JumpCut PLAY
HomepageJumpCut PLAY's Reviews
In Sound Mind encapsulates what it means to be greater than the sum of one’s parts–its disparate elements coalescing to form a simultaneously unsettling and campy horror title.
It’s that simplicity at Glyph’s core that keeps it fresh. Piloting the insectoid protagonist feels like learning to play with a toy (and it does kind of resemble a Bakugan, come to think of it). Even when you’re failing at landing a jump time and time again, the looming sense of accomplishment on the other side makes the struggle worthwhile. Before you know it, that double jump to glide sequence might come as naturally to you as a jump from sofa to recliner.
It’s hard to say Lifeslide does anything wrong with its execution, at no point did I grow tired or frustrated with the game. It ends just as it risks overstaying its welcome – and the mechanics it does introduce over that runtime fit into the main loop neatly. Still, even those do little to elaborate beyond those initial mechanics in a way that feels intentional. With a gameplay loop that harkens back to an era of lunchtime flash games, Lifeslide will genuinely please people who are looking for a new relaxing experience.
SuperCross 4 takes the prospect of a sport with a fervent fan-base and doubles down on making the gameplay a divisive introduction to the franchise for newcomers. It isn’t quite inside the distinctions of a simulator, but it is the closest this franchise has come yet to that notion. Your mileage may vary in this regard, but the mud and sand covered competition of Monster’s latest installment are ready to test you.
Unrailed! on the Switch is a very fun time sink when you fancy a quick game of something before upcoming plans. There is a great core game here with a very enjoyable look, but it’s initially let down by the lack of player communication mechanics, which prevents new players from understanding the game’s intricacies and learning from experienced players without actively leaving the game in pursuit of external materials. Once you do overcome this hurdle, however, you are rewarded with the true quality of the game being presented to you, and you’ll very quickly find yourself engrossed even for just the short time span you intend to play for.
For a free upgrade, the next-gen patch is a real blessing here and it is certainly a great step for the game to take in its attempts to gain a second chance at becoming a new regular in your play cycles. Your engagement with the endgame aspects of Avengers is going to be solely down to your preferences and your tolerance for an intense, grinding style of game as seen with the emergence of the “live service” game, with even my short dip into the online field matching me up with players who out-ranked my power level a substantial amount. However, I have no desire to search for loot, to make my characters as powerful as possible, or even grind for some cosmetic skins, as ultimately the core hook just isn’t enough to keep me coming back. What is here is mechanically solid, but it never manages to be gratifying enough to keep me invested past an hour or so—and with the grind the game requires, that is just not enough time to get engrossed with the elements at play here.
If you can avoid these performance issues, thankfully there’s a great deal of fun to be had with The Climb 2. While in many ways it does not feel like a massive leap in content from the first game and still somewhat feels a tad tech demo like for a game released in 2021, for fans of the thrill of free-soling and finding enjoyment in besting others in time records, it will be sure to please and keep you coming back for hours. Perhaps we will this gameplay engine implemented into a larger scope title down the line from Crytek.
This game is definitely more suited for mobile play due to its Tinder-like mechanics. Swiping with your mouse definitely feels like more effort than the game requires and because it’s card-based it’s perfect for a mobile phone screen. Using a mouse definitely doesn’t hinder my enjoyment of the game – the writing makes sure of that! But if you were looking to buy this game then I would absolutely recommend buying it for your phone.
Fall Guys is a bright, fast-paced, and relatively simple game that is a delight to play. Whilst I can’t see myself playing this game for hours on end, it will be a go-to when I require a pick me up while also being great for when people are allowed to get together for parties again!
The Last of Us Part II is not for everyone. Sometimes, it wasn’t even a game for me, a huge fan of the original. It’s often an emotionally punishing experience, and even borders on sadism at times. But no matter how much hatred these characters feel, no matter what form of revenge they take, the game never loses sight of the importance of compassion and love. It’s a message that the world could use right now.
2020’s iteration of the long-winded franchise is once again a mixed bag, which sadly has become the norm with the series. A campaign that, while widely entertaining and for the most part interesting, is cut far too short to have any real substantial worth, a multiplayer mode that tries to do some new things but ultimately feels far too same-y with the old frustrations rearing their ugly head, and finally, a fantastic Zombies mode that entertains when playing alone or with friends adds up to a package that feels disjointed. The sooner that Activision decides to allow consumers to purchase elements of the game as separate entities the better, as the Zombies mode alone is worth a spin, just not at the full asking price.
Dirt 5 is a mixed bag; it’s a graphically exquisite experience with a flawed progression system and a lack of in-game rewards. However, it does excel in core gameplay and is enormously fun with a gentle learning curve and a great variety of race modes. If you are in the market for a fun and great-looking rally racing game that does away with all the “simulator” gubbins, Dirt 5 is well worth a look—foibles and all.
Observer: System Redux is a fascinating, sometimes thrilling trip that I would highly recommend despite its flaws. The game’s slower pace won’t be for everyone, but those who persist with it will be rewarded. It’s a world you wouldn’t want to live in, but an intriguing place to visit. Turn on, plug in, and freak out.
Harkening back to the classic arcade racers you’d gleefully waste your £2 coin on at the back of Hollywood Bowl, Hotshot Racing is a no-frills racing game with simple but satisfying mechanics to entice even the most hardcore racers.
Yet even with these massive issues, I would be telling a lie if I did not find the whole thing addictive. Perhaps that is the most frustrating part, what is here is great in concept, and there is so much room for improvement that it raises frustration that there was not more time taken to expand upon the mission format and game mechanics to make the game something truly unique. In fact, I was so checked out with the repetitive nature of it all that nine hours later the Platinum Trophy popped, so that must count for something. With it being free on the PS5 as of writing with PlayStation Plus, then there are zero reasons not to check it out and see if it scratches an itch you might have. Past that, hold your breath for a potential sequel that could make Maneater a real stand-out title and an easy one to recommend in the future.
Dry Drowning is a fun experience that uses its format well and has clearly been created by people with a lot of love for the genre. Even if you don’t ordinarily play visual novels, I think there’s a lot more to keep you engaged than you would expect. There’s a real sense that your choices craft the narrative and Mordred’s journey, and whilst there is a lot happening the game does a good job at keeping you on track. If you’re in the mood to play detective, you’ll definitely find something to enjoy here.
As a whole, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is an incredible remake of the original. It does everything a remake should, in that it keeps the core feeling of what made the original click with players while updating it for a modern audience. However, I can’t stress this enough though: do not play on the Knight or Legend difficulty levels until you genuinely feel ready, whenever that is. Neither are, in my opinion, a good way to experience everything that is wonderful about Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection, and will only leave you frustrated beyond belief.
The game absolutely shines when it comes to its core feature of crafting… It’s a welcome challenge with solid and addictive gameplay
Legends Arceus is a good game, but it has too many shortcomings to be a great game. For every good part of Legends Arceus, there is also a bad one. I walked away from this game wanting them to truly build upon the new ideas they presented because there is a good base. Pokémon Legends Arceus is the best example of a good game that is held back from being amazing by falling victim to not innovating enough with the new mechanics presented. However, despite its shortcomings, it’s the first Pokémon game in years that I’ll be excited to go back to and I’m walking away from feeling hopeful for the future of the series.
As the behemoth that is Gran Turismo 7 looms in its March 4th release slot, GRID Legends offers a more user-friendly and arcade-like racing experience. One without the intricate minutia of the GT franchise. What it lacks in realism and subtlety it makes up in graphical bombast, sheer fun, and customization options.