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Mortal Kombat 11 offers a neat playing experience, perhaps a little more visceral than the Injustice games which tie with the DC franchise and therefore have obvious limitations. As a next stop for the MK series, this game ticks all the right boxes in every department which is good. However, it is plagued with elements needing a closer inspection and fixing. As it stands, MK 11 is worthwhile for the asking price and if you’re a fan a no-brainer purchase. That said, if you’re not a fan of the comical gore and rather serious overtones then this is perhaps not worth an immediate look-in, rather a wait-and-see until it’s up to scratch or until it drops in price.
Zanki Zero: Last Beginning offers an interesting story, an oddball set of characters and an even crazier scenario. That is without mentioning the rather annoying Extend TV characters Sho (a horny adolescent boy) and Mirai (a talking sheep no less). With its fusion of gameplay styles, it actually works very well when all elements slide into place. This isn't a game for everyone as the reliance of long conversations and minimal imagery might not suit those looking for more direct action. Still, it's easy to become invested in the 8 characters and their plight, and if you like laid-back puzzle fueled entertainment then this is a solid enjoyable experience to work through.
Genesis Alpha One offers an interesting sci-fi themed game. The interface is easy to navigate, the premise simple enough for anyone to pick up and play. However, it’s certainly a game for specific tastes. Those looking for a straight-up action shooter need not apply, and those who just want to manage make things tougher for themselves. You have to embrace all the features to get the most from it. Still, if you “get” what Radiant Blue designed here, then fun, tense and frustrating times are in order. Now let us get back to our all female crew of aliens. So much for saving humanity!
Taking the game at face value then, and it's good, not mind-blowing, but functional and pleasing. VR support definitely needs some work to get it up to speed though. Ultimately, I found it solid fun, and that's what counts despite any grievances I had with the game's general direction.
The story presents an assortment of scenarios for the player to work through as they conquer England, though force, diplomacy or guile. However, no matter how great the story or optional side-questing, the game becomes severely let-down by bugs and expected glitches. The latter is easy to overlook, but the former often impacts play which is a massive shame. In this regard it might be prudent to wait for more patches. That said, if you're willing to endure, you will find an entertaining romp with such a great subject matter. Plus, there's still plenty of assassin action within this Assassin's Creed instalment.
Observer System Redux looks great and thankfully plays excellently as well. The new content is nice to have and offers additional twisted and perverted happenings for Lazarski to uncover. The visual overhaul is pleasant, although a shame the game didn't include the original visuals as an option to toggle. That said, it feels fresh to revisit the game here after enjoying the original release in 2017. If you’re not a fan of walking-sims, then the pure assault on the senses might mean this could be an exception for you. It’s an engaging investigation, full of neat touches. The only negative, aside from not being able to explore more of the game world, are moments where progression forwards feels a little too-contrived or unclear, but this is a minor niggle. The core game, its character Lazarski and the world around him make for an exceptional journey for players that comes recommended for anyone with an interest in cyberpunk/sci-fi adventuring. Action gamers need not apply though.
Methodical combat, great enemy design and a sprawling package overflowing with content makes this a game I can easily recommend for hardened gamers and souls-like fans. No difficulty options exist here, so if you are looking for a chilled gaming experience then cast your gaze elsewhere.
To wrap-up then, Resident Evil Village is a fun game to play for those looking for a less scary experience and one that is not too taxing on the grey matter. It feels like Resident Evil 4 revisited and works using a similar style of gameplay. Fans of the slower-paced survival horror games might feel like this game could quite easily have had its own spin-off series and in some ways we can agree with that sentiment. However, in its own right and for all its theatrics, Village pushes the right buttons where it counts. In many ways it’s liberating to reside on the side of aggressor rather than tortured weakling, and that gets a dismembered thumbs-up from us.
Gamedec is an interesting adventure game that won't appeal to anyone looking for action-based antics. It's just not that type of game. It's also quite text-heavy, so if this doesn't appeal, then Gamedec won't change your opinion. That said, if you like role-playing various rogues or being mister nice guy then this is worth checking out. It's also pretty decent value for money.
We have mixed feeling about Encased. No doubt for some players it’s a great game reaching the upper echelons of the review scale. For us, less so due to our own preferences or perhaps expectations. A lack of direction, vagueness and tendency to draw on some frustrating quest design over-and-over have us at odds with the neat combat, excellent writing and fantastic audio alongside its neat premise. However, with our grievances aside, we still recommend this for those looking for strategy turn-based role playing. It’s certainly got character and that’s something most people can probably agree on.
Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is an enjoyable romp and pleasant change of approach compared to more restrictive offerings of the past. Open-world works well here but could do with some additional oomph to make it feel more interesting. Sleuths will enjoy the varied investigations here and if you desire an even greater challenge, then we suggest setting the game to it’s more cryptic highest difficulty for a first play through.
From Software just released a new update which includes more Smithing Stones dropped and can be purchased, stronger shields, which I agree will help newcomers immensely. They have also changed some of the gameplay balancing, but remain tight-lipped as to what they have done. In this regard then and despite all my earlier ranting can I recommend Elden Ring? Yes, definitely. It's a much more interesting title than previous games in the series and in my view a step in the right direction. But...and this is the caveat here, a lot of the older combat systems remain despite improvements which means expect tons of frustrating moments which requires perseverance in buckets. Or do what I do, rage quit, rant, then come back later and try again. Honestly, that is the best way to approach these games.
Serial Cleaners whilst unique, holds on to its premise well and should keep players entertained for the duration. You can live out your Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction) fantasies here and then some, with its range of characters and diverse scenarios. The game will appeal more to those who like slower paced gameplay and stealth. Given its relative cheap pricing at £20, it’s a steal.
We enjoyed the Resident Evil 2 Remake immensely. It was a breath of fresh air to an aged game bringing it into the modern age. When Resident Evil 3 Remake was announced to get the same treatment it was a time for excitement. However, the reality is we’re left with just an OK game that is somewhat uninspired and falls way short of its potential.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will appeal to fans of the series without a doubt despite the familiarity of events. However, if you’re like us and aren’t overly familiar with the wider DBZ story then this serves as an entertaining ride to get up-to-speed. The RPG elements aren’t so interesting here although levelling-up moves and the community board is welcome. The fighting works very well and despite some repetition is the main event here. Can we recommend the game then? Well yes it serves as a decent offering for newcomers and younger gamers especially. However, it could improve in some areas such as a more adaptive combat system that allows for advanced players to shine.
The Surge 2 is a likeable game despite some oddities with its cheating AI and lack of diversity with its locations. Once you get a feel for its combat beats, it’s a fun game that keeps you coming back for more. Gamers honed on hack-n-slash type experiences will probably find this too-focused and unforgiving to be appealing. Souls-like fans might enjoy what is on offer here despite the way some actions are perhaps too easy in one-direction and too-tough in the other. Either way, if you can reside somewhere in the middle of these elements you’ll find an enjoyable post-apocalyptic romp.