renowned for its excellent story, action-packed battling, and wealth of content, but the revamped visuals and slick performance really take it to the next level. It’s a real shame that it’s not available as a free next-gen upgrade, but it’s the only real sticking point in what is otherwise a stellar release. If you missed out on Judgement the first time around, don’t make the same mistake again… play it now!
Skate City isn’t the most engrossing of skating sims, but it still manages to offer a relaxing experience that’ll appeal more to the casual crowd. It’s not particularly difficult, it doesn’t have a ton on offer content-wise, and it can be a bit too easy to string together tricks, but it’s fine – it isn’t trying to constantly test your skating skills, but instead absorb you in its relaxed world of skating. Skate City won’t be for everyone, but if you’re looking for an extreme sports sim that never feels TOO extreme, it might just be for you.
I love revisiting gaming memories from my youth, and Total War: Rome Remastered definitely scratched that itch for me. Sure, it may not have all the bells and whistles of modern Total War games but there’s something wonderful about its simplicity in comparison. It has seen plenty of improvements to modernise the experience and make it more intuitive too, so it certainly doesn’t feel like a game that released in 2004. Whether you’re a first timer or returning once again to gloriously conquer your enemies, you won’t go far wrong with Total War: Rome Remastered.
NieR Replicant is another brilliant remake to add to the ever-growing collection, with its touching narrative and fantastic combat making it a true RPG gem. Where it really shines though is in the way that it does *unexpected* things. NieR Replicant is constantly changing things up, whether that’s through the gameplay or with a twist in the plot that changes your understanding of the events that are playing out. It’s full to the brim with surprises and they’re all so magnificently presented – it’s what helps make the game feel so special and memorable to play. It’s not completely flawless and seeing everything it has to offer can feel a little bit repetitive, but it’s worth it. NieR Automata might have brought the series into the limelight, but NieR Replicant proves that it was already special to begin with.
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark offers another weird but wonderful spooky set of mysteries for point-and-click fans to unravel. It’s a lot simpler in design when compared to similar releases in the genre, but certainly doesn’t lack ingenuity as far as its puzzle design is concerned. The writing is top-notch throughout too and I genuinely found myself laughing out loud at times… what more could you want? The simplicity of the gameplay might not always appeal to hardcore point-and-click enthusiasts and one or two puzzles could be a little bit TOO out there, but it doesn’t stop The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark from offering a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. They may be a pair of fools, but I can’t wait to spend more time with Detective McQueen and Officer Dooley.
You know what? I was pleasantly surprised by Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. It’s by no means a ground-breaking release and doesn’t do anything special, but it delivered a lot more than I expected. The adventure itself is fun, the world is pretty to look at, and the writing is clever and funny. Who would have though tax evasion could make for a fun gaming experience? Not me.
There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is a wacky genre-bending experience that is clever, creative, and a whole lot of fun. The less you know before going in the better, but know this: you certainly won’t regret experiencing its unique and utterly endearing adventure.
Paradise Lost offers a unique take on the after-effects of World War II, with its atmospheric journey proving intriguing throughout. I found it fascinating to explore the Nazi bunker and uncover its many secrets, whilst the moments of interactivity and choice-making made it easier to immerse myself in the walking simulator-style gameplay. It really looks the part too – who said derelict bunkers had to be ugly?! It does have a few misfires along the way thanks to the painfully slow walking speed, some frame rate drops, and the occasionally flat voice acting, but Paradise Lost’s gripping mystery ensure that it is certainly an adventure that’s worth embarking on.
Stitchy in Tooki Trouble offers a decent platforming adventure that will appeal to younger gamers, even if it is a little lacking in originality and creativity. There’s nothing on offer here that you wouldn’t have seen done before, whilst the easy difficulty and short length means that it won’t be a game that you’ll find yourself invested in for too long either. Still, it does enough to warrant interest in it if you’re a fan of the platforming genre, whilst it’s also a good game for kids to dive into if they’re just starting out playing video games. Stitchy in Tooki Trouble might be unremarkable in design, but that doesn’t mean there’s not some fun to be had in its zany corn-gathering adventure.
Rain on your Parade is an absolute delight, with its simple yet creative rain-pouring antics and brilliant level design making for a memorable (and undoubtedly unique) experience. I loved completing all of its levels and its many absurd objectives, whilst the little things such as customising Cloudy’s appearance just added to the fun. It’d be easy to dismiss Rain on your Parade as another gimmick-fuelled game, but it’s so much more than that; it’s a whimsical and wonderful romp that’ll delight both youngsters and adults alike.
Say NO! More is an undoubtedly unique game and its quirky sense of humour is certainly endearing, but its gameplay lacks any sort of depth to make it feel that engaging. You’re literally just pressing a button to say NO over and over again… and that’s it. That sort of simplicity CAN work in games, but in this case I couldn’t help but to wish that it offered a little something extra – if only to help immerse me further and make me feel like I’m really having an impact on its bizarre (yet relatable) world. It’s not a bad game by any means and the zany scenarios, charming narrative, and wacky ways of saying NO do make for a memorable experience. It just doesn’t really do enough to make it essential playing when compared to other comical games that try to do something a bit *different*.
Don’t Give Up: A Cynical Tale offers an engaging narrative that balances humour and emotional gut-punches, though the gameplay could be a little lacking. It’s not that anything is bad… there’s just not a whole lot to experience outside of the mini-game style battling. Does it offer enough to keep player entertained? I’d say so, especially with the intrigue of the narrative and the quality of the writing, which was top notch throughout. I’d just recommend you keep your expectations in check if you were hoping for a deep and involving RPG, with Don’t Give Up: A Cynical Tale feeling like an adventure where you’ll spend most of your time in the passenger seat.
Cozy Grove offers a whimsical and heart-warming island-life adventure that has completely hooked me in over the last couple of weeks. There’s just something incredibly rewarding about helping out the island folk, whilst the short nature of the charming array of daily tasks ensures that it never feels like a big commitment – it’s just something you can jump into here and there to spring a smile on your face. Of course, there’s no doubting that the style of play won’t be for everyone, whilst the simplicity of the experience might make Cozy Grove harder for some players to invest themselves in when compared to the likes of Animal Crossing. Those who do dive into its wonderful hand-drawn world are in for a delightful little experience though, and one that I can see myself coming back to for quite some time.
Outriders is an absolute blast to play, with it easily standing out as my favourite game of 2021 so far. I won’t deny that it has some issues (the early server problems being the most obvious), but they’re easy to look past when the combat mechanics are so varied and fun, building your character and unlocking new loot is satisfying, and sharing the experience with friends brings with it a rewarding sense of strategy. It’s brilliant. It doesn’t re-invent the looter-shooter genre in any way and there won’t be anything on offer that you wouldn’t have seen done before, but it doesn’t matter – especially since all of the things it offers are of a high quality. Everything Outriders does is done well and it makes for a super fun experience because of it. There might be a few teething issues right now, but I’m excited to spend more hours with my friends taking down the baddies that are roaming across our new home of Enoch…
DOOM 3: VR Edition holds up really well, and, outside of a few minor annoyances here and there, stands out as a fun (and undoubtedly horrifying) shooter for PlayStation VR gamers to sink their teeth into. It’s more immersive than ever thanks to the implementation of virtual reality, whilst the jump scares and nasty baddies felt creepier than ever before. It might be seventeen-years old now, but it’ll never stop being enjoyable blasting away at the vicious demons of hell. Of course, there’s no denying that it can also be dated in design in some places, whilst some awkward moments with the presentation and the DualShock controller could break the immersion a little. Enemies appearing from behind you is always a bit of a no-no in virtual reality too, so it shows that some aspects of the game didn’t make the transition quite as well as others. Whilst not perfect though, DOOM 3: VR Edition offers an enjoyable way to experience the iconic first-person shooter in all of its gory glory. Whether you’re a fan of the series or just virtual reality shooters in general, it’s certainly worth your attention.