Explosion Network
HomepageExplosion Network's Reviews
It felt more like I was in Hell pushing through its technical issues than I did exploring the games' world.
If you've never played an FMV before, Erica will probably be a lot more interesting and maybe it's a good entry-level to these types of games. But as far as I'm concerned Erica Mason can stay in the hospital and stop bothering me to help light her damn zippo.
I like Storm Boy. I'm Australian. I have a semi-attachment to the story from being a kid, so for me personally, this was an experience I was looking forward to diving into and I enjoyed the ride. If anything, it made me want to watch the 70's film again, but this is a comfort food variation of Colin Thiele's story, not a good place to experience it for the first time.
Infliction is better than the majority of games you can find like it, featuring much better writing, but its problems standout frustrating tall. Still, it's hard to not give the one person team of Clinton McCleary at Caustic Reality many props for pulling off what is here basically all by himself, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes has moments where it shines and the presentation and character models all look good. The climbing and movement with an initial setup for an emotional prison break story were promising, but from the moment I picked up my first gun, it took a dive into mediocre territory. As far as movie based VR experiences go, this is one of the best I’ve played, but that doesn't make it a good VR cover-based shooter.
Hand of Fate 2 attempts to combine the fun of tabletop games with video games, but its commitment to that pitch is its downfall. The portals to combat filled me with nothing but grunts of exhaustion everytime as I drew my weapon. If you are able to look past the dreaded combat, there is a fun tabletop RPG here with interesting stories to tell, but I personally can't stand to do another one of those combat scenarios. Sorry, The Dealer wins.
Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul often seems more like a budget random haunted house game than a true Paranormal Activity experience, and that’s unfortunate. For fans of the franchise, you will get a kick out of the connections, but it’s not the next thing to play after the films or something necessary to get more out of the films, or even to get a true Paranormal Activity experience in VR.
Crackdown 3 is a mindless collectathon that may tickle the right spot for fans of the franchise or those seeking a game stripped of everything but side-missions; those seeking a Terry Crews simulator, like I was, will be left sorely disappointed.
I had hoped that Skull and Bones might have been an underdog, and I had wished it had come out and surprised me. Unfortunately, it is undercooked and lacks direction.
This silly game often feels too difficult for its own good. The bullet-hell inspirations aren't as charming as the rest of the game, and looking back, the first game is easily a much better experience thanks to its gameplay and characters.
I enjoy this world, and returning for one more adventure was a short but worthwhile adventure. However, if I play another game with any of these characters next, it better be post-Road 96.
There are flashes of potential that could have elevated Wanted Dead to be greater than the sum of its parts, but these flashes are drowned out by its mission to be a throwback experience complete with jank.
Deep underneath, there's plenty of interesting lore and directions a potential sequel could go if Square Enix were to make one. However, for the 12-14 hours I played, making my way through the core missions and a handful of additional content, the combat kept me engaged amidst moments of the story, making me want to nod off.
Lone Ruin is going to scratch an itch for those who love chasing high scores and trying to one-up friends.
If you aren't familiar with the franchise, you would find yourself a little lost and wondering where it all went wrong, but overall my son enjoyed playing Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx and constantly declared, "I love this game!"
Ghostwire: Tokyo is an odd collection of ideas from a studio that is obviously trying to break out of just doing horror. Some of it works, some of it doesn't, and the game feels unique and like playing a PS3 open-world game simultaneously.
It may not do anything particularly unique, but its bite-sized ocean world to explore feels relaxing, not threatening, and I appreciate that fact.
There are a lot of interesting ideas at play in Aztech Forgotten Gods, even if they have not all coalesced in a way that knocks it out of the park. Still, there are joys to be had when flying around an interestingly designed world and colossal bosses in a way that their size can be fully realised.
There's a lot to like here, even if there's plenty of room for improvement. It's far from esports ready, but it does feel like a solid first step for a great new franchise.
Although the final decision felt flat, the residents of Providence Oaks and the interactions and relationships you form are wholesome and reinforce that sense of community and feeling like you belong. Sometimes in life, it's about the journey, not the destination, and I think the same about Lake.