Qualbert.com's Reviews
I knew I’d be a bit biased going into Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PC – not only because I’m a fanatic of the web-slinger, but because I already experienced it in full last winter on my PS5. That being said, there’s never a bad time to revisit a game that you love, and doing so on a beefy PC made for an amazing time during my PC playthrough. Spider-Man: Miles Morales PC runs like a dream, is full of gusto, and is just a joy from start to finish. While some may decry it for being shorter than Marvel’s Spider-Man, it’s more of a case of never overstaying its welcome.
Return to Monkey Island is a fun puzzle adventure that will keep new and returning fans entertained for a decent while. The gameplay is solid and smooth, I couldn’t find any fault in it, it’s just a great point and click adventure game. The story is an enjoyable tale and the visuals are very pleasing to see. I guess if I had one grievance, I just wish the game were longer. Monkey Island games have always been fun and hilarious, I just wish there was more of them.
Temtem is a perfectly-playable game; there’s no pesky bugs or glitches, or anything glaring that the QA team didn’t catch before the game saw its 1.0 release in September. But when it comes to the fun factor, it’s evident what went wrong for me to not get the same enjoyment that I would out of a Pokémon title. While Temtem executes all of its systems to the T to entice fans of Pokémon, it needs to do more than that to make it stand out and reach the immensely-high bar that Pokémon has set.
I’ve gushed about this game for long enough. I’m a long time fan of Kratos’ adventures, and I thought nothing could possibly top the previous game God of War (2018) that is in the conversation for ‘best game of the last generation’. I was wrong (you might say off my head). Ragnarök builds on God of War (2018) in every conceivable way. This is one of those games that simply every person who considers themselves a gamer should experience. This is Game of the Year for 2022 (sorry Elden Ring). After that emotional experience, I honestly need a hug.
Bayonetta 3 is the definitive Bayonetta experience polished to near perfection over the last decade of the series. Despite being held back by the technical limitations of the Switch, this latest entry delivers some of the most bombastic, ridiculous, and extravagant gameplay featured in any videogame. Platinum have taken their distinct action game style and turned it up to 11 at every given opportunity. So whether or not you’re a fan of action games, or whether or not you’ve played any of the previous Bayonetta games, if you enjoy fun, you won’t want to miss the Umbra Witch on the Switch.
Shadows of Rose, like Rose herself, is short and sweet. This standalone story can be completed in a single sitting and offers a glimpse at Village’s most horrific settings through a new lens. And while brief, segments of this DLC are some of the most terrifying ever seen throughout the entire Resident Evil series. So if you enjoyed exploring Village, Shadows of Rose is an absolute necessity beyond a shadow of a doubt.
New Tales From the Borderlands offers a story is quirky and comedic with decent replayability due to its dialogue choices. The trio of protagonists actually have flaws that they work on leading to some decent character arcs and the game is smooth as silk in the exploration. Where it really lets itself down is the lack of any resolution to a previous storyline and the overabundance of QTEs. If they also had the really enjoyable side characters make more of an appearance, it would have also help flesh out the world.
OlliOlli World really is the most polished skating game ever created – Tony Hawk eat your heart out – and Finding the Flowzone is an added breath of fresh air. The new Windzone mechanic seriously speeds up the game’s pace, and alleviates the frustration of slowing down during lengthy combos. With a heap of added challenge, this is the perfect DLC for players wanting to test their skating skills and compete for glory on the scoreboard! So go with the flow and give this DLC a go.
It’s not often you start with the fourth game in the series, but UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection is exactly that. For players who’ve yet to explore the thrilling escapades of Nathan Drake, this PC collection offers a starting point that will leave players eager to return to previous adventures. For returning fans, the ability to experience the game in the highest possible visual fidelity and ultra-wide resolution may tempt you into a replay.
Valkyrie Elysium is not a perfect package. But what I can say is that I found it to be the perfect length for a game of its style. Action RPGs can drag on at times, but Elysium can be all completed (including all subquests) in around 20 hours or so. My minor gripes with aspects of the presentation are more around inconsistency across elements rather than anything that would be considered ‘bad’. The somewhat ’empty’ feeling world can be ignored with a focus on the excellent main cast of characters and their heartfelt interactions.
Not everyone is going to love Gotham Knights – it caters to an audience, but is so tailor-made for those individuals that it’s a worthwhile game. For those that love DC, powering through open-worlds, and have fond memories of the Arkham series, Gotham Knights is going to be a blast. I was glued to my screen just about the whole time, and can’t imagine how much more fun this would be if I had someone to blaze through the entire campaign with.
Not all golf games are created eagle. They can be a bit hit or miss, particularly if they stick to the tried and overused formula we have seen for literally decades. Thankfully, Chuhai Labs have done something completely different here and made a short yet extremely enjoyable puzzle game. Yes, it can be frustrating at times if your button presses are just slightly off – but if that does happen you only have yourself to blame.
Despite its attractive presentation and heavy political themes, veterans of the genre will likely find DioField too tame, feeling overly repetitive throughout its roughly 30 hour campaign. The game may instead appeal to newcomers wanting to discover SRPGs thanks to its easily approachable squad-based combat and simple gameplay loop. Overall, The DioField Chronicles is not necessarily a bad game, but is all too unambitious and formulaic to be considered alongside the greats of Square Enix, falling short of its mighty strategy brethren.
Session: Skate Sim is the Dark So- I’m not going to use that analogy, but I will say it is a game where you will fall tons of times before you nail the landing. Hell – I was legitimately holding my controller sideways half the time to best pedal and steer. But, like most difficult games, when you finally get the hang of it, it’s a rewarding experience like no other in its genre. Skate fans have been foaming at the teeth for more content, and this is exactly what they’re looking for.
Destroy all Humans 2: Reprobed is a short, fun game full of references, silly moments and stereotypical humour. And that’s exactly why we enjoy it. I mentioned earlier about looking through the lens of nostalgia glasses, well, I may still be looking through the glasses, but the lenses aren’t as thick as once thought. The game isn’t perfect, no game is. But while it lacks in a thrilling story or long gameplay, it makes up for in the comedy that keeps giving us a good chuckle.
The experience aboard the floating hospital is a dialogue delight thanks to its wonderful cast of unique characters, all of whom are voiced with passion and emotion. There’s really only one major downside to Wayward Strand, and it’s that after finishing it, I just wanted to keep playing, delving into the lives of each of the residents even further. This is a heart-warming tale than fans of Australian indie games must experience.
Is The Last of Us Part I a remake that’s truly worth it? Yes, without a doubt. This is not only the definitive way to rediscover one of the finest games ever created, but adds a huge range of not only content, but also much needed in-game accessibility. Coupled with the intuitive features of the PS5 DualSense controller, flawlessly enhanced visuals and immersive 3D audio, and this remake provides an unforgettable experience that sends one resounding message from the talented team at Naughty Dog: you haven’t even seen The Last of Us.
It’s impossible to recommend Lost Epic to everyone, but it certainly has an audience that will enjoy it. I certainly would have warmed up to the title more if I weren’t stuck for a half hour, but that may not happen to everyone that plays (even if there were multiple forum posts about it). If a difficult combat challenge, a vivid art style, and a sense of progression is what you seek, Lost Epic should be up your alley.
Cult of the Lamb is yet another absolutely amazing indie game for 2022, that I am very proud to say was born in my hometown. This is a cute and psychologically disturbed experience where you take the cutest of characters through dark ordeals only to satiate the desires of the demon that saved you from death. Tight roguelike combat crossed with town building is a genius combination and causes you to enter these loops where you want to do just one more dungeon. After that dungeon you get back to town and need to ensure your followers are still happy, fed and faithful. After that – just one more dungeon? Yes please.
A decade later, having constructed a monolithic series from a solid foundation, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 polishes its experience beyond any fan’s expectations. Drawing inspiration from the finest elements of its predecessors, the latest entry features endlessly expansive environments and honed combat, accompanied by vibrant visuals and stellar score. Yet the real highlight is the loveable cast of characters, all of whom breathe life into the game at every moment. Although it was with a heavy heart and teary eyes the curtain finally drew to a close on Noah and Mio’s adventure, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will be a near flawless experience that I’ll never forget.