Dutts
2016
I recently played Virgina, a mystery adventure game that boasts a solid art style. The lighting effects in this game are truly breathtaking and add an extra level of immersion to the experience. The music in this game is top-tier and truly helps to set the mood throughout the adventure. Additionally, the editing and direction of the game are high-level and ambitious.
However, while Virginia takes a unique approach to visual storytelling, the ending left me wanting more. Although it is fine to leave some questions unanswered, the lack of substance made it difficult to draw any firm conclusions or feel a sense of satisfaction with the game's conclusion.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this game is the lack of detailed environments. You'll find yourself just scrolling around until you find a square to progress the story. While a minimalist art style can work well, as seen in games like Firewatch, the environment still feels real and fully realised. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with Virgina which for all its admirable ambition fails to come together as a complete package.
However, while Virginia takes a unique approach to visual storytelling, the ending left me wanting more. Although it is fine to leave some questions unanswered, the lack of substance made it difficult to draw any firm conclusions or feel a sense of satisfaction with the game's conclusion.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this game is the lack of detailed environments. You'll find yourself just scrolling around until you find a square to progress the story. While a minimalist art style can work well, as seen in games like Firewatch, the environment still feels real and fully realised. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with Virgina which for all its admirable ambition fails to come together as a complete package.
2023
Destiny 2's latest expansion, unfortunately, falls short of the expectations after the success of the Witch Queen with a half-hearted campaign. The campaign was so clunky and pieced together from content pulled from past and future expansions, resulting in a self-contained story with no real impact on the main plot. It feels like its sole purpose was to generate annual income before the true expansion comes next year.
The story is by far the weakest point of the expansion and it removes all the momentum that was being built up in the Witch Queen with a story away from the main characters and introduced the cloud striders who added to the jarring tone of the campaign with their cartoonish design. The story is essentially a strand tutorial which has no overall bearing on the main plot and could essentially have been the 80s action movie montage that happens towards the end of the campaign.
The poor story is made worse by the sheer disappointment in Neomuna, the highly anticipated cyberpunk world. What we got was a bland world full of concrete roofs and empty world space. The lack of detail can be summed up in the fact the 12-foot cloud strikes home base and includes breakfast stools they would never be able to sit on. Outside of one mural of the cloudstrikers, Neomuna had no character, it’s no wonder the inhabitants decided to upload their consciousness and live in the clouds.
The lack of a new race means you are fighting the same enemies in a new location and while the tormentors are a fun tough challenge the main gameplay changes come from the new class. Thankfully the strand class is a lot of fun and feels very distinct from the other abilities in the game which is very welcome. The use of threadlings and suspend abilities are great for builds and introduces new exciting options in PVE.
The root of nightmares raid was enjoyable and seasonal content continues to improve and will keep me engaged until the Final Shape. That said, I can't help but feel like this was another missed opportunity for Bungie to build the player base. The casual players paying $50 (£40) for this threadbare campaign and forgettable destination are unlikely to want to stick around and should feel shortchanged for their money.
Destiny 2 has a lot of work to do to regain its strong position before the release of this expansion, and it's crucial that Bungie takes this criticism on board and delivers a memorable conclusion to the light and darkness saga.
The story is by far the weakest point of the expansion and it removes all the momentum that was being built up in the Witch Queen with a story away from the main characters and introduced the cloud striders who added to the jarring tone of the campaign with their cartoonish design. The story is essentially a strand tutorial which has no overall bearing on the main plot and could essentially have been the 80s action movie montage that happens towards the end of the campaign.
The poor story is made worse by the sheer disappointment in Neomuna, the highly anticipated cyberpunk world. What we got was a bland world full of concrete roofs and empty world space. The lack of detail can be summed up in the fact the 12-foot cloud strikes home base and includes breakfast stools they would never be able to sit on. Outside of one mural of the cloudstrikers, Neomuna had no character, it’s no wonder the inhabitants decided to upload their consciousness and live in the clouds.
The lack of a new race means you are fighting the same enemies in a new location and while the tormentors are a fun tough challenge the main gameplay changes come from the new class. Thankfully the strand class is a lot of fun and feels very distinct from the other abilities in the game which is very welcome. The use of threadlings and suspend abilities are great for builds and introduces new exciting options in PVE.
The root of nightmares raid was enjoyable and seasonal content continues to improve and will keep me engaged until the Final Shape. That said, I can't help but feel like this was another missed opportunity for Bungie to build the player base. The casual players paying $50 (£40) for this threadbare campaign and forgettable destination are unlikely to want to stick around and should feel shortchanged for their money.
Destiny 2 has a lot of work to do to regain its strong position before the release of this expansion, and it's crucial that Bungie takes this criticism on board and delivers a memorable conclusion to the light and darkness saga.
Iki Island is a story expansion to the main game and forms part of the Director's Cut version of the game. The game follows Jin as he explores the dark secrets of Iki Island and how it links to his families past. This story DLC improves on the original game in almost evey aspect and as a result is one of the best story expansions to a video game ever made.
The game benefits from the smaller open world allowing for a more compact and fulfilling story learning about Jin's fathers legacy and the scars it left behind. The main villian in the DLC is the Eagle, who unlike the Khan, is more than a one dimensional villan and alongside some other new characters helps Jin explore his past.
Even the open-world aspects which were seriously lacking in the original title feel meaningful and important. The side missions finally had a bit of variety with the Ghost of Iki Island being a fun mission with a recognisable face. Activities feel vital to the story with them including flashbacks with your father, new interesting mythic tales and dyes that celebrate Playstation IP.
Finally, they somehow made Iki Island even more visually stunning as Tsushima and added to the already amazing gameplay options. This DLC addresses almost all of my concerns with the original title and produced a rich and impactful story to boot.
The game benefits from the smaller open world allowing for a more compact and fulfilling story learning about Jin's fathers legacy and the scars it left behind. The main villian in the DLC is the Eagle, who unlike the Khan, is more than a one dimensional villan and alongside some other new characters helps Jin explore his past.
Even the open-world aspects which were seriously lacking in the original title feel meaningful and important. The side missions finally had a bit of variety with the Ghost of Iki Island being a fun mission with a recognisable face. Activities feel vital to the story with them including flashbacks with your father, new interesting mythic tales and dyes that celebrate Playstation IP.
Finally, they somehow made Iki Island even more visually stunning as Tsushima and added to the already amazing gameplay options. This DLC addresses almost all of my concerns with the original title and produced a rich and impactful story to boot.
2020
Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure set in feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island and follows the samurai Jin Sakai who aims to liberate his homeland. The game's art direction is the best I have seen in any video game with some of the most visually stunning dynamic landscapes, weather conditions and lighting. This is best illustrated in the standoff duels, minimal UI and cutscenes that visually bring feudal Japan to life.
The story is well-paced and very immersive with the feeling that it is authentic to the era. That being said the story plays it very safe and doesn't give the Mongol villains much development when you compare it to the relationship-building happening between Jin and his uncle. That said the ending of the main campaign is very satisfactory and feels like a complete story.
The combat is surprisingly varied with different samurai techniques and equipment that you progressively unlock ensuring combat stays fresh. Even after 30 hours, it is still so satisfying to cut down Mongols one by one. Unfortunately, the stealth mechanics are not as fully fleshed out.
While the story remains compelling throughout the open-world elements the side quests are anything but. The side quests are all a variation of the Mongols having killed someone so you must investigate and/or track them down to kill them. This repetition hurts the character development of your allies as they begin to feel like a chore to complete. The open-world activities vary wildly but apart from the platforming at temples are very unsatisfying including chopping bamboo and lighting lighthouses. The Mythic Tales are the only exception as they have some terrific cutscenes, lore and abilities for you to unlock.
Overall, Ghost of Tsushima is a game with excellent visuals, combat, story, and cultural representation but the basic open-world elements mean it isn't a complete and polished package.
The story is well-paced and very immersive with the feeling that it is authentic to the era. That being said the story plays it very safe and doesn't give the Mongol villains much development when you compare it to the relationship-building happening between Jin and his uncle. That said the ending of the main campaign is very satisfactory and feels like a complete story.
The combat is surprisingly varied with different samurai techniques and equipment that you progressively unlock ensuring combat stays fresh. Even after 30 hours, it is still so satisfying to cut down Mongols one by one. Unfortunately, the stealth mechanics are not as fully fleshed out.
While the story remains compelling throughout the open-world elements the side quests are anything but. The side quests are all a variation of the Mongols having killed someone so you must investigate and/or track them down to kill them. This repetition hurts the character development of your allies as they begin to feel like a chore to complete. The open-world activities vary wildly but apart from the platforming at temples are very unsatisfying including chopping bamboo and lighting lighthouses. The Mythic Tales are the only exception as they have some terrific cutscenes, lore and abilities for you to unlock.
Overall, Ghost of Tsushima is a game with excellent visuals, combat, story, and cultural representation but the basic open-world elements mean it isn't a complete and polished package.
2020
Cyberpunk 2077 is an action role-playing game set in a dystopian future metropolis called Night City, located in California. Players take on the role of a customizable mercenary known as V, who can acquire new skills and cyber ware implants to improve their abilities. The game features a branching narrative, which is affected by the player's choices and actions.
The game's narrative is excellent keeping its pace through three acts and an epilogue based on player choice. The game's characters are well-realised and have distinct personalities and backstories. The game feels cinematic in several areas but most notably when it comes to the way they position characters with beautiful backdrops of Night City behind them during extended conversations during the story.
Some of the most memorable characters come from side missions which provide a varied take on the action of the main missions and help expand on the world of Night City. My favourite storyline involved Johnny Silverhand's old bandmate Kerry Eurodyne as well as the storylines that let you explore love interests in the game.
The world of Night City does not feel fully realised particularly when you are travelling through the open world. While there are some bustling hub areas there is a general lack of interactivity and life that players would expect from a bustling metropolis. Given the noted issues with the game engine and bugs, this may have been all they could produce but the Night City the game's characters give personality when describing it and their relationships to the city are not realised when you explore it individually. There is a main mission where you experience the city during the carnival which fully realises the potential of Night City but this doesn't happen more consistently.
While the shooting controls are passable, they could be improved slightly with some of the wide variety of gun types feeling less usable than others. The main gripe is with the driving which feels clunky and unresponsive. By the end of the game, I had a garage full of 30-plus vehicles but I did not change from the motorbike as it felt like the only responsive vehicle in the game.
In conclusion, given the strengths of the game are the characters, voice acting and narrative story, I believe this game would have worked much better being a more linear title with the option to complete side missions. Night City is a highly ambitious open world but it doesn't feel fully realised and can feel like a chore to traverse. I had no desire to explore the world outside of quest markers and feel the time would have been better spent polishing the missions and focusing on the strengths of the game.
There is a lot to love about Cyberpunk 2077 and I hope there is another game in this universe as it has limitless potential.
Note: I played the game in 2023 on a PS5 so did not run into the bugs that plagued the early launch of the game.
The game's narrative is excellent keeping its pace through three acts and an epilogue based on player choice. The game's characters are well-realised and have distinct personalities and backstories. The game feels cinematic in several areas but most notably when it comes to the way they position characters with beautiful backdrops of Night City behind them during extended conversations during the story.
Some of the most memorable characters come from side missions which provide a varied take on the action of the main missions and help expand on the world of Night City. My favourite storyline involved Johnny Silverhand's old bandmate Kerry Eurodyne as well as the storylines that let you explore love interests in the game.
The world of Night City does not feel fully realised particularly when you are travelling through the open world. While there are some bustling hub areas there is a general lack of interactivity and life that players would expect from a bustling metropolis. Given the noted issues with the game engine and bugs, this may have been all they could produce but the Night City the game's characters give personality when describing it and their relationships to the city are not realised when you explore it individually. There is a main mission where you experience the city during the carnival which fully realises the potential of Night City but this doesn't happen more consistently.
While the shooting controls are passable, they could be improved slightly with some of the wide variety of gun types feeling less usable than others. The main gripe is with the driving which feels clunky and unresponsive. By the end of the game, I had a garage full of 30-plus vehicles but I did not change from the motorbike as it felt like the only responsive vehicle in the game.
In conclusion, given the strengths of the game are the characters, voice acting and narrative story, I believe this game would have worked much better being a more linear title with the option to complete side missions. Night City is a highly ambitious open world but it doesn't feel fully realised and can feel like a chore to traverse. I had no desire to explore the world outside of quest markers and feel the time would have been better spent polishing the missions and focusing on the strengths of the game.
There is a lot to love about Cyberpunk 2077 and I hope there is another game in this universe as it has limitless potential.
Note: I played the game in 2023 on a PS5 so did not run into the bugs that plagued the early launch of the game.
2016
Firewatch is a first-person adventure game where you take on the role of a fire lookout named Henry, who is assigned to a remote tower in the Wyoming wilderness after a personal tragedy. Throughout the game, players explore the wilderness, complete tasks, and interact with a female fire lookout named Delilah via radio. The story is driven by the player's choices and the relationship between Henry and Delilah.
The game features a unique art style that is one of the most beautiful games ever made. The game's environment and landscapes are rendered in a stylized, yet detailed way, with a focus on natural colours and lighting. The colour palette used in the game is mainly composed of earthy tones such as greens, browns and blues, which helps to create a sense of immersion. The game also uses techniques like volumetric lighting, reflections and dynamic shadows to enhance the visual appeal.
Another aspect of the game that is worth praising is the voice acting. The performances of the two main characters, Henry and Delilah, are exceptional. Their dialogue is well-written, and the actors deliver it with great emotion and nuance. The voice acting helps to make the characters feel like real people, and the player's relationship with them feels more authentic. The game's ability to craft such a rich story from just the radio conversations of two characters is hugely impressive.
In conclusion, Firewatch is a well-crafted game that stands out for its unique art style, emotional storytelling, and exceptional voice acting. It immerses the player in a beautiful and realistic wilderness setting and tells a compelling story of personal growth and human connection. It's a game that is worth playing for those who enjoy first-person adventure games with a strong narrative.
The game features a unique art style that is one of the most beautiful games ever made. The game's environment and landscapes are rendered in a stylized, yet detailed way, with a focus on natural colours and lighting. The colour palette used in the game is mainly composed of earthy tones such as greens, browns and blues, which helps to create a sense of immersion. The game also uses techniques like volumetric lighting, reflections and dynamic shadows to enhance the visual appeal.
Another aspect of the game that is worth praising is the voice acting. The performances of the two main characters, Henry and Delilah, are exceptional. Their dialogue is well-written, and the actors deliver it with great emotion and nuance. The voice acting helps to make the characters feel like real people, and the player's relationship with them feels more authentic. The game's ability to craft such a rich story from just the radio conversations of two characters is hugely impressive.
In conclusion, Firewatch is a well-crafted game that stands out for its unique art style, emotional storytelling, and exceptional voice acting. It immerses the player in a beautiful and realistic wilderness setting and tells a compelling story of personal growth and human connection. It's a game that is worth playing for those who enjoy first-person adventure games with a strong narrative.
2017
Old Man's Journey is a narrative-driven puzzle game developed by Broken Rules. It is a beautifully crafted game, with a charming art style and simple but effective puzzle mechanics.
The game tells the story of an old man who is reminiscing about his past and reliving memories, as he journeys through different landscapes. The story is heartwarming and manages to feel fully realised even without dialogue and with limited interaction with other characters.
The puzzles in the game are cleverly designed and are a good challenge without being too difficult. However, they do become repetitive over-the-hour playtime. They do introduce some minor new mechanics through the game but these were not engaging enough to freshen the puzzles up.
Overall, Old Man's Journey is an interesting puzzle game with a good story and charming art style but expect to feel the repetition of the puzzles even in the limited time required to beat the game.
The game tells the story of an old man who is reminiscing about his past and reliving memories, as he journeys through different landscapes. The story is heartwarming and manages to feel fully realised even without dialogue and with limited interaction with other characters.
The puzzles in the game are cleverly designed and are a good challenge without being too difficult. However, they do become repetitive over-the-hour playtime. They do introduce some minor new mechanics through the game but these were not engaging enough to freshen the puzzles up.
Overall, Old Man's Journey is an interesting puzzle game with a good story and charming art style but expect to feel the repetition of the puzzles even in the limited time required to beat the game.
2018
The Gardens Between is a puzzle-adventure game that follows the story of two best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they journey through a surreal world of gardens and memories. The player controls the flow of time, moving forwards and backwards to solve puzzles and progress through the game.
The gameplay is basic with an action button and the ability to move forward and backwards through time but it worked well. The puzzles in the game are well-designed and satisfying to solve, with a good balance of creativity and new ideas thrown in so that the gameplay doesn't get boring.
The standout feature of The Gardens Between is its beautiful and surreal world, which is brought to life by its stylised visual style and stellar soundtrack. The game has similarities to Brothers: A tale of two sons but doesn't hit that level of story and polish. That being said, the final scene is a moving, emotional moment which means the game ends with a positive impression.
Overall, The Gardens Between is a unique and enjoyable puzzle-adventure game that is perfect for a one-sitting playthrough.
The gameplay is basic with an action button and the ability to move forward and backwards through time but it worked well. The puzzles in the game are well-designed and satisfying to solve, with a good balance of creativity and new ideas thrown in so that the gameplay doesn't get boring.
The standout feature of The Gardens Between is its beautiful and surreal world, which is brought to life by its stylised visual style and stellar soundtrack. The game has similarities to Brothers: A tale of two sons but doesn't hit that level of story and polish. That being said, the final scene is a moving, emotional moment which means the game ends with a positive impression.
Overall, The Gardens Between is a unique and enjoyable puzzle-adventure game that is perfect for a one-sitting playthrough.
2022
Stray is a third-person adventure game that follows the story of a stray cat as it navigates a strange and dangerous city. The player controls the cat as it explores the city, searching for food and shelter, and avoiding dangers such as cars and other animals.
The gameplay in Stray is unique as human size cities are presented from a cat's perspective giving it a unique and immersive feel, as the player must navigate through alleys, climb up buildings, and explore hidden corners to progress.
The player must use the cat's natural abilities, such as climbing and jumping, to navigate the city and avoid dangers. The game also includes stealth elements, with the player able to hide from or distract enemies to progress.
The standout feature of Stray is its beautiful and detailed environments, which are a joy to explore. Exploring the Midtown level is the highlight of the game but the slums also is a fun hub world to explore. The enemy levels are atmospheric and build tension with the game's art style is also a highlight, with a stylized and colourful aesthetic that perfectly complements the cat's perspective.
Overall, Stray is a unique and enjoyable adventure game that offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Its beautiful environments and charming art style define the game but there is also solid gameplay and story which makes this game worth a playthrough.
The gameplay in Stray is unique as human size cities are presented from a cat's perspective giving it a unique and immersive feel, as the player must navigate through alleys, climb up buildings, and explore hidden corners to progress.
The player must use the cat's natural abilities, such as climbing and jumping, to navigate the city and avoid dangers. The game also includes stealth elements, with the player able to hide from or distract enemies to progress.
The standout feature of Stray is its beautiful and detailed environments, which are a joy to explore. Exploring the Midtown level is the highlight of the game but the slums also is a fun hub world to explore. The enemy levels are atmospheric and build tension with the game's art style is also a highlight, with a stylized and colourful aesthetic that perfectly complements the cat's perspective.
Overall, Stray is a unique and enjoyable adventure game that offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Its beautiful environments and charming art style define the game but there is also solid gameplay and story which makes this game worth a playthrough.
2021
The Artful Escape is a visually stunning game, with hand-drawn artwork that gives the game a unique and distinct aesthetic. The game's surreal world is brought to life through detailed and imaginative environments, which are a joy to explore.
The story of The Artful Escape follows the journey of Francis Vendetti, a young musician, as he navigates through a dreamlike world inspired by his ancestors and his musical journey. The game's narrative is engaging and well-written, with a cast of quirky and memorable characters that help to bring the world of The Artful Escape to life.
The gameplay in The Artful Escape is centred around platforming, with players guiding Francis through a variety of landscapes and challenges. The gameplay is very light and not very engaging but that is sort of the point. The controls come secondary to what is going on around Francis as your main attention should be on the range of locations you are traversing through from lush forests and abandoned cities to sprawling deserts and floating islands.
The standout feature of The Artful Escape is its beautiful, hand-drawn art style, which gives the game a unique and distinct visual aesthetic. The game's soundtrack, which was created by real-life musician Johnny Greenwood, is also a highlight, with a variety of original songs that perfectly complement the game's surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.
Overall, The Artful Escape is a visually stunning and musically rich platformer that offers a unique and memorable story. This game can be completed in 3/4 hours and is best experienced in one go. Exploring this surreal world and engaging with the story and characters was the most fun I had gaming in 2022. Put on your best headphones and get lost in the world.
The story of The Artful Escape follows the journey of Francis Vendetti, a young musician, as he navigates through a dreamlike world inspired by his ancestors and his musical journey. The game's narrative is engaging and well-written, with a cast of quirky and memorable characters that help to bring the world of The Artful Escape to life.
The gameplay in The Artful Escape is centred around platforming, with players guiding Francis through a variety of landscapes and challenges. The gameplay is very light and not very engaging but that is sort of the point. The controls come secondary to what is going on around Francis as your main attention should be on the range of locations you are traversing through from lush forests and abandoned cities to sprawling deserts and floating islands.
The standout feature of The Artful Escape is its beautiful, hand-drawn art style, which gives the game a unique and distinct visual aesthetic. The game's soundtrack, which was created by real-life musician Johnny Greenwood, is also a highlight, with a variety of original songs that perfectly complement the game's surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.
Overall, The Artful Escape is a visually stunning and musically rich platformer that offers a unique and memorable story. This game can be completed in 3/4 hours and is best experienced in one go. Exploring this surreal world and engaging with the story and characters was the most fun I had gaming in 2022. Put on your best headphones and get lost in the world.
2022
Marvel Snap is a card battler game that is set in the Marvel Universe. The game features a wide range of iconic Marvel characters, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles.
This feels like an exciting new formula in the card battler genre, similar to the success of Hearthstone. It is therefore not surprising it was developed by Ben Brode, the game director for both games.
One of its biggest strengths is the strategic depth with small decks, which require careful consideration and effort to play. Each round, you only have a few options, but each one is crucial when you only have six rounds. The game can last a few minutes and even includes the option to retreat or gamble in competitive matches to try to protect or climb the ladder rankings based on how the game is going.
A positive aspect, especially in an era of poorly monetized mobile games, is that unlike Hearthstone and other similar games, this one does not require you to spend a fortune on packs with each expansion to obtain a competitive deck. All monetization is cosmetic, and there is a season pass if you want to access one card early each month.
Overall, Marvel Snap is a fun and engaging card battler game that will appeal to fans of both the Marvel Universe and collectible card games. This game reminded me of the joy of playing Gwent in Witcher 3, and it's a shame that the simple, streamlined joy of that was lost when the full version came out. The card battler genre has created many Hearthstone clones, and I think Marvel Snap will be the one they try to emulate.
This feels like an exciting new formula in the card battler genre, similar to the success of Hearthstone. It is therefore not surprising it was developed by Ben Brode, the game director for both games.
One of its biggest strengths is the strategic depth with small decks, which require careful consideration and effort to play. Each round, you only have a few options, but each one is crucial when you only have six rounds. The game can last a few minutes and even includes the option to retreat or gamble in competitive matches to try to protect or climb the ladder rankings based on how the game is going.
A positive aspect, especially in an era of poorly monetized mobile games, is that unlike Hearthstone and other similar games, this one does not require you to spend a fortune on packs with each expansion to obtain a competitive deck. All monetization is cosmetic, and there is a season pass if you want to access one card early each month.
Overall, Marvel Snap is a fun and engaging card battler game that will appeal to fans of both the Marvel Universe and collectible card games. This game reminded me of the joy of playing Gwent in Witcher 3, and it's a shame that the simple, streamlined joy of that was lost when the full version came out. The card battler genre has created many Hearthstone clones, and I think Marvel Snap will be the one they try to emulate.
2022
Diablo Immortal is a mobile action RPG set in the Diablo universe. The game features a variety of familiar Diablo characters, enemies, and locations, as well as new content created specifically for the mobile game. This is the best action-RPG experience I have played on mobile, due mostly to how well the touch controls work in enhancing gameplay. I don't feel like I'm lacking a controller or that I need to plug in my gamepad.
The graphics are of a very high standard, with the game split into different zones on the world map that vary in geography, weather, and monsters, making each one feel distinct.
The dungeons are well-made and include high-end cutscenes, varied boss battles, and dynamic events. They are the best part of the game and some of the most fun I've had with a mobile game. Unfortunately, being a mobile game, they require a lot of grinding and leveling up to access.
Overall, this feels like a premium mobile game that has managed to capture the best properties and streamline them for mobile. Other developers should take note when looking to bring their big IPs to mobile.
- Note this review of the main story missions and does not touch on the poor monetisation practices.
The graphics are of a very high standard, with the game split into different zones on the world map that vary in geography, weather, and monsters, making each one feel distinct.
The dungeons are well-made and include high-end cutscenes, varied boss battles, and dynamic events. They are the best part of the game and some of the most fun I've had with a mobile game. Unfortunately, being a mobile game, they require a lot of grinding and leveling up to access.
Overall, this feels like a premium mobile game that has managed to capture the best properties and streamline them for mobile. Other developers should take note when looking to bring their big IPs to mobile.
- Note this review of the main story missions and does not touch on the poor monetisation practices.
2018
Donut County is a puzzle game that follows the story of a group of animals who live in a world made up of holes. The player controls a hole that grows larger as it consumes objects, and must use this ability to solve puzzles and progress through the game.
It is a fun light-hearted game where you play a whole with the aim of consuming the homes and residents of Donut County. The puzzle elements of the game are fairly light but the gameplay is oddly satisfying helped out by the well-designed physics. There is a nice change in quirky environments, a catapult power and a final boss battle that keeps the game entertaining throughout.
The story is light with it focusing mainly on the relationship of the two main characters Mira and her friend BK. While the dialogue is funny in places it did feel a bit longwinded when it came to the residents as it slowed down the gameplay when I just wanted to move onto the next level.
Overall, this game is perfect for one sitting and is a unique, fun experience. The art style, soundtrack, gameplay and physics are excellent but it could have done with a few more gameplay options and slightly more engaging dialogue.
It is a fun light-hearted game where you play a whole with the aim of consuming the homes and residents of Donut County. The puzzle elements of the game are fairly light but the gameplay is oddly satisfying helped out by the well-designed physics. There is a nice change in quirky environments, a catapult power and a final boss battle that keeps the game entertaining throughout.
The story is light with it focusing mainly on the relationship of the two main characters Mira and her friend BK. While the dialogue is funny in places it did feel a bit longwinded when it came to the residents as it slowed down the gameplay when I just wanted to move onto the next level.
Overall, this game is perfect for one sitting and is a unique, fun experience. The art style, soundtrack, gameplay and physics are excellent but it could have done with a few more gameplay options and slightly more engaging dialogue.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a standalone prequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order, set in 1946 in Nazi-occupied Germany. The game follows protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz as he sets out to retrieve the location of General Deathshead's compound, using clues found in the city of Wulfburg.
The gameplay in The Old Blood is similar to that of The New Order, with players fighting their way through waves of Nazi soldiers using a variety of weapons and abilities. The game introduces new abilities and weapons, but the changes are limited and the game is more of a story DLC than new experience.
The Old Blood features a mix of stealth and action, with players able to choose how they want to approach each encounter. The problem is that the stealth is so clunky and pointless that you may as well gun through enemies. Luckily, the environments are well designed and atmospheric.
Overall, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a solid addition to the Wolfenstein franchise, offering more of the fast-paced, frenetic gameplay that fans of the series have come to expect. Unfortunately, the gameplay does not move the series forward and the story while well-written was not that engaging or of much substance.
The gameplay in The Old Blood is similar to that of The New Order, with players fighting their way through waves of Nazi soldiers using a variety of weapons and abilities. The game introduces new abilities and weapons, but the changes are limited and the game is more of a story DLC than new experience.
The Old Blood features a mix of stealth and action, with players able to choose how they want to approach each encounter. The problem is that the stealth is so clunky and pointless that you may as well gun through enemies. Luckily, the environments are well designed and atmospheric.
Overall, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a solid addition to the Wolfenstein franchise, offering more of the fast-paced, frenetic gameplay that fans of the series have come to expect. Unfortunately, the gameplay does not move the series forward and the story while well-written was not that engaging or of much substance.
2021
Toem is a fun and stylish puzzle-adventure game that tasks players with solving problems by taking photos of various objects and animals. The game's art style is distinctive and charming, with a vibrant and colorful aesthetic that helps to bring the world of Toem to life.
Each area in Toem feels unique, with great music and quirky characters that help to make the game a joy to explore. The unique environments, along with the compelling music and characters, will make you want to 100% the game to fully explore everything it has to offer. Some of the puzzles in the game are clever and require creative thinking to solve, and new mechanics are introduced through fashion items that the player can collect.
While the story in Toem may not be as strong as other adventure games, the style and creativity on display more than make up for it. As a bonus, the game includes a bonus island called Basto, which introduces new mechanics and is of the same high quality as the base game.
Overall, Toem is a fun and engaging puzzle-adventure game that is worth your time thanks to its stylish visuals, quirky characters, and clever puzzles. The bonus island of Basto is a great addition, offering more of the same high-quality gameplay as the base game.
Each area in Toem feels unique, with great music and quirky characters that help to make the game a joy to explore. The unique environments, along with the compelling music and characters, will make you want to 100% the game to fully explore everything it has to offer. Some of the puzzles in the game are clever and require creative thinking to solve, and new mechanics are introduced through fashion items that the player can collect.
While the story in Toem may not be as strong as other adventure games, the style and creativity on display more than make up for it. As a bonus, the game includes a bonus island called Basto, which introduces new mechanics and is of the same high quality as the base game.
Overall, Toem is a fun and engaging puzzle-adventure game that is worth your time thanks to its stylish visuals, quirky characters, and clever puzzles. The bonus island of Basto is a great addition, offering more of the same high-quality gameplay as the base game.